Chapter 4: The Past

"In workings with the Drowic society one must remember that the culture is wholy unlike those of the surface world. They practice a matriach-fueled polygamy which advocates mere slavery to most males, although one of magical learning may be afforded some respect. In recent times, however, it has become neccesary to push these ideological differences aside, and ally to overcome threats to Rathar and it's neighbors, be they underground or not.
Drow history is marked by an Excommunication from the southermost points of the world into what is commonly referred to as the Underdark. These southern elves always could be pointed to by their markings: jet black skin and the whitest of hair. They worshipped the Goddess Lloth, Queen of Spiders, who gave to them secrets of dark magic. Soon afterwards, other Elves began to persecute these brethren for the so-called unholy practices common in Drowic cities. The Sylvan elves mounted a pan-racial force bent on the destruction of the Drowic Race of infidels. Not yet at the militant point of today, the Drow immigrated down into the deepest regions of the world, and soon the sect of Lloth took control of all dealings in everyday life of a Drow."-History and Understanding of Our Drowic Brethren by Wilhelm Rathar I

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The council of Matrons gathered around in their secret cavern, settling around the stone table plundered from a raid on Dwarves many years past. The High Preist to Lloth sat at the high end, watching over all the decisions, though she had no say in the ruling of the city. Her position at the council only came as an adviser into the whims of the Spider Queen. In the back of the room, a wizened male drow with a beard dropping to the ground and a braid in his exceptionally long hair leaned against an ornate staff decorated by carvings of poison arachnids. Whenever the Matrons looked at this male, they scowled, for the powerful position of mage could only be delegated to males. (One of the many contridictions of the Goddess Lloth.)

Shyntiara Tal, the Matron of the Auvrygyhm, called the council to order by taking roll. Spiders crawled around her, to show particular attention by the great Goddess. As she began the buisness, they bounded down to the table and fed on meat set out for them.

"Are we all present? Matrons of the Third and Fourth houses?"
" Aye."

"Those of the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh houses?"

"We are represented, you grace."
"Matron Shribryn of Kilndar, former first house."

"Begruding, I am here, in hopes to regain my Honoured Mothers position."

"She had not been honoured, for she took a subservient role to her husband." Spat out the Matron of the fifth house, drawing an elongated dagger showered with jagged edges.
"The council is not for fighting." Interposed the High Priestess, also of the former first house.

"You do not have the interests of the Council nor the city at your heart, for we know that you too are of the Kilndar household." the challenging Matron argued.

"How dare one such as yourself suggest that, less-than-male Deate Matron. We know your position is arranged through a marriage to a seer of an upper house, and you took the true Matron's life with help from your third child of the masculine persuasion, who you attempted to convince Lloth had merits. You and he shall be given death at the hands of my houses least slave, and you carcasses sent to rot on the surface." As the preistess spoke, spiders jetted out of her hair, and landed by those owned by the matron of the first household. Thes spiders joined together and advanced upon the honourless Deate, and began to tear her face apart with their posion bites. In less than half a minute, she lay dead upon the table, with the arachnids crawling around her. They fed upon the juices still among her body, and retired to their positions upon their owners. Shyntiara Tal of Auvrygyhm looked over to the mage, standing idly in the corner, his expreion at once full of amusal and murderous intent.

"Look here, even this man is a greater drow than she."

"Agreed." chorused the other households. As they did, another drow of noble persuasion entered, bowing before the council.

"Greetings, Illiam Aeerel, Matron of Teken'th, Eigth House of the Council. Are you prepared?"

"It is my duty as a Mother."

"Very well, take your seat. Mage Sorn Vyr'kah!"

"Yes, my Honoured Mother?"

"Rid us of the male impostor corpse."

"Of coure, Matron." With a few quick waves, the body and stench dissapeared into oblivian. Illiam Areel of Teken'th took the space given to her when all shifted to seats fitting their new positions.

"I have not yet finished the calling of members," stated the Head of Council, "Have we the most honoured High Priestess G'eld Driira among us?"
"I have come to honour you, Matron Shyntaria Tal of Auvrygyhm."

"We are honoured, Spider-teacher. Have we Sorn Vyr'kah, head of the mages?"
"Hounred matrons, mothers, dear women, strongest and most noble, I have arrived to do you bidding without question."

"He is most honourable", remarked Shribyn, "is he claimed, for surely he will give most strong offspring."

"I am not."

"Silence, you have not been given leave to speak." shrieked the first Matron. "He is not, Honoured Matron of Kilndar."

"If this is so, I claim him mine."

