"CRACK!!!"

The book slammed down on the rosewood desk breaking the silence. Gracefully rising from her small chair, Zel moved around the desk, bare feet treading across the plush carpet.  Pacing back and forth, she glanced at the many books lining the walls.

"Iblyth!^*1  What's the point!" she mumbled to herself, throwing her arms wide. "I have done everything to gain favor and still I go unnoticed.  It is as if the Yathtallar doesn't see me."

She moved back around the desk, sitting slowly in the soft chair.  Leaning back, Zelghinna closed her eyes and remembered how it all started. She drifted back to a time when she was still a fledgling in this dark society...

"Zel!" Mavralyn’s voice split the air breaking the silence.  "How many times do I have to tell you that Jasra is an Ilharess and not a Yathrin?  Do you wish to remain a mistress forever?"

"Nau Malla Yathtallar," Zel replied in monotone.  "I wish for more than the position of mistress.  I have more ambition than this."

"Then you better learn and learn quickly, Zelghinna.  I will not tolerate excuses or incompetence.  Your first duty shall be learning all the names of the Matrons and their Houses.  You have one day, then you can start on the First Daughters of each House."

"Xas Malla Yathtallar... A'dos quarth.^*2"

Many days were spent in study.  Zel was like a rabbit bouncing from person to person.  In the mornings the Yathtallar took time to personally train the young mistress in matters of the "heart."  Of course learning to properly sacrifice a heart and offer it to Lloth was not only easy but also enjoyable.  Zel found collecting the hearts amusing in its own right.

From there she was sent to learn combat techniques from all in Elythanar, not just one.  When she inquired why she could not go to the Melee Magthere, the Yathtallar's sharp response silenced her.  "It is already in session and filled.  Not now!"

Zel spent many hours on the arena floor of the compound.  Many times she was beat to the point that her last breath was at hand, but she was always brought back and tested again.  Over time her prowess increased, soon she was a challenge, and Mav allowed her to 'graduate' the impromptu school.

From there she went to the temple after a quick clean up and change, for more study and prayer.  Zelghinna was more than a little disappointed that she was not allowed to perform any of the sacrifices yet, even though she felt she had the knowledge.  These sessions were hard for the impatient female.  Whenever she grew restless, the Yathtallar seemed to know and would remind her with one word, "Patience."

Numerous times she thought about disappearing into the depths of the Underdark and trying to fend for herself.  At times she even packed and was heading for the door before her devotion to the Yathtallar stopped her short. It was not only that, but also her caring for all of Elythanar and her pride that wouldn't let her cower and hide.  Thus, she never left and yet time passed...

A knock at the door broke the silent reverie and brought Zelghinna back into the present.  Slowly the room returned from the darkness of her closed eyes.

"Enter,” she barked.

"Vendui' mistress, the Yathtallar wishes you to meet her in the temple."

Nodding slowly, Zel turned, glancing briefly at all the knowledge contained in the tomes lining the walls.  Smiling sardonically and thinking to herself... "Here are all these people who know just as much as I do now, and yet they are respected and recognized for their ideas, and effort.  Here I sit in my private study, pondering the same ideas as them, musing at my fate... and yet still time passes.”

After dismissing the messenger Zelghinna turned and began preparing for her summons to see the Yathtallar. Moving to the desk she gathered her papers and books, slowly placing them in a neat pile. She quickly checked the study to make sure it was orderly, then she left through the wooden door that adjoined her room.

Afraid to keep the Yathtallar waiting, she skipped on freshening up, instead headed with all haste to the temple.  Zelghinna couldn't help but wonder why the temple, after all there were plenty of other places to meet. She also knew that Erilysia would be there; she was always there.  Zelghinna liked Erilysia though, even if she was always busy studying and doing Lloth’s 'work'. Eril was one of the few people Zel liked.

Entering the temple compound, Zelghinna was assaulted by an eerie feeling that more was transpiring than a simple meeting.  It was quiet; too quiet. Her footsteps were the only sound that broke the silence, echoing throughout the revered halls. The place seemed empty, devoid of life. Undaunted by her paranoid feelings she continued to the temple proper.

Opening the large doors, Zelghinna pushed into the temple and was immediately surprised by the gathering of 'family' there.  This was some meeting indeed, for the whole house had shown up.  Afraid to let her hopes rise she curtsied and greeted the Yathtallar, the other females, and finally the males.

After getting permission to rise, she took her place with the rest of the assembly.  Casting her eyes downward, keeping silent, she waited.  After a time the Yathtallar broke the silence and asked for Zelghinna to step forward and kneel.  Fearing the worst, Zelghinna couldn't help but wonder what she had done this time.  She quickly thought about the things she had done recently and came away empty handed.  She hadn't been caught for those yet.  Slowly her hopes began to rise.

Kneeling before the Yathtallar was always a scary feeling for Zelghinna. The few times she did it in the past were right before getting a beating.  She waited there in silence for the first blow to fall, knowing the first blow was always the hardest to endure. Then her whole life changed.

Shado met Drath along with 10 hand picked guards waiting patently at the front gate. After exchanging greetings they sat to finalize their plan and add new ideas to it due to the Yathtallar’s unexpected request. When finally both agreed on the final course of action, they rose and began their mission into the underdark passages.

