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 115: Conspiracies
While Caleldir was having a wild foursome with two succubi and a foreign noblewoman, a different scene was going on in Risa's Dimension. Once Ashyr, Selene, and Tsabdrin were inside, Althaia called a meeting. Her concerned look was enough to give the others pause.
"I am afraid that the ambassador was not human," she began. "While her knights are mostly Lawful or True Neutral humans and her Scribe is a Chaotic Good human sorceress/warlock with... enhancements, the ambassador herself is a Lawful Evil demoness. A succubus of enormous power, to be precise. Perhaps not as powerful as Dahlia, but it is very concerning to find a succubus in that position. It says things about the state of affairs in Clachleom that worry me greatly."
After this speech, Ashyr was the only one who didn't look particularly concerned. She was also the only one who had words to speak. "We... may have already been informed that there's been some infiltration," Ashyr said a little sheepishly. They hadn't kept Althaia in the loop as much as they should have. "Eh, our live-in succubi seem to be decent enough. Perhaps we can get Dahlia to find out what's going on over there. Maybe Clachleom has good relations with a Seduction over there like we have good relations with ours."
"...maybe." Selene finally said in response to Ashyr. She didn't sound convinced, though. "From what I gathered from the country during my brief time there, a good deal of the citizens would not like discovering how closely their queen is dealing with those demons."
"Indeed." Althaia nodded. "An infiltration is exactly what I suspect. A hostile takeover, even. Especially when combined with Clachleom's rather complex political situation and succession crisis." She sighed. "A powerful neighbor being taken over by demons when we cannot afford an enemy from the back..." She shook her head. "I think that we need a scout to send to Clachleom and investigate. Someone who is an expert at stealth and information gathering. Someone who is an expert fighter, with a certain degree of magical ability and resistance."
Althaia turned to the rest of the group. "Well? I am being too paranoid here?"
"It would be smart simply to know what our neighbors are doing- Whether they're up to something or not, Ashyr. But in my experience, they're always up to something," Selene agreed with Althaia. "And relying on Dahlia to tell us everything we need to know... downright idiotic."
"The Blackdawns have been over there. Why not just rely on their information? From what I've seen of them, they are a truthful, trustworthy lot," Ashyr asked. She looked as if she wanted to interrupt her cousin before, but Selene was getting that stubborn set to her jaw again.
"They have their own agenda. It would be better for one of our own. One... like you, Tsabdrin." Selene's stern crimson eyes met widening blue.
"Me?" he asked, looking consternated.
"You fit Althaia's description, brother."
"Actually, Selene is right. You really do. You're a ranger, Tsabdrin. Wouldn't you like to go ranging again?" Ashyr said, seeming to warm to the idea. Her ranger cousin needed something to do other than play secondary caregiver to the children who would do well enough with Risa alone.
Althaia hesitated for a moment. She knew that Tsabdrin did have those qualifications, but Abanonda did as well. But if Selene and Ashyr thought Tsabdrin should go, and it would be good for his mental well-being to be useful... Aha! This was the perfect time to enact her plan to reward Tsabdrin for everything and get his mind off the past. "Tsabdrin is almost perfect, but I am afraid that he does have one issue." She turned to him. "You will be dealing with succubi, most likely, and ones of a level of power that will have no trouble at all ensorcelling you. So, I do not think that you should go alone. Do you mind taking on a few apprentices?"
"That was exactly what I was going to say!" Tsabdrin said in a protesting tone. "If it's succubi we're dealing with, I could get nabbed by- Wait, a few apprentices?" he asked, his mind finally catching up to the second part of Althaia's words. "I... do not know how apprentices would help me avoid succubi. If anything... well, if anything they would slow me down, don't you think?"
"The apprentices that I am talking about are mine," Althaia explained. "Young Nymphs, about a year or so younger than I am: born Nymphs like me. I trained them in the paladin arts but they want to study the ranger arts as well. Since they are already trained in the most essential of the Paladin arts, they will not be vulnerable to succubus magics. Since they are Nymphs, they are naturally stealthy and good with animals. So it will be more the combat arts and scouting techniques that you would need to teach."
"It would be difficult to train people and be on a mission," Selene agreed, brow furrowed. "Abanonda would perhaps be a better fit as a scout, but as a scout for Duskhaven? She would answer to Blackdawn first."
"They could both go!" Ashyr said with a rather sly grin that only widened when Tsabdrin began to look self-conscious. "I'm sure it would do good things for house relations."
"We could send either, but I do not think both," Althaia said. "I was thinking about sending Abanonda to scout originally and having you here to keep an eye on Caleldir, Tsabdrin - as I fear that with increased succubus presence Dahlia might decide that they are powerful enough with allies from Clachleom (which may well be being ruled by a succubus Domination) to try to kidnap and incubize him - but on further reflection, the reverse might be a better idea. Abanonda can bodyguard Caleldir with some of my Nymphs who want to learn her arts, and you can go to Clachleom with some of my Nymphs that want to learn yours."
She smiled dazzlingly. "Thoughts?"