Xulquar Mori'hyanda

[Zulquar]

Xulquar stood in front of the alchemical table carefully assembling the various alembics, vials, and hoses for his fathers' next experiment. He knew why he was preparing this experiment. The vial of green glowing liquid was extremely poisonous and his father didn't wish to be exposed to it. The bumbling rothe would no doubt spill it all over himself Xulquar thought. Xulquar was no better than a servant for his fathers' many magical experiments and every other mundane chore around their small stalagmite home. While his dextrous fingers poured the green liquid into two smaller vials Xulquar thought for the thousandth time how his father could die and he would be free. But what would he do after his father was no more? Whatever brought him the most power he thought. He knew he didn't want to be just another wizard of the conclave as his father was. All that endless reading, studying, and pouring over every old scroll and parchment for information. He knew he had the intellect for it but not the patience.

Latter that cycle Xulquar snuck out of his home and through the streets of the city. He played his favorite game tailing the guards of the city. He would see how close he could come to them without them noticing him. He seemed to have a natural knack for stealth. The thrill of stalking someone without them even knowing he was there was exhilarating. He was about to touch a passing guard when behind him two mages cast a spell of light on him. Cursing, Xulquar got one quick glance at them as he sped off with the startled guard hot on his heels. Both of the now laughing mages looked non-descript except for one small detail; they both were wearing the insignia of the new house Mori'hyanda.

Xulquar sat at one end of the small stone table while his father, engrossed in some esoteric tome, sat at the other. Xulquar had prepared the nightly meal as instructed and laid it out on the table; rothe steak, boiled lake moss, and Donigarten mushroom sautéed in the rothe fat. His father brought a glass of mead with him before he sat. His father, ever the creature of habit, quickly cast a spell to detect poison across his meal. Apparently happy with the result he went on reading and eating. Meanwhile Xulquar chatted idly. Rarely did he look up from his tome. "What do you hear of the new noble house Mori'hyanda father?" As usual his father did not respond, too busy with his research. "Well from what I was able to find out on the street they are a house of old. They hold true to the tenants of Loth. I have no doubt the Conclave might find it disruptive but it could be a way for someone of skill....and without knowledge of the weave to gain". His father predictably went from meat to moss to mushroom then drank and repeated. "I think I might present myself to them and see what they have to offer. No doubt the groveling to every priestess in the house will prove tiresome but I am willing to endure it in order for the greater gain." Xulquar sat back drinking his expensive surface wine and looked up at the ceiling. He heard his father cough then gag a bit as he noted the scars in the ceiling from various past experiments. "I will need gold to buy proper equipment of course. I'm sure I can find enough around here to make what I require." His fathers' chair crashed to the floor. His father not making a sound. Xulquar moved slowly around the table and knelt down above his father. The older drow was still in a seated position apparently paralyzed lying on the floor. His eyes were open, his breathing shallow. "You really should have paid closer attention to your tomes on poison....father. I see the question in your eyes. You see, your spell does indeed detect poison. However the ingredients in your meal do not constitute a poison until they are mixed. They are really quite harmless when separate...and tasteless....and odorless. The trick is they have to be mixed in the correct order. You are far too predictable. It cost me two of your spell books just to purchase the ingredients. I'm afraid you will be paralyzed for quite some time. Well, long enough to see your final....and fatal experiment go horribly awry." Xulquar opened the door to The Gloura's Wings just as his old home exploded in a shower of green sparks. The flames could be seen all across the city. Seated at a card table Amand Mori'hyanda looked up at the young assasin...

[adzling]

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