Faeryl

I have been on the surface more tendays than I care to remember. I long to go home. The surface stinks! Strange that. You would think that living for decades underground I would welcome what humans call "fresh air". Not so. In comparison, the city of Menzoberranzan and the surrounding tunnels smell sweet. Granted the trade areas and the slums below the great houses are not pleasant, but this?.this is vile. I can smell a human before I can see it, the unwashed pungent odour is unmistakable. And the yellow orb!

This thing they call the sun, I hate it! Vierna says overtime I shall get used to it. Do not let it win, she reminds me. Maybe.

I long to go home, but I cannot, not yet. My mother has sent me to be with Vierna. As priestess of the Dark Mother, she needs my guidance and my support. This I will give her. She is doing well, I admire her for that. She started alone and has now built up a network of followers and contacts?our group gets stronger all the time. And when her mission is completed to the satisfaction of mother and Lloth, we can return. I shall be by her side. I shall be by her when she overthrows Maya. Then she becomes first daughter and I become second. That day shall be soon.

Oh to be back in Menzoberranzan, to be back amongst my family and my race. To be back with true born Drow, not to feud and squabble with surface bred, surface integrated Drow. To get away from half breed Drow which are a dilution of bloodline. Such breeding is an affront not just to Lloth but to ALL Drow gods. These kind are not Drow?they have forfeited their heritage by their very actions!

I long to go home. But I know I cannot?.not yet. Not until I have fulfilled my duty to Lloth, to my mother and to Vierna. They have my complete loyalty. So I take this pain, this suffering and offer it to the Dark Mother. Perhaps she already smiles on me, for despite all this discomfort, I have found Jhulae. Things have just become a little more bearable??.

__________________

Faeryl

Stumbled across a big human meeting last night. Hmm. What a farce! Here is a situation whereby the land is invaded by an alien force and all they can do is squabble with each other. Humans are so pathetic and infantile. It seems they would rather continue to fight amongst themselves than counter the real threat. "I won?t fight with you ?cos you?re rebel" or " I won?t fight with you ?cos you?re a loyalist" was the recurring theme. Meanwhile the real threat, the Ophidians, continue to make inroads and dominate large swathes of land.

Clearly, the Ophidians are intent on domination. Well that will unite the humans?..unite them as slaves under a master they were too stupid to see off! This is something my race would never allow. All houses plot against each other, this will never change. But what we Drow do to each other is set aside as soon as an outside threat is apparent. If ever an alien force threatens any of out cities, that city unites as one to crush that threat. This is what the humans SHOULD be doing, but they do not, they continue to carry on fighting for their meaningless goals.

Still why should I care, the Ophidians are doing us a favour. Perhaps Lloth?s hand is behind this???

__________________

Faeryl

When I eventually got Vierna out of the coma following her encounter with the plague beast, I put it down to the excessively large amount of poison she had taken. When she at last awoke, she told me she stood before Lloth in the Abyss and that the Dark Mother sent her back. Her time was not up, she still had much to do. I am inclined to believe her. No one could have withstood that amount of poison and lived without some sort of divine help.

Yet ever since, she has not been right. I noticed right away. When you study someone you will eventually overthrow, you notice every little nuance. I cannot afford to lose her yet. One above us has to be removed before I can make my move. Right now I need her strong. Fortunately for Vierna, not many have noticed the small give-away signs.

Then one night recently she had a relapse. It just had to be in a public place, it is always the way. Fortunately her mercenary minder was with her and quickly brought her to me. She was in a coma, same as before. The mercenary, an expert on the dark arts, asked if he could tap into her mind, to try to find out what was going on. I agreed. Somehow he connected and described what he saw. I knew right away where she was. Back in the Abyss! We desperately called her back and after what seemed like an age she was back with us. She could recall nothing.

From the mercenaries descriptions of what he saw, I was able to work out what had happened. Two possibilities are apparent. That is assuming Lloth herself was not involved. I believe that to be the case otherwise Vierna would not have returned the first time. If Lloth has told Vierna her work is not complete, then she would not have called her back. This means either it was a random attack by one of Lloth?s enslaved minions with a grudge, or another sentient being from the Abyss. I hope it was the former!

