Dark Flower III, Ch. 8: Out of Favor

[Mikayla]

Dark Flower III, Chapter 8

Out of Favor.

The pleasure den known as the House Unnamed sat on a middle-layer of Ched Nasad’s great web, comfortably nestled in an enormous calcified cocoon surrounded by a metal fence twice as tall as a drow. Sheyreiza was nestled inside the House on a plush divan in a semi-private side room but she was far from comfortable; for an eight-cycle she had been unable to contact or feel her goddess. No spell that she cast ever returned to her mind no matter how long she prayed or what she sacrificed. She was out of favor with Lolth and in this city that was a death sentence.

Though eight cycles had passed no one knew she was out of favor yet. Until they did, Sheyreiza had the opportunity to discover what her transgression was and to atone for it. So far she had been incredibly successful at keeping her loss of favor a secret, but she knew that would not last forever; and as soon as someone else found out, she would be slain. Or worse. Nobles who lost the love of their goddess were often transformed into driders. The mere thought of living life as one of those mad, slavering abominations was enough to make Sheyreiza seriously consider suicide.

At the moment, however, she had to maintain appearances. She had to live like an arrogant noble priestess-princess whose whims were commandments, whose word was law and whose wrath was death. Reclining in the House Unnamed, she was doing her best to appear as just such a creature. She and her murder-team were partaking in a decadent excursion; they drank azure wine, ate rare mushrooms and rothe meat, nibbled on delicate cheeses, and enjoyed the massages and physical attentions of the House Unnamed’s staff. All around her the murder-team was enjoying itself, talking, laughing, scheming, plotting. Sheyreiza, however, imbibed as little as possible, and though she forced herself to appear relaxed, she was constantly alert. Her beautiful almond shaped ruby-red eyes scanned the dark corners of the house, kept watch on the door ways, and darted towards every sudden movement. Her mind was even more active; what had she done to displease the Goddess? More importantly, what could she do to regain Lolth’s favor?

The entry way opened and a male rushed in. Shouts could be heard and there was the distinct sound of metal on metal. Sheyreiza was up in a flash, as were the rest of her murder-team. She cast a look at her males. “Vedo, see what is amiss.” He nodded and slipped outside, returning just seconds later. “A priestess has been attacked, Yathtallar. By slaves.”

Slaves openly attacking a priestess? In the city streets? It was almost inconceivable. Indeed, until she heard him say it, she would never have believed it possible; unless there was an uprising of course. Slave revolts were not unheard of in Ched Nasad. From time to time one bunch of slaves or another would fight back against their dark elf mistresses and masters. No revolt had ever seriously threatened the city, but a few noble houses had suffered badly from time to time. If this was such a revolt, it was Sheyreiza’s duty as a high priestess to help put it down. Indeed, as a high priestess, it was her duty to protect and avenge her sister-priestess outside; Lolth might encourage her priestesses to compete amongst themselves, but never was a drow to take the side of non-drow against other drow.

Sheyreiza, however, was out of favor and going into combat would be extraordinarily dangerous; even if she was not killed outright, her lack of casting would draw attention to her weakness. Still, it would be even more alarming to her murder-team if she did nothing.

“Outside!” She ordered. “Now! Find the priestess, guard her, slay the slaves!” She was already moving out the door as she yelled, the ancient bone-handle of Lolth’s Blessing in her grip.

The metal gates of the House Unnamed’s fence stood open and just beyond them an ogre and a few bugbears were kicking and beating a crumpled, battered and bloody drow female. Sheryeiza snarled in rage and set upon them. The first bugbear went down quickly as the spiked head of Lolth’s Blessing, wrapped in black flame, caved in its furry head. The ogre came at Sheyreiza swinging an enormous club. It showed no fear or hesitation despite being faced with a wrathful high priestess. Vedo called out to Selvetarm and set upon the creature. Sheyrezia slipped the ogre’s attack and brought Lolth’s Blessing down upon his forearm, snapping it. The ogre howled in pain and fled. Sheyreiza turned on the other bugbears and attacked them while Vedo ran down the ogre and killed it. Faerylene slipped through the melee and cast a healing upon the downed female, but it was too late. The woman was already dead.

As Sheyreiza fought with the bugbears she noticed a large orc or half-orc watching the battle with great interest and little fear. When the last of the large hairy goblinoids was dead, she turned to face the orc, but he was gone. Vedo returned a moment later. “The ogre is slain.” He announced. “But there was another, an orc I think, that may have been with them. Maybe a scout, maybe their leader.”

“I saw him too.” Sheyreiza replied, peering around for any sign of other hostile slaves. “Did you see where he went?”

Vedo nodded. “Down to the lower layers.”

Sheyreiza knelt over the dead woman’s body and ran her hands around its neck until she found the woman’s house symbol. “She was Agrach Dyrr.” Sheyreiza announced as she examined the adamantine rune. “Faerylene, you and Phaere, have the body taken inside. Tell the proprietor to contact Agrach Dyrr and have them retrieve it. We are going after that orc.” Sheyreiza knew she should not be pursuing the orc into the lower levels without a much larger party if there was rebellion afoot; and definitely not without the favor of the Goddess with her. Her rage and indignation overcame her common sense, however. Perhaps this is how I will atone, she rationalized.

