The Lady of the Night

[DM Asgorath]

Chapter 1 - The Vision

Amn, Temple of the Night Embrace, unspecified date

The Lady of the Night slowly walked across the High Fane, her deep purple eyes scanning the area with what, to the others assembled, looked more like a bewildered and confused gaze rather than a focused, attentive look.

To the more veteran followers of the Lady of Loss present inside the temple, though, the Oracle's gaze had more to do with the woman's uncanny ability to not just receive, but understand, the Goddess' will through omens, dreams and, sometimes, direct communication.

The woman approached the fane's pulpit, slowly stepping inside it and turning a few pages of an ancient, dusty tome bound in what appeared to be human skin which was mostly used during liturgies. She then proceeded to read a few excerpts to the assembled brothers and sisters of her faith, her smooth, sensual voice sending shivers through many of the assembled ones' backs.

"This was the birth of the world and the heavens. After Lord Ao created Realmspace, there was a period of timeless nothingness, a misty realm of shadows before light and dark were seperate entities. Within this dim chaos stalked 13 lords of shadow, the shadevari - whether they came from elsewhere or are children of the shadow itself, none can say.

Eventually this primordial essence coalesced into twin beautiful goddesses who were yin and yang to each other: they were so close they thought of themselves as one being. The Two-Faced Goddess created the heavenly bodies of the crystal sphere and together infused them with life to form the Earthmother, Chauntea. (Although Chauntea has since contracted her essence to encompass only Abei-Toril, in the beginning she embodied all matter in Realmspace.) This new universe was lit by the face of the silver-haired goddess, who called herself Selûne, and darkened by the welcoming tresses of the raven-haired goddess, Shar, but not heat or fire existed within it...."

She then made a purposeful pause. The gullibles, the idiots, and the self-righteous, from this point forward, had a completely different tale than the one she was about to tell. The brethren of her faith had, instead, a rather different one. After clearing her throat a bit, the Oracle continued with her sermon.

"So did Selune brighten the endless night of the World, sheltering and giving succor and solace to its inhabitants, the race of Man amongst them. And Man was grateful and happy to have such a bright spot keeping predators and darkness at bay. In time, Man started to sing and lift praises to the Moon Wench for the light and shelter she provided them. No one, in stead, dared to ever consider the other side of the coin, darkness. So did Man ignore the other beloving goddess who created the dark and took it as her own domain, ignoring the gifts She had left for Man inside her own Realm.

Irritated, Shar created another Man to her image and semblance, so that He could worship her as well as it was required for mortals to do with a being of Her grace and glory. The Man Shar created, though, was exactly like the one created by Selune, and soon resorted to taking refuge within Selune's light.

Angered, Shar slew the Man she had created with Her grace, cutting out his heart and flinging it at her twin.

"If they shall not love me, then they shall fear me. If they shall not come to me because of my benevolence, then they shall come to me because of my spite and hatred. Forevermore shall Darkness offer sanctuary and shield to the scorned and humiliated, and your sanctimonious children, those that so cherish your light, shall cower in fear at the sight of my realm, and at the hatred of those left outside your false grace. So have I decided, so shall it be as long as darkness and light shall exist in the world;

For it is better to reign in the darkness, than to humble oneself in the light."

The assembled crowd nodded just once at the Oracle's sermon. There was no need to clap or lift praises to the fane's ceiling. All of them had experienced, one way or in the other, that same feeling of isolation, solitude and loss that Shar herself felt aeons ago.

The Oracle gazed at the assembled individuals just once, before her sight grew murky and foggy. Feeling her strength failing her, she hurtled to the ground, a dense cloud of darkness surrounding her, much to everyone's surprise.

"It's an omen!" - said one of the faithful.
"'tis an omen indeed! Shar has spoken!" - said another.

After an interminable moment, the Oracle slowly stood back on her feeth and recomposed herself. The vision she had received from the Goddess of Loss was hard to decipher, as visions always were, but she was certain that Her presence was needed to the North.

