A lost Relic

[Halo Deity]

That relic, the bone that had burned a hole in her memory, each curve, each stretch of blood staining the detail of it. In reverie, her hand pressed her fingers along the spider legs, and only for a moment, it seemed so real she almost screamed in an unimaginable pleasure.

"No!" She gasps as she blinked, her eyes coming back into focus. "The Queen has more for me. I will strive, I will not stop, her task will never be enough. Lolth test me. All victory will be your doing, I will prove myself to be the hand in your will."

The heavy door slammed behind her, only a look directing the guard to gather up those of the Qu'ellar. The dirt under their boots had gathered from hours of walking, perhaps even days through the tunnels, slicing Duergars throats, capturing what Illithids they could find, no fruition coming of their continued attempts.

Time passes...


"Malla Ilharess House Barrirahel... They mu-" The fangs of the snake bit hard, leaking its venom into the servant. "I know of their efforts by spreading disgrace of our Qu'ellar, however, actions speak louder do they not? It will only lessen the fear of the others, yet be ignited again once they are found to be in our company. The heretics will fall under our Queen, and by our hands if not her other chosen subjects." The fangs sink deeper before she rips her whip away. "I will assume you pass that along, as your lips are so loose." As the servant turned leaving, his face lost colour, collapsing as the echo of her steps pressed towards the city.

Time passes...

He has some nerve, some real nerve. I will cut them out, he will never set them on me again! Qilintha fumed as the eyes of the hooded male met hers. He scuttled towards the Inn, it was her chance to corner him. She wanted nothing more than to tell him of his fate.

"Drinks, they are paid for." The exotic waitress offered, bowing her head, a sly smile on her lips as the male had seemed to have disappeared. As the others had reached Qilintha's location, there was nothing but a thick suspicion in the air, the drinks seemingly lacking in poison, yet having a profound effect on one of the quicker Dev'lins to snatch one, the House collectively gathering their eyes on her with interest.

"I must kill... Slaves.. Slaves!" She was hungered, she would not be held back, Anida the Fearn was restrained, but only for a while... Before they realized what she was driven by, must be important.

[Coal]

Pylia is welcomed into the Mage school library by its keeper to continue her search for any relics, or rumors there of, that would have passed through and or been lost anywhere in or near Sshamath.

[paw]

Dos will tell ussa what usstan wants to know or suffer the consequences of dossa silence! Tedia then screams and slits the throat of the ilithid she had paralyzed as she pictures its tentacles wriggling into her her brain through her ears and mouth.

It matters naut dos useless piece of rothe dung! Even in dossa death dos shall serve ussa desires! She kneels down next to the body and drinks the ilithids blood as it flows from the gaping wound in its neck.

[Halo Deity]

The bodies of several illithid are seen dragged behind a patrol of Dev'lins by ropes, their remains thrown to the pit of spiders on the edge of misty lake. The pursue of the lost relic pressing heavily now on the compound as regular patrols are sent on clearing the idea. Individual interrogations on each living find before their death.

[ScreechOwl]

Lis'intha, Yath'rin of Qu'ellar Dev'lin and Daharil to Qilintha happens across Pylia one cycle while in the mage school. After a few discreet questions, she determines what it is Pylia is looking for.

Lis'inta tells no one, simply biding her time outside the mage school watching for the bard to come out. Once out she follows the bard out of the city, where she finally joins her in polite conversation ... well ... as polite as drowish conversation can get.

They decide to travel together, even though Lis'intha does not as yet know where.

While in the mines, Lisintha feigns an injury, the kind that would render her unable to offer help in the fighting. Lis'intha waits ... biding her time ... knowing that eventually Pylia would suffer sever wounds at the Duergars hands.

I have heard of who you are bard, and what it is you seek. Know that the queen does not like interference and will suffer none from you.

That said she strikes at Pylia without warning, without mercy, killing her almost instantly. LOlTH TLU MALLA !! Lis'intha cries out as she cuts out Pylias heart with a dagger, offering it up to the spider queen.

You will no longer interfere. She drags the body to a chasm near by and tosses it in, walking away with a sadistic laugh, not bothering to look back.

[paw]

Tedias appearances around Sshamath become more and more rare, though when she is seen, she often has traces of blood around her mouth and chin.

She watches closely from the shadows, the movements of Barrirahel slaves carrying missives. The shadows apparently have eyes ... and teeth ... just waiting .. and watching for any slave that may make a misstep.

[DM Golem]

Tedia's surveillance over the past tendays reveals no prey; in fact the Barrirahel are keeping to themselves, only leaving their hired lodgings to purchase travel supplies, magical reagents, arms and food for warslaves.

Their slaves do not move often without supervision, and then only in public areas.

One notable foray is the Ilharess and a deputation visiting the School of Divination, in great pomp and circumstance.

Tedia's watchful eye would make it seem that the Barrirahel are preparing for an expedition, she would overhear talk of a need to break open Svirfneblin fortifications and discussions regarding the caves to the north of the city.

[Progressive-Psy]

Ril'vyr Dev'lin has not been seen or heard from the last few days, it seems he has left Sshamath from the time being, or has he?

[paw]

Tedia may have been seen in Gloura's Wings receiving some vials filled with a thick red liquid.

She snatches them away from the other jabbress as if her life depended on it. Immediately opening one, she pours the contents into her mouth with a sadistic lust, then sticks her tongue inside the vial to lap up every last drop. The ecstasy of the drink is short lived , however, as she scowls almost the moment she finishes.

