McIan
Journeyman
It was almost too easy, Jexmir mused as he returned to Umbra to collect from his room at the Inn his few possessions. He was moving into what was called by its creator and owner, Damian Racsen, the “Crystal Palace.” Damian, formerly Scaramandine the Elder, and he had spoken there. Jexmir’s sole reason and purpose was to exact revenge upon Damian for killing his fellow Drow mages. Now he would be working for him… in pretense.
“What is it you do, exactly,” Damian had asked him. “I have no need for enforcers and spies, and little for skilled workers. What sets you apart?”
Jexmir smiled. “Liaison. I know much of the inner workings of our kind, especially of those who recently invaded your domain to seize you and force you to testify in their court proceedings.”
Damian scowled. The memory of those events that led to him nearly dying at their hands was still a sore spot in his mind. He drummed his fingers on the arm rest of the chair he sat upon. “I really do not need to know anything else about them. I have no intention of disturbing their plots and schemes.”
Jexmir looked about at the greenish crystalline walls. The former stone ones, thick as they were, were all gone, all replaced by crystal mined from the fields abundant with them on Malas. He extended upraised palms. “This is beautiful and beautifully done, but can it keep out Drow?”
“I put all my knowledge of fashioning and manipulating crystalline material into it. An army of dragons could not force its way through these walls. They are enchanted as well. I spared no expense nor time reinforcing them with magic-repelling wards and traps. Why then would I be worried about a few Drow?” Damian smugly replied.
“I believe you. But I know they know what you have done here. I also know they are seeking a means to penetrate such defenses.”
“Why would they want to do that? I pose no threat to them anymore.”
Jexmir smiled. “They admire it and wish to copy it to use for themselves. Drow Houses compete as you know. A place defended by such walls would give a decided advantage. You are the author of this. They will be seeking a way in, forcefully or otherwise, likely intending to capture you again for the knowledge. I can be your eyes and ears in their city and keep you apprised of how they progress… and… perhaps, sabotage their plans.”
Damian nodded. “Why do you wish to do this? Why do you care? How do I know you are not working for them?”
“I see you are fast learning the mindset of our kind. I will answer each of your questions. I do this because I hate them. They threw me out of the Academy, Sorcere. I did not fit in because I was too smart for them. I care because I hope to see them defeated. Lastly, you will have to accept the risk that I am working for them, or give me a truth potion. But I assure you they do not even know that I am here with you.”
“A likely story. I will give you that truth potion. If you are lying, I will kill you. This is your last chance to leave peaceably if you are. There is the door,” he said, pointing to it. “Go now, and live.”
Jexmir remained. “I am not lying. Test me.”
True to his word, Damian procured a truth potion, one strong enough that even dark elves could not resist. Its effects were only momentary, but one or two questions posed the right way could determine the veracity of an admission. If he lied, the potion would nauseate and gag him nearly into unconsciousness. If he spoke truth, it did nothing. Jexmir drank it.
“Are you here at the direction and behest of other Drow?” Damian asked him.
“No.” Jexmir stated confidently.
“Are you here to learn the secrets of my castle, or another way inside?”
“No.”
“Do you intend to work me harm?”
“No.”
The effects dissipated. Damian was satisfied. “Get your things. You may quarter in the room upstairs. Throw someone else out if you need to. Welcome to my home,” he said, smiling.
Retrieving his belongings from Umbra, he returned to the castle and was allowed inside.
Ah. Selecting proper words is important in these things. You see, I have no intention to harm you, master Damian. Far from it. I merely intend to study you, learn from you, and then kill you.
“What is it you do, exactly,” Damian had asked him. “I have no need for enforcers and spies, and little for skilled workers. What sets you apart?”
Jexmir smiled. “Liaison. I know much of the inner workings of our kind, especially of those who recently invaded your domain to seize you and force you to testify in their court proceedings.”
Damian scowled. The memory of those events that led to him nearly dying at their hands was still a sore spot in his mind. He drummed his fingers on the arm rest of the chair he sat upon. “I really do not need to know anything else about them. I have no intention of disturbing their plots and schemes.”
Jexmir looked about at the greenish crystalline walls. The former stone ones, thick as they were, were all gone, all replaced by crystal mined from the fields abundant with them on Malas. He extended upraised palms. “This is beautiful and beautifully done, but can it keep out Drow?”
“I put all my knowledge of fashioning and manipulating crystalline material into it. An army of dragons could not force its way through these walls. They are enchanted as well. I spared no expense nor time reinforcing them with magic-repelling wards and traps. Why then would I be worried about a few Drow?” Damian smugly replied.
“I believe you. But I know they know what you have done here. I also know they are seeking a means to penetrate such defenses.”
“Why would they want to do that? I pose no threat to them anymore.”
Jexmir smiled. “They admire it and wish to copy it to use for themselves. Drow Houses compete as you know. A place defended by such walls would give a decided advantage. You are the author of this. They will be seeking a way in, forcefully or otherwise, likely intending to capture you again for the knowledge. I can be your eyes and ears in their city and keep you apprised of how they progress… and… perhaps, sabotage their plans.”
Damian nodded. “Why do you wish to do this? Why do you care? How do I know you are not working for them?”
“I see you are fast learning the mindset of our kind. I will answer each of your questions. I do this because I hate them. They threw me out of the Academy, Sorcere. I did not fit in because I was too smart for them. I care because I hope to see them defeated. Lastly, you will have to accept the risk that I am working for them, or give me a truth potion. But I assure you they do not even know that I am here with you.”
“A likely story. I will give you that truth potion. If you are lying, I will kill you. This is your last chance to leave peaceably if you are. There is the door,” he said, pointing to it. “Go now, and live.”
Jexmir remained. “I am not lying. Test me.”
True to his word, Damian procured a truth potion, one strong enough that even dark elves could not resist. Its effects were only momentary, but one or two questions posed the right way could determine the veracity of an admission. If he lied, the potion would nauseate and gag him nearly into unconsciousness. If he spoke truth, it did nothing. Jexmir drank it.
“Are you here at the direction and behest of other Drow?” Damian asked him.
“No.” Jexmir stated confidently.
“Are you here to learn the secrets of my castle, or another way inside?”
“No.”
“Do you intend to work me harm?”
“No.”
The effects dissipated. Damian was satisfied. “Get your things. You may quarter in the room upstairs. Throw someone else out if you need to. Welcome to my home,” he said, smiling.
Retrieving his belongings from Umbra, he returned to the castle and was allowed inside.
Ah. Selecting proper words is important in these things. You see, I have no intention to harm you, master Damian. Far from it. I merely intend to study you, learn from you, and then kill you.