unforth | Drow and such

"We will take your proposal under consideration," Valanna said smoothly. The male turned to look at her, unsuccessfully attempting to hide his surprise. "We are not convinced that what you propose is in our best interest." She positioned herself carefully, before her mother and to her side, making it clear that what she spoke represented the will of House Zuluuth without undermining her mothers authority. Nearby, her sister nodded her agreement.

Annoyance flickered through his eyes. "Will all due respect, Eldest," he said, bowing slightly, "I was told to take nothing less than the word of a matron mother." The male was smirking at her. Valanna's mother remained silent.

"You will take what you have been given and no more," Valanna responded dismissively, letting her distaste for the male show on her face and in her voice. "Good day."

With a dark look at her, the male turned and left. She had given him no other choice, for as a female her words could force his actions, and he could not go against her directly. As the door closed behind him, Valanna turned to her sister, her twin Beliz, ignoring her mother, who remained seated on the spider throne. "What do you think, sister?" she asked. Valanna had already made her decision, but it was best to lead her young twin to believe that she had a say in the process.

Beliz sniffed disdanefully. "The male is a fool. We have no use for him or his house. How could we, House Zuluuth, 39th house of Menzoberranzan, possibly benefit from anything that the 45th house might offer?" Valanna nodded, as if in agreement, and though she had reached the same conclusion, she had actual reasons rather than the empty posturing of her sister. House 45, Clendaran, was bottom house in the city right now, desperately seeking a strong ally to protect them, desperately hoping to find someone who would think them useful enough or humorous enough to preserve. Zuluuth was in no position to burden itself with a weak ally; Zulluth needed to redirect all resources internally before any of the other houses of the city realized just how weak they were.

Dismissing these troubling thoughts, Valanna approached the throne one which her mother sat. "We have decided to reject the proposal of House Clenderan. Do you agree, Matron Sparatha?"

Her mother turned towards her, eytes unfocused. "Matron," Valanna said firmly, commandingly, "yes or no?" If her mother understood, though, she said nothing, gave no reply. A think line of spittle found it's way out of the corner of her mouth, dripping slowly off her chin. Trying to restrain her anger, Valanna wiped away the drool as if her mother were an infant. "Say YES, mother," Valanna said commandingly, knowing that she could use her inate abilities to command respect and authority, in born, her one true skill, to make her mother answer. She had walked down this road many times. No decision could be made for the house without her mothers approval. It didn't matter that Sparatha had no idea what she was agreeing to, had no idea what was going on in the world around her. Only a Matron Mother's word was law in the city of Menzoberranzan; without the matron's word the decision was meaningless.

"...yeth?" Sparatha formed the word weakly, apparently unsure of what the yes meant or what it signified. Valanna didn't care, though, for yes had been said, and that was adequate.

"Very good. Beliz, what is the next order of business?" Valanna asked, business-like once more, ignoring the renewed flow of drool from her mother's mouth.

"That is all for today, Eldest."

"Very good," she said again. "Thank you, Beliz, you may attend to your regular duties now."

Her sister left silently, and Valanna prepared for her nightly ritual in praise of Lolth. The ritual brought her comfort, brought her a sense of security that her day to day life no longer afforded her. It gave her an opportunity to clear her mind and appraise her situation, a situation that worsened every day. She had to think clearly, now more than ever, if House Zuluuth was to be preserved. She and Beliz had successfully hidden their mother's condition for almost six months, but every day it grew harder, every day those who came to speak to the Matron grew more insistent in their desire to hear the matron's own words. All of the houses were regrouping now that the war was over; once the old ways were reestablished in full, Sparatha's condition would be revealed, and House Zuluuth would be destroyed for ever daring to have such an egregious weakness as a Matron Mother who was completely disconnected from reality.

Intoning a praise to the spider queen, Valanna Zuluuth bathed in the love of the goddess, clearing her mind of everything but devotion. There was so much she needed to do, but there would be time enough tomorrow to address the conundrum that faced her.

And that is all for now! A note to anyone who reads this: if you know the name of April's character, please tell me! I can't recall for the life of me, and can't find an old character sheet that might say. :)