RP:About Trist'oth's Razurath Problem

From HollowWiki

Part of the Saurian Onslaught Arc


This is a Mage's Guild RP.


Summary: Gevurah has an idea for how to kill all Razurath in Trist’oth without incurring any more drow casualties or further damaging the city. To pull off her idea, she’ll need the help of the Mage’s Guild. She instructs her new husband to contact his Mage’s Guild contact and tell them to meet the drow in Cenril. Dyraxdiin arrives with Quintessa, who knows that there are friendly Razurath living in Cenril. That’s perfect, because for Gevurah’s plan to work, she’ll need to take a lot of Razurath alive first. Dyraxdiin agrees to help. Quintessa is assigned a very important mission to capture Razurath alive for Gevurah’s dark experiments.

Remains of a Castle, Cenril

Gevurah :: Since the day of the attack, Gevurah had been mulling over the most exact and gruesome way to kill all the Razurath in Trist'oth without inflicting any more drow casualties or doing any more damage to the already battle-worn city of Trist'oth. The idea came to her in a dream, perhaps a dream instilled in her by Vakmatharas himself (or so she likes to think). It was the dead of drow night and the D'Artes Estate was asleep, but that didn't stop her from storming into Daath's chambers in the heat of her passioned idea. "Daath," she says firmly (and, if he's asleep, as many times as necessary to wake him). "Send word to your little mage friend." She means Diin, and Daath will have to guess that based on the fact it's the only 'little mage friend' Gevurah knows. "I have an idea for ridding the lizards, but I'll need some arcane power from your mage club. Tell them to meet us at the abandoned castle in Southern Cenril at [a later time the same day]." She looks over Daath from head to toe as if appraising his leisure attire and, if he wasn't sleeping, nocturnal activities. If she feels any type of way about what she finds in him, her face does not betray those feelings. "We leave here at [slightly earlier time]. Be ready." She turns to leave, stops, look over her shoulder then adds, "Tell them not to get too close to the castle. Meet outside the western wing." || Later that day, Gevurah and Daath travel together and arrive a little early just after sundown. Perhaps Daath, a necromancer of repute, can sense death's unnaturally potent call from within the castle. He may also notice that no birds or bats fly above the castle, no rodents skitter around its cracked foundations, no insects buzz in the still night sky. The moon is nearing its full face and shines brightly on a cloudless Cenril. Gevurah glances at the sky, sees the stars, and it jogs a memory of the last time she saw the stars and the company of another drow on that night. She hisses, seemingly appropos of nothing, and glances westward, expectantly.


Daath was indeed within his newly acquired chambers within the D'Artes stronghold, and had even managed to slip into more comfortable clothes to relax into. But to say he was lounging about is mistaken. As well, had it been any other drow to simply barge in his room they would have been met by a plethora of rather foul and horrendously painful curses and spells which would have had a number of curious outcomes. But again, he was working on his trust with his new wife and so she was free if such worry. Perhaps the only person in the realm whom could freely access his personal quarters. Either way, she'd barge in and say her piece, leaving just as quickly as she has with their meetings since the Razurath occupation. Was it their kiss, shared in the heat of the moment? Was it the stress of the occupation? Or was it her sneaking off to be with her lover? Either way the curious thought is just as quickly done away with as he allows a deep sigh to escape him as he closes the notes in which he was working on. Yes, he hasn't been idle in his own plots, but happy wife and happy life they say. Time would seem to go quickly, as he had sent the requested message to Dyraxdiin, sharing the info of the castle, before he'd arrive along with Gevurah and await the others. They exchange little in the way of conversation along the way, and in fact even as he catches her staring at the stars some several feet away from him he simply turns his attention to the castle for several moments. Curious indeed, but a smart location to have a secret meeting. Any sense of their magical presence is stifled by the darkness that taints this place. Gevurah's cunning earns a hidden smile of appreciation as the Magister waits for the others to arrive.


