[Game Thread] Chapter Six: Be Careful What You Wish For

[SpatulaOdoom]

If he'd been born different than he had he'd be a different person than he is. Not exactly the insight of the ages, but what could you expect.
”I'm talking about regrets over the decisions you made and things you've done, not frustration over things that were out of your control. I wish I'd realized we were wrong for each other sooner. Why didn't I take the risk, join the crew of the good ship Endeavour, and see the world instead of staying home and raising sheep. I wish I'd been able to convince the Matron Mother not to force them into the church.
The circumstances of your birth are entirely out of your control, same as everybody else. Being born an oracle has been something of a mixed blessing, but it's offered me a different viewpoint on the world and opportunities most other humans never get to even consider.”

”Using this for Nallaul since quotes seems to break things up.Isn't the Leader of the Children Zilira's son?”
”Yes.”
”Do you think he intrigues against Zilira?"
Morgan's response is without hesitation. ”Not a chance. He and I were the ones that freed her from her chains.” That had been a good day.

[Blue]

His insistence to be condescending was starting to get on her nerves.
"Pardons, I was under the strong impression that you were inferring that things that are out of my control led to me not collecting any real regrets over 33 years of life."
She contracted her long neck and tried not to show her teeth too long while pondered to choose her words.
"I wasn't talking about regrets over my situation, I tried to explain that my particular circumstances forced me into a life that is so far not so different from what my existence would have been had I been human, which was to tell you that I do have my share of regrets. This mostly hoping that you'd stop talking to me as if I had the aloofness of a normal dragon, or as much life experience as one of your typical human teenaged girl. But perhaps I was too subtle for you, archmage. I wish I had correctly interpreted your meaning and I'll care to be more blunt with you from now on."
Had she had been born with the entirety of a dragon's abilities, she would probably had lived like a dragon and what he thought he knew about dragons could have applied to her.
"I imagine that I am the first humanborn dragon that you have ever met, yes? Around my age, at least."
It was one of the dangers of experience; applying what you have learned to things you don't yet understand just because it looks like something you've worked with before.

About Zekzar, Nallaul's response made her laugh.
"I rarely find my first interactions with new dragons to be particularly enjoyable. It takes time to bond. I would still like to meet him. I understand that in your drow societies wearing a social mask was important to survive and that males were in a significant disadvantage. Was he equally submitted despite being a dragon because of his gender? Was he pressured to act like a drow to avoid mistreatment? Is the drow mentality so different from many dragons' to begin with? What I know is that usually when a creature is put back in its natural habitat and condition it quickly returns to its natural behavior. Evil as he might be, he is not beyond Crone's peace, and that suffices me."
She smiled, somewhat. It was little hard to tell with the structure of her jaw and the absence of lips.
"I'll have to learn more about your kind, mister Nallaul. If only to better know what kind of Dragon I may be dealing with."

[Acathala]

On the Children "So then that leaves infiltration?" He keeps silent his thought the son could very well be plotting his mother's downfall. Sometimes plans to murder family members involved gaining a degree of their trust first, and what better way to gain it than releasing them from bondage?
Nallaul replies to Mrith. "Oh I'm sure I could show you a thing or two you'd enjoy." He looks more serious when discussing Zekzar. "He was captured as an egg, and when old enough, forced to breed to make half-dragon soldiers. This became enough of a threat that the House that enslaved him, was destroyed by the other Noble Houses. He was presumed dead until he felt confident enough to emerge as the puppet master of another house. Currently he's the most powerful male non-drow."

[Blue]

Nallaul's comment had her frown pensively, her claws clicking against the floor a bit harder as she shifted her weight from one limb to the next in a more pronounced, protrusive gait.
Her voice was surprisingly amiable.
"Careful, mister Drow. You're getting awfully familiar here."

The little preview of Zekzar's best moments changed her expression completely. It was as doleful as a dragon's face could be.
"Strangely, I can sort of relate. Some need Crone's peace more than others."

[Makenshi]

Rhys and Kala look mildly amused at Morgan's expense over the argument he seems to have drawn himself into with Mrith, while Felynda snorts at her and Nallaul's comments on Zekzar. "'Non-Drow'? Zekzar is, or at least was, the most powerful male in the Underdark. A part from being a Dragon, House Zauath were up and coming in terms of power and influence and whatever Matron Mother Zebeythrae claimed, he was the one in charge of the house, not her. Perhaps he'll be more...accommodating towards a Dragon, I don't honestly know since he's not even met another Dragon as far as I know, but if your circumstances make you more Human then his upbringing makes him Drow, and he has had almost 3 centuries with us."

