Alton Zsz
romeo_longsword
the original style of the clothing was designed for the noble and upper
class. Although overall poor looking, it does shows his attempt to
present himself respectably.
Like the rest of his appearance, his rapier loosely strapped on his
side, battered and worn, you wonder how many times it has been used,
and how many times it has been maintained.
The scruffy but claim looking Drow is Alton, a young male Drow suggests
he has a background of a noble or even a known house from
Menzoberranzan. He is educated and is trained in many aspects of
tactics and survival in a methodological fashion. If he had one, his
house name is unravelled, but he simply named himself as one of the,
"Zsz", "The Ancient". As if though it was passed and forgotten.
But in truth, Alton is rather lucky and should be congratulated for he
is able to stand today, as his journey has been a path that brings many
elements to break a man, in this case, a Drow.
He was brought up by one of his nine sisters, his mother, the Matron
rarely pay him enough attention, though compare with the rest of the
males, he considered himself well liked. The Matron said to be over a
thousand years old, but with the appearance of only a middle aged lady.
She has many children can remember every single one of them, the moment
of their births, and for most of them, the moments she killed them. To
have lived as long as she, naturally, she has defended herself from
rival forces throughout the years. Her house ran as a information
network, where the strength is information, a hidden power. Young
priestesses who are unwise would consider this appears to be a
glory-less power to be a weakness; this mistake has made it their down
falls.
But, "Nothing last forever" said the Matron, and which she is
right. Like many of the down falls of Drow houses, when a new rival
over taking the old, a fight has taken place. Being a young and
ordinary male of the house, Alton was not recruited to the rival force
that was lead by one of his sisters. That day, while being positioned
near the Morton at the time, naturally, he defended her. A blade
stroked towards to the Matron from one of the weapon masters, Alton
thrown himself at the striker, deflected the blow, but the poisoned
sword made a long cut across his groin, exposing the flesh. And at the
same time, a ritual of a curse has taken place, cursing the Matron with
no good effects.
A sphere of teleport was created by the Matron, escaped the situation
together with Alton who was close by her. The two found themselves in
the wilderness, at first, there was no conversation between them, just
a stiffly silence in the air as they both were aware of what happened,
and they begun to realise the realism of doom.
Being weaken by the curse, the Matron attempted to heal Alton, though
not perfectly; it was enough to make him stand. And so this has became
of their relationship, they travelled together against the odds towards
to the east far and fast, until Alton's mother, eventually accepted
Lolth's will for her passing.
Alton continued the direction alone, finding possible tracks towards to
an unknown place which his mother was aiming, rather it was the desired
destination or not, Alton eventually found a camp with a lose gathering
of Drows, with primitive standing of living. He approached them seeking
for acceptance, although he was robed and bullied, Alton eventually
became part of the outcasts.
Helosai's Whisper
And so Alton has settled within the Dow camp, a selection of them
gather together, using and depending on each other, hoping that they
will survive long enough to make it to another part of the Underdark
where a future lies. But by no mean this Drow camp is a stationary one,
due to the hash environment, the camp is often on mobile (ish),
following whatever resources there are. And by which they have
collected or encounter many different Drows with different information
out there. Some of them brought rumour that there is a city named
"Helosai", a city of the great splendour, worshiping the Drow god,
Vhaeraun.
Since most of the members of the camp are Male, this brought new hope
to them and changes the relationship between them and the females in
the camp, and the culture where the Male and Female are almost equalled
begun to establish. Male and female would go out together, finding
supply and recourses in a cooperating manner, rather then the typical
master and his pet in favour of the Female. The change is contributed
by the hash environment where survival is beyond pride; however, most
of the members seem to believe it's their faith to Vhaeraun.
And in time, the rumour proven to be true, the day where Alton met a
follower of the Male Drow God, who stood before him, wearing a robe
with all the glory of a Matron, surrounded with aura of a champion.
Within a brief moment of their meeting Alton was teleported to Helosai
together with his new friend.
