My Return

As I hurried down the passageway I began to consider my predicament. My cloths were covered in blood, I was wounded, and I had no idea where I was gong to go. I had to go back. I knew my sister had supplies that I needed to bandage my wound. I decided to surround myself with a Cloud of Darkness. I knew I would, at least, be able to get close to the edge of the tunnel without being seen. I hurried back and crouched just inside the tunnel. I could see that some of the bodies that lay to the left of where I had fallen had been removed. I stepped back a couple feet to make sure my Cloud of Darkness couldn't be distinguished from the shadows of the tunnel, and then I crouched and watched.

There were three hobgoblin slaves that were coming and going clearing the bodies. I watched for 1/2 an hour and knew that if I didn't make my move soon my sisters body would be gone with the rest. I saw my chance; the hobgoblins were all gone. I figured I had maybe three minutes before the first one returned. I looked around once more to be sure and then ran out of the tunnel straight towards my sisters body. I grabbed her arms and pulled with all of my strength. As soon as I had her free from the heap I dragged her quickly into the tunnel.

Still concealed in the darkness I searched her body for the potions of healing that I knew she had carried. Of the five that she had gone into battle with only two remained. I drank one and immediately felt relief from the pain of the gash gash in my side. I deposited the other in my belt pouch. She also had a healers kit that I took. I would bandage the wound later. I looked at her clothes and realized that they weren't any better than mine. As I considered her remaining possessions I realized that I had no use for any of them. I couldn't use any of her magic wands or rings and her ornaments of Lolth were of no value to me. I rejected Lolth and everything she stood for. It occurred to me that although I had grown up and lived in this community my whole life I no longer had any reason or desire to stay.

I left her body there and walked up the tunnel. Life would be different now with my family gone, but I suddenly felt liberated. I was free of all the things that I hadn't known how to escape only two days before. I wouldn't have to worship a deity I had no belief in, and I would never have to participate in the distasteful and barbarous customs of my people. I had no idea where I was going but that made me smile.

Escape

When I opened my eyes I couldn't see anything, my head was pounding, the stench of blood and the fallen filled my nostrils, and an unimaginable weight was pushing down on me. What had happened? I extracted my hand from where it was wedged and pushed at whatever was covering my face. With effort, I had created a pocket of space around my face; at least I could see. I realized the weight I felt was the weight of bodies that had fallen on top of me as I lay unconscious. I began to push and squirm trying to free myself from the mess that lay on... I froze! There were voices.

"Get rid of this mess as soon as you finish cleaning up the front of the house." a deep voice ordered the slave.

I realized that I had to move; I had to get away without being seen. I heard their footsteps walking away and waited several minutes. I began to move slowly, until I could see through a gap between a shoulder and a boot. I looked around as much as my position allowed. As far as I could tell there was no one around. Even so, I only dared to move at a snails pace. Every thought that wasn't centered on extricating myself from the heap was focused on the slimmest hope that I could get away without being seen. I had to ignore the fear in my throat that was making it hard to swallow. If I didn't keep moving I'd be dead like everyone else that I had grown up with.

As I got my shoulders free I looked around slowly; barely moving my head. I couldn't see anyone and I allowed myself to move more quickly. Still the minutes were passing and I had no idea when the slave would be back to finish his gruesome task. I knew there was a passage that led out of the city nearby. Every House had a passage near the back of their dwelling that left Kathdraeth. It was convenient to be able to come and go from the city without the neighboring House knowing your business. I spotted what I was looking for; it was about 20 yards away. I struggled to free myself even more. My torso was free now. I looked around once more- still no one. I grabbed my swords, kicked my feet free, and dashed towards the passage.

I had made it! I was covered in blood and sweat, and as I started making my way through the passage I began to wonder how far I would get in my present condition.

Betrayal

Nightal had past and the dreaded month of Hammer, and Midwinter, was upon me. I had dreaded the month of my birth constantly. Now it was here, and I still didn't know what to do. Matron Merstra, my mother, and my sisters had been planning the ceremony set for the 22nd of Hammer. That ceremony would mark my passage into womanhood, and the moment when I would take my place as a Priestess of Lolth.

On the 7th day of Hammer one of my brothers brought us news of the betrayal of House Teken'ndar. Three of their most skilled priestesses had abandoned the 3rd House for the stronger 2nd House. House Teken'ndar was trying to prevent this from becoming known because they knew it left them vulnerable, but my brother had overheard. He brought the news to our mother and she immediately began plans for our assault. I remember now, how her eyes gleamed when she told me that I would become a woman as a member of the 3rd House. Since before I was born, House Rilyn'lyl had been the 4th House. My mother had longed for this opportunity to overthrow House Teken'ndar, the delvers in black hearts.

My mother desired a quick defeat before news of their vulnerability reached others. My family planned through the night and we were ready for our attack before even the earliest to rise would be stirring. Our forces would be led by family members; each one an experienced fighter. I was assigned to the contingent that would approach the Teken'ndar House from the rear.

I was exhilarated to be marching into my first battle. As we advanced, I felt the hairs on my arms tingle with an anxious anticipation. Before I knew it the battle had begun. Initially, it seemed that all of my mothers' desires would soon be a reality. We were slaughtering their first defenses that exited the house moments after the onslaught had begun. I was cutting down our foes before me with my two swords. The fodder fell only to be replaced with others. I glanced to my left. It was only a glance, but what I saw chilled me to the bone. The forces of the 2nd House, being led by the traitorous priestesses were advancing on us. An instant before they joined the battle I realized the grave error of my mothers haste. She had never confirmed my brothers report!

The soldiers seemed to swarm on our position, and as I looked at my sister, Lua'thura, I saw the same horrified look on her face that I knew I had on my own. My scimitar was biting into flesh as often as my main weapon, my broadsword. Soon I was covered in blood and I realized that it was my own as well as my enemies. I had a gash in my side, but battled on as I watched members of House Rilyn'lyl fall to the ground all around me. I couldn't feel the healing that I should have felt pulsing through my body. I turned to seek help from Lua'thura's spells just in time to see her body crumple into a lifeless heap.

That is all I remember of the end of everyone in House Rilyn'lyl; everyone that I had known since birth.

Trapped

For most of my life I lived in the Underdark. For several years, I felt as tho I neither belonged there; nor did I want to fit in as everyone else seemed to. I found the frenzied worship of Lolth distasteful at best. I had ceased to look forward to the prestige associated with becoming a priestess of Lolth as my sisters had done when they came of age. I had no idea what I was going to do. How would I be able to carry out rituals that I had no belief in?

As it turned out my destiny lay in a much different direction than I could have ever imagined.