2 Drow Walk Into a Graveyard
Aug 29, 2021 11:12:16 GMT
Jaezred Vandree, Delilah Daybreaker, and 1 more like this
Post by Toothy on Aug 29, 2021 11:12:16 GMT
Though the space above Lucan’s Leathers that Toothy called home had the comforts of hot tea and snacks, the closeness of the modest space made it hard for private conversation. So a respectable time after the sun had set over the horizon of Daring Heights, Jaezred had made the sensible decision to take a stroll through the quiet of the graveyard. As the duo left through the back door of the shop, it was hard to miss the guarded but intrigued look that Lucan gave them, but the half-elf said nothing of what he was actually thinking.
On the way through Graveside to their destination, Toothy makes an obvious extra effort to not get distracted and then subsequently waylaid by curious critters he spots. The want is certainly there, but his want to be polite and actually have this chat with Jaezred was greater at the moment.
“Well, boy,” says the older drow, calmly scanning Daring Cemetery from a vantage point. “I’m sure you have several questions. Ask away. I shall answer them to the best of my ability.”
Toothy drags his eyes away from where he definitely isn’t being distracted by the resident ravens, “Oh right, yes! I do have a few. But I guess my main question is about your questions. You keep asking about Matrons and stuff that I don’t really understand, but I feel like I should know. I don’t have any memory of when I was very young and I don’t know why...what did I miss out on?”
“Only our entire culture.”
They stop in front of the Lassitude memorial. A fire crackles quietly in the brazier atop the plinth listing hundreds of names.
“Like the surface-dwellers, we have houses of nobility. But whilst here on the surface, they are led by patriarchs, ours are led by women — the matron mothers, who are also pontiffs of the Goddess. We have no kings or queens; each matron mother rules over her family, which, in turn, reign over the common folk.” Jaezred takes the glove off his left hand and turns to show Toothy a silver signet ring on his pinkie finger. “I myself am a son of the House of Vandree.”
Toothy eyes up the ring and he sounds out the word Vandree, trying to get familiar with its pronunciation, “Okay...So even if your blood family isn’t related, would people ruled by the house still consider themselves a Vandree? Like would I introduce myself as Toothy Vandree if I was ruled by your house?”
He chuckles. “No, no. You would have allegiance to House Vandree, but you wouldn’t be considered part of the family unless you married into it. And you certainly wouldn’t be allowed to use the surname.”
"Okay, no Toothy Vandree, gotcha." His expression goes slightly distant as some mental cogs very slowly turn. "And you say surface dwellers a lot, like that's unusual for you. Do drow not really live on the surface then? Cause that's where I was found by Dad and Auntie, in a big ol' surface forest."
Jaezred arches an intrigued brow. “Have you ever wondered why the sunlight hurts your eyes? That is because, for hundreds of generations, we have lived in cities deep underground, in a place called the Underdark. Many of us have never seen or will ever see the sun.”
He puts the glove back on as they walk past the memorial and towards the section of the cemetery known as the Dawn Yard.
“But now it is my turn to ask questions. You clearly speak the Drowic tongue, meaning that you must have grown up in the Underdark, or at least in the presence of other drow. Yet you remember nothing of it? Where is this forest, here in Kantas or across the sea in Faerûn?”
Toothy actively tries to avoid eye contact with the small conspiracy of ravens gathering nearby, but he does try to subtly check for treats in his pocket while looking to Jaezred with his response.
“Growing up in the Underdark? I don’t remember anything about that, I don’t remember anything before living on my own in that forest I was found in. Dad says he and the merc company first saw me in the Wood of Sharp Teeth... I think it was called that? But it was definitely Faerûn, I’ve only crossed over to Kantas recently.”
“Then there is a good chance that you came from Menzoberranzan, my hometown,” Jaezred pointed out. Furrowing his brow, he muttered an incantation and held out an upright palm at Toothy. Not being sure what to do in the moment, Toothy hesitantly extends his own hand and places it palm down on top of Jaezred’s for a very slow high five. This garners a look of utter confusion from the mage.
