| This chapter would not have come together as quickly, or as nicely without the help of several of my friends on the forums. Phil76 and Isabelle from the LoN forum and Lisakes from the Bioware forum. Thank you especially for your help. Also LdyShayna for her comments and posting this on her site. | ||
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The Worlds Within Choose a chapter: Chapter 5 “A Drider,” Valen answered scowling, “is a
creature that once was a Drow. It
is my understanding that some of the Drow are tested by their dark
goddess, the spider queen Lolth, if they fail the test she turns them into
Driders. These creatures have the head and torso of a Drow and the
legs and lower body of a giant spider.” “Oh,” Hypatia looked stricken, “what a terrible
fate.” “My lady,” Valen seemed to be choosing his words,
“if I may ask a question?” Hypatia turned her full attention on him, noticing
the disturbed yet concerned expression that flitted across his exotic
features before being concealed by his normal stoicism.
With a quick glance she also notice that his tail was swaying in a
slow almost gentle pattern. “You
may. What is it you would
like to know?” His blue eyes looked deeply into hers and she had the
uncomfortable feeling that he saw more in her than she could see of him.
“I would know what it is that haunts you so.” Hypatia froze and for the first time in her life her
expressive face did not reveal her emotions.
Please, don’t tread lightly.
Lets just get right to the heart of things.
She seriously considered telling him he should be more worried
about the battles that most surely lay ahead of them than her.
It was his tail though, swaying in that soothing pattern, almost as
if to belie the stoic expression on his face that caused her pause. She noticed another little alcove to the north and
motioned him to follow her. This
was an answer that was going to take a bit of time and she didn’t want
to be exposed to any wandering Drider that might have an errand outside
the palace. His tail, it gives him away. The
thought flew through her mind even while she began to answer him.
“I…after Undrentide…that is…” Hypatia stopped and steeled
herself against the memories, the loss of her mentor and friend Drogan,
being turned to stone, the slave collar, all of it and began to speak.
“When I destroyed an artifact known as a Mythallar, the flying
city of Undrentide began to fall, once again.
Deekin and I had to find a way to escape before the impact, else it
was unlikely that we would have survived.
I had another artifact at the time that allowed me to cross into a
place called the Plane of Shadow.”
Hypatia shuddered, unable to suppress the horror of that place. “I became trapped there.
I don’t know what happened to Deekin during that time.
He escaped, that I know.” She
knew she was avoiding the real answer to his question so with a gulp she
plunged ahead. “It was a
place almost real. All things there had a desire, a craving to become more
than the insubstantial shadows they were. It was as if they were feeding of the force of my emotions,
my own personality.” Hypatia gave a shaky laugh.
“Have you ever seen a morsel of food thrown to a flock of birds?
They fight over it. Tearing
at it. Each one trying to get a bigger piece than the others, until
there is nothing left. That
is how I felt there, like that morsel of food.” No need to tell him that because of my blessed
gift I can still sometimes feel the possibilities of that terrible place.
How they still claw at me. She
shivered. “What are you not telling me, Hypatia?”
The question was asked softly and looking up into those amazing
blue eyes of his, she caught a surprising glimpse of real concern.
It was gone in an instant though. With an irritable frown she answered, “I can still
feel that place sometimes.” “When you use your sight?” This time she did glare at him. How is it that you, of all the people I’ve met, can see
so clearly that which I do not wish seen? “Forgive my boldness, my lady. Perhaps we should get back to our mission.” Hypatia gave him a long thoughtful look before moving past him and back out into the passageway. Something warned Hypatia and before she let Valen
take another step she began to cast.
She cast several spells upon Valen to strengthen him and increase
his battle prowess. After a
brief hesitation she also cast a spell that would protect him from fire or
other types of elemental damage. It was good that she had done her casting before they
got much closer to the palace, for there were towering bluffs on either
side of the passageway that did not reach the high ceiling above them.
