There had been whispers in the furthest reaches of the Underdark that heretics no longer ruled Andunor's Drow. Living alone in the wilds and unable to find a guide to another Drow city Cel'yse was miserable. Each cycle took all of her efforts to just eat, there was no time for studies, plans...anything but survival. It was time to go home.
It was not without some dread and a few reservations the former Mage-Matron returned to that haven beneath Arelith that was home to her people. Would she have enemies still ? Would she have a place ? Would she be forgotten ? She had left her daughter behind and other members of her House. Would they harbour resentment or understand why she had to leave ?
So it was that she entered the city in a state that none had ever seen her in. Rough worn clothes, her hair unkempt with no servants to braid it each cycle and brush it the proper 500 strokes. A few lost pounds from her usual chubby figure, now almost slim . Immediately the smells and sounds brought her senses alive. The aroma of roasted rothe meat made her stomach growl as she entered the Hub.
She looked around for dangers as well as familiar faces. Beyond the vendors she saw none she knew. She marched over to the money lender to see if he recognized her, his frown immediately made it clear he had hoped to keep her money. Filling her purse she made way to the Web with thoughts of pleasure, satisfaction and luxury. Oh how long it had been since she had been cooked for, since gentle fingers worked the flabby muscles along her back, since all of her needs were seen to. How she had missed civilization.
A few cycles later she emerged from the Web looking herself, more importantly feeling herself again. She restored her Sorcere badge now that she was no longer a Matron. A cycle or two spent in the Hub speaking to male warriors she quickly grasped the new landscape her home was in. The warriors had never heard of her or House Vh'larra. It appeared her old ally Umrea Fuma'Vhid had seized opportunity and took control and leadership of the district back into Lolthite hands. Strangely the guards still refused her entry into her district , she had been exiled ages ago for the crime of being First Matron when the slaves stole the election and made a Human the district leader. She would need to seek an audience with her old ally. She would need to ask to be allowed back. She no longer had any power, no bargaining chips beyond her natural talents....what would be the price of her return ?
She found a goblin messenger and sent him with a humble request for an audience with the new First Matron. It almost made her sick to think how little power she was going to have in this discussion. Perhaps now she could return to her natural path with the burden of having House Vh'larra dropped on her lifted. Perhaps she could return to the Sorcere and help with the rebuilding of her city ? Perhaps she would be thrown in chains or put to death....Cel'yse would return to the great Sava game of life and hope she remembered how to play...
[to be continued]
Return of an exile.
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Re: Return of an exile.
Umrea Fuma'Vhid was a formidable Drowess. A traditional Lolthite Matron with all the powers of a lethal High Priestess. A House old enough to remember the now lost city of Udos Dro'xun. The House traditionally seemed to care little about their House rank or politics at all unless their noble rights were threatened. This had recently changed.
After her last rival House had collapsed Umrea had seized the reigns of power flexing her House's financial and martial resources. She now had the task of rebuilding and guiding her people but with few in the House interested in ruling. Perhaps Cel'yse could use this to her advantage.
A quick survey of the city had revealed that an old...ally ? one could never be sure, was now Arch Wizard. Her entrance back into the Sorcere (Magic Academy) was swift and easy so long as the First Matron approved. She could join a few other members in working with the district and the other academies. Strengthening their people by preparing the next wave of young Wizards, Sorcerers and the dreaded Warlocks. She could not do this if she chose to become a Matron, they were forbidden to serve in Academies to avoid the obvious potential of abuse for self interest.
The Arch Priestess was the First Daughter of the noble House while a few promising Priestesses were beginning to test her as well as their own political influence. A healthy sign.
On another front a new House, Auvry'ndal was emerging from the ashes of a collapsed one. Their Matron was head of the Kiaransalee faith in the region, a notion that would have been unthinkable in decades past when Lolth held a death grip on her people. Having been brought to it's knees by religious conflict the district very much needed the Temple of Lolth to be....moderate, which this Arch Priestess seemed willing to be. Kiaransalee joined Selvetarm as subservient god's that would be tolerated. An alter had even been permitted into the Temple, interesting times indeed.
The Melee-Magthere (Warrior School) was being revived by three weapon masters who appeared to be sharing control in an uneasy truce while each bided their time before making a move. Two of them were members of this new Kiaran Merchant House. Another healthy sign.
In the time between sending her request for an audience and actually having it Cel'yse had encountered her daughter. Nezina urged her Mother to begin rebuilding the old House Vh'larra, she said there would others who would come to their banner. The Matron of House Auvry'ndal then invited Cel'yse to serve her. She asked both of them for time to think. What to do ?
After making Cel'yse squirm for sufficient time to send the message that Cel'yse was no one of importance Matron Fuma'Vhid finally granted an audience. In the past they had been equals, now they could not be further apart.
The meeting went as well as could be expected. She would be permitted the lifting of her exile, she could return to the Sorcere, in time she could even become a citizen again, in time....... She would be a common Matron because she was not a High Priestess, if she chose to rebuild it. The old rules were being restored. There was of course a price, submission . Numerous tasks including a significant contribution to the district's resource reserves. She of course allowed herself to be dominated, she really had little choice. The price of a place among her people, to matter, was to submit.
Cel'yse went to work....
