Drow's Dilemma Ep. 112: Concubines

Author's Note:

A Drow's Dilemma began as a one-on-one roleplaying project and has been converted into a chapter-by-chapter format for weekly posting with the permission and assistance from my partner. It will contain a considerable amount of sexual themes such as femdom, lesbian, straight, 'reverse' rape, BDSM, group sex, romance, and other themes. The main goal of the story, however, is to tell an epic tale of adventures, gods and goddesses, fae, and nymphomaniacs. This episode and every episode to come will be available for free on Literotica for the foreseeable future. All characters that engage in sexual or suggestive situations are mentally and sexually mature: the human equivalent of 18 for their race.

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Episode 112: Concubines

For two weeks now, the Seduction was busy whisking people away to their secret boudoir in the mountains. For a while, people shrugged it off. It wasn't uncommon for several of their younger people to go see the surface drow or explore someplace else that struck their curiosity. But there was a certain group of people who noticed the pattern. And a very awkward, worrying pattern it was.

And so, three younger nobles who had been training at the university got together and made their way up to the House Duskhaven headquarters where it was generally known that people could come to talk to Master Caleldir if it was absolutely necessary.

When they walked in, Caleldir was reading some worrying reports. Clachleom had not yet sent any formal delegation to the camp, but they had definitely, decidedly noticed them. A lot or scouts had been skirting near them. The Aelsunites had had some awkward sometimes-fights with the Clachleomite scouts. And the Aelsunites' own scouts were reporting that Clachleom was sending a full delegation and military company this way very soon. Together with the increasingly terse civil-war standoff in that country, it made for plenty of both worry and opportunity.

Less concerned, his succubus familiar lounged lazily off to the side (Dahlia didn't let Caleldir out of her sight when he wasn't in Risa's dimension). While in Caleldir's study, she was usually in her entirely humanoid form and even wore wraps around her chest and hips. For people with at least a little knowledge, she was still obviously a succubus. But at least she looked like a succubus not currently on the hunt. Dahlia looked up at the three of them and grinned.

"Master Caleldir," one said with an obvious air of uncertainty. "We would like to come forward with an issue we have noticed... it's... it's about that time in old Dinoyrn."

Caleldir gave them a look over and quickly recognized them. Dinoryn students. Now working with his magitech engineering corps. Had participated in the gangbang. "I assume this is a bit awkward for you, then," Caleldir said dryly. "Rest assured, I hold no grudges. If any of you are pregnant, though, I hope that you will let me know. I want to keep track of all my children and their mothers." He sighed, putting the reports down. "Also, if you will identify your names?" He handed them a piece of paper to sign. "At any rate, you seem to be worried about more than simply a chance of me taking revenge. What worries you?"

"I am Zesinil, third daughter of House Alaun'xyr," the uncertain noble introduced herself. "This is Elvraen, my cousin of the same House." Each wrote her name on the paper that Caleldir passed to them.

"And I am Iimlin, house Lirdcicafae," said the third one shortly, then also wrote her name.

"We... are not exactly your engineers - though there are things that we have helped with, as have most people from the University," Zesinil continued. "And yes, this is... awkward. Ah, so, we have noticed a certain pattern recently. People have been going missing - not enough for worry, normally; people leave their homes all the time without telling anyone, especially in times of great upheaval - but... a statistically significant number of them were... there... during that night. More of them than usual are vanishing, most of whom boasted about catching from you."

Iimlin nodded. "I have heard that you actually care about your children, and your position with Duskhaven... well, we were hoping that you might be able to provide some protection. We don't feel safe. Especially me: I currently carry one of your offspring."

"As do I," Elvraen confessed.

While the drow were making their introductions, Dahlia has sat up and was looking at them with an amused expression. By coming forward like this, they had actually secured their own personal freedom. That was... unexpected.

"Zesinil, Elvraen, and Iimlin," Caleldir replied. He put his hand on his forehead and drew a deep breath. "And Iimlin and Elvraen are pregnant." That by itself was statistically expected. That fertility drug they had given him had been far too powerful.

