Kaellarak
in His realm...
in His realm...
"Wretched vermin." The God of Shadows forced his voice into yet another Mortal slaughtered by the Zhiszu, His eternal servants. A new arrival, a new addition. "You belong to me now, your horrors will become the only reality you know. There is no reprieve, there is no release." His voice slithered up the spine of the new one. "Your soul will be but a pale Reflection of itself, and at the peak of despair you will be consumed." The Mortal soul tried to scream, tried to thrash and find an escape, but Kaellarak's webs held it in submission and silence. It could only see what it's new master wished it to see, it's identity, accomplishments, failures, all meant nothing now, and never would again. When the soul was broken in entirety, it would be devoured by those above.
Kaellarak melded into the webs that composed all things in His realm, turning them from silky white to oozing black, and his presence moved on, leaving his new pet to its own torment. Upward the God went, reveling in the subdued screams and cries of the subjugated ones trapped in the Lower Reflection of this great pyramid, until he passed through the center and into the Upper Reflection. His devout, his puppets strung by strands of deception, gluttons whose appetite for those below would never be sated, fruits that would be picked when they were good and ripe. Weavers, monstrous spider-things spun webs from the Upper Reflection down to the souls below, connecting the devout to those who had been broken completely, thus allowing sporadic feeding frenzies.
Still upward Kaellarak went. It was not yet the time to pluck souls for the feast. Upward until he was outside of the massive pyramid that hung precariously over nothingness, upward until he could see the thing that had caused his webs to vibrate and tense, announcing that something was here. A ball of light, blemishing the ghastly scenery of Kaellarak's realm. It hovered in a clearing relatively free of entrapping webs, casting shadows in every direction. Kaellarak approached, moving through his webs as a black sludge, and stopped before the unwelcome thing. A messenger from his lesser kin.
The Spider Deity took on a more substantial form, with some semblance of a body, leg-like appendages jutting out and reaching for nothing in particular all around him, but he continued to shift, never settling on a single shape. "Your message?" He spoke slowly and with great deliberation, as if speaking to something other than an imprisoned soul took great effort and was bothersome.
"Something is coming. Be prepared." Luman. The blightful ball of light reeked of him, and reflected his voice with disgusting perfection.
Kaellarak sneered, revealing a horribly toothy mouth, his eyes took a surer shape and brightened so much as to cast a shadow behind the messenger. He waved a clawed hand dismissively, "Go," the word rasped from his mouth, then echoed throughout the dark and web-covered world. The messenger vanished, and only then did Kaellarak's sneer widen further into an unnatural smile. What could have been laughter croaked from his massive fanged mouth and, "Finally..." He said to himself, pleasure coursing through him. It is almost time...
Kaellarak melded into the webs that composed all things in His realm, turning them from silky white to oozing black, and his presence moved on, leaving his new pet to its own torment. Upward the God went, reveling in the subdued screams and cries of the subjugated ones trapped in the Lower Reflection of this great pyramid, until he passed through the center and into the Upper Reflection. His devout, his puppets strung by strands of deception, gluttons whose appetite for those below would never be sated, fruits that would be picked when they were good and ripe. Weavers, monstrous spider-things spun webs from the Upper Reflection down to the souls below, connecting the devout to those who had been broken completely, thus allowing sporadic feeding frenzies.
Still upward Kaellarak went. It was not yet the time to pluck souls for the feast. Upward until he was outside of the massive pyramid that hung precariously over nothingness, upward until he could see the thing that had caused his webs to vibrate and tense, announcing that something was here. A ball of light, blemishing the ghastly scenery of Kaellarak's realm. It hovered in a clearing relatively free of entrapping webs, casting shadows in every direction. Kaellarak approached, moving through his webs as a black sludge, and stopped before the unwelcome thing. A messenger from his lesser kin.
The Spider Deity took on a more substantial form, with some semblance of a body, leg-like appendages jutting out and reaching for nothing in particular all around him, but he continued to shift, never settling on a single shape. "Your message?" He spoke slowly and with great deliberation, as if speaking to something other than an imprisoned soul took great effort and was bothersome.
