21 years ago
There was one more thing that Uraj wanted to do before he returned to Arnath. For many years he had found a place amongst the undead because of his surface sovereign, Velsharoon. Although now he committed himself to Kiaransalee because of her close proximity to Lloth, Uraj predominantly stayed faithful to researching and exploring the dimensions of undeath. Lately there have been more deaths in the Rawlinswood and in the Nars Pass that once in a while a surgence of undead would rise in the Norwick Graveyard. Whoever compelled this awakening had to have some sort of power. Among the years in the region surrounding Norwick, Uraj understood that powerful artifacts still remained in the graveyard and the crypts which triggered the restless death until the artifacts were eventually removed. The most recent encounter concerned a Greatsword whose faces were chiseled with the Giant language and so far the Uraj believed the sword was in the custody of the Norwick Militia. But where one artifact could trigger an undead upheaval, so could others and one particular place that continued to store undead was the crypt, not the catacombs, but the one rarely entered by anyone unless they were truly powerful in the faith.
Grasping both holy symbols of Velsharoon and Kiaransalee in his hands, Uraj made his descent into the crypt. What he sought here was not the undead townsfolk or adventurers who were buried here, but rather the mummies and a vampires who inhabited the lower depths of this place. Did he fear these creatures? No. Having been chosen by Velsharoon long ago in the barrens of the Fugue Uraj possessed a certain understanding with them as they to him. Maneuvering his way around the mindless corpses, Uraj recalled the very time where he remained trapped in the Fugue Plains after a dreadful encounter with Eastlander Bandits, he recalled forsaking Kelemvor and turning to Velsharoon. For some reason Uraj was chosen out of the dozens of traitorous souls in that damned realm, given life once more Uraj became the vessel of Velsharoon's message in the region of Narfell. The only real difference between a standard Chosen and what Uraj did was the fact that he acted as the message rather than convince others that Velsharoon was the best god to worship. It would seem that Velsharoon appreciated this since Uraj was also protected from harm in the recent months from a follower of Velsharoon that attempted to sacrifice Uraj. By his divine power, Velsharoon rebuked the follower and chastised him. Uraj had renewed faith in his master and so he continued work under that faith without the knowledge of his drow mistress.
Things started to become a little dangerous as the undead whose previous experiences in life were of combat and those of magic started to defy the holy aura of Uraj. Some swiped, others blasted, overall Uraj had to just tuck the holy symbols on his girdle as he used morningstar and shield to dodge his way towards the level where some intelligible undead could be found. The stairway downward did not take long to find as it was illuminated by torches and none of the undead were quick enough to give chase. After suffering a few blows, Uraj descended into the furthest depth of the crypt to meet the cursed of the night.
In the midst of mummies that wanted to kill him, Uraj discovered a single vampire far in the back of that level. Nearing death again, Uraj let his weapon and shield down and raised the holy symbols of Velsharoon and Kiaransalee. This act seemed to satisfy the mummies and their spells were kept at bay, rescinding from the scene the undead were rebuked from Uraj's presence while some just stood there idly.
The pale, black haired vampire, male and in somewhat tattered clothes, walked up to Uraj and grabbed him by the collar of his armor and dragged him up.
"You do not belong here," the vampire raised Uraj in midair with one hand and pulled back his other hand ready to deliver the final blow to the faithful.
Barely struggling as his strength was fading from this journey, Uraj lifted the symbol of Velsharoon to the vampire's sight and spoke in the language of Abyssal, "Witness the vessel of the 11th Sacrament of our Vaunted One, Velsharoon."
A red glare flashed from the eyes of the holy symbol and momentarily blinded the vampire causing him to release Uraj back to the ground. Uraj grudgingly picked himself up with both symbols now raised against the vampire as a ward from harm.
"What do you want?" the vampire spat with arms raised to block any further glare from the symbols in Uraj's hand, inching away all the while even though Uraj did not approach.
