The Harvest Moon Consortium

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Val’jss paused, shifting his focus from the parchment to the shadow cast by his quill as a small focus of fairie fire flickered above his shoulder. The room was pitch black save for this subtle illumination; while unnecessary for him to see it still provided an anchor for his thoughts. Val’jss had taken on an uncomfortably, contemplative demeanor soon after the unexpected encounter with the Vrinn drow weapons master a few nights ago, forcing the buried memories of his past back into his immediate consciousness. Despite being within the Shadow Plane, Val’jss sneered as he thought, Even the mighty Shar cannot absolve all my losses. Val’jss had given himself over to the Mistress of the Night soon after finding himself stuck on the surface, in part because of his feeling of betrayal by Llolth after receiving news of his House’s utter destruction by their longtime rivals, House Vrinn. Strange that he was now the only noble remnant of the once proud House, Bar’anathan, lorekeepers of the Netherese Death Arts. He allowed himself a thin, malevolent smile as he envisioned the countless Vrinn dying while repeatedly trying to bypass the traps safeguarding the Netherese treasures. Val’jss would of course have the right of Accusation if he ever returned to the Underdark, though the fact that a Vrinn had found him on the surface meant that his family’s murderers had near-limitless resources and likely Llolth’s approval to hunt him down. He leaned back in the large, overstuffed leather chair, slowly rolling the quill’s stem between his fingers. Val’jss knew he could not weather the forthcoming maelstrom alone and could not rely on any significant divine assistance from Shar, at least not yet. Perhaps he could garner support of others who call this surface city their home, especially if they knew of the wave of destruction soon to find the shores of Anchorome. His smile broadened a bit. Yes, that would do nicely, and I think I know just the person.

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And so now he was a part of “the Family.” Val’jss continued his internal monologue ruminating upon the decisions leading him to this point and those that yet lingered. The crime lord Rory had been quick to offer Val’jss what he sought: complete awareness of the region’s happenings through the innumerable eyes and ears of his “children.” This should afford Val’jss a fair warning before any more of the Vrinn Drow appeared within Lapis Port. In exchange, Val’jss would be at the Family’s beck-and-call during a “trial period” before officially joining their pedigree. Val’jss knew he likely gave up more than he’d receive through this partnership, but under the circumstances it was a serviceable agreement.
He would still need to firm-up his dealings with the Nightsmiths and, in doing so, establish a watch at the entrance to the deep roads of the Underdark. Val’jss knew this would be difficult and yet, likely the most important site for a vigil given that when the Vrinn came en force, they would almost certainly pass through the Bloodstone Orc caves. Interestingly, these Nightsmith Drow paid tribute to Tiamat. Val’jss had learned of the dragon god’s smoldering obsession over her wayward red dragon disciple, Seryne Vail, giving Val’jss a possible bargaining tool if he could somehow sway the Vail twin toward her chaotic inner calling. Seryne was far from a simple game stone for him to maneuver on a whim although Val’jss felt certain that she would need very little provocation to embrace her chaotic side after the recent abduction of her brother. The trick would be to guide her rage for his benefit while appeasing his fragile allies. Almost as an after thought, Val’jss looked down at the dragon-shaped chess piece he'd been idly rotating between his fingers. A thin, wry smile formed on his lips.
How appropriate.