<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>An Ebony Stone in the Rough</strong></span><br/><br/><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Story One, "To Be A Drow"</strong></span><br/><br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu234/darkxanatos/UndergroundLakeinaCavernMexico.jpg)</div><br/>Journeying through the cavernous Underdark was not at all what the lot of its newest arrivals had been expecting. Utter darkness pervaded everything save where bio-luminescent fungus of all shapes and forms grew profusely; sparing the need, occasionally, for torches to light the way. These various forms of fungus surprisingly illuminated entire rooms and in one area had illuminated an entire cavern which seemed huge beyond belief. They glowed in purples, greens, blues, reds, oranges, yellows, seemingly any color possible. It was beautiful. Many entrances could be seen to dozens or more tunnels. It all seemed so massive beyond belief, the Underdark hid more than anyone could imagine, it was more than a literal labyrinth. Silence, it was deafening in its void. No one had expected to hear nothing; the world of the surface was always full of noise, it was a rare thing to hear nothing. How could a world exist without sound?<br/><br/>For several days there was no sign of life, not one. Another mystery among what they were quickly finding out was only one of countless more. This world was so wildly different from their own. What had they gotten themselves into? It was disheartening seeing nothing as this route was supposed to be traveled by merchants who sought to trade with the Drow city of Archrand, why then had they not seen anyone yet; surely they should have seen at least one Drow patrol. Perhaps these Drow hid themselves? It was possible from what they had heard; the Drow were masters of the art of stealth. For all they knew they were already being watched by those whom they wished to become.<br/><br/>Slowly but surely the feeling of being lost and so far off course began sinking in and caused a soft but growing feeling of dread. Had they come all this way to become lost? If they could not find the city would they be able to return to the surface? These were not feelings most were accustomed too, they were troubling feelings. Everyone had to suppress even the smallest doubts for their desire to become Drow were so strong they could not let doubt erode away their dreams, their darkest and deepest desire.<br/><br/>Rounding the bend of one seemingly endless tunnel of smooth circular rock wall, which had proven to be an annoyance as it caused them all to walk single file, unless they wanted to walk cockeyed along the wall, they saw bright lights or what to them seemed like lights. It glowed in what looked to be a rainbow of colors, shining brighter than any light they had seen since abandoning the surface world and its blessed light. As they came to the edge of a cliff which over hanged a massive cavern they could make out what looked to be civilization.<br/><br/>As they stood watching what seemed to be their goal ahead, they heard their first sound below, the first sign of life, save for their own. Upon looking down the cliff, to the left, they saw several caravans heading into a tunnel; each caravan was comprised of many people, most of whom they assumed were guards. Rumors spoke of how dangerous this under world was, although thus far they had run into no trouble, aside from some arduous climbs and slippery falls. So at last, it would seem they had found there way but through a different, seemingly unused tunnel.<br/><br/>Unbeknownst to the party, they were being watched from far above by a patrol of four Drow, mounted on giant lizards able to climb the walls with ease. The Drow were upside down and not the least bit affected by the blood rushing to their heads. They looked down inspecting the new arrivals, instantly marking them as surface dwellers.<div class="floatright">(http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu234/darkxanatos/DrowonLizardmount.jpg)</div><br/><br/>After a tricky climb down and nearly an hours walk the group made it to the, what they found out, was an outpost. After having gotten some unfriendly directions from the local soldiers, the group was directed to the north where the city was, located in an even bigger cavern. Their first interaction with their beings of admiration had been terse and short. Was this what they had been expecting? Perhaps not, perhaps this was an exception.<br/><br/>An interesting note that everyone could easily see was the Drow wore light type armor where as most soldiers on the surface tended to wear medium to heavy type armors. It was clear the Drow favored grace over protection. Their weapons also reflected the philosophy, being smaller and much easier to wield in a graceful and almost assuredly, deadly manner. This proved at least one rumor true, the Drow were creatures of lithe grace who preferred the agility of a feline to the hulking might of an Orge.