>>5422708“My kind do not use names the way yorus do, in such interactions,” you explain. “If I must have one, ‘Theral’ will do.”
“‘Theral’?” asks Queen Myrymma. “I ask to call you something other than ‘The Copper Dragon-King of Bloodrise’, and your answer is that I may call you… ‘Copper, the Dragon-King of Bloodrise’?”
The Queen-of-Elves laughs, exposing her teeth in a full-hearted guffaw for the first time since you have encountered her.
“You are a funny one… Theral.”
You sense it is meant as a compliment, even if a bit of a backhanded one, and you choose to take it as such. You do not dwell on Myrymma’s laughter, but instead move onto other business.
“I wish to discuss the current state of our people’s alliance,” you say.
“Ah, yes,” the Queen says. “I understand that you were quite generous with seized territory, which you gave over to Jazkarmel in exchange for our forces’ aid… And that, with the disappearance of the bugbears, you have come to rely quite heavily on elves for your approach to conquering such forts.”
You DO have a tendency to implement Drow in your infiltrator-assassin parties, this is true, though you can’t help but feel she overstates your reliance. You say as much.
“Oh?” she asks innocently. “But did my Princess and her forces not care for your injured… Shelter your secret?”
Again, the full force of the silver eyes bears down on you. You do not flinch, but must suppress a small shudder. She refers to Glowie, of course… But how much does she know? How much does even Jazkarmel understand of the… Relationship… Between the great-worm and yourself?
“It seems a fruitful alliance for you and for Jazkarmel both,” the Queen says, looking away and granting you relief from the inexplicable intensity of her eyes. “How would you improve upon it?”
You regulate your breathing calming yourself with meditative techniques before answering:
“The Dark Gods have sent me as their instrument,” you say. “They would have our peoples bound in faith.”
“I have heard murmurings of your conversion efforts,” Myrymma acknowledges. “You may take the minds and souls of any elf weak enough to offer them.”
You shake your head. You remember Jazkarmel’s warning, that conversion would be seen as weakness, but you MUST pursue it.
“It is not weakness,” you dispute. “The Dark Gods offer strength to those who will earn it and seize it. They offer health, and bounty.”
Queen Myrymma waves her hand through the air, brushing away some of the fluttering moths.
“Let them have it,” she says. “An elf who earns and seizes power is already strong. She does not need a god to approve of her to know this. Health and bounty… With magic, these, too, can be seized by one’s own merit.”
“Why do you so reject the Dark Gods?” you ask.