~MTWC

[Acathala]

Nallaul nods and says calmly. "Yes Fel, I know he's the most powerful male, but I was trying to emphaise how rare it is for non-drow, especially males, to be in such positions." He looks to the others. "It is very rare for males and non-drow to rise to the positions of real power. Even then the patronage of a powerful drow is needed. The usual route to power is through the arcane arts. There are a few talented fighter and assassins, though their advancement is usually limited. Psions are also prized and are rare. My position is due to my Arachnomancy and the so far continuing support of Archmage Xufaer. Thankfully she managed to escape the meeting."
He merely smiles at Mrith, giving nothing away.

[SpatulaOdoom]

Morgan sighs as Mrith continued to try to turn the conversation he'd been having with Nallaul into a verbal battle with her.
Or maybe I understood what you meant about regrets and was simply clarifying my meaning. Maybe you're getting defensive and taking everything in the worst possible light because you're sensitive about your age and situation.
The discussion had obviously gone into fruitless he said she said territory. Nothing further would be gained by continuing it.
”If that's how you choose to view it.”

On the subject of the workings of the Drow society Morgan is far more interested.
"What exactly was your position Nallaul?
I'm surprised the drow allowed someone who is both non drow and male to head up a noble house, even unofficially. What was the difference from the previous house that had to be destroyed and this new one which was allowed to continue?"

[Acathala]

Nallaul shrugged. "I was Xufaer's second in command. That basically translated into anything she didn't want to do and could get out of doing. she passed on to me. I am also an Arachnomancer, which also has it's perks and privileges, since spider worship is a strong part of our culture. You can be punished severely for even just clearing away a cobweb. Killing even the smallest of spiders willl lead to a grusome execution."

On Zekzar he says. "The previous house was breeding half drow and dragon soldiers. It was getting to the point they could have made a serious grab for the entire Underdark, which forced the Noble Houses to act. Zekzar's current House is more a merchantile empire. Zekzar himself made a show of retiring in favour of the current, though now dead, matron. Nobody believes he really gave up power. As far as I'm aware House Zauath hasn't been breeding half drow and dragon soldiers."

[Makenshi]

[SpatulaOdoom]

They head down a flight of stairs, bringing them to the area where the drow contingent is staying. In deference to their guest's light sensitivity the everburning torches in decorative wall sconces that line the hall way have been muffled to a dim glow with bits of cloth. Morgan pauses just inside the entrance, looking over the group. One demigoddess, one godling, two drow, one dragon youth, a squad of royal guardsmen, one seer in need of a drink, and one cat.
”Just so there's no confusion on your situation. Neither of you, nor your sister are our prisoners or anything like prisoners. You've no crimes under our jurisdiction we could charge you with, nor do you present a clear and present danger to the realm.” Even intruding on the grand council had been Shade's fault if someone wanted to complain. ”If you decided to you could go collect your sister and walk free right now. The worst that might happen is a few spies monitoring you from the shadows. So if you do help me with this, and you are certainly not expected to, it's entirely voluntary. In return I'd happily offer the three of you a comfortable place to stay, away from all the soldiers, politicians, and spies. Help you get acclimated to the surface while we hash out what is going on with Tel'shar. I could certainly help you get in touch with Xufaer too, if you don't have a sending spell or Discern Location.”
It would be nice to have a viewpoint other than Xu's, especially when it came to Xufaer.

[Makenshi]

Originally Posted by Morgan

"Just so there's no confusion on your situation. Neither of you, nor your sister are our prisoners or anything like prisoners. You've no crimes under our jurisdiction we could charge you with, nor do you present a clear and present danger to the realm."

Felynda snorts, looking at the seer askew. "Perhaps not, but I wouldn't call us 'free to walk'. We have a giant target on our backs, more-so if not a typo - she's calling her father by his nameTel'shar plans on double-crossing the Fiends, which I wouldn't put past him. Not to mention that from what Nallaul has said the leaders of two of the most powerful Houses, Zekzar of Zauath and Arra'aste of Tor'viir, although I'm more worried about the latter than the former when it comes to our safety." She lets out a frustrated breath. "With everything we know though, this is as good a place as many and far better than most, especially if you are being truthful about Minloth Zilira. I-"

"Is now really a time for splitting hairs?" A playful woman's tone drifts through their minds, obviously telepathy, before a nearby shadow lengthens and grows until it forms the 6ft tall silhouette of a Drow woman, with only her grey eyes providing any variety in shade. Although there was no mouth to see, they could hear the smile, or perhaps smirk, in her voice as she actually spoke this time. "You didn't get the proper introduction before, but the polite man who talked about the Covenant? He's the First Vampire, so if you're worried about that monstrous excuse for a Drow then I suggest you get in Seneca Sol's good books."

