Vierna

*All around I see nothing but blackness*

I came round.

How long I had been out I have no idea. My last thoughts were the pain, the Melee-Magthere training and the touch?.that touch??.

I must have passed out again. I awoke once more. I kept my eyes closed, trying to focus my mind, trying to make sense of this nightmare, planning my next move. The pain had gone. I felt revived. My training had kicked in and my sub-consciousness worked its inner healing process??. Unless this had all been some hideous nightmare, some horrible bombardment to my mind. Ah yes. Let me feel the soft and warm comfort of my bed, my beautiful partner cradled in my arms. But no. Once again I felt under me the cold hard feel of flagstones. Then something else??..the touch??

My right arm was fully outstretched above my head. In that hand I should have held my sword, but the palm lay flat on the surface. And the fingertips touched something?.something warm! I slowly moved my head in the direction of my arm and opened my eyes. I saw what touched my fingertips?.it was the fingertips of my beloved SD!

I stirred immediately. Waves of relief were replaced by those of concern. I sat down beside her, cradling her head in my lap. Like me she showed no signs of physical harm. Had she suffered the same mental torture? I gently stroked her cheek and whispered her name. After a long pause she opened her eyes. She gave me the faintest of smiles. I became overwhelmed by a barrage of emotions that I could not comprehend, leaving me confused. I whispered to her. "We?re here". What an absolutely stupid thing to say! We then both stood up, checking that we were both physically sound and take in our immediate surroundings. We also retrieved our weapons and belongings, scattered all around us. We then looked ahead, to the great forbidding doors, the entrance to Lloth?s abode. Just as we began to take the short walk towards the doors, out of nowhere came this maniacal laughing roar??.

"Vierna Hun?ett! You have come to me at last!"

There before us, stood this monstrous demon. Four times as tall as me, its ape like head crowned by many horns. Its long arms hung down to below its knees with gigantic claws for hands. Saliva dripped from its canine maw and its eyes burned red. "Vierna Hun?ett" it said. "Now you are mine"! It started to lope towards us??..

For all its undoubted strength, a demon is still essential a spellcaster and as such needs time, however briefly, to concentrate and intone. With this knowledge we had to act fast, match our agility against its lumbering movements. SD ran straight towards it, dived and rolled under its great legs as I attacked from the side. As I swung my sword towards it clawed hand, SD quickly stood up and slashed her sword at the tendons behind its knee. With this blow the demon let out a mighty roar of pain and went down on its injured leg. Now its ability to move was further restricted, but its long reaching arms were dangerous tools. We slashed at the arms, trying to remain out of reach, trying to prevent it from unleashing a deadly spell. Apart from that first tremendous blow administered by SD, our strikes were having little effect. I made an attempt to replicate what SD had achieved, but just as I was about to roll under its legs, a vicious talon caught me on my right shoulder, passing through my armour and searing into my flesh. Flashes of bright colour blinded me for a split second as the excruciating pain of the blow overcame me. My sword went spinning from me as I lost all sensation in my arm. From the corner of my eye, I saw SD take a tremendous backhand which sent her flying backwards across the courtyard. As I lay on my back, gripping my right shoulder with my left hand, the demon looked down at me with red glowing eyes and began to cast???.

Suddenly there was a sound of great doors flying open, a flash of bright light and the sound of a scream of agonising pain. I looked. The demon was no longer above me but was a short distance beyond me. A smouldering mass of burning flesh! I got onto my knees, still gripping my right shoulder and turned. There before me, framed in the great doors stood a gigantic spider. Where its head should have been was the naked body and head of the most beautiful Drow ever created. I knelt before Lloth?..my goddess!

She spoke.

"Vierna Hun?ett. Once again you come before me. Once again you have come, when I have not called"

Oh dear Lloth! Was she angry? Despite being saved was I now going to be destroyed. By now, SD had crawled her way towards me. She too knelt before Lloth, trembling uncontrollably. I tried to speak, I tried to explain to the Divine Mother why I was here, why I came, but all that was forthcoming was wordless splutters.

"Don?t try to speak, your worthless words are of no interest to me. I can read your thoughts. I know why you are here. You! Arrogant bitch! What made you think you could take on all that the Abyss would throw at you and survive!"

Again I tried to speak. Tried to explain, tried plead forgiveness, tried to beg for mercy?..not just for me but especially for SD whom I allowed to accompany me in a moment of weakness. Lloth looked at me, not with a face of pity or forgiveness, but with a look of sheer contempt. I knew then, both of us were doomed. Then her faced softened. It no longer showed hatred or contempt, but a look of benevolence, even the hint of a smile.

"Despite your arrogance?.or may be because of it, you have proved worthy. You have achieved much of what I asked you to do. You found my temple on that accursed surface. You have subdued those heretic worshipping Drow. And you have established my presence there also. For that I praise you. Since therefore you have proved most capable in the tasks I set you. You remain in my favour"

I tried not to show my relief in case my goddess had a change of heart. Did this mean I will live on, or was she just pulling a cruel joke. Before I could think any further, she spoke again.

