Nikyodi's Story

[Malchaeius]

Kravian sways slightly in his chair, 'Hmm.

Kravian takes a drag and exhales as he says, 'So, what's your story?

Nikyodi holds a cool glass of wine against her temple. 'It, umm...'

Kravian leans back in the chair.

Nikyodi's comfortable attitude seems to diminish. 'It’s not a long story.'

Kravian rubs his goatee, 'Hmm.’

Nikyodi puts the cigarette between her lips and puffs. 'Do you really wanna know?'

Kravian nods.

Nikyodi puts the bottle down. Her voice somehow seems sober now. 'About eighteen years ago, in Xymmeria...'

You say 'A foolish bastard and an outcast woman fell in love and decided to try to live a happy life underground, among drow.'

Nikyodi's red eyes show vividly through the plumes of smoke. 'They had a kid.'

Kravian nods, listening.

You say 'And then they got caught, and left that kid on the street to die.'

Nikyodi puts the cigarette out on the wood of the table, but only because the herbs were expired. She lights up another within seconds.

Kravian frowns, 'Dreadful...

You say 'Right. That kid lived on the streets for about two months before a bitch of Lloth found her and put her in the custody of the temple.'

Nikyodi exhales smoke from her nose as she looks down it. 'They gave the child five years to examine her surroundings. To learn things.'

Kravian lights another cigarette.

'Of course, this was because the child was too young to imprison', Nikyodi adds after a long pause.

You say 'On her fifth birthday, they threw her into a pit with a barred door.'

Kravian takes a long drag, exhaling slowly.

Nikyodi's eyes glisten, almost as if amused by something. 'They fed her pieces of human flesh for her daily meal.'

Nikyodi sniffs, her tone still cold. 'She refused for months, and almost starved to death.'

Nikyodi continues to recline further. 'One day, a handsome man named Drietch Cu-Caul stepped into her life.'

'Very suave. Well groomed', Nikyodi says slowly, 'A devil.'

Palwen nods.

Kravian turns to Palwen and nods.

Kravian takes another drag off his cigarette before flicking it across the room.

Nikyodi ignores Palwen's presence. 'He had his way with knives and saws and ropes.'

Kravian frowns.

Palwen raises an eyebrow.

Nikyodi's tone grays out entirely. 'It was excruciating.'

'But-...', Nikyodi coughs and puts a hand on the middle of her chest.

Kravian watches your hand before looking up at her face.

Kravian rubs his goatee.

You say 'But. On the kid's 14th birthday, she snapped Cu-Caul's neck.'

Nikyodi looks down at her hand as she flicks ashes from the end of her cigarette. 'They let her escape...'

You say 'They watched her run through the city, lost and confused. Like a rabid wyvern.'

Nikyodi cracks a sarcastic smile. 'Lloth was impressed, they said.'

You say 'So the temple let her visit her mother and father's graves. They were fresh.'

Nikyodi licks her bottom lip, some emotion showing in her eyes. 'They'd been alive all along, begging to see their daughter.'

You say 'They killed the father first, of course, so... y'know, mom would have to watch.'

Nikyodi's nose wrinkles. 'Women are ever so sensitive.'

Kravian remains silent.

Kravian opens his mouth, but doesn't say anything.

Nikyodi takes a small drink from the third wine bottle. 'The kid escaped the temple. They didn't fight hard to catch her.'

Nikyodi sucks her cheeks in. She's trying hard to suppress something.

Nikyodi whispers, 'Lloth was impressed, they said.'

Nikyodi looks up and lets out a long, long sigh. 'The rest is history.'

Nikyodi takes a long drag on the cigarette and hums: 'Mmhhnnn.'

Kravian remains silent for a moment, before saying, 'Niky...

Kembyses sits down and rests.

Kembyses says 'How is everyone?'

Nikyodi stares across the table at Kravian. Her eyes are dry now.

Kembyses looks at you.

Kravian remains silent, watching you.

Palwen says 'Well.'

Nikyodi's black cat skimpers along and leaps on to her shoulder.

Kembyses inches near Palwen, ' What is going on?

Palwen says 'I don't reall know.'

Nikyodi produces a seemingly honest smile. 'Have I ever told you how much I hate drow?'

Palwen shakes her head.

Kravian nods slightly, 'Indeed... I can see why.

Nikyodi chews on the cigarette in her mouth, still smiling. 'Good.'