There is only one way to find out for sure. To raise a demon and consult it. This is no easy task. We who are arcane users can all raise demons. But they are of no use. We need one from the Demonspawn Pit. And for that we need a powerful archmage. I know of none on the surface, I have my doubts as to whether a human mage could ever be powerful enough. There is of course the archmage of House Hun?ett, but to consult him would involve my mother. Not a good idea for Vierna?s sake.

Then by chance I came across some old tomes. One of them contained reference to the Scroll of A?.. This scroll contained instructions on how to raise powerful demons. What good fortune. Unfortunately the wizard who possessed this scroll somehow lost it to a bunch of cave trolls. How this came about, the tome was silent. What bad luck. I spoke with the mercenary to see if he knew of a colony of cave trolls, he said he did. So he led a party of us to a large cave known as Despise. After battling through a gang of two headed monsters we eventually reached the troll colony. But the search was fruitless. Then the mercenary mention that ogres are more likely to hoard such things. Perhaps trolls did have it only to lose it to ogres. He said ogres lived deeper in the same cave. So on we went. After battling with many large ogres and searching several chests, I was beginning to think the scroll was just another tale. Then just as I was about to give up, I found it.

I have now studied the scroll. Sure the instructions are clear but it is only a beginning. Other things are needed. More expeditions will be necessary. More items to be found. This will not be easy. Vierna is showing signs again. She thinks I have not noticed. I am sure her minder has noticed too. If she has another relapse we might not be so lucky this time. But for my sake I must save Vierna ???..somehow I must??

__________________

Faeryl

It has taken me a while to solve the riddles contained in the scroll. If I am right I will need to find several powerful artefacts. This will prove to be difficult. First I will have to find them, then seize them from whoever or whatever guards or owns them. Still if I am to get to the bottom of whatever bothers Vierna, then I will do what I must do.

I thought I could rely on Vierna?s mercenary, Grim. Unfortunately he proved to have a big mouth. I knew Vierna had become suspicious of the scroll I was studying, but I managed to keep its real purpose from her. I should have realised she would speak to Grim, see if he knew what it was. Not only did he tell her what the scroll was, he also told her what I intended doing with it. Stupid rivvil?stupid jaluk!

As a result Vierna was in a blaze of fury when she found me. I suppose I was lucky to get away with a severe beating. She could have killed me if she so desired. She has forbade made to carry on with this research, yet I need to carry on if I am to save her. Now I must be even more careful, for if she discovers I act against her wishes, my life is surely forfeit.

I can no longer depend on Grim, whose ego proved to be bigger than his discretion. Unless I can find someone else, someone more reliable, I continue alone. Despite her current hatred towards me, I will save my sister????

__________________

Faeryl

Jaraxle Von?Sah was finally captured and tortured by myself and Sabrae. I myself personally carved an image of Lloth across his chest in molten copper. So yet another Vhaerun worshipper suffered the consequences of following a weak god. It also avenges what he brutally did to Jhulae. It also fulfils the prediction I gave to Moiraine. I gave her the chance to deal with her family member, warning her that our justice would be swift, brutal and tortuous. She failed to act, so Jaraxle paid the consequences. It is yet another example of what a fraud the half breed Baroness is. Now only the bitch Maylene is left, then Jhulae?s retribution is complete.

Vierna was pleased with the result. Now she can move on. I will secretly continue my studies into raising a demon which will answer what disturbs Vierna. I know she has explicitly forbidden me to do this, but I feel I have no alternative. I now know of 2 artefacts I need to get, but there are others too. Knowing what they are and actually finding them are two different things, but I will persevere?I must for Vierna. I need her so much.

I have also been charged with instructing a young half breed female in the ways of the Divine Mother and the dark arts. Ah yes?.get them young and their loyalty and devotion is absolute. Maybe she will aid me in my quest to save Vierna?..only time will tell.

__________________

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!!!

__________________

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!

__________________

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???.

__________________

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????..

__________________

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???

__________________

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!

__________________

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!

__________________

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!

__________________

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?

__________________

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.

__________________