"On that surface, the first Drow of my following built a stronghold. When they left, they left behind a number of my minions. I had forgotten about it until recently, when I began to feel strange vibrations. My minions in that stronghold have rebelled against me. Now I have many more important things to occupy me, which is why I have done nothing about it so far. You, Vierna Hun?ett, are therefore tasked to find that stronghold, subdue its rebel occupants and restore it to what it once was. Begone Vierna Hun?ett and take your mate with you. Do not fail me or lose my favour?.or your mate will be first to suffer!"

Then with a motion at the still smouldering demon she said "Oh, as for Eertu, it will not bother you again". With that she went into her abode, the doors closing softly behind her. I turned to SD, I embraced her. "We have work to do" I said. "But how do we get back" she replied. Suddenly all went black and once again I felt myself spinning and tumbling in an empty void. After how long or how short a time, I could not measure. Then I landed with a soft bump, looked around and saw I was in familiar surroundings??.

I watch, I assess, I report.

Vel'drav l' sil'in qu'ellar d'Hun?ett zotrethen??Jal zhal sha-rasa!!!

Lloth tlu laoles, dosst handmaiden orn naut hojh dos!!!!

__________________

Vierna

*I look up at the pale yellow orb and smirk*

Since emerging from the Abyss, I spent a little time resting and catching up on affairs. I also spent time reflecting on what Lloth had said to me. The continued dominance of the surface Drow, that was always going to be an ongoing task. By its nature, there could well be no end to it. But I am beginning to realise that there is also a secondary task??Lloth wants no more half breeds created!

The other task, perhaps more important initially, is to find the stronghold. That now becomes my priority. I have discussed possible locations with SD and she had a few ideas. I must seek out LL and get her input on this too. Perhaps even the Lady could help. Hmm. I need to talk to her anyway even if it is just to acknowledge the aid she has given me.

*I pause and touch my right shoulder* What purpose is this demon claw mark on my shoulder? Standing white against the ebony tone of my skin. Is it there to serve as reminder of my folly or good fortune? Or is there some other hidden meaning I have yet to figure out? It causes me no pain, but the area feels warm and sometimes the heat increases momentarily. But the strangest thing is when I put my fingers on the mark, I cannot feel anything. I cannot feel the touch. And when, as an experiment, SD pushed a dagger into it at my request, I felt no pain, no sensation of touch?..nothing! May be Faeryl will know what it means.

Ah Faeryl. Dear sister of mine. I am not altogether pleased with the way you have handled affairs in my absence. How many times have I told you our war is not with the humans? Still you seem to have rectified some of the damage. And you did get me a present. *laughs* May be I will forgive you, after all it is a nice present! *laughs again*

Faeryl took me to a hidden cave, one with no visible entrances. And there she lay on a mat, cocooned in spider silk??Iym?iara Von?Sah! *laughs loudly* Oh how I have longed to have that one, now I have a lever in which to finally destroy that accursed family. One thing is clear?..she will never leave that cave. I have her forever now!

Our first little chat went well. She put on a show of bravado, but that will pass as I begin to step up the pain. In anycase, I have not even started yet. I discussed a few things with her, watching her reactions, looking for the weaknesses. Jaraxle, she holds in contempt. Kalannar and Moiraine she is loyal to but the mention of Korith gave me much insight. *grins* Oh how she maintained I would get nothing from her, that I should just kill her and be done with it. No foolish Iym?iara, you will not die. I left her to ponder over my farewell words??"Lloth doesn?t favour death, you see?.in death there is no more pain." *laughs wickedly*

*I stop to look at the box on the table* What does this box mean? What purpose does it hold for humans and are there anymore? Time to seek out LL???..

I watch, I assess, I report.

Vel'drav l' sil'in qu'ellar d'Hun?ett zotrethen??Jal zhal sha-rasa!!!

Lloth tlu laoles, dosst handmaiden orn naut hojh dos!!!!

__________________

Vierna

*I glance at the yellow orb above me and smile*

Another session with the Von?Sah. There was not much pain for her this time, well not physically anyway. *laughs* I showed her a pair of severed ears. She stared at them, I let it sink in. Yes little one?.they were Korith?s I told her. Any defiance she thought she could muster against me just melted away then. Then I told her that her family had abandoned her, nobody cares. Not Kalannar, not Moiraine, not Jaraxle or T?ristre. Not even Korith. Poor Iym?iara left forgotten by those she thought cared. *laughs again* She visibly deflated before my eyes. This hurt her badly.

We talked then, about her past. She revealed some interesting things. It made me think. This wretch stuck to a cave wall and cocooned in spider silk, she was no Von?Sah at all! This is Sabrae and the twins all over again. Another child stolen from their true mother. Hmm. This needs further investigation. Oh I know the depths of depravity House Von?Sah had sunk to?..but child stealing? *chuckles* That is low! This puts a different perspective on why I hold her. This explains why the Von?Sah?s have made no attempt to find her. I left her to think over what we had discussed, may be something will come back to her. I will find her mother, her true mother. And if, like the others before her she is of Lloth, yet another nail in the coffin Von?Sah *laughs long and loud*

LL worries me. She drifts from reality to fantasy. I cannot get through to her. Whatever Faeryl did to her mind is proving difficult to rectify. I sought out the Lady again. Hmm. She too thought I was dead. But unlike LL she did not see me as a ghost, but an impostor. Once I proved to her who I was, I asked for her help to bring me back my LL. She agreed. For she too wants the real LL back.

