Dark Beginnings

[Patryas]

The Black Rose tavern sat in an unnamed basement in Neriak. Only the elite of the elite were allowed in. One of the best-kept secrets among the power-holders of the Tier’dal. Murder was an almost nightly occurrence here. Patryas sat in the tavern, contemplating his decisions, and the decisions he was going to have to make. Hopefully, Lady Nikki would view him as an ally in the coming months. The birth of the Seladria brat had caused him great distress. He needed to protect the key to his plans. Which meant his servants were not available to “take care of problems.” Not that Patryas couldn’t do it himself, he’d probably enjoy himself more if he handled it himself.

One of his spies had just finished giving his report. “Other troubles aside,” he told himself, sneering as he thought of the problems of the O’Seth, which was just a growing headache, “it is time further our plans,” Patryas thought to himself.

Patryas had spread his hand over the Tier’dal. Now was the time to close his fist.

[Patryas]

Patryas watched as Nikkii and Kalysta walked away. "Typical," he thought to himself. He tries to help a fellow noble and she throws herself at him just to try to control him. This was trouble he did not need.

He turned and walked to the basement where his necromancer, Fatura, was waiting for him. Fatura wore dark shreds of clothing that looked old and faded. He had been the victim of many magical experiments that had gone wrong when Patryas found him. As a result, he kept most of his body covered so as not to reveal his horrifying, almost undead features. Patryas thought it fitting to train him in the necromatic arts.

"Master," was all the tier'dal muttered.

"Are all the arrangements made?" Patryas asked him.

"Yes, master," he answered.

Patryas nodded in response.

"You may proceed, then," Patryas commanded his servant. Fatura then went to work on his assignment.

Patryas went upstairs and poured himself a glass of wine. A knock came at his front door. The person didn't wait for someone to answer but just yelled,

"My lord, there is a small force of elves marching on Nektulos forest. We need your assistance. Please hurry," the person yelled, then ran off.

Patryas smiled to himself.

"Yes, I know," he whispered to himself as went to put on his armor.

[Patryas]

Nektulos forest was quiet and still. There was a dark and foreboding feeling in the air. The cadre of elven invaders moved with a deadly swiftness as they plunged deeper and deeper in the forest. As they came to a clearing they halted, staying in the cover of trees.

The captain of the elven force, Ardae, watched the forest with careful eyes.



The tier'dal were astounded that the enemy was able to get so close to their city without detection. Only a handful of volunteers were found to try to stop the invaders. Many were still on patrol in other parts.

It was then when one of the tier'dal spotted the elven filth. And then the silence broke. The air was filled with the sounds of battle cries, steel cutting flesh, cries of pain, and arrows cutting the air. Every few moments the forest was lit up from the flash of magic. The battle was not going well for the Tier’dal. Soon dead tier'dal began to pile up on the ground. Patryas soon found himself cornered by four elven warriors.

He removed his helmet so they could see the glow of his red eyes. He just smiled as he watched them circle him.

"Who wants to die first?"

[Patryas]

The elven foes circled Patryas. They all seemed to charge at him at the same instant.

Patryas reacted accordingly. He jumped out of the middle of the circle, as he was flying through the air, he brought his sword through one of the elves head. Blood sprayed as the sword easily cut down the elf. In a blur, Patryas dispatched his foes as they stupidly tried to fell him.

He took several deep breaths as he surveyed the dead piled on the ground. He then went to check on the dead Tier'dal on the ground. By their appearance, most of them were either off-duty or on regular house guarding duties. Only a couple were from Fenn'dal.

As he walked along, he found one Tier'dal still breathing. He picked him up and helped him walk back to the city. As they approached the gates, Patryas spotted Lilyth with a pet. She was that old departed fossil's wife.

"Late as usual, Lilyth," he said with an evil grimace on his face. "But then, I can understand. Your mind works in the old, archaic ideas. Let others die for you, and you think power will be handed to you on a platter."

He motioned for one of the city guards to take the injured Tier'dal. When he was relieved of the Tier'dal, he simply stared at her as he licked the elven blood from his lips.

