Adult-FanFiction.org : Books

Hollow Conquest	By : DrowDagger Category: A through F > Forgotten Realms Views: 4408 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Forgotten Realms series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 2
- 3
- 4
********
Chapter 3 “ Weaving the Web
********
The leader of the Worms, a secret band of male thieves and assassins, sat before a desk constructed out of colorless bones, contemplating the magical bowl set on it. Slender fingers stroked its rim edgily. The drow filled it with freshly shed blood and spoke the arcane words to begin a summoning spell.
The blood began to boil. An otherworldly hiss accompanied the mushrooming of a murky cloud. It rose from the bowl, thickening and expanding in the secluded chamber. The drow waved a pair of small hands over it, calling upon an artifact to complete the spell. The shape of a bald head appeared within it, floating. Red glowing eyes blinked, focusing on the leader. A thin-lipped mouth curled into a smile.
“Report, the drow said to the projection of D’Jaral.
“The youth was slain as contracted by Miya. It was a substantial fee, to be sure.
“I care not to know of the gain. Count the coins in silence.
D’Jaral frowned, unaccustomed to reprimand.
The leader waved a hand.
“Matron Ulviirda has rallied her house guard, he reported, “but she has not departed her estate.
“The coiled viper.
“Indeed. Many of the matrons have taken similar measures.
“Your spy is a male?
“Naturally, D’Jaral said with a lewd wink. “His information has been verified.
The leader smiled. “You have two spies in House Aleanvalett.
D’Jaral inclined his head to receive the praise. “Miya has spies watching Imara and House Kenarrahel, he warned, twisting an opal stud in his ear. “Should I remove those unwanted eyes?
“No, that would send vibrations through her web.
“As you wish, he said.
“It will not be long before Miya strikes. Be prepared to answer it.
The cloud evaporated.
********
“How could a mere male know, Nathcryl said through clenched teeth, reaching a hand for her writhing snake-headed whip, “what Lolth’s priestesses did not know?
Tarin stood in the center of the familial chapel, surrounded by the noble females of the Second House.
“Answer, Matron Ulviirda hissed.
He crossed his arms. “You and Imara are counted as her allies. The priestess has been cowered. She gains naught from the fall of Miya Everharth. He cast his eyes upon the seated matron. “Miya knew you would violate your accord and turn on her. She would not want to risk defeat, not when the throne was within her reach.
“Our wards remain intact, Luana announced, furrowing her forehead. “I sensed no scrying during our preparations and our scans of the warriors’ minds yielded no traitors.
“It is the drow nature to distrust, Tarin retorted, wondering how the heiress could be so naÃ¯ve when her siblings coveted her position. “Miya needs no magic to discern the desires of a matron’s heart.
“Fool! The First House has fodder to waste, Tal’rae cried. “It has two thousand warriors, a hundred wizards, and fourteen priestesses. She savagely swiped a clawed gauntlet at the patron’s face.
He dodged it before she could shred his lineless cheek.
“That force would have led Miya to victory “ and it would have easily fallen to our superior numbers.
Matron Ulviirda clutched the armrests with her manicured hands, seething at her daughter’s indirect criticism of her for not laying siege to House Everharth. She retaliated with a telepathic blast.
Tal’rae swooned, staggering into a marble pillar with a grunt.
“Our spies, Tarin said without flinching, “have reported the addition of eight high priestesses to the First House.
Tal’rae returned to her position before the throne, humbled.
“The females are from unaligned houses. Probably ousted sisters or daughters who dared to bred.
“Shadow guardians, Luana said with an obvious shudder running through her.
“The prophecy, Aunstra murmured. “The oracle had proclaimed Miya to be the chosen vessel of Lolth.
Miya Everharth had been born after the Time of Troubles, a chaotic time when the magic of FaerÃ»n had gone awry, and the spider goddess had ceased to answer the prayers of her followers. Once it had ended, the First Matron Mother, Molafae Everharth, had claimed Lolth had granted her a dark miracle for her fealty.
In the drow religion, all females were considered to be Lolth incarnate. Males were taught to fear Lolth and her priestesses. Males were taught since birth to never question a female’s command, to never raise a hand to a female, and to never ravish a female. The penalty for violating the laws was death “ and it would be painless compared to the punishment the Spider Queen would impose upon the males in the Demonweb Pits.
The worship of Lolth had a strict code of conduct and a hierarchy. Each female was to attend the clerical school, beginning her training as a novice. Priestesses were expected to practice monthly sacrifices of surface elves when the moon was full, a heinous offense to Sehanine Moonbow of the elven pantheon. Matrons were tasked with the duties of sacrificing males, third born sons and lovers, and producing daughters to become priestesses. High priestesses were given snake-headed whips to indicate the favor of Lolth. Zin-carla and possession by Lolth were the highest gifts bestowed upon a drow female. Transformation into a drider was her worst curse.
