The fall of the cursed elves draws ever nearer

[Angelic]

[size=-2]// Translated into common. Written in High Dark Elven //[/size]


High Priestess

I have arrived in the human settlement of Vehl without incident. My experience thus far in this cess-pool is consistent with the information provided to me prior to my departure. The humans I have encountered are, on the whole, weak minded and easily deceived. I will be mindful to not allow my superior intellect to lead me to complacency in maintaining my anonymity.

There is a temple to the Dragon God in this township. It is an imposing edifice, presumably to cower the less law abiding citizenry of Vehl into rothe-like tractability. The rotheherders of the Dragon God are numerous though little more discerning than the vermin that infest the streets whom they endeavour to police and protect. I am yet to encounter a darthir though when I inevitably do, I will stay my hand from any rightful retribution that might endanger my mission. Our concerns over obscuring my race have thus far been unfounded. I have found a useful excuse for my presence is to assist in various tasks around this township, adventurers sporting full-faced helms are the norm rather than the exception.

I have already found another that recognises the rightful position of the People. She is human and thus irredeemably flawed however possessed of a calculated cunning and swift blade. She will be a useful ally in the weeks to come. I will report more on this matter at soonest convenience.

In Her name,
Lyn Arhavanatha

[Angelic]

[size=-2]// Translated into common. Written in High Dark Elven //[/size]


High Priestess,

The Mother of Darkness is pleased with my work and sees fit in her unfathomable wisdom to bless Her child with greater power. Shadow beasts, reflections of Her glory, come at my bidding to serve my needs and desires. With such strength comes greater temptation to lash out and cleanse the darthir yet, as commanded, I refrain from any such rash and ill-conceived action. Many of the darthir are powerful. Many are competent with wielding the blade or the weave, indeed, many are near as proficient as they are impure. Like the spider in the centre of it's web, I shall sit and observe, biding my time. Ever patient. Ever watchful. You sent me to these lands because you said such a mission suited one with, I believe your exact words were, "someone with a heart as soft as silk". Such derision your voice held my Priestess and, I see now, deservedly so. I will continually strive to expunge such thoughts of mercy from my mind. I shall endeavour to one day kneel before our Mother as her perfect child.

Last night, ever so casually, I inquired of a patron at the inn in which I have lodgings as to his knowledge of the most accomplished of the darthir. Deep in his cups, he was most forthcoming with tales of these darthir.

Jacchri - Archer
Krys - Monk
Quillwem - Priest
Alantha - Mage, A renegade of the People
Wren - Warrior
Alleina - Priestess

I shall seek to obtain more detailed information on their abilities and potential threat to the reclamation.

In Her name,
Lyn Arhavanatha

Mother of Darkness, Supreme Goddess
I shall see Your people returned to their rightful place
Those whose eyes cannot pierce the darkness shall perish
The cursed Gods of light shall bow to Your majesty
The darthir will fuel the fires that burn at Your altar
By Your grace the weak are cast down and the mighty raised high
You are my only Mother and I am Your faithful child
I ask You for nothing, by my own strength I will take all from the enemies of Your people
Goddess of Darkness, Supreme Mother
Your darkness envelop me, now and always

[Angelic]

*Lyn sits in the noisy common room of the One Eyed Harpy. Smoke drifts lazily between the blackened rafters of the building. Flame flickers in half a dozen fireplaces despite the residual heat of the day. Lyn occupies one of the corner tables, as is her habit, alone. The inn is filled near to capacity, the other patrons shouting, singing, cursing loud. Tempers flare, fuelled by liquor. Raucous laughter and voices are raised above the tumult in an equal mix of displays violent and lascivious, yet a small oasis of quiet calm surrounds the solitary hooded figure at the corner table.

At the bar, deep in conversation (though not nearly as deep as they are into their cups) stands a small knot of sailors, well known to the staff of the inn. The most vocal of the sailors, Fedsen 'Fingers' Argyle, states his claim.*

"I be tellin ye, that one ain't no good. Sits there she do, night af'er night, just watchin', never talkin'. It ain't nat'ral like. She be up to nay good, I tells ye."

*There are murmurs of assent from all those gathered. Sols ('souse' to his friends on account of his fondness for the bottle), obsequiously contributes.*

"I be thinkin' what she need is a man to teach 'er 'er place. That be what all wimm'n be wantin' whether they be knowin' it or not. Fingers, go teach 'er a lesson mate."

