(http://images.alphacoders.com/656/65619.jpg)<br/><br/><em>The Crusades against the monsters of the world had garnered much success, some would say too much success.  Even so, the Heroes are being called again, along with new ones from other worlds, other places, to help finish what the Crusades began.  The Royal Family, mainly the Queen of the surface world that resides over this beautiful and bountiful place, has asked that heroes old and new gather to prepare and train for the new attacks into the dark chambers, vaults, and lairs that still hold many a creature in one massive complex deep under their feet where their scrying magics as well as their teleportation spells have no sway.  Some dark force is holding their powers at bay, making it almost impossible to see what lies in wait in the deep darkness below them without physically going there in the flesh.  A small group would best be able to penetrate the places below since it would take but a single trap to wipe out a large force of men and women.  Thus, the heralds have gone ahead at the behest of her Highness and have sent messages to every corner of this world, and the mages under her control have also done their part in bringing the best other worlds have to offer, all in the hopes of making sure evil cannot find a way back for another blood soaked conflict like that the Crusades had seen.  The people cannot suffer such war again so soon after the first despite restoration efforts being well on their way by now.  Thus, the decision was unanimous among the royal courts and the people themselves to ask the aid of old allies as well as new ones in this endeavor.</em><br/><br/>(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9CkwN1P9tlU/TMQ3uZ8DsgI/AAAAAAAACZQ/ScsRcIbs7Ak/s1600/Standing_Stones_of_Callanish_%28Callanish_I%29_%289605427%29.jpg)<br/><br/>Giselle Daermon N'a'shezbaernon, or Do'Urden for short, rode hard down the winding dirt road that lead to the castle, having been called in to this world in a circle of stones a day's ride to the west.  She didn't bother to hide her face, no longer bothered by the fact that her skin was as dark as obsidian, marking her in appearance only that she was a member, half blooded member to be precise, of one of the most vile and evil of all the races back on the Prime Material Plane of Toril.  A messenger from this world had found her in the City of Sails when she had been visiting her brothers, celebrating her own birthday rather than her twins.  300 years old and at the top of her warrior path, the dark skinned woman's face was lit up with a smile as she felt the sun beating down from above, the horse underneath her responding to her smallest movements.  Pure white save for a couple of splotches of brown along her flanks, the horse was doing wonderfully so far, but from what she had heard, she wouldn't be needed for long if her new path truly went into deep underground vaults under her feet.  Her race would be quite adept at navigating the darkness since the Drow were creatures of shadow and deceit by trade, easily outranking even the most deadly of assassins in their abilities in stealth and striking from shadows that knew no limits in their lightless world.  She hadn't been born in such a place herself, but Giselle was almost as good in that area, but she preferred a much more straight forward fight than sneaking around like a common thief.<br/><br/>The massive iron gates that were part of the outer stone walls that protected the city and the castle itself swung open the moment she was spotted by the guards stationed along the parapets and towers, orders having been shouted down to open the gates as she approached them.  Slowing her mount down to a comfortable jog, Giselle ran a hand over her mare's head and whispered in elven that she had done well.  The ranger earned a happy neigh in return which brought a twinkle to her brown eyes.  Her long silver gray locks had settled against her back at least, but it'd need some work if she wanted to have it under control before the next stage in today's affairs, which would be meeting the Queen and her royal court most likely.  She wanted a whole bath and time to prepare, but if she didn't get it Giselle would make do since in all honesty it might be better to meet the ruler of this land as is, as well as any other heroes she might be working with since first impressions were always the most crucial.  Regardless, the half Drow was able to adapt, and her small arsenal of weaponry and gear was a testament to that.  Taulmerial the Heartseeker was slung across her back along with her pack, as well as the enchanted quiver of arrows that would never run out of the arrows it used, which were also enchanted with electrical energies, making each shot all that more deadly since they could punch through solid stone with relative ease.  Her twin scimitars, Icingdeath and Twinkle, were also present on her person, both blades about as famous as her father himself.<br/><br/>Icingdeath had been found in an ice dragon's hoard of loot, and it had the astounding power to absorb fire of all kinds.  Shrapnel as well as any explosive force generated from bombs weren't effected perhaps, but the flames themselves would never hold sway over Giselle since her blade would drink them up like a camel drinks up water, although such power came with a price to her own energy reserves if it came up against anything too strong for it to handle on its own.  Twinkle on the other hand was sharper than it appeared and glowed with the power of the stars and the moon it had been imbued with, revealing danger to the wielder when it did so, making hidden enemies a thing of the past although it also made sneaking around conversely as difficult since the light could be seen by any that had eyes.  Besides a small assortment of throwing daggers scattered about her person, Giselle wore form fitting mithril chainmail armor that bore the standard of Clan Battlehammer, that being a foaming mug.  It had no enchantments of its own, but it had saved her life many times in the past and allowed for a great deal of acrobatic feats that platemail or anything heavy like that would prevent, enabling her to keep her awesome speed and abilities up to snuff.  Hopping off of her horse when she finally got to the castle among cheers from the townspeople she had passed, the half light elf half Drow smiled warmly upon the gathered crowds before turning to the castle gate guards.  "I have come at the behest of her Ladyship and ruler of this land.  My name is Giselle Do'Urden, daughter to Drizzt and Megan Do'Urden.  Ranger to Mielikki, come from Toril, my home plane of existence, to this one to aid in the new Crusades."