Tarin had never seen a yochlol summoned or a spirit-wraith animated. It was not a fell conception in his heretical mind; he believed a wretched male had mounted the withered queen and impregnated her. It was a lie told to foster a false religion, keeping the males forever enslaved to the females.
“Patron, share your thoughts, Ulviirda shrieked.
“Miya will smite her sister with the same blade she used on the First Matron Mother, Tarin replied, sanitizing his thoughts. “Assassination is preferable to warfare. It leaves no witnesses.
Matron Ulviirda nodded.
“Perhaps Miya is not the chosen vessel if she feared defeat, Tal’rae hissed.
“Such blasphemy will not go unpunished, Aunstra said warningly, more concerned about protecting her accord with Lolth than the continued existence of her sibling.
“It was a tactical decision, Tarin said in a tone to infer Tal’rae had no understanding beyond the savagery of her shriveled heart. “It is known Miya tortures males in the dungeon, ripping out their entrails and hearts. That is hardly an incentive to swear undying fealty to her. He smiled at the infuriating females. “Dissension in the ranks is inconvenient “ and exploitable. Perhaps we should recruit the males. Take the house from within.
“Warriors, Nathcryl sneered, “are cheaply replaced. Recruit the wizards.
“The wizards are loyal to Relongloth, he said to remind her of one male who had acquired a substantial amount of power in a matriarchy. “I question who the archmage is beholden to.
The matron reclined in her throne, considering his remarks. Relongloth was their elder brother, the only surviving son of the First House. He was rarely seen outside of the wizardry school except for the ritual of resetting the time tower. He had little reverence for clerical magic and Lolth.
“Miya has faltered, Tal’rae exclaimed.
“She disregarded the silent approval of the council matrons and the favor of Lolth, Nathcryl said, clenching a fist, jabbing the gauntlet’s knuckle spikes in the direction of Luana. “We will suffer her unfavorable fate if we continue to follow this cowardly course.
“Give the command to strike. I will bring you her heart, Tal’rae said shrilly.
“Leave us, Matron Ulviirda bade the patron.
Tarin bowed and departed.
Nathcryl allowed her thoughts to broadcast unfiltered.
“He will die on my altar, Ulviirda chided, “when I am finished with him “ not a moment before that.
“Yes, Matron, her daughter said, hardly persuaded from envisioning his demise.
“He speaks the truth as he perceives it, Luana declared.
Ulviirda stared at her heiress, sensing she was untangling the threads of the weave.
“A house must be seized intact by an insurgent female. Its defenses must hold against attack from inside and outside of its walls, for a house divided by internal warfare is the prey of rival matrons, Luana said, reciting the strategy of Zarthara the House Breaker. “The city was prepared for war. She shook her head, pelting her shoulders with her thick white braids. “Her lack of a response is inconsistent with the situation.
“The oracle has often lied, Aunstra suggested.
“It was a trap, Luana murmured. “Miya was lying in wait for her enemies.
Her sisters glared at her, unaccustomed to the role of prey.
“Every move and countermove must be considered before the first blow is struck, Matron Ulviirda scolded, smiting her three daughters with consecutive telepathic blasts. “In this, Luana will always precede you. She seeks the house’s glory before striving for her own. She forced an image into their minds.
Luana bit her lower lip, listening to her sisters’ screams.
The matron descended the steps, gliding past their squirming bodies, extending her hand to her heiress.
“Come, Luana. We must call upon the yochlol before proceeding with my plot.
Tal’rae lifted her head, cursing as she watched her mother and sister enter an adjacent chamber.
********
The Black Death was upon the time tower once more, finishing its cycle peacefully. The city was returning to its normal routines. The market square was crowded with servants, haggling with traders for the lowest prices on rothe meat and exotic vegetables from the surface. Noble females paraded through the streets with their escorts, competing for attention. The common houses were full of brawling cutthroats and cutpurses. The temple was holding a public rite, an equal mix of males and females were filling its seats.
The palace stood quiet on the highest shelf. Its gates were closed and its guards were patrolling, marching on foot or mounted on large lizards. Its corridors and chambers were unoccupied.
Princess Mira Everharth paced the throne room.
Caelathim had not returned from the negotiations with Matron Keelin.
I will peel the flesh from his bones, she thought. I will bathe him in a vat of acid.
She did not want to acknowledge the obvious explanation for his absence.
She fell onto her knees. Mysterious droplets filled her eyes.
A howl of denial reverberated through her.
She remembered her heritage. She was a daughter of the drow. She worshipped Lolth. She communed with the demons of the Abyss. She instilled fear in her enemies. She laughed when her victims screamed for mercy.