“That wasn’t…” he trailed off, before sighing and gently clearing his throat. “I was attempting to detect magic on you, in case your memory loss was caused by a spell. But I sensed nothing. However, that doesn’t eliminate the possibility entirely. It would take something powerful to make an elf forget a hundred years of their life.”
Toothy awkwardly pulls his hand back, “Oh…I thought. Sorry.” He occupies it instead by fidgeting with the bottom hem of his red jumper. “You know the magic things much more than I do Jaezred, so I’ll take your word on it. But I dunno, I always thought there was a reason I couldn’t remember, maybe even I wanted to forget something about my childhood. It’s why I’ve never tried to remember, that maybe I’m better off not knowing.”
Jaezred starts walking again. A murder of crows that was perching on the path scatter and fly off as he strides up the dirt track, towards Adventurer’s Rest. He appears to be deep in thought.
“Memories of a life are not easily forgotten, even if we want to — especially when we want to,” he says, without looking back at the younger man. “There is a reason why you couldn’t remember, but perhaps it’s not the reason you think…”
He stops and turns around. His red eyes meet Toothy’s violet ones.
“If there is a way to uncover your past, would you want to do it?”
Toothy finally gives Jaezred his full attention, an unusual stillness coming to the constantly distracted man.
"I...I don't know. I've always assumed it's something that couldn't be done, so why wonder about something that's never gonna happen right?" He runs a hand through his hair, the bone talismans softly clacking together. "But maybe yes, I won't lie that our conversations have made me kinda curious.”
Jaezred rests both hands on his cane, the little ruby eyes of the silver spider that tops it peeking out at Toothy from underneath the black leather gloves. “It can be done. Certainly, it wouldn’t be as simple as asking around in Menzoberranzan. It’s too large a city, and besides, my current standing there is a little...compromised, shall we say. However, there is another way, and it shall come at a price.” He hesitates for a moment. “Truth be told, it is not something I would normally recommend doing, but...Have you ever been to the Witching Court of the Feywild?”
“Oh yeah! It’s nice, I got a transforming hat last time I was there.” Toothy’s eyebrows furrow, confusion apparent at the question, “But I thought you just said something about Menzoberranzan in Faerûn, which is not there. So what’s the Feywild got to do with all this?...”
“The witches of Queen Nicnevin’s court are capable of strange magics that can solve problems like yours — for a price, of course — and as it happens, it is populated with dark elves who might be sympathetic to your story. But it sounds as if you have already achieved a favourable standing with that lot. Do you know anyone from there?”
There’s a few moments of silence as Toothy racks his brains for a name, his brow now furrowing enough it almost looks painful. “I think I met someone called Ambassador Songbird, Vain Songbird? They hired some adventurers to help them out, and I was one of the ones to show up. The job went well so I guess they see me...favourably? But another thing I remember is being cautioned about making deals, asking for wishes, from the powerful ones in the Witching Court. I’m not sure I’m curious enough to risk that yet.”
Jaezred nods along, recognising the name. “It’s true, the cost the witches ask for in exchange for their services can be steep. Like I said, it is not something I would normally recommend to anyone at all. I know from personal experience that they are wily, conniving, and...smug.” He rolls his eyes at the last word and a faint blush creeps into his cheeks. “That said, they are not entirely unreasonable. You can negotiate for a more lenient deal, especially if you've done something for them in the past. At the end of the day, it is something you must carefully consider before deciding.”
Toothy raises an eyebrow and gives a knowing smile before crouching down to feed the ravens who have patiently been waiting nearby. Craning his head up to look at where Jaezred is standing he asks, “It seems you know quite a bit about the Witching Court, like you’re quite close with what goes on there. But honestly thank you for telling me all this, I’ll definitely think about it, like give a big think about it.” He pauses, grabbing more treats from his pocket for the ravens, “But Jaezred I gotta ask, why are you so interested in this? Not that I don’t appreciate the help or anything! It’s just that most people wouldn’t bother this much about...I dunno.” Not really finishing the thought, he just shrugs instead.
