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Verdain: Half-Drow, Half Dragon.

He was created in the brilliant mind of *Raynoraktu, the Dungeon Master and author of a DnD campaign I'm currently playing, set in Forgotten Realms. I've done this piece with his permission and blessing.

This piece is also dedicated to him!

Almost a hundred years after the story [link] of my character Avalesca [link] the elven warrioress is asked by the Council of Evermeet to travel to Waterdeep and investigate some stange and deadly occurrences.

There, she joins up with a group of heroes (Jizuma the monk, Ravenmane the druid, and Nym the wizard) already on a quest to prevent Lolth, the evil Spider Queen and Goddess of the Dark Elves, from using two powerful winged sisters, Syrenica and Daysuna, to destroy the good races. Syrenica controls a deadly power and if she is not reunited soon with her sister Daysuna, who was captured by Lolth, she will lose control and wreak havoc.

The party travels to the Underdark (a vast, caverned world below the surface of Faerun), and fight a number of battles which they easily win. Their real test comes when they are confronted by the handsome half-drow, half-dragon Verdain and a number of Drow wizards and priestesses.

Ava senses that there isn't something quite right about Verdain. She doesn't believe he is fighting of his own free will. However, he refuses to surrender and the fight begins. It looks bad for the party at first, but witty Nym casts a spell to tangle the enemy mages in summoned tenticles.

With them controlled, Ravenmane and Avalesca confront the dark Priestesses while Jizuma faces off with Verdain. When the enemy Priestesses die, Ava goes to where Verdain has been knocked down by the skilled monk, and once again demands that he throw down his blades. This time, he surrenders, but not before a final enemy grabs Syrenica and pulls her through a portal to another dimension.

The party demands answers from the captured half-dragon. As it turns out, Ava's hunch was correct. The dark elves have captured the half-dragon's mother, a golden dragon, and threatened to harm her if Verdain would not fight for them.

Verdain is welcomed into the party, and tells them that if they free his mother, she has the power to open a portal to where Syrenica and Daysuna are being held hostage.

So the party rests for the night, preparing to travel the next day to rescue the golden dragon.

Avalesca offers to take first watch. When the others fall asleep, she sits down with the handsome stranger to question him about his past.

(Below is the roleplay between myself as Avalesca and *Raynoraktu as Verdain. The only editing I've done is to correct some typos.)

Dungeon Master: The cavern is silent only the sounds of the peaceful sleeping is heard. Verdain sits silent closeby.

Avalesca waits while until the others make their bed-time preperations. When all falls silent she takes a seat across from Verdain and begins to whisper.

Avalesca: "You say that your mother is the key to getting to the Sancturary? How is this so?"

Verdain smiles slightly. "She has the power to open a portal to a plane. But her power was supposed to be greater as my grandfather once told me." He falls silent. "Her access to my sister's Sanctuary allowed our Clan to thrive in the recent years."

Avalesca: "So the Sanctuary is the home of your sister?"

Verdain: He nods, "She made it, a realm of warmth and peace. But it is not without its flaws."

Avalesca: "She must be very powerful to have made such a place. Did you also live there?"

Verdain: "I did." He responds with a nod with a fond smile and remembering look.

Avalesca: "What are their names, your sister and your mother?"

Verdain: "Mother Maycinia and Sister Illia," he responds. "They are very beautiful much like you are. You will see that when you free them."

Verdain: "I just hope that neither are harmed. Illia is so young."

Avalesca smiles a bit at the compliment, but tries to hide it.

Avalesca: "So, this Sanctuary, what is it exactly, another realm?"

Verdain: "Yes a very pretty realm. Seperate from Faerun and the gods. Especially from my father's people. Or atleast we had thought."

Avalesca: "Your father's people, the Drow?"

Verdain: "Yes, he was a houseless drow that my mother fell in love with. Even now I find it strange but it was true."

Avalesca nods. She had indeed been wondering how the strange pairing had occured.

Avalesca: "So your sister, she is like you?"

Verdain: "Yes, well almost. While I embody most of my father's traits. My sister has a dark tan skin rather than my drow bluish black. Her hair is a lovely gold. We suspect that she will grow to be a very pretty young woman in the next few years. But she is also shy and not very strong."

Avalesca: "And what of your father, where is he?"

Verdain: He lowers his eyes. "He died recently."

Avalesca: "I am sorry, Verdain. There is too much loss of loved ones in this world. Did he die when the Drow came for your mother?"

Verdain: "It was a surprise attack. We were searching for food. Mother has to come with us on these runs. But the drow were waiting and ambushed us." His voice becomes hard. "The drow used me to force my Mother to surrender. Half of the team was killed and those that hadn't are slaves."

