The N'Asti Cronicles

Redder · Post by **Redder** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 2:30 am

Shyntana once again walks through the Dalgehty Gates of the Underdark, her head is held high even though dark blood footprints are left under her walk. She had faced yet another of the Drow “Tests” intended for the drow of Merchant Clans and the fresh scars are the marks of her success. She knows now why Feng is being held with such importance for the survival of the merchant clan depends on their ability to maintain trade with the Druagar, the Illithid and more importantly, some of the surface dwelling races. Fine weapons, perfume and produce can be gained from the surface dwellers and thus some form of trade must be maintained for Clan survival. If it were not for this fact, Shyntana would not hesitate at destroying all the surface dwellers at sight.

She well knows that with the right moves, the right trades and with the right assassinations, the Merchant Clan she serves, will one day become a Noble House within the City of the Underdark. Drow live a long time, the moves are subtle and must comply within the twisted rules of the Underdark if they are to survive. For one wrong move and all Noble Houses will come together to exterminate a disfavoured clan.

Her latest “Test” has taught her more of the true culture of her race. The six major principles that all Drow must follow. Her private tutor has taught her well, though much pain and suffering is a part of the “Test”, the values and principles are homed with the twisted rules burned into her very soul.

Focus is her only objective now, for to attempt to gain caste within her Clan, she must complete the annual “Test” called “The Running”.

To fail this “Test” will surely result in severe punishment. The drow to not simply kill the ones whom fail a “Test”, unlike most of the evil gods. Instead, they use powerful magics to deform the one who failed and thus becomes - half-drow and half-spider, known only as Driders. These deformed beings are no longer beautiful to behold and have only the desire to kill all in their path. Often these Driders are the initial “Test” of a younger drow as they are instructed to enter a cave containing them and not to come out for 3 moons. Only those whom pass this “Test” will have the right to live, others, if lucky, will become a sacrifice or fall to the Driders.

Her High Mistress now demands of Shyntana, one sacrifice per new moon in order to maintain her new position within the Clan. Thus to meet this new demand, Shyntana offered her younger sister as the first sacrifice. This allowed for two objectives, one is to please the High Mistress, the other was to eliminate a possible rival and prevent the clan from knowing her sisters failure.

While her thoughts dwell on such rivalry, she finds her focus now centering around anything that would harm her Merchant Clan from their trade. She must once again face the Illithid and attempt to re-negotiate the failed pact. She is sure they will all distrust the drow even more now, but since the last representative had been sacrificed, Shyntana hopes the Illithid will find favour in this news and that it was a higher ranking representative of the Consortium coming to negotiate.

Phyr'vyrae · Post by **Phyr'vyrae** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 7:44 pm

Brown nosing wench, I'll have to keep an eye on that one.

Redder · Post by **Redder** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 8:21 pm

The tainted temple of Anu was still as Shyntana had left it many days before. This has been a very effective distraction for the enemy to concentrate on while the subtle moves and negotiations were in progress. There is nothing like distracting the enemy from the primary objectives. Her god Tiamat is also quite pleased in the chaos this has caused and the events which have unwound from its inception. Whether the temple if ever fully converted or not is of no importance, yet to maintain such chaos to divert attention away from the true goals is advantageous.

Shyntana bowed before the tainted alter and places a sigil of Tiamat upon the ground and kneels to pray.

“O Holy Mistress of the salt waters, here thy words that I speak. Our Clan grows stronger each day and one day may even ascent to becoming a Noble house. Dealing with the surface world is such demeaning task for us, but if we are to succeed in obtaining the power we need to usurp the House of Vhaeraun, we must continue with the pacts the Clan is in need of. I again seek thy blessing and guidance in these tasks ahead and shall always be thy servant.”

Standing, Shyntana looks about at the coagulated blood on the walls, some is even beginning to mould providing such a magnificent scent of death within the temple. The meeting time draws near as she performs her final preparations before leaving the temple. Only a Sigil of Tiamat remains.

Redder · Post by **Redder** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 10:05 pm

After hearing of the pact between Lone and Accordia, Shyntana now knew that the temple would remain as it is for much longer than she had expected. Accordia was proving quite useful to maintaining the goals of the consortium and even Feng looked to have a slight interest for a change. Even more ‘lings were sacrificed to cover the walls with their blood and if Shyntana could only convince Grok not to eat them so quickly, the work would be more productive.