The course they took was not well known, but Shado had watched it closely these last few days and nights through his mirror. It was to be about a week’s journey in and probably if all went as planned a week and a half to return. Most of the trip there was uneventful. Shado had planned well, with only a few minor scrimmages against some underdark dwellers, and luckily no casualties to Shado, Drath, or the guards.

At a week's end the small group moved into the region where the Duergar were working. Sitting down the two went over the plans with the guards for none had been told where or why they had been chosen for this trip to ensure security. The guards sat nodding their understanding of their duties knowing better then to ignore the two prominent males of Elythanar. When all the plans had been told, one guard looked up and asked, "and how long do you wish us to wait until we strike?"  Shado smiled and without acknowledging the male stated, "Now."

When all were in place and ready, Shado began casting and a moment later he appeared, much to the Duergar's surprise and dismay, in the middle of their camp. Panic rose as the dark dwarves rushed for weapons or what ever they could find to protect themselves. Shado laughed loudly for all to hear and then frowned deeply staring at what was obviously the leader.

His gaze found the Duergar leader as the somewhat bewildered but no less confident dwarf stared back at Shado. Their eyes locked together for several moments before the anxious dwarf cried out, "Wat yas want Darkling?" Shado chuckled but never let his eyes stray away from the dark dwarf.

"Why you and your group of course." The dwarf looked intrigued at Shado and replied, "Wat yas offern for our's time?"  Shado started to laugh again, "Nau, I did not say I wished to hire you. You are to work for free, if you know what I mean." The dwarf's brow deepened in thought for a moment and then replied in a sharp bark of laughter, "Yer a brave darkling, but yas got no back up to help yas in that threat."  The morale of the dwarves started to climb noticeably once their leader had stated his path.

Shado chuckled again and replied, "Do you really think I need my friends for the likes of you?" Anger grew in the dwarf's face at the words. "Yas challenging me darkling?" Shado merely smiled and laid the sword he carried down to the ground.

"Xas!  If you can reach me, you will fight an unarmed opponent."  The mage chuckled again, "do you think you could win that way?"

The dwarf enraged by the taunts and not wanting to look weak in front of his group, charged forward. Shado slowly crossed his arms and smiled at the on coming dwarf. Seeing the confidence in Shado the dwarf let loose an unrecognizable shriek and rushed as fast as he could. Shado smiled when he heard the faint sound of a 'click' and the dwarf stumbled falling dead at his feet.

The other Duergar looked in amazement to their fallen leader then all around to see if any more drow were around. A few rushed Shado and met the same fate as their leader.  Shado could hear the sounds of Drath's deadly crossbow firing the poison needles into the aggressive ones and smiled at the skill Drath dispensed them with.

Thinking to himself "Xas abbil, you were the only choice for this task".  A few others tried to flee but were either brought back by the drow guards positioned around the area or they met a similar fate as their leader.  After one hour the Duergar succumbed to their fate and Shado smiled deeply thinking, "This turned out better then I could ever hope."  All told, Shado had 40 Duergar to build his tower.

Upon arrival back at Elythanar Shado was greeted by the drow stranger one more time, "Vendui' faern, here are the plans you asked for."  Shado smiled and responded, "And here is your crew."  The strange drow frowned and then asked, "Only 40? The building will take much time with this few."

Shado's head snapped up as he glared at the drow, "You have 2 months to finish, is that understood?"  The drow blanched realizing his mistake, "Xas wanre faern, it shall be done."  Shado continued to glare at the servant, "You will have the aid of whatever assistance I can provide, but do naut ever forget that aid can disappear and you would still have to meet the time frame."  The drow nodded and moved away quickly to start his work.

Two months later Shado sat in his own spell chamber for the first time.

Stepping forward the Yathtallar placed an amulet with the symbol of the temple around Zelghinna's neck.  It was a quick abrupt gesture that had most surprised. Although none broke the silence, a feeling of apprehension radiated from the family to the unpredictable female that knelt at Mavralyn's feet. Turning to the alter the Yathtallar picked a wicked dagger and sliced into her own soft flesh, letting the thick blood flow into a vessel.

Adding some substance to the thick rich blood, the Yathtallar turned back to Zel saying, "You may rise Yathrin Zelghinna, and stand before the altar.  If you are worthy to be a priestess of Lloth, then show your devotion.  Drink the liquid within the orshal^*3."

Having been trained for this Zelghinna rose and without hesitation took the goblet in her hands and drank.  As the last drop flowed into her mouth Zelghinna's eyes began to glow with inner fire.  Her head began to spin and a floating feeling assailed her senses.  She felt at one with her surroundings, closer to Lloth than before.  From the deep recesses in her mind a voice penetrated her cloudy thoughts, telling her to sacrifice herself.

Her body filled with tension, almost sexual in its devotion, begging for release. Taking the object in her hand, the pounding of her heart beating rhythmically in her ears, a presence engulfed her. Warmth flowed through her body, and her hand traveled downward plunging the dagger deep into her chest, tearing through muscle and bone into her heart.  Her back arched and her body spasmed as the relief she begged for, engulfed her.

Crying out once, she fell to the floor in a mixture of ecstasy and pain, never losing consciousness. Then the feeling slowly dissipated as the presence left her body.  She was left in a pool of blood and sweat, longing for the presence to touch her again, but it was gone. All was silent, then slowly all went dark.

*1.  "Shit!"
*2.  "As you command."
*3.  A ceremonial goblet.