An Evil Plot

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His eyes slowly focused as he awakened, then widened when he saw Mavralyn standing in front of him!  Were his eyes playing tricks on him?  "Vendui'," slipped from his lips and he bowed as he did to all females.  Then such strange words she spoke in a language beautiful yet harsh.  Tyboranif thought this was a joke and that someone was playing a trick on him.  He chuckled,  "So Mav, did ya want to dance or something?"  The reply was shocking.  "Oh no Tyboranif I plan on doing much more than that," she spoke with serious intent.

Sensing danger, it was then he realized he was in trouble as the Yathrin raised her arms and summoned her minions.  Still stunned, and unprepared for the ambush, Ty stood there as they rushed to encircle him.  Still in his town garb he knew his defenses where pitiful, but fight on he did.  Her eyes blazing, Mavralyn's hands started dancing in many arcane gestures while she muttered various drow incantations.

Ty, quickly brought back to his senses, reached deep within the goodness of his heart and soul for speed and protection.  Holding his hammer high, the moonlight reflecting off its well-worn crest, he shouted, "Into the light with ye!"  A wave of pure good filled the air and the monsters hastily retreated, attacking their own priestess.  He hoped this would buy him some time.

Mav shouted a word of power and fire jetted forth from her outstretched hand.  The flames danced upon the bodies of her minions burning them beyond recognition.  The wave of heat caught Ty, but the protections surrounding him kept the fire at bay.

His hammer felt so hot...it was aglow as pain and agony shot into his arm...yet still he continued to fight.  The day of his knighting entered his mind and his happiness at fulfilling his dreams.  Ty thought, *I cannot fail*!

Ty pulled more power from within his soul, realizing it was either him or her.  Thoughts raced in his head, *I must live...I have a wife...and a home*.  He became frantic and released a bolt toward Mav.  It passed through her without harm.  Then she let forth a surge of her own and her power overwhelmed him.  He slumped to his knees unable to stand, but knowing he must go on for his and his wife's sake.

Mav simply looked down at him with a grim expression.  "You now feel the true power of Lloth, the power she has given me."

He tried to think, to move.  "NO!!" He shouted before losing his concentration.  He tried to rise and stumble away from Mav as his hand reached towards the last spot where he left his Lady.

Mav had this all planned quite neatly as she hit him full force with all the power that Lloth entitled her.  The sheer raw power and evil burned away the remainder of his tunic and cloak, capturing his body and soul, binding him unable to move from sheer pain as all went dark.

When Ty returned to consciousness, he found himself bound and forced to stumble after the swiftly moving yathrin.  The ease with which they slipped through the hills unchallenged let the Yathrin know that she traveled the path that Lloth wanted.  Constantly tugging at the rope that held the half-drow turned paladin, they made their way at an exhausting pace.

Upon reaching the outskirts of Triboar, the priestess scanned the area for any who might try to stop her.  No one walked the city streets that late at night.  Once again she yanked at the rope to indicate the two would continue their journey.  Soon the travelers found their way to the ruins of Berun.  Again they paused only so Mavralyn could check the vicinity for any who may try to stop them.  The place held only the ghosts of the people that once lived there.

Heading further north, the two finally reached the outer edge of Longsaddle.  Ty, weak and stumbling from the fast pace, tried to slow the drowess down and asked in a falsely cheerful tone, "Where ya taking me Mav?  What's the hurry?"

Still pulling on the rope, she answered in a calm and detached voice,  "You are to be sacrificed Tyboranif."  His eyes grew wide in horror as he realized just what his fate would be.  "Nay Mav, don't do this to your old pal Ty!  Why?  What have I done that ya wish ta see me dead?"

A sharp bark of laughter exploded from her lips as she stopped so suddenly that the paladin almost stumbled into her.  "Nau Ty, it is nothing you did, but what you are," she explained.  "I knew you before I became drow.  I had fond feelings for you then.  So because of that, you were chosen for this sacrifice."

"If you cared for me then, what of now?  I have a wife who knows not where I am.  If ya still have that fondness, why don't ya let me go and I'll forget this all ever happened," chuckled Ty with false bravado.

Tugging on the rope, Mav started forward again and replied over her shoulder, "Nau, it does not matter what my feelings are.  You will be given to Lloth."  The paladin's heart sank at these harsh words as they entered the hidden door that led deep underground.

Once past the drider guards, the yathrin headed directly to the dark stone altar found within the underground temple.   The evil that permeated this ancient place seemed to weigh down the soul of the young knight.  Pausing before the altar, Mavralyn turned to the paladin and used her innate power of suggestion.  "You won't try to escape, nor struggle against my will Tyboranif," she spoke softly.  The knight merely nodded in agreement.  With another murmur of arcane words, the bindings dropped away from the paladin.

Murmuring a short incantation, she wove a spell of apathy about him as well.  Then the priestess turned back to the altar and knelt before it.  "Lloth tlu Malla!  Jal ultrinnan zhah Xundus!" <Lloth be praised!  All victory is her will!> Pulling an obsidian dagger from beneath her robes and a small golden chalice from her pack, she quickly sliced open her flesh and filled the chalice with blood.  Stopping the flow with a simple healing spell and cleaning the shiny blade, she set it aside and pulled a packet of herbs out.  Adding these to the gold cup and stirring the mixture slightly she called to Ty, "Come and kneel here next to me."

Unable to resist the power of the yathrin, Tyboranif moved forward to kneel beside her.  Silently she handed the cup to him and with a gesture indicated he should drink it all.  The taste of blood seemed strange and loathsome at first.  As he continued to drain the contents, the mixture of blood and herbs began to grow on him.

