The Blasphemy of the Absolved
Sent by the venerable leader of a repentant Drow offshoot, The Blasphemy of the Absolved was a formal declaration of their beliefs and defection.
Purpose
Matriarch Khilgana, leader of the Drow now referring to themselves as The Absolved, knew that no matter how good their intentions or their deeds, they would never be trusted. Their stereotypes as being sneaky and duplicitious would factor into any decision made about them, especially as the Triumverate War was still being waged.
If her followers were to be attacked by other Drow, their claims would be seen as genuine. In so doing, The Blasphemy of The Absolved was penned solely to provoke it's intended audience; the Queen Mother, who would have no choice but to respond with violence.
If her followers were to be attacked by other Drow, their claims would be seen as genuine. In so doing, The Blasphemy of The Absolved was penned solely to provoke it's intended audience; the Queen Mother, who would have no choice but to respond with violence.
Historical Details
Background
As the Triumverate War was coming to a slow and painful close, the gains the vengeful drow had made against their elven cousins were being lost, the hopes of returning from T'saras underground to conquer all were now dashed. In the face of defeat, most preferred death. Others chose flight, returning to their home of networked caverns to wait and plot for a time to strike again.
A small faction, however, chose to surrender. Khilgana, an esteemed leader that have previously lead a grand invasion force had been starved, cornered and humiliated. She surrendered her sword to the Elves; A magnanimous Grand General by the name of Hiromia. Operating from behind enemy lines, she planned to make an escape and a crippling sneak attack. To her great surprise, her captors were not filled with the bloodlust and hatred for her kin that had been trained in her for them. Even with all of the damage wrought, Hiromia ensured that his soldier treated their captives with dignity and respect. This was the inflection point that started a series of doubts, and as her troops turned to her, her doubts spread to them like a contagion. In the long march of surrender, Khilgana was able to barter with the Grand General. Making plain her wish not to return home, she wished for a small piece of land that she and her soldiers could claim for their own as refugees. In a movie that would condemn him forever, Hiromia ceded to them Hylsa Island; and area known to be free of entry points into the Drows cavern system. They would effectively be political prisoners; free to live on the island as they chose, but the island would be constantly monitored and patrolled. Upon arrival on Hylsa, Khilgana had a prophetic vision; as Varissa, the Goddess of the Elves herself, spoke to her. She and her soldiers were forgiven for the crimes of their ancestors, so long as they comitted themselves to forsaking the culture of lies they had been taught, and to work to rejoin the Drow and Elves together as family once again. Khilgana spoke of her prophecy to her soldiers. Believing her, they followed her not just as their commanding officer, but as their familial and religious leader. Now labeling herself as Matriarch, she would lead her new nation of Drow, The Absolved, in the valiant but difficult task now set before them.
A small faction, however, chose to surrender. Khilgana, an esteemed leader that have previously lead a grand invasion force had been starved, cornered and humiliated. She surrendered her sword to the Elves; A magnanimous Grand General by the name of Hiromia. Operating from behind enemy lines, she planned to make an escape and a crippling sneak attack. To her great surprise, her captors were not filled with the bloodlust and hatred for her kin that had been trained in her for them. Even with all of the damage wrought, Hiromia ensured that his soldier treated their captives with dignity and respect. This was the inflection point that started a series of doubts, and as her troops turned to her, her doubts spread to them like a contagion. In the long march of surrender, Khilgana was able to barter with the Grand General. Making plain her wish not to return home, she wished for a small piece of land that she and her soldiers could claim for their own as refugees. In a movie that would condemn him forever, Hiromia ceded to them Hylsa Island; and area known to be free of entry points into the Drows cavern system. They would effectively be political prisoners; free to live on the island as they chose, but the island would be constantly monitored and patrolled. Upon arrival on Hylsa, Khilgana had a prophetic vision; as Varissa, the Goddess of the Elves herself, spoke to her. She and her soldiers were forgiven for the crimes of their ancestors, so long as they comitted themselves to forsaking the culture of lies they had been taught, and to work to rejoin the Drow and Elves together as family once again. Khilgana spoke of her prophecy to her soldiers. Believing her, they followed her not just as their commanding officer, but as their familial and religious leader. Now labeling herself as Matriarch, she would lead her new nation of Drow, The Absolved, in the valiant but difficult task now set before them.
History
Being given a new chance on life and a new task, Matriarch Khilgana felt it necessary that the rest of the Drow knew of what happened to them, and of their new mission. It would surely doom her and her people; there was no going back now. Still, she reasoned, if the news of defections and blasphemy would make it's way through the ranks, than it might lead more to their cause. She had to hope that would be the case.
Though they were given sovereignty over Hylsa, now called simply Parole Island by outsiders, none of them would be allowed to leave, and certainly nobody would believe their mission to be true or genuine. Under cover of darkness, her most athletic follower was tasked with making the perilous and lengthy journey across the water to land. Once across, he was charged with finding a Drow encampment or Shadow Network cell and provide the letter without raising suspicion. That all done, he was to make the trip back, still without being detected by the naval blockade. In this last leg, the young footsoldier Midia was apprehended, but none the wiser, was held in solitary in the brig of the ship for a time before being allowed to return home.
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