Dark Flower III, Ch. 13: Of Demons and Drow...

[Mikayla]

Dark Flower, Book III

Chapter 13: Of Demons and Drow...

[Author's Note: Once again I am having to reconstruct events without logs, so the story below is based upon what occurred, but is not word-for-word accurate, though the story line is true enough. My thanks, as always, to the DMs and players in NU.]


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Mounds of sudsy soap and torrents of near-scalding hot water washed away the grime of the abyss and eased the aches in Sheyreiza’s body. Nothing was going to wash away the memory of what Hartex had done to her, however. In return for transporting her to where the demonweb pits had been, she had offered herself to the demon for one day. Of course, as Hartex pointed out, a day in the abyss is not like a day on the prime. Sheyreiza had no way to be certain, but she was fairly sure the day she had spent being raped and used by Hartex had actually lasted at least a ten-day, and maybe longer. That was the way it went when you bargained with demons.

Of course, bargaining with Sheyreiza was not a simple or safe affair either. After her long bath and a complete cycle of sleep and reverie, Sheyreiza sought out her adopted daughter Faerylene. Faerylene was part of the demon’s bargain; Hartex had asked to do as he pleased with the girl upon his return to the prime; Sheyreiza had not hesitated to make the deal. Faerylene’s life was a small price to pay for insight as to what had happened to the Goddess. Still, treating with Sheyreiza was not unlike treating with demons – one had to very, very careful.

“You wished to see me?” Faerylene asked as she presented herself to Sheyreiza.

The beautiful high priestess sat in a high backed chair in the noble bath chambers of the Auvryndar. “Indeed. Have a seat.” Sheyreiza gestured to the plush couch opposite her throne like chair. “I had to make a bargain with the demon to get what I wanted in the abyss.”

“For our return?” Faerylene interjected.

Sheyreiza frowned slightly. “That was not my primary goal, but yes, for your return also.”

“Is the bargain why you were gone so long?”

Sheyreiza nodded again. “Yes. But my absence was not the only price.” She paused and took in Faerylene’s pretty, but all too naïve face; it would be interesting to see how Faerylene reacted to the news she was about to receive. Some might panic, others might rage, others still might act. Sheyreiza hoped Faerylene was one of the latter. “Part of the price was you. The demon asked to be allowed to do with you as he pleased when he returned to our world.”

Faerylene’s mouth dropped and her face went pale grey. “You gave me to him?”

“Yes.” Sheyreiza said simply. There was no point hiding the truth. Indeed, revealing the truth was turning out to be rather entertaining. Seeing the look of shock and horror cross Faerylene’s face was worth telling the poor girl the truth by itself. Of course, Sheyreiza was not telling Faerylene all of this for the simple, transitory pleasure of scaring her; Sheyreiza was telling her because Sheyreiza treated with demons as demons treated with her. “Now, I have given you to him. But, I have also told you that this is to occur. You are now forewarned. He may come to our world in a year, or ten, or he may come tomorrow. You know now, however, so you should act.”

Faerylene blinked. She was obviously still in shock and it took her a second to register what Sheyreiza was telling her. “What ... what should I do?”

Good girl. Think. Plan. Act. “Well, if I were you, I would move before he does. If I were you, I would summon him before he gets to our world on his own. I would summon him, trap him, and negotiate my way out of this.”

Faerylene’s eyes lit up and Sheyreiza could tell the message was not lost on the young priestess. “But, I am not yet a Yathtallar. I do not know the prayer-spells that would summon or trap a demon as powerful as Hartex.”

Sheyreiza smiled beautifully, almost warmly. Faerylene was thinking rather than reacting blindly and emotionally. This pleased Sheyreiza. “Fortunately for you, there is a merchant in the noble-bazaar, just below Zhennu Orbb, who sells scrolls that will enable you to summon the demon. Also fortunately for you, Celuldor has a permanent magical circle capable of holding such a demon in the room next to his quarters. As we have both seen the circle holding demons before, even powerful ones like Glabrezu, we both know the circle is adequately made. If I were you, I would go study up, quickly, on demon summoning and controlling. Then I would go to the merchant in the bazaar, purchase those scrolls that I need, and then use Celuldor’s inscribed circle to perform the summoning and trapping.”

The young priestess nodded urgently. “But, will Celuldor let me use his circle?”

“Celuldor is currently quite mad, though possibly of his own doing, and is not really in a position to protest is he?”

“Of course.” Faerylene responded. “Mother, if you ... since you gave me to Hartex, why are you telling me this? I mean, why give me to the demon, but then tell me?”

