The Lion of the Underdark
#2 of Lusts of Faerun
In the unfinished temple grounds the Task-mistress, Xizim, was having a difficult time convincing the others what she had heard. Though it was not her place she had spied on the Master's conversation with the High Priest. She had over heard every word, from the orders to execute the workers, to the plot to overthrow the Supreme Chancellor. But no one wanted to listen. Those who did lend her an ear were so loyal to the Master that they shunned her, pushing her away and accusing her of heresy. On Drow, however, did listen, and was deeply disturbed.
"Come with me," the Drow had said. They walked to the woman's chambers, nervously passing by the numerous guards patrolling the semicircular compound. The Drow woman's chambers were rich and luxurious, as befitted a priestess of Lolth.
A large four-poster bed sat against one wall, set with silk and felt and carved of oak. Against the opposite wall was a large fire place with a copper kettle setting in it, a strange, foul-smelling liquid boiling within. In the third wall were two doors, one rich oak on the left, and the other made of solid steel with an aura of cold emanating from it. The entire floor was covered with a lush, soft carpet, and numerous tapestries obscured the stone walls.
A small chest, also carved of oak, sat at the foot of the bed, a small brass lock keeping it sealed from prying eyes, and a dresser in the corner sat with one drawer open, revealing silk robes and, for winter weather, cotton breeches and tunics. Since the woman's clothes were all in the dresser, the contents of the chest were a mystery.
"Ok," she said, "Tell me everything. And my name is Tespal, by the way, but you can call me Tessy. Every one does." Tespal said.
"Well," Xizim said, "I wass esscorting ssome sslavess to the Masster'ss meeting room, and ass I left I heard them talking about the new Ssupreme Chancellor. I got curiousss and hung around outsside. They spoke of their detesst of Ba'atzu for a moment, then the High Priesst..."
"High Priest? What High Priest?"
"Why, Nalsheth, High Priesst of Tiamat. He told the Masster that the Ssupreme Chancellor'ss order was to terminate all living non-demons and non-devils serving under the Masster."
"Hmmm," said Tessy, her smooth, silky voice an exact opposite to the Yuan-ti's own, "Disturbing news. But surely this does not worry you enough to put you on the verge of hysterics? You can always leave, after all."
"No, it's not that. I'm worried about the Master. He and the High Priest have conspired against the Supreme Chancellor, and I'm worried about what might happen to the Master if he is caught." She had not seen the Balor's newest method of controlling his servants, having left to warn someone just prior. As such, she did not know that he was planning to lay the blame off on someone else, and then kill them from a distance. They were interrupted by a hissing sound coming from the fire place.
The Drow stood and walked over to the kettle, using a Ray of Frost to extinguish the flames before it could boil over. She put on a pair of red gloves and lifted the pot from its hanger, turning to the Yuan-ti.
"Gloves of Flame Guarding," she explained, "I'll be back in a moment."
She walked past the serpent-woman and stepped through the metal door, which opened vertically with a hiss as she approached. This gave Xizim a chance to better explore the room, especially the chest which caught her eye before.
Moving over to the chest hesitantly she looked over her shoulder to the door through which Tessy had went with the kettle. Not hearing anything she looked back to the chest. Gathering the Mage powers within her, she cast Knock on the chest and, to her surprise, it opened. She hadn't expected it to be mundanely locked, nor for it to be untrapped. When it opened she was even more surprised at the contents; toys. Toys of every shape, size, and color; enough to rival her own collection. Vibrators, dildos, and numerous other objects whose name she wasn't sure of but whose use was obvious. She gaped at them for a moment before she heard footsteps on the other side of the door. She hastily closed and locked the chest and hurried to the couch in front of the fire just in time for the hiss of the opening door.
Tessy stepped through the door with the now empty kettle. Her hair was tousled, she was panting heavily, and she had a wild, feral look to hr eyes. She walked over to her seat and tossed the kettle into the now cold fireplace. She looked exhausted.
"Are you alright, Tessy," the young Yuan-ti asked curiously, "You look tired."
"I'm fine," the Drow responded, "Just give me a moment to catch my breath."
They sat for a while, not speaking. Suddenly Tespal stood straight up, a look of determination n her face. She looked at Xizim and motioned for her to do the same.
"We have to pack," she said.
"Pack?"
"We'll need some things before we leave, don't we?"
"Um, I supposse..."
"Well, then, lets get to work."
And so the Drow and the Yuan-ti cleared the room of everything that could be moved. The food from the larder went into a crate, as did several weapons. The drawers were emptied of clothes, which were packed in anther crate. All of this was loaded into the back of a horse drawn wagon. As she was loading the last crate, Xizim spotted a large metal container, shaped like a coffin, but with cold mist rolling off of it. Deciding to ask about it later, she pushed the crate into the wagon.