The woman slowly descended from the pulpit, without saying a single word to all those present. Only Aubert Heldynstar, the High Priest, dared to approach the Oracle and interrogate her, feeling secure by his position within the Church.

"Care to "enlighten" us about what has just happened, sister?"

Aubert's question was meth with a rather unnerving warm smile.

"It is a secret, brother. But the Lady has entrusted me with a vision."

"Oh? Would you share its details?"

"The details are to be left shrowded in Darkness, at least for now; such is the Lady's will. But I can tell you that my presence will be needed in the North."

"The north? You are well aware that I can not spare any manpower for any action whose boundaries surpass Amn. You will have to act with your small coterie."

"More than enough - she replied, the warm and innocent smile on her perfectly chiseled chin sending shivers through the high priest's back as well - for I will not be the only faithful in the north. Now brother, with your blessing, I shall begin immediately."

The high priest nodded.

"Of course. Glory to Loss."

The Oracle proceeded to the resting rooms of the temple's most trusted and devoted servitors. Approaching the first one on the right, she opened the door without knocking. A beautiful, statuesque woman was busy checking her equipment mostly made of daggers, vials of poisons and crossbows. She was wearing a rather form-fitting set of leathers, which accentuated her generous - almost obscenely so - forms and features.

The woman was indeed extremely beautiful, but her beauty had a very strange and predatory tone. Her ears were angular like those of a hound, her teeth needle-like and sharp; two fiendish horns adorned her head. From her back dangled a fiendish tail. Graceful - yet sharp and pointy - claws were in place of ordinary nails.

The Oracle herself had never fully realized the creature's true race. Some said she was a mere tiefling, while others insisted that the woman was in fact an alu-fiend. The Oracle herself did not really care, as she was one of the most precious - and valuable - tools in her arsenal.

The creature struck a sensual pose as soon as she noticed the Oracle's presence. Whether it was done to flirt with her or just to playfully provoke her, the Oracle was not sure, nor did she really care. The creature gazed upon the Oracle's frame for quite some time chewing her lips, before finally speaking first.

"Is there something - or anything - I can do for you, your highness?"

The Oracle nodded just once, and gave her a piece of paper containing a list. Then, she answered in a more straight manner.

"Spare me the trite innuendo. Just tell Seryna to prepare for a teleport, for we are going to the Sword Coast. Once we will be there, go to Sshamath and contact the owner of the Fountain of the Endless Elixirs, and...."prepare" him for some mediation duty. There is work to be done."

The fiend nodded, her pointy and lance-like tongue languidly licking a pair of luscious lips now twisted into a crooked grin.

[testmon]

(before:)

Narasida had never really felt accepted by people, far too often people seemed to avoid her for no reason. Far too often she heared them talking behind her back....and surely those who did were talking about her, about how to act against her about how to betray her like all the others before them.

But her own Mother? Narasida was not that delusional (yet) to think Shar had anything to with her birth or any part in her upbringing. But yet, since that one faithful night so many years ago she saw Shar as a mother. Much more than that other woman that gave birth to her, all that years ago, when she was a another person pitiful, exploitable...weak.


So why wasn't she picked? She knew others had met Shar recently, even in person. Even that one fool of a woman had met her, so how could she not be worthy?
Wasn't she perfect? No, nonononononononono that could not be it. She was perfect after all, much like her chosen foster mother, there could be no doubt in it.

So what could be...could it...yes...yes that must be it. Is Shar not the Lady of Loss after all?
Would that not mean Shar was also the Lady of Loss...from Shar herself?
Yes, yes that was the only way things made sense. It was a test! It was time to show that Narasida was strong now, not the weak crying girl in the field anymore, run far away from home, half starved, half insane, eight years ago.
That girl died that night. And now Shar saw fit for her to show that, prove that. Narasida would keep strong. She would aid those faithful and not complain about not meeting her. She would be a good daughter, a patient daughter. She would wait.