“I don’t know what you’re insinuating about my proximity to the Witching Court, young man,” he snaps. “I am not exactly helping you, merely pointing out the tools already at your disposal. As for why I’m interested — curiosity. There are not many drow here on the surface world of the Dawnlands, much less ones from Faerûn. And...I suppose, I am wondering, if you recover your memories of your life as a dark elf, what you will do with that information.”
There are only a couple dozen or so graves in Adventurer’s Rest, and several markers for those whose bodies were never recovered. The pale-faced moon hangs above them, partially hidden by dark clouds, surrounded by glimmering stars. Jaezred looks up, a look of wonder etched into his handsome features.
“When we last spoke, I would have told you, with absolute certainty, what it means to be drow. Many things have happened since and now...I am not so sure any more.”
By now two ravens have decided to perch themselves on Toothy, one on his shoulder and one on his arm, with them still there he stands up and takes in the sight of Jaezred’s contemplation before joining him in looking up at the stars. “Well, I would say to be unashamedly yourself and make what it means to be a drow whatever you want. You being drow isn’t going to change, but how you approach life and make the most out of it certainly can. Don’t let expectations bind you.”
While still staring up at the stars he shrugs again, the raven on his shoulder holding steadfast, “If you want, we could figure out what it means to be drow together. I’m always around for some out loud thinking or more chats like this. I like good chats like this.”
Jaezred turns his head towards Toothy. There is a rare, genuine, small smile on his face. “Why not.” His response is met with the biggest delighted smile from Toothy.
However, the smile shrinks away as a thought intrudes his mind. “I’ll leave you with one final warning,” he says. “Our culture is often misunderstood by surface-dwellers. It is harsh, because life in the Underdark is unforgiving. For millennia, we have lived in unjust exile and those who call us enemies are too many to count. If you ever come to remember your past life, you may discover things that would, by surface world sensibilities, be considered...unpleasant.”
Toothy slowly nods, taking in what Jaezred is saying, “I used to be a merc for many years, got paid to do things that a lot of people would definitely consider unpleasant. But I understand what you’re saying, I appreciate the warning.”
He nods solemnly and turns his attention back to the stars.
Big thanks to Jaezred Vandree for encouraging this chat under starlight
On the way through Graveside to their destination, Toothy makes an obvious extra effort to not get distracted and then subsequently waylaid by curious critters he spots. The want is certainly there, but his want to be polite and actually have this chat with Jaezred was greater at the moment.
“Well, boy,” says the older drow, calmly scanning Daring Cemetery from a vantage point. “I’m sure you have several questions. Ask away. I shall answer them to the best of my ability.”
Toothy drags his eyes away from where he definitely isn’t being distracted by the resident ravens, “Oh right, yes! I do have a few. But I guess my main question is about your questions. You keep asking about Matrons and stuff that I don’t really understand, but I feel like I should know. I don’t have any memory of when I was very young and I don’t know why...what did I miss out on?”
“Only our entire culture.”
They stop in front of the Lassitude memorial. A fire crackles quietly in the brazier atop the plinth listing hundreds of names.
“Like the surface-dwellers, we have houses of nobility. But whilst here on the surface, they are led by patriarchs, ours are led by women — the matron mothers, who are also pontiffs of the Goddess. We have no kings or queens; each matron mother rules over her family, which, in turn, reign over the common folk.” Jaezred takes the glove off his left hand and turns to show Toothy a silver signet ring on his pinkie finger. “I myself am a son of the House of Vandree.”
Toothy eyes up the ring and he sounds out the word Vandree, trying to get familiar with its pronunciation, “Okay...So even if your blood family isn’t related, would people ruled by the house still consider themselves a Vandree? Like would I introduce myself as Toothy Vandree if I was ruled by your house?”
He chuckles. “No, no. You would have allegiance to House Vandree, but you wouldn’t be considered part of the family unless you married into it. And you certainly wouldn’t be allowed to use the surname.”
