RP:Flattery
Synopsis: D'Artes High Priestess Gevurah and Orbb Quar'Valsharess Elder Boy Jalynfein meet by chance in Vakmatharas's Temple of Endless Death. Jalynfein successfully gains an audience in Gevurah through flattery and establishes himself as a potential contact in the future.
Temple of Endless Death
A score of undead dark elves are spread out across the smooth floor. All are sitting in the same position, in the same direction and echoing the same chant. They are kneeling on the ground, their posteriors resting on the soles of their feet. Each of the tireless servants are garbed in a black flowing robes which seem to melt seemlessly into the onyx floor. The chanting drow, their dark hands laying palm-side up on their knee caps, simultaneously dip down and press their foreheads to the cool floor. An aged man in the front rises up to his feet and turns around to face the reanimated drow as he begins a series of cryptic gesticulations, seemingly summoning the necrotic forces of the God Vakmatharas.
Gevurah descends the stairs that connect the sacrificial chamber to The Temple of Endless Death. She skirts the chanting, bowing, worshipful dead just as the male priest leading the chant summons Vakmatharas’s power. It is a power devoid of energy. It does not beat or pulse; it gives off neither light nor heat. His power is dead, stale, musty. Vakmatharas makes himself known through an oppressive weight which presses down on chest, and robs the living of the sensations of coursing blood and breath. Few even realize that they can feel blood snaking through their veins, breath filling their lungs, who all immediately feel the absence of both. It takes a unique kind of courage to worship Vakmatharas. Gevurah no longer feels courageous when she wades through the palpable thick of Vakmatharas’s power. It’s as familiar as a cavern breeze or the riddleof echoes as a single sound bounces down various tunnels and caverns. The High Priestess sits towards the back of the hall and kneels, joining in prayer after her fulfilling her duties as an instructor at Magthere whol onhir d'Aphyon, the clergy school for priests of Vakmatharas - a high honor for any drow, but hardly a surprisingly accolade for a member of the First House.
Jalynfein enters the temple clothed in his fine black robes the 4th house's elderboy moves to stand against the wall. Crossing his arms the necromancer leans back and scans the room. Not being a priest the male just stands still and lets the unholy energies wash over him. One figure catches his eye, the D'Artes first daughter. A small smile slips onto his lips as he observes the priestess.
Gevurah catches movement in her periphery and looks to Jalynfein just as he smiles at her. She scowls in return. When the prayer concludes, she rises and nears Jalynfein, though always beyond an arm-plus-dagger’s length away. He did just smile at her, afterall, and she doesn’t trust smiles. That’s true for many drow, but not all. However, it is especially true for Gevurah, who was raised dispassionately in a house which favors merit instead of lineage, and raised by individuals with no stake in proving certain genetics are better than others, as biological parents often do. Her parents have long been dead. Instead she is ruled by a Patron whose genius borders on insanity, and smiles are a scarce thing in the D’Artes estate, reserved only for nefarious plotting and condescending monologuing. Thusly she assumes Jalynfein’s motives. “Speak your purpose.” Another charming D’Artes trait: she’s more accustomed to barking orders than asking questions.
Jalynfein averts his eyes to the floor as the female approaches, "I have no purpose First Daughter," he says respectfully, "I merely came to bask in Vakmatharas' unholy glory." Glancing up the male has a slight grin, "I was pleased to see another noble amongst the rabble." The necromancer can very easily understand her caution, though he honestly has no ulterior motives, a smooth graceful bow, "Jalynfein of elderboy of House Orbb Quar'Valsharess at your service."
Gevurah smiles, the condescending monologuing kind, as Jalynfein quickly cowers back into his place. Jalynfein speaks with more flattery before Gevurah can monologue, which is probably for the best. She recognizes him now. They’ve met in passing a handful of times before. She rarely had motive to enter Arcania when he was a student, and vice versa, and he is not yet a Master of Arcania, and thus their paths cross infrequently. “I am pleased to make your acquaintance again, Elderboy of House Orbb Quar’Valsharess.” She isn’t lying too, though it’s difficult to be sure. She is rarely pleased to be in the company of anyone, but if she had to choose a house to mingle with, House Orbb Quar’Valsharess’s fetish for tradition and female-veneration places it at the top of Gevurah’s list. “House Orbb Quar’Valsharess does not yet have a Master or Priestess among the ranks of Arcania or Magthere whol onhir d'Aphyon. But you have graduated. Those are your ambitions.” The question is spoken as a statement, and it may as well be for that is a common ambition among drow nobility.