(now-ish)

Narasida easily recognized where she was...yet...that person in front of her...instinctively she started to judge her...the dress sits well...she seems to be no fatty, it even looks good on her it took her a moment to realize that this was not the time to be nitpicking peoples appearances.
And there were people around herself. the Shadow Plane...someone with the power to bring me here without my consent... for a second she stopped dead in her thought when she finally, fully, realized YES yesyesyes i was right all the time. It must have been a test. Now is your moment to shine she thought to herself show your dedication show how faithful you have been

With that, she put on her best, most honest, smile, held her back straight and concentrated on actually fully using her brain for once.
She had beat her Husband and the whole of Amn with it, so many Flaming fists, so many real and would-be Paladins and other dark orders.
The Dark Ladies will would come and no one would stop Narasida from showing Shar what a good...no what a perfect daughter she could be, not even the other faithful.

[Tempist]

Raven left the meeting with the Oracle a bit confused, but filled with the knowledge that the Lady of Darkness had looked inside her, and removed from her any weakness she had left from the nuns in the orphanage. Her eyes were passionless now, when she looked at someone, they couldn't tell if she was seeing them, or dissecting them in her head. She had always been fascinated the death, dead and dying.....her Goddess had just made her more efficient at her studies....not longer having the weak feelings of caring about her subjects in any way.

This made her next task even more easy.....the one Holy Day was fast approaching....Raven would pray to the Lady and ask her to allow her to meet with the Oracle again, a suitable candidate must be found, and a temple would be needed as well. The Oracle would be able to guide her, if she was not already looking for a suitable gift for the Lady. Raven, hidden in a dark cave, assembles her make shift shrine and begins to pray to the Lady........

When Raven was done, she smiled to herself; she had no desire to be more than the servant she was, content in her service to Shar. Now, it was time to start searching for the offering.....she had a couple Selunites in mind that she had ran into here an there...it was just a matter of finding them, and the day was young yet.

[Violin Paleraven]

That exciting moment when you realize you did good.... That you have always been right.

I KNEW IT!

I constantly think to the breathtaking sensation I felt while looking at the landscape surrounding us while experiencing the vision. Who could have guessed that above our heads, ahead of our time, such a thrilling world is already awaiting... Strange and beautiful it is. We do all have the power of choice, the power of building a new world.



And what about me? I have been cursed since the day I was born, broke and unworthy of enjoying the pleasures of living a decent life; while the others next to me had just to raise their hand and take whatever they pleased. That's not fair, fellows.
I have never had the chance to choose, untiI the day I met the person who started whispering to my ear, tenderly caressing me with the sound of her voice, making me long for a better future.
She showed me the right path and I had faith. And it is not all about being pious, you know? I have never used to be that devout, I guess, but I do feel a sympathetic intimacy with the Lady of the Loss.
In her graceful embrace we are all rare and unique. So I will fight and make good use of the best tricks my sharp mind can conceive to make Abeir-Toril ready for her arrive. Many will have to suffer, but that's the spinning of fate.
...And what's the best part in all this? It's that I am going to keep a journal of my progresses, so that is going to be recorded and swiftly become history.

It has to be done, to make of the world a better place, for those who have been struggling in the oblivion for too long.
I am gonna be part of this... The fiddler in the dark, the painter of the void, the dancer in the shadow.

And it's going to be so much fun!

[DM Asgorath]

(posted on behalf of a player who preferred to remain anonymous)

*The man took a hand to his head, long fingers suddenly feeling the heat of sweat against his skin. What was this… sudden fatigue, this desire of un-illuminated, unexpected weakness. Neither of his wards had warned him of this, no premonition glance of future had given such event curtsey of acknowledgement… an ability he prized to have, yet this… this was unexpected.