He leaned forward, thinking about the report. "That is indeed very worrying. Who could be targeting you? Selene is the one with the most anger towards you all, but she is not targeting any of you." He glanced over at his familiar. "Dahlia! You can port around and disguise yourself better than any of us. Would you mind doing some investigative work to see who is targeting these women? If you and your Seduction are busy elsewhere, I will find another set of investigators, but I figured I should give you first crack at it."

Dahlia masked her surprise quickly - she hadn't expected to hear her name and not be accused of this deed in the next breath. She stood to approach the three petitioners.

Caleldir was not looking at Dahlia to notice her surprise. He didn't even have a hint of suspicion in his mind. He was not Althaia, after all. "Ah! Ladies. This is my Familiar, Dahlia. She is a succubus, despite her current appearance as a light-elf. As you could probably tell."

"I will get to the bottom of this, Master Librarian. I am best suited to the job, after all; I can tell just by looking at a woman whether or not you've had sex with her," Dahlia agreed smoothly. "In case you couldn't recall all the faces, these women are definitely telling the truth about their involvement in that Event." Even though that was not in question. "And the two pregnancies as well, it seems." She reached out to try to touch Elvraen, who twitched away from the handsy succubus. Dahlia shrugged and moved to lean against Caleldir's desk instead.

"That is quite an accomplishment, Dahlia. Heh. I suppose that I could never hide it if I ever tried to cheat on you." Caleldir chuckled. Yeah. Like Dahlia would even care. Probably encourage, actually.

He turned back to the three women. "I can give you rooms in our secured dimension. Not in the main house, as I think Selene would be incensed, but I will get another house elsewhere for you to stay. Risa can find something useful for you to do. I will also put out an announcement to all the women involved with the same offer." He nodded. "Anything else?"

Zesinil spoke up again. "A... place in the dimension would be acceptable," she decided hesitantly. She turned to look at her companions, who nodded their agreement. "It's safe there, even if it's confining. We will pack our things and return by nightfall."

"Look, I know that you are nervous about this. But you will be protected there. Now, excuse me, I need to go talk to Selene and Ashyr Duskhaven. Dahlia? Could you get started on that?" Caleldir asked. He stood and gave his familiar a quick hug. Then he left the study.

Retiring to Risa's dimension, Caleldir informed her of the situation, and the solemn, restrainedly gleeful A.I. promised to build a nice harem house to keep all of Caleldir's baby mommas. The way she said that irked Caleldir, but he said nothing. Instead, he searched for Selene.

Selene was in the library with Ashyr, both sitting on opposite ends of the couch with their feet up and tangled together. Ashyr was reading a very naughty book complete with graphic pictures and an absent-minded naughty smirk on her face. Selene had a much drier book about magical theory balanced on her heavily distended stomach. More and more, Selene was letting her brother and father do the work that she used to have the energy for. Now, about a month from her due date, it was getting to be impractical and downright unhealthy for her to work.

"Caleldir," Ashyr said with a warm smile. She was nearing her old self again, though there was still a sadness at the back of her mind. It was clear that the drow ranger missed her infant even if she could visit him. It just... wasn't the same when he wasn't awake, as she shared with her lovers on multiple occasions. But it was better to focus on that than the conception of her Uriel.

"That is your 'I have a thing to discuss that I'm not sure you'll like' expression, if I'm not mistaken," Selene observed. She placed a bookmark in her book and set it on the table next to the arm of the couch. Then she moved her legs enough that Caleldir could sit in the middle of the couch.

Ashyr likewise moved. "Come sit with us."

Caleldir gladly took his seat between Ashyr and Selene, leaned back, and closed his eyes. He let out a long sigh, then opened his eyes and sat back up straight. "You are right. This is on a very unpleasant topic. Related to this girl's younger half-siblings, mostly." He rubbed Selene's stomach. "Someone is targeting the women who were involved in the Event at Dinoryn. Some twenty of them have gone missing in the last month. Some of the others have noticed the pattern and came to me asking for protection. I decided to grant them such protection. I sent Dahlia to find out who is targeting these women and to offer the ones not attacked yet protection. Risa is preparing them a place in her dimension away from this house so you do not have to see them."