This damnable thirst ... will it -ever- end ? she sighs deeply and leaves after a lengthy discussion with the other drow ... Neer

[Progressive-Psy]

Ril’vyr walks down the hall in the Devlin complex, keeping an eye on the slaves maintaining the grounds, he walks past a slave that is just standing idle, and it is clear to Ril’vyr that this slave is suffering from exhaustion and cannot work any longer. He then stops and tilts his head looking down at him, his cold red eyes almost shining in the dark halls of the house. When the slave sees Ril’vyr, it immediately starts scrubbing the floors again. Ril’vyr just stands there watching the slave, waiting for him to give up on his task. Moments pass and the slave simply falls to the ground after one of the other Nobles in the house, has worked him hard. when the slave falls to the ground Ril’vyr walks closer and bends down looking at the slave, he reaches for the slave and flips the slave to his back and looks him into the eyes. “Do you need a break?” Ril’vyr says, keeping his eyes on the slave. The slave looks at him with almost dying eyes, not knowing what to answer. Ril’vyrs eyes on the slave he almost seems like he cares about the slave. The slave then answers, “Yes Master, I would like a break” Ril’vyr then raises his hand and is about to strike the slave with a massive force, but as he starts the swinging his ears peak as he hears something going on in the sermon room. He looks down at the shell of the slave before he stands up and turns on his heels to go see what is going on. When he enters he sees a dozen of priestesses standing around a black spider covered altar, these priestesses are clearly doing something with the altar, he moves in closer very quietly and looks at the altar, in the middle of the altar rests a big black gem. He stands there watching what is going on, it is as if the gem is alive. Time passes and the gem starts pulsating with unholy energy, the energy turns into a cloud and it’s like Ril’vyr can hear screams of pain and agony origin from the cloud, a few words can be heard from the cloud the only thing Ril’vyr is actually able to hear is "Lolth be praised; all victory is her doing.” Ril’vyr repeats the words to himself with an eye on the altar in front of him, he seems very interested in what is actually going on. However, in the split of a second, the black energy cloud explodes and the energy shoots into the room and through the door to the rest of the house.

[Halo Deity]

Her lips would not move. Her vision fades as an oozing fluid covers her eyes, rolling soon down her cheeks as tiny spiders rush from the nests in the hollows of the walls in her room. They feast hungrily upon the ooze until there is no more, the eight hairy legs of each spider slinking over her face, looking for more, desperate for another taste, relentless. They find nothing but her flesh, but it does not stop their feasting, nothing will. The numbers increase and not even the magical healing cloak draped over Qilintha does not seem to stem the bleeding, her reverie holding her down in paralysis. An unholy mist surrounds her body, sucking in every inch of candlelight, stealing any breeze from the air, and reducing what sounds there was to stillness.


What would appear to be the shadowy remnants of a drow child, holding a cracked obsidian skull skips on the spot, her voice eerily joyful as she sings, repeating the same verse, over and over.

The war is never-ending.
The relic is what you seek,
Should it be left in their grasp,
your doom you shall meet.

Screams cut through the chant, the words turning to whispers as a bright light courses through her body.


Spiders skitter through the tunnels leading her naked body farther into the hive. 'They do not see me.' she hisses weakly as her body propels forward past the Illithid. Her clawed fingers run over her wounded skin, her bright red eyes piercing through her surroundings as a chill runs through her body. 'Lolth be praised' she demands. 'Lolth test me.' each step becomes heavier and heavier, her fight to continue feeling as though it is coming to an end as her attempts to cover herself in Lolth's blessings fail and fizzle, causing piercing pains to her chest.

The war is never-ending. She falls onto the ground, dirt finding its way under her nails as she clambers onto her feet, the large chamber within reach. 'I will not fail.' The relic is what you seek. 'I will not fail!'

She is thrown onto the cold floor once more, fighting for strength, her eyes falling on six towering figures in the distance The relic is what you seek, a dark energy surrounding them as they let their tentacles caress the object, it shattering soon after. Leave it in their grasp my child... Their eyes glow a demonic red, a deafening explosion of energy echoing through the tunnels, bringing the rocks down with it, her vision darkens as she is crushed beneath the weight of the under dark, the eyes of the Illithid looking through her. Your doom you shall meet.

[Progressive-Psy]

Hearing the screams coming from Qilinthas quarters Ril'vyr rushes there as quickly as he can, as he gets to her door he quickly knocks on it, waiting politely for permission to enter. As he waits by the door, he hears skittering coming from behind it, followed by hundreds of tiny spiders flooding from beneath the door out into the halls dispersing out of view… He retains his poise as he waits by her door, his eyes narrowed at the guards momentarily as he clenches his fists in fury, mentally blaming them for the unseen events within Qilintha's room.

[Halo Deity]

What might seem like hours pass. The door creaks slowly open, one of Qilintha's handmaidens leaving, her face as pale as a drow females could possibly go. She lowers her head quickly to Ril'vyr, leaving the door open for his entry into the Ilharess' quarters.

[Progressive-Psy]

When he sees the handmaiden he swallows hard, and actually seems somewhat unsure on what’s going to happen next, his eyes at the ground asking “Honored Matron, is everything alright?” he doesn’t dare to enter her room without permission and now that he has seen her handmaiden being terrified he fears for what might come next.

[Halo Deity]

"Come." Her voice soft yet demanding "Close the door behind you."

As Ril'vyr would enter he would see veiled Qilintha hooking her serpent headed whip onto her belt, her robes dampened with her own blood, the priestesses hood covering her features. "She has spoken. The weight of failure will not just rest on our Qu'ellar." a tiny spider crawls out from beneath her hood down towards her fingers as a droplet of blood falls from it.