Faeryl

Oh how I hate this stinking surface world. How I detest the humans, the elves, the half breeds and other Drow tainted by the surface. Once more I was arrested. Once more on trumped up charges. Stupid authorities. Strange. For once they actually had me. I did kidnap and torture Jaraxle Von?Sah. But in their eagerness to get at Vierna through me, they forgot one fundamental thing. You need actual proof. Idiots!

The most frustrating thing about being incarcerated, was it delayed my studies and preparations to defy Vierna. I do not know how long she can last. I can see the signs that she is being worn done. It is not so obvious to those who do not know her as well I. But she cannot keep covering things up for ever. Once this gets noticed Vierna becomes extremely vulnerable from both inside and outside. I cannot allow this to happen. And so despite what she says?.I will defy her?I will raise a demon!

It will be very soon. I have all the artefacts I need. I have learned and memorised the ritual. It will be performed in Lloth?s Temple so that the Dark Mother can give me added protection. I cannot afford to fail else my life is forfeit. Now there is only one thing left to do?find the true name of a demon to summon!!!

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Faeryl

Where is she?

Where is Vierna?

No one has seen her for a near tenday now. Where in the name of Lloth has she gone? She was last seen heading towards Vesper, but why was she going there? She has no interests in that place.

Did the Duchy get her by some fluke? The guards claim not. This would seem to be true. Certainly she is not held in their prison, not unless they have some secret place that is unknown to us. No not them. It is too high a profile capture to keep quiet for so long.

The Von?Sah and Moiraine then? No! Impossible! Firstly they fear her too much to make such an attempt. Secondly, they do not have the intelligence to keep such a capture secret. No if it was them, they would be taunting us. No. It is something else.

She has been secretly meeting with some. Could she have made a mistake? Allowed herself to be taken by one she has met? If so, why do they keep it quiet?

There is only one explanation left. I am too late. The delay in finding a demon?s true name has been too much. That which torments her sleep has finally taken her. I have failed! Dear Lloth I hope I am wrong, I hope I still have time. No. I cannot believe that this is what has happened.

Vierna, where are you?

Please Lloth, help me find her??tell me she is not dead!

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Faeryl

And still she is missing!

I fear she is dead.

No news of sightings, no reports claiming her capture or death, no signs of her body. Nor has she returned home. My mother demands answers. She claims Lloth has told her she still lives and I must therefore continue the strategy that Vierna has set out. Dear mother, I think I know now what has happened, you work it out for yourself?.bitch!

Vierna has gone into the Abyss to confront that which calls her. There can be no other explanation. That leaves me with a problem. Part of me hopes she does not survive, part of me hopes she does. If she does not survive, it means I must take on dear sister Maya alone. That is not an option just now, she is too strong for me. That is why I need her to survive.

But what else do I need her for? Nothing. Time for me to prepare a long term strategy in the event she does not return. Time for me to think completely of myself alone. Time for me to get allies of my own?to make ME stronger!

I have made a start. That hated guard dog of Vierna?s, the moody one. She made a mistake. She slipped further into apathy because Vierna remains missing. So I seized my chance, now she is safely locked away. Out of sight, out of mind?literally.

Malafae is the one to watch. In Vierna?s absence it is my right to lead. But she has big ambitions that one. So I must gather allies around me and make sure if she tries anything?.she will lose.

This could work very much to my advantage. If I show strong leadership then my mother might begin to realise what an asset I am to her. Maybe be I will win her higher favour. And if that happens???.

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Faeryl

This is not as easy as I thought.

Vith! I do need Vierna!

And yet if she returns, she?s sure to kill me. Kill me for being stupid, kill me for being weak. Vith it all!

I thought I had smoothed things over with the yellow town. The captain, Kaelyn, is reasonable to deal with, unlike others. Perhaps the fact she is female makes things more workable. Anyway the air was cleared and a solution agreed upon. One up to me Vierna. Then that idiot male goes and ruins it.

First he brings me that puppet drow Duchy guard. What use is a broken wreck of a male drow to me? A human slave?..lower even than a Von?Sah! I told the male to get rid of him, I wanted no part in what he had done. The guard stupidly thought this was amusing, so I whipped him a few times for his insolence. I ordered the male to get rid of the guard. Told him not to be so stupid and to stay out of trouble. Then it got worse!

