A Drow's Dilemma Ep. 95: Jailbreak

Risa seemed thoughtful. "Now that Caleldir puts it that way, I agree that we should seize Felyvaniss first. The idea of the Duskhaven curse spreading to one of the Master Librarian's daughters is not one I am fond of. Better to figure out how to prevent it as quickly as possible."

Sornamal looked pleased. It was an expression he quickly endeavored to hide. He studiously ignored the quirked eyebrow Selene gave him. "I believe it shouldn't be too difficult to rescue Riia now that we know of her existence." His hand twitched to form the sign 'tempest' as he said the young woman's name, something that he didn't seem to notice. "Provided that she is willing to be rescued. It is a shame that you didn't have Risa port you away then and there... but that can't be helped now. You just have to find a way into her room again."

"I had considered that," Caleldir admitted. "But I admit I was still trying to get information out of the rebel Ethefein. Also, it seemed like a breach of promise." He paused, thinking. "It seems likely that Felynriia will be willing to come with us. She seemed pretty intent on..." He drew a deep breath. "Well..."

"What the Master Librarian is trying to say is that Felynriia is a very horny virgin and she was disappointed that Caleldir was not there to have sex with her," Risa said cheerfully. "So if he offers sex with her as an incentive, she will gladly come with him."

Caleldir sighed, looking gloomy. "Yeah... that." He was obviously very uncomfortable with that idea.

Selene remained silent. She could live with a pale daughter - she really could - but a deaf and possibly blind one on top of it all? Worriedly, she rubbed at her slightly swollen stomach. Her eyes darted to Caleldir more than once. But they could not yet retire to the safety of their bedroom. There were important discussions to be had. And if rescuing her newly discovered little sister was the way forward...

"The spells over the negotiations house operate on willpower. Theoretically, one might be able to overcome the spells. Such a feat would require godlike mental fortitude. I suppose a ranged attack against the building itself would be possible. The walls are not impenetrable. Just very, very durable. I would only advise literally breaking in as a last resort, though. Beyond that solution... well, there is always subterfuge and misdirection," Sornamal explained. "I, of course, can not be involved beyond casting spells on you from the safety of my home."

While his father was talking, Tsabdrin paced the floor with a look of concentration on his face. He was so focused that he almost tripped over Fucking, who was bringing a platter of snacks to be placed in front of Selene. The ranger grumbled at the little goblin. Then, in frustration, he blurted, "Who cares about the cripple?" Then he clamped his teeth shut again and began to rub the back of his neck as he continued to pace, and his voice dropped to low, mumbling grumble. "Not that I have any idea how to save Ashyr. Only half-formed, stupid..." He continued to grumble, but in a rougher, less intelligible language.

"I happen to know someone with 'godlike mental fortitude' who is also an expert on possessing buildings," Risa said with a smug smile. "I think that given time, support, and access to a critical part of the structure, I could seize control over it. Then simply open any doors that need to be opened without any violence. You can then stroll in and persuade the girl to leave."

The old arcanist blinked. "You can... possess buildings? I had... not realized... Well. That seems like it would make things more straight-forward than I anticipated."

Risa grinned. "My old name was Storehouse One. Or Storwa for short. My original purpose was to be the Animating Intellect inside a secure vault."

"That seems like it might work," Caleldir said with relief. "And worry not, Tsabdrin. We will rescue Ashyr. But there is not yet a path open to doing so. Although..." Caleldir hesitated. "We can try a messaging spell to get into contact with Althaia and Uriel, and see if the Aasimar has any insight as to whether his father might be the Duskhaven's mysterious 'Patron.' That might be a start."

Sornamal turned his attention to the pacing ranger. "I know you would rather spend all your efforts on locating your cousin, but that is not currently possible. We need you to watch for when her brother leaves the Negotiations House. You are the best at subterfuge."

Tsabdrin made an annoyed huffing sound, then looked toward his sister. Selene nodded at him, agreeing with her father. "Fine," he said in a surly tone. "Just let me know when you want me to leave."

"Ashyr would want our sister out of the rebels' hands," Selene reminded Tsabdrin, finally breaking her silence. "We help her by doing so."

