<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=241231.msg11938270#msg11938270">Quote from: Autocad on 29-12-2015, 18:05:06</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;">Physical Enhancement</span></div><br/>"If you happen to need some extra practice, I know a thing or two about combat," Zelara casually remarked, after taking a moment to rearrange her expression into something less likely to offend the two of them. If one of them took up her offer, it might put her in the priestess's debt or lead to something more, and if not, it wouldn't have cost her anything.<br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Lenora nodded in response.  "Maybe some time later."<br/><br/>"I might tag along, we'll see," Seromus replied, not sounding sure either way yet.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;">Dinner</span></div><br/>Zelara sat with Lenora and Rizzid, after piling a small mountain on her plate. The rigors of Physical Enhancement had left her with quite an appetite, and sitting through Inquiries Into the Unenlightened had only honed it. She made small talk but didn't manage to steer the conversation to any particular subjects, more focused on her plate than she really should have.<br/><br/>(Diplomacy 8) (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=83769)<br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Rizzid did not help, wishing to coax a response from the priestess of Lolth.  "So, Zelara, how long have you been in the priesthood, if I may ask?"<br/><br/>The commoner looked down to Zelara's belly tattoo.  "Is that the only one you have?"<br/><br/>Lenora whipped a piece of cave shrimp at her partner's cheek.  "It's<em>Mistress Dreth,</em>Rizzid."<br/><br/>She suddenly blushed.  "Aw shit, a thousand apologies, Mistress Dreth!"<br/><br/>Lenora sighed.  "I won't be around to muzzle you forever.  Just don't do it again."<br/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: georgia;">Ceremonies of the Spider Queen</span></span></div><br/>After dinner came Zelara's third class, although not in the way she expected.  With their stomachs full and ready to resume their studies, the crowd of students went about to their destinations.  All except for Zelara; Ceremonies of the Spider Queen gave no directions where to find it, much less the name of the teacher.  But there did come a calling, the feeling of crawling upon her flesh as a lone spider ascended her leg, up her side, and right up to her ear.  Then she recognized as that all-too-familiar voice.<br/><br/><em>It's in the eyes of the Green One,</em>Lolth intoned.<br/><br/>She said no more, but the words resonated deeply within the acolyte, impossible to forget yet vague in meaning.  The spider-messenger shot out a bit of string to catch on some unseen surface, and in an instant it was ascending and then gone.<br/><br/><em>Roll a DC 12 Perception check to find the clue in time and avoid being late for class.  Otherwise Zelara finds it eventually, but is late...</em><br/><br/>Traversing the confines of the tower, Zelara found a statue, an impressive model of a draegloth, holy scions of drow and demonic blood.  There were no "famous" examples among their species, culturally speaking, for each was a miracle in and of itself.  The statue bore no nameplate, its only distinctive feature a pair of green...glowing...emerald gemstone eyes.<br/><br/>Staring at them made Zelara feel off-balance, like she had too much to drink...<br/><br/>And then she was elsewhere.  It was a room lit with ambient<em>darkfire</em>(or<em>faerie fire</em>as other mages called it), the edges of a spidery form barely visible, shrouded in a cloud of magical darkness.  Twin sets of rectangular pools flanked a walkway upon which a dozen drow knelt in front of the statue.  Alfarna, unsurprisingly, was in this class.  One of them was clad in the garments of a high priestess, bearing a black onyx staff so favored by Lolth's Chosen for channeling negative energy...<br/><br/><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/GtdagWF.jpg?1)<br/><br/>It was Ithrylda Phaundal, Matron of House Phaundal.</div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">House Phaundal</div><div class="spoiler_body">This House holds the power of the Undrek'Thoz neighborhood-city of Phaundakulzan, the westernmost one.  Its members are unusual in their practice of theurgy, a blending of the arcane and the divine.  Its Matrons use controlled breeding to ensure as many of its members bear sorcerous blood as possible, making them formidable.</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">If Zelara is late</div><div class="spoiler_body">Matron Phaundal does not even respond to her tardiness, only walking forth to her.<br/><br/>"When you come here late, you disrespect me, you disrespect this class, and you disrespect Lolth.  If you truly wish to server her all, you will treat this class more importantly than your very life."<br/><br/>The tip of her staff touched Zelara's forehead.<br/><br/><em>Zelara must roll a DC 18 Will Save or be afflicted with Bestow Curse, suffering a -6 penalty to her Dexterity score.</em><br/><br/>"I shall lift it from you should you arrive to class on time," Matron Phaundal said as Zelara's entire body suddenly feels uncoordinated and wobbly.  "Until then, bear it as a reminder."<br/><br/><strong>Or if Zelara succeeds:</strong> "Hmm, I suppose our Goddess sees favor in you.  Prove to me then that I'm not mistaken."</div></div><br/>There was no introduction, for many of the students already recognized her, although a few were surprised that she was also teaching at the Eightfold Academy.  "What, you think it odd that a Matron would be holding session?" she asked the class with a smile.  "For two hundred years I walked upon this Plane as a Chosen of the Spider Queen.  But even I was an apprentice, when another recognized my calling and helped make sense of Her will.  Many of you felt it, too.  