Chapter 100: The Drow Elf
Chapter 100: The Drow Elf
“Hello, I mean no harm. I was just passing through, wanting to enter the town to buy some supplies.” A hoarse voice spoke.
“Want to buy supplies? Who are you people?” Su Lun’s voice came from behind.
“Chief!”
“Chief!” The two Barbarian Warriors saluted.
“You two, transport the Burrowing Worm corpse back. Round up those slaves and get them back to work.” Su Lun nodded at them. The two Barbarian Warriors turned to gather the slaves and resume their tasks.
“You’re not human, are you?” Su Lun turned his attention to the figure.
“Orc? Half-orc? Half-elf? Or some other race?” Su Lun eyed the shadowy figure. “But that doesn’t matter to me. What supplies did you want to buy?”
“Grain.”
“Grain? Weapons and grain are the most precious things in the Wilderness. Do you think I’d sell to someone of unknown origin?” Su Lun chuckled lightly.
“I can pay with coin.” The hoarse voice rasped.
“I have no shortage of coin.” Su Lun shook his head. “Unless you give me a reason to say yes, goodbye.”
“Wait, what do you want?” The figure hurriedly spoke as Su Lun started to leave.
“You seem capable. A Rogue, right? I need you to train some Scouts for me,” Su Lun said, fixing his gaze on him.
The figure was silent for a moment, then replied, “You want me to train Scouts? No other demands?”
“Of course.”
“Aren’t you worried about who I am?”
“Why, are you a wanted criminal?” Su Lun spread his hands. Then his voice turned firm. “This is my Territory. What I say goes.”
“Alright, I agree!”
“Now, will you tell me who you are?” Su Lun asked.
The figure hesitated, then pushed back his hood. Snow-white hair was revealed. Through those strands, Su Lun saw greyish-black skin, slightly reddish eyes, and ears noticeably sharper than an ordinary human’s.
“A Drow Elf?” Su Lun said in surprise. Then he noticed that while the ears were sharp, they differed distinctly from an Elf’s. “No! Half-Drow.”
“You’re Half-Drow?” Su Lun pressed. “You people have come to the surface?”
“Do you still wish to hire me?” asked the Drow Elf.
“Are you a runaway?” Su Lun looked him over. Most Drow Elves worshipped the Spider Queen Lolth, Goddess of Conspiracy and Fear. She was no gentle deity.
Among Drow Elves, males were nearly slaves, while only females counted as family members. Only female Drow could become Lolth’s Priests. Each Drow city was divided into dozens of noble houses by bloodline, all vying for Lolth’s favor through endless schemes and assassinations.
This competition poisoned House against House and even family members against each other. Male Drow Elves, possessing little magical talent, held extremely low status. Even their afterlife in Lolth’s Divine Realm condemned them to become twisted spider monsters or wax horrors. So Drow runaways were not uncommon.
The Half-Drow nodded.
Su Lun studied him, frowning. “Who do you worship?”
“I worship the Dark Maiden,” the Drow Elf rasped.
“The Dark Maiden’s follower,” Su Lun remarked with interest. Among Drow faiths, the Dark Maiden was the only deity of the good alignment.
The Dark Maiden Eilistraee, daughter of the Spider Queen Lolth and the Elven chief god, stood apart from her cruel mother. She was a goddess of goodness, guarding all good-hearted dark elves and protecting those Drow who yearned to return to peace on the surface.
Yet most Drow Elves hated her fiercely. Her worshippers were rare and hunted. Surface races, remembering history, were hostile to Drow in turn. Life above ground wasn’t easy for them.
“If I recall rightly, the Dark Maiden has fallen,” Su Lun stated. “Did you escape the Spider Queen’s hunt? How many are left?”
Sorrow flickered in the Drow Elf’s eyes. He said nothing about his tribe. Clearly, he did not trust Su Lon.
“Fine, no need to tell me,” Su Lun shrugged. He turned, walking toward the town, gesturing for the Drow to follow.
Life for these returned Drow was harsh. Without the Dark Maiden’s shield, their Priests lost much power. Hunted by Lolth’s clergy, they suffered heavy losses. To adapt to the sunlit world, some had mixed their bloodlines with humans.
They’d wandered far before finding a sliver of space to survive on this Endless Wasteland. But Elf fertility is low – even for Drow. Battles plague the Wasteland. Losing their goddess, many Drow also lost spellcasting power. Losses mounted slowly in endless fights. This tribe was likely dwindling.
The Wilderness lacked weapons, food, and every kind of supply. Magical Beasts and rival tribes were constant threats. Though Drow Warriors were strong, and their few Warlocks potent, they grew weaker with each battle.
This Drow Elf, hearing of a surface town near human men, had planned to sneak here and buy supplies for his struggling tribe. But Su Lun proved hard to trick. Only by agreeing to train Soldiers could he secure those supplies.
Drow Warriors were formidable. If classified like humans, this Drow was of the Knight Rank. Back then, only Johnson the Barbarian leader held that rank among them. Moreover, this Drow was a Rogue, skilled in scouting and assassination. In open combat? Johnson might win. But ambushed? The big Barbarian would lose eight times out of ten.
That was the old Johnson, of course. Now a Knight Captain, Johnson could crush him easily.
“What’s your name?” Su Lun asked.
“Aydin,” the Drow Elf answered.
Su Lun nodded. “Aydin. Tell me what grain and supplies you need. I’ll sell them to you at market prices. But you stay here and train my Scouts for me.”
“How will you get the supplies back?”
“Bring them to a location I name. I’ll have my people collect them,” Aydin said.
“Deal. Choose your spot, tell me, I’ll send the goods.”