"Sildrehel"

For my sister Allustriel, and megil-toror Talinathus,

The common room of the Red Mage Inn was quiet. And except for the three Elves seated at a corner table, there were no other patrons about. Allustriel Valeris, Talinathus Tarant the Grey Savant, and Strongbow Firehand, were just finishing breakfast as the table would attest, and were discussing several possibilities for adventure that day.
"How about a trip to the islands?" suggested Talinathus, "Rik says they are actually quite nice this time of year." The priest of Corellon nibbled thoughtfully on some remaining herb bread, his personal favorite.
"Aye, that they are, " replied Strongbow, taking a sip of Fey, "But we don't all have tickets for the voyage I'm afraid."
"Ah, that's true, forgive me mellonamin, I had forgotten about the robbery."
"Think nothing of it Grey, it was an unfortunate incident, best forgotten." Strongbow smiled."Well? Where can we go? We're not really skilled enough to go too far... perhaps some nearby locale.......?"
"..How about the sewers?" Allustriel asked suddenly. The beautiful Elven maiden was a recent, and welcome addition to the Grey Company's roster. "I've several badges in my vault.. plenty for everyone!" Her eyes sparkled as she began to become excited about the prospect of adventure.
"Hmm... I don't know..," Cat's grey eyes narrowed, "Never been down there.., Grey? Have you?" asked Strongbow.
Talinathus hesitated.. "No, but she does have the badges... and it is something to do..."
"Then it's settled!" said Allustriel excitedly. "I'll be right back!" And before either Strongbow or Talinathus could utter a word, she was gone... only to reappear a few minutes later, out of breath, but with the badges in hand. Grey and Cat looked at each other and grinned. "Well, she's got spunk, you have to give her that!" chuckled Grey shaking his head.
"A real firecracker!" Strongbow shot back.
They both laughed, and together they took a flustered Triel upstairs to prepare.

The entrance to the sewers was guarded by a 12' tall iron golem. Firm and resolute, it's thundering voice boomed, "You may not pass without the proper credentials! Do you have your passes?".. it's penetrating gaze taking them all in. The three Elves looked up at the steel bohemoth standing in front of them, and then at each other. Nodding, they handed the badges that Triel had acquired to the golem, and quickly stepped back and waited. The golem examined the medallions with a practiced precision."Bah! These badges have expired!" it roared, tossing the metal disks into a large barrel. "Be sure to have new ones issued, should you dare to come back again! Now be off with you!" Not waiting to see whether he meant for them to leave or go in , the three dashed past the giant, through the opening, and into the sewers.

The sewers were dank, dark, and odiferous. They were twisted, confusing, and filled with a variety of life that would give a circus owner nightmares. Everything you would want in a sewer... and more. There were monsters everywhere!

The first thing that Strongbow noticed as they entered, were the warriors fighting amongst themselves to his right.... and they were even ignoring the monsters roaming free in the area! "What madness is this!?" he thought, as the trio attempted to sneak by unseen. They had all managed to make it and were headed up the corridor when Strongbow heard a noise.
"Shhhh...." Strongbow put a finger to his lips and signaled for quiet.Grey and Allustriel needed no coaxing, they quickly assumed defensive positions along the wall as they waited for Cat to recon ahead.. Strongbow, glancing back at the two for reassurance, thought he saw a flash of someone down the corridor behind them, but when he looked again, he saw nothing. So, dismissing it as just one of those things you see when you're not really looking, began creeping cautiously up to the corner of the corridor. Cat's suspicions were confirmed: Cloud giants!...and several of those vicious creatures made of stone, margoyles. They had encamped right in the middle of the corridor.. there was no other way around... except through them.

The three companions made their plans quickly. The doorway where the corridor turned could be defended with little difficulty, so the only consideration was deployment. Strongbow they decided, being the most experienced, would lead and seal the doorway, Greysavant, the next most skilled, would provide additional magic and missile fire and perform a rear guard action while Allustriel would be in a position between Cat and the upper wall to decrease the number of monsters she had to battle.
It worked perfectly. Strongbow's first fireball exploded through the enemies ranks taking most of the margoyles with it. Before he could cast another one however, a giant closed with him and he had no choice but to draw his sword. Meanwhile, Allustriel, seeing one of the stone creatures trying to push past Cat, quickly moved to intercept the beast, and immediately destroyed it with an amazing display of swordsmanship. Yet another fireball erupted behind the giants, momentarily surprising Triel and the Cat... It was the Grey Savant!
"Excellent timing Holy One!" exclaimed Strongbow. He turned back to give battle to the giant, and raising his sword in the air, began to shout out an Elven war cry..
But the blow never fell...

They never saw the assassin until it was too late. "Look out!" the Cat heard Grey shout. But Strongbow could not move. He could see Allustriel in his peripheral vision, also frozen, but was unable to break the grip of the sorcery that had enveloped him. He could not see Grey at all..... and, he could not shut his eyes... He had to watch as the remaining margoyle ripped into Allustriel, and she fell instantly. He heard Grey behind him, choking.. but could not discerne the reason. "What?.. Who?.. This cannot be!.. We had the battle won!" his mind screamed. Then, just before the last giant was about to finish him off, there came into his vision, a figure... dressed in robes... drawing back his hood revealing... a Drow!... The dark-skinned Elf smiled an oily smile and whispered his name on the wind as the darkness came... "I am Sildrehel."...

It took a couple of weeks for Strongbow to recover. And several days still, before he could even speak of the incident. Such is the power of the incarnations of Faerun: to retain the memories of a former life. Or maybe, such is the pain of it.

But, whether tis the power, or the pain, I will remember...

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