The reclusive Shadow mage had, as was to be expected, been silent the entire meeting with the Drow magistrate but had heard every word; she, after all, wanted to become a Drow as well. Her goals differed little from the parties, at least until becoming a Drow, then it was pretty obvious everyone's priorities would change. Until then she was content with following the more vocal group members whom her group consisted of.<br/><br/>Following at the rear of the group, ignoring the stares she got from some of the locals, she kept her gaze focused forward while allowing her senses to flow outwards. The dark and somber atmosphere which permeated this underground land was comforting and soothing, despite the ever present danger it presented. Kaelia was not unaware of the dangers but unlike others, she accepted the danger and let it slide to the back of her mind as she focused on the beauty of darkness. More existed, than any who did not hear the whispering, could imagine. The mind of those above were so focused on the sun and its light that they never gave time to imagine that darkness could even be beautiful let alone imagine what thrived in it. They feared, reviled, loathed the darkness; to them it was the essence of evil.<br/><br/>Kaelia smiled to herself, knowing how foolish and wrong those light blinded fools were; her eyes had been opened, her mind spread across the canvas that was the pitch black world of the reality she now lived in. How soothing it was, her mind so at ease, her eyes basking in the glory presented to her, saved for only those who had the gift of sight and understanding; granted to few. It was almost a shame more could not share in the marvelous wonder of the dark, but Kaelia liked having it to herself, rarely having to share with a fellow sighted.<br/><br/>Listening to the others speak on what they thought of their current situation, Kaelia spoke up, softly but loud enough to be heard.<strong>Yuri has wisdom. Do be not so quick to trust those t'would easily slit your throats for little more than pleasure.</strong>She paused and remained silent but not long enough for anyone to speak up before she continued.<strong>Another inn we stay, another day come we go. The Magistrate we see, his offer consider.</strong>The group had long gotten used to her odd way of speaking, though she did speak normally, at times. They never knew when she would speak normally or in her rather unique way of forming sentences. Her tone was absent of any emotion as was her face.<br/><br/><br/>Nothing about the inn they saw, the Bloody Dagger, stood out as dangerous, then again if they really paid attention to their senses the entire city felt alive with tension and danger. It was the life they knew was coming, they had learned enough through rumors to know the life of a Drow was not safe; beyond that simple but valuable fact, they didn't have the full picture. They knew that Drow who were considered weak were quickly killed or enslaved, or used for other purposes; generally nasty in many ways. Drow who couldn't think in the short, medium, and long term didn't last long unless cunning enough and had the ability to think on the fly well enough to make up for their lack of planning skills and foresight. Life as a Drow was a never ending struggle, a contest, a deadly spider eat spider contest. They in a sense were cannibals, in a heavily yet believable metaphorical context; a Drow caught unaware was devoured by his or her peers and the remains thrown aside as useless chattel, given no burial or warm farewells to the afterlife.<br/><br/>There was more to know but unfortunately, as they realized, it was something they would have to find out for themselves; a trial by fire so to speak, a challenge unlike anything they ever had faced before. This would truly test them to their limits, because only if they passed the toughest the Drow had to throw at them, would they even be considered something other than inferior pieces of flesh and bone, barely good enough to draw precious breath.