He spoke tersely, confirming the worst. Goblins swarming up from below, kobolds at the postern gate, human mercenaries eager for their chance at carnage, drow loyal to the Underdark coming down three tunnels.
All converging at the Promenade now that the magical defenses and wards had been torn aside by a jealous goddess.
That this would not have happened were Liriel to choose a new patron goddess, that even Lolth would not have been able to maintain her hold over a former cleric if the other chose a new god/goddess and that other accepted her - that his mind shyed away from. One had to make that choice from the heart, with complete certainty. Certainty that Liriel did not have. That would still leave the various assassins and clerics and bounty hunters who sought her death anyway and who knew if the spider goddess would be able to find some crack or crevice within Liriel's heart with which to tempt her into invoking her once again.
Qilue sent the two on with what she could, summoning and dismissing Iljreen the battlemaster to do what she could in stemming the invasion during that time.
The dwarf was the lone of his kind currently enjoying the hospitality of the followers of Eilistraee. He was one of a handful of others like himself who spread the word of the Dark Maiden and her followers. Why? Because just as the worship and acknowledgement of the Spider Bitch, even swearing by her, strengthened the Demonweb Queen - so too did the occasional song or proclamation or thankful word sent towards the Dark Maiden strengthen her own hold. That which strengthened Eilistraee was a poke in the eye to Lolth.
So even a cleric of Moradin could spread a few tales and praise these dark elves that had the courage to break away from their fellows and decide that they wanted a better life.
Ungur Foecrunch buckled his armor on and marched down the tunnel, hoping that he could help turn the tide of battle, muttering a prayer to his dwarven god.
Not too far away, a halfling who was not a cleric but a good archer did the same to his own god.
Fairly close to the other two, a squad of human adventurers who had been rescued from the perils of Undermountain by the Dark Maiden's followers prepared their own welcome for these invaders. The cleric (elf, of Erevan) prayed and even the nonelves nodded and made little gestures invoking their own patrons as they heard the sounds of mass troops gathering.
In each case, in an eerie unison that was not planned at all but just one of the strange coincidences that crop up in all realities, they said one thing in part of their prayers.
"...and I wouldn't be averse if you could send us some reinforcements. In fact, that would be really nice..."
Perhaps it was the same vagaries of fate. Perhaps one of the gods or goddesses answered. Someone popped into that universe at the right time and the right place.
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(Posted Thu, 22 Apr 2004 10:24)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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