[Patryas]

As the silent master waited for his master to return, he noticed a woman stop outside the house. He went to the window to get a closer look, but still covered in shadow.

She looked familiar. She just stood there, staring at the house. The silent master sniffed the air. He couldn't pick up her scent, but he would remember her face.

He was watching her walk away, when he heard Adaun mumble. He returned to her side and waited in the dark for his master's return.

[Nikkii O'seth]

Lilyth looked back to him with a frown on her face.

" How dare you refer to me in such a way you vile cowardly opportunists. It makes me sick to see that house of yours and I was hoping to wittness your demise but I guarantee you that there will be another chance to see it."

She looked over his appearance and scoffed at his licking of blood. Her pet stood between them staring Patryas in the eyes.

" My love only could truely appreciate the taste of that life giving fliud you only mock his memory doing that. And at the very least you could point a lady to where you had your little scuffel." She said looking out into the wooded area.

" I require some elven blood for some studies."

[Patryas]

Patryas sneered at her comments.

"Spare me your ramblings. Your threats are old and tired. You've never had the salt to fight your own battles," Patryas shot back.

He continued into the city and gave his report to the city guard of the events. He then went home to find his assassin with Adaun. The assassin told him of the woman who stopped in front of the house. Patryas knew there was a reason he didn't normally deal with women.

"You may have an assignment again, soon," Patryas said to his servant, thinking of the day's events. The silent master simply nodded.



Ardae had watched the slaughter of the rest of his elven companions and decided to vacate the area.
He had to come back, however, alone. He shook the dread from his mind. He had only met with his master a couple of times. The less the better.

[Patryas]

Patryas sat in the Council chamber as he listened to the account of the elven invaders re-told to the council by Thengar.

"We lost many a good Tier'dal yesterday. A warrior who had heard was merely on his way out when he stopped by the house of Fenn'dal and shouted the news at the front door. Had Patryas not gone out to fight, we would have lost many more Tier'dal. We could have even had the first elf defile our city for the first time in many years," Thengar said to the council.

Another council member stood to address the council.

"Patryas, you are truly a hero of Neriak," the man exclaimed. The rest of the council cheered in agreement.

Patryas humbly nodded.


He stood to shake hands and chat with the council members as they left. As he started to leave, the royal chair asked him to his seat.

"Yes, my lord?" Patryas asked, already knowing what was going to be asked of him.

"My dear Patryas. Men of your quality have been vacant from this city in a long while. You truly are your father's son. I would ask you to be my private advisor. You and your father had a talent to see what others did not know to recognize. What say you?" the old man asked him.

"My lord, I appreciate your comments and your offer, but I try to stay clear from this joke you call the council of Tier'dal," Patryas said with a cold tone.

The old man had a subdued look of shock on his face.

"My dear man, I want you to hold no political title or political position," he responded with a knowing wink.

At this, Patryas smiled. He leaned in so he could whisper in the old man's ear.

"I see my lord. I do have something to call to your attention. The O'Seth house was "conveniently" absent from today's proceedings. I believe Lilyth has taken over as leader of that house. You would do well to watch that house closely my lord," Patryas said in a quiet tone.

The royal seat turned his head to look Patryas in the eye.

"Go on," he said.

"Well, she was also conveniently late to assist with the elven invaders. As I was walking into the city, she was just walking out. And she also threatened my life. I am not afraid of her, my lord, but she is an accomplished worker of magic. And she also shares her late husband's hobby of the undead and drinking of blood. Something to think about my lord. Fare thee well," Patryas said to him.

As he walked out, he smiled to himself. He was now a hero of Neriak who had the ear of the royal chair. Let Lilyth work her magics or curses or whatever. He would eradicate her with whispered rumors.


The last thing Patryas heard from the chamber was the royal chair calling for the Captain of the city guard.

[Patryas]

Patryas returned home to find his assassin gone. He went to the guest room to look in on Adaun. She had been asleep since her arrival. He made sure his house servants took care of her. She would a determining factor in the re-instatement of the house of Seladria.