Perhaps it was primarily himself that was getting rusty. For years, his web of delicate manipulation, subtle hints and dastardly deeds had stacked onto one another, and lately, many things had demanded his attention. Time was of no consequence to him, he knew that life never ended thill the life after the one of the prime. Shaking his head, he decided to seek a bed. Perhaps he merely had tired his corporeal shell enough for the flesh to take over for once. He sighed, yet laid no further thought to it. Locating a bed, he didn’t even bother with his drapings, simply letting the overwhelming shadow of fatigue take over, as he crashed onto the fabric of the bed, his eyes beheld the light of a candle, as it was ushered away.

Darkness… yet, not unfound, or un-impenetrable… like smoke ripped from a burning pyre by a powerful wind, the shapes before his eyes manifested within the void of blackness. Slowly, a howling stillness drummed against his senses.. As his sleeping eyes gazed upon the scene before him. He began to realize, that his mundane fatigue, may not have been so mundane after all.

Before him, were black shores… a black sea… grey sands and colorless shapes and figures. A cold, howling, yet unhead wind uncoiled his flesh to the bone. This was the realm of shadow, the realm of the eternal dark, the realm of his mistress. His queen. His goddess.

He was not alone either… other figures joined him in the standing, each with their eyes scanning the lands they found themselves within… yet all attention was drawn, at the two towering behemoths of pure night that stood on either side of a small rise. Their eyes illuminated by soulless light, their limbs longer then what should be possible, and yet, their animal-like slow, seemingly invisible movements gave clear indication of the power of these minions. For they were indeed the cattle to a Sheppard, between them, with eyes of sharp intellectual experience, stood a figure, solemn, calm, yet dreadful. She carried about her, a certainty, a clearness, and a presence that emanated only from few people.
The man dropped to his knee, could this be his mistress in mortal form? … he knew not, yet he would rather risk displaying his faith, then to offend. He spoke a calm salutation in her name, and held his breath. At this, another of the people spoke… “Its not her… but, an oracle” … The man rose to his feet, and at this, the figure turned. The Oracle… the speaker of, and to, the mistress herself. She looked upon them, and her eyes knew them all, even if they did not know her.

Her voice spoke then… it was beautiful, direct, and had the weight of illuminated wisdom upon it, that many would kill for, murder for, betray for… die for.

“Welcome… all of you”

-----

What seemed like eternity had passed, as the man awoke once more. His skin was sticky, his breath hagged, his eyes, haunted. He slid his legs from the side of the bed, and rose to his feet. Eyes upon the wooden planks that made up the floor. Moments passed in silence, as his mind recoiled, reflected, twisted, turned, replayed and analyzed the event that had transpired. Other mortal servants to the dark one had been there… tasks had been distributed, plans had uncoiled from a mind greater then any other. His eyes beheld himself in the mirror, and what looked back, simply made the man smile. How he loved the amaranthine chessplay of manipulating mortal and immortals alike.

[Nyeleni]

The mage was thrilled and afraid at the same time. He had waited for this moment most of his life. In search of the mighty powers of his glorious ancestors, the Imaskari, he had sacrificed a lot: Especially leaving his people behind. In his mind it didn't matter that the sacrifice hadn't been exactly of his own volution.

Then he had to settle in the squalid quarter of Sshamath. Contending with the putrid smells and the filth of the low lifes. He had survived at first by selling his magic to whomever could afford his service.

And after all the humiliation he finally seemed close to finding what he was searching for. At the same time he was terrified. He was aware of that the Lady of Loss wasn't called by that name for naught. And what if he finally found what he was looking for and it wasn't what he expected? Would all the sacrifices have been worth it?

But even more he was unsure about the others who had heeded the call. Cardin mistrusted every cult, ingrained in him thanks to his upbringing in Deep Imaskar.