Avalesca: "So thats why you came to serve the priestesses, under threat that they would harm her if you didn't obey?"

Verdain: "Yes. Both my Mother and Precious Sister. Under threat..."

Avalesca nods sadly.

Avalesca: "I would have done the same, were I you."

Avalesca: "So it was also then that your sister was captured?"

Verdain: "Yes. For they needed the Sanctuary. For what I am not so sure. They haven't allowed me back in so long."

Avalesca: "You said that you were part of a clan. Were there many others in the Sanctuary?"

Avalesca: "And how long have you been a captive?"

Verdain: "Some 20 or so of us lived at Sanctuary." He shakes his head. "One loses track in this Sunless place. But were I to venture a guess I would think a month or less."

Avalesca: "And you know nothing of the fate of those within?"

Verdain: "Nay, nothing other than what the drow witches tell me."

Avalesca: "Where is your mother being held captive?"

Verdain: "Menzoberanzan. Inside of House Illindarin."

Avalesca: "Even I have heard of this dark place."

Avalesca is startled by a strange sound in the night. She listens quietly for a moment, then shivers and rubs her shoulders as if to warm them.

Avalesca: "Forsaken darkness..." she grumbles.

Verdain: Verdain comes over and wraps you up in his Wing. "Are you cold?"

Avalesca tenses, suprised by the foward action.

Verdain: Verdain blushes and looks away, "You seemed cold."

Avalesca: "I..no...I've lived all my life on the surface. Life without the sun is like....life without life.

Avalesca: "It's like a chill in my bones that won't go away."

Verdain: "Yes the Underdark has that way with people. Must be why the drow are such the way they are. That Demon Spider wench sucked the warmth from it."

Avalesca: "Do you remember the path back to the dark city, and if so, how long will it take us to return."

Verdain: "Less than a ten day, perhaps nine if we do not get slowed down. And I can find the city, its not so hard now that the Menzoberanzan has expanded its forces."

Verdain: "Which will make an interesting event. Patrols, getting past them, and the city wall's itself."

Avalesca frowns. "That doesn't give us much time, if we are to rescue Syrenica before the seal fades. I think this may be our last restful night for a long while."

Avalesca: "Yes, tell me more of what you know. What can we expect to face to reach your mother?"

Verdain: "It is strange," he says with a thoughtful look. "Patrols are 5 men, with your companions getting by them shouldn't be too hard. But the gates of Menzoberanzan are not so easily breached. The Drueger have tried before and failed. Deceit is our best method to get inside. As for House Illindarin, there are over a thousand soldiers, twice as much in slaves, Matron Mother Illindarin however must be pressed as she has lost three of her 5 daughters and two of her sons."

Verdain: "The Weapon's Master is very skilled I could not best him in any sparring match before I was sent for the wings."

Verdain: "Anyway the City itself seems to be against itself. Well when I left it was like it was ready to go to war with itself. The Upper House and the Lower Houses have divided the city. And Matron Baerne has not been seen in some time."

Avalesca: "Huh. Well, if there is a Master that you cannot defeat, that doesn't bode well. You are very skilled."

Verdain: "As is your big friend."

Avalesca reaches into her haversack, and retrieves two items. The first, a ration meal, she hands to Verdain. She second she rolls in her hands for a moment.

Verdain: Verdain greatefully takes the ration.

Avalesca: "Do you recognize this?" She shows him one of the house insignia's that the party obtained in an earlier battle.

Verdain: "I know of House Illindarin's House insignia, but that one is not as familiar. Perhaps House Xellariane.

Verdain: They have been working for many tendays trying to get the Wings and failing. I hear the Upper Houses are displeased with that House.

Avalesca: "I see." She tucks it back into her bag. "I thought they might come in handy were we to breach the city. It would be easy enough to take the clothes of those we felled for disguises, but even so, I would not make a very good Drow.

Verdain: The warding Golems at the Gates see through all sorts of things. Our best bet might be a Polymorph spell. Should you mage Companion have one."

Avalesca: "I'll ask him in the morning."

Avalesca: "So, if we are to reach your mother, she will aid us in getting to the Sanctuary. How large is your home?

Verdain: "I will have no problem getting inside myself." He becomes thoughtful.

Verdain: "The Sanctuary is large but not very so. It is confined to a 100 leagues in all directions."

Avalesca: "At least it won't take us long to search for Syrenica when we are within. Still, I don't like the time we have." She sees the look of thoughtfullness that has crossed his face. "Tell me what you are thinking?"

