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Attalus · 11-14-2002, 09:26 AM

Thanks, CD> More.

It did not take long for the guards at the gate to notice the glow outside though their cunningly-constructed peepholes. At first they thought it was a fire, but, when it did not burn down, their leader opened the gate and, all the time alert for attack, examined the thing. He could not but admire the workmanship of the gnome's creation, but his attention was immediately riveted on the snake-headed whip on the top. He quickly decided that this was above his station and reported the column to his commander, who quickly came to the scene.
This was a Drow cleric named Abondier. She carefully probed the structure for traps, and finding none, picked up the whip, which she immediately identified as Shal'drissa's. She had known the Despana woman well, though not liking her at all. greeting the news that she had met her end at the hands of despised Surfacers with grim satisfaction. Now she was holding her whip in her own hands. Obviously, this had been placed here by the rivvil that had killed her, or their commanders. What could be their motive? A peace offering? She sneered to herself at such weakness. Then, as she shifted, she heard an object roll around in the handle of the whip. Carefully removing the lid, she was astonished when a roundish object, resembling a glass eye, rolled out into her shrinking palm. A letter was attached, the envelope of which read, in clear, graceful drow script, "Guard, take this to any Matron Mother." Abondier would have loved to open it herself, but she knew better. She took it directly to her own Matron, Ravage D'Ortan.
Matron Ravage received the missive with somewhat less than enthusiasm, but had to agree that her daughter had done right for once. To have taken it to another Matron would have decreased her prestige, which was none too high. D'Ortan was a small House, and making it rise was her obsession. Curiously, she opened the envelope, extracting the letter. Again, a fluent hand had written: "The object that this letter is attached to contains a message. It is most urgent that it be opened at the meeting of all the Matron Mothers of Ust'Natha." It was unsigned, but there was the pillar, which she had Abondier installing in her courtyard that instant, and there was the whip of the deceased cleric. She decided to show the thing to the other Matrons at their monthly meeting, which was only three days off.
In the meantime, many rumors had been circulating in Ust'Natha of the mysterious gift from the surface and its strange attachment. When the meeting of Matron Mothers was called to order, the first to rise was Lutecia Despana, sister to the dead Shal'drissa and matron of her House. "Matron Mothers," she began harshly, "it has come to my attention that the rivvil have sent us a message attached to the whip of my late sister. I also hear that Matron Ravage is in possession of the objects. Should we not know of this?" There was a buzz of comment which was stilled immediately by the gavel of the presiding Matron, Bumare DoTurcomin. "We should, indeed, Matron Lutecia," she answered. Ravage, what can you tell us of this?"

11-14-2002, 09:26 AM	#49
Attalus Symbol of Bane Join Date: November 26, 2001 Location: Texas Age: 77 Posts: 8,167	Thanks, CD> More. It did not take long for the guards at the gate to notice the glow outside though their cunningly-constructed peepholes. At first they thought it was a fire, but, when it did not burn down, their leader opened the gate and, all the time alert for attack, examined the thing. He could not but admire the workmanship of the gnome's creation, but his attention was immediately riveted on the snake-headed whip on the top. He quickly decided that this was above his station and reported the column to his commander, who quickly came to the scene. This was a Drow cleric named Abondier. She carefully probed the structure for traps, and finding none, picked up the whip, which she immediately identified as Shal'drissa's. She had known the Despana woman well, though not liking her at all. greeting the news that she had met her end at the hands of despised Surfacers with grim satisfaction. Now she was holding her whip in her own hands. Obviously, this had been placed here by the rivvil that had killed her, or their commanders. What could be their motive? A peace offering? She sneered to herself at such weakness. Then, as she shifted, she heard an object roll around in the handle of the whip. Carefully removing the lid, she was astonished when a roundish object, resembling a glass eye, rolled out into her shrinking palm. A letter was attached, the envelope of which read, in clear, graceful drow script, "Guard, take this to any Matron Mother." Abondier would have loved to open it herself, but she knew better. She took it directly to her own Matron, Ravage D'Ortan. Matron Ravage received the missive with somewhat less than enthusiasm, but had to agree that her daughter had done right for once. To have taken it to another Matron would have decreased her prestige, which was none too high. D'Ortan was a small House, and making it rise was her obsession. Curiously, she opened the envelope, extracting the letter. Again, a fluent hand had written: "The object that this letter is attached to contains a message. It is most urgent that it be opened at the meeting of all the Matron Mothers of Ust'Natha." It was unsigned, but there was the pillar, which she had Abondier installing in her courtyard that instant, and there was the whip of the deceased cleric. She decided to show the thing to the other Matrons at their monthly meeting, which was only three days off. In the meantime, many rumors had been circulating in Ust'Natha of the mysterious gift from the surface and its strange attachment. When the meeting of Matron Mothers was called to order, the first to rise was Lutecia Despana, sister to the dead Shal'drissa and matron of her House. "Matron Mothers," she began harshly, "it has come to my attention that the rivvil have sent us a message attached to the whip of my late sister. I also hear that Matron Ravage is in possession of the objects. Should we not know of this?" There was a buzz of comment which was stilled immediately by the gavel of the presiding Matron, Bumare DoTurcomin. "We should, indeed, Matron Lutecia," she answered. Ravage, what can you tell us of this?"