Jalynfein inclines his head, "That it is mistress." he replies honestly, "My matron also desires it as well, which of course, is all that matters." His eyes sweep the room, keeping an eye out for any that might be listening in on guard against spies. Though he had not personally met the priestess before he knew of the most powerful female in the first house, and his breeding in the ways of tradition tells him that she should be in the throne. "I have heard that Patron Stavret and yourself met with some trouble near the border, it does my faith well to see that you are unharmed." His words carry a tone of reverence for the priestess.
Gevurah doesn’t share Jalynfein’s precaution for spies, but then again she isn’t speaking of her own House’s ambitions. Jalynfein’s deference and belief that Gevurah should be the First Matron serves him well in this encounter. “We did.” She grins at his comment about her well-being. Kuzial didn’t escape unharmed, and that memory deepens her grin further. Gevurah has no fondness for the fifth patron, and the feeling is mutual. “It was a rather unusual encounter. It would serve you well to know, mage, should you ever have to misfortune of encountering the same creature, that the creature absorbed and was restored by the magical enchantments of my company’s weapons. Non-enchanted weapons worked best, but its power was fierce. Some of my soldiers who looked upon its horrible face were driven to madness.” She refers to the entourage of drow assassins that usually accompany her. “Tell me what else you have heard of the attack, if anything.”
Jalynfein frowns, "I haven't heard much, only that there was combat and that you fared best out all of the drow involved." His frown hardens, "Which is how it should be of course, no drow should allow a priestess of the First House to come to harm, be they a patron or soldier. Even I of a different house would be willing to put my life on the line to defend a High Priestess." Realizing that he had let his emotion show through a bit much he shakes his head, "I apologize for that mistress," he says bowing his head, "I should have held my tongue."
Gevurah grins at the sudden emotional outburst. House Orbb Qual’Valsharess’s philosphy is one Gevurah can endorse; too bad it’s ranked beneath her own house and increasingly irrelevant. “If one insists on speaking out of turn, then he should hope his tongue speak such gilded truths as yours.” Her grin fades and her stare sharpens considerably on Jalynfein as she tests the limits of his philosophy. Suddenly she is concerned of spies. “Follow me.” She leads Jalynfein abreast, keeping him in her periphery and her guard ever up, to a secluded corner of the temple and whispers. “I wonder how your matron would react to hearing you speak this way to a High Priestess of another house. What emboldens you to do so.”
Jalynfein following the priestess the he catches her new concern for secrecy and thus switches to the sign language of their people, "My matron is concerned with the promotion of matriarchal views within our city," he signs, "She desires a return to tradition even though she still follows the spider queen." A look of slight disgust flashes in his eyes at the mention of the goddess, "I am a follower of Vakmatharas and you are a priestess of that God, yes my life is tied to my house but my loyalty is with my god and those females who lead his worship." A slight smile does slip onto his face, "And she would think this some clever ruse to gain your trust, I however know that you are far too intelligent to fall for something as simple as this." The male's body language and facial expressions express his complete honesty.
Gevurah signs back matter of factly. “And nobles of the First House are bred not to trust, so that is impossible.” Indeed, throughout this conversation there is much Gevurah holds back. His flattery at this point grants him an audience that few would earn, but beyong that nothing is guaranteed. Her allegiance is first with her god, ostensibly Vakmatharas, then herself, and then with her House, in that order. The list ends there. “Tell me of your sister, Angwe.”
Jalynfein inclines his head, "There is not much I can tell," he signs admittedly, "It has been several years since I last saw her and from what I can recall all I can honestly say is that when she finally rises to the throne our Houses rise will follow." The necromancer knows his place and knows his value to the first daughter and so has no delusions that he's important to her. "Though nowhere near as quickly and skillfully as if we had a priestess of your power and caliber in charge, though priestesses of that caliber are rare indeed."
Gevurah smirks approvingly at this non-stop flattery. If only his flattery came alongside more useful information. Perhaps he will have useful information moving forward, and thus she seals this semblance of good will. “You speak well. May Vakmatharas continue to guide your thoughts. I must take my leave.”
Jalynfein bows, "I will try to keep an ear out for any more information concerning the attack and my sister, should you require anything do not hesitate to ask." the male maintains his bow until the priestess has taken her leave.