For all the warnings and threats to leave the half breed child alone, the stupid brainless male still defied me and hurt her. Now all the work I had done collapsed. The inevitable happened just as I knew it would. That little brat had wormed her way in with so many fawning humans that when word got out, the Nine Hells opened its doors. Now drow have become fair game for retaliation. How am I going to sort this one out? Vith! One orc brained male and one obnoxious bitch child equals one almighty vith up! I will kill that male when next I see him.

Then things got better.

First one of the new followers captured a previously unknown Von?Sah. She brought him to me, another pitiful excuse for a male. Yet another Von?Sah humiliated, tortured and branded in Lloth?s glory. It made me feel a little better. Then Malafae captured the biggest prize. Iym?iara Von?Sah!

This just about put me in a better mood. Kalannar?s daughter is now in my hands. Stashed away in a secure place, far from spying eyes. Only the male Von?Sah knows we have her, not that it matters. He has no clue where she is, nor will he or anyone else find out where. Only I know how to get access to this place! Now I have her and she is destined to rot here. She will never see the surface again!

Vierna may want to kill me when she returns and sees the mess I have made. But now all may not be lost. For now I have a prize to bargain with????..

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Faeryl

I think I have managed to carry out a damage limitation exercise.

News came to me that two of Vierna?s followers were in jail. I then received a note from Captain Kaelyn, from another follower, asking that we should meet to resolve the issue. This I was happy to do, especially when the arrested pair were in fact innocent. Still it gets harder to assure the Duchy authorities of innocence when idiot males act with such insolence and stupidity. Throw in a doe eyed obnoxious half breed ???.

I got the females released. Negotiations hinged on Lil?Alure?s accomplice and an assurance that Duchy citizens would be left alone. I had no problem giving up the male?s associate. I have no time for the bitch anyway. That was another mistake the male made. I warned him off fraternising with Von?Sah females. I still cannot be completely sure she was the one, but I felt no qualms in selling her. She will never be one of us, no matter how hard she tries to worm her way in. Kaelyn seemed happy with the name and that satisfied her.

Once more I re-iterated that it was not in Vierna?s interests to cause trouble with the human citizens. I stressed that our only dispute was with non compliant drow and that as long as there was no outside interference, no harm would come to anyone. I pointed out that on her part, Kaelyn should advise the male drow recruit to keep his nose out of drow affairs. Lets hope he gets the message, but then he is male after all???

Which brings me to something else I have noticed. Something I must keep a close eye on. All the while I was talking to Kaelyn another drow male, whom I overheard being called Aranthir, was hovering by the door like some fly over a turd. Clearly he was listening in. I have noticed him before. Noticed him getting cosy with that ignorant drow guard and the equally ignorant Korith Von?Sah. He is up to something. Either that or he just likes male company. Hmm what a disgusting thought.

After I had cleared the air with the Duchy, I met up with the half breed?s guardian. I managed to smooth things out with him also. He was clearly suspicious of my motives, but I really do not want any harm to come to the brat. It is just not in my interests. I think I managed to convince him off that. Hopefully now with these irritations out of the way. I can get back to the real business in hand???

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Faeryl

I am out of Vierna’s favour. She found out what Xun’riia and I were up to. Jhulae opened her big mouth and told all, as I knew she would. She whipped me soundly. Not for going against her, that is expected. But for being stupid. Yes, I have been stupid. We both know we need each other to depose Maya and our mother. And just now, Vierna is too strong for me. Too high in Lloth’s favour. Time to start again. You have my loyalty dear sister, for the moment at least.

The half breed brat went missing again. Of course the finger of blame was immediately pointed at Vierna’s followers. Fortunately it was easily demonstrated that this was an act which was against Vierna’s interests. The perpetrator was soon established to be a male drow called Nil’tyrr. Vierna authorised his take out.

Not only was the half breed brat missing, so too was a human female. Despite best efforts over several days, no trace of them could be found. His house was watched, but it remained empty. The fact that the brat had been taken angered me. She has something I need. I will have my revenge on him whether authorised or not! Then out of the blue, the brat and the female were seen staggering towards the gate of the yellow town. They had both been badly tortured.

