Years of the Covenant: Part 8

Six months had passed since the attack on Nightwatch and the confrontation with Lazanon Cordimos. Things had quieted, and no attempts by the votaries had been made against the covenant. But now the the issues that had passed were finally coming to the forefront of the covenant's attention.1

Silious Roh, along with Darrien Hoss, had arrived at the Covenant Citadel. The dark, vast keep was the sight where peace was forged between the exiled drow and the shadar-kai; creating the organization now known as the Nightshad Covenant.2

Vannolyn was not among them this day. He was leading a reconnaissance mission of several bat riders; hoards of dark scorpions had been seen passing too close to the edge of Nightcrawler Chasm. As third in command, he was placed in charge of Nightwatch and all its residents in Silious's absence.3

The road was perilous, for there is no light on the path to the Covenant Citadel. The colossal castle lies deep in the hidden passes of a range of mountains, cased in impenetrable darkness. The stones of the keep consisted of the dark rock that could be found all throughout the Shadow Plane. Shadow beasts roamed the grounds surrounding the citadel, as giant shadow bats circled the twisted, jagged spires. And if the natural elements didn't protect it from unwanted visitors, the numerous stealthy guard that kept watch would.4

Garbed in dark, hooded cloaks, Silious and Darrien along with a host of several men rode in on their black steeds, carefully navigating the rugged, steep path leading up to the towering doors of the citadel. As if jumping out of the stone walls, two shadar-kai Shadow Blades leapt to the ground in front of them; swords brandished.5

"Who goes there?!", the taller of the two yelled.6

"Silious Roh, and the men of Nightwatch." Silious answered flatly.7

The speaker among the two guard turned to the other, conversing in hushed voices. "You may enter." He said with a slow nod, and turned to the entrance. With a sharp whistle, the towering darkwood doors parted inward with a heavy moan.8

The two shadow blades disappeared, once more, into the shadows of the citadel stone. Silious, Darrien, and their men unmounted and entered the keep. All of them made their way through halls and corridors of the eerie home of the covenant. Other nightshaders bombarded them with skeptical looks; few had still grown accustomed to humans joining the covenant ranks. With a wave of Darrien's hand the others broke away, and only Silious and he were left alone to do their business. The quiet pair made their way up the series of stairwells to reach the council chambers. 9

"Master, this isn't going to work. What exactly do you hope to accomplish here?" Darrien inquired.10

"Cordimos's actions need to be addressed. The Drow Houses cannot be allowed to act so boldly without consequence." Silious replied.11

Darrien didn't know what else to say. When Silious Roh made up his mind, there was no changing it. He was a stubborn man, but a strong leader. The man was Darrien's superior, and he knew when to speak and when to accept the given decisions.12

As a mid-tier leader in the Nightshade Covenant, Silious Roh was a member of the Council of the Eclipse; the gathering of leaders of the Nightshade Convenant.13

They had come to the top of the tenth flight of stairs, somewhere deep in the heart of the citadel. The two men weaved through the corridors, until they came to a pair of tall, weathered double doors. With a wave of Silious's hand the doors flung open. The high-domed room was dotted with wall-anchored torches and three chandeliers of black fire, but no smoke. In the center of the chamber was a long table lined with chairs. At the center of the table was the image of a sun closed away in the palm of a hand; the symbol of the covenant.14

All of them were here: the Brotherhood of the Blinded Sun, the Shadar-kai Initiative, the Dark Ones' Alliance, the many Drow Houses, and several other small factions. The loud conversations died to small whispers as Silious entered the room and took his seat. Darrien stood silently behind him, just as the personal guard of the other leaders did. Their sharp eyes were like daggers as they stared with dark intentions toward Silious.15

Steadily conversations renewed. Then suddenly he stepped through the door and everything went dead silent. The Presiding Night, elected leader of the Council of the Eclipse, walked through the room and took his place at the head of the table. He rapped the gavel, in his right hand, and said, "This council is now in session."16

The true name of the Presiding Night was Kradess Orlytar. He had held his position for 63 years. Though he had come from the Third Drow House, he had long since severed any ties of showing favor to them over any other faction.17

