Kaos

DalreiDal:
YOU"VE WON A BRAND NEW CAR...er, I mean, A BUNCH OF FREE POINTS! I'd ask you what you'd spend it on, but then again, they're not going to buy you anything!
This is from http://scienceworld....cs/Faraday.html

Faraday's constant is defined as the charge carried by an Avogadro's number (6.022*10^23) of electrons, or 96,484 Columb/mol.

I was in a Physics class when I made the character and started writing the story over a year ago (And I'm still not finished...I"m too dang lazy!). Thanks for playing the game!

Lightspeed,
You've definitely grabbed my interests now. Not many people have the intestinal fortitude to kill of Imoen, among other things. Keep the story coming!

The Further Adventures of Telos Faraday

Rating: PG-13

Chapter 7: City of Shimmering Webs

?I?d heard about it, but if I hadn?t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn?t have believed it,? Telos said, in awe of his surroundings.

Ched Nasad was a unique Drow city. The City of Shimmering Webs was like other cities in that the lower level contained buildings hewn from existing stone or built from imported minerals. The upper level, however, set it apart from all others. The ?floor? of the upper level was a giant spider?s web made of solid stone, strong enough to hold the numerous buildings that had been constructed up there. The stone web contained some sort of mineral or gem that twinkled in the stray light emitted from the various torches and illumination spells throughout the city. The scene was awe-inspiring for the surfacers, and fear-inducing for the rest.

Jaheira spoke in hushed tones. ?I have heard that the web was cast in place by the Spider Queen herself, before she magically hardened it into stone for her debased subjects.?

?The structures are astounding,? Balthazar said. ?If this place was not a den of treachery and evil, I would say that this city was a work of art.?

?Can we get a move on, lads, we?re sittin? ducks right here,? Brassbeard whispered.

?Alright then, enough with the astonishment, boys and girls,? Telos whispered in kind. Telos slinked towards the shadows of a nearby alley, motioning for the group to follow him. Once everyone was concealed in the relative safety of the alleyway, the elf spoke again. ?Gypsy, you?ll take point, followed by Jaheira. The rest of us will trail behind you.?

Jaheira cocked her head to one side and gave Telos a questioning glance. ?And where is this beholder?s friend we are supposed to find? This place is much larger than I imagined it would be.?

?And??
?And? I do not trust the beholder.?
?If Solaufein vouched for Tobolux?s character, that?s good enough for me.?

?Whether or not we can trust the beholder does not matter. It is whether or not his friend will give us away that we should worry about,? Sarevok interjected. ?Who?s to say it won?t panic when we tell it who we are, or that it won?t betray us out right? We?ll be surrounded by hostile drow and have nowhere to go.?

?Well then, we?ll just have to lure him to us with some bait, won?t we?? Telos said in reply, looking in the dwarf?s direction.

?Ah yes, sacrifice the man ye just met. I?ve seen yer kind before, elf,? Brassbeard said, his face contorting in disgust. Gypsy walked up to Brassbeard, and smacked him upside the head.

?Gypsy wants to know where to go,? the dwarf said while rubbing his sore cranium.

?The beholder said his friend should be somewhere rather public, like a pub or one of the Fighter?s Societies. Hopefully we?ll find it near one of those places,? Telos explained.

?What?s the friend look like?? Balthazar asked while scanning around to see if any other drow were close.

?Tobolux said we?ll know when see him, whatever that means,? Telos answered.

?Brother, come here and look,? Balthazar said, motioning to Telos.

The elf crept towards the monk, then looked out of the alleyway. ?What is it, B??

Telos looked around at the drow on the streets. There were hundreds of drow tromping around the thoroughfare in full battle gear, and just as many slaves that were armed to the teeth. Behind the slaves stood drow company commanders, whipping anyone who didn?t follow orders and some who did.
Telos whistled.

?Exactly what I thought,? Balthazar said.

?Well, I said this wouldn?t be easy? or I at least implied it,? Telos said with an uncharacteristic frown. ?Gypsy, take us to the closest pub or Fighter?s Society, via as many alleys as possible.?

