The council room was dimly lit, the flickering torchlight casting shifting shadows on the moss-covered walls. Sylas stood with Althar and the other council members, the gravity of their next mission weighing heavily on them all. Captain Ilvara, ever poised, paced at the head of the room, her hands clasped behind her back as she outlined the growing threat.
"House Xorlarrin has been more active on the surface than we initially thought," Ilvara began, her voice steady but taut with tension. "They're establishing alliances with surface-dwellers—specifically nobles who are unhappy with the current political order. They're using the chaos of the recent wars to expand Lolth's influence above ground."
Sylas listened carefully, his heart racing as the reality of his mission became clearer. He had known that House Xorlarrin's ambitions stretched beyond the confines of the Underdark, but to learn that they were actively making deals with surface rulers? It was more dangerous than he had imagined. The thought of Lolth's venomous influence spreading across the surface world, corrupting those who didn't even know what horrors they were aligning themselves with, sent a cold shiver down his spine.
Ilvara continued, her gaze sweeping across the gathered Sentinels. "We believe there's more to this alliance than simple opportunism. Our spies in Helwin's court have uncovered documents suggesting that House Xorlarrin is planning an attack—a large-scale incursion that could destabilize several kingdoms, all in Lolth's name."
The murmurs that rippled through the room mirrored Sylas's own unease. House Xorlarrin wasn't known for subtlety, but they were master tacticians. If they were planning something as grand as a coordinated surface invasion, it meant the Underdark had been preparing for far longer than anyone had realized.
Althar, standing beside Sylas, spoke up. "Do we know the extent of this alliance? How many surface nobles are involved?"
Ilvara paused for a moment before answering. "Not yet. We know that several key nobles from the kingdom of Helwin are involved, but we suspect there may be others in neighboring lands as well. What we do know is that House Xorlarrin has been promised support—gold, soldiers, and supplies—in exchange for helping these nobles seize power."
Sylas's jaw tightened. He had seen firsthand the ruthlessness of his former house. The promise of gold and power would mean nothing to them in the long run. House Xorlarrin would turn on their allies the moment it suited them, just as they had done time and again in the Underdark. The surface-dwellers who believed they could manipulate the drow were fools, playing a game they could never win.
Ilvara's gaze landed on Sylas. "Which is why we need eyes inside House Xorlarrin. Someone who can infiltrate their ranks, gather intelligence, and determine the true extent of their plans."
Sylas felt the weight of the room shift toward him, as though everyone already knew the answer. He had volunteered for this mission in the last meeting, but now, with the full scope laid bare, the enormity of what he was about to do felt overwhelming.
"I'll lead the team," Sylas said, his voice steady, though his heart pounded in his chest. "I know House Xorlarrin. I can get us close enough to gather the information we need."
Ilvara nodded. "I've chosen two scouts to accompany you, as well as a healer. This mission is reconnaissance only—do not engage unless absolutely necessary. Our priority is information, not conflict."
Sylas appreciated her warning, but he knew that nothing in the Underdark went according to plan. The chance of this mission ending without a fight was slim to none, especially with him at the helm. He wasn't just any drow—he was a defector. If House Xorlarrin discovered his presence, they wouldn't hesitate to kill him or worse, drag him back to Lolth's web of torment.
"I understand," Sylas replied. "We'll return with what you need."
Althar turned to Sylas, his voice low and concerned. "You've been out of the Underdark for a long time, Xarann. Don't let that place pull you back in. You've built a life here, a purpose. The Underdark… it has a way of reminding you of what you used to be."
Sylas met his friend's gaze, the concern clear in Althar's eyes. He knew the risks, perhaps more than anyone else in the room. The Underdark wasn't just a place of physical danger—it was a place of mental and emotional torment, where every shadow whispered of the past and every corner held the weight of old sins. The pull of that darkness was strong, especially for someone who had once thrived in it.
"I won't forget who I am now," Sylas said quietly, though even as he spoke the words, he felt the gnawing uncertainty in the pit of his stomach. He wanted to believe them. He needed to believe them.
Althar gave him a firm nod, though the unease in his eyes didn't fade. "Just… stay vigilant."
Ilvara began outlining the rest of the plan. The Sentinels would remain on high alert, watching for any sign of drow activity on the surface while Sylas and his team ventured into the Underdark. They would take one of the lesser-known entrances—an old cavern system that had been used by smugglers and adventurers over the centuries. It would allow them to bypass most of the major checkpoints, but it also meant they would be on their own for most of the journey.
"Time is of the essence," Ilvara said. "House Xorlarrin is moving quickly, and we need answers before they strike. You leave at first light."
Sylas stood, the weight of the mission settling heavily on his shoulders. He nodded to Ilvara and the other council members before turning to leave. Althar followed closely behind, his expression dark with worry.
As they exited the chamber and stepped into the cool night air, Althar stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. "Sylas, are you sure about this?"
Sylas turned to face him, feeling the tension in his own muscles. "I have to be, Althar. If I don't face them, if I don't do this, I'll never truly escape them. House Xorlarrin will keep coming. And it's not just about me anymore—if they succeed in their plans, they'll bring the surface world under Lolth's control."
Althar studied him for a long moment, his silver hair catching the moonlight. "I know you feel responsible, but don't carry this burden alone. We fight together, Sylas. Remember that."
Sylas gave him a small, tight smile. "I won't forget."
Althar clapped him on the back, then stepped away. "Get some rest. You'll need your strength for what's coming."
Sylas watched his friend disappear into the shadows, leaving him alone beneath the stars. He turned his gaze upward, to the pale moon that hung like a beacon of hope in the night sky. The light of Eilistraee had guided him this far, had shown him a way out of the darkness. But now, he was returning to the place where no light could reach.
The thought of stepping back into the Underdark, of walking through the halls of his former house, filled him with a sense of dread. But beneath that fear, there was something else—a steely resolve that had taken root in his heart the day he had left the Underdark behind.
This time, he wasn't going back as a servant of Lolth. He was going back as a knight of Eilistraee, as a protector of light and justice.
And no matter what awaited him in the darkness, he would not let it consume him.