"Something is coming. Be prepared." Luman. The blightful ball of light reeked of him, and reflected his voice with disgusting perfection.
Kaellarak sneered, revealing a horribly toothy mouth, his eyes took a surer shape and brightened so much as to cast a shadow behind the messenger. He waved a clawed hand dismissively, "Go," the word rasped from his mouth, then echoed throughout the dark and web-covered world. The messenger vanished, and only then did Kaellarak's sneer widen further into an unnatural smile. What could have been laughter croaked from his massive fanged mouth and, "Finally..." He said to himself, pleasure coursing through him. It is almost time...
Daedhelon, Prince of the Dominion
Gathod Elenath, in the palace
In the throne room of the Narthanuin Daeris, the great palace of the Drow-Zhiszu Dominion, Daedhelon stood tall and proud on the left side of the Daeris' throne. His three sisters stood opposite, on the right side of the throne, Bainthaurel leering covetously at the still empty throne, Goeoleth staring boredly at the great double doors at the end of the room, and Lymernil staring intently at her brother. He hadn't been united with his dear sisters for quite some time, having recently committed himself to a deeper study of neighboring countries. Cold Maakulm, liberated Commonwealth, enchanting Arro'ell, savage Outlands. He'd of rather continued his studies than see the three heiresses to the throne again. Lymernil was still staring at him, he realized, only now she was smiling and running her tongue over her teeth.
Fortunately, the Daeris walked in from behind the throne and glared at the sisters, halting Lymernil's gaze and preventing her from, Gods-forbid, engaging Daedhelon in conversation. He suppressed a shiver threatening to run up his spine. The desires of his eldest sister were nothing he cared to dwell on.
"Beloved daughters," Daeris Manedhes had a voice that rang with benevolence, which counteracted the disgusted look on her face as she gazed upon the three young women, "How beautiful you all are." She turned in a flourish of her extravagant gown, white hair whipping at her back, and now addressed Daedhelon, "And my son, looking ever so handsome!" Although her expression did soften when she faced him, her words were still a mask for the machinations at work in her mind. Daedhelon knew that fully well, none of these royal Drow females were to be trusted.
Daedhelon smiled graciously, flashing pearly white that contrasted his ebony skin, and made to speak but Goeoleth beat him to it, "We've been waiting an eternity," her voice was dull and flat, her eyes hadn't left the two massive doors that served as entrance to the throne room, "What is this all about?" No tact, no grace. Goeoleth would have been murdered if she were the eldest sister and first in line for the throne. By mother or sister. Daedhelon fought the urge to shake his head disappointedly.
He saw the rage flash across the Daeris' face, but it was gone in an instant as she gracefully seated herself on the crystal throne. "It just so happens, sweet Goeoleth, that the Drozhisz'ahk has called an audience of us." Daedhelon could imagine the burning spite hidden by his mothers' carefully composed demeanor.
"The Drozhisz'ahk? Here?" Bainthaurel openly expressed the surprise all the royal family felt. "Why?" To show that he is the true master of this Dominion, why else? Daedhelon thought, but kept his silence. He let no expression cross his regal face, only let his eyes flit from Bainthaurel to their queen mother.
Composure still perfect, she answered kindly, "We shall see shortly, my dear." Not a minute passed, but in the following silence it felt like an hour, before the massive double doors parted. And enter the Drozhisz'ahk. On his six thick legs, he strode head and shoulders above the royal guard that lined the throne room, moving almost casually, yet so quickly it could have been an attack. Six silvery irises stared ahead unblinking, unwavering, uninterested in all but the Daeris in her throne. They called it a hybrid, but the Drozhisz'ahk was something else entirely. It was a piece for Kaellarak to move around freely, something with no questions or hesitations, no past or future except for the God of Shadows.
