The Monic's Estate

[Barath'Daubre]

The Monics were an old family who long ago, swore and oath in secret, an oath in darkness. They thought this oath meant they would only have to dabble in naughtyness, never actually fulfill this oaths. That changed a month ago, when a sun elf walked into their house, unmasked himself briefly to become a drow, and then replaced the mask. Since then, the Monics have been housing a steadily growing number of drow, all who use the strange masks that disguise them as sun elves at all times. None have found this suspicious, yet – the Monics were always known for dealings outside their species, and the neighbors think the sun elves their newest oddity.

A sewage drain in the back of their house is where all these elves go to. Along with members of other races, they have begun forming an underground guild of every race, with goals unknown. The drow that runs this organization, which is known half mockingly as the Sewage Guild, is known as Barath’Daubre.

[Barath'Daubre]

Thrrik’tirr sits in the dining hall of the Monic's looking distinctly out of place, a oversided praying mantis crouching on - not sitting on, but with his feet on it and crouching - on a chair, knawing on a large leg of...something that looks too much like a human for poor Kyle Monic. He had taken his oaths for fun, never thinking he would have to house this savage. Of course, that wasn't what scared Kyle about Thrrik'tirr. Kyle's sister, Lindel, had tried running away. Five mages had covered her trail, and she had been guarded by the ten best of the Monic's retainers. The Thri-kreen had returned with her head in a day. Thrrik'tirr gestures to Kyle with the leg.

Thrrik'tirr: "You know nothing of what I seek? If I find you are lying, you will die."

Kyle gulps, terrified. He had never wanted this. He swore, as he did almost ever day, that if any of the goodly gods struck this creature down and freed him and his house, he would give everything he had to charity. Everything! And, as every day, the goodly gods ignored him for his foolishness.

Kyle: "I s-s-swear it, Master Thrrik'tirr" He no longer stumbled over the name, having once learned harshly the penalty for doing so. "I would not lie to you."

Thrrik'tirr tears off another peice of meat with his mandibles.

Thrrik'tirr: "No, you would not. You are too afraid to. Always afraid, you humans."

Kyle can do nothing but nod in agreement. He did let out a squeal of fright as a massive form came up from the sewers, growling slightly. The draegoloth, Jeggrax, terrified Kyle far more than Thrrik'tirr ever could.*

Jeggrax: "If Barath didn't forbid it, I would eat this little man's bones."

Thrrik'tirr lets out a chattering laugh, a sound akin to fingernails on a chalkboard. Kyle wimpers, wondering if Jeggrax might decide Barath's word wasn't enough to devour him.

Thrrik'tirr: "Your brother forbade it, though, and going against him is something I would rather not do."

Jeggrax sighs, and gives Kyle one last hungry look. Kyle never suspects that the whole scene was designed to make Kyle trust Thrrik'tirr some, and to keep him off blance, both of which it did do.

Jeggrax: "Very well. Did Chris get back yet?"

Thrrik'tirr shakes his head, his antenne moving over the next peice of meet.

Thrrik'tirr: "He said something about rats, and left. Try a ribcage while you wait."

Jeggrax: "I think I will. Chris better get back, or I'll break his spine."

Kyle can only look away as they both begin to devour what is left of the...meat. He prays he can find a way out of this with his life.

[Barath'Daubre]

*Chris enters into the Estate through the sewers, cralling up into the back room, long sealed to hide the entrance. Thrrik'tirr and Jeggrax had left, and that coward Kyle was probably cowering in his room right now. No matter. Chris had work to do. He sat down, and begin analyzing reports piled on a desk. All were heavily cyphered, and would have seemed complete drivil to one who did not know the codes needed. To him, it was a report on the Trades activities. Their newly founded office on Toril was already making great profit, a fact Chris had anticipated. An outpost in the Abyss was beginning to do trade with various minor demonic groups, but report indicates some lord of the Abyss had taken an interest. Chris made some notes, but his mind was elsewhere. He had heard about how Rumerin had tricked him, and was frusterated with himself for falling for the deception. He tried pushing it out of his mind as he went back to work.*