Hidden on these bluffs were drow marksmen and as soon as they were
between them, the drow began to rain bolts down upon them. “Into the flames we leap!” Cried Valen, his flail
at the ready as he ran toward a drow swordsman who’d come around the
base of the southern bluff. Before
he got far though a terrible fire elemental was summoned and immediately
attacked him. Looking around frantically, Hypatia saw the spell
caster on the edge of the northern bluff and darted over that way.
She swallowed a scream as she tripped a trap that left her ears
ringing and clambered up the side of the bluff. Surprisingly the drow party at the top of the bluff
had not seen her. She stopped
and desperately began casting, though she could not hear the words she
spoke due to the ringing in her ears, she had faith that they were the
correct ones. Her faith paid off as she spoke the final word,
“Sunbeam!” The darkness of the Underdark was split asunder by a
blindingly brilliant golden beam of light.
Though she could not hear them, Drow all around cried out in fear
and pain. She had no time to
revel in the glory of her newest spell, but drew her twin katana and
rushed the spell caster. As
she swung a vicious blow she, to her surprise, recognized this woman as
the same one who had been in the Drow party they’d encountered upon
entering the island. Once again, after several blows the Drow woman cast
and Hypatia found herself and all around her frozen. Again she was unable to move, unable to even draw a breath.
She was beginning to really dislike this Drow woman, priestess,
mage, whatever she was. In a
sequence that was becoming all too familiar the Drow woman disappeared in
oscillating rings of light just as Hypatia was beginning to be able to
move. This time she was ready though and turned her two
katana on the unfortunate Drow who was behind her.
Many of them, she was pleased to note, were still blinded by her
earlier spell and a few were dazed. Mostly
those still affected were those who had been on the northern bluff and
some few on the southern bluff. The drow marksmen were still firing their crossbows
into the passageway below, where Valen was battling fiercely against a
veritable party of drow swordsmen. The
elemental had fallen to his flail soon after appearing.
Quickly Hypatia began to cast again, sparing no time for the
blinded and dazed Drow or two still stumbling around near her. As soon as she started the incantation one of the
drow near her drew a scimitar and began to attack her, using the sound of
her voice to guide him to her position.
Her concentration held through the furious attack and across the
passageway, the southern bluff was lit up by a column of divine light,
killing one or two of the marksmen and dazing fully half of those who
remained. Unwilling to chance that her concentration might be
broken while casting yet another spell, Hypatia turned her deadly katana
on the remaining drow on the northern bluff.
They fought viciously and it was a wounded Hypatia that scampered
down the bluff. She was
hurrying toward the southern bluff when she knew, somehow knew that
Valen had reached his limit. Turning slightly she could see the bolts protruding
from his armor and a deep gash where a blade had found its mark.
He was still battling two drow swordsmen and the bodies of many
others lay at his feet, but he was severely wounded.
Changing course she dashed toward him, casting as she went.
It was risky for she could not watch her step or even look to see
if her target had changed. She launched herself past one swordsman as she spoke
the final words of the spell and crashed into Valen. Her momentum was such and his injuries so severe that she
knocked him off his feet and they both fell in a resounding clatter of
armor. Her timing had been
perfect and her impact constituted the touch required to cast the spell on
him. As they fell a warm
healing glow enveloped the by now barely conscious Valen.
He hit the cavern floor fully healed and, rolling to his feet,
dragged Hypatia to hers behind him while swinging his flail into the
surprised face of his attacker. He turned to the other as Hypatia began yet another
spell. One of the marksmen
still on the bluff caught her with a bolt and she screamed, interrupting
her spell. By now, she was
badly wounded herself, but the battle was not yet over.
Valen sprinted around the side of the southern bluff and without so
much as slowing climbed to the top. Hypatia
followed him as quickly as she could. Hypatia couldn’t help but be a bit disgusted with
herself when she found that Valen had vanquished the remaining Drow by the
time she had managed to make her way up the side of the bluff. Valen strode over to where Hypatia was drinking a
healing potion. He was still
breathing heavily from the battle, but otherwise unharmed.
