hemata
Blackwater Pirate
Posts: 451
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Post by hemata on Aug 8, 2013 21:20:52 GMT
Years ago, in a now forgotten Underdark, a society of drow flourished. The house of Cantha was a powerful existence indeed, having a joint-existence with the Drow that lived there alongside a select few tribes of Goblins and even a band of orcs. Its streets were dedicated to the goddess Lolth, as was its architecture and artwork. The city was expansive in the underground caverns, rivaling most Dwarven cities with a prestige and air to it that owed itself to the mysterious nature of the race that created it. Fountains dotted through the streets occasionally, some flowing water while others more extravagantly poured thick crimson blood.
Kaelmourn sighed audibly as he looked out of the stained-glass window from his room. His mind was filled with a pain worse than any torture or battle wound could provide, the unrelenting and heavy pain of utter boredom. He was lucky enough to be apart of the nobility of the underdark, especially since he was male. But he wasn't deemed ready yet to be able to fight, it wasn't so much out of any fact but rather a grudge held against him by the Ilharess of the house. Personally he felt lucky to be alive with such a powerful figure, especially a female, to hold enmity against him but it still drove him insane to be stuck here and to be unable to practice his skills in actual warfare and raids.
The ranger set about to gather up his things, throwing on his cloak and strapping on his weapons while he took graceful strides towards the door of his room. He needed air, air outside of the cavernous underdark. He needed to kill something on the surface world and he didn't much care what it was. His form was out the door in a fluid motion, not bothering to stop to look at his guard Drugo, simply stating "Come." In his calm, cool voice.
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Post by ceraton on Aug 9, 2013 0:35:17 GMT
Drugo eyed Kaelmourn and nodded. Drugo smirked as Kaelmourn kept moving. He knew that today might be a special day to do something. He then quickly tightened his sash around the katana, tightened his belt, and followed Kaelmourn out the door.
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hemata
Blackwater Pirate
Posts: 451
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Post by hemata on Aug 9, 2013 2:39:45 GMT
The Noble kept a brisk and irritated pace while he moved, quickly leaving Cantha's keep to move into the streets. His eyes took in the hectic commotion of the market, various auctions taking place in addition to the vendors showing their wares. Slaves hustled about this way and that, carrying supplies and trade goods for their masters under the close eyes of their masters. It seemed average for a marketplace until an entire section of commerce went eerily silent and a crowd began to all part as one.
Kaelmourn stopped and fixated his eyes on the source of the disturbance, a short shiver running up his spine at the sight of a being that had the upper half of a drow female, the faded designs and colors of her clothing, torn and just barely enough to cover her breasts, suggested that she was a priest once. The reason being that he noted once was that the entire lower half of her body was that of a horse-sized spider, specifically a black widow. The Drider carried an ornate urn strapped across her back, perhaps a slave now and ferrying around goods for a master who was no doubt a priestess as well.
"Drugo, are you familiar with the tale of what a Drider is?" He asked, still relatively unemotional in his words, but this time with a short hint of sadness to his tone. A brave teenaged Drow picked up a stone and gave it a hard toss at once-priestess, the stone hitting her in the face and causing her lip to crack and bleed. The drider ignored it for the most part, her head sagging down in shame and pain. Kaelmourn continued walking, as did some of the crowd, though it was notable that the non-drow of the market, be they slaves or otherwise, did not give the same kind of awe and disgust in the creature as the Drow did. They did not know about the curse.
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Post by ceraton on Aug 9, 2013 4:28:21 GMT
Drugo kept pace behind Kaelmourn. "I know only the small details. Nothing more.", Drugo answered. Drugo's eyes wandered from left to right. He hadn't been to the market in a very long time. One item off to the side seemed very interesting to Drugo. Drugo studied it's features quickly before continuing with his master. The item was a small jewel in a box case. The color was odd, almost like a droplet of water that maintained its form.
Other than the common market oddities, Drugo's curiosity had increased. He saw that they weren't going their normal route to the usual errand places. "Master, I am curious. Where are we going?", Drugo said modestly.
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hemata
Blackwater Pirate
Posts: 451
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Post by hemata on Aug 9, 2013 19:05:42 GMT
Kaelmourn continued through the city, soon taking to the simple streets outside of homes and large structures. The underdark was a more than impressive place, but yet he didn't quite feel at home here.
"Driders are cursed beings, cast out and shamed by Lolth the Spider Goddess herself. To become a Drider is to bring the ultimate shame upon yourself, and to forever be an outcast even if your physical power has increased."
As they walked the buildings became more spaced out and people less common. They were getting to the outskirts of the city, towards the surface. "I have an urge to hunt, Drugo, and I will not just be satisfied staying down here for the rest of my life. I need to find something to kill on the surface. Have you ever been up there? To the surface that is."