The heavily pregnant drow let out a long sigh and rubbed the bridge of her nose. She did not like to be reminded of such things, but if bad things were happening to those women and, more importantly, Caleldir's offspring, then she knew automatically that Caleldir would want to do something about it. So it wasn't a surprise when he said that at least some of them would be living in the dimension with them.

Ashyr's expression was more passive. Caleldir held no real hard feelings towards those participants, so Ashyr didn't either. If he wanted to help them, then she would help them. She shifted up on the couch to curl into Caleldir's side and rest her head on his shoulder. Both drow seemed to know he had more to say, and so waited for him to get it all out.

"I have been doing a bit of research on the students, soldiers, and slaves of House Dinoryn that participated that day. It seems that either all of them - or almost all of them - survived, but a large number of the students are sole survivors as far as their families go. They do not have anywhere to turn to. I was wondering if..." He drew another deep breath. "We should declare me official House Consort without delay. I will take on the name of Caleldir Duskhaven. Hissael is merely my father's assumed name, not his proper one, anyway. Then, once I am formally a member of and Consort House Duskhaven, I think that we should offer to adopt those drow women who became pregnant off of me - and maybe the others from that day who have nowhere else to go - as House Duskhaven members. That way their children, my children, can be seen as legitimate."

"I definitely agree that you should be named Consort as soon as possible. I will have my brother and father arrange the ceremony," Selene began, tackling the easy part of Caleldir's words. "As for adopting more women..." Her nose crinkled in distaste. "Adoption is not unheard of in situations where families are wiped out. We do like preserving as many noble lines as possible. And, of course, Duskhaven very much needs more members. It's highly unusual, however, to adopt women based on the sire of the child they are carrying."

"We are already changing things," Ashyr pointed out. "Why not give the males a little bit more ownership of their daughters and sons? It actually seems to work quite well with surface races."

Caleldir shrugged. "Well, as for giving males a bit more say, I think that it is a wise decision for many reasons. For one thing, Ellistraea and Aelsuna are both fairly egalitarian, with the difference that Ellistraea is ideologically egalitarian while Alesuna is pragmatically so. Ask Althaia or Abanonda for a more inside view of the intricacies. Both have a major preference towards women in the clergy but societally is a different matter. So, religiously the position of males is going to change. Practically they will as well since being on the surface means that it will be much harder to insulate your culture from other cultures. Impossible, even, since Sunites and Ellistraeans are pouring in, and we will be reviving a number of the most powerful Deusterrans. So, officially discriminating against one sex will have bad effects when that sex can just move."

He continued on. "As for binding parents and children, absolutely. Mortality rates will be reduced significantly, for one thing. Family bonds will become much more important when people are not expecting to lose most of their children. There are other things to consider, of course, but that will be enough for now."

He sighed, moving to the more unpleasant topic. "As for adopting the various mothers of my children, well, I leave that to you and them. Just something to consider."

"It does seem logical to give the men more rights than they had back in the Underdark," Selene conceded. "Other cultures aside, what happened to our own house is a prime example of why 'sexism' such as what we practiced can be very harmful. And, if we lead by example, then perhaps the other houses will follow." She let out an annoyed sigh. "So the adoption idea is a good one, Caleldir."

"... but, you do know that, in our old society, this plan would mean our adoptive sisters would be allowed breeding rights with you beyond any young they currently carry? Are you okay with that?" Ashyr asked, looking up at him with a questioning expression.

The question gave Caleldir a slight twitch. "I am aware of that," he said quietly. "But... well... to be fair..." He drew a deep breath. "Please do not take this wrong, Selene, I mean you no offense, but some of my best relationships were started by being forced into sex. So... I do not bear any of these women any ill will for the bad behavior that was encouraged in their culture. So, if they want to have access to me as House Consort...

"I will not raise a fuss. Frankly, when it comes to who I have sex with, I consider myself as being bound to you two. I reserve a right of a soft veto, but not even a hard veto. After all, Ashyr, I do not resent you for Carlotta or Alycyrl." He smiled somewhat wryly.

Selene huffed a little. "Well, if we are giving our males more say in things, then we can get away with being more restrictive."

"As long as it is up to Caleldir, and not solely to us," Ashyr reminded her cousin patiently.

