Chapter One - The Drow Proposition

Title: Chapter One- The Drow Proposition

Author: The Amanuensis

A lazy afternoon, only days ago, Tanthazarus sat and stared at his mound of blank scrolls. They begged to be filled with the words of mystical power that could how be used for easier means of travel. A pigeon swooped inside the window of the cabin. Upon a closer examination, he realized it bore the markings of Silvaria, Jabbress of Bregan D'Aerth. A sudden chill filled the room as he read the parchment.

"Vendui' Tanth" it began. He hated the words of the Drow. Even the way they formed on the parchment was encapsulated evil. Silvaria offered a meeting. The message was cryptic, but Tanthazarus was led to believe that the Dark Elves wished his assistance.

"Why, in the name of the gods, wouldst I ever help them!?" Yet his curiosity rose, and he could not pass up the opportunity to catch a glimpse inside the Dark Tower, perhaps even chancing upon one of the sacred Dragon Tomes. So, eagerly using this as a means to put off his work on the blank scrolls, he set off for the heart of evil. He was greeted only by the dark, pointed grin of Silvaria at the door. She was alone.

"Vendui' Tanth." His skin began to crawl. He hated the word more when spoken than written.

"Hail, Dark One."

They went inside, and up a flight of stairs. The dank tower chilled him to the bone, and began to affect him in ways that words cannot describe. Once seated, Silvaria began to explain her proposition. In exchange for every useful piece of information, she would pay him 1,000 gold pieces. The words came out to easily for this to be the first time she had proposed such an arrangement. Thus, he knew it was not.

"There are others with similar arrangements."

"Are you asking me or telling me, Tanth?" she inquired, a slight grin on her face. She knew very well that he now knew why the Drow always seemed victorious. They did, in fact, have informants. Those traitorous enough to sacrifice their own lives in favor of petty gold. "Well, what do you say?" He could tell she was growing impatient with his silence.

"I do not seek my riches in gold," he stated coolly.

Her eyes flickered a bit. "No? Then what is it you seek?"

His mind raced. He better come up with an answer. Wasting the time of the Drow Jabbress was not a wise thing to do, especially when one had no friends at his side to come in defense. "I seek that which leads to gold. I seek fame... Power... Control."

"Ah, of course. I should have known better. You want to lead the Brethren."

She had just helped him out of the mess he created. The corners of his mouth turned up into a villainous grin. "Aye, Jabbress."

She sat for a moment, and he could see the evil inside her, working its magic. With each moment, the silence tore at him. Finally, she broke it. "I have just the thing. Wait here."

As she left the room, a laboratory of some sort, his eyes darted from place to place, in search of anything at all that might be of use. He wanted desperately to get up and search the room, but he knew there were eyes all over him, even though the room seemed completely empty.

Just as he had decided there were nothing of use, Silvaria walked smoothly back into the room, the iron door swinging back into place behind her. "Take this," she said, placing a freshly inked manuscript on the table in front of him. He opened it.

The title read: "Niltsiar"

Within were the words of the Jabbress, thanking the Lord Sovereign for his information, and offering the "usual payment" to him. In closing, a request that he continue to keep her informed. It was brilliant. This alone, however, would not be enough to convince those that were loyal to Niltsiar. They both knew it. At that moment, something inside Tanth's head clicked.

"We shall need another piece of evidence to seal his fate, Jabbress." Her eyebrows went up. "A meeting. We shall set up a secret meeting between the two of ye, and those who are loyal to me will discover him. At that moment, I will come, and cast him off. The Brethren of Light shall join me, and I shall join thee."

Her face turned wholly evil as she smiled, revealing her teeth. Tanthazarus used all self-control to keep from lunging out at her that very moment. It finally subsided, and she asked, "Are you certain that they will follow you?"

"Aye, Jabbress. With no uncertainty. They are very loyal to the Elders, especially those who would expose Treason."

"Excellent. Then you have work to do, Tanth."

"Aye. I thank thee, Jabbress. I shall maintain close contact."

She saw him to the door. "Aluve' Tanth"

He cringed as she said this, and nearly caused him to mis-cast his simple recall spell. It took him hours to regain his composure after the meeting. And even longer to bring himself to explain to Lord Sovereign the tangled web he had woven. All he knew was, once they "uncovered" Lord Niltsiar as the traitor, the opportunity to capture the most powerful of the Drow was staring them in the face.

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