PAXLAIR - July 21, 1999 - Lisa of LaFrance

Recently a book appeared at my feet as I strolled about the city of Pax Lair. It appears to be the writings of one Ixle Grunton of the Xun Verin, claimed House Assassin. The following is the writings found contained within the tomb, take note as he details some interesting aspects of the Drow.
 

...Razillian, pertaining to mine race and the Xun Verin, I have decided it would be most prudent to pen mine own more detailed knowledge of such things. Perhaps I might also share some of my understandings of other things as well, we shall see.

I was first to come into the bright sun of your surface world from the Xun Verin, long before we had met with Razillian. It was also my pleasure to be the one who had captured the rivvil who would later become our guide and leader here, and only by my persistence did the Ilharess spare his life allowing him the chance to teach and learn. I will also be the first to admit, ever there was a rivvil which was meant to be a Drow, it would be Razillian. But I digress...

Some two hundred and eighty cycles ago I was born into the noble House Grunton, still little more then a child by Drow standards. From my birth I was destined to enter the Sorcere, having shown remarkable abilities for the mystical at an early age. It was two cycles of the pillar of light before I would have been of age of admittance to the Academy of Wizardy when I first beheld a member of Bregan De'Xun Verin. That day will stay with me for the many cycles I have left to live.

That fateful moment took place within the Great Halls of House Grunton; a place where only the Yathrin, hmmm, priestesses, were allowed; a place I should not have been at all for threat of death. I had heard the slight sounds of a door openning in the outerchambers and quickly made my way behind one of the many columns that line the hall, peering from behind I watched the Yathtallar enter, the High Priestess, and knew at once I was doomed. In a moment she would detect my presence and strike without warning killing me dead for the intrusion.

Without much thought I began to step from behind my hiding place to accept my punishment, only to see a shadow approach the Priestess quickly from behind, striking her dead in the blink of an eye. The assassin wiped his blade clean upon her robes before the corpse even hit the ground and turned to look directly at me. I was paralyzed, not with fear, but in awe of his power. Here, a jaluk, a male, had struck down the second most powerful member of our House without a moments warning, and neither spell nor magic did he use to accomplish this great feat.

Then something astonishing happened, as he looked upon my frozen figure he smiled. It was not the cruel smile one has come to expect from mine race, but the smile I later learned in life that would be termed genuine. His attention turned away from me for a moment as the sounds of fighting within House Grunton could be heard penetrating the Great Hall. I knew this was my only chance to flee, but something held me inplace, staring at the assassin. He turned his attention back to me and raised his hand as if to hurl a dagger into mine throat, but instead used the Drow hand signals to communicate to me to follow him.

And so I lived that day, the day House Grunton fell, to what rival House I have never been told, nor dare to ask. I was taken in by this assassin, and into the Xun Verin as well. Rizzis was the Qu'el'velguk, House Assassin, for the Xun Verin; and later told me he had spared my life for no better reason then my daring to be in a place which defied the laws of my House.

For many cycles I trained under the watchful eyes of Rizzis, learning the arts of an assassin. A variety of skills and secrets he bestowed unto me, the use of sword and knife, moving more silently then the lightest cat, hiding in a shadow too small for a cave rat and most importantly, he taught me patience. Most of these skills come naturally to the Drow, under his teachings they are perfected.

If ever a Drow was capable of loving another, it would be the feelings I had felt for Rizzis. You see, while a Drow is born, as most creatures, to both a mother and father, from the time of their birth their life is fated to serve the greater good of the House. No affection is ever shown from parent to child, nor returned, for someday one may well slay the other to hold or gain position within a House. So it was most difficult for me when it came time to claim the rank of House Assassin within the Xun Verin.

Within the Xun Verin many Drow traditions have been discarded as all are brought to the Xun Verin and held in it's ranks because of their ability. The typical interwarfares are almost nonexistent as each has learned to respect the skills of the other; Wizard, Warrior, Priestess and Assassin all openly acknowledge one another with little distrust or envy. The only exception is the ranking of master within the Xun Verin, the House leader in their skill. And so it came to pass that I took the life of my teacher, my master and my adopted father, Rizzis; for the good of the Xun Verin and it's empire. Out of my respect and affection for this great Drow, he died without even knowing it had happened.

So now I hold the title of Qu'el'velguk, and when it came time to begin our searchings of the surface world, it was I who was chosen to go first. For several months I surveyed the lands you claim, wandered your cities, listened to your conversations and watched you while you slept. Learning all that was possible without being detected and returning with the knowledge I had gained. Even amongst the Darthiir, your elven folk, I trodded, standing so close they mistook mine breathes for a warm breeze. Ever watching, ever learning.

It was on our first party visit planned for the surface that we had encountered Razillian. Our orders from the Matron were simple, find a human and bring them to Hall Xukuth De'Chath for questioning, then execute the rivvil. We never even had to step foot on the grass filled lands having had Razillian blunder upon our entrance, so we took him captive and made our way back to the Matron.

During our journey back I had begun my questioning of our captive and became quite surprised at the answers. Had my eyes been human, in the gloom, I would have believed I was speaking with a Drow. Before me lay a man who knew betrayal, hatred, and a lack of fear. A man who had his soul broken by those he had trusted and rebuilt in anger. I grew to respect this man while we made our way to the Hall.

Respect only though, as with most of mine kind, his methods can be destructive, wasteful and unnecessarily cruel; but he would make a valuable ally for the Xun Verin. That I recognised almost at once. Thus, I conveyed this feeling to the Matron Mother, and on their first meeting, she came to agree. So we kept Razillian alive, even taught him much of our ways as he taught us the ways of the surface world.

Now he leads as Valuk upon the surface world, a decision I will respect. His orders are those of the Matron and there can be no questioning them. And so, I will close with this proverb,

Lil alurl velve zhah lil velkyn uss.