[Game Thread] Chapter Seven: Bloodlines

[dalarangreen]

Brood walked into the room impassively...as always. The twin-horned tiefling wore simple, pragmatic black outfit, but it was well-fitted and looked good on the Child. In contrast to the rest of her outfit, the tattered scarf that was tied around Brood's neck made her outfit an unintentional fashion statement. Brood did not typically wear her finest clothing (and when she did, it was quick to get caked with dirt and dust), so she hadn't noticed that her scarf stuck out with its silver embroidery. It had been given to her by Aunt Humility and she always wore it. Even when it made the room uncomfortably hot...

Uncomfortable. There was a word that captured her feelings in the moment. A few minutes earlier, she had been given the opportunity to Perform: 25let loose on her flute with the deadwings rhythm section. It was not her most stellar performance (even with all her training, sometimes she couldn't ignore the eyes of the crowd), but it was still a memorable part of the show, especially for those who had never heard Brood play before. At the beginning she had tried not to stand out, but with everything on her mind, the notes had just started to spill out. Silverforge's warnings about something happening this evening. Potentially involving Eve, the recently beheaded woman who hovered at Kala's side. The Unknown God's supposed revelations. Morgan. Zilara. The coin in her pocket.

Yes, the coin was the biggest conundrum. Given to her by Faces, she had been told to return it to its proper owner. No more clues: typical of the Unknowns. Luckily, Mrith had given her a little direction and suggested she show it to Morgan. But the opportunity had yet to present itself.

With each note of her flute, Brood expressed the feelings she rarely showed upon her face: confusion, anxiety, and curiousity. But also intermixed were moments that captured the essence of the celebration: those fleeting moments of joy, the seemingly ephemeral peace, and the whisper of hope.

It was a more vulnerable performance than she had intended and Brood was almost glad when she had an excuse to leave the stage. But now, standing in the conference room, Brood almost wished she were back on the stage. At least there she had her music. Social gatherings were not her thing.

So Brood did what she did best. Watched and listened. She decided to take up a position against the wall opposite Eve. Brood wasn't sure what to make of Silverforge's warnings. For one, Brood found it difficult to believe the Unknown Gods would be so careless as to let an enemy (if she was an enemy) listen in on this meeting. They had suggested it wasn't a "secret" meeting...

Brood took a deep breath, maintaining her impassive posture. Whatever was about to unfold, she would do her best to be vigilant and prepared.

[Makenshi]

 

"A curious answer coming from you Anorde." Comes a familiar voice from behind Nallaul. Known as Sulion to him, but more commonly as Lady or even the Lady in the Light to the others present. Her eyes shone like miniature suns, albeit much more muted than the last time he'd seen her up close in Feid, where she'd been the one trying to keep the peace between the Archgates and her fellow Unknowns.

Anorde's expression goes from friendly, albeit a somewhat forced friendly, to closed off the instant that Lady speaks. "I wasn't aware you knew me well enough to say that, but then there's a lot we don't know about you, isn't there?"

Sulion smiled sweetly, perhaps even a little too sweetly. "We all have our secrets, don't we? Hopefully we'll manage to explain enough about us to allay your fears. Will Kerberos be gracing us with his presence, do you know, or will you be Fisali's representative here?"

Anorde shrugs. "He's almost as difficult as the Eighth herself. Give him a reason to show up and maybe he will, but for now you'll have to put up with me."

 

After Didina spied Mrith standing apart the Tiefling she waved over to the Ambassador.

 

Brood was once again made to feel uncomfortable as a familiar voice spoke up from behind her. "A pity you had to cut your performance short." Bane had an annoying habit of sneaking up on her like that. He claimed it was to keep her on her toes, but as far as she could tell he did it for his own amusement. He'd even done it to Min, his youngest sister, until she started growing into her own potential and became much harder to sneak up on as a result.

Bane was still wearing the rather odd clothing he'd picked up in Halva. An oddly formal-looking coat which he wore over the mismatched armour so typical of the Children and a wide-brimmed brown hat atop his head that suited neither the coat nor the armour underneath. Not that he cared, of course. "Granted, it was getting a bit drowned out. I could barely hear it from where I was, but it sounded nice. I hope you'll play again when things start to get a bit quieter?" Although he was grinning there was nothing mocking about his tone, so at the very least he was being polite, if not genuine in his praise.

