As the group "jockeyed" into position, entering the building, the first thing to see where several guards, six in all, standing opposite each other in the large open hall. Each guard was a Hobgoblin, well dressed and wearing shiny black armor with long swords sheathed in their scabbards. None of the guards seemed to pay them any heed but it was obvious enough the trained guards were ever watchful. No noise could be heard in the hall save for the travelers foots as they pressed down upon the smooth hard stone floor, a white stone, the only white stone they had seen during their short time in the Underdark.<div class="floatright">(http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu234/darkxanatos/Hobgoblin.jpg)</div><br/><br/>Lighting inside was dim but enough for the party to see, though it gave the building a slightly eerie quality as the guards and room seemed to slightly melt into the shadows. For those used to the shadows, it felt almost like home. Nothing seemed to stick out other than the lighting and the guards, no one noticed any paintings, no vases, no sculptures, nothing which would have been displayed in style in a building such as this on the surface. Either the Magistrate had no style, leanings towards this kind of style, or the Drow saw no need for that kind of decoration. No one could speculate as they had not been here even an hour yet and had seen so little, they still knew so little about the Drow; the rumors and lore they had read only told them vague things or gave them embellished rumors of monstrous beings of black and white, or fairy devils that danced under the moon, or beings so evil they could not be seen until they dealt death upon their observer. Only when the group had come into contact with Ciara had they gained some concrete yet still shallow information. Enough to know a general idea of how to behave and not be killed before they even began.<br/><br/>Their journey was far from hopeless but it would take every wit they possessed to compete and survive in the society which held no regard for even one of its own. It was boggling how a society could survive, let alone thrive, when one was not even safe from one's own neighbor. Everyone was prey and predator, save except the slaves whom simply were fodder never knowing when their usefulness would end and then find themselves disposed of or sacrificed.<br/><br/>As they continued, slowly, through the room they saw no other doors except one dead ahead many feet down the long hall. Making their way to this door, which was painted red with intricate markings upon it, the door soundlessly opened before the first person could reach out to open it. Inside was an opulent room full of books, several lavishly decorated chairs, a human female barely clothed, and a male Drow whom sat behind a large oval shaped desk, reading a book. He ignored anyone who entered, and continued his reading. The woman, a brunette and amply endowed, gave each member a once over then returned her gaze to the male Drow. Upon her neck was an ornate collar and other than its design nothing really stood out about it, it could easily have been jewelry but its purpose seemed to have more to it than just jewelry.<br/>______________________________________________________________________________________________________________<br/><br/>Venturing forth into the dark unknown was nothing short of a warming invite for the reclusive and disturbing Kaelia, finding the constant covering of the caressing Shadow to be a welcome embrace, letting it hold her in its cold caring arms, as she followed along with the other would be travelers. It often caused her to wonder why they chose to come along; sure they all wanted to become Drow but few of them knew the Shadow as she did, few welcomed its embrace with an open mind and heart. Did they ignore the Shadow? Was it just some substance to them? To Kaelia it was so much more, what exactly she couldn't decide; few Shadow Mages could. The Shadow if it was alive did not reveal this fact, keeping any truth on the matter a secret even from those that respected it. Perhaps any who believed it was sentient was simply insane, that was a possibility, one even the most insane Shadow Mage still held at the back of their mind even though they spent their life trying to prove it was sentient.<br/><br/>For most of the journey Kaelia was silent, never uttering a sound. She stuck close to the party, no one really knew why but she was not a bother either. Unlike the rumors of her crying or acting like a ghost, she did no such thing among them. Perhaps she found comfort among others who were at least a little like her and that alone caused her to behave a little more normal than she otherwise would have. Then again, perhaps the rumors were wrong or she went through periods of sanity then periods of insanity. Who really knew?<br/><br/>On one occasion a strange arachnid like creature had been spotted tailing her, which she promptly turned to and began petting. The thing, whatever it was, seemed only to care to give her any attention, utterly ignoring the rest of the party. For several days it simply followed behind her, only occasionally making some clicking sounds, otherwise it was as silent as she was. After those few days it was gone.<br/><br/>As they neared the city of Archrand, Kaelia began taking a more active interest than she had the entire journey. The giant spider motiff had held her gaze the entire walk to the gate and during the wait at the gate. If she had noticed the male Drow's leering, she paid them no attention. Men nor women, seemed to catch her attention. It was not clear to anyone what her leaning was either way, as she simply showed no interest whatsoever in anyone, unless to hold a normal conversation which didn't happen often. For those whom she did talk to, she was not rude but not polite, simply a cold neutral.<br/><br/>With everyone deciding upon talking to the Magistrate, Kaelia simply followed behind, the last in the group, uncaring about being "exposed" in the rear. She had never shown fear, but unless she was inhuman she had to have some but perhaps her mind was warped enough to have cleansed her of it, giving her the ability to behave in manners few Human's could achieve. All was speculation, mere theory since she never talked about herself nor her past. The most she seemed interested in talking about was the Shadow.