Tales of Faerun

[Deleted6317247User]

"Oh, we're not only staying for the festival," Shalena chuckled, "but some of us are going to take part in some... activities too." She said not even bothering to mask excitement so evident in her voice. While she wasn't basking in attention, she always liked it.

[AurianaValoria1]

"Unfortunately," Zorica muttered in response to Shalena's comment, staring quite intently at her boots in an attempt to remain seemingly unapproachable. She was not in the mood to deal with this woman.

 

Conall, on the other hand, turned all of his attention to Nawen, who was far more important to him than their host's apparent paramour. "You are welcome," he replied, giving her a warm smile, "If there is anything I can do for you to...make life easier, let me know."

 

Meanwhile, as Argyros was flying lazy circles over the estate again, he caught a glimpse of a figure moving southward. Recognizing it as Imhiros, he silently mused on what the paladin's news would be when he arrived...

 

-------------------------------------------------------------

 

Ravenna's Castle

 

Quarylene downed a goblet of svirfneblin blood in one gulp, wiping her mouth unceremoniously with the back of her hand. She sat in her chambers, fuming over the fact that Ravenna was giving that fool scumbag Silithus more and more attention. They kept delaying their plans to loosen Lolth's choke-hold on the Underdark, and each day the vampiress expected the Spider Queen's elite servants to storm the fortress as an army. There was no doubt that Lolth knew all about their ambitions, and it was likely all a laughable game to the drow goddess.

 

And that was something that made Quarylene even more angry.

 

I can help you.

 

The drow flinched and glanced around, dropping the goblet and reaching for her weapons. She audibly hissed, swearing she heard someone speak, but unable to see the source.

 

Something was not right.

[Llhunara]

Apple all but finished Llhunarra scans the room for a place to dispose of the core, but a servant was quick to her side. Dressed in the usual white, the human's long raven locks stood out even more so than they normally would. With a small smile and an outstretched hand the girl offered to take what remained of the apple. "I will dispose of that for you Miss." Although it had been a couple of days, the rogue was still not used to such service, saying nothing as she places the core in the servant's hand. Without a word she turns and walks away.

 

Rising from her seat she heads towards Shalena, scooping up a fresh apple from the mountainous pile that sat in an oversized bowl on the table. "Yes, some of us. Mainly those that enjoy the attention, although some are more willing to admit that than others." She says with a wink to the piratess, implying that while Shalena was the only one openly excited about the performance, the rest had not really fought that hard to get out of it. Smiling she takes an audible bite of the bright green apple.

Edited December 12, 2014 by Llhunara

[mythicdawnmaster]

Nephis grinned a friendly veneer of dazzling pearlescence, tilting her head to take in the three elven women evidently 'volunteered' to perform; they were each lithesome young creatures, attractive, trim and exotic- exotic to the dusky skinned inhabitants of the desert land, at least. Elves were far more common in the rest of Faerun, an abundant and plentiful race for the most part- here they were tantalizing delicacies, creatures of the rarest breed and mystical mien; a gem to adorn the ranks of any harem, to be sure. The Conjurer silently imagined that it had been Mensares' plan, to keep these delights captive with him, joining the little family of girls he kept around for amusement. She almost snorted at the though; even with she- the greatest jewel of his glorious empire- he still sought more. It was gluttony that compelled this man, then, not lust, He had to have everything, one of each, bottled up and labelled for display.

 

Or at least, bottled up long enough to dance in his festival.

 

"Oh you'll be performing? How delightful! Four untrained and uneducated foreigners performing an ode to the gods, through medium of danse. What could possibly go wrong?" She laughed heartily, glancing sidelong at her mate with a mixture of amusement and disdain in her eyes "It should certainly be a more entertaining affair than the usual cast of left-footed monkeys we have swaying to and fro like a bouquet of river reeds; the girls were beautiful, certainly, but they lacked an intrinsic grace. I hope to see you dazzle." Or at least take a few tumbles trying...

[AurianaValoria1]

Still sitting on the floor, Tannin could help but chuckle at Rhaine’s words. “What? Because I keep my personal issues personal means you have to worry about me killing you all in your sleep? Thaaat’s funny,” he said before taking another drink. “What reason could I possibly have for wanting to kill any of you?”