Plans are now being made to locate and secure the stronghold which Lloth wishes me to restore. Once we assess what we are up against, we can decide how best to proceed. I have put SD in charge of that assessment. She will not fail me. The temple and the stronghold, together an indication on how far the strands of Lloth?s web can reach. The next phase will soon begin.

*I look in my bag and see the strange box*

Hmm. More of these exist. Of that I am sure and in one of her lucid moments LL, confirmed it. She also knows who has them. It is clear that they have greater significance to the humans than they do for me, but that alone suffices. I have something want! Knowing that, I want the others and I will get them. Then the humans can kneel before me and beg. *laughs* While she was still lucid, I told LL to get them for me. May be by focusing on such a task it will bring her round. I dearly want her back.

I arrive home after a tiresome day. A note, written in Drow is by the door. *sighs* What now???

I watch, I assess, I report.

Vel'drav l' sil'in qu'ellar d'Hun?ett zotrethen??Jal zhal sha-rasa!!!

Lloth tlu laoles, dosst handmaiden orn naut hojh dos!!!!

__________________

Vierna

*I ignore the yellow orb which sits high in the sky*

*Laughs* What kind of fool do those few remaining Von’Sah take me for. They want Iym’iara back, but what do they offer in return? Some veiled threat to do harm one of my number which they claim to hold? Dear Lloth, they cannot even decide who speaks for them now, such is the shambles they are in. No. They want their precious female back, they bow to my authority. Nothing less will do. *smirks*

Now to more important matters. SD has got back to me with a full report on the Stronghold. It is not good news. There is definitely something amiss there that requires further investigation. I knew that the task Lloth had set before me would not be easy, why would it be? But what is ahead is fraught with danger. Not only is the Stronghold itself well protected, but the approach roads to it are full of pitfalls too. The spiders are clearly insane, something has effected them severely and there is no doubt they are hostile to us. This should not be the case. *frowns* The task I have has only two outcomes. Either find and neutralise whatever has caused them to rebel against the Divine Mother, or annihilate every living thing that occupies the Stronghold. For this I will need my best followers and a careful strategy. Dear Lloth, give me the strength to do your will.

*Picks up and reads a report from Faeryl* Hmm. Now this is interesting. The human dispute which so amuses me has taken a little twist. *chuckles* So the yellow town wants my aid against its enemies. This is very interesting……..

*Picks up a quill and composes a reply to Kaelyn, Captain of the Trinsic guard*

I watch, I assess, I report.

Vel'drav l' sil'in qu'ellar d'Hun’ett zotrethen……Jal zhal sha-rasa!!!

Lloth tlu laoles, dosst handmaiden orn naut hojh dos!!!!

__________________

Vierna

*Looks up at the sinking yellow orb and laughs*

As meetings go, these last few have been quite fruitful. Through Faeryl, I met the one called Kaelyn, Captain of the Duchy guard. We met on neutral territory and had a full and frank discussion. It was clear that in many areas, the Duchy’s interests and mine meet, so I was happy to agree to certain accommodations. In essence, the boundaries are simple. The Duchy will not interfere in Drow affairs and in return I and my followers will not harm Duchy citizens. We agreed on a list of who are and who are not citizens, and that was that. This last point was extremely important…..I now know exactly who is "protected" and who is not. *grins widely*

Following on from this, Faeryl spoke to the Commander of the Kaldor Army on my behalf. She explained the agreement which I had secured with the Duchy and requested that Kaldor, as allies with the Duchy, also refrain from interfering in Drow affairs. Once told of the terms, she readily agreed.

Two things made this go smoothly. Firstly, the incident involving the renegade Drow Nil’tryrr. He was the catalyst in bringing our collective interests together. Its his only saving point. *laughs coldly* For his part now, it will be better if he is already dead. For if he is not, then when I get him he will beg for death! Death is an easy exit, for in death there is no more pain.

The second reason was I dealt with female leaders. Ones who had earned the right to lead, not ones appointed or born into it. Whatever your race, it is only the female that can think with the logic and the pragmatism to achieve the goals demanded of them or reach the ambitions they set themselves. True, not all females are so strong willed, Faeryl for example, lacks the pragmatic qualities necessary to be a true leader….but in time, she’ll learn.

*laughs* And the meeting with Von’Sah. That went as expected. Here was the opposite to pragmatism, here was blind allegiance to an empty cause. There stands a leadership which is so tunnel visioned that it cannot see what is all around. I offered to let them retain their name and their religion. I offered to let them carry on with their incestuous existence. All they had to do in return was accept my authority in Drow affairs. And the fools rejected it, as I knew they would. So in one unthinking moment of stupidity, they sign their own death warrant. No logic, just blind folly. Do I care? Not really. *smiles with satisfaction*

*Glances and picks up a report on one called May’quiri*

*chuckles softly* Ah interesting. You have a history. That is good. I do find empty lives so boring. Hmm. You have family, daughters of your own. No noble blood and not from a noble house. And what is this, not from a Lloth house either. *chuckles and reads further into the details* Oh dear. Time for you and I to have a little talk May’quiri, or should I set Faeryl on you? *puts down the report* Whatever, you are mine May’quiri *laughs without humour*

I watch, I assess, I report.