[Wolfrayne]

Pain, Screaming, powerful magic, flashes of shadows followed by empty darkness.
Nythara awoke suddenly looking around the dimly lit room for any sign of threat. She relaxed after a moment realising that she was at home in her sanctuary, she brushed aside a few large tomes resting on the arm of her favorite chair, All too often she would fall asleep in it while in the midst of studies. The room itself was fairly large, poorly lit and filled with vials, scrolls books and other components. She stood up stretched out rubbing her forehead. *past is the past* she mumbled to herself as flashes of her dreams came to mind. Dreams of a life long since gone. Dreams that all too often imposed on her sleep.

In the centre of her sanctuary on an elegant obsidian pedestal in the shape of an open rose sat a small black gem, shadows whirling around its beautiful almost liquid like surface, The light from the room seemed to be drawn to this strange gem as though it was trying to snuff it out completely. Nythara smiled as she looked over at the gem, one of the many gifts Shar had blessed her with. *At least someone in this wretched existance understands and acknowledges me* she thought to herself as she headed to the washroom to prepare for the evenings work.

Nythara returned after a short while, her elegant black silk robes fit perfectly on her form. Were it not for the horns, tail and piercing Amber eyes one would almost think she was strikingly beautiful. She stood in front of a large mirror near her unused bed and spent a few moments putting her hair in to a neat braid. Nythara stopped and looked over her shoulder at the gem in the middle of the room smiling as she felt an unmistakable pull from it.

She approached the Gem and shiver ran down her spine as she touched its surface, Shar was one of the only beings in existance that truely frightened her. Not fear in the usual sense but a respectful fear for the imense power wielded by the Goddess. Nythara smiled as she remember the feeling, the rush, the cold yet somehow comforting gaze of the Lady of the Night. She knew that her unwavering devotion to Shar was the only thing that mattered. She had after all witnessed what happens to those who betray the ladies trust or fail in their duties. There is no place, no plane, nowhere in existance where the lady couldn't find you, and her wrath was unforgiving.

Nythara picked up the gem and in the blink of an eye her form had turned completely to shadow as she dissapeared from sight.
"In the darkness all men are equal, Save for those who embrace it" These words echoed in her mind as Nythara materialised near the others. Soon the realm will finally know their true meaning. Darkness is coming.

[illithid]

He stood motionless,
hood drawn,
red eyes alight and alert;
the faint echoes coalescing in his temples.
Whispers from long ago,
whispers he had welcomed,
whispers he had worshipped,
whispers he had forgotten.

How many cycles...

The darkness,
the nothingness,
the void.
It called to him once more.
The jaluk held forth a vial,
his toneless words but a doorway,
The echoes crescendoed, reverberating in his skull
The pull of the shadow, almost complete

Desolate... She stood facing away from them, he and the others

Soft spoken words,
they sounded so sweet,
and so embracing,
and so familiar.
They were kneeling,
offering homage, offering piety.
He stood alone,
searching for the hole that was once inside.

There... a trace may exist still....

Looking down at their prone forms.
His mind calm,
assured,
accepting.
The nothingness had returned
and he knew well this ally;
he knew her likes
and he knew his role.

Hidden: show

[Tempist]

Raven completes her hunt of the foul bugs on the coast....normally she wouldn't be bothered ,but she needed to collect some regents for some potions she needs, and she would much rather make them than pay someone for them.

She returns to the Inn, and uses the alchemy bench there to grind down the shells and mix them together with other ingredients to create some healing potions as well as some potions that will toughen her skin against attacks.

All the while she is watching the meteor rock that Bently has claimed as his own...deciding if it is worth trying to acquire some for study. Pondering this she retires to the inn for dinner and sleep. Waking up in the middle of the night to pray to the Lady for the next days spells. Upon finishing her prayers she feels something has changed....in her minds eye she can see that she knows more spells than the last time she prayer. The Goddess has granted her increased knowledge and skill. She says another prayer thanking the Goddess for her blessing and gift, and then retires for the night, her search for a suitable sacrifice will continue on the morrow.