 

The Doomguide shrugged, "Other than the fact I just expelled you from our party? I have no idea...but Azuris seems to think that is reason enough."

 

“Well isn’t that nice of him,” Tannin sighed. “Well, have no fear; I’ve no intention of harming any of you. No, the worst I’ll do is annoy you by refusing to leave,” he said with a smirk.

 

She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"

 

“Yup,” Tannin smiled. “I’m here of my own free will after all. Didn’t sign any paperwork, nor am I being paid for being here. I’m not following you, I’m following this group, and I highly doubt the whole group will want me to leave because of the supposed case of incompatible sexualities of Nawen and me. And I most highly doubt they’ll run me off for criticizing your person. That might actually earn me some friends, here. And besides, you’d come to regret forcing me out sooner or later.”

 

“I think you’re assuming a lot,” Rhaine replied dryly.

 

“I have been known to do that,” he admitted.

 

“Mm,” she turned, “Well…now that I have confirmation that we’re safe, I suppose I shall leave. Not that your word means a damn thing.” But as she turned the knob of the door and pushed forward to exit the tavern, she found that it would not budge. She then rattled the doorknob and leaned all her weight into the door itself; it shook a bit, but otherwise did not move. As it turned out, Azuris's horse, Bob, was keeping the door shut by laying in front of it, presumably keeping the two inside together whilst they worked out their differences. Unfortunately, it did not work out that way...

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Meanwhile, Conall was growing worried for Rhaine. She had been gone for a lengthy period of time, now, and he was sure it had been to track down Tannin. Rising and excusing himself, he began asking the servants as to her whereabouts; she was not a hard one to spot, and he thought that it should not take long to pinpoint where exactly she had gone.

 

Zorica continued to watch the woman called Nephis, not failing to catch her obvious distaste at Menarses's choice of dancers. That made her all the more determined to succeed. The half-drow briefly glanced to Shalena, wondering if the piratess had caught Nephis's insult as well.

 

The merchant himself looked back and forth rapidly between the party members before him and his companion, "My dear, I do think they are quite capable in many areas. I do not think Imhiros would trust them so much if they were not. Speaking of which, Imhiros should be back any day now."

[josh900]

“Only bickering being done here is by you really.” Tannin said with a scoff.

“You don’t really seem to care to really listen to what I’m saying, don’t care about saving countless lives and possibly stopping the greatest catastrophe that the realms has ever seen. But that’s alright, you know what’s best and all that. You focus on your little draco-lich like he’s the most dangerous beastie to ever raise it’s head. Defeat him and fell good about yourselves… and then on the twenty ninth of Tarsakh, thirteen eighty five, when the blue flames sweep over Faerun and burn nearly every inch of the realms, and a very large percent of the magically gifted population all die or lose their minds…. Remember that today… you spat at your chance at trying to stop it. All because you couldn‘t get over an unintentional upset. Enjoy that thought.” He ended with a sardonic smile.

[Deleted6317247User]

Nawen too had noticed Rhaine's absence and she wondered where did she go after they talked in her room earlier. She thought she caught a glimpse of her talking with Azuris but now she wasn't anywhere in the common room again. She was about to ask if anyone knew where she was but then a conversation about dancing began. "Dancing?" She asked. "What dancing?"

 

Shalena smiled slightly at Nephis's words. She caught the insult but it didn't offend her at all. Not in the slightest. She shot a glance back at Llhunarra and chuckled, they haven't known each other long at all but she already liked the half-elf more than some people who were in the group when she joined, before turned her attention to Nephis. "I can image worse things," the piratess said, "like having people whose idea of entertainment would bore undead to death as an audience."

[AurianaValoria1]

Rhaine gave Tannin an equally caustic smirk, "You expect me to care about something without knowing anything about it? You see, if what you say is true, it is yet another in a long list of growing secrets that you've kept to yourself all this time...it's just all coming out now. And the worst part? I can never know if it is true. Why? Because you started out in this group as a deceiver, and that is now all I can know you as. You should have thought about that if you wanted me to help you. For all I know, this is just your blatantly pathetic attempt to stay in my company.