Vel'drav l' sil'in qu'ellar d'Hun’ett zotrethen……Jal zhal sha-rasa!!!

Lloth tlu laoles, dosst handmaiden orn naut hojh dos!!!!

__________________

Vierna

* Looks up at the yellow orb and sighs *

We are back, Faeryl and I. Back on the surface. Mother suddenly summoned us home a little time ago. My dear sister could not hide the smirk from her face at the news, she thought I was in trouble. * laughs * Sadly for her it did not work out that way. No. It turned out she was satisfied with progress, now she wants to open up trade links. This is the next stage. So now I have much work to do, both for Lloth and my mother.

It was good to see Menzoberranzan again, good to see the vast palace that is my home. * smiles * To gaze upon the wonder that is Narbondel, the splendour that is Arach-Tinilith with its polished black marble walls, a tribute to the divine Lloth. And now I am back on the surface. Back to complete my work.

I watch, I assess, I report.

Vel'drav l' sil'in qu'ellar d'Hun’ett zotrethen……Jal zhal sha-rasa!!!

Lloth tlu laoles, dosst handmaiden orn naut hojh dos!!!!

__________________

Vierna

*Sneers at the yellow orb hiding behind a cloud*

Ah. Been a good time since I got back. Troubles few and far between and the human dispute progressing nicely. *laughs* A bit of extra mischief and things should tick over nicely. On the other hand the problem with the stronghold still needs a solution, but as in all things, I will win out. The problem with the renegade Nil’tyrr is still apparent. *shrugs* I will leave that one to dear Faeryl. Keeps her out my face. The more occupied she is with other things, the less likely she will interfere with more important things. Oh and I still have my plaything. *laughs loudly*

Poor Iym’iara, the last of the Von’Sahs. *chuckles* Not even a Von’Sah. Not by birth anyway. What a pathetic family. *sneers* They who say they hold family dear did nothing to come and attempt to rescue her. But then what do you expect from a cowardly Vhaerun worshipping family. Look at the record.

T’ristre, captured, tortured and marked with Lloth.
Jaraxle, captured, tortured and marked with Lloth.
Korith, captured, tortured and marked with Lloth.
Moiraine, captured, tortured and marked with Lloth.
Viconia, captured, pleaded mercy and marked with Lloth.

Oh they all try to ignore what happened to them. Even lie about how the mark of Lloth has somehow gone. *laughs* No. When molten metal is seared deep into flesh the mark will never disappear. Sure the metal itself might eventually be removed, but the stain, the ingrained form can never be removed. They are all Lloth’s now whether they admit it or not!

My only regret is not getting my hands on the cowardly Kalannar. *sighs* The “general” one eyed Jaraxle calls him. *sniggers* What a joke. Some general. Did not have guts to face me. Did not have the guts to come and save his daughter. Sorry adopted daughter. Stolen more like. Just like he stole Sabrae, just like he stole the twins. Ah Vhaerun taught you that, well he is the god of thievery. Seems he is also the god of impotency. That why you had to steal daughters Kalannar? That why Jaraxle can only manage to fornicate with orcs and warmed corpses? Some god that Vhaerun!

Still my latest little play with Iym’iara was most enjoyable. I like it when they have some guts to be defiant, not like the rest of her worthless family. She is taking the pain well so far, Lloth will appreciate that. Sadly for me she wants to die now. The sense of hopelessness is beginning to get to her. I can see her despair. I have moved her round from place to place so that no one can find her. I am not sure if she knows where she is now. Her mind is going. She has not eaten for days. *shrugs* Who cares. Used to give her water, but she kept spitting it out. Now what is wrong with cool clean seawater? I give her vinegar now, well she has to drink something. *laughs* She can no longer see now, I took away her sight. Deprived of one sense, only 4 more to go. *laughs* I will take her sense of taste away next, may be then she will appreciate my kindness in giving her seawater to drink.

She wants to die now. Not until she embraces me and swears her loyalty to me and to Lloth, then I will let her die. Until then I will keep her alive. She wants to die to escape the pain, the humiliation and the despair. But I will not let her. Nor will she try to do what Moiraine tried and attempt suicide, for if nothing else she is drow. Not a half breed nothing!

I leave you for now Iym’iara, I have more important matters to attend to. Still you have the spiders for company, but you cannot see them, you are blind *laughs loud and cruelly*

I watch, I assess, I report.

Vel'drav l' sil'in qu'ellar d'Hun’ett zotrethen……Jal zhal sha-rasa!!!

Lloth tlu laoles, dosst handmaiden orn naut hojh dos!!!!

__________________

Vierna

*I look briefly at the yellow orb and sigh with contentment*

Strangely things are calm just now, calm within my following that is but not without. The humans continue to bring chaos down on themselves and that pleases me. They will never become a unified force and that pleases me also. Another pleasing aspect is that lone renegade drow continue to answer may call. Even the males now come in begging my protection and as a result I grow stronger. It displeases Faeryl greatly that I accept drow who have lost their faith, but she is too stupid to grasp the bigger picture. *laughs* Oh I know she schemes desperately to find a way to usurp me, but when I was gone for a time, she had her chance, she blew it .*laughs loudly*

I still have my little pet Von’Sah plaything. *grins then sighs* I need to be careful or she will die on me. Her spirit is broken now and is only just clinging on to her life, which is a shame. Never mind I will speak with one of the priestesses and get a potion to revive her. It is so much more enjoyable when they try to act brave, show defiance. Yes I must revive her a little so I can catch that glint of hatred in her eyes again. *laughs humourously* Oh silly me, I forgot she can no longer see. *laughs again* Ah little Iym’iara, enjoying the company of the spiders?