Dyraxdiin, at the request of Daath, and Gevurah, arrives with Quintessa straddling a swing saddle draped around the Great Wyrm's neck. His descent is only minimally slowed, colliding into the earth with resounding force - unperturbed by the effect that such a raucous landing might cause in the hapless shambles of a once-castle, or the resulting conflict it might start with those he was asked to meet with. He simply doesn't care. Dyraxdiin swings his head down to meet Daath and Gevurah, his left eye gone dark and several scales missing around his cheek and jaw; home to fresh wounds that remain untreated in the form of raking claw-marks. The source of their origin go unmentioned. "What is it you wish, drowess?" The harshness of his speech is due partially to the Saurid-tongue in which he uses, never intended for common, but also represents the mood he is presently in. His good eye, aegean and ever-watchful, rests upon the Matriarch Gevurah.


Quintessa doesn't have any idea what she's gotten herself involved in. A quick note slipped to Magister Daath and now she was personally invited to a top-secret meeting? It doesn't matter, when the leaders of the Mage's Guild want you somewhere it is a good idea to listen least you remain an apprentice forever. This changeling doesn't want to be an apprentice any longer, and is willing to do anything to progress her standing within the guild. If that means selling out a few peaceful Razurath, so be it. She does her best to suppress her nervousness as Diin crashes to the ground, the hex blade hopping from the swing saddle as so as it is safe to do so. Her mismatched eyes flicker to each person present, unsure what she should say or do in a situation like this. She quickly decides it's best to remain silent until she is spoken to, looking to Daath and Dyraxdiin to indicate when exactly she is needed here.


Gevurah :: Dyraxdiin’s wings blow powerful gusts that buffer against Gevurah’s slight frame. She lifts an arm to shield her face from windblown debris and scowls at Dyraxdiin’s disrespect. To make matters worse, he remains in his wyrm form. She looks pointedly at Daath, her eyes silently communicating her displeasure with Dyraxdiin and expecting her new husband to commiserate with her. When addressed, she meets the dragon’s gaze. “Do you feel the death emanating from that castle.” She states the question because there are only two acceptable answers 1. Yes, of course, or 2. No, I am worthless and not worthy of being here. “I put that curse in place some years ago. Nothing living can linger in the castle for long.” She leads the party of very-much-alive creatures into the heart of a death curse, walking and talking like a macabre tour guide. Daath and Dyraxdiin are powerful enough that their wards and natural resistances should make them tolerate the curse for upwards of an hour before they feel any illness, and they would likely be dead a couple hours after that (perhaps longer for the wyrm). Quintessa may start to feel its effects after just 5 minutes (illness, coughing, fever, feebleness), and may be dead within an hour. “It’s a powerful curse, but costly to make and lengthy to implement well. I will try to focus it on just lizards, but I’ll need many razurath specimens to test the spell on - alive. They’re no use dead.” She glances behind her right at Quintessa as they pass the outer gates of the castle and judges Quintessa as probably too weak to be in here for long. Oh well, that’s Quintessa and Dyraxdiin’s problem. Surely the mages can protect their charge. “The problem is the radius. This one covers the castle grounds, but… I need a way to expand the radius to affect an entire city. That’s where I was hoping the mage cl-” she glances at Daath, corrects herself, “Mages Guild could come in.”


Daath had been standing the closest to the castle since arrival, his attention so transfixed upon it that even as the wind of Dyraxdiin's wings blow up a cloud of dust around him he doesn't stop studying the area. As soon as Gevurah and the others start to make their way to the castle, Quintessa is stopped way before she'd get within the reach of that curse, the Magister shaking his head as saying. "You can't go in there." Even Daath lingers back a bit as if to see how Diin reacts to it all. Yes, his appearance is noteworthy, his attitude as well. But it's more the dragon's magical aura that seems... heightened. Rather curious indeed. So, for now, Daath and Quintessa satay back, allowing Diin and Gevurah to discuss matters for a moment while Daath says to Quin. "You claimed there are Razurath here, in this city?"