*many nods*

"Yeah, yer right souse. I'll go give her a dose o' wot fer. She won't be quiet no more after I finished wit' 'er!"

*laughter, encouraging slaps on the back before he strides over to Lyn's table. His arrogant swagger speaks volumes of his intentions. In moments he stands above the diminutive seated figure, hands resting on hips that are thrust forward scant inches from her face.*

''Ello luv'ly. How 'bout a drink? I think we should 'ave a drink, you and me, get to be knowin' each other."

*Her voice is soft, barely above a whisper. He has to strain to hear it over the din of the tavern.*

"Your attentions are not desired sir. Leave before I am tempted to humble you in front of your shipmates."

*He hesitates, face creased in confusion first, then slowly dawning anger.*

"What'd you just say to me luv'ly?"

"I think you heard me clearly enough. Desist with your attentions before you find yourself in a tempest from which there would be no escape."

"Why you lil' ..."

*The rest of his sentence is lost in a bestial growl as he reaches towards her hood.

Before his grasping fingers are halfway to their destination a massive hand (hairy knuckled) intervenes and encircles the sailor's wrist. A violent wrench and the sailor (previously known as 'Fingers' and thereafter referred to by his friends as 'Crooked' on account of his badly set broken wrist) is pulled from his feet like an unruly toddler. The audible sound of bones breaking has patrons sitting nearby wincing in sympathy. One of the inn's bouncers (with orcish blood in his ancestry if the massive musculature, jutting jaw and sloping forehead were reliable indicators) matches the growl of the sailor with a growl of his own. The bouncer's grip is iron and Fedsen struggles against it for but a few seconds before realising the utter futility of resistance. He quickly resigns himself to an early end to his drinking that night and a visit to the local sawbones. As he is ejected from the inn (an impressive throw from the bouncer into the street beyond, though well short of the record set two years previous by fellow bouncer Manny 'The Animal' Markini) one of his fellow shipmates complains to the innkeep.*

"Ye just cost yerself some true there ya fool. He had a night o' drinkin' ahead o' him!"

"A fool am I? Careful boy, ye'll be the next one out on yer ear. That be Mistress Lyn. She pay all 'er bills on time. She don't drink nuttin' but the best wine and not only that, she be one o' them 'eroes. I 'ear she set the crypt spir't to rest .. both 'ere in Vehl and up in the mountains. She be one o' them good 'uns and we all be better off if there be more o' 'em like 'er around!"

[Angelic]

// Translated into common. Written in High Dark Elven //


High Priestess

Every day I encounter more and more darthir that roam the surface lands in complete ignorance of the evil they have perpetrated upon the People and the shame in which they should cover themselves. It is all I can do some days to keep myself from calling down the retribution of the Mother of Darkness onto them all in a blaze of Holy fire. Yes, their time shall come, the time of the great reclamation when the only darthir that are suffered to live are those that shall serve an eternity under the bonds of slavery in complete subjugation to our smallest whim. Mother of Darkness, may this day come soon. Though our path is certain to end in righteous victory, I have no illusions about it being a short nor easy path. The darthir are many and they are strong. I yearn to see the destiny of Her people made manifest.

I shall endeavour to capitalize on the apparent distrust that many humans hold for the darthir. They are perceived - and rightfully so - as arrogant and think themselves of higher station than the humans. I laugh. How does one measure the relative strengths of the worm and the slug? Both are destined to be crushed beneath the bootheel of the People. Resistance merely delays the inevitable yet I anticipate resistance regardless. I, cloaked in the shadows, shall begin to sow the seeds of discord between the invertebrates.

I now have many tools at my disposal that I shall not hesitate to use and discard to see Her destiny fulfilled. One whom I remember only as 'The Carpenter', she who walks the path of Quilyn, Boda the Simpleton and Yvale, dark mistress of the forest. These and more. Her time grows ever closer.

In Her name,
Lyn Arhavanatha
 

[Angelic]

[size=-2]// Translated into common. Written in High Dark Elven //[/size]


High Priestess,

Attached, please find a letter that I have sent to a surface-dwelling fool that seeks to ascertain the worthiness of swordsmen and women across the land. It is my thought that from such a tourney that holds little merit but to feed the fragile vanity of these warriors we may assess the risk each might pose to the reclamation. From such a ranking we might decide where best to allocate our assets to counter.