[to be continued]
After her last rival House had collapsed Umrea had seized the reigns of power flexing her House's financial and martial resources. She now had the task of rebuilding and guiding her people but with few in the House interested in ruling. Perhaps Cel'yse could use this to her advantage.
A quick survey of the city had revealed that an old...ally ? one could never be sure, was now Arch Wizard. Her entrance back into the Sorcere (Magic Academy) was swift and easy so long as the First Matron approved. She could join a few other members in working with the district and the other academies. Strengthening their people by preparing the next wave of young Wizards, Sorcerers and the dreaded Warlocks. She could not do this if she chose to become a Matron, they were forbidden to serve in Academies to avoid the obvious potential of abuse for self interest.
The Arch Priestess was the First Daughter of the noble House while a few promising Priestesses were beginning to test her as well as their own political influence. A healthy sign.
On another front a new House, Auvry'ndal was emerging from the ashes of a collapsed one. Their Matron was head of the Kiaransalee faith in the region, a notion that would have been unthinkable in decades past when Lolth held a death grip on her people. Having been brought to it's knees by religious conflict the district very much needed the Temple of Lolth to be....moderate, which this Arch Priestess seemed willing to be. Kiaransalee joined Selvetarm as subservient god's that would be tolerated. An alter had even been permitted into the Temple, interesting times indeed.
The Melee-Magthere (Warrior School) was being revived by three weapon masters who appeared to be sharing control in an uneasy truce while each bided their time before making a move. Two of them were members of this new Kiaran Merchant House. Another healthy sign.
In the time between sending her request for an audience and actually having it Cel'yse had encountered her daughter. Nezina urged her Mother to begin rebuilding the old House Vh'larra, she said there would others who would come to their banner. The Matron of House Auvry'ndal then invited Cel'yse to serve her. She asked both of them for time to think. What to do ?
After making Cel'yse squirm for sufficient time to send the message that Cel'yse was no one of importance Matron Fuma'Vhid finally granted an audience. In the past they had been equals, now they could not be further apart.
The meeting went as well as could be expected. She would be permitted the lifting of her exile, she could return to the Sorcere, in time she could even become a citizen again, in time....... She would be a common Matron because she was not a High Priestess, if she chose to rebuild it. The old rules were being restored. There was of course a price, submission . Numerous tasks including a significant contribution to the district's resource reserves. She of course allowed herself to be dominated, she really had little choice. The price of a place among her people, to matter, was to submit.
Cel'yse went to work....
[to be continued]
Re: Return of an exile.
After much time and reflection Cel'yse had made her decision. She sent word to Matron Auvry'ndal who received her for audience.
This Matron was an interesting study , one in which Cel'yse had conflicting feelings. By Drow standards she was not even an adult but rather more like a human teenager would be. As a Matron devoted to the Goddess of Magic and Undeath they clearly held some common interests. However her house was very small and seemed like a coalition of different faiths with different goals all under one common banner. It would only be through the charm and guile of this youthful Matron if they were ever to accomplish anything.
Cel'yse had taken the time to get to know the House. The male Weapon Master, Ildan was a fine specimen whom she liked instantly, clearly the attraction was mutual because he quickly propositioned her, as all the males of that House would later try to do.
The first daughter Mebith was also an agreeable personality. A true survivor who had adapted with the changing winds and now found herself a Councillor of the Devil's Table. A warrior with more than one trick up her sleeve Cel'yse could not help but admire her, even if she had old ties to the House that had ruined her.....
Cel'yse found she liked them very much and she could see the appeal of having a wizard of some standing for a Kiaran House, especially one with a merchant past as they were also a Merchant House. Unfortunately she did not want the temptation, so easy to remove the youthful Matron a claim her House, but would that be helpful to the city ? To herself ? Cel'yse did not think so.
In the end the conversation did not go well, the Matron could not see the danger she was inviting into her House. She took offense and became indignant and when Cel'yse left she was glad of her choice. Too young, too rash, perhaps delusional. She would not be a good fit for Cel'yse at this time, that left only one place, the First House....
This Matron was an interesting study , one in which Cel'yse had conflicting feelings. By Drow standards she was not even an adult but rather more like a human teenager would be. As a Matron devoted to the Goddess of Magic and Undeath they clearly held some common interests. However her house was very small and seemed like a coalition of different faiths with different goals all under one common banner. It would only be through the charm and guile of this youthful Matron if they were ever to accomplish anything.
Cel'yse had taken the time to get to know the House. The male Weapon Master, Ildan was a fine specimen whom she liked instantly, clearly the attraction was mutual because he quickly propositioned her, as all the males of that House would later try to do.
The first daughter Mebith was also an agreeable personality. A true survivor who had adapted with the changing winds and now found herself a Councillor of the Devil's Table. A warrior with more than one trick up her sleeve Cel'yse could not help but admire her, even if she had old ties to the House that had ruined her.....
Cel'yse found she liked them very much and she could see the appeal of having a wizard of some standing for a Kiaran House, especially one with a merchant past as they were also a Merchant House. Unfortunately she did not want the temptation, so easy to remove the youthful Matron a claim her House, but would that be helpful to the city ? To herself ? Cel'yse did not think so.
In the end the conversation did not go well, the Matron could not see the danger she was inviting into her House. She took offense and became indignant and when Cel'yse left she was glad of her choice. Too young, too rash, perhaps delusional. She would not be a good fit for Cel'yse at this time, that left only one place, the First House....