Gypsy nodded. The group formed a two-by-two box formation with Gypsy and Jaheira in the lead. They then marched out in step with one another onto the street, hoping not to draw unneeded attention while moving towards the next alleyway.

***
House Di?Dgttu


?Where have you been?? Umrae said, baring her teeth at her daughter in rage.

?I am sorry, Matron Mother,? Shyntal said, dropping to one knee. ?It took too long to find my miserable brother.? Shyntal turned her head so she could stare daggers at Rauvjss.

?I am sorry, Matron Mother! If I had been called earlier, I would have been here sooner! I was? indisposed when Shyntal came to look for me!?

?You were pleasuring a jalil from House Melam! That is no excuse!? Shyntal yelled.

?QUIET!? Umrae bellowed. ?You will both be suitably punished later. The time is nearly at hand for the final wards and spells to be placed on the child, and my plan has not yet been enacted. Even now, the majority of the city is moving to the great temple to watch. Shyntal, have our mages created the clothing??

?Yes, Matron. I checked that before heading out to find this stinking piece of drider fodder.?

?Excellent. Now, Rauvjss, this next part is the crux of my strategy, and you shall accompany your sister with a small contingent from our house. None must suspect our intentions, so do not take many extra warriors with you. I will brook no failure in any form. Is this understood?? Umrae said, her eyes fixed upon the male.

Rauvjss swallowed hard. ?Command me, Matron, and it shall be done.?

?Go forth and round up at least a dozen warriors of a low house, and take the surcoats to them. Order them to put them on, then return to me. Am I understood??

?Yes, Matron,? the brother and sister said in unison.

?Matron, does it matter which lower house we cull men from?? Rauvjss asked.

?The lower the better,? Umrae answered.

?Then I know just the jaluks to get,? Rauvjss said, an evil smile creeping over his face.

***
Near the Male Fighter?s Society

?We?re going in, get ready,? Jaheira said softly. Balthazar grabbed Jaheira?s shoulder, then pointed ahead.

Everyone followed Balthazar?s finger and looked down the walk. Nearly fifty feet down the street was a beholder. The monster was floating fast in their direction, but hadn?t noticed them yet.

?Could that be??? Jaheira asked.

?We?ll just have to see,? Telos answered. ?Everyone, into the alley behind us.?

The group hurried into the darkened alleyway. With a quick wave of his hands and a few arcane words the dwarf disappeared from sight.
?Okay, Crondathor, it is imperative that you stay out of the gaze of its center eye. Get behind it, force it to shut its main eye, and bring it this way. If it gives you any resistance, drive your sword in its back and run.?

?Shut yer word-hole, tree-hugger! I know how to get the drop on people and plant blades in their backsides. I do this stuff for a livin?, ye know,? Brassbeard said. The group heard a few footsteps, then silence when the dwarf moved out towards the objective.

In the alley, Telos motioned for his compatriots to get back further in the shadows. A few heart-racing moments later, they could hear the creature yelping as it came their way.
?Ouch! Stop poking me, drow! I?ve never done anything to you before! Contractually, I can?t do anything to anyone here!?

?Contractually, I don?t give a damn!? Brassbeard remarked. The dwarf winked back into vision when his poking drew a tiny bit of the creature?s blood.

*That voice?* Telos began to wonder. ?Bring it here!? the elf said to Brassbeard.

The dwarf grumbled something under his breath as he prodded the beholder further into the alleyway. ?Now what, oh high and mighty leader?? Brassbeard said when he and the monster were both concealed in the shadows of the alley.

?Now, we get directions from our friend here.?
?Friend? I?m sorry, drow, but I?m not your friend. You know you can?t do this to me. I?m under contract with House Nasadra, and if you even think of injuring me anymore, or kidnapping me, it will be your head,? the beholder said.

Telos moved right in front of the monster?s shut central eye. ?Oh, but we go waaaay back, don?t we? Spectator??

The beholder opened his center eye in surprise, nullifying the effect of Telos? spell. Spectator?s central eye opened further in shock. Telos smiled as the beholder quickly opened and shut his center eye, suppressing, then releasing Telos? spell for a quick back-and-forth comparison of drow mage versus the green-skinned elven wizard. Finally, Spectator kept his main eye closed, then spoke in awe. ?Well? I?ll be a drider?s uncle! I never thought I?d see you again after Sendai?s fortress, Telo??