Got wind of a meeting to establish some council for the protection of the weak and disadvantaged. I felt this might be amusing so I went along. As it turned out, it was not well attended. So much for the faith that the “people” put in their leaders. *chuckles* As I suspected, this had nothing to do with protecting the people but a exercise in puffed up self importance. First order of business, electing a “leader” of the council. And the winner is? The one in the shiniest tin suit! Surprise, surprise. The acceptance speech, ah here we go. “We are a peacekeeping force” as he waves his polished shiny sword in the air. Doublespeak for “disagree with me and I will slay you”. Pathetic!

Next order of business. Up stands some elf looking female by the name of Sari-Liane. Ah yes, here it comes, a land grab. *sniggers* A plea to the hearts and minds. The people of Haven have been let down, they are under threat, they need protection from tyranny and guess what, I am just the one to do it. But my army is not big enough to subdue these unarmed peasants, so the council will aid me? Of course we will. Oh thank you! Now I own a large hovel, a muddy good for nothing piece of land and some peasants to grovel before me. I am powerful now! *laughs long and hard* And there it ends except some pathetic wretch sneaked past her bodyguards and stabbed her in the back! Oh you are powerful all right. *laughs again*

I finished this most enjoyable night of entertainment with a conversation with one called Edmund Fairholm. He also watched proceedings like myself. An old man now by human standards, he was interested in my views. He read my cynicism of it all, but he also understood that what I said was true. Clearly his advanced age had made him wiser. He has the intelligence to lead, but no longer the strength. The great human failing, they cannot combine the two. The only one I have seen close to doing so is the one called Klion. I have dealt with him on occasions and I know his weakness but of all the so-called leaders he is the one most likely to succeed.

I watch, I assess, I report.

Vel'drav l' sil'in qu'ellar d'Hun’ett zotrethen……Jal zhal sha-rasa!!!

Lloth tlu laoles, dosst handmaiden orn naut hojh dos!!!!

__________________

Vierna

*I ignore the yellow orb, high in the sky*

Things progress slowly but steadily and I am content. More renegades come in from the cold, adding to my strength. So much so that I have sanctioned the establishment of a Selvetarm order. I foresee an increase in Lloth’s priestesses so it is important that we have the necessary protection for them. There are no finer or committed warriors than that of Lloth’s champion. Soon it will be time to move on another step.

Such is my contentment, I amuse myself with my pet. *chuckles* Ah little Iym’iara, happy or sad, angry or content, you will never know just how much pleasure I get from your suffering. You want to die now, I know you do but I will not let you. Lloth wants you to suffer more, and you will. *laughs loudly* Where is your weak emasculated god Vhaerun now? Why has he not come to end your torment? Where are his priests and warriors that come to save you? Hiding in some filthy hole that even orcs would not go near. That is your god Iym’iara, that is your family! Weak, gutless, human loving cowards!

Weak, dying but still a spark of defiance little one. *grins* You thirst, oh how you thirst. Yet you will not drink. Why is this little one? Do you not trust me? But in the end you do drink as I knew you would. You see you cannot hold out forever, you will bow to Lloth and me in the end. Then I will let you die, as all heretics should. You have the mark of Lloth now, just like the rest of your family. None can stand against me!

Ah you drink at last, as I knew you would. Tastes nice does it not? Cool sweet water. *smiles* But what is this? Feel the burning at the back of your throat? Feel the burning on your tongue? Do not worry little one, it will soon pass, no harm done. *laughs loudly* Except you can no longer taste anything. A solution was added to the water that burned away your taste buds. Now you will eat and drink anything I give you, what does it matter you can taste nothing anyway.

I took away your sight, now I have taken away your taste. What shall I take away next? What have you left? Your hearing, your sense of touch, your sense of smell, you will lose them all by the time I am finished. And that’s not all, I have other torments in store for you. Oh yes little one, suffer for Lloth. Suffer for me! *laughs again*

Rest well little one, I will come to you again soon.

I watch, I assess, I report.

Vel'drav l' sil'in qu'ellar d'Hun’ett zotrethen……Jal zhal sha-rasa!!!

Lloth tlu laoles, dosst handmaiden orn naut hojh dos!!!!

__________________

Vierna

*I look at the setting yellow orb and sigh*

Why do I feeling a tinge of disappointment? The little one, Iym’iara Von’Sah has finally given up. I knew this day would come and now it leaves me a little empty. It took her a while to realise that her “family” had abandoned her, but even when that dawned on her she still had a spark of fight. Now that has gone. Soon, very soon, she will give herself up to me totally. Mine to do as I please, for she has no other option. Her “family” will not come for her. Not that she had much of one in the first place.