The pursuit was futile. Though they spotted the orc quickly after descending one level, the wily creature spotted them as well. He raced down through more layers and slipped into the crowded, chaotic merchant bazaar that spanned the space between the east and west gates of the city. Sheyreiza and her murder-team lost him amongst the numerous colorful and dangerous denizens of the market. Unable to track their quarry, Sheyreiza pulled her team out of the lower layers. They made their way up through the city’s webs towards Qu’ellar Auvryndar, stopping briefly at Zhennu Orbb where Sheyreiza reported the incident.

Back at the Qu’ellar, Sheyreiza dismissed her murder-team and prepared for a hot-bath. So far as she could see, none of her subordinates had yet realized she was out of favor. Neither had her sisters or any of the other priestesses of the house. Were they all so blind? Was Sheyreiza such a good actress? It seemed improbable but she knew that if her weakness had been discovered she would likely be dead already; hesitation and mercy were virtually unknown among the drow.

Celuldor interrupted Sheyreiza’s bath preparations. “I have news sister.” He said, unable to repress a mischievous smile. “Very important news that you will want to hear.” Sheyreiza brought him into the steaming bath chamber and secured it.

“So, what is this news dear brother?” She asked, somewhat distracted by the days events.

“Your sister, Yathtallar and First-Daughter Shalen, is out of favor with the Goddess.” He could barely restrain a laugh. “This cycle, during ceremonies, she was unable to perform her duties as high priestess. Oh, now, she attempted to cover up her inability and make excuses, and because she is a Yathtallar, we had to accept them. But its clear she is not receiving spells from the Goddess any longer.” Sheyreiza’s face went pale-gray. Her mouth hung-open, silent, expressionless. Celuldor frowned a bit as he searched her eyes. “Sister, this is not exactly the reaction I thought I would get from you. This is great news. The time to move Shalen out of your path is …”

“Celuldor.” Sheyreiza interrupted in a low, urgent voice. “Listen to me and listen to me now. Recall all of Auvryndar’s troops. Every house member, noble or common, who is off duty and outside the house – have them recalled immediately. Do this quickly and quietly. Let no one know. Also, double the wall guard immediately, but do not let outsiders see what is going on. And get the rest of the troops on alert, but let no outsider see. And most importantly, ready your wizards.”

The mage flinched at Sheyreiza’s words. “Sister, I can command my wizards but not the house troops. You are a Yathtallar of course, but these commands are for Gal’tera; by the Matron’s orders she is the commander of the house forces.”

“Ghal’tera is not a Yathtallar, and I am. Give her the orders in my name. As for the Matron, I will take full responsibility – she will have my blood if she chooses. Now, brother, do what I say. Do it well and do it quickly and quietly or we may all be lost.”

Celuldor stood, his face skeptical, but he nodded. “As you command sis…Yathtallar.” The wizard strode quickly from her presence, his staff now leveled in hand as if for battle.

Sheyreiza gathered up her things and left the bath chamber. She descended through the house and made her way to the throne room. The matron’s pet vampire guardians were there. “Inform the Matron that I need to speak with her immediately.” Sheyreiza ordered.

The guardians exchanged looks. Never in all her years had Sheyreiza issued such an order to them; the Matron was far above being ‘summoned’ by anyone, even her high-priestess daughters. But there was something in Sheyreiza’s tone and eyes; the urgency, the danger was palpable. One of the vampires nodded and retreated through the gates that led down to the Matron’s crypts.

A few minutes later Shyntlara appeared, anger already written across her face. Her five-headed whip of fangs wriggled in her black hands. “Why do you dare disturb me daughter?”

“Honored Matron, I must ask you a question. I will not ask your forgiveness, but I will ask that you answer the question. Our survival may depend upon it.” Before the Matron could respond Sheyreiza asked. “Matron, are you out of favor with Lolth?”

Shyntlara's eyes went wide with fury and she screamed in rage. The whip of fangs lashed out and ripped open long gashes on Sheyreiza’s shoulder and cheek, dropping her to her knees. “Blasphemy! How dare you? I will flay you alive for asking me that!” Shyntlara snarled, advancing on Sheyreiza and raising the whip-of-fangs to strike again.

“Matron mother!” Sheyreiza quickly yelled through tears of pain, “I ask because I am out of favor, and so is Shalen.”

The whip stopped in mid arc. Shyntlara gazed down upon her daughter silently; her eyes still wide but with no rage, just shock. “No.” She whispered.

“Yes.” Sheyreiza answered softly. “And I suspect Xenia, Faerylene and all the others are as well.” It was clear why none of her sisters had noticed Sheyreiza was out of favor; all the priestesses were too busy trying to cover up their own secrets.

The matron turned away from Sheyreiza. “For an eight-cycle I have been praying. I have secretly sacrificed hundreds of our slaves and other creatures. Even some of our own. And yet, She does not answer my prayers. I cannot feel the Goddess.”

“None of us can Matron.” Sheyreiza swallowed, and closed her eyes as tears ran. “House Auvryndar is out of favor.”

[Burt]

Pwnd.

By the way, I was never at the slave thing. Misinformation!

[Mikayla]

Sorry - I do not have the log and I could not remember if it was Pharaun or Vedo that was there so I put them both in. I will excise Pharaun post haste....

EDIT: Fixed.

[Zakharra]

Xas.. Very nice.