RP:The Risk

From HollowWiki
  • RP:THE RISK


  • The Underdark and Trist' Oth'


You walk into the house curiously to find a drow female and male, the male bowed to his knees respectfully as the female stands over him, seeming to speak in the underdark tongue. Noticing your appearance now, the female looks up to glare at you, wrinkling her nose as she crosses her arms, the male turning only his head towards you and placing his hand on the hilt of his blade. She speaks out low in tone, as if hoping you wouldn`t hear her, perhaps so they would have better reason to kill you and take your goods. "In the name of the spider goddess, you will leave now, or your blood will be spilled." Perhaps its time to go?



I have a tale to tell. One that I put myself and my newly acquired friend Vargoth into danger of torture and death beyond belief. You might call us stupid and crazy or brave and courageous , but whatever you think it means nothing to me. I was after an ancient staff I had read about in a old book in the Mages Library late one evening about the dark elven race known as the Drow. The way it described this race put mind numbing terror in my heart and Vargoth just didn‘t care when I told him of them, but I had to have this artifact in the worse possible way. It became another one of my many obsessions and it would drive me relentlessly. It would move through my blood like a lilting lament with the rhythm of a restless winter sea until I held it in my hands and claimed it as my own regardless of the cost.

But how to go into a land that these people were adapted to? I read up on their world known as the Underdark and the more I learned the more I despaired. How could a human travel the perils of this place and make it out alive? I had to come up with a plan that would make our chances better. I had heard of a famed herbalist by the name of Aranhil that could make us a potion to turn me into a Drowess and Vargoth into a male Drow for a time. Quickly I sought him out and asked him to make it for me. True to his reputation he was successful, but it drained my money pouch down to a few coppers. In my madness to get the staff I cared less about putting myself into poverty. I explored around the area (and spied) on the opening to descend into this deep, dark land for a few days before using the money I had left to supply our trip with the necessary things we would need for this quest. I studied the cruel and strange looking Drow in the hopes that if seen while we were down there that we could pass as one of them. We would “look” like one, but we needed the manners so we wouldn’t be stopped. We planned on being as stealthy as possible, keeping out of sight as much as we could.

The day finally arrived when we felt we were as ready to make the trip. We made our way to the dark and dank opening in the earth that would be the beginning of our descent into extreme danger, not to just our bodies, but to our minds and souls. I had no desire to become a sacrifice to their Spider Deity and I knew that Vargoth had no feelings on the matter. Before I could change my mind I swallowed the foul tasting potion and gave Vargoth his and waited for the transformation to happen. After a time my flesh began to heat up. It wasn’t unpleasant at first, but before long it felt as if I had stepped into a raging bonfire and let the flames engulf me. I couldn’t help but scream my pain to the heavens above and pray for the change to be over quickly. My companion wasn’t doing much better and with clenched teeth he growled.

Minutes passed and with infinite slowness the pain began to fade. I pulled my newly replaced hand mirror from my pouch and held it up to my face. Stunned at the ebony skinned visage that stared back at me with wide, black eyes I cursed. I had hopped that my recently changed orbs would be the red that the Drow were known to have, but there was nothing I could do to change it. I let my gaze travel over Vargoth and he “looked” just like one of the males of Trist’ Oth’. Now, more then ever would I have to remain unseen while in the Underdark, he would pass with hopefully no problem. Gathering my courage about me like a shield as I made my way into the cavern with Vargoth right behind me and deep into the earth. Blackness covered us in minutes, but with my new eye’s I could see! I knew that my vision had increased, but to see in the pitch black of the tunnel was amazing. Sending up a prayer of thanks I rushed further down into the bowels of this strange new land with him quick on my heels. Vargoth was able to cast a spell to allow him to see in the pitch darkness. I gazed all around me and strained my hearing, alert of any sound or movement. We beheld wonders we never knew existed and I memorized them to later record in my journal. Creatures and rock formations to dazzle the mind passed by me on my way forever down it seemed into this unknown land. Before long the tunnel evened out to a level floor that looked as if it had been man-made. Now more then ever must we be vigilant and not be seen. Creeping around corners, pressed up against the wall we made our way closer to the outskirts of the city of Trist’ oth’. Now I could hear voices and sounds like none I had ever heard in my young life. Stunned, I hadn’t thought that these people would speak a different tongue, but I must finish what I had started. Squirming into a clift in the rock face I reached into my bag and took out a map of what I hopped was the city and the way to my goal. Scanning it I marked in my mind the way to the Drow House that held the staff I wanted. Signaling to Vargoth to follow we carefully dashed down streets, hid when needed to avoid being spotted and finally arrived at the House.