The Drow introduced himself as "Gromph" (Real name, Kel'bryn, an
ex-member of House Rylin'tar), a powerful wizard who serves the
Temple of Vhaeraun. After a tour in the city of Helosai, where Alton
were shown a fully functional, blossoming city without the domination
of a Matron but Males, where there are no slavery for any Drow Male,
but pride and comfort.
"This is the city of Helosai! Welcome Male!" As Alton hears the
city says.
Alton was fed and groomed before entering the Temple where the ceremony
in becoming a formal member of the temple take place, Gromph was there,
together with the priest, spending long hours to introduce the
teachings of Vhaeraun and it's beliefs, vision of the Drow race would
eventually dominate the worlds, both the Underdark and the Surface,
enough to make any Drow Male filled himself with pride and hope.
And the celebration went on, soon came the next day.
The Priest approached Alton closely, covering between his mouth and
Alton's ear with his hand, where a long whisper took place. When it
eventually ends, he handed a sack of equipment and supply to Alton, the
receiver taken the good without looking at the priest, stood still and
proud with his head held high, then a grin appear on his face. After
some moments, he walked out of the temple, and through the city gate in
a straight line.
Rizzen
"My mouth is dry and my expression became dull, I drive on through
the dark tunnels. No sighs of a path that would lead to the light, only
endless battles with the unknown creatures, I driven on, the sound of
my blade clanking and swinging, combining the sound of blood, or
whatever that comes out form these creatures that slaps on the hard
ground; rather it was the blood of my own or not, it creates a simple
melody of battle.
My arms stiffen and even the blades became passionless, they still sing
for me, but only because my arms were pushing them to, they sing but
only dully. As I went on with my stiffen body that my mind can not be
content with, the world became colorless, only the occasion sparks
comes when my steels brush across the stony walls during battle would
bring my mind back to reality.
The feeling is, weightless; my clothing were torn and my wooden shield
was shattered, even my last bandage has loosen and worn, the melody of
battle became only but a pattern, here I face my very naked self, light
in weight and colorless in hope, this is a feeling of doom could be".
Alton fought his way through form plane to plane across the wildness,
the experience of the wild beasts and what other hostile creatures
haunt him at every corner he turns, like flashes of images appear in
one's mind, colorless and invisible so real but only he could see its
presence within the empty still air.
And from a shadow, another image of a humanoid figure flashed, but this
one was colored. It appeared to be half transparent and it was
difficult to see. With Alton's numbed mind at the time, it mattered
little, and so he stroked at its direction, only to realized that,
before the blade lands in his prediction, he found the half transparent
figure already approached in front of him closely, with a small drift
of wind blowing his air back, allowing Alton to see better.
The figure worn a long robe, much like the one of Gromph's, the
wizard looked down at Alton with his height, suppressing Alton with his
close body contact. As Alton look up, he sees a Male Drow, with a
slight purple glow surrounding his complexion.
"I am Rizzen", He said. And with not another word, he turned around
and begin to go back way he came.
Alton understood he was in no position to question the Drow's
identity, beside; he has nothing to lose, so he followed the glowing
figure through the dark tunnels. Rizzen moved speedily if though he was
hovering above the ground, acting as a guiding light with the dim
purple glow, leaving the already exhausted Alton running after him.
The glowing wizard twisted and turned, disappear in and out of
Alton's view. Alton's focus began to loosen; he started feeling his
lungs were bumped to the full, and his legs muscles beneath his skin
are rubbing each other if though there were burning acid running
through his vines. His boots were over worn, leaving him running on his
bear feet, with blisters growing from almost every step he made, he ran
with his toes lifted up, jogging forward in a slight hoping fashion.
And in the final turn, he saw the wizard Rizzen as a siloite, blocking
some of the bright light at the end of the tunnel. Alton composed
himself, approaching Rizzen slowly.
He saw Rizzen glazes at the view in front of him, almost
expressionless, as Alton follow Rizzen's direction of view, he
squinted his eyes against the bright light of the Underdark in contrast
of the dark tunnels, then he sees rocky hills and mountains growing
upwards form the sandy land sharp and dry, endlessly places themselves
across the plane to fill the horizon.