"Lloth sees it." the High Priestess stated, as she took the jagged knife that still lay upon the table, and bled the two to be joined. "Until the Honoured mother breaks the ties, this servant shall be a child giver." The mage returned to his corner, and bowed, showing his utter devotion to the women, and subservience to the council. The joined-Matron took her seat as the council began in earnest.

"Our best Warrior, the Princess Wyss'Jhael Ue of the Queen's house of Everhlyl, our holy house of the Cavern of the Blade, the greatest of our city and therefore ruler, has been stuck down by an outsider known as Wilhelm of Rathar. We cannot abide this, and have sent our men to attack the neighboring region at once. We will have vengence." stated Shribyn as she laid out a map of the surface which displayed the troops movements as they made them. The task-force almost arrived at it's destination, when a second series of dots jumped from almost nowhere, destroying many of the Drowic Army. The resistance of the dark elves eventually awarded them the battle, at the cost of many lives. The Council spoke in hushed tones, arguing with each other over what must be done. Then, the mother of the Second House stood and spoke loudly, in a colourful manner, to the Head of Council.

"We must strike back at this new nation of Rathar at once, sparing no warrior, and sending the best Females as well, for surely the battle could have been won in more ease with the leadership of a Woman."

"This may be true, but we have received a dispacth from a human female named Allanta Parisia, sent by this Wilhelm, in a quest for peace. She speaks to us now."

The council turned to see a human girl, no older nor younger than seventeen enter the room. A grim countenance hung about her and the bearskin and leather clothing she let drape around her. Blood dripped from her mouth, as she kneeled to the council.

"What is this blood?" asked a council member.

"That of a man who dared into my way."

"Is this a custom of Wilhelm's Women?" asked another Matron.

"Nay, it is a custom of my land, to the north, called the Fertile Valley of the Holy Mother our River of the Rhine."

"Why do you come to do the bidding of Wilhelm of Rathar?" The Matron interrigated

"In the interest of peace and understanding. While Wilhelm lacks knowledge of Matriarchal ways, he recognizes that they are not to be discredited. The Time-Magi Ezruhli bid him join our Mother land with his in order to stop a great threat: that of the Future, for there is a war between the past, the present and time to come."

"What has this to do with us?" asked the High Priestess, licking the blood from the woman's cheek.

"You believe that Wilhelm murdered your Great Princess."

"We have found this to be so."

"The truth, however, is that the future, knowing of a new technology incorporated into the boy, copied the design, and implemented it in one of their dishonorable curs. They then killed your Honoured Princess, and clearly stated Wilhelm had sent them. Know this, honoured council of Drow, there is one important difference."

"And what could this be?" snarled the Mother of Kilndar.

"The men wore heavy black cloaks, while Wilhelm wear only leather armor of an archer, a feat which he is most accomplished at, regardless of his arms attachment."

"You have been sent why?"

"To open negotiations for a peace-treaty."

"Why does not Wilhelm himself come?"

"He intends to when his battle with a group of Dwarves is finished. These dwarves took into their service multiple members of the Black-Cloaked, and are being used to forge weapons of great destruction and power intended to destroy the peace of all peoples."

"Very well. Will he come in honour?"
"He will come as unarmed as he may, accepting a station lesser than all males or slaves, for he has been learning of your culture from two advisors. Myself, for I represent a recent addition to his quest for a unified land, the Rhineland, and one of your people captured long ago by mine, but released into Wilhelm of Rathar's custody."

"Who is this dishonorable?"
"She is not dishonourable, for we only captured her during one of your rituals. The Blooding. We refused her askance for death, as it is not in our nature. Only men are allowed to die by our hands, unless we are provoked by women. It is our belief."
"Why did she not destroy herself, as all are wont to do, even commanded by Lloth, in event of capture?" Inquired the High Priestess.

"She almost had, when she found an attraction for one of our men: he succumbed to a Drow slave position, and made her a great many children. Seven in all. After he expended his limited life, we allowed her our most esteemed honour: she shared his meat with our Triumvirate, of which I am one. After such an honour, we gave her leave to wherever, and she stayed until Wilhelm came to us with an appeal for help. She advises him on your customs, and will lead him in."
"Who?" asked Shilbyn Tal, Matron of Auvrygyhm, and Head of the First House of Nobility, Leader of the Council of Matrons.

"She is called Drisffyn'yrr Laelnilee Alyraema'cice of the Houses of Alearn and Everhlyl."

All at once, the council exploded into pandemonium, after much argument and shouting, only two things could be heard. The High Priestess and the First Matron looked at each other and shouted.
"The Queen's First Duaghter!"

"Mother!" the Mage shouted. All eyes turned on the three key figures of the city.