| Logs |
2001 March 05
| Oloth |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Oloth Logs |
New Title
- Ansuz -- Obsidian's Suite
This is a smooth, round room tucked neatly into the branches of Twilight, Dammerung's second level. The walls are clean and cream-colored, with a wide window that shows the thick shrubbery and gardens below, outside.
Obsidian is in her new room, when the round door suddenly starts glowing gently. A moment later it apparently clears, showing Dakini standing on the other side with her palm resting on the door. From her casual stance it would appear that the translucency of the door is probably one way, and Dakini cannot see in. A soft touch on Obsidian's mind gives the sensation that a guest awaits outside... door to be opened or no? Obsidian lifts a brow at what she assumes to be magic, neither surprised nor used to it being used thusly, then stands up from where she was sitting and walks over to the door. She peers at the door, expecting a lock to be there, then watches as the door slides effortlessly open at her thought...
The outfit she is currently wearing looks almost piratical in nature. Beginning with a buccaneer style blouse of dazzling white silk, which alternately billows, then clings to her athletic frame. Her legs are enshrouded by a pair of snug fitting pants of crimson colored suede that tuck into a pair of thigh high boots of rich brown leather. Lastly her hair is pulled back into a practical looking ponytail and tied with a bit of purple satin ribbon.A young girl of Drow descent is before you. Like other elves her age is difficult to determine; in human reckoning she looks to be no older than perhaps 19 years of age. Silvery hair the color of spun moonlight pulls back from her lovely brow and cascades down to the small of her back. Two small braids, tightly woven and capped with crystal beads, rest on either side of her face accentuating her slender, pointed ears. Her face is full of youthful exuberance and beauty, which is tempered by a slightly squarish, set to her jaw, and a tiny dueling scar on her left cheek. Her eyes are of a glimmering amber hue, contrasting sharply with her skin, like shining stars in a clear night sky. Her physique is that of a warrior, lithe and muscular, with the lines and definition that comes from hard fought battles and toil, rather than from concerted exercise. Where visible, her supple skin matches her name perfectly, smooth and black, with a glossy iridescent sheen that gives the illusion that she is carved from obsidian, rather than made of flesh and blood.
Dakini smiles, "Hello. I'm sorry I didn't get to walk you through earlier. I see you found a room all right. Do you have any questions I can answer for you?"
Dakini grins lazily from behind the reflective blue-green shades which hide her eyes. Her hair is long and tousled, a bright, red-gold mane that occasionally hides her small pointed ears. She's a tall, slender, strong woman, with small but callused hands, and well-muscled forearms. She wears a soft, comfortably loose, ivory silk shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Over that is a sturdy, quilted, sleeveless tunic of dark indigo blue embroidered with intertwined silvery stars and ivory-gold unicorns. It is belted off snugly with a wide, well-worn leather belt. On her right hip, tied down about the right thigh, rides a holstered flechette pistol. On her left hangs a decorated and runically embossed scabbard with the plain, worn-leather-and-wire wrapped pommel of a short sword protruding from it. Sturdy, worn dueling gloves are tucked into the back of the belt, mostly hiding a cross-holstered dagger.
Obsidian nods and concentrates on the door again, watching it close, then open again with the smallest of mental desires, "Interesting doors you have here, Dakini." She smiles a bit, then shakes her head, "No questions, but I did wish to speak to thee, about the other night."
Dakini nods, stepping into the room a bit so the door doesn't close on her. "They're all part of Dammerung." She waits, standing by the door, for Obsidian to satisfy her curiosity in regards to the door.
Obsidian seems to regard the door for a moment longer, then gestures for Dakini to enter as she takes a few steps to meet her, the lack of armor better defining her lithe figure as she moves, "I wished to apologize to you for my behavior. And query you about the politics of this place; I seem to have stepped into more here than I anticipated. Please come in. And shut the door behind you."
Dakini smiles unruffledly, watching Obsidian with interest. The door slides silently shut behind her as she murmurs, "I wouldn't worry about it unduly. From the body language I observed in the Path on the night you arrived, I'd deduce you were getting an unpleasant mental 'welcome' from one or two of the er... 'gentlefolk' there." She shrugs expressively, her demeanor rueful, "There's a reason I rarely let folks into my head."
Obsidian nods slowly and leans against a wall, folding her arms, "There is more to it than that. I do truly apologize. I was hoping you could help me with who's who here; I seem to have stepped into things a bit deeper than I planned."