With the last drop his eyes began to redden in the way of his drow ancestry and a lust filled his mind.  The potent liquid fired his blood with a need for killing and his body felt a need for release from the energy that built within.

Mavralyn calmly ordered the male to lie upon the altar.  Without a thought of who he was, Tyboranif complied readily.  Rising to stand over the tense form before her, the yathrin leaned over to kiss him gently tasting her blood still upon his lips.  "You will serve Lloth well Ty," she whispered before driving the obsidian dagger into his chest.  Quickly she carved into the flesh before her and reached into the cavity to rip out the beating heart.  Holding it aloft, she chanted once more, "Lloth tlu Malla!  Usstan bel'la dos xuil nindol belbol." <Lloth be praised!  I honor you with this gift.>

When the last word left her lips, the heart burst into black flames before her eyes.  Dancing fingers of fire leapt from her hand to the dead male lying on the altar.  The acceptance of the gift filled Mav with elation as she watched the fire consume both.  When the dark flames died, nothing remained of Tyboranif but ashes.

Once again the Yathrin felt the favor of the dark goddess filling her with power.  Without a backward glance at the ashy remains of Tyboranif, Mavralyn left the ruins to return to the surface.  Slipping quietly into the Gilded Horseshoe, she knew the 2nd daughter of Rilynt'tar was nearby.  Through the strange bond she shared with Arielana, Mav sensed anger mingled with pain filling her mind. Upon entering the private room, Mav walked in on a tense situation.

Arielana stood with her back to a stranger that seemed vaguely familiar to Mavralyn.  Realizing where she knew this stranger, her eyes widened slightly in shock at seeing the spirit of Devon apparently alive.  Spying the Mistress Jivares, the two communicated in the silent language of drow.  Now informed of what occurred, Mavralyn motioned to Jivares not to interfere.  Both watched as bitter and angry words passed between Devon and Arielana.

"I have retrieved the rose from where Midnight placed it to return it to you, Arielana," Devon cried.  

What would I want with that rose, Devon " Arielana laughed mockingly.  Fire burned in Devon's eyes as he lifted his hand casting a bolt of lightning. In a puff of smoke the rose disappeared. Mavralyn gasped, as did Jivares. Jivares stood, wanting to go to the Yathrin's side, but Mavralyn stayed her with a look.  Knowing this scene would end badly, Mavralyn muttered a few arcane words.  Touching the heart shaped amulet so recently given to her by Ryltarl, she summoned the assassin.

The sudden flash of light had not startled Arielana and she instinctively readied her snake weapon. Remaining in a defensive position and with venom in her voice she retorted, "That was not the rose, Devon.  Your heart is in the hands of the Velgla Jabbuk."

"What deceitful plot is this that you and Tarl contrived?" Devon snarled.  As he unsheathed his weapon he continued, "Then you do still harbor feelings for that fool who doesn't know one end of a sword from another!"

Immediately angered by Devon's words, Mavralyn's eyes flashed and she hissed, "Who is the fool and who is the master?  You are dead and Ryltarl still lives!"  Her Whip of Fangs writhed in agitation as her anger communicated itself.  Stepping closer to the spirit-turned-flesh, Mav spoke with ice in her voice, "Perhaps you should teach this wael a lesson Ari."

Arielana's hand moved to her snake weapon as Mavralyn looked on coldly waiting for her to strike.  With a pleading expression Devon stared at Arielana directly and commanded, "Do not continue this, Lana."  

"Do not continue? It is not I who first readied a weapon, "she snapped as she raised the weapon.  Before she could strike, Devon dropped to one knee. His hand grasped the hilt of his dagger tightly as he said to her more gently, "I only took on this form to seek thee out, Lana.  If thee have no feeling for me, there is no reason for me to remain.  I will return to the spirit plane."

With one graceful movement, Devon plunged the dagger into the void that would be his heart.  A startled, "Nau Devon!"  Escaped her lips as Arielana fell to her knees reaching out to support him as his body fell to the floor.  The misplaced anger that brought them to this end left her.   

Try as she might, Arielana could not heal her friend.  Even as she held him, his body transformed back to its spirit state.  She reached out to him as she had done so often in the past, but in an instant he disappeared.  

A cry of anguish escaped from Arielana and a single tear streamed down her cheek. Mavralyn turned to Jivares and told her to leave so she might speak to Arielana privately.  Turning back towards Ari, Mav saw that the yathrin communicated mentally with another.  She cried to Mavralyn, "He will not let me speak to him.  I do not understand.  Why has he done this?" 

As confused by what happened as Arielana, Mavralyn had no words to answer her sister-mentor^*1.  Another brief mental contact occurred then Arielana spoke softly, "This is not what I wanted.  I shall miss him."

At that moment Ryltarl slipped quietly out of the shadows.  He bowed to Mavralyn and with a knowing glance she nodded in the direction of Arielana.  Seeing Ari still kneeling in the spot where Devon fell, the assassin moved towards her.  He placed his hands on her shoulders to let her know he was there.  After slipping off her cloak, he grasped her arms and lifted her to him.  Arielana turned slightly and leaned into Ryltarl saying, "Do not lecture me tonight, Tarl."  He touched her cheek lightly and spoke gently, "Nau, Lana, no lecture tonight."

A stab of pain touched Mavralyn's heart as she slipped out the door leaving the two alone.  *How different the bond is between them.  Neither will ever show weakness to the other, yet both draw on the other's strength,* she thought as she closed the door behind her.

*1.  Mavralyn was adopted by Jasra and became third daughter of Rilynt'tar prior to these postings. So this is the reason why Arielana is refered to as Mav's sister.