[DM Asgorath]

Chapter 2 - First Contact

The Oracle gazed upon her shadow gem for a very long moment. The small object was extremely beautiful per se, but the curious effect it had on surrounding sources of light made it even more interesting to behold.

Not that there was much light to begin with; the Oracle's own chambers were always covered in a thick layer of darkness that no one, save perhaps for those naturally gifted with darkvision, would have been capable of seeing anything past a few inches from his eyes. The Oracle's eyes, on the other hand, were perfectly keen and fully capable of seeing normally, even in such a deep darkness. Her eyes were capable of seeing much, much more than that, too, but that was another matter...

The Oracle's meditation was suddenly interrupted when she heard someone knocking on her chambers' door. Identifying the knocker would have been extremely easy, even without her immense oracular powers. Very few human beings couldn't have felt that alluring, intoxicating calishlte perfume so familiar to her; not to mention the sound by itself, with its uncharacteristical smooth and velvety ring.

"Come, Nazeera. Is Seryna with you?"

The fiendling Nazeera opened the door and entered the room. Behind her stood another humanoid figure. At first sight, she was an incredibly attractive human female of netherese ancestry. Her skin was pale, her hair long, lustrous and black; her eyes blue as ice. Her clothes and garments were of exceptional quality, usually associated with royalty and the rich, though to a modern observer, they were terribly outdated. Her right hand was grasping a staff that looked like to be made of pure, solid shadowstuff. The Oracle looked upon the woman for a while, before speaking to her.

"Ah, Seryna. I am glad that you have arrived so promptly. I trust that Nazeera has already explained you your task?"

The black haired woman looked at the Oracle for a long while, without answering. Her blue eyes were glimmering with what, to many observers, would have been classifiable as total madness. Her answer did not take much longer to arrive, its message carried by a disorderly and frenetical voice.

"DId ShE nOw? Of COursE shE diD! YEs yeS Yes yES! I aM to telePORt yoU and NazeErA to the SwORd CoaST!"

Nazeera chuckled at the woman's incoherent reply, her tongue licking her lips in amusement.

"Awww, looks like she is going through another one of her bouts of insanity. I have to admit, I love her even more when she is in this condition! Such a sickened, diseased, polluted, unpredictable mind, and only the goddess knows what could happen."

The Oracle quickly turned towards the fiendling and dismissed her rambling with a quick movement of her right arm.

"Enough, Nazeera. Seryna, it would be better if you could teleport us to the ancient netherese maze. It is exactly halfway between the Underdark and the Surface."

At that sentence, Seryna erupted into a maniacal, incoherent, disconnected laughter. Her answer was not that far from her laughter, as well.

"OooOH yeS! The Maze! THe MAZe! Of COursE I cAN briNG uS thERE! GLAdlY sO! It WIlL Be juST liKE viSITing hoME! I haVE NOt bEEn thERE foR QUIte SoME TimE!"

The Oracle tilted her head to the right, not particularly fazed by the woman's answer. She had a far worse concern going on inside her mind.

"I know those ruins are infested by netherese ghosts, albeit their shadow plane variant is in fact a temple dedicated to the Goddess. Can you grant us safe passage?"

"Of COUrsE! LeaVE tHE ghOSTS to Me! ThEY SHall LeaVE us Be!"

"If I am allowed to ask, Oracle... - Nazeera's tail started to wag sensually, almost like a cat's tail, perhaps indicating that she was curious - "How will we find other faithfuls of the Goddess? Reliable faithfuls, that is."

"Very few things can be concealed from my sight, Nazeera. When it comes to knowing everything there is to be known about those mortals who have pledged their allegiance to our Mistress, I can see even the most insignificant details of their lives, if the Goddess wishes me to."

Nazeera's tail started to wag even more intensely at that answer.

"Really?"

