Ashraele, Priestess of the Spider Queen

[KhaosKid]

Ashraele, beautiful to behold with calculating silver eyes, was sent to Sshamath with a mission. Wearing only her battered breastplate for protection, she followed the duergar caravan into the city with the couple of guards the Temple sent with her. She quickly discovered the rumors about Sshamath’s temple to Lolth were true, but with little more instructions from the High Priestesses within Menzoberranzan, Ash was unsure of what to do next. After sending the guards back to her superiors in Menzoberranzan, she traversed the bazaar below the ragged temple to better equip herself with what little funds the temple deemed necessary for the journey. Her new mission was clear: redeem Sshamath and raise Lolth back to her rightful place above the heretical government that currently sits over it. It would not be easy, especially alone. Allies would be needed, so that would be her top priority after getting her bearings and scouting out the area.

While picking up small jobs throughout the city to gather funds to better equip herself, Ash stumbled upon a daughter of the Zau’afin house. Seeing the potential of an alliance with the Zau’afins, Ash put her charms to work on Samandara, and, before long, the two were traversing the tunnels above the city in search of some lost slaves. When she returned to the city after her successful mission, she stumbled upon a male drow (Belafein Barrityl) that seemed determined to serve her and her dark mistress. She accepted the male into her service and they set out to explore the tunnels around Sshamath.

With some new coin, Ashraele dug through the bazaar for deals on some good equipment. A male drow (Eol Darkblade) asked for assistance looking for some hidden treasure, and with a dwarf (Wade Blackforge), the two set off. Ash continued to shop for some time and relax at the local tavern. Once thoroughly bored, she set out in the direction the male mentioned. Upon her arrival in the goblins’ nest, she found the dwarf struggling against a large number of goblins with the assistance of what looked like a wizard (Cal'irahc) while Eol was bleeding out. The drow was lucky as Ash had some healing prepared in case of an emergency, so once he was no longer bleeding, she struck the remaining goblins down with the help of Wade and turned to discuss payment for saving the drow.

Several cycles later, Ashraele was invited to attend a patrol around Sshamath with members of House Zau’afin. She held her own and thought she may even have impressed some of the nobles. They managed to hunt down some heretics and even cleared a few of the more dangerous tunnels of their vicious habitants. Once the patrol was over, Ash teamed up with Samandara Zau’afin once more and continued the patrol on their own.

Ashraele found a quiet secluded spot in Varalla’s Passage to meditate, and, as she was preparing for her prayers one cycle, members of Bregan D’earthe found her. There was a momentary tension while the male drow (Daug'aonar) and his mage companion (Ususianilan Kusisqa) studied the lone drow priestess and she did the same. Bregan invited Ash to tag along while they completed a job. The young priestess was thoroughly impressed with Daug and his giant companion. She even managed to remember the male’s name, and the human’s to a degree, and offered a “friendship” of sorts to help him in the future if the need arose.

Early in Ashraele’s adventures, she even met a human that offered to be her slave. Do not believe him when he denies it as he owes Ash his life (Aster). Unfortunately, she does not remember his name, but he is the only human male that she has met or seen around Sshamath. The male was polite and did his best to placate the gorgeous drow priestess, and despite nearly knocking her over in the tunnels outside Sshamath, she allowed him to keep his knees in return for three hundred sacrifices for her Queen. She still awaits those sacrifices.

Vithsiris has touched her as well. Clearly, he was a heretic, but she felt no urge to smite him in his spot. Perhaps he manipulated her better than she had originally thought, but some of their musings together struck true. Sshamath would not be easy to return to Lolth’s glory and perhaps she should start smaller. A temple will be erected in the tunnels somewhere for those that are serious about the Spider Queen and not just trying to uphold an image.

[KhaosKid]

Ashraele, over the course of a few cycles, have met with many new people and formed several new "friendships." She had a deep conversation with Vithsiris and a traveler calling herslef Crimson. She gave the group news of the Lands of Light and they all exchanged tales. Ash even managed to explore several different tunnels far from Sshamath and found a desirable location to erect her alter to Lolth.

She sent a letter to Bregan asking for an audience for a woman she met in the bar, but was surprised to find that she alone was invited. She sat for a long time with Daug, the Master of Hounds, discussing her plans and different news she has heard. In the end, they came to an agreement of sorts that Daug promised to pass up the chain of command. She clearly used her charms on the Master of Hounds.

[KhaosKid]

Ashraele, feeling guided by her Dark Mistress, approached the wizard Ani of Qu'ellar Zau'afin and offered her services to its matron. Alone, and in Sshamath particularly, she was weak, but with the House behind her, she could further Lolth's orders much more effeciently. After all, she answered to the Spider Queen above all, and Ilharess Lomith Zau'afin second. Lomith, another priestess of Lolth, would hopefully be just as devoted and assist Ash in her tasks. After all, they served the same Goddess, no?

Ashraele spent several cycles adjusting to her new life outside Sshamath. It was much more comfortable and much more what she was used to back in Menzoberranzan. Finally, she had regained a bit of her sanity. She was placed under Vierdra Zau'afin to learn her place and to get her temple duties. It was not long before she had to put those new duties and instructions to use as tragedy struck while her new mistress took her to investigate the goblins nearby with others of the House.