Meeting the Matron

My day started when I moved back into the underdark, to my rooms at the inn. They were emptier then without Illasaya there. She was in my tower now, taking up her rooms and leaving occasioanlly to range the lands with my men or to learn of Elistraee with Quinavin's friends.

So I went out to seek the company of the drow I was indentured to. More tasks followed, just as unpleasant as the previous day's. But there were some good points. I was allowed to cast magic in another house for the first time, indeed encouraged to so I could reach a dusty ceiling.

When I was done I slipped back out only to find Alais. We talked for a while and I told her of what I was up to. Her labors consist of helping Gia, Matron of the Navere, to prepare for a costume ball I'm to attend along with the regent of my kingdom. We moved into the inn to talk more privately and so that I could change into my regular robes and pretend to clean myself up a little.

Alais soon made a great revelation to me: Both she and the Matron are with child. I was overjoyed at yet another great boon for my friend, and soon offered her a gift for the child- the same robes Imoen had crafterd for me when I had been turned into a much smaller person than I aught to be.

The recognition of who had crafted the outfit set Alais into a swoon and I did my best to comfort her. She apparently misses Imoen more than I do, though all of my memories of the slender elf are good ones. She soon decided that she would need a drink, and despite my judgement aginst it I knew she wouldnt be detered as we traveled down to the tavern.

We were greeted, perhaps stalked is a better word, by a cloaked drow. I greeted in kind and Alais seemed perturbed as I made introductions. The drow turned out to be a long lost member of the Navere family but even then Alais did not trrust her. I suppose she had wanted to get away because she agreed to take me into house Navere to meet Gia as we left the tavern.

The plan was quite simple. Alais had suggested disguise, but I had done that once before and didn't want to cause paranoia in Gia. Seeing me behind every mask might be pleasant for a trusted friend, but for a Matron Mother of the drow to consider the idea that an unfamiliar possible enemy could be lurking anywhere was certainly a different concept.

And so we went with the prisoner facade to get me in. I had modified some chains for just this purpose and wore them along with my sullied clothes I had worn working in the city. Alais got me in and ordered me to sit, which I did. Partly I did so in keeping with the ruse, and partly because Alais can be scary when she yells stuff in that tone.

I was soon admitted for my audience but was somewhat afraid when Alais seemed to back away and leave it entirely to me. Never the less I had faced drow rulers before and was used to it. I stated the basic ideas - that I had gotten Sabe to leave her and Valk alone, that I would be attending the ball at Autumn's side (to which the drow Matron naturally replied that if I caused trouble I'd be killed. Order, it seems, is something this woman strives for amidst the chaotic and writhing society of the drow)

Finally I gave my promise to save the Navere prisoners at the temple of Bane. Gia gave me until the night of the ball, though I can tell she wasn't worried. But that did give me a fine idea which might prevent the drow from coming home immediately and in a sad shape.

Once I was done I scurried off after my final victory- gaining permission for Alais to join in. I nearly passed Valkryn on the way out but quickened my pace so as not to have to deal with him. Alais seems more adept at that.

I left the underdark as soon as I could and returned to the surface world. I saw Rena agaion and met a young woman with her, who was looking through the spellbooks Rena had promised me. Rena seemed anxious over this but I put her fears to the side when I sat down at the girl's side and began helping her. I don't think Rena approved even then.

But the spreading of Mystra's gifts was necessary to me, and so I helped her to turn from the higher level spells she'd been reading, and instead showed her the cantrips, or zero level. We conversed for a logn time until she went to bed, and I gained Rena's permission to help her a bit. I think we were all glad for various reasons, though Rena least of all.

I traveled iwth Rena to visit R, and had a brief meeting.R had agreed not to feed on the villagers and so I was satisfied, and Rena and her hit it off well enough. Still I had to get int omore mischief as good as I was feeling. I broke into the back room of R's church, something I'd done hundreds of times before, and then, without harming any of her macabre tools, I simply curled up at the foot of her bed to sleep. I can't wait to see R's face when she wakens me.