More to the eyes, there are moving figures, in parties and formations,
slowing approaching; these little dark dots are Duergars, Underdark
Dwarves, infamous for their warlike culture and exceptional fighters
they produce. Rizzen remained still at the situation, even when they
came into a threatening distance, he produce no reaction, leaving Alton
to react, and so he slowly blinked, frustrated with the endless
troubles, but he leaped out into the plain to meet the armies after a
slow and deep breath.
As Alton stepped into the warm sand, he moves towards to the Duergars,
and slowly increases his speed as he become closer, to eventually full
speed coming face to face to his first Duergar, where he could see more
clearly what he is up against.
These stocky Grey Dwarves are short but well built, stumpy limps packed
with strong muscles and power, both female and male wear full metal
amours which you could make out its high shinny metallic quality
beneath the dusty surface. Most of them carry the Two-Headed Battleaxe,
dark and heavy, some carry the War hammer with the short grip, and
some, the crossbow.
In contrast, Alton waves around with lose threads of leather, and
cotton bandages that wraps around his shins, running on his bear feet.
He holds his dented saber, light and flimsy, charging towards to his
target.
And as the blow about to exchanged, a bright light burst out in front
of him, then the ground shaken and an explosion takes place at the
middle of the Duergar pack. The fire and its hot air blew Alton
backwards in the air, he landed on his backside then skirted along the
sandy ground on his back. While he was laying on the ground, with a
burst of warm wind blowing sand rapidly brushing over his body, he half
opened his eyes and sees Rizzen slowly striding forwards, with both of
his arm rose. He raised his right arm further, another explosion take
place afar, and when he raised his left arm further, the same effect
happen at another place. And so there was no more hostile forces left,
the plains only left with roasted bodies still being cooked by the hot
metal amours, an empty wind blow away the cast of smoke and sand in the
air, leaving only Alton and Rizzen the dots of the landscape.
After a long and slow walk, they are eventually come to approaching a
settlement a head, with the smoke and lights promising an established
life style from the town. But halfway through, a pack of four fully
armored men came in to greeting. They are tall even for the standard of
men, armed themselves with the greatest splendor of amours and weapons,
almost look heroic, all are largely build and held their weapons with
ease, some with great swords, hanging on their shoulders with merely
two fingers in contact to balance, these are extremely strong warriors.
They smiled at Rizzen in greetings, exposing their long pearl fangs;
they are vampires, a type of undead that lives a very unique life
style.
"Sir Rizzen" they addressed.
It was a strange and mysterious feeling for Alton, looking at the
situation from behind Rizzen, whom surrounded by a pack of fully
armored large men, while being in the middle, in contrast of his small
Drowish frame, Rizzen being addressed in the respectable manner by
other power warriors in their own right. It is no question that Rizzen
is a powerful Drow among the Underdark, and Alton question Rizzen's
intention he has for him.
The town they are heading is called Grosigstone, a settlement built
among the natural landscape, using the thick sharp hills as its walls,
the town has a high defensive advantage, but not a total blockage for
itself, as it has an underground passage, leading to different levels
to other cities and resources.
As Alton passes through the main gate of the town, the guards from the
top of the watchtowers gave him a second look, they are Tieflings, a
type of creature that carries the demonic bloodline, as well as the
features, such as devilish wings, horns, tail, and some even have the
devilish scales on their skin. Otherwise they have the basic human
biology. They gave Alton's no surprising look, but his broken
appearance is exceptional and even suspicious.
Once you enter the town you will see the busy market in front of you,
with mixture of races and creatures, shopping and bargaining, a typical
common life style can be found here. Rizzen passed a large pouch of
coins to Alton, and sent him on a shopping trip, with instruction to
improve his appearance and equipments, and a chance to tour around the
town. There are Drows living as the commoners here among other races,
there is even a female Drow as one of the merchants, the typical Drow
culture is not imbedded here in Grosigstone, and the glory of Male Drow
can not be found here like in Helosai. Although the Tifelings seems to
be the native race here, they don't seem to show interests in their
superiority beside they interests in trade.
