Dry cracked earth plumbed red dust with each of his steps as Thraxys approached the 3 tiered black and green marble dias. Two of the platforms rested lower with a taller one inbetween them. On the two lower tiers, were 2 aspects of the Dark Elf, one dressed in polished chainmail, in the common style of the Drow, but instead of black and red, it was brillant steel with blue accents. He wore a plumbed helm, the full feather dyed a royal blue to match the other blues in the armor. The Knightly Thraxys puffed out his chests as the drow approached. To the other side was another ascpet, dressed in torn and battered leathers. He paced like a wild cat in a cage and moved with the same dangerous grace. Worn over the leather armor was a black tabbard, adorned with the red spider symbol of Lolth, demon goddess of the Drow. He gave Thraxys a sideways glare and then smirked as he approached. Finally upon the talled pedestal was also an aspect of Thraxys, but this one was shrouded entirely in shadow. It was sitting cross legged as if in meditation, silent and unemotional as ever.
First the Knight spoke, "Children Thraxys, CHILDREN!, murdered and used in horrible experiments by the Zeklos! We must do something!" He stood with an air of superiority and self righteousness, but the Dark Thraxys simply chuckled and responded with a sarcastic tone. "HUMAN children... Who cares what horrible humans do to their human offspring, make for less work for us. Kill them while they are weak and harmless, doesn't matter who does it, just as long as they do not grow up to be superstitious fearful natives, we all know how they love us!"
Thraxys looked back and forth between the opposing aspects, the Knight glared over at the Darker twin, who was obviously very please with pushing the buttons of the noble warrior.
"Come on Thraxys!" said the knight, "Redeem yourself for killing those Drow children, make amends. You were under orders then, but it does not change the end result. Here's your chance, save them! Clear your conscience!"
"CONSCIENCE?!" Shouted the dark aspect, "Do not tell me you still regret that act. You know the laws, all of a house's members must cease to exist, from matron to children. You did your duty as a proud member of Bregan D'aerthe and made the Mercenary band look good in the eyes of the triumphant house. Besides, This Zeklos Keep sounds like a tomb, a place for mushroom headed heroes to throw their life away upon. Your ally, Arianna, she is dead from that stronghold. A perfectly good waste of prime female sexuality, why you never bothered is beyond me, but, she is Dead, lost and gone. Might as well learn from her mistakes."
"Don't listen to this lolthite!" Replied the knight, "Eilistraee would be pleased with such a victory! Evil overturned and exposed, innocent youth spared the horrors that were doomed as their fate. You would be a hero!"
"Savior of the Children, Sounds good for on your tombstone." The Dark Thraxys chuckled, "Oh I forget, they don't give you tombstones, they just toss your fetid corpse into the sewers to be eaten by rats!"
A whispered voice from above, silenced both of the aspects. The Shadowed Thraxys stood up from it's lotus position. It vanished form the top dias, and appeared behind the lolthite. It's speed was lightning quick as it passed it's hand through the chest of the Dark Aspect. With a agonizing growling groan, the evil side of the Drow crumpled, as the knightly beemed happily, "Bravo!" it said haughtily. The Shadow vanished again and moments later appear next to the knight. He too crumpled, the shock of betrayal still locked on it's once smiling face.The shadows hand passed through the body like a knife through a running stream, when it fell.
It vanished again and appeared infront of Thraxys. "Do what thy will" hissed the shadowy aspect and it stepped forward, and merged with the Drow. He stiffened at first, expecting the same as his other components. "Are they gone?" was the only thing he could ask.
From within, three voices answered, the proud knightly voice, the cynical dark voice and the whisper. They spoke in unison.
"Never gone, but no longer apart. We are you, and you are us." then the voices spoke separately. First came the knightly voice, arrogant and proud, "I am here, to show you the path of a hero, to remind you of compassion and honor." then the bitter tone of the Dark Ascpect spoke, "and I will be here when there is no room for such things! There are times you must be ruthless, you must be Drow! I will keep you focused, remind you that compassion will not be offered to you for your noble acts. I will keep you Drow! not some weak willed surfacer, but a hardened and deadly Dark Elf." Then the Whipering hiss of the shadow spoke, "And I will keep them in check. I am the balance in the chaos, as with the realm we are bonded to. You cannot be at odds within yourself. You are a leader now, a husband, and a dancer of the shadows. You are Thraxys Chaz'al, murderer and hero. I am not your judge, I am not your conscience. I am your inner peace, your most loyal, for no matter where you go, your shadow is with you."
Thraxys stood before the now empty dias. He looked to the storm cloud churning sky which parted to the moonlight, and there he saw the red haired beauty, that was his partner in life. Next to her was a silver haired Drow elven woman, who seemed sad, but understanding in her gaze. He was filled with peace, then winced as pain lanced up his spine. There was a burning in his veins, poison, and it was like fire. It was with great effort to even remain standing, as he staggered into the dias, which cracked and shattered, the black and green marble chunks falling to the ground. As each peice fell, they sprouted eight shiney onyx legs, and turned into hundereds a various sized spiders. His legs went weak, and refused to obey his will. Down he went, hitting the dry red dirt with a billow of dust. The spiders swarmed over him, spinning strong silken binding around his legs and hands, then began wrapping him up like spiders do. The clouds closed, and blocked out the moonlight, curning more violently, glowing with random purple lightning flashes.
The air grew heavy, and it was becoming harder to breathe as the darkness deepened and seemed to almost become tangible. The first massive foreleg stepped out of the gloom, then the next, and then six more carrying a massive spider with the face of a female Drow. The Spider Queen, Lolth, loomed above the caccooned Thraxys, her 1000s of arachnid minions gathering at her feet. She smiled a evil fang filled grin and crouched down to eye level witht he drow.
"You... are still mine!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Thraxys sat up with a cry of fear, or at least tried, but his blankets had wound themsleves about him tightly, hindering his movement. Drench with sweath the cloth was strong and unyielding. His eyes were wild, but after a moment the common room of Degannwy came into focus. With his senses returned, the drow freed himself from his covers, and focused on calming his beating heart. Slow deep breaths, and closed eyes brought his mind and soul back into balance. He stood and made his way outside, to let the cool night air refreshen him. There was something about the night that had always felt right. The moon shined above and broke through the tree tops in bluish white beams. He stood within one of the rays and basked in the pale light. After a minute of that, he stepped into the dark again and passed into the shadow realm. He felt his feelings muted and it gave him a deeper peace, making the nightmare seem far away.