As they stepped up into the wagon, Tessy turned to the Yuan-ti and asked if there was anything she would like to bring. She blushed slightly; the only things she had in her room were for work. And a few things for "play", but...
"No, I'm fine."
The Drow shrugged and stepped up on to the driver's seat, with Xizim entering behind her. And with that they headed off, Tessy giving the horses a slight tap with the whip.
As they reached the front gate, they were halted by the guard, who closed the gate.
Tessy shot her a worrying look and pulled her hood down. Xizim followed suit.
"When I give the word," she whispered, "Blow open the gate with a fire ball."
"What!?"
The guard approached and ordered that they take down their hoods and step out of the vehicle. Tessy sat stock still for a moment.
"Hey! I said put the hoods down and step out of the wagon! Now!"
"Now, Xizim," she shouted, paralyzing the guard with Hold Person.
Xizim did as she was told, pitching a fireball at the massive gate, causing it to shatter in a ball of fire, as Tespal gave the horses a lash with the whip, causing Tessy to rush out the gate.
They were halfway down the trade road out of the Underdark when they heard pursuers. Xizim looked back and saw several Drow riding giant spiders, aiming crossbows. She pulled her head away just as a bolt whistled past, her face as white as snow.
"Are they following us," Tessy shouted.
Xizim shot her a look as a crossbow bolt ripped through the back of the wagon, embedding itself between them.
"Nooo, we left them in our dussst."
"Well, shoot back or something!"
"Alright, alright!"
She let another bolt pass and leaned around the carriage, readying a Magic Missile spell...And the wagon jumped into the air as they passed a bump, tossing the women out before it landed with a resounding crack as all four horses escaped and the back left wheel splintered.
Also thrown out was several crates and the large metal container Xizim had seen earlier. The women climbed behind the wrecked wagon...or at least Tessy did, Xizim's tail had gotten stuck between two rocks, allowing the Drow hunters to approach at their leisure, their mounts twitching their mandibles eagerly in anticipation of the coming meal.
Just when they were upon her, the metal container to their left hissed, and several bangs were heard from inside as massive dents appeared in its surface, as if something were trying to break out.
The sounds stopped abruptly for a moment, before the lid of the coffin-like object exploded away from the rest, flying up in the air and landing conveniently on one of the mounted spiders.
A large, golden furred hand grasped the inside edge of the container. A furred face with a huge mane and glowing orange eyes appeared, its lion-like muzzle oozing saliva as it snarled viciously. It pulled itself out of the container and took a step forward, breathing heavily. Superficially it-no, he, as could now be told from his over all build-looked like a lion, but he walked on two legs and where paws should have been were muscular hands tipped with long claws and humanoid feet.
One of the Drow sited his crossbow at the creature and fired, the bolt slamming into his shoulder. But he didn't even flinch-he just tore the bolt out and snapped it with one hand, allowing the blood to flow freely. He took another step forward and roared, the volume of the sound causing dust to fall from the cave roof. He looked back at the Drow for a moment, before his ears twitched and he was off, disappearing with his speed.
He reappeared behind one of the Drow, his fists raised like a hammer over his head before he brought it down hard, sending the rider THROUGH his mount and into the floor where he crumpled into a pile. He vanished again and appeared in front of the next Drow with his hand pulled down and back, launching an uppercut and slicing open the dark elf, ripping off the spider's head as he went, before disappearing again.
This time he appeared beside the third Drow, grabbing two of the spider's left legs and swinging it like a hammer, impaling beast and rider alike on a stalagmite.
The fourth Drow turned and raised his crossbow at Xizim's chest.
"Al rund bastel!"
"For the Glory!"
The lion appeared behind him, though, and lifted the creature over his head, holding him a moment before ripping him and his mount in half in a spray of blood.
He then turned his eyes to Xizim and began to approach, growling menacingly.
"No, Prathem! Don't you dare," shouted Tessy.
At hearing the Drow's voice the beast seemed to change.
His mane shrank slightly, his snarl turned into a look of confusion, and his muscles decreased slightly to somewhat more realistic proportions. Most startling of all, his eyes changed to a shocking blue, giving his face an innocent, kitten-like appearance.
'Wow, he's a hotty,' Xizim thought, 'For an anthro, anyway.'
He looked around at the carnage, then at his own blood-soaked paws, the claws having receded, then at the wound on his shoulder, then to Tespal, who was walking towards them.
"Mommy," he said as tears welled up in his eyes, "Where am I?"