What is it about the male drow psyche? They know they are inferior to the female and whilst most retain the proper attitude and accept their position, some like Nil’tyrr feel a need to rebel. And in doing so they lose all. I blame this accursed surface world. They look and see the human male appear dominant and think that they can be the same. How stupid they are! And this one, Nil’tyrr was stupider than most. His choice of victim tells much about his psyche.

A child and a human female. Selected for abuse and torture. What does that tell us? It tells us that he is completely inadequate, both mentally and sexually! He knows he cannot dominate or satisfy a mature drow female so he turns to what he sees as weaker than him. A child and a young human female. If he thought he was better than he is, he would have chosen as his victim something stronger than himself. But he did not. For he is a male drow. Weak. Inferior. Cowardly. Inadequate.

From what I saw of the injuries, his methods were crude and immature. No subtlety at all. Another sign of inadequacy. The suggestion is the that young female snapped and turned on her tormentor. Another sign of weakness. She overcame him and killed him. Another sign of inferiority. Most now think it is over. Perhaps she did kill him rather than just leave him for dead. If he still lives, Lloth send him to me!

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Faeryl

With the aid of a blacksmith, Xun’riia successfully melded the blackrock into the blade. She then spent several days in practice. It was during this period that I noticed something was not right. Xun’riia was becoming distant, distracted. She also at times seemed nervous, jumpy, as if she was being watched. Maybe it was me. After Vierna had dealt with me I took my anger out on Xun’riia. She should never have said anything to Jhulae. She had to be disciplined, she had to know I will not tolerate betrayal. She accepted that, and now, things are back they way they were. Or so I thought.

This nervousness, this distraction. Was it my actions that caused it? Does Xun’riia now fear me too much? Whether it was my desire to get one over Vierna or my desire for something else I know not, but Xun’riia and I had become close. Now she seems detached. All my enquiries about what was the matter with her were dismissed. But I could see she was hiding something from me and I had to get to the bottom of it.

Then the words of Jyslin came back to me…."She’ll turn against you, just as you turned her. They always do." Was she right? Here was a drow unused to the ways of Lloth. A follower of Eilistraee who came to me alone and trusting. And what did I do? I totally destroyed her innocence! Taught her to hate, taught her to kill, taught her to……She can never again be the Xun’riia she was before she met me. No more innocence, no more trust.

I watched her carefully from a distance. If she was going to betray me again, I would know before she did. No one gets a second chance. Then I realised as I watched, it was not me but something else. I confronted her, demanded to know what ailed her. Once more she stalled and prevaricated but I sensed something. I brought her down to the dungeon. Saw the fear in her eyes as memories returned to her. Then she broke! The voices she said. She could not understand how I could not hear the same. Then I knew for certain……the blade!

The blackrock melded blade had taken her over, had got inside her head. It was now only a matter of time before the blade would have complete control over her. I had to stop it. I demanded she handed over the blade and secured it from her with a struggle. I quickly locked it away in a metal chest, but she could still hear the voices, demanding her attention. We left the dungeon, we left the house but still she could hear. So I took her away to a secret place, far from the house……..the voices stopped.

That night, far from anywhere, among other things we began to make plans. Xun’riia must dominate the blade. The blade must not dominate her!

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Faeryl

Back on this stinking surface once again!

When the message came that our mother wanted to see us, a wave of delightful thoughts went through my mind. I was going home! My bitch sister was in trouble! My only regret was I could not take Xun’riia with me. No time to tell her.

As it turned out my feelings of pleasure soon turned sour. Vierna, the bitch, was not in trouble……just the opposite. Vith it! No. My mother, an even bigger bitch than my sisters, wanted to speak to us face to face. She issued us with precise instructions on moving to the next stage. She was pleased with progress so far. I could see the smug look on Vierna’s face out of the corner of my eye as mother lavish faint praise. It turned my stomach in hatred! Vierna must be so high in Lloth’s favour just now, she’s almost untouchable. One day dear Vierna I will wipe that smugness from you…..mark my words!

The only thing that eased the disgust at returning to the surface was seeing Xun’riia again. I am confused as to why I should feel this way. Whether it is because she was brought up different to me or whether it was because through me I corrupted and moulded her to the way she is, I do not know. But one thing is certain, she is the only drow I can my back on and know I am safe.