“Might we speak?” Hypatia almost choked on the last bit of the healing
potion she was drinking. “Certainly,
Valen. What would you
like?” She looked up into his intense blue eyes, his gaze
seeming to bore into her as he considered his words.
“I wish to know,” He began, “what makes you so special?” Hypatia had withstood his piercing gaze without
backing down, but upon hearing his question her eyebrows shot up.
“What do you mean?” “I speak, of course,” he stated, “of the fact
that you have replaced me as the leader of our forces.” No! No,
no, no. I am not a tactician.
I am not a general. I
am barely a fighter. I’m a
cleric for the love of all that’s holy. Unaware of her mental turmoil Valen continued.
“I have kept us alive for months, and suddenly you appear,” he
made a slashing motion with his hand, “and it is over.” Hypatia licked her lips nervously before she spoke. “That’s a little dramatic, isn’t it?” Please, oh please let him be exaggerating.
If he is right I’m going to have to act as if it’s the most
tactically sound choice that could be made. If any of the troops get even
the slightest hint that I am unsure they might panic.
Cleric, I’m a cleric. In a dry voice Valen answered her question.
“According to everything I’ve been told, being dramatic is one
of my specialties.” He
maintained a serious face for a few moments longer before finally sighing
and rolling his eyes. “Very well. You
are probably correct…I am making too much of this. I would still like to
know your thoughts.” Oh no you wouldn’t.
Hypatia gulped then drew herself up to her full height, her chin
raised proudly. “It is a
duty I shall see through to the end, I promise you.” Valen studied her thoughtfully. “I…am glad to hear that, if a little surprised.
You barely know us, and you’ve no reason to accept such a duty
gladly.” “Um, Valen?” Hypatia stopped him as he was
turning to continue on their journey. “I am yours to command.” Oh, lets not start that again.
Hypatia thought as another image flickered through her mind.
This time of a nearly nude Valen lying face down on a comfortable
couch while she massaged him with scented oils.
She couldn’t even blame this one on her sister.
This has got to stop. She
shook her head briefly to dispel the image.
“How do the Drow feel about your leadership?” Valen considered her thoughtfully. “I am not sure. Those
who follow the Seer accepted me readily enough for her sake, but the
others…they despise any creature who is not Drow, themselves. I am no exception.” Hypatia looked at him with a puzzled frown. “Doesn’t
that make your job more difficult?” “It did for a time.”
A slight smile played across Valen’s features. “I have ways of convincing even Drow that my orders bear
listening to. Strangely
enough, I do not think my leadership would have been possible were it not
for my demonic heritage.” Hypatia’s face registered shock at that statement
and as if he’d suddenly realized his mistake, Valen stopped short
looking at her warily. “You…know
what a tiefling is?” What do I say? What can I say? Demonic heritage? He’s
got cause to be wary. But
demons are hideous and he is beautiful.
“Ah, no. Tell me,
what is a tiefling?” “My mother,” he began slowly, “bore the child
of a being we call a Cambion…a being half a man and half a demon. This makes me part demon myself.” So that explains the tail, the horns and the
exotic cast to his features. His
skin tone is slightly blue too, but I’d put that down to being
underground. He’s given me
no cause to fear him. His
actions have been honorable and he is telling me the truth about his
lineage. Surely the gods
would not blame a child for the circumstances of his birth.
Nor shall I blame the man for the same.
I wonder if his skin is cool or warm to the touch.
That would also explain his extraordinary strength.
Is his tail prehensile? Hypatia
could barely contain her curiosity. Valen watched her expressive face with troubled eyes.
“Does this bother you?” What to say?
What to say? What to
say? Hypatia wanted to
set him at ease. The
truth. The truth. The
truth. “Actually I find it quite intriguing.” Valen seemed quite startled by such a response,
obviously he’d never encountered it before.
A slow smile crossed his face.
“You are…quite intriguing yourself, my lady.” “Now where was I?
Oh, yes.” He
returned to the question she had previously asked.