?SHHH!? Telos said, putting his hand on Spectator?s large and toothy maw. ?Call me Veldrin. You must be Tobulux?s acquaintance.?

?You ran into Tobulux? Last I heard from him, his hive was about to exile him for ?un-beholder-like conduct.??

?Which means??

?He?s not evil enough for them. So, what are you doing here in the City of Shimmering Webs??

Telos? face became deathly serious. ?The Menzoberranzans stole my son from me, then the Nasadrans stole my son from them. Have you heard anything about a male drow child with red hair like mine??

Spectator grimaced. ?Oooooh. That?s your son? I?m sorry, ah, Veldrin, but ah?House Nasadra is about to finish the spells that will bind him to their house and to the city. It?s a big public event, and I would have gone there if A) I had been ordered to be there, and if my ?danger sense? hadn?t been going off like an over-enthusiastic matriarch flagellating her slaves.?

?Danger sense?? Jaheira asked.

?Lady, you don?t stay alive along as I have without developing something that tells you, ?You?re going to die if you do that.? You must be what I was anticipating,? Spectator replied with a toothy grin.

?Where are they binding him?? Telos asked, his voice heavy with worry and apprehension.
?I?ll show you? if your friend would get his sword out of my back.?
?Aye, but keep in mind that I?ll be watching ye from behind,? Brassbeard said, then gave Spectator one last jab.

The beholder turned around in place, then floated towards the street. The group walked behind him with hurried glances searching for other drow that might take notice.

?Up there,? Spectator said, pointing all of his eyestalks at a huge building situated upon the stone webbing that served as the second tier of the city. ?It?s the Temple of Lolth. You?re going to have one hell of a time trying to get in and out of there alive.?

?I think we?ve walked into less favorable circumstances before,? Telos said in reply.
?The demon cult in Ulgoth?s Beard was much more favorable than this,? Jaheira said.
?Yaga Shura?s campsite was much more favorable,? Sarevok said.
?The Throne of Bhaal was more favorable than this,? Balthazar said.
?Ust Natha was more favorable than?? Jaheira started.
?Okay, I get it guys! And the Throne of Bhaal was not more favorable than this, B,? Telos answered. ?Gypsy, show us the way up there.?


?You there! Warriors of House Jolsuuk! Come here at once!? a voice rang out.
?Uh-oh! Got to go, Veldrin. I want to be as ready as possible to get out of here when you start tearing this place up,? Spectator whispered before floating away in near panic.

***

Rauvjss was delighted when he spotted the male warrior. He drew his sword instinctively to point them out. ?There they are, sister! The taller one was the guard that tried to block my way back into the city when I carried the child! It is only right that I have my revenge upon him!? The four other warriors that were following fanned out behind the siblings, positioning themselves to strike if the order was given.

?Shut your mouth, Rauvjss! They are only six in number, and the Matron wanted at least twelve!? Shyntal hissed.

?The only other place to find more of their house would be at the gates, or House Jolsuuk itself. We will have to make do, Shyntal.? Rauvjss glanced back at the group of drow. ?Why are they talking to that spectator beholder? I thought it worked for House Nasadra??

?That?s not our concern?but just in case, let us call them to us. And do not provoke them, Rauvjss.? Shyntal then called out to the lesser drow. ?You there! Warriors of House Jolsuuk! Come here at once!?

At the sound of Shyntal?s voice, the beholder sped off, leaving the group alone. The drow of House Jolsuuk ambled forward with their hands on the hilts of their weapons. Shyntal took note of the all the glances the Jolsuuks exchanged with one another. Finally, one of the two females came forward to speak.

?Yes, jalil, what do you want?? The tone of voice was guarded, though somewhat angry.

?I am no jalil, wael. I am Shyntal of House Di?Dgttu, which makes me your superior in every way. You will do as I say and go to the apothecary. We will follow behind you, understood? Go now.?

Shyntal was ready to pounce upon the first one to offer resistance, but she need not have worried. The other Jolsuuk female walked forward quietly, and the rest of her group followed without words of protest.