The Oracle flashed a warm, innocent smile at the fiendling, one that was sufficient to stop Nazeera's wagging cold and paralyze her in fear. Then, she answered.

"Of course. For example, Nazeera...do you remember when you fell in love with one of your father's palace guards? Oh, how you loved that half-elf warrior, his skin tanned, his muscles well-defined, his poise so stoic and statuesque. Truly, he was indeed an alpha male worthy of the title."

Upon those words, Nazeera's habitual self-confidence crumbled like a house destroyed by an earthquake. She covered her hands in shock, shaking uncontrollably, her tail becoming rigid like a dried fish.

"But your father was not particularly happy with the whole affair. To be honest, he had never been happy with having a fiendling daughter sired only by accident. And what about your mo-"

"Enough, enough please! Stop! I beg you!"

The Oracle stopped, gazing with a satisfied look upon the now shaken victim of her mind games.

"I was...I was young, and...stupid. Weak. Naive. Clinging to my humanity like a fool. I cannot even believe to have been so disgustingly weak and soft in my life. Please, my lady...do not remind me of those times."

"Very well then...I only ask you this: what have you learned from your experience?"

Nazeera stood up, her body slowly returning to moving normally. Her usually vivid eyes, now blank and stuck in an expression devoid of life or feelings, looked at the ground for a long time, before she dared to answer, this time in a blank, flat and passionless tone.

"Love is a lie. Only hate endures."

The Oracle grinned. Psychologically demolishing her subject was an activity she excelled at - and one that always gave her enormous amounts of sadistic satisfaction.

"Well spoken, Nazeera, for it is indeed as you say. Now, Seryna, teleport us to the old netherese ruins."

The black robed woman nodded, then she approached the Oracle and Nazeera. Clinging to her staff, the arcanist cast a teleport spell.

The dark trio instantly felt sucked deep into a tunnel, being dragged across miles and miles over a matter of just a few moments, and safely coming out of the tunnel in the Shadowed Netherese Ruin's main hall.

"Ah, here we are - said the oracle, throwing quick, satisfied glances here and there - "Impressive as always, Seryna."

The arcanists's eyes slowly returned to a focused, lucid state. For some strange reason, she had regained her sanity, at least for the moment.

"You know far too well that I am an expert at my trade, Oracle. I am more worried about the inhabitants of this ancient temple."

"Sadly, I do not speak Netherese. Do you think you could bargain with them?"

"I am quite certain to be capable of doing it. Just give me some time."

Moments later, at least a dozen of shadowy, spectral figures approached the trio. Their ghostly eyes looked at the dark women with rapacious and homicidal eyes, ready to unleash their full sadism over the three. Seryna quickly approached the figures and started speaking in the tongue of ancient Netheril.

The content of her speech eluded both the Oracle and the fiendling, but after a very brief couple of minutes, the spirits relaxed their pose, bowed to the three, and simply left them alove. Whatever the arcanists told to the undead beings, it was enough to convince them to stop their attacks.

"They will let us in. What are your orders now, Oracle?"

The Oracle grasped her own shadow gem with both hands, closing her eyes to meditate. A soft purple light came from the gem, before a few images depicting humanoids formed out of nowhere.

"There...I see them, equally split between surface and underdarkn, darkness and light. And a priestess of the Goddess is amongst them, too. These shall be our friends, brothers and agents. Seryna, prepare your special spell that allows me to contact people in their dreams. Nazeera, you should still have a few vials containing the same spell Seryna is about to cast. The faerzess present in the Underdark heavily restricts Seryna's spell, but those vials will provide us with a good work around."

"And that is why I should contact the owner of the Fountain of Endless Elixirs?"

"Yes. I will make sure that our brethren in the underdark will know where to go. You must make sure that they will comply."

"Of course mistress. I will depart immediately."

Nazeera bowed with a flourish, unsheated her daggers, and then proceeded to Sshamath.

