Chapter 3: Offering of a Sacrifice
After much preparation for the last couple of weeks, the morning finally came when Riley gave birth to a son. Perhaps it was fate, or perhaps Lolth somehow knew that she was carrying a boy, as she had mentioned in her dream. Later, that day Tocharaeh and Riley walked to Lolth’s hidden temple carrying the screaming newborn with them.
Tocharaeh carried the boy up to the altar, and laid him down upon it. Riley watched Tocharaeh, as she undressed for the sacrifice that would soon take place. He removed an intricate sacrificial dagger from its place, and deftly cut deep gashes into his hands and forearms. Riley approached the altar, and stood beside her husband. Tocharaeh cleaned off the dagger, before carefully handing it to her, and positioned himself so his lifeblood would drain from his self-inflicted wounds down into the bowls inset in the floor. His blood filled up the bowls, and he placed a bloody fingerprint in between the child’s eyes.
Tocharaeh stated, “He needs naming.”
Riley sighed, and thought for awhile before she replied, “Jael’tok.”
Tocharaeh winced as a new pain throbbed throughout him, as the naming was completed. The blood from the inset bowls drained into the everfires, and seeped into his skin forming a new rune.
Tocharaeh stated, “My part is done Daughter of Chaos. Now you may begin.”
Riley took the dagger in her hand, and murmured a quiet prayer placing the dagger on Jael’tok’s chest. The silver blade turned purple the moment it touched Jael’tok’s skin, and he screamed out in pain. She traced the dagger over his chest, and scared the shape of a spider on him. Jael’tok screamed in pain as the intense heat from the blade made his blood boil under his skin. Tocharaeh immediately spun a web of magical vitality to keep the child alive. He than began to intone with a deep magically enhanced voice, a deep ‘OEH’ sound endlessly shaking the stalactites above. Riley lifted the dagger from Jael’tok’s chest as the rune was completed.
Tocharaeh skillfully flicked his blood into the everfire causing it to erupt with a ‘FOOSH,’ as she bowed her head and began to pray.
Ilhar Lolth, Valsharess d' Orbben. L' draeval uriu doer, lu' 'zil dos inbal quarthen, Usstan inbal xunor. L' dalhar vel'uss 'udtila mir l' dro Usstan inbal belbol, Usstan nin alkar ulu dos Ilhar d' Vhid. Gi Jallil Valsharess Usstan ib'leua joros nindel dos ja'hai nindol or'shanse, xor plynn Tocharaeh wun ukt k'lar ka l' dalhar nindel Usstan nrunn zhah naut z'lonzic. Du'ased tlu ulu Lolth, Valsharess d' Orbben.
Mother Lolth, Queen of Spiders. The time has come, and as you have commanded, I have done. The child who doth bare the life I have gifted, I now forfeit to you Mother of Chaos. Oh Lady Queen I humbly ask that you accept this sacrifice, or take Tocharaeh in his place if the child that I bore is not enough. Blessed be to Lolth, Queen of Spiders.
Tocharaeh intoned deeply, “Falduna tlu ulu Jallil Vhid. Vin’utt ulu il Ihar d’ Ilythiiri.”
As the temple fell silent, Riley drew runes in the air opening up a portal to the Abyss before the statue of the drider. Tocharaeh placed his hand on her shoulder, as they both kneeled down in reverence, and waited for the arrival of the Yochlol, Lolth’s Handmaiden to come through. Despite the wails of the crying babe on the altar a great hush filled the room drowning out the fear and pain-filled screams.
The everfire turned new shades of green and purple and the great bowl in the hands of the drider flared up. Suddenly a great mass of bubbling, melting wax gracefully stepped through the portal. The giant malformed mass of gluttonous ooze only continued to grow and it surveyed the area. The great Yochlol, reached out to stroke the childs face, and set its tiny eyes on Riley.
The Yochlol intoned deeply, “Why have you summoned me impudent wench?”
Riley replied, “I summoned you to offer Jael’tok as a sacrifice to Lolth.”