[Acathala]

"I was under the impression that the gods had only one archgate. Is that not the case with Fisali?" Nallaul said in an attempt to defuse the situation before it worsened. He smiles and nods to Sulion, hoping they can talk soon. Tries to be discreet as he looks her up and down, taking in every scandalous detail.

[Makenshi]

Anorde raises an eyebrow at Nallaul's wandering eye but doesn't mention it. "No, she only has the one Archgate, Kerberos. I'm just a Watcher, which is basically a fancy way of saying I'm one of her eyes and ears beyond just being a worshipper of hers. We can't interfere in world events without her permission. If we break that agreement then she'll literally smite us, typically by turning us into an animal along with withdrawing her power from us."

Sulion, who is either unaware of Nallaul's attention or likewise choosing not to mention it, smirks. "Oh, and do you have any special insight into that? A misspent youth where you got in over your head perhaps? I picture you as something with hooves. A goat or a sheep perhaps?" Her tone is more teasing than mocking and yet Anorde obviously doesn't appreciate the comment. For those who'd interacted with him before it was likely the first time someone had seemed to get under the normally relaxed information broker's skin.

"Hardy har little miss sunshine." Anorde glances to Nallaul. "If that's all then I'll leave you two to...'reacquaint' while I go get drunk enough to deal with whatever madness is going to happen soon."

[Acathala]

"I thank you then, watcher Anorde. Our talk has been helpful. I hope you at least enjoy the alcohol." Nallaul said meaning it. He's not even a little embarrassed Anorde caught him looking.
Once Anorde departs, Nallaul turns to Sulion playfully. "I thought Gul had difficulty making friends. You have a reason for provoking him? I doubt it was to have alone time with me. I'm handsome but I know I'm not that handsome, little miss sunshine. Oh I like that name." Nallaul said teasingly to her.

[Blue]

Upon noticing Didina waving at her, Mrith made a small curtsy her way.

She cast a quick glance around the room while suppressing a smile and walked over to join the duo.
In their company she almost but not quite wished she had changed her attire to something more regal. But class could be expressed with so much more than mere cloth.
She maintained her usual elegance and made a bow in a more personal greeting to Didina and another for Misa. Maintaining eye contact with the later was still strangely pleasant. Perhaps an empathic feeling from Nevh's keepsake, who... or which..? still seemed very pleased with the way things had played out. She would send further thoughts to the pair.

[dalarangreen]

Brood's eyebrow twitched. Bane had a way of irritating her, just for the fun of it. Though he rarely got much of a reaction out of her, he seemed to be able to read her cues and it was almost a game for him to see if he could get a larger reaction from her.

Luckily, Bane didn't seem to be trying to play hard ball in the present company.

"Perhaps you should have your ears checked. Have you been listening to the sweet-tongued words of any sirens recently?"

It was a poor retort at best, but Brood wasn't much of a conversationalist. She looked at Bane more closely before trying to change the topic.

"What do you think of referring to the Unknown Gods and the Halvan visitors, but Brood is being unintentionally vague.all this?"

[Makenshi]

 

Sulion gives an unladylike snort. "I'd hardly compare myself to Gul." She glances towards Anorde's retreating form. "No, it's more that old habits die hard I suppose." She gives him a mock annoyed look. "And why am I not surprised that you like that nickname?" She can't hold the face up long before breaking into a chuckle. "Mostly I just don't like sitting around waiting in silence. It's one of the things my brother and I have in common really, although..." That seems to prompt her to check and see what Tinker is up to, who has set himself up at the table where he has seemingly managed to convince [OOC: who is still around as an NPC at the moment]Sei'Adam to put his arm across so that the drowling can examine the shoulder he'd fussed about so much the last time they met. "...well, he shouldn't be able to get into too much trouble right now, so I guess I can relax a little."

 

Didina evidently didn't feel like chancing the quality of whatever bottles had survived the destruction of Edgewater, but she did pull out a bottle of her own from a bag - enchanted no doubt given it seemed smaller than the bottle - and placed it on the table as she looked to Misa and Mrith. "I should have enough spare glasses in here if you two care to join me? It's a Shalian red. Decent vintage, but nothing too extravagant. Just one of many from my father's old stores which came with the house."