 

"As a matter of fact," she paused, "You never asked for my help. In these past few hours, you've seemed more than content to handle this apocalyptic situation on your own. And since you seem to know everything about it and how to prevent it," she threw up her hands, "On your own you shall be. Perhaps when you are facing down Lolth herself, if you make it that far, and if indeed that is what you plan to do, you will remember that you are alone because you chose to be." She raised an eyebrow at him pointedly, "Think on that while you play martyr and hero in order to feel good about yourself."

 

At that moment, Conall's voice came from the other side of the door, "Rhaine? Are you in there?"

 

Her head jerked towards the door, "Conall! Yes! I've been stuck in here with Tannin!"

 

"Well, I know why." His voice was a muffled mixture of aggravation and disbelief, "Bob is laying in front of the door."

 

"Azuris," Rhaine muttered.

 

----------------------------------------

 

Back in the common room, Zorica looked at Nawen, "Yes...our host has been kind enough to blackmail us into performing for him in his festival, since his dancers decided to leave. Rhaine, Shalena, Sybille, and I are the ones who've been selected to play the parts of this land's goddesses."

[josh900]

Growing bored and hungry, Bob finally got up from his spot after a few moments and started to walk down the hall. Some time later, a commotion would erupt in the kitchens as the large horse began to open random cupboards with his muzzle in the search of food. Eventually Azuris would bring him back outside after profusely apologizing for the trouble the horse had caused.

[AurianaValoria1]

After Bob moved, Conall swiftly strode forward to open the door. The sight inside startled him a little. Rhaine looked angry enough to set the universe alight, and Tannin was sitting in the floor surrounded by empty and broken alcohol bottles. Concern on his face, Conall asked, "Are you all right?"

 

"I am just fine," the Doomguide answered shortly. "But he's not so good," she added, jerking her thumb at Tannin.

 

The werewolf paladin's expression changed to one of inquisitiveness as he followed her quick pace down the hallway, "Wait...what do you mean? What happened?"

 

"You'll hear about it in a minute."

 

She strode with purpose into the common room to see most everyone there, in addition to a very extravagantly-dressed woman who lingered near Menarses. She nodded to the woman to acknowledge her presence, but otherwise kept her focus on her companions. Addressing them in a slightly louder voice, so she was sure she had their attention, she began, "So...I've just been speaking with Tannin," she glanced to Nawen, "and I have decided that he is to leave our company. In addition to causing trouble for the last time in this party and bringing heartache on our dear Nawen's head, he has an important mission on which to embark...one that he will be taking by himself, by his own choice. He is to depart by this time tomorrow, so be sure to say your goodbyes to the Bhaalspawn while you can. I would also ask a favor of you in ensuring that he does indeed take his leave and doesn't just pretend to."

 

"Whoa," Conall said, backing into the wall and leaning on it with a look of disbelief, "That explains some things."

 

"Wait...he's a Bhaalspawn?" Zorica asked incredulously, "A son of the old god of murder?"

 

"Son of a Bhaalspawn, if I recall correctly," the Doomguide replied, "But he carries the blood, yes. Likely accounts for some things you might have thought strange."

 

"Wonder what other things we didn't know about him," Conall muttered.

 

Rhaine smirked, "Probably more than you care to."

 

At that moment, Imhiros walked in, his expression almost as sour as Rhaine's. His clothes and armor were dusty, and he walked wearily, as if the weight of the world sat on his shoulders. He nodded to the company and bowed slightly to Menarses, the woman, and Rhaine. Before he could say anything, however, Menarses began questioning him rather eagerly.

 

"Imhiros, my friend! You're back! So, what did they say? What news do you bring?"

 

The Osirian held up his hand and gestured to a servant, speaking hoarsely, "Water?"

 

Almost immediately, the nearest maiden poured a goblet of fresh water and handed it to the paladin. Imhiros drank greedily, soothing his parched throat by draining the whole cup before answering, "Ah...thank you. My flask ran dry before I could get back. The summer is proving more brutal than I thought it would be this year." He paused and coughed, then added, "As for the news I bring, it is not necessarily good. The High Priest of Osiris at Skuld will be but a day or two behind me, headed here for the festival. Afterwards, he wants to question Rhaine herself on her business in this land. It took all the persuasiveness I could muster to get him to do that much, but believe me...he knows something that we need to know as well. And the only way to get him to help is to convince him that you are here for the best interests of Mulhorand. Not yourself, not Faerun, not the world...Mulhorand."