She dried her golden eyes, repulsed by the uselessness of the act, repulsed by the hollow sensation his loss inflected upon her heart. She leapt to her feet and clenched a fist. She would not mourn a witless male. She would endure the pain and feed on it, swallowing every bitter bite. She would not panic.
A lone drow could be formidable when cornered in the dark.
Mira narrowed her eyes, searching the gloom for the source of the intrusive presence. She shadow-stepped to the throne, retrieving the spear she had leaned against it. She stalked to the center of the chamber challengingly.
Clad in her armor, she braced for the approach of a pinhole of light. She watched it expand and contract, watching it shift between subdued blue and purple hues. It floated directly across the chamber and halted, hovering before the princess. A lithe humanoid form slowly emerged from the light.
“I apologize for the impersonal manner of my visit, the magical projection of Keelin declared, striking a fist against her chest. “Her spies have besieged my house with the subtlety of kobolds.
“What do you want of me?
“To parley with you, Keelin replied with a pretentious smile.
“I am in no mood to haggle with you, Mira lied. She retreated from the projection, instructively sensing it was following on her heels, sensing the antagonistic aura of the matron. She reclined into the plush cushions of the throne, resting the adamantine shaft across her thighs. “Accept or reject my offer, I care not.
“Your manservant, Keelin said, reminding the princess of her leverage and the light elf’s precarious state as her hostage. “He alluded to a sizable reward for my service.
“He is feeble-minded, Mira said to avoid accepting intolerable terms, wanting to get the lowest price for her sister’s assassination. “I doubt he delivered my message correctly.
“He offered on your behalf, Keelin said genteelly, “ten unspoiled male slaves, ten thousand coins, and a proposal to unite our noble houses. You will take my brother as your patron.
Mira pitied the sow for demanding such meager tokens of wealth when she could have exacted half of the palace’s treasury. “Surely you cannot object to the terms of my generous offer?
“I would expect twenty slaves, Keelin admonished.
“Done, the princess said unenthusiastically.
Keelin concealed her contempt, relishing the exhilaration of her charade.
“Send the severed head with my manservant.
“I have taken him as my compensation, Keelin rasped, terminating the negotiations.
Mira futilely thrust the spear through the vanishing projection.
********
The city had three direct entrances from the tunnels of the Underdark. Beyond the northeastern entrance, an army of kobolds, minotaurs, quaggoths, hired drow rogues, and wretched slaves were amassed.
The creatures stood shoulder-to-shoulder, confined within a small cavern. The larger beasts shoved the kobolds, crushing their small bodies between clawed paws, stepping on their tails with sharp hooves. Screams of pain and roars of aggression mingled, drowning out the commands of the slave masters. Enchanted whips bit into filthy flesh, spears and electrified pitchforks poked at their hides. The general disorder of the army threatened to incite a stampede, much to the detriment of the slavers who wore light leather armor.
Masaghar stood at the mouth of the cavern, staring down the tunnel, waiting for the messenger to arrive.
A female sat on an adjacent boulder, sharpening a dagger on a whetstone.
Masaghar paced in front of her, thrashing his gauntlets.
“Stand still, Chardia commanded with a scowl, offended by his disrespectful proximity to her.
Masaghar froze in place.
The female smiled. The right side of her face was marred. A scar bisected her dull eye, cutting down her ebon cheek, ending at the corner of her mouth. Her hair was swept away from her forehead, lending a severe aura to her angular features. Her black armor was affixed with rows of ridges. Her helmet, fashioned into the shape of a screaming skull, was set at her boot-shod feet. The snake-headed whip writhed and hissed on her belt.
The messenger arrived astride a lizard mount, wearing armor beneath her robe. Her red glowing eyes readily dismissed Masaghar, who led the army. She spurred her lizard to move toward the seated female.
“The city is quiet, she informed the shadow guardian.
“Return to the camp, the female hissed.
He ran to relay the command.
The slave masters began herding the beasts out of the cavern, snapping their leather whips, trading silent hand signals to coordinate the frenzied withdraw.
“I am so bored with peace, the one-eyed female groused.
“It will not be long before the carnage begins.
“Who should I kill first?
“The heretic matron, the messenger answered. “I claim Imara as my kill.
********
Matron Keelin Kenarrahel was laid out naked on a pile of pillows in the center of her private chamber. She moaned in response to a black-skinned male’s dutiful attention.
Miya exited from a magical gate.
He whispered a warning, glancing furtively at the invading female.
“Leave, Miya hissed at the male.
He wisely chose to continue his appointed task.
Miya advanced on the joined elves, unsheathing her short sword.
He carelessly dismounted, tumbling onto his flank, scrambling for the corner.
“When I am finished, Keelin chided, “I will grant you an audience.
The male scurried over to his mistress submissively.
“More oil, Keelin barked.
He poured it over her generously, massaging the scented oil into her ebon skin.