Verdain: "Oh ah... I was thinking of why they took the Wings to Sanctuary and not Menzoberanzan."

Verdain: "It makes no sense to take the Wings there."

Avalesca: "The wings are destructive. Maybe it was in an effort to protect the city?"

Verdain: "Perhaps," he says shaking head. "I would rather see the City destroyed than my sister hurt."

Verdain: He laughs suddenly, "Mother would chide me for such thoughts."

Avalesca smiles.

Avalesca: "Then she would have to chide both of us."

Avalesca frowns suddenly.

Verdain: He laughs again and forces his laugh to be more quiet suddenly so as not to wake or disturb the others.

Avalesca: "Hmm...the thought of the drow with the power of a dragon...and the wings..." Avalesca shivers.

Avalesca: "They must never leave this place, their forsaken hole. We cannot let them disturb the races of the surface."

Verdain: "It sits ill with many. The Drueger and the Cambion included."

Avalesca: "Cambion?"

Verdain: "Aye the Demon Vook. He controls the Demon forces close by here. His ancestor was said to have helped the Drueger against the Drow once before."

Avalesca: "A good thing to know, although I would hope we do not have to have dealings with such a creature."

Verdain: "I have heard rumor that his consort has been wandering lately."

Avalesca: "Consort?"

Verdain: 'Yes, A Succubus Lover. I heard she was looking for something... how did the drow person put it. Exciting and tasteful."

Avalesca can't help but grin and Verdain's careful wording.

Avalesca: "Hmm...is there a way to know such a creature if we see her?"

Verdain: "Its hard to say she takes on many guises it is said."

Avalesca nods. "Well, I think that being in your company has become all the more dangerous with her on the prowl."

Verdain smiles slightly.

Avalesca: "Is there aught more I should know? Anything that would help us in the days ahead?"

Verdain: "I can think of nothing. Though I can tell you this I am sure. I have heard word that the weakness to the Quilis'Dor has recently been discovered. I would warn the Mage to not flaunt it much unless he desperately needs its use in Menzoberanzan."

(Avalesca: "Worrisome news indead. I shall tell him of this."

Avalesca stands, a bit relucantly, and looks down at the half-dragon.

Verdain: "Oh and please tell the Lady Priestess that I am deadfully sorry. I do fear that she will not have words with me."

Avalesca: "Fayriz? I noticed the two of you seemed...less then friendly."

Verdain: "Yes, she... deals powerful healling but I... know that she is displeased greatly with me."

Avalesca: "Why, my friend, would she be displeased by you?"

Verdain: "Aside from allowing the Wings... for which I suspect she cherished captured. Otherwise I do not know what... it is she seems upset with me for."

Avalesca: "I told you earlier: Had I been in your shoes, I would have done the same. You cannot ask a man to not protect those he loves. Fayriz, of all people, should understand this.It is our failing, not yours, that Syrenica was captured."

Verdain: "I sense it was more than failing." He lowers his eyes. "The Lady Triesia, waited until the Wings' Ring appeared. But perhaps I am thinking too much on that as well."

Avalesca smiles gently. "I think you are. A tired mind can often repeat within distasteful thoughts, over and over. You should rest. Is there anything you need, more food, a blanket?"

Verdain: "A blanket would be most appreciated. Thanks for your kindness, milady."

Avalesca: "Verdain..."

"Yes?" he asks questioningly.

Avalesca: "Tomorrow, I wish to learn more of what you know. Your skill is impressive. We will talk more, and if you are willing, you will teach me. And I in turn will teach you what I know."

Verdain: He smiles, stands and bows, "I will be happy to teach and learn from you, milady."

Avalesca hesitates, looking at him for a moment.

Verdain: "Is... something wrong?"

Avalesca: "It's an honorable thing you do, defending your family. Just remember....while it is good to be willing to die for them....it is much better if you live for them." Her eyes are very sad.

Verdain: He seems startled for a moment unsure what he could have said to bring this on.

Avalesca can't help but grin broadly then at the dragon's confused look. She reaches out and gently strokes his cheek.

"I, I will keep your words close to heart."

Avalesca: "Oh Verdain, if you call me 'Milady' one more time the flat of my sword will find your bottom. I'm not THAT old."Avalesca turns to leave.

Verdain: He laughs gently. "Then mi... Avalesca. I will remember well those words as well."

Avalesca glances back over her shoulder with a smile. "Goodnight, little dragon."

Verdain: He smiles, "May your night be well." He says with a final bow.

What happens from here, only the game will tell! Works are in progress for some of the other characters in the story. Hope you enjoyed this, and go check out *Raynoraktu's page.