"Good. Now, Seryna...do you think you could send a magical message to our brethren in Sshamath, telling them to visit the Fountain of Endless Elixirs?"

"The Faerzess interferes with such magics, but I think I can send them a very brief message. It will be weak though, similar to a whisper."

"A whisper is more than enough. I know them far too well already. They will not dare to refuse your suggestion. Prepare the ritual."

Meanwhile, inside Sshamath...

The fiendling slowly - and silently - strode across the streets of Sshamath. Individuals like her were common enough that most people simply did not pay attention to her. This facilitated her work enormously, as she entered the Fountain of Endless Elixirs. The owner was busy ordering his store's wares, alone. That was just the occasion Nazeera needed.

"Xas? What do dos want here, jalil?"

The fiendling flashed one of her most disarming smiles at the drow male, before looking deep into his purple eyes.

The two beings' wills clashed for a long moment. The drow was used to mental assaults, but the fiendish female was also an expert at forcing her will upon individuals. In the end, the male's will failed, and the fiendling gained full control of his mind.

"Good male, very good. Keep it up, and I might even reward you with a personal favor in the future...hm...drows have always been so good looking after all...oh right. I forgot. Take these vials and hand them to the people that will enter your shop."

The male nodded and took the vials, while the woman hid in the shadows of the store. It did not take long for the faithful to come to the Fountain of Endless Elixirs. In the meantime, Seryna's spell started affecting the faithful in the surface.

In the land of Dreams

The Oracle felt the presence of other faithful as soon as they entered the dream conjured forth by Seryna. Her lips curled into a soft, content smile, as she addressed each and everyone of them.

"Welcome, my fellow kindred."

[illithid]

A broken reverie...

Pale imitations of truth and lies swirl through his subconscious. He is drawn from the trance, his self control, only recently learned, it forces him to question; his eyes snap open. Lying silent, listening, the whispers are gone. Deceived? No. He knew all too well that voice. But.. Can it be... he has found so much, has moved so far, the shadow offers not the comfort than it once did, and yet, all the comfort he needed, and needs still. To return to that... he lays still.

"Do I finish what I once started?"

A pair of small blades glow in the faerie fire from his chambers

[Violin Paleraven]

...
In her name we are going to rise
A brand new world will be our prize
In the shadow we'll make them split
Our supremacy they shall admit

Let my fiddle by our guide
And motivation I will provide
Take my hands Lady of the Night
The brightest light lead us to fight
...

[Ariella]

She sits upon an old wooden chair, shadow gem in hand staring at its beautiful form, her soul as dark as the gem, her beauti drawing those around her like the gem draws the light, she peers around the cave its time, the mistress calls and i shall answer. *she grabs her short sword and tome *looks back at the darkness within the cave and smirks* its time to play a little game of hide and seek.

[Nyeleni]

The pale wizard scratches on an inflamed patch on his forearm, caused by the parasite he purchased from the illithids. Cardin does it absently, as he is looking into his spellbook. Totally lost in the new spells he acquired from his service to the Lady of Loss.
He is still uncertain wether it was a good idea to join the others in this dangerous venture. But the possible gain is still too alluring. He imagines all the lost knowledge and remembers the netherese mage. What wonders that woman must know! And it seems he only has to reach for it! Still, he is cautious and if something has taught him life: to expect the unexpected. He has to be patient and wary, especially if it seems too easy.

The next day he recalls the events of the voyage into the shadow plane. Through the ruins of Netheril and touching a special orb they reached the counterpart of the temple in that grey place.
After some battles with the inhabitants, they finally found the sceptre. One little step more to help the Lady of Loss against her sister. Might her Shadow perdure and Her realm touch the surface!

[Ariella]

She sits in front of her mirror, amazed at her new found beauti, her eyes mesmerizing, she clenches the shadow gem in her hand, for you mistress, all for you. *she stares into the gem as if trying to look directly at shar* im ready for the next step my mistress.