Suliss?urn's idea of a smile was not exactly that of a human?s, for drow simply bared her teeth in a wolf?s attempt at what was, ultimately, better suited to a human face. Considering her words, she tipped black face upward to the bull and spoke of battle, glory, and war in quiet tones.

The bull?s ears, pierced and tangled by gold chains chimed as well as flicked irritably. He was not at all fond of this elf, this ?strange skinned elf. But he listened. And he handed her one of the many bottles of whiskey he had been drinking in the midst of her speech.

She took it, drank most of it, belched and handed it back.

?I know of such a place, such a place where glory like such still exists,? sibilant and soft, the female darkling wove her little web.

?Oh yeah?? A rather loud and sudden snort accompanied the Minotaurs question, rattling the chains and hoops passed through his snout. ?You think I do be interested in any place you speak of?? Darkly, he began muttering to himself. What kind of fool did she think he was?

Moments passed in which she did not immediately reply to him, and he filled the silence with grunts, grumbled, eventually turning his eye upon her again. A scowl of irritation darkened bovine face. ?Well?? He barked. ?Go ahead and tell me already!?

Suliss?urn took a spin around on the top of the bar stool slowly, endlessly long white brain clattered behind her with the sounds of metals woven in hair. She enjoyed making him wait. Making a creature as powerful as himself hang onto her words.

Eventually she drawled quietly, ?Nau, nau. You are right, xas-? hear the sudden concern that she may be pressing her conversation partner too much. All the sweetness and spun-sugarly light in the drow?s voice. ?-you would naut be interested in the glory of battle, the thrill of war. You are too old for that now, xas? I will naut bother you with things you do naught want to hear.?

She was of course, ever so polite and nice, Suliss?urn was. Such an example of a race filled with happy people.

Horam thought she was a regular cup of sunshine and puppydog tails, yes. Glory of battle?How long since he had any such thing, nor even heard of it? Too long, so he thought. She was pulling the right strings, not all of them mind, but she had succeeded in capturing his attention for good.

?Go on,? sharply, lowering bovine face to fix her with a level look.

Suliss?urn fixed him with wide, yellow eyes, giving him no expression. Internally, she could begin to hear the lines and ropes being reeled in.

((Taken from live play between Suliss'urnXukuth and HoramJakChar. Reposted, edited for a more story-ish feel with permission from player.))

Horam?s maw tightened immediately upon hearing the drow mutter the single word. He straightened with an indignant huff as well as a grumble. An impressive sight to behold.

?I am no monster.? He was adamant, as for the drow, he was not so very sure.

?Of course not, of course not,? she replied to him in a manner smooth as fresh oil-slicks. ?That is why we are so openly embraces amidst the humans, xas?? She lifted a hand to idly indication the humans about them. Not to say that they would be the type to shun them, but to simply indicate their species.

The Minotaur did not answer, but focused on the myriad of questions this conversation began to bring to the fore front of his mind. He absently scratched fingers across his stomach; following the path of deep furrows left by countless scars. ?And why,? abruptly, ?would they be needing..us type??

?There is a war to be found and armies to be gathered,? she replied, thick with usual sarcasm. ?There is always need for those like us. Death dealers and blade singers.?

Horam shot her a withering glance. For once, however, the anger he felt was simply because she was more right than wrong. He did not enjoy it when she was right.

?Just tell me what I damn well need to know,? a growl lurking in between the demand. ?Which army be fighting on the side of just?? He?d be surprised if she told him any where. Tales of glory always detailed good verses evil. Reality was less grandeur.

The drow tilted her head.

?Those fighting Rhilshen would say they are the just. Those fighting for Rhilshen would disagree.? Careful here, though one would assume her words eased out of her mouth perfectly. ?The side of Rhilshen is that which I find worthy. The people are worthy.?

Horam muttered to himself.

?Uh-huh. Yes. Do we whisk ourselves there on a magical carpet??

The drow snorted. ?How many years have you been here, and naut know of portals? Or have you been hit about the head lately??

?I keep myself as far from anything with magic as I can,? he retorted. ?But I see your point.? He could not help the questions or the thinking. He was..he was like a..a..human in that regard. Horam tended to do more thinking than people were willing to give him credit for. He wasn?t about to jump into something without at least making an effort of finding out what he could.

Suliss? narrowed eyes at him until they turned into slits. ?There is one whom you could speak to, to back my words. Alysia. But she does naut frequent here, much. You will either have to take my word, or find a Gate and deal with the guards on your own.? She turned her head restlessly as she spoke, this way and that. ?There are also minotaurs there. They are..different.?

?Yeah. Well there are minotaurs here, too.? He muttered with a slow shake of his head. ?It doesn?t matter. All they have to worry about is me if they get in my way.?

Suliss?urn?s chin turned slightly toward the Bull. He was large, powerful, and in all honestly, an excellent tool for the side of Rhilshen. She was most pleased that she appeared to have won him over to their side with such little effort.

Horam, of course, would have pointed out had he known the drow?s thoughts; he could give their side some much needed charisma. Because when people thought of a nearly eight foot tall, covered in fur cow-beast, they thought charisma.

?Of course,? the drow demurred in amidst the ?taurs thoughts. Just that, and nothing more, watching him as he contemplated.