Sir Rolan,

I have seen your notice in taverns across the lands and must confess to reading such with great admiration held for your initiative and ambitions for furthering the noble art of the duel. It is a spectacle which I enjoy watching and would seek to encourage to the best of my means. As such, please accept my offer of 5,000 true that you may disperse as you see fit to ensure this tourney attracts as many participants as possible and a true measure of the relative skills of all bladesmen and bladeswomen may be ascertained.
This gift of coin is freely given with no expectation or condition, all that I desire, as per your advertisement, is a copy of the tourney's results.

Regards,
Lyn Arhavanatha

The gold is a small price to pay for such information.

The balance of my coin is going towards purchase of equipment. My order is as follows,

She who fails to impress me with her combat skills might have a chance to redeem herself by fulfilling my needs in a commercial sense.

Orcish Bane of the Elf at 8,000 true
Large iron shield at 2,100 true
Lesser cold enhancement at 4,500 true
Lesser ring of divinity at 3,000 true
Prayer Beads at 2,500 true

Less your offered discount of 20 percent on 5 or more items.

Total
20,100 (before discount)
16,080 (after discount)

I shall seek you soon to conduct this transaction, have it ready or I shall be most displeased.
Lyn Arhavanatha

Her time draws ever nearer.

In Her name,
Lyn Arhavantha
[/font]

[Angelic]

Mother, another day is almost at an end. In a moment I shall enter reverie, my mind shall be cleansed and my body shall be refreshed. After the day i've had, I feel as if it isn't coming a moment too soon. I have no illusions whatsoever the task you've set before me is not an easy one. Ha! Mother, I know it as clearly as i've ever known anything. Some times it seems it is an ideal only, not a task that I can practically achieve. Who plants these doubts in my mind? Is it you? Are you testing me? I know. These are words of doubt and I know you're angry when I say such things. I am sorry Mother. But there has never been any secrets between us and now isn't the time to start. I must remember, always remember, this isn't just a dream that I hope will one day come true. It is a reality. It is our destiny. It will happen. It is inevitable. I just want it to happen soon. For you. Mother, their pain is deserved, it sickens me to my core to watch them cavort about the place knowing what they have done to you. I want to lash out and teach them sorrow as they have tried so hard to inflict on you and yours.

I want their cries to ring in your ears. I hope the sound is pleasing to you Mother. The sound of their laughter, at the cost of our own, rings loud and I cannot think straight. Their silence I shall bring you. I know I disappoint you Mother. I am sorry, I try so hard but I know sometimes I just don't .. well, you know. I will try harder.

I miss you. I feel your presence, always but I miss the dark. The cool and the quiet dark. I miss the whispered chants praising your glory and the sound of screams from the darthir as they learn the price of their arrogance. I know, soon enough. Not soon enough. Tomorrow I shall venture out and slay the bull-headed ones of the islands. They are good practice of my skills for day when we face the real enemy.

Thank you, I always feel better after we've spoken.

[Angelic]

[size=-2]// Translated into common, Written in High Dark Elven //[/size]


High Priestess,

The tourney of fools has commenced. Here is a copy of their first week's results. I have indicated those I know with certainty to be darthir or sympathisers. More reports shall follow soon. Soon I shall travel to Dregar and seek the location of a temple to the Mother in order to make offering.

In her name,
Lyn Arhavanatha

~~ Masters of Blades ~~
R A N K I N G S
~~
Fenrir Thornaxe ~ dwarven waraxe 2-0
Hardragh ~ scimitar 8-1[size=-2]    <- Friend to darthir[/size]
Grohin Silveraxe ~ battleaxe 2-2
Travie ~ bastard sword 1-1
Shiff Dragonheart ~ great sword 4-3
Rolan Tennesen ~ rapier 0-8
Clarissa ~ long sword 3-1[size=-2]    <- Friend to darthir[/size]
G'ork ~ double axe 0-3
Arkolio de'Averlain ~ sabre 2-0
Peanut ~ scimitar 1-2
Ireth Astendor ~ rapier 2-2[size=-2]    <- darthir[/size]
Lino Bildert ~ shortsword 1-3
Boon Loom ~ scimitar 1-0
~~
Buddy Tenker ~ dwarven waraxe 0-0
Trith ~ kama 0-0
Tobias ~ rapier 0-0[size=-2]    <- darthir[/size]
Steel ~ scimitar 0-0