Dakini says, "Heh... well, there are quite a few dueling egos here. Um..." she glances around the plain room, then adds, "Perhaps I can help you first with here?" She places a palm against the smooth cream wall, and a moment later, next to where Obsidian leans against the wall, a bulge appears, rounding up into a long, low couch-like shape. She walks over to sit on one end, leaving plenty of space for the drow as well. "If you take an hour or two and sit here with skin contact -- your palm will do -- and concentrate on what sort of abode you'd like, then in about a day or two Dammerung can form this place into roughly what you've asked for."
Obsidian lifts a slender brow as the couch emerges, "Very interesting indeed." She smiles and moves to take a seat near Dakini, "Thank you once again." Her demeanor is completely different than that of a few nights past, as if she were a wholly different entity.
Dakini tilts her head thoughtfully, regarding Obsidian... this is a far cry from the cool, aloof, and suspicious woman she saw in the Path the other night. The drow seems much more open tonight... almost... friendly? Dakini smiles ruefully to herself -- she can't really blame the poor woman, if there were actually mental jabbings going on. Well... enough pondering. She nods, "Quite all right, Obsidian, truly. I'm quite proud of Dammerung, and it gives us both pleasure to make a nice home for the people that dwell within it."
Obsidian smiles again, relaxing into the soft couch-like bit of furniture, "Can you tell me a bit more about this place? Who is really in charge, for instance?"
Dakini grins, "Well, let's see. I know there's a Council that runs the place, but it's a bit um... disheveled currently, due to the absence of the EIF... the Elven Imperial Navy." She pauses, then adds quietly, "Incidentally, should anyone offer you violence of any sort within Dammerung... feel free to either ignore them, or defend yourself. Dammerung usually handles attempts at repeated attacks quite er... firmly." She thinks a moment, then continues, "That's the official government." She adds a tad ruefully, "You've ah... met Governor Gala'maDred already..."
Obsidian nods slowly. listening to Dakini's words and absorbing them like a sponge, "I see. What of you? Do you have any affiliations?"
Dakini smiles, "Definitely. Don't all responsible adults have affiliations? I watch out for my people. It is my responsibility to keep them safe and alive, until the Rift re-opens, if it ever does. If it does not, I will do my best to make a good and comfortable life for my folk."
Obsidian's brow furrows slightly, "No, I mean religious... do you worship the same god as the governor here does?"
"Oh!" Dakini laughs softly, "No, certainly not. I may be part elf, but I was not raised by them... this is, in some ways, quite the learning adventure for me here."
Obsidian seems oddly relieved at Dakini's words, "I see." She smiles a little, "At least someone here doesn't hate me for what I appear to be." The inflection on the word 'appear' seems too intentional, as if she is trying to pique Dakini's seeming curiosity.
Dakini grins cheerfully, "It's okay, I've never met Vhaeraun... or the other Elven deities." She tilts her head thoughtfully, then smiles, "Tsk... so you're not really a priestess of Lolth? Why tell them that, if so? It would be guaranteed to aggrieve them, after all...?"
Obsidian chuckles as Dakini takes the all-too-obvious bait, then shrugs, "Because what I really am is far more likely to get me killed in most places than what I claim to be. Most people at least fear a priestess of Lolth, and are thus just as likely to give them a wide berth as harass them." A rueful twinkle fills her eyes, "It would of course be by Beshaba's grace that I'd land in the one port of call where I am just hated."
Dakini chuckles softly, leaning her chin in her hands curiously, "Okay, I'll bite... what are you really, then?"
Obsidian mirrors Dakini's stance, looking into the other woman's eyes, "I am rather at your mercy anyway, being that I live under your roof." She then adds, "And I could use an ally, or a friend here... if you believe me." Taking a deep breath, she simply blurts out, "I'm a Paladin."
Dakini blinks slowly... but aside from that doesn't move. A moment later she blinks slowly again... then murmurs contemplatively, "So... who is this Beshaba, then? Your deity?" Her thoughts are racing, She's a what?! But... isn't there a strict good-evil bifurcation in these magical realms? Shouldn't she be saying antipaladin? Or... maybe she just sees her home culture as 'good'... that might do it. Or... her thoughts slow doubtfully, ...could she? ...maybe? -be a 'real' one? Hm... well... it's not like you don't have personal experience yourself with breaking the cultural mold... She listens in fascination for Obsidian's explanation -- if nothing else, this one should be a doozie!
Obsidian shakes her head with a wry chuckle, "Gods above, no... Beshaba is the Maid of Misfortune and the Bringer of Ill Luck." She sits up, looking reverent and almost girlish in her pride, "I serve The Dark Maiden, Eilistraee."