As Alton about to enter the inn of Grosigstone after completed all was
instructed, Rizzen leaves "The Purple Mushroom", meeting Alton at
the door. Upon Alton reporting all is completed, he asked Rizzen what
he is to do next.
"Do whatever you wish". Rizzen answered; as he walked pass Alton
leaving the town.
What's inside The Purple Mushroom
"Rizzen and I both know what he did for me was not a mere charity, a
Drow with his status would not go through a set of dirty dark tunnels
for a simple profit. He was a clever male, letting me live here in
Grosigstone with an unnamed price in an unlimited time frame.
I did not confront him about the price of my rescue when his brushed
pass my shoulder with his, not only that I was in no position to, but,
to be used by a male such as he, may be there is so advantage for me.
I have been waiting everyday for him to show up at the inn named,
"The Purple Mushroom", I picked a sport for my timeless waiting in
one of the rooms, a chair with its back leaning against the wall next
to the door, I keep the door open, here, I don't draw the first sight
of attention should travelers walk in, at the same time, I can hear
what goes on behind me.
"The Purple Mushroom", only the outsiders could come up with such
"stylish" naming.
This is what Rizzen wants me to do, live and learn, especially about
the Drow movement. Under the normal situation, a no good outcast like
me it's nothing but a waste of time, not only to the Drows, but to
anyone.
Not here in Grosigstone, where its culture is diverse. With the
political contrast between the Vampires and the Lytharis with the Drows
in between, anybody with the will could get themselves noticed.
And so in front of the members of the House Rylin'tar I fought,
against a Lythari, a massive wolf like being stands seven foot off the
ground. That day, it intruded our private conversation in a remote
corner of the street. The rude mannered dog named Telinious, claimed to
be the Lord of all Lytharis. It drew out a massive axe as he
approached; an opportunity for me to show my use by shielding the
Jabbers, and so the axe came for me, swung at me in a hooking motion.
Even with a short blade in between the massive axe, it still crushed
into my arm, lifting me in the air and barely allowed me to land on the
ground. I was lucky that I relaxed my postures in taking the blow,
allowed me some control on the force, and prevented internal damage.
The cut was deep, but that's alright, it was mainly made by my own
blade.
I stood face to face with the Lytharis Lord, expected some aid from the
two Rylin'tar House members, there was plenty of time, but no aid,
their House Assassin Zarovich even had the time to ask, "What's
happening here!?"
I wanted to turn around to him and laugh, to give the kind of
expression that asks, "What do you think?"
But the darkness falls, I did not have the last laugh after all.
Zarovich Rylun'tar is quite a striker, I saw his moves before, and
they are usually straight and clean when he finds the spot, but his
mysterious personality doesn't need much company. Except for the
Jabbers Victoria, the strict and disciplined priestess is charismatic
when she commands, if the rooster of the House does not change much in
the future, she would be the next Matron. She has Zarovich as her
shadow, the two often travel together.
She has at least one child, a fighter in training, named Milieth, his
blood was taken from Zarovich. Apparently he is her chosen mate for the
last two hundred years. And so these two hundred years must have raised
Zarovich's self value, in which might have caused the hesitation in
these moments to strike, but of course, there might be a greater
reasons beyond my experience.
Zarovich is quite a watched male, I over heard at the inn, a Jabbers
form the Great House of Barri'mtor, ordering their Weapon Master,
Zin'olhyrr to watch Zarovich closely. The Weapon Master is skilled
with the board sword, I have traveled with him in the pass, where I was
shown the way to the holy city of Uthrien. His skill in combat reflects
his experience, his speed, distant and positioning were used maturely
together in our teamwork in fighting the Driers.
When he speaks to the fellow male Drows, or even the lesser races, he
does so respectfully, from him, I can see the difference between pride
and honour.
He is a respectable male, one that I could trust if I am in the
position to. He forwarded my name in joining the Great House of
Barri'mtor, but because of the unspoken contract I have with Rizzen,
I am in no position to swear such oath. I will answer to him first, as
I have a debt unpaid, then the future is to be decided.
And so I sit, here, in The Purple Mushroom still."