“I gave you to the demon to get what I wanted.” Sheyreiza replied, still smiling. “I am telling you what I did now because I never promised the demon I wouldn’t. If you are worthy of being my daughter, you will take the information I have given you and use it to your advantage. If you survive the demon, you will have proven yourself worthy. If you fail, you were not worthy. Either way, I have lived up to my bargain with the demon and tested my daughter at the same time.”

“I understand mother. I..I should go, I have much to do.” The young priestess rose from the couch hurriedly.

“Remember Faerylene,” Sheyreiza cautioned sternly, “I did not have to give you this opportunity. I could have simply let the demon take you.”

Faerylene bowed her head slightly. “Yes mother, I will remember. Thank you.”

“I expect something in return.” Sheyreiza continued.

“Oh?” Faerylene stepped forward, genuinely intrigued.

“If you survive this test, if you go on to be a Yathtallar, and if someday you are worthy to replace me and your knife finds my back, I expect you to treat my body as a high priestess should be treated. I wish to be cremated in the traditional way, in my regalia, with the dignity due a Yathtallar of my standing.”

Grim determination set in Faerylene’s face. “Of course mother.” She bowed. “It will be done as you say.”

Satisfied, Sheyreiza leaned back in her great chair and smiled, crossing her legs seductively. “Now, run along. You have a lot of work to do and no idea when the demon might come.” Faerylene thanked Sheyreiza again, bowed and exited. Sheyreiza wondered if Faerylene would really live up to that vow. Probably, she thought. She probably will. Of course, she probably will not live to see the opportunity, but if she does, then yes, probably she will do it. This gave Sheyreiza some comfort. Dignity in death was one of her biggest concerns, not only for herself, but for others as well. The necromantic practices of Auvryndar were abhorrent to her. Indeed, it was probably those very practices which gave Sheyreiza such an unusual reverence for the dead. Most high priestesses like her were all to happy to abuse the dead if it meant an advantage, or even if it was just amusing. Sheyreiza was different; if it was in her power, she would grant some measure of dignity to all the dead, even her enemies. Save for those who had proven themselves to be corpse-despoilers of course. Those who defiled Auvryndar’s dead were exempted from Sheyreiza’s largesse, such as it was.

Sheyreiza rose from the chair and left the noble quarters. Now that she was back from the abyss, there was much to do and little time in which to do it.

[Vendrin]

Gah to short. I had set myself up for a nice long read.

Hurry on the next one!

[Mikayla]

Sorry Ven - after the lack of comments for my last few chapters I have started to think folks aren't reading them anymore. I figured maybe if I made each installment a little shorter more folks might read them. Originally I had intended this chapter to include the above exchange, some interaction with Celuldor ('the Seeds!') and then the fate of our dear Phaerun. Seeing the lack of response to the latest chapters, however, I decided to go for pint-sized entries rather than my usual chapter-length entries. Sorry to have dissappointed.

[wvincenti]

Cruel, yet offering a chance at saving one's neck. And she'll be too busy worrying about the demon for awhile to think about sticking a knife in your back.
I like it.

Sort of like a cat playing with its food.



-Bill

[Rumple C]

I read them. I advise everyone to get enough nutrition, including vitamin E (evil). Mikaylas story provides your recomended daily dose.

The demon sex is just a bonus.

[Vendrin]

Sorry Ven - after the lack of comments for my last few chapters I have started to think folks aren't reading them anymore. I figured maybe if I made each installment a little shorter more folks might read them. Originally I had intended this chapter to include the above exchange, some interaction with Celuldor ('the Seeds!') and then the fate of our dear Phaerun. Seeing the lack of response to the latest chapters, however, I decided to go for pint-sized entries rather than my usual chapter-length entries. Sorry to have dissappointed.

Ah we enjoy reading them Mik, but if we say great story to much you might get an overinflated ego.

The actual reason is I only check the library rarely and read up anything I have missed. So I only comment on the latest story.

[alynnrobinso]

*crawls through library like desert*

Need...more...must...have...more...story...

-alynn

[Zakharra]

EEekk! New story! *reads*

You got it pretty close to what happened and Faerylene's reaction. Being told that you ere now a demon's plaything is a shock to anyone, especially to the young drow priestess that teased the demon in question. The next few sessions that came off of that little bit of information that Sheyreiza just told my priestess, Faerylene, was among the more rememberable ones. I still have the log of that discussion I think.

Way to go Mik!