“The Drow respected the part of me that was infernal, I think.
That gave them respect enough that they didn’t resist when I
assumed command during our first…engagement with the Valsharess.” He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Three months ago. It feels like forever.
There is no good word for the way Drow commit warfare.
It is not two armies on the open field, clashing in a battle of
arms.” Searching for words, he finally continued.
“It is as if…two great shadows silently meet.
A fleet of assassins and dark magic seeking the throat of the
opponent…” Valen paused for a moment, seeming to be lost in that
first battle. Hypatia waited,
it couldn’t have gone well. Finally
he seemed to shake himself out of it.
“We weren’t prepared for that first battle, and the Valsharess
outnumbered us in every way. We
lost three allied houses and the Seer’s chosen General before I was able
to drag the army into retreat.” “You probably saved them, then.” Hypatia spoke quietly. Valen considered her words and finally nodded.
“It…has not been easy. There
has only been defeat after defeat, but I kept us alive.
That is something.” With a sigh Valen spoke again. “Even in Lith My’athar we are not safe. It is a temporary respite until the Valsharess finishes us
off, as the Seer told you. That
is why we are so desperate. Few
have hope as the Seer does.” He glanced meaningfully at Hypatia.
“I’ve kept them alive and on the run since that first battle,
but only barely. I would
truly hate to see them…come to harm.”
With that he abruptly ended the conversation. Hypatia sighed.
She had a lot to think about, but now they needed to get down and
clean out a Drider infestation in that castle.
With that in mind she turned her thoughts to what spells she still
had and how they might best be used. Valen followed her down the side of the bluff and
through the main doors of the palace.
There was a modest entry hall beyond which she could see a large
antechamber with a fountain in the center.
She couldn’t see any of these Driders, but there were huge spider
webs everywhere. With a sense of foreboding Hypatia stopped to cast
her precious few remaining enhancement spells upon Valen. Again she cast spells to increase his strength and prowess in
battle, she also called upon the blessing of her goddess. That done she led the way into the antechamber.
She’d barely stepped out of the entry hall when a huge creature
dropped down from the ceiling practically on top of her.
She ducked out from underneath it and ran farther into the room.
All around the perimeter of the room similar creatures were
dropping down. They were
horrible. Easily twice her
height the creatures were black as jet with menacing markings on the
spider abdomen that made up their lower half.
So these are Driders. Valen had already engaged the two behind her and
while she had been looking around, Hypatia had made herself quite a
target. Several bolts found
the mark. Seeing one of the
Driders cast a spell, she immediately drew her twin katana and dashed
toward him. He was enveloped in a greenish haze and when she
struck him with her first blow, the haze seemed to lash back at her.
She screamed in agony and fell back.
Gritting her teeth in determination as the spell casting Drider
sent a fireball toward Valen, she began her own spell. It took her only a moment to cast the spell and she
watched in satisfaction as the green haze dissipated from around the
Drider. She’d been ready
for just such a result and charged in with her katana. The other Drider were not content to stand idly by
and watch her, they were shooting their crossbows as rapidly as they
could. Both Hypatia and Valen
bore the painful reminders of this fact. Hypatia fought the spell casting Drider then turned
to another Drider, a female this time, who’d cast a spell she
recognized. Just ducky,
the Driders have their own clerics.
She made that one her next target.
Fortunately on one of her early strikes the Drider cleric fell to
the enchantment upon one of her katana that dazed her and Hypatia was able
to finish her quickly. She turned to see half a dozen of the creatures across the room from
her, gratefully noticing that Valen had vanquished four to every one she
had. He was even now charging
the group across the room. Steeling herself against the vicious bolts fired her
way, Hypatia began to cast. Through
gritted teeth she held her concentration and a column of divine light
plunged into the group of Driders damaging them all and stunning four of
them. Valen felled two more while Hypatia dashed over to
engage one of the remaining Driders.