The Yochlol stooped down, and examined the child, and with great speed brings its
melting face within inches of Riley’s face.
The Yochlol intoned deeply, “You summon me for this?”
As Riley was caught off guard at the Yochlol’s speed, the Yochlol diverted her attention to Tocharaeh, and reached out with a large tentacle like mass and launched Tocharaeh through the air sending him across the room and he crumpled against the wall unconscious.
Riley collected her wits somewhat before stuttering, “Ye..yes.”
The Yochlol sniffed the air deeply making a gargling sound, before she intoned, “You fear me, that is good, I am your better and next time you WILL address me as well as Lady Lolth!”
Riley not knowing how to address what was before her responded, “Yes ma’am.”
The Yochlol toke offense, responding, “Ma’am? MA’AM! I am far more greater than to be addressed with such a disgusting HUMAN term for a whore!”
Riley glanced over at her unconscious husband, as she wished she could have some advice on how to deal with a Yochlol.
The Yochlol continued speaking, “I am Tarthlae! You WILL address me as such or feel my wrath!”
Riley responded, “Yes, Tarthlae.”
Tarthlae reached out slowly with her wet arm, and touched Riley’s shoulder. Riley clenched her teeth as her shoulder burned, bubbled, and boiled.
Tarthlae intoned deeply, “Know your place Riley. You risk much when already that male has risked much more on your half-breed behalf. Even IF Lolth has gifted you full blood you ARE no more than flesh for me to destroy.”
Tarthlae removed her arm from Riley’s shoulder, and instead of burned flesh, a tiny silver rune is left in its place.
Tarthlae intoned deeply, “Know Tocharaeh’s affliction now, and learn from your mistakes. Lady Lolth has accepted your sacrifice.”
Riley replied, “Thank you, Tarthlae, :” and she bowed her head.
Tarthlae appeared almost as if she was sneering with the next words she spat from her mouth, “You have Her favor, see to it you realize Her mercy, and gift.”
Tarthlae reached for the child and immediately the still hush that overcame earlier was gone in a instant, and the searing cries of Jael’tok begun anew. With ease Tarthlae lifted the babe and returned to the gateway to the Abyss. After Tarthlae went through, the portal was gone, and the fires died. Darkness enveloped the temple, and with it…. silence.
Riley looked up to see that Tarthlae was gone, and she stood up and walked over to her husband, and kneeled down beside him. Tocharaeh stirred regaining consciousness, and Riley caressed his cheek lightly.
Riley asked him, :”Are you alright love?”
Tocharaeh stated, “Hardly, but alive. Damn Yochlols are always so volatile.”
Riley smiled warmly at her husband.
Tocharaeh than asked, “She accepted Jael’tok then?”
Riley assured Tocharaeh that Jael’tok was an acceptable sacrifice.
Tocharaeh said, “Good, better him than me,” than coughed inconspicuously.
Riley said, “I didn’t even say that if Jael’tok wasn’t enough she could take you”
Tocharaeh stated, “She would have anyway. We lucked out.”
Riley said, “When I even thought about it she had already thrown you across the room.”
Tocharaeh said, “In fact, tis prolly best you did not bargain, she would have taken both, “ he rubbed his ribs, and continued, “Forgot how much that hurt.”
Tocharaeh smirks as bones speedily knit, and crack back into place.
Riley said, “I'm just glad that is over with. I didn't even know how to address her.”
Tocharaeh stated, “It never truly IS over, once you've attained the level of Matron I can leave my place and have you take over. Yochlols will be your frequent visitors later on.”
Riley questioned, “There's more than one?”
Tocharaeh stated, “You must remember I am a mere male, and easily expended. Lolth is fickle as we should be. There are 8 Yochlols, and three Midwives. Midwives you never ever call upon. . Thats the Yochlols job I will search for a book in my collection for you to study now. You've obviously passed the test and are worthy of it.”
Riley smiled warmly at him.
Tocharaeh stretches his tired bones.
Tocharaeh states, 'Our time here is done.'
