Venium gathers her group

Venium stood at the entrance of the cave and gazed out over the boreal forest just beyond. It was dark, the silver moon high and illuminating the summer warmed forest below a silver and green. The cliffs rose high in the distance, looming over the trees like immense waves frozen in time. She had to admit, her mother had chosen well. It was a remote region, few ties with governance of kingdoms great or small, a mere dot on the surface map, and the harsh region would ensure none of their lighter cousins were likely to be about. Only harsh, feral things like orcs or goblins would brave the cold with any regularity, and beasts were so easy to control she though with a grin. Or softer ones such as humans, but only a small community would have come this far; small, and therefore easier to conquer. She felt a shudder work through her spine and tingle in her groin as she thought of the joy in breaking the smarter, but therefore much more worthwhile, beings into cowed slaves.

The warmth of the cavern brushed against her, keeping her scantily clad figure warm before the northern cold, and with it she heard conversation from the four she had gathered.

Ellzerin, the mage, one of the weakest in the family but therefore one of most expendable from the efforts at working on the cavern. She was a thin elf, her robes hanging off her small frame and hood drawn up revealing wide violet eyes that betrayed much and her short platinum hair. Sickly, she lacked much of the fortitude needed to cast greater spells, but she was skilled enough, and Venium always felt it important to have at least one magic user among her retinue.

The other three were soldiers. Senus and Sunadal, twins, were lithe and playful dark elves. They filled out their armour well and laughter danced in their impish smiles and bright eyes, but it was a fey humour, and therefore had a cruel streak as well. Both girls were twined about one another, their black cloaks fluttering about revealing flashes of steel and dusky flesh beneath; the pair amusing themselves by taunting their younger sister. This character prompted the others in the family to say they were begotten by a surface elf **** during one of their mother’s trysts, something that at once marked them different from the rest, shunned, so they had turned to each other for comfort. Watching them now, arms folded and pressing themselves against the other, Venium wondered just how close their most unsisterly affections truly were.

Then there was the fourth. Diamas, the silent one. Unlike her sisters, she had opted for leathers black as night which hugged her body closely and flowed with her movements. Her most remarked feature was that one of her ears, instead of ending in a dagger-like point, ended in a ragged tear where something had once gotten hold of it. It gave her an off, unbalanced appearance, and as she rarely if ever spoke, she was usually avoided unless business required one to find her.

Ellzerin stamped her feet and crossed her arms, shivering despite the warm draft through the cavern mouth. “Where is Beldin? That male has some gall, making us wait.”

“ Aw,” Senus crooned, arm locked about her twin’s neck and leaning towards the mage. “Is our little sister annoyed that she has to stand in the cold?”

“I think she is Senus.” Sunadal giggled and ran her hand down her sister’s thigh eliciting a gasp. “Don’t worry. If it gets too cold tonight, you can sleep in our bedroll. We won’t mind.”

“Mmm. Yeah.” Senus giggled and twisted around, pressing her back against her twin who wrapped her arms about Senus’s waist. “We don’t bite. Much.”

All three gave a sudden pause as Diamas moved. She turned, eyes glittering from within the hood of her brown cloak, and looked down the passageway. All eyes followed, and after a moment, the dark form of their brother stepped free. He had drawn his scarf about his mouth once more leaving only his eyes visible, his shoulders hunched at their eyes as he slunk through them.

“Nice of you to join us, brother,” Ellzerin muttered.

“Mm. Yeah. We were starting to think we would have to start amusing ourselves without you.”

“Oh, sister, don’t say that,” Senus tittered. “You know he wouldn’t be interested in us women. He only likes-“

“Enough!” Venium snapped. She turned sharply, her hair fanning out behind her, framing her dark face and sharp, glittering eyes. She was obeyed, though not without some laughter from the twins. She waited until her brother had joined her.

“You go first. We will follow,” she instructed in a casual, controlled voice. “Report back to us should you find anything. Do not engage.”

“Yes, milady.” Beldin’s voice came out sullen and resentful. Venium’s eyes blazed at the disrespect, but she controlled herself with effort. She deserved that. She gave a stiff nod. “Lead on.”

Like a shadow Beldin melted into the greater darkness of the forest. Venium waited a moment for him to gain a lead, then nodded to the rest. Her sisters fell in behind her, the twins silent but smiling with mischief, Ellzerin giving a last few mutterings as she gathered herself for what promised to be a long night of walking, and Diamas, silent as ever, taking up the rear. The column of dark elves moved quietly into the valley, and whatever dangers and opportunities might lurk within their new abode.