"My Daeris," The voice of Drozhisz'ahk both rumbled and rasped through the great hall, the emphasis on his first word causing a shiver Daedhelon could not prevent this time. She belongs to him. We all do. "It has been too long since I've seen..."
Unnaturally quickly, the Drozhisz'ahk was already at the foot of the throne, looking down on the elevated Daeris. Despite his appearance and words, Manedhes was still perfectly composed, and stared back up at the Avatar of Kaellarak without flinching or hesitating. "Drozhisz'ahk, a pleasure as always." She smiled graciously, but did not stand from her seat. An uncomfortable silence siezed the room for a second, but the Daeris broke it before it could gain any precedent. "To what, do we owe the great privilege of this visit?"
The six black eyes blinked consecutively, deliberately, the bottom pair first and the top pair last, and then the Drozhisz'ahk lifted both his hands and extended his fingertips, as if to encompass all the world. "Kaellarak's will, my Daeris." Daedhelon, from his angle to the left of the throne, caught a glimpse of a venomous fang curled behind Drozhisz'ahk's cheek. He heard air rushing into the lung slits on the sides of the Avatar's rear segment, the abdominal tagmata of a spider, and even as he inhaled he continued speaking, "And this..." He tilted his head with a sudden twitch, "Visit... Will be an extended one. I will stay here, in your palace." He nodded self-assuredly, more to himself than anyone else. Many of the guardsmen were staring at the back of the Drozhisz'ahk. His proximity to the Daeris and the way he carried himself must have been making them nervous. "We have much to discuss, privately." His long legs suddenly carried him to the right of the throne, nearly trampling the three sisters had they not stumbled out of the way, "Tomorrow."
That was the last word he said before the sound of his scurrying legs vanished him into the palace. "All of you, go!" His mother commanded. Daedhelon knew her well enough to see that she had been unnerved, and that made her furious. His sisters all departed at once through a side passage, Lymernil giving her brother one last, long look, and the guardsmen filed out the great double doors. Daedhelon made to leave as well, but he knew she would stop him. "Not you, Dae." He bit his lip before turning to face the Daeris, and took a breath. Silently and obediently, he turned to look at her. "Come here."
Daeris Manedhes sat back in her throne, and slowly parted her legs while lifting her gown with one hand, the other gesturing for Daedhelon to fall to his knees. "Yes, my Daeris." Her fingernails dug into the back of his neck as he went about fulfilling her desires...
Gathod Elenath, in the palace
In the throne room of the Narthanuin Daeris, the great palace of the Drow-Zhiszu Dominion, Daedhelon stood tall and proud on the left side of the Daeris' throne. His three sisters stood opposite, on the right side of the throne, Bainthaurel leering covetously at the still empty throne, Goeoleth staring boredly at the great double doors at the end of the room, and Lymernil staring intently at her brother. He hadn't been united with his dear sisters for quite some time, having recently committed himself to a deeper study of neighboring countries. Cold Maakulm, liberated Commonwealth, enchanting Arro'ell, savage Outlands. He'd of rather continued his studies than see the three heiresses to the throne again. Lymernil was still staring at him, he realized, only now she was smiling and running her tongue over her teeth.
Fortunately, the Daeris walked in from behind the throne and glared at the sisters, halting Lymernil's gaze and preventing her from, Gods-forbid, engaging Daedhelon in conversation. He suppressed a shiver threatening to run up his spine. The desires of his eldest sister were nothing he cared to dwell on.
"Beloved daughters," Daeris Manedhes had a voice that rang with benevolence, which counteracted the disgusted look on her face as she gazed upon the three young women, "How beautiful you all are." She turned in a flourish of her extravagant gown, white hair whipping at her back, and now addressed Daedhelon, "And my son, looking ever so handsome!" Although her expression did soften when she faced him, her words were still a mask for the machinations at work in her mind. Daedhelon knew that fully well, none of these royal Drow females were to be trusted.