Something is wrong. There is no sign of her. Where is she? Before I left, we were deep in experimenting with blackrock. It effected her badly. Has this continued to effect her? Despite the precautions and the wards I secretly placed on her, did she still fall foul to something unpredictable? Or perhaps she is deep in hiding. My sudden departure may have panicked her. Knowing I was not around to protect her, she has gone to ground waiting for my return. That being the case, it will not be long before we are re-united.

That pathetic specimen of drow Nil’tyrr still hides from us. What a contemptible spineless male you are. Lower than even a Von’Sah. You are a disgrace to all things drow. Gutless, impotent and inadequate! That is what you are. Face me impure drow. Face your worst nightmare. Face your destiny!

Dear Lloth what have I done, me your dedicated priestess. Why do you hold from me the two things I want most just now. Deliver me those two and I shall be your devoted handmaiden till the end of time. I implore you!

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Faeryl

At last I found my Xun’riia, but not the way I wanted. She was in the dungeon, lying on the floor, filthy, bedraggled and mumbling incoherently. Something was terribly wrong. I noticed her eyes kept changing, I had seen this condition before, that concerned me greatly. Once I had got her calmed and coherent, I then got her cleaned up. She stank worse than the average human, almost to the level of an orc. She could not remember a thing from the time I left till the time I found her. All she would say was some vague reference to searching in the mountains.

Once cleaned and refreshed, I set about finding out what was going on in Xun’riia’s head. Using my powers of sorcery, I entered her mind and saw things that perturbed me greatly. Somehow despite the protections I had given her and despite the fact she could not access the blackrock blade that started all this, she had become possessed. Possessed by something that called itself the Guardian. Fortunately whatever it was did not have a total hold on her. I brought her back to reality, told her that she had dozed so that she would know nothing of what I had found out. I then considered my next move.

This blackrock somehow still had a hold on her. Why? I have handled blackrock many times with no ill effect. I know for a fact Vierna actually carries a lump of it everywhere she goes to humour that guard dog of hers Lann’al, who reckons it is some sort of charm. So why is Xun’riia the only one effected so terribly? Could the answer lie not in the blackrock itself but due to the process of melding it with valorite metal, some sort of unseen reaction was triggered? I had to find out and at the same time ensure no further harm would come to my soulmate. I advised Xun’riia not to leave the house unless I accompanied her. We then made up for lost time.

For several days, she obeyed my instructions. Then I returned late one evening and she was gone. Vith it, here we go again. After a brief search I found her wandering the deserted streets of the yellow town. When I saw her I was angry. I called, she turned and I was shocked! The eyes were not her eyes, the voice was not her voice, and the hatred showing on her face was the type she reserved for our enemies. Then she attacked me! Had I not known that she was acting this way against her will, she would be dead now. As it was I had to temper my powers just enough to protect me and stun her, too much power and I would have killed her. Soon she lay unconscious and so I struggled to pick her up and carry her back to my home. When she came round she remembered nothing, but I was still angry so I lashed out several times. She took it meekly and with resignation.

Ah Faeryl you have made a grave error of judgement. By entering her mind, I had unwittingly strengthened whatever possessed her. I am now at loss as to what to do. I dare not enter her mind again in case I lose Xun’riia totally to whatever holds her. On the other hand I cannot challenge an entity of which I have no knowledge. Dear Lloth what am I do to? As I pondered the conundrum, I realised the dilemma I faced. To find out what had happened and to combat what effects Xun’riia, I would need to raise a yochlol. The dangers that presents are immense. Am I high enough in Lloth’s favour to get away with it or will I anger her to the point that I forfeit my life? The alternate and simplest solution would be to end her life and in doing so send back the entity to whence it came.

I locked Xun’riia in a dungeon cell for her own protection. As I made slow and heavy steps towards my room, one thought haunted me. My dear Divine Mother, Queen of Spiders are you punishing me or testing me? What is it you want me to do? What solution do you favour?