"Okay, no Toothy Vandree, gotcha." His expression goes slightly distant as some mental cogs very slowly turn. "And you say surface dwellers a lot, like that's unusual for you. Do drow not really live on the surface then? Cause that's where I was found by Dad and Auntie, in a big ol' surface forest."
Jaezred arches an intrigued brow. “Have you ever wondered why the sunlight hurts your eyes? That is because, for hundreds of generations, we have lived in cities deep underground, in a place called the Underdark. Many of us have never seen or will ever see the sun.”
He puts the glove back on as they walk past the memorial and towards the section of the cemetery known as the Dawn Yard.
“But now it is my turn to ask questions. You clearly speak the Drowic tongue, meaning that you must have grown up in the Underdark, or at least in the presence of other drow. Yet you remember nothing of it? Where is this forest, here in Kantas or across the sea in Faerûn?”
Toothy actively tries to avoid eye contact with the small conspiracy of ravens gathering nearby, but he does try to subtly check for treats in his pocket while looking to Jaezred with his response.
“Growing up in the Underdark? I don’t remember anything about that, I don’t remember anything before living on my own in that forest I was found in. Dad says he and the merc company first saw me in the Wood of Sharp Teeth... I think it was called that? But it was definitely Faerûn, I’ve only crossed over to Kantas recently.”
“Then there is a good chance that you came from Menzoberranzan, my hometown,” Jaezred pointed out. Furrowing his brow, he muttered an incantation and held out an upright palm at Toothy. Not being sure what to do in the moment, Toothy hesitantly extends his own hand and places it palm down on top of Jaezred’s for a very slow high five. This garners a look of utter confusion from the mage.
“That wasn’t…” he trailed off, before sighing and gently clearing his throat. “I was attempting to detect magic on you, in case your memory loss was caused by a spell. But I sensed nothing. However, that doesn’t eliminate the possibility entirely. It would take something powerful to make an elf forget a hundred years of their life.”
Toothy awkwardly pulls his hand back, “Oh…I thought. Sorry.” He occupies it instead by fidgeting with the bottom hem of his red jumper. “You know the magic things much more than I do Jaezred, so I’ll take your word on it. But I dunno, I always thought there was a reason I couldn’t remember, maybe even I wanted to forget something about my childhood. It’s why I’ve never tried to remember, that maybe I’m better off not knowing.”
Jaezred starts walking again. A murder of crows that was perching on the path scatter and fly off as he strides up the dirt track, towards Adventurer’s Rest. He appears to be deep in thought.
“Memories of a life are not easily forgotten, even if we want to — especially when we want to,” he says, without looking back at the younger man. “There is a reason why you couldn’t remember, but perhaps it’s not the reason you think…”
He stops and turns around. His red eyes meet Toothy’s violet ones.
“If there is a way to uncover your past, would you want to do it?”
Toothy finally gives Jaezred his full attention, an unusual stillness coming to the constantly distracted man.
"I...I don't know. I've always assumed it's something that couldn't be done, so why wonder about something that's never gonna happen right?" He runs a hand through his hair, the bone talismans softly clacking together. "But maybe yes, I won't lie that our conversations have made me kinda curious.”
Jaezred rests both hands on his cane, the little ruby eyes of the silver spider that tops it peeking out at Toothy from underneath the black leather gloves. “It can be done. Certainly, it wouldn’t be as simple as asking around in Menzoberranzan. It’s too large a city, and besides, my current standing there is a little...compromised, shall we say. However, there is another way, and it shall come at a price.” He hesitates for a moment. “Truth be told, it is not something I would normally recommend doing, but...Have you ever been to the Witching Court of the Feywild?”
“Oh yeah! It’s nice, I got a transforming hat last time I was there.” Toothy’s eyebrows furrow, confusion apparent at the question, “But I thought you just said something about Menzoberranzan in Faerûn, which is not there. So what’s the Feywild got to do with all this?...”
