Ruchi Vael'kyn

The little Light

Ruchi quickly ran over the dark, rough stones that led far below, to where most Drow rarely resided or ever set foot. She whipped her body effortlessly around the narrow caves and tunnels, taking sharp turns and cutting corners like a lithe predator ready to pounce. Pounce at who? Anyone.

A trace of arrogance played upon her lips. She was a cleric now, Loth's devoted cleric. Liking the sound of it, she smiled and licked her lips. Ruchi had gotten lost down here as a child once, nearly starving. It was during this involuntary fast that the Spider had spoken to her. Only a word, Khazra (Blood), but it was enough for Ruchi to learn the secret.

Blood.

Ruchi had given the Spider blood ever since. And, to be fair, Loth had heard her prayers in return. This made Ruchi offer more blood still. Including her own. But mostly, not her own. Not anymore.

Even Ruchi’s sister feared her, looking at her strangely, with curiosity, but mostly with dread.

Tonight, Ruchi was deep beneath Elashin. These tunnels and catacombs were seldom mentioned or even explored, unknown to most Drow. Ruchi came here to meet the invisible, to cross the threshold of the seen into the unseen. To pray. To crawl. Like a spider.

Ruchi knew the corners blindly. She knew where the tunnels narrowed, requiring her to squeeze her body through the tiniest openings. Yet, Ruchi didn’t slow. She ran as fast as she could. She kept casting rapidly:

In Lor

Even magical sight was insufficient down here, quickly ebbing away.

"Ulu’uss!" (Damnation), she muttered.

Ruchi glimpsed a small light in the distance. A candle? Thin and tiny. She squeezed her eyes open and shut. A mirage? An illusion? Was the Spider testing her? Ruchi quickened her pace.

Distracted, out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly saw a sharp, tooth-like rock jutting out. She dropped, saving her eye, but screaming in pain as the rock dug into the side of her skull.

Ruchi screamed, a haunting cry of pain echoed through the catacombs.

"Fuck." Ruchi cursed. As she regained consciousness, she realized she must have lain there for at least a day. She smelled her own blood, thick and crusted over her head and face. Something whispered.

Stretch yourself out to the tiny candle.

"Fuck. What?" Ruchi must have hit her head badly. "Is it you, Spider?"

I am the little light.

"Light? The Spider tolerates no such blasphemy. She is Darkness."

I am not the Spider.

"Then I banish you in Loth's name."

The small light was gone now; only darkness remained. Ruchi's head felt better. She massaged her skull and noticed the gaping hole in her head was closed and healed. Only dried blood remained, which she scraped off.

She got up, shaking herself, unable to make any sense of what had happened.

"Fuck."