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Faeryl

I had kept Xun’riia in a cell for many days. It was for her own protection, I could not chance letting her wander out. Not after the last incident. But this arrangement was doing none of us any good, I had to come up with another solution. Jyslin is a bitch. I asked her to support me in raising a Yochlol so that I could get to the bottom of Xun’riia’s torment, but she refused. She refused to jeopardise her standing with Lloth for what she still regards as an Eilistraeean worshipper. Huh! Does she not realise what great service Xun has provided Lloth with? I still think the Divine Mother is testing me. Now is the time to take a risk.

Xun’riia was calm, so we went to Lloth’s temple. It would be here that I would find out if Lloth favoured me or not. I looked into her eyes, they were starting to subtly change, a sign that the thing that possessed her was beginning to rise again. I began to pray and prepare the sacrifice. It was me who caused Xun to become possessed in the first place. It was me that incurred Lloth’s ire. It is me who will banish it if Lloth wills it. I placed several empty glass pots in front of me, preparing for the rite. If this did not work then all that I had left was to summon a Yochlol. If I survived of course. I then turned to Xun and asked her for her dagger.

I took the dagger and and cut deep into my left forearm. Blood immediately began to flow thick and fast. I dropped the dagger and filled the first pot with my blood. Once filled I threw it at the wall decorated with the image of the Spider Queen. Take that you bitch! I filled another and another and repeated the act. Nothing. I filled a fourth pot and was beginning to weaken due to the loss of blood. It flowed freely from my arm, a large red puddle grew around my knees. Still nothing. Lloth you bitch! This is I your servant Faeryl. Drink my blood. Answer me! I struggled to fill the fifth pot and weakly threw it towards Lloth’s image, it barely made it. Weak, fainting, dying. Just as my world went black, I heard a loud crack of thunder and felt the temple shake. Then nothing!

Eyes flutter and eventually open. Xun’riia is kneeling over me, tending to me. I note her eyes are back to normal. The blood has stopped flowing from my arm, the wound is beginning to close but a scar will be there to ever remind me. I am in Lloth’s favour. We are in Lloth’s favour. She had willed that both Xun and myself were still useful to her. We got back to the stronghold and I took the risk to check Xun’riia’s mind, that the possessor was indeed banished. Under she went and I searched, I prodded and I tested. Nothing. Only the memories and the thoughts of Xun’riia herself. She was herself again. I brought her awake and told her the good news, Lloth had come through for us. Then we celebrated.

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Faeryl

For once on this accursed surface I feel elated. The scum renegade Shaex was due to be executed. I wanted his body for a proper Drow burial but the weak Duke refused pointing out that Shaex had willed remains to Alynora and Garod of Tremere in Naeloth. No matter I had another plan. On the day of the execution I was ready. I quietly manoeuvred myself close to where the renegade was to be shot full of arrows and prepared myself to pounce as soon as the missiles hit him. The volley stuck and I swiftly moved and plunged my dagger into him with unparalleled viciousness, ripping open his chest. I thrust my hand in and tore out his corrupted heart. As soon as the crowd, that came to watch the spectacle, recovered from the shock of my actions, they where upon me.

Curses. I should have planned for a getaway. Like a pack of baying animals they surrounded me and demanded that I give it back. When it became clear that I would not, they began to attack me. What is it with these pathetic humans that the heart of a scum renegade Drow was so important? In the ensuing melee it was taken from me. Still I achieved my aim. I had the heart long enough to murmur the proper incantation and dig my fingers deep into it. Whatever plans the ghouls of Tremere have for the remains of Shaex, I could not careless. Why should I? The only thing that mattered was that his soul was sent to Lloth and the Demonweb Pits where it will rot and fester and endure unimaginable suffering for all eternity.

A few days later I was experimenting with some transformations. Xun’riia assisted me and as I watched her unseen, I made up my mind. It was time for her rite of passage, time to make her a full Priestess of Lloth. We finished what we were doing and I told her of my decision. The delight that shone in her eyes was so profound they seemed to light up the room. I told her to rest whilst I prepared for her ceremony.

When I passed my rite of passage it was my honour to sacrifice my brother, a third born son. He was not even 60 heartbeats old when I plunged the ceremonial dagger into his heart. The pride I felt in becoming a priestess that day will never be equalled. That was special. For Xun’riia, circumstances dictated it could not be that special. There being no Drow male brats newly born, I settled for the next best thing, an elf. I raided an elves encampment not too far from our stronghold, found what I was looking for and returned.