"I recognize first the Shadar-Kai Initiative." The Presiding Night said gesturing to the ornately dressed dark fey; her name was Lisira Ulcoff. The woman was tall, as far as shadar-kai went, with a melodic, but firm voice. She was well-respected, but like her countless predecessors she still harbored some small tension toward the drow houses.18

"Gentelmen, I come before you to speak once more on the issue of the growing number of light-dwellers here on the Shadow Plane. More specifically the followers of Pelor have proven to be at the heart of this problem. We, the Shadar-Kai Initiative, have tried remove these people from our domain peacefully, but new action needs to be taken." pronounced Ulcoff.19

"This is what we've been saying for ages!" Shouted the man in shiny black, light-plate armor, slamming his dagger into the darkwood table. This hostile drow went by the name of Selton Chadassa, leader of the Brotherhood of the Blinded Sun. He was known for short temper and rash action. "I say we kill them all, eradicate them for good."20

"This is always your answer." came a chilling whisper. Many could not tell the gender of this creature's race. This entity was only known as Nemmen Monoma, leader of the Dark Ones' Alliance. It glared with those glowing green orbs, supposedly eyes, under the hood of its dark cloak. Though appearing timid and harmless, Nemmen, like all other dark ones, was quite deadly when provoked. "When will you learn that open war is not the answer to all things?"21

"And what do you know of war? You cowardly shade!" Selton spat at Nemmen.22

"He knows more about diplomacy and decisive action than you ever will." Came another voice from across the table. She was an attractive, and scantly yet still modestly dressed drow named Miccaryne Deurden, leader of the Fifth Drow House.23

As always every leader had an opinion on this heated issue. Its been the main goal to eliminate the presence of light on the Shadow Plane as long as the covenant has been in existence. And just like every other time, a war of words erupts among the squabbling factions. Silious Roh merely rolled his eyes and remained quiet, steadily waiting until the arguments died down.24

The Presiding Night recognized this patience and noted this with a gentle nod. He rapped on the gavel several times to quiet the others. "We will continue to handle the light-dwellers as we always have, by whatever means necessary to maintain consistence among the factions."25

Some were pleased by this decision while others reluctantly conceded. Then the Presiding Night gestured toward Silious. "I now recognize the Guardians of Nightwatch."26

"Thank you Presiding Night." Silious said as he stood up and removed his spectacles. "Leaders of the covenant, as you all know there has always been dissension among the ranks of nightshaders. Some have acted out more aggressively than others, but none have ever included the wretched Votaries of Vecna in their plots."27

All of a sudden whispers broke out amongst the men and women at the table, and the Presiding Night began to take interest in what Silious was saying. Silious's eyes locked with the Neerarra Aleneld, leader of the Second Drow House. She was a conniving, cunning woman, but would never admit to her own conspiring deeds. But the Presiding Night caught sight of this silent challenge, and knew who Silious Roh was referring to.28

"However, this dissension was swiftly dealt with by my two finest men, Darrien Hoss," Silious Roh gestured, and Darrien nodded, "and Vannolyn Ildess, who couldn't join us here today ... So let this be a warning to all; the humans are just as strong as any other nightshader."29

The rest of the meeting lingered on as the many issues concerning the covenant were discussed and disputed. And after hours of deliberation the Presiding Night rapped his gavel for the final time, and the Council of the Eclipse was finally adjourned. All the leaders of the Covenant rose, and departed to their own business.30

Silious Roh and Darrien Hoss made their way to doors and passed into hallway when a voice called to them. "Silious, a word please." said the Presiding Night, still sitting at the council table. Silious obeyed without question, closing the the chamber doors behind him.31

Darrien Hoss waited outside, wondering what the head of the covenant wanted with his master. Whatever it was, it had to be vitally important. Minutes later he reemerged from the council chamber with a wide grin on his face. Together they walked as they descended the flights of stairs back to the citadel entrance.32

"What was that all about?" Darrien asked, his curiosity getting the best of him.33

Silious, still with his smug smile, replied, "I have a very special mission for you and Vannolyn."34