Dakini goes silent, wracking her memory... does she even know that one...? Obsidian tilts her head to the side, as if trying to simultaneously read Dakini's thoughts as her own form, Please let her believe me... I beseech thee... I am so tired of the charade. I know this is thy will, but I am so very weary. Dakini finally murmurs almost reverently, "Holy cow... she's that chaotic good one, isn't she... who'd have thought there'd ever be good drow?" She realizes what that must sound like, and grins ruefully at Obsidian, "Sorry... I was initially taught that 'good drow' was pretty much an oxymoron."
Obsidian smiles, looking relieved and, for a moment, almost on the verge of tears. When she speaks her voice is tinged with emotion, but carefully controlled, "Aye... She is the Goddess of all Drow to seek to heal the rift between ourselves and the surface elves, and who choose to do good, rather than evil in Her name."
Dakini blinks a little startledly at the sudden emotion on Obsidian's face. Gently (and cautiously) she reaches out to lay her hand lightly across Obsidian's closer one, "I'm sorry... if I was hurtfully flippant I apologize." She glances down at their hands, then back at Obsidian, looking a bit embarrassed.
Obsidian seems to alight with a smile that encompasses her whole body at the touch, as though it had been eons since she had any sort of physical contact, "No... it's all right. I am... weak... at times, and my existence is very lonely. I felt I could trust you with my secret -- or perhaps it's safer to say I felt I had to... it was eating me up inside to pretend anymore."
Dakini nods slowly, her face quietly grave with sudden realization, "I... think I understand. It must take great courage to do what you are doing... I know that were it not for Dammerung and Hati I would be much less capable myself." She hesitates, then gently raises her hand to touch Obsidian's shoulder, "I... would be happy to help you if I might. Would you care for a hug between comrades?" Obsidian blinks, nodding mutely as a single tear rolls down her cheek, making her seem very vulnerable, almost like a lost or neglected child. Dakini slides over, suddenly quite sure that Obsidian is telling the truth -- and that she herself is doing the right thing. She carefully puts her arms around Obsidian, and if the young drow woman doesn't appear to object Dakini will gather her close, in a tight and companionably warm hug.
Obsidian seems to almost fall into the embrace, and she simply breaks, sobbing quietly against Dakini as the hug encloses her. Her voice is small and soft against the other woman's shoulder, words more felt than heard between her near-silent sobs, "I'm sorry for troubling you... sorry..." Dakini smiles quietly, holding the sobbing woman and lightly stroking the pale silvery hair with one hand as she makes soothing, nonverbal noises.
Obsidian cries quietly against Dakini for a few moments more, then lifts her head and looks at her new companion somberly, with red-rimmed eyes and tear-stained cheeks, "Thank you..." She swallows and continues in a more normal voice, "It is very hard to maintain the cruel charade I have been chosen to carry, but I bear it gladly for The Lady of the Dance, to further Her ends on the material plane."
Dakini fumbles in a pocket for a hankie with her free hand, then gently presses it into Obsidian's hand. She smiles quietly, her voice soft, "It's all right, Obsidian... it's a far more trying path than I think I could pace, I must say... you are very courageous to pace it yourself."
Obsidian shakes her head, but gratefully takes the hankie, "No..." She pauses to wipe her eyes and nose, then continues softly, "I do not have the courage you speak of, I am weak... and afraid." Her eyes cast downwards, "I live in perpetual fear..."
Dakini asks, a touch indignantly, "Doesn't your Lady give you someone to cover your back, at the very least?"
Obsidian sniffs slightly, then wipes her nose one last time, "I don't fear death... I fear I will fail her..." Tears well up in her youthful eyes as the very thought enters her mind, but she blinks them back and continues, "I cannot fail Lady Silverhair... I owe her too much."
Dakini sighs softly, feeling sorry for Obsidian, but doesn't pull away... just lets her lean as long as she'd like. Softly she murmurs, "Want to talk about it?"
Obsidian clears her throat, gathering her dignity, and sits up fully, "I think I have shamed myself enough..." She takes a deep, calming breath and seems to truly gather herself, while still not shunning the contact with Dakini, "I am a full-fledged Paladin of Lady Silverhair. I was born in the city of Menzoberanzan on Toril. But I never quite fit in with my brothers and sisters there. I felt out of place; the daily death, torture, and cruelty of my people did not sit well with me -- and when I was but fifteen summers old I fled my family and went to the surface..." She takes another breath, as if there is much more.
Dakini looks puzzled, "How have you shamed yourself? It sounds like you've suffered a great deal of pain for your Lady's goals..." then realizes that Obsidian is not finished, "Pardon me. Continue, please. I'll be silent until you're done."