 

Bane laughed good naturedly at her own quip. "Hard to say at the moment. The ones who claim to be Children can sure talk the talk, but no one has heard of their Families. Even the others seem a lot more comfortable with us than most Freeborn." He gives a shrug. "We'll just have to see what they've got to say. Granted..." He glances around. "I have to say I'm somewhat surprised father isn't here already, as he's been very keen to find out more about them. It's all well and good that they claim to be on our side, but he doesn't like being in the dark when it comes to potential threats."

[Acathala]

"Oh you and Gul have more in common than you might think. You both saved my life, and I'm very attached to that. Admittedly Gul saved my life because I suspected something was up with the meeting I was invited to, but he still saved it."
He looks over to her brother when she does. "I like your brother actually. Just helped him with one of his ideas." Nallaul looks her directly in the eyes, hopefully not hurting himself in the process. "I think you would do anything for him, just as I would for Tel'shar. That's something we have in common."
He looks away after a moment, his thoughts returning to the dead. If this had been a house social event, and Tel'shar or Xufaer weren't available, he'd probably be talking to Alamen, or at least sticking close by. Possibly Gul, though less so since Nallaul had discovered what hobby Gul was into. That was one of the harder blows to take, as Gul was the closest thing to a son Nallaul had. Really he should have seen it coming when Gul started hanging out with Fairy. Sighing he knows of the people in his "family" would have murdered him, if it meant getting ahead, but he was still going to miss most of them. On some level Nallaul knew that was kind of really messed up.

[Makenshi]

Sulion nods sombrely as Nallaul talks of Tel'shar. "The lengths we go to for those we love, even to protect them from themselves." She looks pensive herself for a moment as he dwells in his own thoughts before speaking again. "I know what its like to lose people, some of whom weren't exactly the best, but they were allies, friends...comrades at least." She looks over to Nallaul. "There's no shame in mourning for them. They don't have a chance to change like you or Xufaer. To grow in this new world. Could they have been better? Overcome their upbringings? We'll never know, and that in itself is tragic. It's why most of the Children tried to save as many as they could, especially the young."

Sulion let out a deep sigh. "As cold a comfort as it is, at least you're not alone. Tel'shar's still alive at the moment and if I was making a list of people who could wriggle out of his current predicament then he'd be pretty near the top of that list. Felynda, Falynfyn and Xufaer too, not to mention many more rescued by the Children. They took them back to the Shadow Plane and have been looking after them as best they can and as best as some Drow will allow. Your people aren't dead. As a whole, as well as some of those close to you. Hold on to that. To the hope of a better tomorrow. It makes the emptiness felt by those left behind sting a little less at least." She had been up front with Nallaul ever since she revealed herself, but this felt like a much more candid conversation to him. He could certainly believe she'd felt some degree of the loss he felt.

[Blue]

Didina's offer was appreciated but Mrith still almost apologetically waved her refusal.
"I'd be surprised if this place could make me any more sober than I currently feel. To say nothing of a dragon's liver... no. It would be a waste of good wine."

Another glance around and, thinking about it, this place kind of reminded her of a similar establishment within which she had fought for her life not so long ago. For some of those who had accompanied her it had been too close a call. Things were actually dangerous, and the impression of being in danger had not yet lost its novelty. A new feeling still too fresh ...Fear couldn't be all that far behind it, she knew, and that wasn't something she could afford to dwell overmuch.
It would feel good to leave this place or, better, show it her kind of mercy by bringing down its walls nice and proper.

[Acathala]

Nallaul puts a hand on her shoulder when she speaks of loss, a gesture that he grieves with her. He wouldn't dare do that in the underdark, as that would invite punishment. "I think I just realised I wasn't going to see most of what we laughingly called a family again. Yes I shall miss some of them."
The wizard removes his hand from her. "I think it's good that the young have been rescued. They have the best chance of adapting to the world. The further from the underdark, the better. I think the exchange knows the future is on the surface too."
He looks at her directly again. "I don't think I ever told you my pet theory about the underdark, did I? I've always suspected it's been a factor in how crazy and evil we are. Think about it, elves were not meant to live underground in darkness. We adapted yes, but what damage did that, along with the fun magical radiation? Plus the darkness made it way easier to do evil. Don't get me wrong Sulion, I'm only saying it's factor, nothing else, not absolution."
Having a think about what else she said, he nods. "I can certainly see some of the "family" on different paths. Definitely not Xul'olin, and if I'm being honest, probably not Gul either, even though he's the closest thing I had to a son. He liked to torture people, and on the surface, he'd probably worse without fear to rein him in"

[dalarangreen]

"The Sword in the Dark is wise to be suspicious of those who keep their machinations so secretive," Brood replies, "Even if they are on our side, whatever pact of silence they have sworn themselves to only implies something even darker looming on the horizon."