The stunned ones fell quickly, two more to Valen’s flail and two
to Hypatia’s katana. Hypatia paused to cast a powerful spell on Valen and
was pleased to see his expression become less tense as a warm healing glow
enveloped him and his wounds disappeared. With a nod they proceeded to go through each room of
the palace, vanquishing Driders as they encountered them. There were two other rooms with large numbers of Driders and by
the time they were ready to open the massive and jeweled doors to the
throne room Hypatia had exhausted her spells. She meant to tell Valen that they should find a safe
place to rest so that she could replenish her spells, but before she could
say anything he broke through the webbing that was covering the massive
doors and into the throne room. This
could be very bad. The throne room was enormous and appeared to be
empty. They walked slowly
over the marble floor, between rows of carved pillars toward where the
throne was. No Driders
dropped from the ceiling as they passed.
In fact, Hypatia was glad to observe, there was not a web in sight. There appeared to be a single winged elf standing
near the throne as they approached. “That must be the most deranged and serious-looking
jester I have ever seen.” Valen
spoke in a low voice. “How
fitting, considering everything else we have found here.” The elf shuffled forward to greet them.
His wings were stunted and his body shrunken and bent.
He wore the colorful and badly stained outfit of a court jester.
However, though dressed like a capering buffoon his face lacked the
slack-jawed expression she would have expected in a Monarch’s fool.
His eyes seemed to have an endless depth to them.
“My name is Elicid. I
used to be a simple-minded man who danced to amuse Queen Shaori.
But I have become all-knowing and all-wise ever since we were
pulled through the mirror.” Hypatia listened in amazement as the strangely wise
Elicid told a tale of how the magic of an enchanted mirror had been used
against the Queen by none other than the arch mage Halaster. How he had caused the whole city to be cast down from high in
the Lost Peaks into the darkness. He
seemed to think that if the mirror were repaired everything would revert
back to normal. Once the remarkable tale had been told, Hypatia and
Valen left the throne room determined to find the pieces of the mirror so
that Elicid could repair it. In
exchange he said he would give it to them to use against the Valsharess. “Before we go any farther,” Hypatia spoke once
they had left the throne room, “we should rest.” Valen looked around critically. “There is probably a room on the upper level we could
secure.” Hypatia smiled at the thought of sleeping in a real
bed. Giving Valen a grateful
look she indicated for him to lead the way. Once they had selected a room and secured it Hypatia
removed her pack and stepping behind a conveniently placed screen removed
her armor. She put on her
tunic and stepped out from behind the screen ready to start preparing for
her evening prayers. “Might we speak?”
Valen asked from where he was.
She noticed that he too had removed his breastplate and was once
again wearing a peasants tunic. Surprised Hypatia turned to him. “Certainly Valen. What
would you like?” “Perhaps it would be wise to start your lessons
now.” He frowned
thoughtfully. “We have
already been in battle situations and it would be safer for you if you
were to be a bit more practiced with your weapons.” “Alright.” Hypatia
agreed slowly. “How are we
supposed to do that?” He came over to her.
“Draw your weapons.” Curious, Hypatia did as he requested.
To her utter surprise he stepped behind her and wrapping his arms
around her placed his hands over her own so that he was gripping her
weapons with her. Startled
she stood absolutely still and fought to get her rioting thoughts under
control. “Now, do you remember how the Drow attacked you on
the bluff outside the castle?” His
voice was in her ear. “Yes.” Her own voice sounded breathy to her ears. “Then tell me and I will help you wield your
blades.” So Hypatia, acutely aware of his strong and much
larger form so close to her, described the battle.
Her memory was highly accurate and Valen guided her katana through
defense and attack until she was so weary she could barely stand. Finally, releasing her and stepping away Valen said,
“you are exhausted, Hypatia. Rest
now, you will learn no more tonight.” She moved her katana through one particularly
intricate motion he’d taught her before with a weary smile she put them
away. She began her prayers,
skipping the blessing of an altar. She
was so tired that she actually fell asleep on her knees while praying for
her spells for the next day. Nor
did she rouse when Valen picked her up and placed her upon the bed. . |
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