Obsidian continues with a brief nod, her face echoing the long-ago pain and loss of her past, "I was found by a party of 'adventurers' who simply sought to slay me for what I am. I fled them as best I could... but they tracked me relentlessly." She swallows, looking distant, "They cornered me in a small cavern and moved in for the kill. Just then mighty magics rained down around and upon them, killing most and scattering the rest, who fled..." A soft smile shines in her eyes, "...my rescuer was another drow. As I started to run from her too, she spoke to me in a voice that was as soft and sweet as a night breeze... after calming my fright she took me to her home and taught me about the Dark Maiden. When she had finished speaking, I knew my calling... and I came to live with her as a daughter." Dakini shakes her head in slow amazement... fleeing at but fifteen years?! ...the poor girl wasn't much more than an infant! -and fortunate indeed that someone found and saved her. The half-breed elf continues listening in silent wonder.
Obsidian pauses to gather her thoughts, as if she hadn't allowed herself these remembrances for quite some time, "She made me feel loved, something I never truly felt among other drow. She was a priestess of Lady Silverhair. And I think that is the path I would have followed too, if not for fate..." She gets a dreadful look in her eyes, as if something horrible to contemplate was about to enter her mind's eye, "Those that worship the Dark Maiden... we perform our rituals skyclad, under a full moon... so it was that we were attacked by an group of drow sent by Lolth. All were killed, save me... I was struck down with a poisoned blade and left for dead, but I threw off the venom somehow and survived." She tugs down her blouse, revealing a wicked-looking puncture scar just above her left breast. Dakini winces faintly at the puckered scar -- that must've been horribly painful! -- but just nods, letting Obsidian continue without interruption.
Obsidian closes her shirt and continues, her eyes a thousand miles away as the images so long suppressed come pouring unbidden into her mind, "I wandered for what seemed like weeks, semi-delirious from the poison. Then I had a vision -- the Dark Maiden came to me and said that she had chosen me for a sacred task... to begin the reunification process of our people and surface elves. But for me to do this I would have to seek out the Elven peoples who dwelt in the cold of Wildspace... She showed me spelljammers and how they operated. Then I set out on my journey. I did eventually find a ship and crew... but only after learning that when I told most who I was truly, I was met with either scorn, or sold out to the nearest drow for a bounty as a traitor to my race. So I came up with the ruse of claiming myself to be a drow priestess of Lolth..." Dakini sighs softly again... poor girl. It's always painful when natural inclinations of trust and honesty are thrown repeatedly and agonizingly back in one's face.
Obsidian shrugs in silent commentary to the sigh, as if to say c'est la vie, "That made keeping a crew difficult. Only the worst cutthroats would sign on with me, and to prevent them from committing atrocities against those we pirated, I had to frequently disband and reform with a new crew and ship, using my share of treasure and the funds from our last ship's sale to do so... and so it has gone, and here I am." She falls silent, her hands in her lap, at last reaching the end of her tale.
Dakini sits silently for a long moment, giving Obsidian time to gather her thoughts from the bitter past... to the quiet present. Finally she murmurs softly, "Obsidian... how do you intend to accomplish your goal? Might there not be a... well, perhaps some other way to do it? A way that perhaps doesn't involve piracy?"
Obsidian looks down in her lap, staring at her hands, So much blood on them already... Then she looks back up at Dakini, "I have tried to limit my activities to only those that deserve it... Illithid, Neogi, other pirates, Drow and the occasional Beholder ship... I try to tell myself that I am doing good deeds in Lady Silverhair's name."
Dakini frowns thoughtfully, drumming the fingers of her free hand lightly on her knee as she considers, "But... do they know? It would seem to me that in order to reunite the surface elves and the drow... hm..." she shakes her head slowly, "-that's... a tough one... then again... in some ways I suppose you could say that there are the beginnings of an uneasy reunification here." Her voice is musing, "They may not all enjoy each other's company, but they do tend to live in relative peace..."
Obsidian nods slowly and sighs heavily, as if Dakini had hit the nail squarely on the head and driven it home in one fell swoop, "Aye, my quandary... I have faith in The Lady of the Dance's plan though...Some opportunity will present itself. I just have to be ready to snatch it when it does."
Dakini ahs softly, "So... your lady does provide you with at least some guidance? -even if she gives you no one to watch your back and help you stay safe?" Her tone is a bit reproving, and it's obvious the irony of her desire to scold the goddess for this failing is lost on her.