Miya swiped the sword over their heads.
“Speak, Keelin said peevishly. “I cut his tongue out.
The male opened his mouth and wagged the stump of his tongue at Miya.
Keelin laughed at the glowering princess, noting her disgust.
Miya nicked the male’s throat, claiming a trickle of blood to soothe her.
“He is quick, Keelin said throatily.
He gripped her waist, feverishly driving his member deeper and deeper into her forbidden passage.
Miya sneeringly watched the display to its pathetic end. She slammed her metal boot against his buttocks, forcing his shriveling member to withdraw. She chased the male out of the chamber, closing the double doors with unrestrained anger. She whirled around, sliding her hand into a pouch attached to her belt. She flicked her wrist, tossing an oozing object at Keelin. “I received your message.
The severed earlobe landed on a pillow.
Keelin laughed.
Miya lunged at the prostrated female, following the lead of her extended sword hand.
Keelin threw a pillow to distract her opponent. Miya swiped at it. She scrambled to her feet as the cloud of diatryma feathers rained down on the females. She seized hold of her wrist and applied a crippling pinch to the joint. Miya howled in pain, relinquishing the hilt with a skull-shaped pommel involuntarily. Keelin drove an elbow into her nose, sensing the compression of the cartilage. Miya began to chant. The arcane words were barely audible.
Empowered by the surge of adrenalin and the innate thirst for conquest, Keelin interrupted her casting. She pitched the princess forward, tossing her to the floor insultingly. She cranked her arm behind her, threatening to dislocate her shoulder. She pressed a bare foot to her prey, stomping on her spine.
The pain and reduction of oxygen subdued the princess.
“Will you not lend me an ear? Keelin taunted.
Miya growled.
Keelin released her reluctantly, retreating a safe distance before bending to retrieve her discarded robe. She donned a sheer garment, not bothering to tie the sash around her waist. She lounged on a chair, attentively watching the princess reclaim her surrendered sword.
“What do you want?
Keelin slumped down in the chair. “I want profit and pleasure. She swiveled her pelvis, draping her limbs over one armrest, spraying tresses across the opposite armrest. “The male you sent failed to sate my desires.
Miya imagined condemning her to the dungeon, imagining the vicious practices she would soon perform on her succulent orbs of flesh. She smiled at the invigorating assault of tingles.
“I returned the one part of him, the matron said teasingly, “you thought you could use against me.
Miya nodded curtly to concede the minor defeat. “Name your price?
“Will you double the price of Mira?
“You will have twenty thousand coins and forty slaves, Miya said venomously. “Keep your brother. I will take her manservant as proof of our accord.
Keelin laughed.
Miya realized she had been tricked into betraying her palace spies.
“You can have his bones, Keelin said, waving her hand generously at a skeleton tucked beneath the massive paws of a three-headed canine beast. It was partially hidden behind the chair.
Miya glared at it, denied the treat of slaying the male.
The beast sleepily raised one of its heads, staring at the princess with a pair of crimson eyes. It yawned, exhibiting rows and rows of yellowed teeth, releasing a cloud of putrid breath.
Miya reached for the hilt.
“As long as my demands are met, Keelin announced, instinctively tensing her muscles, retrieving a dagger from beneath the cushions, “I have no preference for who will reign as our queen.
The princess lowered her hand prudently. She would bide her time, at least for eleven more nights.
The drow shared a moment of sardonic laughter, unaware of a snag in the weave.
********
The Underdark was created by acidic water flows, volcanic and seismic disturbances. Its vast terrain was constantly changing, reshaped by burrowing creatures and the faerzress. The unknown magic etched radiation into the stone, mutating the native inhabitants, impeding long distance travel by portals and teleportation spells.
The Lands Below was an inhospitable landscape, populated by beholders, kuo-toa, the svirfneblin, the duergar, and mind flayers. Its miles of tunnels were not to be explored frivolously. Inexperienced adventurers who sought out the light were lured like prey to hungry creatures, or lured to the subterranean cities of the drow.
Drow territories were vehemently defended by patrols of warriors, protecting a scare supply of fresh water and herds of rothe. The dark elves tolerated traveling merchants, buying their foreign wares, exacting high tariffs on the traders, or ambushing the caravans, taking their members as slaves.
That was precisely the reason Leif, a hunch-backed human merchant from Skullport, had hired a guide. The scout was a dark elf, who wore a tattered cloak and spoke with a lisp. Leif doubted he could trust him, but in the Underdark, far worse than a pair of enchanted dirks could rip out a man’s throat.
The hunter waited for the rothe-pulled carts in a small cavern. He leaned against a stalagmite, recalling the accidental encounter with the females. He would have a tale to tell D’Jaral when he returned.
- 2
- 3
- 4
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Hollow Conquest