Scene 0: A Court Visit
Sho'Vothic felt strangely ill at ease within the tunnels, and spent the walk trying to figure out why. It took them a few moments of quiet contemplation before they achieved understanding, and once they did, they didn't like what they'd found. It was not covetous greed that made them dislike the lair, it was the reminder of what they were running from. The tedium and monotony of being one of many, the runt of the clutch. The freedom of the skies they so enjoyed only made it that much harder to descend into the bowels of the earth. They considered, not for the first time, what sort of lair they might wish when they were strong enough to claim their own. They had always assumed that they would wish for such a fortress, but was that truly what their heart desired? Twisting tunnels lit only by what flames their thralls brought down to them, cold stone cut off from the world. Was that not what they were supposed to want? Was that not their nature? They found themselves, more than anything, strangely interested in the elves and gnomes who escorted them. They had always dismissed such before, but that was before they had witnessed the Duel. Now they knew that even the smallest gnome was capable of seizing greatness, of seizing true power. It was offensive, it was infuriating, and yet it was true. They needed to watch, they needed to learn, and only from that would come understanding. They were pulled from these thoughts by the open wall, and the magnificent view with the town below. They weren't sure what about the idea was so appealing, but suddenly an image had formed within their mind. They envisioned not a town, but a city, endless expanses of the lesser races extending in all directions. Within the middle of this imaginary city, a massive tower of stone. Perched upon that tower, they would see all, and all would see the sigils of power that shimmer upon every inch of its surface. A testament to their own arcane mastery. The thought was so strange, they had always thought that they would follow in the footsteps of so many of their kind before them, and find a burrow deep within the trees of some wooded isle. Yet here they were, their mind filled with strange ideas...
Their thoughts were interrupted again, but this time by the Drakeling Hessmer. Sho'Vothic had not before understood the commitment of power that went into the Rite of Investment when last they had seen the Gnome, and thus had not fully appreciated the expense. Now they understood more fully, and found themselves wondering what the Thrall had done to deserve such a cost.
"Does Elegant Tooth wish to see us immediately?"
They asked, not quite sure of the proper forms. They had trusted to Symri for such things, and their own force of personality, but they had never had the opportunity to practice such formalities with their Hatchmates. Now they suddenly found themselves out of their depth, wondering for the first time in their life if their own force of will would be enough.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:50, Thu 02 Sept 2021.