Felynda frowns. "And who do-" Before her eyes widen as realisation dawns. "Minl-"

"Finish that name and I'll take out your tongue girlie. My name is Zilira, not Minloth, although I'll accept any suitable appellations such as 'My Goddess', 'Oh Beautiful One' or 'Queen of Midnight' if you insist." She turns her attention immediately to Morgan, leaving a flustered looking Felynda in her wake. "Tsk, tsk. You weren't planning on starting a fight with Hywel without me were you?" Most everyone else didn't seem fazed by the Goddess' sudden appearance, with Rhys once again smiling at Morgan's expense as she turned to the mage.

~MTWC

[SpatulaOdoom]

Morgan makes no reaction to Felynda's gaffe or Zilira's response. He'd warned them about using her first name. If they chose not to listen, so be it.
”Without you? I seem to recall you running off to the underdark without even checking to see if I wanted to come along. I've been wanting to see this drow city ever since I heard of it, so I think I'd remember if I'd been there.”
Morgan wraps his arms around Zilia and gives her a quick kiss.
”Admittedly you do have a way of distracting a man, so I might be wrong.”
He releases the goddess, turning to bring the group in general into the discussion while still addressing Zilira.
”That said, it's pretty impressive that you and the others managed to drive off the fiends, settle any other immediate unrest, and get back in the time it took us to walk across the palace grounds. I take it Deimos didn't feel like hanging around to test his new strength? Are the Children working on the slave situation now?”
That's when he sees Rhys smirking at him.
”Ah. Yes. Haven't quite gotten around to that yet. I'll give you the whole story later, but for the time being... Rhys, meet Zilira. Drow goddess, the Spider in the Dark, the true first queen of Halva, and she who has done me the honour of agreeing to be my fiancee.
Zilira, you know Rhys of course.”
He introduces the two drow to Zilira as well, since she might have had more pressing things to do than keep an eye on the events in the meeting hall during the time they'd shown up.

Morgan can't quite decide whether he's glad Zilira was here or not. It wasn't that he didn't find her presence reassuring, given that their opponent might be more powerful than anticipated. It was more that he'd considered it an opportunity, her first one so far as he knew, for Kala to take the forefront of the fight. To feel the pressure and know what it was to be the lynchpin, without all those older and wiser heads, and stronger arms, around her for her to rely on as she'd always relied on Eve. A part of her education so to speak.

[Acathala]

Nallaul merely smiles when Morgan mentions he's find them somewhere comfortable to live. He already has somewhere.
"You would certainly be one of the few humans to arrive there willingly." Nallaul says to Morgan, Zilira's sudden arrival forestalls his reply to the earlier remarks.
He frowns "If Zekzar and Arra'aste, are for the lack of a better word, still alive, then as Fel says that's problematic. A complete purge would have been better. Those two are in a good position to grab power."
To Zilira he quotes the poet Mukirr , though he keeps his eyes downward."Though wreathed in the shadows, they cannot hide her beauty. It loses something in the common, but the Poet Mukirr wrote that about you long ago, in the poem called simply Zilira. One of the many rumours for his disappearence is that he did not believe that you had died, and set off in search of you. I wonder, did he find you? No matter it's not important. I am Nallaul, Arachnomancer."

When Morgan makes his declaration that Zilira is his fiancee. he doesn't know how to react. "Fiancee. I do not know this word. Is it Halvan? I thought I was conversant in Halvan"

[SpatulaOdoom]

Originally Posted by Nallaul

"Fiancee. I do not know this word. Is it Halvan? I thought I was conversant in Halvan"

Morgan chuckles. Zilira had mentioned that the Drow didn't really do marriage, per say, and the closest equivalent was temporary.
"It's a term for two people that intend to get married. IntendedSo'shiel in the old Elven."
Being related to Drow he might know the Elven term.

[Blue]

Seeing the mage preferred to cower and move on than apologize and acknowledge he had wronged her, she couldn't help but grunt, unimpressed.
Weak.
Nevh saw were things were going and she sent some thoughts to her telepathically. Ideally she'd know what to expect.
Try not to think much of it. He's oblivious to what he says and careless with his speech. Be patient.
Mrith took a short breath as she shook her head.
""I'll choose to remember that you tend to insult people for no good reason whatsoever, moments after they agree to fight by your side. Yes. But I'll try not to hold a grudge. To err is human, as they say."

The topic of Zekzar and his possible empire was interesting, for sure, but the details were getting very impersonal and factual. She'd have to rewrite it down after meeting the dragon to better wrap it all into a nice story. Perhaps make a play of it. It sure felt like it had potential for greatness.

When Zilira appeared, she felt even more confident about going in there for a fight. They were many against Wade and it hadn't changed much. The news of her betrothal was touching.
"My congratulations."

That done, she was ready to get in there and see the problem get dealt with.