He quietly watched her chest rise and fall with each breath. He looked at her face in it's quiet peace. He then returned to the main room to await the arrival of Lecious.

[adaun]

The fog cleared from Adauns head and her eyes opened reluctantly. Her body ached and her mouth was dry. Adaun tried to look around to gain her orientaion, but found that her body didn't respond to her wishes. Her eyes would not focus correctly and the light where ever she was, was quite dim.

She had no idea what had happened after arriving in Freeport, she remembered the wound in her side and then realizing that she had been poisoned.

I wonder where I am? Did Naldany take me to an inn? I wonder where she is Adaun thought.

She got her head to turn a little, but not enough to make anything out. She felt exteremly weak as if she hadn't eaten anything in days. She tried to speak, but only a raw croak came out as moved her lips. She tried again and her voice came out faintly.

"...hell..o?.... Nal..dany?....."

[Patryas]

As Patryas sipped his wine, he heard a faint noise from the hall. He stood and walked down the hall to investigate. Adaun must be awake he thought to himself.

As he walked into her room, he could see that she was awake, but she was not moving very much.

"Do not worry my dear," Patryas said as he entered the room. He then filled her in on all that had happened since she had been out.

"For now, rest. You need your strength. I have had no word from the house of O'Seth. But I would not worry," he said to her.

He called for the house attendants to come see to her.

[Naldany O'seth]

Naldany approached the guards and introduced herself. She asked if Adaun was still within the halls and if Patryas was home. The gaurds spoke very little and took her inside and showed her to the room where Patryas normally greeted his guest.

" Miss please be seated and someone will be here to see you soon enough."

Naldany looked around the room a bit obseverving the portraits of the room. And the colder atmosphere sent chills down her spine. She did as the servant said an sat in a chair ..... starting to wonder if this was truley a good idea.

[Naldany O'seth]

Naldany's patence ran out as the Fenn'dal house had finally unnerved her. She thanked the servants and asked to borrow a shirt of Patryas to which the servant humbly lowered his head and said he could not without his masters permission but would ask and send word to her personally. He walked her out of the door and the guards saw her safely back withing the church walls.

The hour was getting late and she didn't wish to wake her aunt or tell the strange visitor Lilyth that she didn't get a piece of clothing. She went towards her room trying to avoid any contact even from the guards that she told to keep an eye out for Phelan. She took her sword out from her sash and carried it in hand to the door. Not really noticing that the door was opened recently she took a deep breath and started to break down and cry as she walked though the room.

[Patryas]

The house of Fenn'dal laid vacant and still for many months. Some thought that it's master was killed, as he had just become an unofficial royal advisor. Some thought that Lilyth of the O'Seth had done away with him. But none dared approach the house. Rumors amoung the tier'dal children was that violent spirits occupied the house.

In truth, Patryas' most loyal servant, a dark and calculating assassin watches over his master's closet friend till his return, staying true and strong not knowing his master's location. But even in his master's absence, his master's plans go on unfettered and undiscovered.

On such as night as this, the assassin crept in the shadows checking on his master's house. And on this particular night, he sees activity within the house. He sighed to himself as he entered the house. More thieves he thought to himself. But as he stalked through the house he found no sign of any thief. A small wave of confusion went through his mind as he surveyed the house. He went into the basement and heard something stirring in the corner.

"You. Turn around. It was a mistake to break into this house," the assassin said in his tortured and scratchy voice.

The dark figure in the corner turned half it's body toward the assassin.

"Such a good child you are. Only your master and I know your true nature and origins. You transformed from the pathetic street urchin to the pinacle of tier'dal you are today," the figure said in a hushed voice almost to itself.

"What?" the assassin said, not picking up what the stranger was saying.

At this a sickly, green light shot from it's hand and struck the black-clad tier'dal in the eyes. He fell to knees as the light shot through his body in excrutiating pain.

"Your master waits for you upstairs. See to him. He is very weak," the stranger said to the delf before it walked up the stairs.