*laughs* The only one who shows his face on extremely rare occasions is the ugly one eyed Jaraxle. He only does so when he can be sure he can hide up the skirts of Trinsic. Why should I be surprised? It is after all a well-worn Von’Sah tactic. *laughs more* “Look at us evil nasty drow” as they pounce on some unsuspecting lone victim, then when it looks like they have bitten off more than they can chew, go running to Trinsic “Help save us, please!” How pathetic, how typical. Even little Iym’iara recognised this, for she holds Jaraxle in utter contempt and not just because he was too gutless to come and try and rescue her. No there are other reasons too and she is going to tell me all.

I told her that my sister, Faeryl, had seen Jaraxle. I told her how he refused to fight to get her back. Three times Faeryl challenged him and three times he refused, moving deeper into the safety of Trinsic. This did not surprise Iym’iara, nor did it surprise me. They have always refused a challenge for despite their empty pontificating they are all cowards and fear the power of a Llothian female. It has always been thus. *chuckles*

Iym’iara Von’Sah. She hates Jaraxle, she hates T’ristre, she hates Kalannar and she hates Moiraine. All the ones she thought were her closest and not one of them raised even a little finger to help her. Now she is mine, I am all she has got now. I will keep her alive even though she wants to die. She will obey my every command. I am her “family” now. *smiles coldly* As I leave her to rest, I give her something to think about during her reverie. “You have nearly 200 bones in your body.” I whisper in her ear. “Try to betray me……. and I will break every one!”

I watch, I assess, I report.

Vel'drav l' sil'in qu'ellar d'Hun’ett zotrethen……Jal zhal sha-rasa!!!

Lloth tlu laoles, dosst handmaiden orn naut hojh dos!!!!

__________________

Vierna

*I look up at the yellow orb and feel nothing*

Things in general progress nicely. Time to move on to phase three.

When I think back to when I first arrived here, I came alone and with nothing. Now I am Matron of this surface foothold, the most powerful Drow on this land. Sure, there have been setbacks along the way but nothing that could not be overcome. Challenges are few and far between and those that amount to anything soon melt away like snow on a warm day. I am content, my mother is content, Lloth is content. But there are still things unfinished, time to move on.

I get word that Aly’riia has somehow escaped the clutches of her mother. *sighs* A minor irritant to be dealt with. I visit her in the yellow town’s jail. I had hoped the authorities would hand her over to me, but no, they want to deal with her. More fool them. I did give her a message from her mother, but she has not got the intelligence to appreciate the consequences. Why her mother let her live after I sent Aly’riia and her twin back to her is anyone’s guess. *shrugs* Why should I care? I have better and more important things to do. The authorities refused to hand her over to me, let them suffer for their stupidity. I wash my hands of it.

*laughs* The authorities think she is dangerous. She’s not dangerous, just stupid with an obsession for a one-eared elf and a human with a speech impediment. She might look adult but she has the mentality of a brat that’s just been weaned away from suckling her mother’s teat. Still that is to be expected from one brought up by Von’Sah and tainted by humanity. She knows nothing of what it means to be Drow. No not Drow but a human with black skin tone.

A one-eared elf, a defective human and a retarded Drow. *laughs* What a triumvirate! They are all welcome to each other.

I watch, I assess, I report.

Vel'drav l' sil'in qu'ellar d'Hun’ett zotrethen……Jal zhal sha-rasa!!!

Lloth tlu laoles, dosst handmaiden orn naut hojh dos!!!!

__________________

Vierna

*I look up at the yellow orb and raise an eyebrow, questioningly*

So it is true. The Von’Sah do indeed have a new leader. *laughs softly* Ah a new game, new rules. On one of my rare visits to the dreary yellow town I come across a female unknown to us. Turns out she is a follower of the whore daughter of Lloth. *grunts* She gets one warning, ignore it and she suffers. Lets hope she does. It has been a long time since I enjoyed the pleasure of making one of Eilisraee’s own suffer. *laughs* Later I see the one I had heard of. Time to find out what he is about.

I dismiss my followers and invite him to my office. Was that wise Vierna, facing an unknown factor alone? Probably. Knowing I am alone he is bound to drop his guard and reveal a weakness. That is all I need just now, a weakness. Kelirahc Von’Sah, cousin of One Eyed Jaralxe or the whore priestess T’ristre? He does not say. *laughs* Too ashamed admit to one or the other. First weakness. I suspect his cousin is One Eye, does not matter I do not really care. We enter my office, I sit and he refuses. *chuckles* Ah, he wants to ready, wants to move fast. Have it your way male, I really do not care. So we skirt around things for a bit, verbally fencing. Hmm. This one is different. This one seems to be able to utter intelligent sentences rather than throw tired insults. Maybe I have a worthy opponent at last. *laughs*

Clearly this one is following his own agenda. He is serving his own interests, not that of his House and in his own interests he wants Iym’iara back. *chuckles amused* Second weakness. You are too eager, male, you reveal too much. His House is split. Makes no difference to me, why should I care. I have the prize you have nothing. All the time I am watching him, though he does not realise it. This male is not a true warrior this one is an archer. This one avoids getting in close this one cannot take pain. He wants Iym’iara back he knows my terms. So he retaliates with a counter proposal. He unhooks his bow and notches an arrow and says he will take me, bargain me for Iym’iara. *laughs* Third weakness. He knows nothing of Llothian loyalty. No trade male! I calculate the distance between us. I am relaxed in my chair, he is tense ready to unleash the arrow. No doubt the tip has been dipped in poison. Can I get to him before he fires? Touch and go. I remain nonchalant, unconcerned. We talk more.