"Okay, yeah. As long as he has the choice. This doesn't really come naturally to me, you know. You're the one who has always acted like males are equal. I would suggest that you head this project of equality, but you've never been good at the social maneuvering. However, I do think it's time that you step more fully into the social sphere. We can work on this project as well as the adoption project together. I think I can manage a few interviews a day," Selene said as she absentmindedly rubbed the swell of her stomach. Still, she didn't seem too happy about the whole thing, but it was just too logical for her practical mind to reject.

"In that case, I will set to work too. Help Risa set up the refugee quarters. Help Dahlia find the young ladies."

"I just do not like the idea of you being so busy that you do not have the time or energy for me or Ashyr," Selene confessed.

The ranger shrugged. "Eh, we will figure it out. He is half nymph, though, so we can always be sure of his sexual stamina. It should be fine if he stays with us most nights."

"Yeah, there is a limited amount of time in a week." Caleldir sighed. "But, I will leave that up to you, for the moment. The decision as to what you are willing to tolerate, at least. As far as what I do within that toleration band, I am happy to make my own decisions. And I will definitely be with the two of you most nights, regardless."

Then his expression turned rather morose. "I have a lot of awkward reunions coming up, I am afraid. I just hope there are more Zesinil, Elvraen, and Iimlins than there are Hael'ysses. A lot of those women were..." He drew a deep breath, it was clear that he was greatly uncomfortable. "Well, a lot of them were toxically Drow, no offense intended."

"I think most of the women you encounter will not be like Hael'yss. Many would agree that she was awful by even drow standards. And if they do act as she did... well, I'm not opposed to feeding them to the Seduction," Selene reassured him.

Caleldir relaxed a bit. "At least most will be less stupid than she was. Whatever her intelligence score shows up as on a statistics scan, she was remarkably foolish in trying to leverage her position as unwanted mother to the child of one of the most powerful men in her civilization in that particular way. Probably because of the... things that Goelon did to her, though. The rest of those present... then should at least be cannier."

"Oh! And Althaia!" Ashyr interjected, remembering something. "She should be adopted too, if she still wants to be. Perhaps with Caleldir's Consort Ceremony, but definitely before we bring on a bunch of women we don't know as well. I wonder where she is; we should talk to her."

Caleldir's eyes lit up a bit. "Ah! I should talk to her. I will meet with her when I go out. Send her your way." With that, he took his leave, putting out a non-binding summon to his familiar as he went. "Dahlia! If you are not too busy, I could use your company."

Dahlia was happy enough to pop up next to Caleldir mere moments after. All she had been doing was sharing the good news with her Seduction. They all laughed at how perfect everything was going for them. Now more than ever, none of the formerly 'top' succubi in the Seduction held any bad feelings towards the woman who was clearly on the verge of bringing out a new, unprecedented era.

--

A little less than two hours after Caleldir left, the nymph Althaia strode into Risa's domain looking for Selene and Ashyr, who were still in the library. Looking more queenly and radiant than ever, she had stuck with her simple white garments, though as the High Paladin of Aelsuna rather than the temporary Queen of Port Afron she was wearing far less fabric: more of her skin on display than was hidden. She gave Ashyr and Selene a respectful nod in the matter of royalty greeting an equal.

"Althaia!" Ashyr said happily. She was always glad to see the paladin; that aura of hers was just as comforting as ever. It was really a shame that the nymph couldn't be around more often. Ashyr had said as much on a couple of occasions, though such words were usually followed by an understanding that she had duties elsewhere.

"It is very good to see the two of you again," Althaia said with deep sincerity. "I am grieved that our duties have not allowed us to spend as much time together now as we used to. That should be temporary, as my duties with the Aelsunites are not permanent. At any rate, Caleldir said that you wished to speak with me? He was not forthcoming with the details."

Althaia sat down with a happy sigh. The Nymph Paladin definitely was much more restrained than ever, but her affection and love beamed out even more genuinely and warmly for all that. It helped that her aura was far stronger than before: improving the will and wit alike of those around her, as well as making lies and deceits much more difficult. She had become an invaluable asset for negotiations, consequently, almost being a walking version of the old Duskhaven negotiations house.