The meeting with the Illithid did not go well. Even after Shyntana met with them directly, the refusal to deal with any more Drow was going to be a hurdle. A change of authority was needed within the Illithid if any pact was going to get initiated. They are stubborn creatures, yet with the right assassination and change in controllership, perhaps there would be hope yet. The Varanites were much easier to persuade. Upon reaching the Duke on the top level of his tower and capturing him, a pact was formed along the notion of “You will trade with us in our way, or we shall visit you each day.” The Duke saw the reasoning quite quickly and due to the fact most of his guards were dead or severely wounded, he conceded to the pact with some reluctance. How trustworthy he will be is still yet to be seen.

Trade was picking up as new goods started to trickle into the coffers of the consortium, gold was starting to mount up and renewed plans could now start to be executed. A chance meeting between Shyntana and a mercenary of no name proved to be interesting, mercenaries are traders as well, it’s just what they trade is the difference. The meeting went well as this mercenary was quick with her wit and sly with her tongue. Shyntana liked her style for a surface dweller and seeds were sown for a surprise task to come.

Phyr’vyrae, T’so and Indril had been busy with their tasks at maintaining the subtle moves within the House to ensure the usurping of House Vhaeraun. Soon the true name of the ascended house will be known. While only five of the seven sisters remain, the house is still strong and getting stronger each day.

Shyntana still has her doubts about Feng and the unknown forces at play within the consortium, yet while things are going well, she hides the suspicions while keeping a watchful eye. There have been strange disappearances of certain blockages that have allowed the consortium to flourish and she wonders at what greater power is truly at work here and for what cause….

Redder · Post by **Redder** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 9:30 pm

The consortium was doing well as trade goods flowed from hand to hand between the house and those with whom pacts have been formed. The stockpile of goods was consuming the majority of the space within the house and a new location needed to be found. The many chests of gold and weapons would need to be relocated if the house was to continue to grow at such a rapid rate.

Shyntana had not expected the logistics required for this as it was happening at a much faster rate than had been anticipated. The books were becoming a mess and the slaves were sloppy, requiring a regular beating to keep them performing their work. The work was taking it’s toll as one sleepless night met the next. While the Drow train to reduce the requirement of sleep for a long time, the down time is still needed for even the best minds start to become foggy after so many days of regular work.

Shyntana placed the last of the books down after correcting several mistakes by the previous slave that had been sacrificed. She wandered into a separate room within the house which was draped in long flowing spider-web style portieres. A single table was in the center of the room where a dark bowl was placed next to an urn of salt water. Several candles circled the dark bowl and with a whisper from Shyntanas lips they lit up to provide a meager amount of light within the dark room. Slowly Shyntana lifted the urn and poured the salted water into the bowl, then waited….

After many hours of drifting in and out of her inner monologue, Phyr’vryae appeared next to her as if a calling caused her path to meet within this room.

“What –are- you doing wench!?!” yells Phyr’vryae.

Shyntana turns and bows to Phyr’vryae while maintaining eye contact at all times.

“I was just resting a moment mistress.”

“Rest is for the weak, do not let me find you doing that again or –you- will be next to visit the Great Mistress of the Salt Waters. Now, I have a more important task for you. My spy tells me that stones of great power are being held in a weak surface dweller temple in Dasar. You will get them for me, NOW!”

“Yes my mistress.”

Phyr’vryae turns and walks out of the room, a scream is heard from a slave as she beats him for being in her path. Blood covers the floor as the slave drags himself over to a nearby wall.

Shyntana takes a few supplies from the pool and heads towards Dasar through a Dark Forest…

Redder · Post by **Redder** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 9:02 pm

Shyntana squeezes through a small opening that leads into the Dasar Forest after a trying journey where many new stone statues litter the path. It is dark, a light rain is falling and the animals become quiet as she slips into the shadows of the large oak trees. Her art in stealth has become more attuned after her recent tests within the Underdark and with the silence of a panther, she slips from shadow to shadow slowly making her way towards the city entrance.

While she approaches the entrance, the gates open as two adventurers leave the city and head east towards Oraans. Shyntana peers quietly into the entrance and upon seeing the guards, she rolls a few gold pieces into the courtyard. The guards attention at the gate entrance is immediately distracted at the sound of coins rolling into the courtyard and as they move to the wall’s edges to pick up the mysterious coins, a shadow cast against the wall goes un-noticed.

Shyntana creeps about in the slum area of Dasar, keeping to the shadows so as to not attract any attention, a muffled scream is heard echoing from the area when a citizen took a lesser traveled path, only a few parts of the body remains….

Cerberus · Post by **Cerberus** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 9:45 pm

((Hope you don't mind me jumping in here for a sec))

In the forest camp north of Daris, Lone stared at the ground as the two women...conversed. It was the closest word he could put to it. Isha openly glared at the other woman, while Isis tried her best to look anywhere else than at Isha.

