The first step is to see the Duchess outside the usual setting: Formal cabinet meetings and the like. He sends a note to Clytemnestra asking when he can have an audience, and receives the following reply: Your Lordship, If you present yourself at Her Grace’s quarters late this evening, I will admit you. Philomela’s private […]
Life in the Underdark as Marquis Theates sounds exotic, but at times it resembles the life of a mid-level manager in corporate America, seen through infrared vision. Over the next few days, Inglorion attends a lot of meetings and briefings, and holds some. He writes and reads reports, resumes his usual alliances and vendettas. All […]
Though the throne room is grand — high-ceilinged and ornate — it gives a curious sense of intimacy. A whisper in any corner can be heard throughout with uncanny clarity. Inglorion walks down the aisle, between the rows of empty stone benches. As usual, Philomela sits on a low stone dais. Before her, there is […]
Soundtrack and Video: Ministry, Rio Grande Blood (Adios Puta Madres) Inglorion knew that cleanup would be difficult. The Theates clan’s water is supplied by a handful of underground springs and one major river. The river is deep and fast-moving, and only accessible from two points, neither of which lend themselves to bathing. The only eligible […]
Soundtrack and Video: Lo Fidelity Allstars, Battleflag Zero hour comes early. Inglorion’s instructed Theo to walk by whistling “Singing in the Rain” when the other slaves are gone and he’s leaving Antigone’s residence open and unguarded, with her alone inside. If anything goes wrong — if Antigone has visitors, or decides to attend the festival […]
Soundtrack and Video: Ministry, Jesus Built My Hotrod Five days before the festival, Inglorion stops eating solid food, and drinks only water, broth or tea twice a day. He’s not sure why he’s fasting, and he goes to some lengths to conceal his actions. Inglorion’s always moody, but now he becomes increasingly volatile, cycling through anger, […]
Soundtrack and Video, Adam Ant, Kings of the Wild Frontier (Live 2011) Alecto has finally finished Inglorion’s back, and now a young woman is splayed across his spine, half-hanged: Arachne in the process of metamorphosis from human to spider. It’s an image dear to the Drow, and to the Theates in particular: Arachne confronted the […]
Inglorion instructs Ajax to get him an audience with the Duchess. The next morning, Clytemnestra pulls him out of a sparring session and leads him to the throne room. His footsteps echo as he approaches the dais. He stands there, hands clasped, head bowed, waiting to be acknowledged. “Yes, Inglorion?” she says. The acoustics are […]
Soundtrack: Peter Gabriel, No Self Control Fabius’ time in the Shelawn household is marked by three obsessions: weapons training, skirt-chasing, and pious devotion to Corellon Larithian, the Bringer of Light and patron of gray elves. Fabius has taken to fasting weekly. Within the confines of his job and the rhythms of the household, he maintains […]
