The Raven of the Deep

Dosodru te Nylomrah, Dosodru the Houseless, most commonly known as the Raven of the Deep, is a mutant Drow Elvirim. The constant, low levels of radiation emitted by Ungulcah Crystals in the caverns of Isolabirre lead to an elevated rate of birth defects among the Drow of the city. The most common of those birth defects is the condition known by the Drow as Corima Hlaru, or "round ears," which causes the Drow Elvirim born with it to have short, round ears, like those of a Human. However, more serious defects also occur. The cruelty of Drow society extends even to the newborn, so most Drow babies born with more obvious birth defects are cast into the Well of the Lost, unwanted and forgotten. Occasionally, however, one escapes that horrific fate. Such was the case with Dosodru te Nylomrah. Born to House Siltevelar before it was cast out, Dosodru te Nylomrah was once called Dosodru Aelriat'Siltevelar, a promising young Aelriat of the House. The Medriat and Gowriat all saw her as the most talented Aelriat they'd ever known. Though she was unusual looking, no one realized until she was reaching adulthood that beneath her unusual features hid a more menacing mutation: Dosodru was a natural necromancer, able to manipulate life energy lingering in bones, corpses, and even in those still living. She was able both to animate the undead and to maim or kill the living. Her necromantic abilities arose from her mutation, not from years of practicing and studying magical rituals and spells, and she was incredibly powerful. Not even the Tygowriat of House Siltevelar could control her. Dosodru soon drew the attention of the other noble Houses of Isolabirre, with the other Houses rightly fearing Dosodru's necromantic abilities. The Interface of that time, Bhaithrios, Tygowriat of House Zaquarn, was terrified that Dosodru's necromancy would lead to the Yfeljang, Edan, taking direct action, which would almost certainly lead to her own life being forfeit, and so she led House Zaquarn in an all-out war against House Siltevelar. House Siltevelar was decimated and cast out, forced to move into the Far Depths of Isolabirre and barred from taking any part in the governance of the city. Dosodru, though, was not defeated, despite the combined efforts of the other Houses. She fled into the Unknown Depths, from where she raised an army of undead creatures to aid her in her fight. The other Houses were driven back to the Deep Chambers, where the gates to the chambers below were locked. Dosodru's undead army continued its assault, nearly breaking through the gates into the Deep Chambers and the city proper.

Left with no choice, the Interface unlocked the gate into Isola and entered the upper floors of the tower where Edan's chambers were. She knelt before him and said, "Yfeljang, the city is in crisis. We cannot defeat the undead of Dosodru Aelriat'Siltevelar. Soon the city will be overrun." Edan flushed with anger and said, "Freaking morons! Why didn't you kill her long ago? I'm super busy, you know, and now I have to waste my time on your nonsense! You are supposed to handle this kind of crap. So, why should I keep you as my Interface? I can get someone else." Bhaithrios Tygowriat'Zaquarn pleaded, "But Yfeljang, I...I..." Edan made a small gesture. Bhaithrios slumped to the floor, dead. He made another gesture and disappeared from his chambers. Sazzok Gowriat'Zaquarn suppressed her reflex to jump when Edan suddenly appeared next to her in the chambers of House Zaquarn in the Council of Houses. He said, "You are now the Interface and Tygowriat of House Zaquarn. Come with me. We have work to do." He waved his hand in a particular way, and they both disappeared from the Council of Houses. A moment later, they appeared in a large cavern in the Unknown Depths, deep below Isolabirre. There, in front of them, was Dosodru Aelriat'Siltevelar, surrounded by dozens of her undead minions. She shouted, "Who dares to confront the Raven of the Deep, master of death?!" Edan laughed at her with disdain, and Sazzok shouted back at her, "Silence, pathetic little Aelriat! Kneel before the Yfeljang!" Dosodru looked startled for a moment, but then spit back, "I kneel before no one! Soon Isolabirre and all of the Houses will fall to my army. Yfel and the world will be mine!" She shouted an order, "Kill them!" The undead skeletons and corpses started toward Edan and Sazzok. Edan looked bemused. He said, "Wow, you're really way, way too dramatic," and then spoke a single word. All of Dosodru's undead fell to the floor of the chamber, truly lifeless. Dosodru's eyes flew open. She exclaimed, "What!? What have you...?" She made a wide gesture with outstretched arms and hands, and all of her undead stood up, reanimated. They started toward Edan and Sazzok again. Edan's expression went from bemused to angry. He shouted, "Enough of this! You are wasting my time!" He shouted a word at the top of his lungs, and the undead attacking him and Sazzok...disintegrated. Nothing but dust settling to the floor remained of them. He looked surprised, though, to see that Dosodru was still standing in front of them, as if nothing had happened. She chortled, "You are weak, so-called Yfeljang! You cannot kill me. I am the Raven of the Deep and master of death! No one can kill me!" With his formidable intellect, Edan quickly understood that his powers of necromancy were likely matched by Dosodru's, and she probably could not be killed outright. But Edan's magical powers go far beyond just necromancy; he is also a thaumaturge of unmatched ability. He quickly made several precise gestures, and Dosodru was bound and silenced, completely unable to move or to make a sound, rendering her powerless to summon more undead to her. Edan turned to Sazzok and said, "Okay, that's done. We can freaking get out of here, so I can get back to important work." Sazzok said, "But...but Yfeljang, are we going to just leave her here like this?" Edan said, "Do you have a better idea? She was right about one thing. She can't be killed by physical or magical means. A Balim or Wistarim might be able to kill her. But as long as my spells aren't disturbed, she can't escape them and cause more trouble. You are to make sure that my spells aren't disturbed. And clean up the mess in Isolabirre. I don't want to deal with this nonsense again. Am I making myself clear?" "Yes, Yfeljang, Absolutely clear," Sazzok answered. "Good," Edan said. "The last Interface was quite disappointing. In fact, she pissed me off. I hope you won't." "Never, Yfeljang! I promise you!" Sazzok said. Edan raised his left hand, held it straight out from his shoulder, and snapped his fingers. Sazzok Tygowriat'Zaquarn found herself back in the Council of Houses where she was before Edan had transported her to Dosodru's chamber in the Unknown Depths. She wondered how long before the Raven of the Deep would fly...