A lenghty explanation
Terrified? , Thantor quipped to Flanders.
I'm not certain I follow.
"Do you have time for a history lesson.", Flanders spoke, severing the telepathic link.
"Yes.", answered Thantor, "It would appear we have a little time, however, I must ask how it was you came to join in this battle. Surely, you weren't conjured along with the hulks and the mind flayers?"
"No, I was not, and I'll answer your question. Let's start by going back in time...say a couple of thousand years."
So, Flanders began giving Thantor a condensed version of his history coupled with more complete knowledge on the origins of vampires and vampirism. He spoke with pride regarding his origins and his nobility amongst the high elves and told him of the prophecy that would forsake him to live his life with the drow in the underdark. "Two hundred and a half years below the surface spent with the most pathetic race in all of Faerun. The prophecy never spoke of how I would become exiled from my people for the rest of my existence. And to think on the night I had found my freedom, I was bestowed with a curse far worse than the drow could ever impose."
Flanders began relaying a history of the vampires to Thantor to help him understand his current plight. "Yes, Thantor, the first vampire was a drow priestess named Uther Pn'dragan. She saught the ability to walk the surface during the day for herself and all her kind. She practised dark unexplored magics and experimented with undead. It's kind of ironic the one thing she saught to gain became something that would prove ultimately fatal."
He continued to explain Uther's exile to the surface and how she learned to spread her curse with her bite. "As they grew in number, the orders of Torm, Helm, and Lathander formed the high order of COMM
, a group of elite paladins and priests trained to combat these beasts." Flanders went on to tell of the battles throughout the centuries eventually leading to the extingushing of Uther herself. "Her direct descendents, those she had bitten herself, numbered only six at the time of her destruction, all were male. Uther has spoken to the six over the years from the nether world. Now, they mostly fight amongst each other seeking her approval. How fitting since they can all trace their lineage to a drow."
"This is fascinating", exclaimed Thantor. "How is it you know so much when the origin of vampires has forever remained a mystery."
"The order of the high COMM recorded all they learned of Uther and her minions in sacred texts. They were chronicled by the undead hunter, Weasel
, and the high priest of Helm, Maharlika
. They were well guarded and the information kept very private. The texts were lost to Uther, who destroyed them, when she slayed the dynamic duo. That may explain why their origins still remain a mystery."
"So how is you are privy to this information?", Thantor asked again.
"Uther...has been communicating...with me.", Flanders hesitantly replied.
That statment left a look of shock and bewilderment on Thantor's face.
Flanders continued, "Uther has hopes of returning to Faerun. Since all of her direct descendents are male, she is unable to return in any of their forms. She requires a female form to inhabit. For centuries, the six have been warring for Uther's favor and presenting her with female subjects, a queen if you will, that Uther's spirit may possess. They have all failed to provide a fitting subject. It seems now, Uther believes I can provide her a queen."
"But if you are not a direct descendent, why has she chosen you?", inquired Thantor.
"Why do you think the six are terrified of me." Flanders rhetorically quipped. "She has imbued mighty powers upon me, however, my psionic ability allows to create mental towers that keep out her beguilling requests."
"Has she chosen a host for you to infect?", pressed Thantor.
Flanders paused, and attmepted to dodge the question. He sent Rod and Todd back to the astral plane, leaving the figurines outside of his globe of deep night. "Please, take the figurines and give them to the woman who conjured the fire elemental. They took a strong liking to her, and they no longer trust or enjoy my company."
"Has she chosen a host for you to infect?", Thantor requested again and began searching the mind of Flanders.
Flanders pushed him out. "Do not.", he stated. "Go back and tell your group what you have learned. I have no desire to provide Uther with a queen. My vampirism must be reversed or I must be destroyed. I would prefer the former, though I do not the possess the means. I am requesting your help. I must return underground and construct a tower of iron will. No doubt Uther is aware I've had a busy day and she will press hard on me this evening. I must be ready. I will keep a mental channel for you to reach me. I won't be too far. Just reach out and call."
With that, Flanders crawled back into the hole from which he emerged.
Thantor kneeled to scoop up the two figurines and turning, gave a daunting look towards the keep.
Note: This can certainly be edited. It's all pretty heavy but I was on a roll and decided to spill most of the beans at once. I hope I'm not coming off as too selfish by injecting such an intricate plot surrounding my character to your story line. also, I've left a lot of beer in the discussion thread as you must all be parched from reading this. cheers.
Crush enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of the women.