"I want you to come with me to the underground city of Arnath," Uraj said in Common, coughing a bit as the negative energy of the undead began to eat away at him.
"For what purpose? This is my domain, all the undead here are with me and none shall leave me. What reason would I have to mingle with a human city who can easily feed me with their gullible adventurers and foolish townspeople? What power do YOU have to control ME?"
"None. This is a request in order for you to bring new blood to the fold. I need your help to win influence while you can feed upon the living and spread your plagued existence," Uraj emphasized with a swipe of the hand holding the symbol of Kiaransalee out to the side, "To seek power through vengeance and influence through despair. We can help eachother and I doubt you could be satisfied here."
The vampire grumbled and rose up in defiance to gravity, "What are my assurances that I won't be slain as I walk out of this crypt and the assurance that I am not slain at the gates of this Arnath of yours?"
"I need your help getting out of here and I can promise you that as long as you are with me there will be none that will touch you. As long as I remain protected so are you. I am not capable of lying, rather that I seek to uncover every rock and shed light to every shadow in order to keep the playing field even for all evil. It is in this fashion that evil can unite against the surface properly."
"You are a fool to think that a band of dark brethren can oppose the unified might of the surface people!"
"On the contrary, we have the drow to aide us."
At hearing the name of the dark elves, the vampire smiled despite the cons to the idea of dealing with drow. After a few minutes of consideration and silence, the vampire nodded, "Alright, I shall lend my aide for a short while. But only long enough to get what I want and what you need. Deal?"
Uraj nodded, lowering and tucking away the symbol of Kiaransalee, "Deal. Now let's go."
"Of course," the vampire smirked as it traveled to a stone tomb where he withdrew a dusty, cobwebbed pack from the grips of a zombie that seemed to not want to let go.
Uraj watched as the vampire proceeded for the stairs upward and soon he too followed with the symbol of Velsharoon still raised, careful of any sort of deceit the vampire had in store. As they neared the surface the mindless undead still had it in them to attack Uraj, some of the encounters proved harder than he had anticipated, but overall both Uraj and the vampire made it to the surface hours before the sun rose. Tond the gravekeeper was there. But before Uraj could inform the vampire to sneak through the scant trees around the creature had faded into a mist as Tond approached.
"Quite chilly tonight, eh Uraj?" Tond lifted a lantern which illuminated his own green robe and Uraj's rot-colored armor.
"That it is, Tond. I hope you are faring well this morning," Uraj nodded.
Tond nodded to himself, feet shifting about as though he were nervous about something.
"If you'll excuse me Tond, I have an errand to run in the catacombs. Please inform me if there are any deliveries from Friar Fred for me to inter within the catacombs," Uraj then motioned to the crypt behind him, "This place is still a hazardous lot despite my many attempts to purge it."
"Aye," Tond gave a weary smile, "Little much else we can do about that. Well, be well then Uraj, say hello to Mara for me."
Uraj nodded coldly and motioned to the spot of mist a short distance away to follow. From what Uraj knew of vampires from all the books strewn about the catacombs, vampires took on many shapes. From wolves, to bats, to mists. They were an interesting sort, almost akin to the druids to whome Uraj hated so much. Although this was the first time Uraj had to deal with vampires. Upon entering the catacombs, the vampire rematerialized into solid form.
Before the vampire could inquire about the place, Uraj spoke up first, "When you enter Arnath, get started on your work immediately. Enslave the minds of many and avoid those whom you feel are of a significant threat to you and I. If anyone does catch you and question you refer them to the Sisters of Bone, if a Sister of Bone questions you, refer them to me. They are another piece of the scheme I hope to win the support of."
"What kind of power are you trying to achieve in this place called Arnath?"
"A seat on a council of great power," Uraj answered as concise as he could. Their conversation continued all the way down to Arnath, usually topics of their past lives and such, but overall their mindset and goals stayed the same. It was just a wonder as to whether or not they would double-cross one another and Uraj knew this.