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Post by ceraton on Aug 9, 2013 21:38:47 GMT
Drugo gave a quick response, in a calm tone, "Last time I saw the surface, I found an old hermit. He taught me the ways of the samurai. I was given many tasks to complete, but the last one was a test. The last test was for me to strike him down, and so I did. When he died, he told me I was chosen to be a great warrior, in life and in death.". Drugo looked down as they continued walking, he dropped his voice, "He was a human, I was going to kill him when I met him, but something about him made me change. He taught me how to become a samurai, a great warrior that knows how to stand his ground and evaluate the surroundings."
For Drugo, the hermit taught him everything. He never told anyone about it, afraid someone might kill him for showing pity to a lesser race. However, because of this the old hermit taught Drugo how to control his emotions and feel the being of silence. Because of what the hermit had taught him, Drugo needed a leader, or lord to follow. Under the same time of training, the old hermit suggested Drugo's friend Kaelmourn to be a good pick. Drugo never asked why, because whenever Drugo asked any question the old hermit always replied, "It is your destiny to follow.".
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hemata
Blackwater Pirate
Posts: 451
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Post by hemata on Aug 10, 2013 2:39:34 GMT
Kaelmourn frowned from underneath his hood, the gates to the outside visible now. His pace began to quicken but his mood fouled some at his guard's words. "Many would see such as weakness. If I find a dwarf who says he has a treasure map I will hope that you will not be foolish enough to believe such things." He did not agree with the way his bodyguard received such training, but he could not argue with the results, few wished to challenge Drugo because of his martial prowess.
They were closer now, and Kaelmourn noticed the eyes of the guards on them, causing him to mumble something underneath his breath as he approached the gate's captain.
"Ve'dui, Kaelmourn of the House Cantha. Open the gates, I have business on the surface with my escort." His voice stated coldly, a hand gesturing to the Samurai behind him. The captain looked the two over and frowned, crossing his arms and shaking his head. "And I've got orders that you're not ready for the surface yet. Get back to your keep, you're too weak to handle what the forests outside have to offer."
Kaelmourn growled audibly and turned his head back towards Drugo, giving a silent gesture for him to step up. The Drow Ranger was known and anything he might have to say could be countered quite easily, but the Samurai had a growing reputation to him and was less known in his methods of speech than Kael was. It was more probable that he could definitely be more...intimidating.
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Post by ceraton on Aug 10, 2013 6:08:31 GMT
Drugo did as what Kaelmourn intended. Drugo stepped up and looked the gaurds in the eyes with his own yellow eyes. Drugo crossed his arms and said with a gentle but harsh voice, "Listen here, pal. We got our own business to handle. I don't care if someone cares that we might get hurt. And if the forests outside are dangerous, what may be in it that the forests have to offer? We got our own voice of concern to handle, now if you could just let us pass?". Drugo's eyes were now centered glaring at the captain's eyes. Drugo had also dropped his smirk to where his lips were completely lined up. Drugo stood firm, and waited for the answer to his questions.
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hemata
Blackwater Pirate
Posts: 451
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Post by hemata on Aug 11, 2013 6:19:45 GMT
Kaelmourn watched with a cocky grin as the Captain hesitated a moment, gave a hard glare at the bodyguard and then finally nodded up to one of the guards at the gate. With a creaking moan the doors slowly opened inwards, letting the two move into the surface. A bright light shined in from the other side of the gates and Kaelmourn shielded his light-sensitive eyes from the sudden exposure. After standing for a few seconds, he finally cleared his eyesight and continued forward. The gates shut closed behind them with an ominous slam that echoed through the cavern lip.
"Let's get moving...time to test our skills on some of these beasts."
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Post by ceraton on Aug 11, 2013 6:28:57 GMT
Drugo quickly shielded his eyes from the sun to prevent over exposure of the light. As Kaelmourn finished his sentence, Drugo gave an obvious smirk.
Drugo then took a deep breath of fresh air and said, "I haven't had goblin stew in a long time. Tasted like bitter cow meat, but with a bit of a kick.".
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hemata
Blackwater Pirate
Posts: 451
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Post by hemata on Aug 11, 2013 7:08:01 GMT
Kaelmourn chuckled gently and grinned, drawing his bow as he moved deep into the forest rapidly, a lithe figure full of grace and agility in everything he did. His eyes caught the sight of smoke in the air, a camp-fire based upon its size. He laughed cheerfully for once and said in a half joyed, half sadistic tone.
"I was more thinking of some halfling-skin boots honestly~"
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Post by ceraton on Aug 11, 2013 19:58:01 GMT
Drugo saw the smoke as well. "Well, whatever it is. They will have to accept the kiss of death, for the confines of death is where they belong."
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hemata
Blackwater Pirate
Posts: 451
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Post by hemata on Aug 11, 2013 20:07:29 GMT
Kaelmourn slowly moved himself into position, finding a small village of about 12 Halflings. Very silently he notched an arrow into his bow, being as silent as physically possible right now. Gently he motioned for Drugo to be ready to attack on his signal using his fore and middle fingers even while he notched his arrow. The time was now, it was time to die. With a sudden rush of whistling wind Kaelmourn loosed his arrow, launching it towards a nearby unaware Halfling in the village.
"Time to die small ones."
Thread closed.
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