Dyraxdiin doesn't respond to Gevurah's question, instead he casts his gaze in the direction of the castle, his own mana leaking forth from him to ascertain the truth of the Matriarch's words - Truth. Dyraxdiin follows at a leisurely pace, one. Step. At. A. Time. Because otherwise he'd assuredly pass over Gevurah. He takes note of Daath staying back with Quintessa and only vaguely becomes aware of the very real possibility that this woman could have set this as a ruse designed to ensnare the trio, or perhaps just Dyraxdiin himself? Given his present state, he ignores his mistrust of the Drowess and follows without further inner-dialogue, while shifting into a form perhaps more befitting of walking alongside a humanoid-statured individual. Unable to shift entirely back into the human he so oft chooses, the anthropomorphic Diin will have to suffice. His speech is still just as bad, "If you can reliably harness this," he gestures with a tilt of his head, "We can meet your demand of amplifying it's radius." Death Magic isn't something Diin deals in, but he's certain that Daath, whose expertise revolves around this kind of magic, can instruct the guild members on how best to meet this challenge. Indeed, the tingling sensation of a dark hand washing over his soul serves a stern reminder of why exactly Dyraxdiin prefers to avoid this sort of archaic sorcery.


Quintessa furrows her brow at Daath as he stops her, her nervousness replaced by defiance. "Are you serious? I've been here before," she admits, "It's cursed, I know, but it won't kill me outright. My aura blends with it well enough that I can last ten, maybe fifteen minuets at least. I have more in common with the curse set upon this place than most of the people that infest all of Lithrydel." She flips her piwafwi behind her body so that her hands were free to cast a spell. "And that's without the false life spell I have been practicing." Her gaze flickers to Gevurah and the changeling gives her a slow look up and down, studying her, trying to gauge this woman. Was it she who placed this curse? Suspicion becomes curiosity and her gaze transforms into an uncomfortably long stare. She almost doesn't notice when Daath asks her a direct question. "Er? Oh! Yes, there is a small tribe of the creatures that live not far from here. I have even managed to convince one of them, a scientist, called Redlceth that I am an ally and can be trusted amongst them. I think we could easily destroy them, they aren't like the others." A smirk tugs at the corner of her month as a giggle escapes her, "They're 'peaceful'. I think they'd offer little resistance if we decided to capture them like I suggested. We need to act quick though. Redlceth spoke of moving the clan eastward onto Rynvale Island." Quintessa is surprised with herself. She was betraying those poor Razurath and she didn't feel the least bit guilty about it. On the contrary, she relishes the idea of marching there herself and using the Razurath rune she was gifted against its creator. Such sweet irony that would be. Such glee is ill hidden as a creepy grin grows on the pale girl's face.


Gevurah snorts derisively when Diin says ‘If.’ Of course she can. When it comes to spellcraft, long, slow-baked death spells and curses are a high priestess’s specialty. “Good. I’ll let you know when I’ve crafted the curse and determined how long I need the city-wide canvas sustained. It could take an hour or two for the most powerful razurath to die. I’ll see if I can accelerate it without sacrificing lethality.” Her steps circle the inner courtyard then lead Dyraxdiin back out west to rejoin Daath and Quintessa. Within earshot of the other she says to Diin in her accented common, “If you could supply the Razurath, that would be helpful. With things as they are in Trist’oth, I cannot spare the soldiers.” The priestess of death studies Quintessa quizzically. Daath may be surprised to discover that Gevurah isn’t scowling at a stranger for once. Quintessa’s dark aura reassures Gevurah that this girl is on the right side of things, and though the apprentice may still be weak (relative to the rest of the gathered), she must show promise if she was brought here. Gevurah catches Daath’s gaze with her own and, through a look, begs an explanation. What can this girl offer?


