Underdark- Unending Abyss Region
City of Eternal Night- Upper City
Shadow's Fall Keep
I did my best to ignore the screaming and blood, "What were you thinking? He led the forces that were sent to wipe out my settlement. To kill everyone there. He had no loyalty to me or our people." I told Talia as she continued to study the screaming form as Nathaniel continued his bloody work.
"You need a political advisor and someone who knows both strategy and tactics. War. As good as the leadership of the guards are, they are City Guards, not part of an army." Talia replied before looking at me and turning away from the bloody spectacle. "Based on what Abraxxus has told me, you need both. The future of our people rests on your shoulders so do not expect me to apologize for giving you every advantage I can think of." Talia responded and I frowned.
That was a confusing statement, to say the least, "What the hell are you talking about?" I asked her and caught a glare from Isiah but I glared right back at the Heart Guard captain. "What? She is manipulating events in my life, I have every right to question it and if you don't like it, FUCK OFF!" I told the Captain.
He looked at me and nodded once before turning away. Odd. I looked at Talia, "Is he ok? He is usually more broody and snarly. Is he getting enough food?" I asked the Queen causing them both to chuckle.
"We are no worse off than before and as far as manipulating things within your life, get over it. I am your Sire, you are my Vassal. That gives me every right to manipulate your life as I see fit to help you and your plans." Talia replied absently as she frowned and shook her head. "The War of the Compact taught us that we need to be prepared for every eventuality, my demise is one such occurrence. You will keep Tathlyn Hune as both a political and military advisor. If you are worried about their loyalty, Enthrall them and Command them to never betray you." Talia responded as the former Acolyte of Lolth let out another shriek of agony as the Royal Torturer continued his grim work.
I grimaced in distaste at both the ongoing torture and what she had suggested. While I had grown to accept Thralls, but only those willing to accept it. The one scout I had Enthralled against his will, I had released once Captain Dulkam was done questioning them. "You know I do not want to do that, and I hate slavers which is the same thing to those that Enthrall people against their will. That is not something I find acceptable and refuse to do it when I can easily avoid it." I told her as the Drow let out another shriek of pain, causing me to glare at Nathaniel and I waved him off and moved over to the bound figure.
She was out of it, not aware of her surroundings, and was rambling in the Drow tongue and not Common, which I couldn't understand since I was not a Drow and had not learned the language. "Do you speak Drow?" I asked Nathaniel who shook his head.
"She refuses to speak Common, my lord, I was loosening her tongue." the other Vampire responded and I looked back at the tortured woman.
I smacked her cheek lightly trying to get her attention and cognoscente enough to respond to me but her eyes remained unfocused and her rambles continued. I rolled my eyes and walked over to the captain and yanked the dagger out of his belt before walking over to the Drow and slicing my wrist before shoving it in her mouth. "Drink and heal!" I whispered in the woman's ear as she tried to spit out the blood welling up and filling her mouth.
After a few moments, she reflexively started to swallow the blood and I quickly tossed the dagger back towards the Captain and concentrated on two things, my Health Bar that was steadily decreasing and the woman that was healing before my eyes. When I was nearly down to half I pulled my wrist away and let the open wound close up.
I smacked her one more time and she glared at me, but I smiled at her. "Now, you have two options before you girl. Option one, you can spit defiance in your enemies' face, endure horrible torture for days on end, and finally die a miserable death. Lolth won't respect that, your House doesn't care, so who are you saving by running towards such an end?" I asked her and she looked away.
I snorted and forced her to look back at me, "Option two, you tell them anything and everything you know. If they ask if you pick your nose, honestly answer. The point is to stay alive." I told her and she started to eye me wearily. "Tell me, what would Lolth respect or need more, a living worshipper and adherent, or a dead zealot who died for nothing and nobody?" I asked her before turning and striding away.
Talia and the Isiah followed me while the torturer went back to his tools and questioning the prisoner. "What was that?" Talia asked as we walked the stone corridors beneath Shadow's Fall.
I shrugged my shoulders as we passed another lit that lined, "Her life, as she knew it, was over. Drow, overall, are pragmatic. If you give them a lifeline out of a no-win situation, they will usually take it. Their survival instincts are paramount in their world view, they hardly ever die for ideals or causes." I told her with a snort.