Maybe it was a ghostly voice you only hear when alone; perhaps an enchanted spider bears a conduit which you use to see into the Demonweb Pits; maybe you're the progeny of a holy draegloth, and are touched with one of Her many eyes already."<br/><br/>Matron Phaundal turns to face the shrouded form, manipulating the<em>darkfire</em>to concentrate on it.  Before them was a magnificent statue of an adamantine spider, a dark golden touched with flecks of black.  It almost seemed to move in the light.<br/><br/>"Lolth demands excellence in all its forms.  But excellence must be molded."  With a flick of her staff against its side the statue comes to life, its heavy thumping steps coming forth to the first row of initiates with surprising speed.  But nobody drew back in shock or fright, or knew better to show their fear openly.<br/><br/>"By serving the drow ideal, Lolth will you reward you, further beyond the blessings of your birthright and Her spells that you wield."<br/><br/>The spider-statue opened its mouth, revealing a small tunnel of whirling needles.  One of the students was wide-eyed.<br/><br/>"Accept the Spider Queen's mark, and make an oath to better yourself in some task or quest," the Matron explained.  "Succeed, and you'll gain more than just earthly rewards.  Fail, and be cursed."<br/><br/>Alfarna was first to stick her arm inside.  She screamed and bit her lip in pain as the sound of whirring came from the statue, her knees wobbling and head shaking yet still willing.  When she was released her arm came back, unmarked and seemingly unharmed.  Deep breaths escaped her as Matron Phaundal took her head in her lap, stroking her hair.  Alfarna seemed calmer now with her soothing touch.<br/><br/>"This is madness!" one of the students called.  All heads in the room were upon her.<br/><br/>"How do we know you speak the truth?!" she shouted.  "How do we know this isn't some trap of yours to dominate us?!"<br/><br/>Phaundal set Alfarna aside to rise up; she was silent for a bit.  Then, she laughed.<br/><br/>"Ahahahaha!"<br/><br/>She walked forth to the now-shivering acolyte, the rest of the room silent.<br/><br/>"The truth is, you have nothing to go by other than my word and your wits," she said, her tall frame coming breast-to-face with the student.<br/><br/>She leaned down to whisper into her ear.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Perception DC 15 to eavesdrop</div><div class="spoiler_body">"Being a fellow cleric is by no means a sign of friendship; you can choose to disobey me here, and you won't lose your spells.  But that's as long as you don't show weakness, and my dear, I've been in this great game far longer than you have.  The choice is yours, but the moment you challenge me in front of this class is the day I mark you as my enemy."</div></div><br/>The Matron leans back up.  "So, what do you say?"<br/><br/>The acolyte is still for a moment, then walks forth to insert her arm into the spider-mouth.  She screams the loudest of all, and her arm is marked with a wispy trail of smoke which does not let up.  Zelara recognizes it as a<em>silent image.</em><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Ritual</div><div class="spoiler_body">Should Zelara decide to accept the ritual, she can swear an oath to Lolth to do some test or task which carries with it a risk.  It can be a short-term or a long-term goal.  She can only have one goal active at a time, and must re-initiate the ritual again to undergo another one.<br/><br/>In game terms, completion of these goals nets Zelara inherent boons, such as bonus hit points, spell slots, skill bonuses, feats, and access to spells not on her spell list!  I'll come up with the details later.</div></div><br/>...<br/><br/>the remainder of the class has Matron Phaundal going over various tales and moral lessons of the Spider Queen and various drow of times long past.  Unlike the previous two classes she does not ask for the meaning behind the stories or grill the students on its memorization.  "If you truly understand, then you will lead by example," she said.  "Rote recitation may be fine for wizardry and other traditionally male pursuits, but it does not apply to the faith."<br/><br/>There were no more classes that day.  The day grew long and the pangs of sleep came calling. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg8vgOe3ISA)<br/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: georgia;">The Second Day</span></span></div><br/>It was early morning, and breakfast was held on the ground floor as well.  It was not as splendid as last night's dinner, but the meals aligned were still a fine banquet.  Rizzid and Lenora were together, as usual, although the latter's choice of meal stood out:<br/><br/>(https://i.imgur.com/nHzrYnl.png?1)<br/><br/>It was a rectangular box which opened up on one end, where "L" and "O" shaped cereal pieces poured out into Lenora's bowl, which was then mixed with rothe milk.<br/><br/>"Food in the shape of symbols?!" Rizzid asked.  "What do they even mean?"<br/><br/>"Nine Hells if I know," Lenora said.  "But I don't care, it's delicious!"<br/><br/>Then a crunch followed her next bite, and her eyes watered.  A tiny black shell fell out of her mouth and onto the table.<br/><br/>"Congratulations!  You just won a free supply of premium silver skin paint!" a disembodied voice said from the shell.  "Turn this in at your nearest Lorios Sister's Emporium to redeem your prize!"<br/><br/>Damn girl, your cereal got you free stuff!" Rizzid was beaming as Lenora applied a healing spell to her mouth.<br/><br/>Suddenly, the shell floated in the air...then darted across the table by an unseen force!  Silverware and food landed and clattered as an invisible thief rushed away from the drow trio.<br/><br/><em>Zelara can attempt to catch the assailant with an attack roll, a spell, skill check, or some other means at her disposal.  Describe the action, roll, and I might give you a bonus depending on how well-put it is!</em><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">EXP Awards</div><div class="spoiler_body">200 XP if you show up to class early.</div></div>