The ranger sighed. "I know."

"I do think we have some building plans in my library. They were in the Duskhaven records, of course, and I remember copying them over a couple of hundred years ago. Perhaps you can find an integral part of the Negotiations House with that." Having said that, Sornamal stood and made his way out of the portal and to his library. "If you all would come with me? The plans are inconvenient to move," he said over his shoulder as he walked away. His offspring stood and followed him out.

"Risa and I will look over those plans. I suppose that we are launching this rescue pretty much immediately? I think that would be for the best, personally." He smiled in relief. "Lead the way, Master Mage." Caleldir and Risa followed after the old arcanist to his library. Caleldir glanced over them briefly, but not being familiar with the design philosophy, ended up simply shrugging and letting Risa do the thinking here. In the meantime, he helped with any other preparations needed.

The woman did so, spending almost an hour poring over every detail of the large structure. During the hour, Tsabdrin was sent off to scout out the place and to see where Ethefein was. Selene prepared some spells that she thought she might need - since obviously she was the one who had to protect Risa. Tsabdrin would be too busy watching for any Duskhaven rebels, and Caleldir was the only one who Felynriia was likely to willingly go with. Without Ashyr, Selene was the only person left.

Finally, Risa broke her silence to Sornamal, "While it is not a 'weakness' by any stretch, if the House is still even somewhat like these prints, I know where the best spot would be. Here, near the lower center of the structure in this servants' area. If we can keep the staff working there out for about one to four hours, I think I can meditate there to seize control of the structure. Based on the magics described here, most of the resonating energies powering the old spells should make their way through the section in that amount of time. The number of enchantments present is both what makes taking over this place difficult and yet makes it possible on a much grander scale. Once in, I will have complete control. But it will be complex, and I am afraid that I will not be able to do much else while trying to take over. Except... maybe..." She pursed her lips. "No, I think I have enough energy for this. Most likely. I will need to recall all my other avatars, at very least. And I will need to be protected and kept from interruptions, which I think Selene already knew."

A small smile twitched at the corners of the old mage's lips. "This is perfect, then. I can confidently say that the Negotiations House was not protected from a demigod possessing the entire structure. And there, out of the way in the servants quarters, you shouldn't be bothered. Especially not during peak hours, when they are all away seeing to the needs of the visitors."

"And I'm thinking that, dressed up as Duskhaven staff (as much as I despise playing the role of a servant), it will appear as if I have the authority to keep people away from wherever it is Risa needs to set up," Selene added. "I've prepared a couple of spells that can make this possible."

Risa grinned. "Well, shall we launch a rescue?"

"Tsabdrin did say that you were in the clear a couple of minutes ago. As his note said, it seemed as if Ashyr's brother left the House soon after you did. I would advise that you go now." Sornamal told the small party. "Here. Take these first." He said as he placed several spells on Selene to make her more durable and mask her aura. "There. Anything else you three want me to do?"

"No, I think that that will be all," Risa said cheerfully. "I am looking forward to this."

"I could probably also use a servant's disguise," Caleldir said. "And some quick tips on how to busily look like I am supposed to be there."

Caleldir was provided with much the same outfit as Selene's, though a little less fancy to reflect is lesser status as a male drow. When he was done dressing, the expedition back to the Negotiations House was launched. There really was not much in the way of complications on the way to the designated servant's quarters. Once there, Risa took over a room, removed her garments, and sat cross-legged in the center. Without much fanfare, the purple-haired drow-looking A.I. closed her eyes, and the room started humming at a low frequency.

Caleldir took a deep breath. "I will make my way as close to where Felynriia is being kept as I can," he said. "And I will stay there until Risa opens the doors. We do not want to be here longer than we have to." Secure in his servant's disguise, he hurried away.

In the Duskhaven garb, no one questioned their presence. The other servants stayed out of their way, and the visitors completely ignored them. It got on Selene's nerves, in fact, being so ignored. But she powered through the negative emotions and kept her face calm and slightly authoritative. It helped that she could order around the lesser servants to some extent.