He then reconsiders and hands me a parchment on which I shall write my “confession” for what I have done to Iym’iara. *laughs loudly* Fourth weakness. You almost had me male, that was your one and only chance and you refused to take it. So as the arrow still points at me I write out the worthless confession he so wants. Iym’iara for the return of the document. *laughs* Sure male. You have revealed your hand, it looks strong but not strong enough for I hold all the aces. *grins happily* You will never know how close you were to cutting the head of the snake. You blew it male! Take your parchment and go.

A short time later a human comes to my office and shows me an interesting letter. Do I recognise it he asks? *laughs amused* The Von’Sah has lost the parchment he so dearly wanted from me. Stolen from him by a human! Fifth weakness. This human wants to trade the parchment. Think I am a fool human? How many copies have you made? The parchment was worthless when the Von’Sah had it, it is even more worthless now. Males are so stupid. Do you really think I would have written something that could harm me? Keep the parchment human. Do what you like with it, give it back to the one you stole it from even. I really do not care!

I watch, I assess, I report.

Vel'drav l' sil'in qu'ellar d'Hun’ett zotrethen……Jal zhal sha-rasa!!!

Lloth tlu laoles, dosst handmaiden orn naut hojh dos!!!!

__________________

Vierna

*I look up at the falling yellow orb and ponder*

I came up here with nothing, on a mission for my mother and for Lloth. I have come along way since then, but there is no doubt I am now the most powerful Drow on the surface. *smirks* It means nothing, nothing at all! I still do not fully understand why my mother sent me here, who CAN understand the will of Lloth, but I have built a surface annex to House Hun’ett and that pleases both. The surface is depressing and bland. It stinks of filthy unwashed humans and is rank with all sorts of diseases. Just as well Drow are immune to such tiresome frailties. Of all the depressing surface places, Naeloth is the worst!

Naeloth.

The longest surviving surface Drow is clearly my loyal LL. There is no doubt in my mind that the strides I have made would not have been so quick without her knowledge and advice. She knew the Naeloth Drow, she knew Von’Sah, and she knows Tremere. All this knowledge has been invaluable to me. And yet she will not let me repay her for this service. *sighs deeply* She will not return to Menzoberranzan with me and share my glory. “Vierna”, she said once, “I know that when it is time for you to return, you will kill me.” Does she really think this of me? Yet she watches my back like a hawk. Many, including my sister, want me dead. She is the one with the easiest opportunity to do it. Yet she will not. No LL, you are the one living thing I will never kill, I owe you too much.

Naeloth.

A depressing expanse of nothing. It reminds me of the occasionally vast empty caverns one stumbles across on route from one city to another. A desolate waste where nothing grows, nothing lives, nothing lurks, not even the most imbecilic of creatures. This is Naeloth, land of Tremere, land of the heretic Drow that was. Where are they? These feared Drow? Did they ever exist or are they just scare stories to frighten human children? Oh, I have names, but names mean nothing without substantial evidence that they did what the humans say they did. The Naeloth Drow and the Von’Sah. Heretics, renegades, outcasts one and all. No. None of these built the Temple to Lloth. The only legacy they have left is some dusty tomes of blasphemous ranting and an empty wilderness of nothing. They achieved nothing!

Naeloth

The Poisoned Elf. A dusty empty shell of a tavern. The Naeloth Library where the heretic tomes lie along with names from the past. Tawyna? Even LL did not recognise this one. Dzur Von’Sah? Another that LL did not recognise. But the family name says it all. Heretic and outcast. Liriel Baenre. *laughs loudly* Ah the name Baenre, one from when I was a child. House Baenre once first house of Menzoberranzan and now no more. A failed attempt to usurp it by House Do’Urden left it weak and ripe for taking and fall it did. Hun’ett was not so strong then so it watched as others moved. Neither Baenre or Do’Urden exist now but Hun’ett does, third House now, still watching still waiting. It is me, not my mother who will make it first house! Liriel Baenre. Who was she? A renegade escapee from her fallen house? That must be why she came to the surface. But Baenre was Llothian, did she turn her back on her faith? She must have, to write such untrue propaganda. LL remembers her vaguely. She seems to recall she became a vampire. Yet another disgrace! A Drow vampire! May your soul rot eternally in the Nine Hells!

Lastly Shaex! *laughs loudly again* Not only a heretic but a coward also. A Drow that volunteers to die is such a pathetic specimen. How could such a coward strike fear into anything? Lies, all lies! Ah cowardly Shaex, you never did get your wish did you? Oh your ashes may have gone back to Naeloth. But not before Faeryl cut out your blaspheming heart and held it long enough to curse your soul into the arms of Lloth for all eternity. Whatever after death scheme you planned was destroyed in that one act! *chuckles amused* So sleep Shaex, sleep all you heretics, sleep in the empty ruin that is Naeloth!