“The witches of Queen Nicnevin’s court are capable of strange magics that can solve problems like yours — for a price, of course — and as it happens, it is populated with dark elves who might be sympathetic to your story. But it sounds as if you have already achieved a favourable standing with that lot. Do you know anyone from there?”
There’s a few moments of silence as Toothy racks his brains for a name, his brow now furrowing enough it almost looks painful. “I think I met someone called Ambassador Songbird, Vain Songbird? They hired some adventurers to help them out, and I was one of the ones to show up. The job went well so I guess they see me...favourably? But another thing I remember is being cautioned about making deals, asking for wishes, from the powerful ones in the Witching Court. I’m not sure I’m curious enough to risk that yet.”
Jaezred nods along, recognising the name. “It’s true, the cost the witches ask for in exchange for their services can be steep. Like I said, it is not something I would normally recommend to anyone at all. I know from personal experience that they are wily, conniving, and...smug.” He rolls his eyes at the last word and a faint blush creeps into his cheeks. “That said, they are not entirely unreasonable. You can negotiate for a more lenient deal, especially if you've done something for them in the past. At the end of the day, it is something you must carefully consider before deciding.”
Toothy raises an eyebrow and gives a knowing smile before crouching down to feed the ravens who have patiently been waiting nearby. Craning his head up to look at where Jaezred is standing he asks, “It seems you know quite a bit about the Witching Court, like you’re quite close with what goes on there. But honestly thank you for telling me all this, I’ll definitely think about it, like give a big think about it.” He pauses, grabbing more treats from his pocket for the ravens, “But Jaezred I gotta ask, why are you so interested in this? Not that I don’t appreciate the help or anything! It’s just that most people wouldn’t bother this much about...I dunno.” Not really finishing the thought, he just shrugs instead.
“I don’t know what you’re insinuating about my proximity to the Witching Court, young man,” he snaps. “I am not exactly helping you, merely pointing out the tools already at your disposal. As for why I’m interested — curiosity. There are not many drow here on the surface world of the Dawnlands, much less ones from Faerûn. And...I suppose, I am wondering, if you recover your memories of your life as a dark elf, what you will do with that information.”
There are only a couple dozen or so graves in Adventurer’s Rest, and several markers for those whose bodies were never recovered. The pale-faced moon hangs above them, partially hidden by dark clouds, surrounded by glimmering stars. Jaezred looks up, a look of wonder etched into his handsome features.
“When we last spoke, I would have told you, with absolute certainty, what it means to be drow. Many things have happened since and now...I am not so sure any more.”
By now two ravens have decided to perch themselves on Toothy, one on his shoulder and one on his arm, with them still there he stands up and takes in the sight of Jaezred’s contemplation before joining him in looking up at the stars. “Well, I would say to be unashamedly yourself and make what it means to be a drow whatever you want. You being drow isn’t going to change, but how you approach life and make the most out of it certainly can. Don’t let expectations bind you.”
While still staring up at the stars he shrugs again, the raven on his shoulder holding steadfast, “If you want, we could figure out what it means to be drow together. I’m always around for some out loud thinking or more chats like this. I like good chats like this.”
Jaezred turns his head towards Toothy. There is a rare, genuine, small smile on his face. “Why not.” His response is met with the biggest delighted smile from Toothy.
However, the smile shrinks away as a thought intrudes his mind. “I’ll leave you with one final warning,” he says. “Our culture is often misunderstood by surface-dwellers. It is harsh, because life in the Underdark is unforgiving. For millennia, we have lived in unjust exile and those who call us enemies are too many to count. If you ever come to remember your past life, you may discover things that would, by surface world sensibilities, be considered...unpleasant.”
Toothy slowly nods, taking in what Jaezred is saying, “I used to be a merc for many years, got paid to do things that a lot of people would definitely consider unpleasant. But I understand what you’re saying, I appreciate the warning.”
He nods solemnly and turns his attention back to the stars.
Big thanks to Jaezred Vandree for encouraging this chat under starlight