... which she did quite a bit of after she settled into the place right outside where Risa meditated. Occasionally, her voice was heard telling one person or another that they shouldn't enter. She could honestly say that her orders were from Duskhaven themselves and, with the enchantments on the building in place, no one thought to question her.

It was much the same for Caleldir. All he had to do was say 'Duskhaven orders' and he was left alone. Selene suggested that he take a platter with some refreshments in and stand just outside the door to where 'Riia' (as Sornamal called her) was held. It seemed like a normal enough sight that no one even looked twice at servant Caleldir.

It was rather tense simply standing by a door with refreshments, but as time went by, Caleldir relaxed. This was actually pretty simple for a rescue mission. Besides, what could someone here do to him? The place was protected by a non-violence spell, and he was resistant to most non-violent means of neutralization. Most.

The building proved to not have much in the way of enchantments that prevented a demigod from possessing it. There were some things that prevented other, more mundane hauntings, however. Those took some time to slip around - especially considering that there seemed to be some sort of alarm attached to those spells. But, in a little over an hour from when she began, the building was finally Risa's.

Except... -Ethefein is coming back,- Tsabdrin mentally told Caleldir and Selene through the mental link that Selene established before the official mission started. -There's another male with him - don't know who.-

-Then we will have to move quickly,- Caleldir responded. -Risa! How goes the haunting?-

-In place. Call me The Negotiator. You are all inside me,- Risa said serenely. She opened the door to Felynriia. -Persuade the girl out.-

Heh. They were all inside of Risa. Ashyr would have appreciated that innuendo. Independently, both Selene and Tsabdrin smiled to themselves for their cousin's sake. The emotions, both painful and fond, seeped into the connection for all within it to feel. That, and the sense of nervous urgency. Quickly, quickly. There wasn't much time

Taking a deep breath, Caleldir dismissed his disguise, dropped some of the veil on his faerie aura of attractiveness, and stepped through the door, making his way to Felynriia. He strode into the room. -Felynriia!- he signed. -Just like I promised, I have returned for you. Please, gather up your things and let us be away from here.- He flashed her his most brilliant smile. -I have some very special people for you to meet. And some promises to make good on.-

The albino woman was still on her perch on top of her modest bookshelf when Caleldir came into the room. She didn't seem to notice (or perhaps ignored) his presence until he was fully in the room. But when she did look up from her book, she showed surprise again on her pale face. Her expressions were not guarded as her siblings were. She did not try to hide her surprise after the initial shock.

-What about my masters?- she signed cautiously as her eyes darted to just behind Caleldir as if she expected someone to be there. No one was there, however. Not yet. -Promises? Does that mean- Her face began to turn a brilliant red again and her drowsign cut off abruptly in her excited embarrassment. Slowly, clearly unsure of herself, she planted her bare feet on the ground. She looked to her books with a furrowed brow. -I have nothing that is mine- Riia signed regretfully. -Do you think my masters will move them to the new place?-

Caleldir was not really in the business of seduction normally. But now, he was. As awkward as he felt about it, he was supposed to be House Consort, and Felynriia was a female member of House Duskhaven. So, in a way, it was his duty to seduce her. -Forget about your masters- he signed gently. -Where we are going now, you will not need them. No more masters. Just family. I want to bring you to meet your sister.-

He took a deep breath and put a minor polymorph on himself. Immediately, he grew nearly a foot taller, and his colors inverted. White hair to black. Red eyes to blue. Drow-black skin to his former shade, almost exactly the same as Riia's. It was not a dismissal of the permanent polymorph he had done to turn himself genetically into a drow, rather it was technically a disguise, but a rather recursive one.

Riia gasped as the male before her turned into someone very much like her - except for his dark hair and his height. She was not sure what she was seeing, but it would seem that a disguise had been dropped, and the 'doctor' was finally showing his true self. What other reason could there be? Who would choose to be pale if they were not already born that way?