Brood scans the room, trying to identify the Unknowns who had arrived already.

"You've met some of them before, have you not Bane? Do you trust them?"

[Makenshi]

 

Didina lets out a tinkering laugh. "My apologies, I so often forget that you're far more than you appear to be. Perhaps I'll have to look into alcohol more beffiting a dragon's palette for the future. I'm sure I remember one Dragonblaze or another mentioning that they had something of that ilk." The tiefling looks around. "Although I suppose I understand your reluctance. If I hadn't heard from Bane of how the Children live then I'd be surprised that this place wasn't the first to be fully repaired and opened. Even then, it seems a shame that this could be the last great gathering held here. Places like this are so often the heart of a community."

 

Sulion's smile is oddly fond as Nallaul explains his theory. "I've heard something similar before, although I'm afraid the truth is somewhat more...boring I suppose. Drow are something akin to trolls I guess you could say: elves corrupted by fiendish influence. Dark elves specifically, and to those who remember there really is a distinction. Our ancestors, the original dark elves, would be ashamed of what became of our people under the guidance of Lolth and others. If you get a chance then ask L'arabiel and she'll be able to tell you more than I could."

Sulion looks concerned as he talks of Xulolin and Gul. "In my experience some people are born 'wrong', others have 'wrongness' forced upon them, and others are a bad day away from breaking. I'm not sure which of those apply to those two, but I doubt there's anything you could of done. Not that you should want to as far as Xulolin's concerned of course." She wrinkles her nose in disgust. "The sooner someone puts an end to that mad warlock and her draegloth son the better. It's a pity the Children didn't catch them."

 

Bane nods in agreement. "Indeed. I don't know the details, but some of what they have said has been of interest for the as a reminder, the twelve Keepers were the first Children freed by the Mother (Airis) and function broadly as repositories of the Children's (mostly) oral traditions and histories and more specifically the ones who watch for the prophecies that she left them with, the most important of which being the First and Last War for which she foresaw the Children would need to prepare for (fighting the Fiends is practice/doing a good deed to them, not war)Keepers as well, so we could be in for quite the spectacle tonight."

Bane later scratched at his stubbly chin as he pondered Brood's question. "Some of them a lot, more of them only in passing. I can't speak for all Freeborn just as no Child can speak for all the Children, but I've seen enough of Morgan to trust him. He's the one who was instrumental in freeing who is the Sword in the Dark's motherZilira from the magical bindings that has enslaved her to the will of Halva's Kings for almost a thousand years. The King is hard to read at times, but he seems trustworthy, as do those he surrounds himself with that I've spent much time around, but then the eldest of the three siblings and the only one of them with children, twins born of an affair (undertaken to maintain her cover at the time) with the later King Kaeyin of SharakCipher has long been the better judge of character than me."

[Acathala]

"I'm somewhat of a Drow historian myself. Though what I cover is distinct from the period before they entered the underdark." Nallaul comments, making a mental note to indeed talk with the god. "Oh a theory similar to mine? What was it? Wait, you smile with such fondness. Should I be jealous? Lighting up somebody else's life have we?" Nallaul places his hands over his chest where his heart should be, joking that he's heartbroken.
When talk turns to Xul'olin again, Nallaul's face hardens. "I'm pretty sure she isn't as insane as she appears to be. If you have the chance, put her down hard. Just don't underestimate her. She may not be a threat to you or your kin, but she's fully capable of doing mischief to other people before you take her down. I'm damned lucky she didn't realise I had a phase door. Otherwise I would not be here."
The wizard let out a sigh. "I'm just wondering if we shouldn't be worried about Triss. It's unfortunate she was saved."
Feeling the conversation has gotten way more serious than he would like, Nallaul leans in to whisper in her ear. "So then your divine luminescence, bringer of light to the shadows of the heart, this lowly mortal desires the pleasure of her company at his mansion, to share time with her in her radiance, after this meeting has ended, in a desire to know her more fully, to set aside the worries of the world for a while."