Daath listens intently to every word the fledgling apprentice has to say, noting as well the darker side finger otherwise unassuming nature. It's appreciated. Gevurah and Diin make there ways back down to rejoin the pair, and he catches both Gevurah's last words as well as the look that follows. It's here he makes his statement. "Magister Dyraxdiin needn't bother himself." He looks over to the Dragon, taking in the still visible battle damage, before he continues with. "Quintessa here just advised me that there are Razurath here, in this city. And as such, she is known to this small group and has some measure of trust with them." He doesn't hesitate to say. "So she shall be the one that brings them to us. Accompanied by a few undead servants, so to ensure things go smoothly." Here he turns to Quintessa, and says directly to her. "Fail this task, and we shall not save you. You're are doing such not as a guild member in any official capacity. Should you be captured, or die, the mage guild will not move to act. You'd be branded a rogue member. But..." Here he smirks. "Successfully get them, alive, to us and we shall talk personally about you coming under my wing." Yes, she'd be learning under Daath himself. If that isn't a motivation for an apprentice mage, he doesn't know what is.


Dyraxdiin, again, doesn't respond to Gevurah. There's very little that needs to be said. The instructions are clear and he'd rather get onto the part where he claws his way through the razurath armies. Once rejoined with the other pair, he returns to his natural form, preferring this over anything else at present, or rather incapable of maintaining the previous form for much longer. He stretches his wings and casts his good eye down to Quintessa and then upon Daath himself. A moment passes there, brief, yet paramount. Once this has begun, he fears he won't stop. He is thankful however, to Daath for relieving him of this part of the mission; sanity spared yet one more day. "Notify me when the time has come." He offers as final word before leaving this damned ruin.


Quintessa gives a glace to Dyraxdiin long enough to make eye contact with him before he leaves. Things are progressing for her in the guild far more quickly than she could have ever anticipated. Her mouth practically drops open when she is given the mission to capture the variant tribe of Razurath. Her dreams were coming true! "Oh, thank you, Magister Daath," she says with a bow of her head, "I won't let you down. These Razurath will be our prisoners within the fortnight or I won't even bother coming back." This mission fills her with determination. "I have much planning to do, so if there is nothing left for me to say, shall I be dismissed?" The strange girl was already inching backwards, ready to dash back through the city to do some simple reconnaissance. A last look is given to Gevurah, Quintessa's new person of interest. She, in time, would learn all she could about her but for now she had a task and wouldn't allow herself to be distracted by curiosity.


Gevurah smirks with pleasure as she watches Daath boss around an underling. Something about a strong male drow bossing around lesser mortals makes her heart grow a little fond. It helps that her instincts tell her that Quintessa is a fine choice for the operation. She speaks directly to the apprentice in the same tone she speaks to all servants, and lifts a hand to halt Quintessa’s retreat. “I need the Razurath alive, at least four. More is better. Do not send them to Trist’oth. There are caves below Gualon where a smaller drow settlement has taken root. I’ll see to it that their temple takes them from you.” Wrong God, but the evil Gods aren’t very jealous of real estate. Watching Quintessa she gets the feeling the girl may have no idea where to find this second drow settlement. “I’ll send you directions through my husband. When you deliver the Razurath, the drow will let me know.” The Matron is ready to leave and she asks Daath in their native drow tongue to purposefully exclude Quintessa, “Will you return home or stay here?” Here = anywhere on the surface. If he leaves with her, he’ll find that she is a much chattier travel companion on the return trip. She’s excited by the new curse she must concoct, and feels warmly towards him for arranging tonight’s meeting, which went well. She tells him, in drow, about her plans in greater detail than he told Dyraxdiin. The thrust of it is the same, but the devil is in the magical details which she knows fascinates Daath as much as it fascinates her.


Daath listens to Gevurah's orders to Quintessa, also noting Dyraxdiin's departure, before he adds in his final bit to conclude this business. To Quin he says. "You've your task. See it done." Of course Daath is never one to foolishly choose people he doesn't think will excel at their appointed tasks, so he looks forward to taking a promising student under his wing once again. The last few were Valrae, Svilfon and Larewen. And well, they all turned into quite skilled casters. Either way, Quintessa is dismissed, and Gevurah's private inquiry is replied with a simple word. Home. He'd return with her, eager to hear more. But he'd also allow her to lead the way, just so he could admire her curves as she goes. It's not a bad thing being married to the most attractive drow matron in the underdark, that's for sure.