Obsidian nods and smiles a bit, "Oh, aye, She offers guidance, She just doesn't lead me by my nose..." Her eyes alight with a reverent twinkle, "She gives me gifts, and prayers to aid me. I must use these wisely to find my path. I have no allies save She, so I am very careful not to squander the gifts She hath bestowed." She seems much happier, as though speaking of the Goddess' gifts eases the burdens placed upon her.
Dakini smiles as she listens, somewhat relieved that this poor girl has at least some joy in her life. She pauses, thinking for a bit, then tentatively suggests, "Have you... had a chance to talk to Sir Kern Denseran yet? He's a follower of um... drat, I can't remember the deity's name, but it's a chaotic good deity, if I'm remembering correctly?" She smiles, "I'd bet he'd be quite glad of capable help such as yours, in keeping Arcana City from the worst ravages of crime during the absence of the EIF."
Obsidian shakes her head, not having heard the name mentioned, "I do not know really anyone, Dakini... save you. And that only from our talk this eve." She pauses and tilts her head slightly, "Is he trustworthy? If I tell him... well, will he keep it to himself?"
Dakini thinks a moment... then nods without reservation, "If you ask for his confidence, I am sure he would be honored to do so. In fact, if you like, I'll introduce you both?" She smiles, "Hati also is trustworthy. In fact..." She pauses, thinking, then smiles again, "Yes. There are several trustworthy folk hereabouts, Obsidian. You needn't feel alone while you are here."
Obsidian nods and smiles a bit, "I suppose I need to trust someone eventually..." The smile changes to a wry smirk, "And I could use 'someone to watch my back,' as you say."
Dakini nods gravely, "I strongly recommend it. I would not dream of wandering about parts of this city without Hati, myself."
Obsidian lilts darkly, "Please introduce us then..." She smiles a bit more, "Thank you, Dakini. While it may be a bit premature, I hope soon I can call you my friend."
Dakini nods, planning a bit, "How's this... let me invite a few friends over, and then I can introduce you to them all. If you wish and feel comfortable with them, either you or I can tell them your story?" She blinks a bit startledly at the 'friend' comment... then smiles, her face warming, "That's... very kind of you, Obsidian." She adds ruefully, "I fear, in this city, it becomes too easy to suspect everyone." She closes her hand lightly around Obsidian's, gently adding, "It would be an honor to be able to aid you."
Obsidian squeezes Dakini's hand back lightly in a sisterly, affectionate gesture, "The true honor is to have one such as thee to aid me in my quest." She smiles, her eyes wide and liquid, "I like thy suggestion. When should we do this?"
Dakini hms softly, thinking... then smiles again, "Well. Let me put out some feelers; see when they can all make it, and I'll give you a call through Dammerung. How's that?"
Obsidian nods slowly, "Very well..." She smile once more, "I truly cannot begin to thank thee."
Dakini shakes her head, smiling, "Yes, you can. Easily." She smiles, "Many years ago someone helped me when I desperately needed it. Not for any good reason... not because she'd get something from it... just because it felt like the right thing to do, for her. All she asked of me was that I pass it on... that I help someone else when they most needed it. So... that's what I'd like, if you really want to say thank you. Just give some kindness to those in need that you meet..." She smiles quietly, "-and... pass it on."
Obsidian laughs softly, a sound like soft glass chimes, and it is as though it's a sound she has not made in a very long time indeed. She says with a sincere smile, "I swear to thee, Dakini, upon my oath as a Paladin of Eilistraee, I shall repay thy kindness as you bid me do."
Dakini grins, "And don't worry about doing it immediately! The right time will come... you'll know."
Obsidian nods, then yawns involuntarily, quickly covering her small mouth with a slender hand, "Forgive me... I have not slept well or enough."
Dakini grins again, "You should sleep. Don't worry... you're quite safe here. Dammerung will allow nothing in or out of here if you wish it... either magical, physical, psionic, or any other form of energy. I can set that up for you right now, in fact, if you like."
Obsidian nods slowly, "Please... I got the odd feeling someone was creeping around in my head at the tavern the other night."
Dakini nods a touch grimly, "Would not surprise me." She puts a palm on the wall, and a moment later a feeling not unlike a gentle, soft breeze breathes ever so faintly across Obsidian's bare skin... and Dakini nods, rising to her feet gracefully, "There you are. You're completely warded now." She studies the drow girl for a moment gravely... then smiles, her face softening, "Sleep well."
Obsidian stands as well, bowing to her gracious hostess/comrade, then smiles, "You as well, Dakini. And once more, thank you."
[Previous Log] [Index] [Next Log]