Daedhelon smiled graciously, flashing pearly white that contrasted his ebony skin, and made to speak but Goeoleth beat him to it, "We've been waiting an eternity," her voice was dull and flat, her eyes hadn't left the two massive doors that served as entrance to the throne room, "What is this all about?" No tact, no grace. Goeoleth would have been murdered if she were the eldest sister and first in line for the throne. By mother or sister. Daedhelon fought the urge to shake his head disappointedly.
He saw the rage flash across the Daeris' face, but it was gone in an instant as she gracefully seated herself on the crystal throne. "It just so happens, sweet Goeoleth, that the Drozhisz'ahk has called an audience of us." Daedhelon could imagine the burning spite hidden by his mothers' carefully composed demeanor.
"The Drozhisz'ahk? Here?" Bainthaurel openly expressed the surprise all the royal family felt. "Why?" To show that he is the true master of this Dominion, why else? Daedhelon thought, but kept his silence. He let no expression cross his regal face, only let his eyes flit from Bainthaurel to their queen mother.
Composure still perfect, she answered kindly, "We shall see shortly, my dear." Not a minute passed, but in the following silence it felt like an hour, before the massive double doors parted. And enter the Drozhisz'ahk. On his six thick legs, he strode head and shoulders above the royal guard that lined the throne room, moving almost casually, yet so quickly it could have been an attack. Six silvery irises stared ahead unblinking, unwavering, uninterested in all but the Daeris in her throne. They called it a hybrid, but the Drozhisz'ahk was something else entirely. It was a piece for Kaellarak to move around freely, something with no questions or hesitations, no past or future except for the God of Shadows.
"My Daeris," The voice of Drozhisz'ahk both rumbled and rasped through the great hall, the emphasis on his first word causing a shiver Daedhelon could not prevent this time. She belongs to him. We all do. "It has been too long since I've seen..."
Unnaturally quickly, the Drozhisz'ahk was already at the foot of the throne, looking down on the elevated Daeris. Despite his appearance and words, Manedhes was still perfectly composed, and stared back up at the Avatar of Kaellarak without flinching or hesitating. "Drozhisz'ahk, a pleasure as always." She smiled graciously, but did not stand from her seat. An uncomfortable silence siezed the room for a second, but the Daeris broke it before it could gain any precedent. "To what, do we owe the great privilege of this visit?"
The six black eyes blinked consecutively, deliberately, the bottom pair first and the top pair last, and then the Drozhisz'ahk lifted both his hands and extended his fingertips, as if to encompass all the world. "Kaellarak's will, my Daeris." Daedhelon, from his angle to the left of the throne, caught a glimpse of a venomous fang curled behind Drozhisz'ahk's cheek. He heard air rushing into the lung slits on the sides of the Avatar's rear segment, the abdominal tagmata of a spider, and even as he inhaled he continued speaking, "And this..." He tilted his head with a sudden twitch, "Visit... Will be an extended one. I will stay here, in your palace." He nodded self-assuredly, more to himself than anyone else. Many of the guardsmen were staring at the back of the Drozhisz'ahk. His proximity to the Daeris and the way he carried himself must have been making them nervous. "We have much to discuss, privately." His long legs suddenly carried him to the right of the throne, nearly trampling the three sisters had they not stumbled out of the way, "Tomorrow."
That was the last word he said before the sound of his scurrying legs vanished him into the palace. "All of you, go!" His mother commanded. Daedhelon knew her well enough to see that she had been unnerved, and that made her furious. His sisters all departed at once through a side passage, Lymernil giving her brother one last, long look, and the guardsmen filed out the great double doors. Daedhelon made to leave as well, but he knew she would stop him. "Not you, Dae." He bit his lip before turning to face the Daeris, and took a breath. Silently and obediently, he turned to look at her. "Come here."
Daeris Manedhes sat back in her throne, and slowly parted her legs while lifting her gown with one hand, the other gesturing for Daedhelon to fall to his knees. "Yes, my Daeris." Her fingernails dug into the back of his neck as he went about fulfilling her desires...