I instructed Xun to bathe and prepare, whilst I prepared the elf brat for sacrifice. I estimated it was about no more 2 weeks old, which would do nicely. Xun’riia was ready dressed in only a red cloak, red sash and gossamer thin black robe. I was dressed the same. With the brat ready, I handed Xun the ceremonial dagger. The hilt was the head and body of a spider with four blades on each side, representing the 8 legs. I told her to hold the dagger above the brat’s heart and await my signal, I then proceeded to chant the words of acceptance. I nodded and without hesitation Xun’riia thrust the dagger into the heart. It was so clean and precise, the brat never even made a sound. A peal of thunder echoed round, Xun’riia was accepted.

Xun’riia stood radiant, beaming in delight. I was so proud of her, not once did she hesitate or show doubt in what she was doing. She showed no emotion as the brat was sacrificed. She stood the test and passed. I had chosen well.

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Faeryl

Something is not right with Xun’riia. I fear I may have acted hastily in elevating her to full priestesshood. Some of her new powers are too much for her and she cannot control them properly. It’s her shapeshifting powers that affect her the most.

It first became noticeable when we went on the prowl for a suitable house slave. Getting one was easy with us passing as humans using Lloth’s powers. So right under the noses of the Duchy’s authorities we picked up a naïve and innocent young girl who called herself Holly. It was then I noticed that Xun had difficulty in adjusting when she changed back. I was at a loss. This should not be happening. She should be able to change form at will with no reaction. Was the Divine Mother angry at Xun, or with me?

We left the slave in a cell not fully broken. I had to deal with Xun’riia’s problem first, she is more important to me than anything else. She allowed me to enter her mind once more so that I could reach in deep. I wanted to make sure that all traces of the blackrock manifestation were completely gone. As I wandered round her mind I found this was the case. I saw no evidence, but I did see other things, images of what she wants and needs from me. I told her some of the things I saw, the rest I left unsaid. I will need to act on these innermost secrets. But first I had to get her fully back in control of herself.

I told Xun she would have to make another sacrifice to Lloth, so we raided the same elf camp where I had stolen the brat. After slaughtering the whole camp, I got her to cut out six hearts. We took these to the temple and Xun’riia sacrificed them to Lloth. Her prayer and offering was accepted. When we got back to the stronghold she seemed more herself and all seemed well. I had previously talked things over with Jyslin but she was no great help in this matter. Jyslin regards her as a traitor. In her eyes she has already forsaken one goddess, why would she not forsake another. I have doubts, yes, but I have seen things in Xun’riia’s mind, things she probably does not even know herself. No, she is not another Jhulae. I have not seen Xun’riia for some days now and this makes me wonder. That and the taunting words of Jyslin. What if the bitch is in fact right? When next I see Xun’riia, we shall see.

Meanwhile I busied myself with corrupting and humiliating the new slave. When all is done she will make a fine sacrifice. I cannot believe how naïve these humans are. Do their mothers teach them nothing? She has committed several murders now, all her escape routes are closed and she has nowhere else to go. She is mine and when I have made her heart blacker than the darkest night I will give her to Lloth.

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Faeryl

Jyslin is wrong, I know she is. Xun’riia came back, I confronted her and she explained why she went away. She told me she went away to secretly learn more of the arcane. I had my doubts as Jyslin’s poisoned words kept echoing in my mind. I hurt Xun, I needed to learn the truth but she stood up to me defiantly and proved she was indeed learning. I was angry, Lloth knows how angry I was but I was also confused, wracked with doubts.

What is going on? Jyslin’s words tell me one thing, Xun’riia’s mind and actions tell me another. I am being pulled apart and I cannot seem to resolve the conflict. I pray to the Divine Mother for guidance, but she does not answer and this confuses me too. It was me who brought a heretic back into her fold, back into the bosom of the true Drow. She should be pleased, yet she ignores me. Why should this be? Is it me she tests or have I indeed make a grave error and my goddess has abandoned me?