I watched the place for awhile and noticed a way in that wasn’t guarded like the rest of the others. Sprinting to it while the Drow soldiers made their rounds and were out of sight we moved through the door and almost collided with a goblin slave. Shocked, I was frozen to the spot. The creature had cringed and was groveling at my feet, but it looked up at me with suspicion when I didn’t hit it. Before it could do anything to give us away I remembered to “act” like a female Drow and I kicked it as hard as I could in the ribs sending it sliding across the floor to slam into the wall where it lay knocked out from the impact. Vargoth thought the whole situation funny which earned him a hard punch on the arm. Fear began to enter my heart as we moved as quiet as a mice sneaking by a cat to where I thought the room was that stored the staff, but we instead stumbled upon the Houses temple. Hiding as best we could we stopped to watch the rite that was being performed. What I took to be the High Priestess overseeing the sacrifice was the quintessence of pure evil. Stunned, I was frozen to the spot and I couldn’t tear my gaze away. A otherworldly being formed out of a mist floating above the unfortunate creature that was being tortured by the Drowess and the priestess’ bowed and groveled to it. That they worshiped this monstrosity, reveled in its power, adored it was too much for my sanity. It was an abomination. An aborted nightmare, a cancer on the face of the world. Spinning on my heel I grabbed Vargoth’s hand and rushed from our hiding place. As we made our way through the halls I found an unoccupied room and shut the door behind us. I stumbled over to one wall and pressed my fevered brow on the cool stone trying to catch my breath. Vargoth came to stand next to me, concern evident in his posture, but he held back anything he might of said to me. Unexpectedly the door opens and what could only be one of the Drowess’ of the House entered. Without thinking I grabbed Vargoth and slammed him to the wall pressing my body tight against his and brutally began kissing him. The female barked out what I figured to be a question at me and I turned with a furious look on my face and hissed. Motioning with my hand for her to leave she laughed and thankfully did just that. I collapsed into Vargoth’s arms and he caught me before I could fall to the floor. His eye’s bored into mine and we exchanged something, an emotion or an understanding and he placed a soft kiss on my lips. Steadying my feet, I pull away for this was neither the time nor place for such foolishness and I make my way to the door to press my ear to it and listen for anyone out in the hall. Glancing back at him I nod and we leave the room and encounter not a soul as we finally make it to the place the staff was kept. I open my “senses” and look for any magic wards or traps that the book had said that these people were known for. Nodding to my companion I reach out my hands and with a newly learned spell release the wards covering the door. Vargoth and I quickly enter the room and in the center the staff rested on a stand in a place of honor. I moved closer, just in front of the object and reach out to pick it up. In my haste I didn’t make sure that there were no protections set on it and fire engulfs my arm. Screaming I drop to the floor and Vargoth rushes to my side and helps me up. Snatching the staff he utters a spell to transport us back to the surface just outside of the Mages Library. Gently he lays me down on the grass placing the staff next to me.

I had fallen unconscious during his spell and with a strength I never knew I had I fought my way out of the darkness that enshrouded me. I open my eye’s to Vargoth staring into my face, worry plain on his newly repaired visage. Reaching up I touch his cheek and give him a pain filled smile, “I will be alright, do not fear. You more then lived up to your word and if there is anything you ever need just ask and it is done.” He bows his head and picks up the staff to place into my shaking hands. It was mine. We had been successful in our quest and I offered thanks to the God’s that we had made it out with only small injuries. I studied my new staff with interest. On the top of it was a skull of great age and the pole was at least six feet long and a polished black. I snapped out one arcane word and the skull is engulfed in dark flames and power courses through my being, none like I had ever felt before. Swiftly I dispelled it and cradled the staff in the crook of my arm. Looking at Vargoth, lines of strain etched my skin like acid, but my eyes were filled with a terrible calm, “I fear the things I might do with this.” I say as I place my hand on the top of the skull and lovingly caress the bone. His look held a mixture of dread and purpose as he replies, “That, I will never allow to happen.”