Naeloth and Tremere

One of the greatest of human frailties is that they have to “die”, to become undead, to even live nearly as long as Drow. Is this why such houses spawn? I know some of that house. They do not interfere with my interests, so there is no conflict. Jade I can tolerate and even work with when our mutual interests coincide. But she is just a figurehead. Who are Alynora and Garod? Do they actually exist or are they just more names from the mists of time? Jade remains vague on this, she likes her little games and mysteries. LL tells me they do exist but have been unseen for so long few have met them. I did write once to Alynora, whether it reached her or not I do not know. Perhaps I will try once more. Who did build the Temple to Lloth? Can they answer that?

I watch, I assess, I report.

Vel'drav l' sil'in qu'ellar d'Hun’ett zotrethen……Jal zhal sha-rasa!!!

Lloth tlu laoles, dosst handmaiden orn naut hojh dos!!!!

__________________

Vierna

*I look up at the yellow orb, deep in thought*

Interesting. I get no response from my letter to Alynora Tremere, but then word reaches my ears that Tremere are out looking for me. Word also reaches me that some unknown human is actively warning that Tremere search for Drow. What is going on I wonder? To my certain knowledge no conflict exists between us, not between them and the Drow I control anyway. If Tremere want to pursue and harass other humans in their way, carry on, that does not bother or interest me in the slightest. Hmm. Lets see what they are up to.

I meet LL who will guide me to their new stronghold, since Naeloth seems abandoned. We eventually reach the place and are greeted by a male human who introduced himself as Demos Tremere. I had never heard of him but he knew of me. No surprise there really.

Seems Tremere are after information. Fine. So am I. *chuckles* This will be an easy trade. He wanted to know if I knew who was the longest surviving surface Drow. Hmm. Good question. That is something I wanted to find out as well. I gave him a few possibilities. Those names were of no use to me since they could not give me what I want. But why does Tremere wish to know? Oh dear! *laughs* Someone is ripping off their Naeloth wine and the supplier is a Drow apparently. Ah, that is sloppy. I told him none of my Drow are involved in this. We have no interest in coin or such triviality. It is an outcast or renegade he needs to find.

As we are discussing these things, their leader Garod shows up. Now I may find out what I am looking for. *sighs* Alas no, I am left with more questions than answers. According to him, the Drow who came to Naeloth sought refuge from Lloth. This explains the heretic writings I found in the Naeloth library but I had already suspected that. He gave me names, names of the past but if they were individuals or families even, they could not have built the Divine Mother’s temple. No! Renegades, outcasts, exiles, heretics one and all. All fleeing Lloth’s wrath, or so they thought. And what they did was create a refuge in Naeloth. A place to hide, to hide in fear. *laughs softly* How stupid and ignorant. Did they not realise Lloth’s influence knows no boundaries?

So I am left with one answer and yet more questions. *sighs* My quest continues. Oh Divine Mother you test me to the limit but I will not fail you. I have much more to think on and other avenues to explore. I know why the temple and the Keep were built. It was to keep the heretics in fear. But who did build them? That is what I must find out.

I watch, I assess, I report.

Vel'drav l' sil'in qu'ellar d'Hun’ett zotrethen……Jal zhal sha-rasa!!!

Lloth tlu laoles, dosst handmaiden orn naut hojh dos!!!!

__________________

Vierna

*I gaze upon the yellow orb, deep in thought*

Things have been quiet recently, so quiet even the humans have stopped fighting amongst themselves. That irritates me. No matter, things change quickly in this place. Chaos does not take long to surface. I sent Faeryl to spy on some festivities being held in Yew. Using her arcane talents she can pass as anyone she wants, so she remained largely un-noticed. Her report was rather bland. It always amazes me how much humans enjoy such triviality. *sneers* Inane activities for an inane race!

She did make contact with the leader of a shadowy organisation called the Court. I did meet this human once before. He is more lucid than that mad mage Muldran they have working for them, but the aim seems to be the same. Some crazy notions on something called “balance”. One day these humans will learn that only the strong survive and the weak are left to rot. The weak are worthless, only the strongest of the strong have any right to live on. Still this one, Callum I think he is called, has information I need, so I will allow him to meet me again.

I made interesting contact with human travellers from across the voids. I met them in the town of corruption. Which plane they came from matters not. What interests me is that such travel can be achieved. Faeryl has studied this and knows how it can be done, but she needs to learn more and these humans can help. They search for some ancient artefacts that contain great power. This also interested me greatly. Although of an arcane nature, anything that can increase my power holds my attention. These artefacts are also of an anti virtuous nature and that is something I want. To hell with the priestesses’ pontificating, these humans have something I want. That gives me reason enough to work with them.

Something else of interest. It is rumoured that another invasion is about to hit this land. *chuckles at the prospect* The nature of it is unclear as yet, but it should be amusing. Like the times of the snakemen and the elementals, I shall enjoy watching the scenario unfold. Watching humans battle against such things pleases me greatly, since it cuts down their numbers. *frowns in annoyance* This is their only salvation, their only asset. Like their cousins the orcs, all they have is sheer weight of numbers. That is the only way the survive. Their weapon skill and understanding is poor. Their military tactics are naïve but because they breed like orcs and rats they overwhelm threats by their numbers. Find a way to reduce their numbers in an instant and humans are nothing!

I watch, I assess, I report.

Vel'drav l' sil'in qu'ellar d'Hun’ett zotrethen……Jal zhal sha-rasa!!!

Lloth tlu laoles, dosst handmaiden orn naut hojh dos!!!!

__________________