***

It was a quick, yet trying jaunt from the first to second floors. The group of mixed houses drew suspicious glances and whispers from other drow in the streets. A fast, evil look from Shyntal was all it usually took to silence the rumormongers and shy away onlookers. The drow made their way through the crowded streets and up the great stairs that led to the second level. The stairs, painstakingly carved from the walls of the cavern, were full of drow progressing towards the great temple of Lolth that dominated the web-stoned second floor. Her warriors had been smart enough to put their swords away while they marched up the stairway, and had not drawn them again until they were well away from the temple and its House Nasadra guards. Shyntal ushered the drow into a back room of the apothecary, conveniently owned by House Di?Dgttu, and ordered her warriors to guard the outside door against intruders.
With the preparations made, she turned to drow the from House Jolsuuk.

?I command you to don these surcoats,? Shyntal said.
One of the Jolsuuk female?s head tilted to one side in response. ?Why do we need to put these on??

?Because she told you to, wench!? Rauvjss countered.

The mage of the group eagerly took the surcoat, and waved his hand over it.
?I detect a faint magical aura,? the Jolsuuk mage said.

?You will shut up, mage!? Rauvjss ordered.

?Why, looky here,? the mage said with a slight smile. ?There?s some illusion magic on these, and look! The magic hides the mark of House Baenre of Menzoberranzan! And what?s this? Enchantment magic? compulsion. I wonder what you could do with these on??

Rauvjss drew his sword, but Shyntal threw up her hand to stop him.
?You?you are not from House Jolsuuk.? Something clicked in her mind. *The spectator beholder!* ?You are from House Nasadra!? Shyntal said in accusation.

?Wrong,? the mage said. With a quick flick of the wrists, the mage and his party?s appearance changed. They looked rather different then before, their heights were varied, the arms and armor had different flourishes to them, and all of them wore the mark of House Baenre.

?You have two choices?? the mage began.
?One, you yell and we kill you in a very painful fashion?? the lead female with a triumphant smile.
?Or two, we bind and gag you, and we let your matron do our dirty work for us,? the mage finished.

Shyntal looked at Rauvjss. He was still very angry, but there was now an underlying fear in his eyes. Shyntal thought it over in her mind. *A swift death, or the possibility of a slow death?*

?Bind us.?

?Don?t be a fool, Shyntal! They will just kill us when we are defenseless!? Rauvjss hissed.

?Do as I say, Rauvjss, or I will kill you myself.?

?You are a wael to trust them!?

?And you are a wael to miss an opportunity to save your pathetic life.?
Rauvjss bit his lip in anger, then slowly put his weapon on the ground.

***

Sarevok moved forward towards Rauvjss, a length of rope in his hand. He was not surprised when the male drow drew forth a concealed dagger and lunged at him. Sarevok caught Rauvjss? hand, and unleashed a haymaker square into the drow?s face, causing the male to crumple to the ground and lose consciousness. It was just the distraction the female drow needed to bolt out of the room, into the storefront, and out of the building.

?What do we do?? Brassbeard asked with an unusual amount of worry in his voice.

Telos waved his hands, inducing his magic to change everyone into their Jolsuuk disguises. ?We get to the temple as fast as possible. Gypsy, if you would be so kind to take us there.? The deep gnome gave a quick bob of her head, then followed in Shyntal?s tracks.

*This is it, Telos. The time is at hand to get your son back and kick some ass. DO NOT screw it up,* he thought.

Hey, I'm back!
Thanks for the comments Celestine :thumb:! It's good to see that someone other than me is enjoying reading this! As for the dream sequences, the later one (Chapter 5, I think) is all Lolth. She's eeeevil, you know! The earlier dream (Chapter 3) is all Telos. Make of that what you will.

Okay, so I know I said I'd like to have had the next chapter up back in January, but hey, you can't rush genious! In all seriousness, I've let myself fall behind in the writing , and desparately trying to use free time in between school time to write, but it doesn't always happen. I'm weak and computer games are strong, what can I say?

On the upside, I'm posting the next chapter after posting this. Sooooo, on with the show!

Very interesting so far, Lightspeed.
I hope you post more often then I do !