No. I have seen inside Xun’riia’s mind. I know what she wants though I do not fully understand why. She wants the pain, but she wants it for herself and me not for Lloth. And yet later when we went to the temple, Xun’riia fully committed herself to Lloth and myself once more. We exchanged lifesblood, we are now one with Lloth. We took the oath.

“To the one who betrays the other, let Lloth take her soul and condemn it to eternal suffering”

It is done. I have made my decision. Am I strong or am I weak? Who is now dominating whom?

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Faeryl

What is wrong with me? Why do I feel this way? I have my slave, I have my servant and I have Xun’riia. I should be content, but I am not. Why despite all that do I feel empty?

My slave, Holly, was easily broken and now attends to me faithfully without complaint. She will do anything I ask. In her eyes I see nothing but devotion to me. There is nothing she will not do for me. She has even killed her own kind because I told her to. Now I am teaching her skills which will be for my benefit, not hers. I should be content.

My servant, Irinia, a surface born Drow who knew nothing of our ways, she is keen to learn and embrace our values. I tell her of Lloth the Divine Mother. She is so fascinated by her greatness and power and what she can give her, that she also will do anything for me. I have taken Irinia from a life so miserable she looks to me in awe. She is like a blank canvas and on that canvas I will create a masterpiece. She is not only my servant but she will become a servant to Lloth. In many ways she reminds me of Xun’riia. But unlike Xun’riia she will never be a priestess but she will be my faithful bodyguard. I should be content.

My soulmate Xun’riia. She will risk everything for me. All this despite the terrible time I have given her recently. I treated her badly, questioned her loyalty, yet she refuses to leave my side. What more can I ask? All my selfish wants are being satisfied. I should be very content, yet I am not. Even Shi’nithra came to me and told me she wants to give up the ways of the warrior and take the vows of priestesshood. Why am I not content?

I am surrounding myself with a wall of loyalty, one that will protect me from my bitch sister and her guard dogs and the poisonous Jyslin. But I am not content. Lloth has deserted me, of that I feel certain. I feel my power draining, slowly but surely. I faced and killed a succubus but not without cost, for I am left with a wound on my thigh that has still not healed. That is not right. That tells me my power is diminishing. Now I cannot sleep and there are times when I remember nothing. I feel drawn towards the Abyss. Lloth is summoning me. I am to be punished!

[Faeryl is talking to Xun’riia seeking comfort and discussing plans to regain Lloth’s favour. Without warning she slips into a period of darkness of which she remembers nothing. When she later emerges from that state, Xun’riia is lying in her arms, unconscious, weak and looking drained of all energy. Faeryl knows nothing of what happened.]

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Faeryl

Ah Divine Mother, Queen of Spiders, how many more test will you give me before you accept that I am completely devoted to you?

I came out of the darkness and found Xun’riia in a bad way. I did it to her. I revive her and she looks at me, not with fear or loathing but of confusion and helplessness. There are no obvious physical marks on her, but its clear I did something bad to her. She tried to explain but it seems she is just as unclear of events as I am. All she will say is that I changed, transformed into something hideous but also beautiful and attacked her.

The wound on my right thigh throbs and refuses to heal. Is this the cause? Is the lucky strike by the succubus the cause of all this? Reverie is beyond me just now and my powers are even weaker than before. Worse. I feel drawn towards the Abyss. There is no way I can enter there just now I am too weak. It is hard enough to survive that place at full strength, what chance would I have in my present state. Xun’riia, Lloth protect her, is determined to get me through this. She sees the pull towards the Abyss as yet another challenge, one I must accept and fight. So we go there.

I stand before the vile entrance to the Abyss. I can hear the cries of the anguished souls and I feel the tug drawing me closer. Xun is determined I will not enter and tries to hold me back but I am being drawn closer by an unseen force. I fight it with all my will. I pray to Lloth to help me but she will only help those who help themselves. My willpower is being tested to the limit. Suddenly there is a release and I am hurled backwards against the wall. The violent bang on the back of my head stuns me but before I pass out I feel the tug lose strength. It is not my time after all.

We get back to our home and I have a great need to rest. Still slightly concussed, Xun gets me to bed and as I drift off into reverie in the comfort of her arms I wonder what more lies before me. Xun’riia is convinced its over, I am not so certain. The wound still throbs and weeps and I fall into a blackness.

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