<br/><br/>Time seemed none existent as the group made their way now having put all doubts to rest in a deep grave; they were almost there, they had made it, their hopes would soon come to fruition. Archrand's mighty southern wall loomed ahead, a giant spider motif inlaid into the adamantine wall itself enough to send shivers up and down the spines of any who held its malevolent glory. It captivated their sight for several minutes as they drew nearer and nearer, it growing and growing in size until it seemed a monstrosity beyond any scope they knew of, its size seemingly rivaling that of a Dragon. It was breath taking and horrifying all at once. To those with a discerning eye, it almost seemed more than just a decoration but without being able to take a close look and examine it thoroughly any conjecture was pointless. All they knew for sure was that is was nothing less than intimidating.<br/><br/>Many caravans, six to be exact, waited outside the city wall under the looming gaze of the giant arachnid, its eight eyes seeming almost to follow their every move. The people gathered around consisted of all Human save for what looked like a Dwarf but with gray skin and no hair except for a white beard. None of them had heard of gray skinned Dwarves before.<br/><br/>None of the caravan personnel paid them any heed, save for several male Drow who stalked around the caravans keeping an eye on everyone. The women of the group noticed some of the Drow stared at them leeringly, seemingly finding the Humans appealing. Who knew what their vile minds wanted to do to the pale skinned females. Within minutes, however, their wait was ended as the gate slowly began to open without making the slightest of noises; that in of itself was almost frightening, as if the gate was an enemy sneaking up upon them to slit their throats. The male Drow disappeared into the darkness, beyond their torchlight, leaving the foreigners to their business in what the party had been told was the foreign district of Archrand, the only place most non-Drow would ever see.<br/><br/>(http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu234/darkxanatos/DrowCity.jpg)<br/><br/><br/>Upon entrance the first thing to greet their eyes was the splendor of the Drow architecture. The structures were just as beautiful, if not more so, than surface Elven architecture. Every piece of stone had its place and filled it perfectly. Every building as a smooth curve, most circular in nature and every inch of the structures flowed around the stone in which many were built into. Even the ones which were not built into a stalagmite or stalactite seemed to flow as if they had been built into the dark stone. Only the stone which harbored the beautiful fungi was untouched for it was obvious the fungi was spared as it served to illuminate the city; why exactly, since the Drow could see in darkness, was beyond them. Everything seemed to have a dark haunting beauty to it. If the foreign district was this beautiful, how full of beauty could the parts of the city where the Drow live be?<br/><br/>The next thing they noticed was an abundance of creatures, aside from more Humans, that they had never even heard of. Some were hard to describe, another race looks almost like fish men, and they saw more gray colored Dwarves. The streets were covered in what they knew to be Kobolds, tiny little lizard creatures which were the worlds runt of the litter of races; wretches all of them. Here in the Underdark among the Drow, it seemed their existence had found a new low. These undesirable creatures scurried about cleaning, squeaking, and squealing when the whip of a Goblin snapped against their scrawny backs. Even the “overlord” Goblins looked scared and filthy; they seemed little better off than those they tormented, it seemed their only solace was having had the great fortune of having been born of a race more 'favorably' looked down upon by their Drow masters than those despicable stick lizards.<br/><br/>Several Hobgoblins stood in stout and straight stance near what looked like a tavern, both holding spears ramrod straight in their grasps, the butt of the spear dead on the hard stone floor. Orc's, some obviously slaves by the collars around their necks, and others seemingly free wandered around on various tasks. Few Drow were seem but they were around; the few which were seen were the fearsome looking male guards, no female Drow had been seen yet, only males. Apparently being a foot soldier was to good for the matriarchal society the females lead. Every sign was written in Ilythiiri, and luckily everyone could read it. A sign caught their attention, “Magistrates Office”. A good place to find someone in charge, how else would they work their way up the food chain to prove they were worthy of becoming Drow?