Rolled 16, 8, 2, 6 = 32 (4d20)
>>5426549You look around at the slums, at the skulking and scurrying Drow underclass. Your heart geos out to them—it really does, to your surprise. Your compassion ahs grown. How better to help them, though, than to uplift and improve their entire race, and their position in the world, by succeeding in this mission? And how better to succeed than with the aid of their best warriors—their martial elite, their trusted guards and scouts?
The warrior class seems to mostly draw from the lower rungs of the local nobility, though you learn that some members of the lower start a ascend through sheer effort… At least, when a noble with the ability to grant such rank takes notice. This (limited) meritocracy has a distinct appeal to you, and the flaws of such a system—nepotism and toadyism—are limited by the generally dire straits of the dark elf society as a whole. There is no fat-and-lazy Drow housecarl or scout, because there are really no fat or lazy Drow at ALL, let alone among those of their race most likely to face the deadliest threats.
“none of them are specially bright, either,” the Novice Fleshweaver notes disparagingly.
This much is true. For all their natural grace and physicality, and the alleged poetry of their language—much of it lost on you, anyway—these elves seem largely illiterate and uneducated, with limited experience in true warfare. Their tactics among to great caution, basic squad tactics augmented with some small measure of illusion magic, exploding combustible mineral compounds (such as the bomb which very nearly killed you in a cave-in when you first encountered these barbarians)… And, of course, the training and deployment of their precious insects and arachnids.
The last discipline is held in high regard, and it is to this end—and to maintain relations with the Yvonlace’s queenly matriarch—that you reach out to House Lahlabar’s Prince-Ascending—the dragonfly-breeder—to join you as a guest of honour, among the slingers of sword-and-spell.
[Diplomacy roll; DC 15/17/18]