-Take the books. Your true family is stealing you away from your masters, so might as well steal the books as well.- He smiled at her again and approached her. Working a pleasure spell into his fingertips, and casting the spell that turned his words into letters in the eyes of the 'listener' so that the deaf could understand him, he took one of her hands in his, and ran his fingers along her chin to gently tilt her eyes up to meet his own. "Please, Felynriia. Come with me. Your father, Sornamal, and your sister, Selene, are anxious to get you away from those who cruelly style themselves your 'masters'. And I want to bring you to such freedom and happiness as you have never known. Bundle up your books and follow me to love and liberty."

His words about taking her away... The pleasurable touch of his fingertips... it was like one of those stories from the surface that she liked so well. Her pink eyes looked into his, completely dazzled by his beauty. Her slender frame shifted into his, willing him to take her into his arms. But then wasn't the time for that, not yet.

Her hand hesitantly slipped out of his so allow herself to sign a reply. -I can't carry them all. They are heavy, and I do not have a bag.-

"Then I will take them for you," Caleldir said. Pulling open his bag of holding, he shoveled all the books into it, including the ones that she held. He scooped her up into his arms. He gave a final smile before reverting the polymorph back to his currently normal appearance.

-I'm going to have to create a distraction here; they are coming up the stairs!- came Tsabdrin's alarmed warning. Shortly after, there was a sound of several metal things clanging down the stairs directly followed by angry shouting and general commotion.

-Tsabdrin! Your attempting to slow our unwelcome guests is admirable, but unnecessarily. Here right now, they are mortals and I am their Goddess. This place is mine. I can turn the very stones of this place against them. I may not be able to kill them, but if you like, I can at least attempt to injure.-

-I do not see what use that might be. Please do not attempt to attack them. Just get us there safely,- Caleldir instructed.

Tsabdrin mentally acknowledged Risa's reminder. Still, he seemed amused about whatever he had done to slow the rebel and not at all regretful about his superfluous actions.

-Risa! Are you able to port us away?- Selene asked through the link.

"Let us be off." Caleldir broke into a run. -Risa! I am running towards your location. Can you slow our foes?-

-I am the Negotiations House right now. Of course I can. When you get to me, I will end my possession of this place, then port us back to my figurine,- Risa proudly thundered. She slammed the doors in the face of Ethefein and his ally and opened those that Caleldir, still holding Felynriia, sped through. The paths of the rebels constantly blocked them. The enchantments of the place actively slowed and rejected them as Risa caused them to act as if they were acting in violation of every rule of the place. All the while, she cleared the way for Caleldir and sped him along. It would have been shocking indeed for Caleldir not to be able to avoid the invaders and make his way to where the immobile Risa psychically controlled the whole structure.

Tsabdrin sprinted his way through the halls and the mess of utterly confused people until he got to the room where his sister and Risa were. Around the same time that Caleldir and his other sister arrived, in fact. Caleldir gave Risa a nod. Risa ended her possession then opened the portal. Caleldir, still holding the girl he had stolen away, leaped into the magical door. Once Selene and Tsabdrin were also through, Risa scooped up her garments and followed them into her pocket realm.

In the pocket realm, Selene gave Caleldir a disapproving look. Had he just carried her sister like that though the hallways? Apparently so. Well. That was incredibly undignified. Even worse was the fact that the pale young woman looked positively overjoyed that she was being treated in such a way. The emotions were written all over her face. Another issue that would have to be addressed.

In addition to speeding Caleldir and the girl on their way, Risa had also prevented anyone from witnessing their run by routing them through abandoned areas and temporarily jamming doors for those who would have intersected their path. So, though Caleldir noted Selene's disapproval, he shot her a cheeky grin. She did not have much to worry about. He had not been noted by anyone in the building. Other possible reasons for her disapproval were lost on him.

Felynriia still clung to Caleldir's shoulders, looking more and more overwhelmed. Her hands twitched as if she wanted to say something, but was torn between being able to cling to him and the ability to communicate. The world had just gotten much, much bigger for the pale young woman.

Caleldir set the girl down gently. His words were still writing themselves out in the air in the eyes of the target of the spell (Felynriia), so he did not bother to Drowsign. "You are safe now, Felynriia," he told her with another beaming smile. "This is your sister Selene, your brother Tsabdrin, and Risa, who is sort of like a relative of mine."