"People might surprise you given time," Talia replied and I shrugged my shoulders as I thought about everything she had told me.
"I won't trust him, but I will listen to him. If he does anything shady, anything at all, I will kill him." I told Talia as we reached the stairs leading up into the main Keep.
Talia smiled as I looked back at her, "I wouldn't expect anything less from you Jacob. Now I know you are taking a trip, but do not forget that Ball of Remembrance is coming up and I expect you there. No excuses." she told me before walking up the stairs.
"Yes mom, I understand!" I replied absently as I rummaged through my Inventory for a portal scroll back to Nightwell.
When I grabbed it I spotted Talia looking back at me, an enigmatic look on her face. "Come back to us Jacob, there is more than you realize riding on this party. You must be there, understand?" she asked me and I sighed in frustration.
"I gave my word Talia, I will be there come hell or high water," I told her and she nodded before moving off. I followed her up the stairs and popped the seal on the scroll causing a portal to appear. I took a deep breath and touched the portal causing the world around me to twist and turn as I felt a mix of falling and traveling on a roller coaster before everything stopped as I appeared in Nightwell.
The quartet of guards studied me before saluting me once I got over the portal sickness. I nodded in acknowledgment as I strode off towards the town hall. I needed to set up everything for when I was gone, so more Admin grind than anything else.
"You should tell him, prepare him for the future. Hiding everything is a risk, Talia." Ezekial chastised me but I ignored the Master of Shadows, too much was at risk and my time was limited.
"I am your queen, you will address me as such or not at all," I replied absently as I continued to sift through the various reports.
"I served your father long before you were ever born. I swore my service to you to help ensure stability and peace, but you do not act like a Queen or your father's daughter. You act like a manipulative bitch. House Lightsbane has been the example the other Houses should strive for and now you act like one of the manipulative Lower Houses trying to spin a situation to your favor." Ezekial responded finally grabbing my attention.
I quickly stood and glared at him, "How I deal with and what I do with Jacob Longstrider is my business, not yours. Either way, you will respect my position or you can leave my service Ezekial!" I snapped back at him and with only a moment's hesitation, he bowed slightly my way.
"It has been an honor to serve your family for so long, I am saddened to see you fall so far from the example your father set. I take my leave, your grace," he responded as I glared at him as he turned and left the room as I collapsed back into the chair.
Everything I was doing was for the future and my people. Too much rested on the shoulders of the Immortal, and if we didn't do everything just right everything my father and I had sacrificed would be for nothing. I checked my HUD and the timer ticking away down to zero, too much was at stake and I had to stay the course. I dismissed Ezekial and his worries from my thoughts. Either he would stay or go, it mattered little now.
Underdark- Plunging Depths Region
City of Illenalian- Fortress of Consuming Shadows
"Matron!" I looked over to see Lord Ranyln Do'und stride into my study but I remained quiet. "Word has reached the Council that Lady Dyrr has failed. The Council has been called and you are expected to attend." the man bowed slightly and I glared at him.
Ranyln was both a deadly political opponent and Swordmaster, with a Duelist Class few could match him in and out of the combat arena. With the support he brought into House Dhalmass, both financial and martial, he could not be ignored and had been placed on the Council that oversaw the day-to-day running of House Dhalmass. While I was sure he was working to undermine my authority, so far I had failed to directly or indirectly link him to any of my opposition within the House. "Very well, notify the Council to meet in one hour. I will be there. Now get out and don't ever come here again uninvited Lord Do'und!" I snapped at him and he bowed slightly before turning and leaving me to my thoughts.
House Dhalmass was already at war on two fronts, with the Orcs of Clan Darguun and multiple Duergar Clans as well. While House Dhalmass still had plenty of War Slaves in reserve, and several brilliant commanders within our ranks, the new enemy was far from our center of power. It would take time to rally and reorient troops to the new front, time this new enemy might not give us.
"Carrie!" I called out and the Goblin stuck her head through the open door. "Send word to Nadal Despval, I want him to attend the Council meeting," I told her and she bowed slightly.
"It could take time Mistress to find him. I know he is busy training some new troops but I will endeavor to find him." the Goblin replied before ducking out of the room. Nadal was one of the best field commanders House Dhalmass could call upon and if this new enemy proved a threat to the House, it was best to deal with it quickly.