"It is clear that too many people know of the stones. I mean, we already know Heaven knows where they are, right?" Isha spoke in a crisp cut voice, as if not expecting to be argued with.

Isis faced turned slightly as the mention of Heaven came and passed.

Lone nodded vaguely. "She does."

"Then we need to move them. Now." Isha spoke matter of factly. "And it must be a secret kept to only us three until the... time comes..." Isha looked away, as if suddenly sad. Even Isis turned a look of compassion in Isha's direction.

Lone flinched as if stung. "Pray that time does not come soon."

Both women's eyes looked at him, unblinking, and unreadable.

".......what?"

Sighing, Isha nodded to Isis, who returned it. "Perhaps we should make ready for Dasar?"

Isis nodded as the two women walked away from Lone, talking. "It will take some time for us to travel there, we must be prepared."

Lone stood there, his hands held wide, then dropped them with a sigh.

"Wait... I thought they were mad at each other? Are they mad at us?" Came a small voice on Lone's shoulder.

Lone sighed and stepped forward, following the two of them. "Hush, Faia."

Redder · Post by **Redder** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 11:01 pm

((The more the merrier I always say))

Shyntana quietly moves about the city, keeping to the alleys and shadows so as not to be noticed. She does not know where in the city the stones would be, only that they are here somewhere as Phyr’vryae would never be wrong. She stops to think about where the most probable place for the stones would be and in her true drow nature, she starts by eliminating places where they would not be.

They could not be in the Palace, the queen would in no way permit such an evil taint to be brought within her home, the same would probably go for the Kingseekers Tower. Since these stones are evil in nature, they would be under best care if they were kept by those whom have the power to stave the threat of evil. A priest or priestess may have such power, she thinks to herself, perhaps one of these temples would be the logical place.

Again Shyntana moves quietly within the shadows from building to building, circumnavigating the city and counting eleven temples. It would be impossible to determine just which temple they would be in, if indeed they were kept within a temple or not. It would also not be possible to attack all the temples as the time that would be needed to do such, would be too long and bring too much unwanted attention.

Slowly she makes her way back to the slums and hides within an alleyway. She sits in the shadows overlooking the courtyard within the slums thinking about the task at hand. The poor and refugees of Solace are going about their usual daily routines when a priestess of Ishtar wanders about the slums handing out food to the poor and blessings from the god of love. She wears a long brown robe with a hood and it is difficult to see her face.

A slow grin appears on Shyntana’s face as she slyly follows the priestess into a back alleyway. A few moments later, a figure wearing a long brown robe with a hood that hides the face from view appears from the shadows and continues to hand out food to the poor, but without saying a word….

Phyr'vyrae · Post by **Phyr'vyrae** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 11:19 pm

"Four little stones.... how long does it take to pull four little stones out of their hands... AND ALL THESE BOXES!" *shakes her head*

Two of Shyn's slaves tried to use her temple as a storage locker, both heads now rest ontop of boxes in the hallway.

s4rx7 · Post by **s4rx7** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 11:28 pm

Isha stopped in her tracks, quickly took a look at Isis and Lone looking for a reaction, and then directly at Faia. "Why would we be mad at both of you? What did you two do?"

Redder · Post by **Redder** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 12:55 am

Shyntana makes her way across the courtyard from the slums towards the two towers in the north-east side of Dasar. In between the two towers is what first appears to be a temple, but as Shyntana enters, a large room comes into view. The room is quite bare and show little furnishings as if it had been recently rebuilt. Several people are walking about holding planks of wood about 2 feet long and 1 foot wide. She stares about for a moment as such sights were never seen by her kind before, yet she keeps the hood low so as her face cannot be seen.

After a few moments, the people gathered in a circle within the center of the room and begin a chant which was quite distressing to Shyntana’s ear.

((It can be heard here http://mars.walagata.com/w/redder/monk1.mp3 260kb 37seconds of music))

After the chant, each of the people hit their heads with the planks of wood, then proceeded to go about their business again.

This was too much for Shyntana and she decided that it be best if she leaves the mad monks to their own….

Redder · Post by **Redder** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 12:28 am

A cloaked figure is seen passing from temple to temple....

Redder · Post by **Redder** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 5:43 am

Within the Temple of Anu, an Epic battle is heard throughout the lands.

Then there was no more....

The Drow Witch was dead.

Muletang · Post by **Muletang** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 7:15 am

abrupt!

Kell · Post by **Kell** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:46 am

Wow. What the hell? That was short