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The Vampire Lord Ancunín’s palace holds many secrets, one of which is a hidden elevator which descends deep below the ground. There is an adjoining staircase that spirals down into darkness like an inverted lighthouse. Among those few who know of its existence, it is whispered that it leads to the vampire ascendant's greatest treasures.
Cadoc is one of those few. He has caught glimpses of it, as he has watched with seething jealousy as the most favoured of the spawn have descended to do their mysterious duties. Only the most loyal, most loved spawn are ever sent down there - the ones the Master trusts, and only ever one at a time. And all are forbidden to speak of what their duties entail. Cadoc yearns to be favoured, covets the title, though it comes with risks. Any spawn who displeases the Master is punished, of course. But a favoured spawn who angers the Master - that is a betrayal, and that deserves the most severe of punishments. Such a spawn might never be seen again - like Aradi, who last had the job of descending the staircase and carrying out the secret tasks, and who hasn’t been seen in far too long.
(Punishments from the Master are always fair. It is important to remember this. Such painful, public spectacles are always deserved. After all, the Master still keeps the room in the dormitories, the one that showed what he endured when he was once like them, that shows how much he cares for them to never subject his spawns to such horrors.)
It is now Cadoc who finds himself on the seemingly endless staircase. He has not been told what his new duties entail, he was only told by one of the other spawn that he is to climb down into the depths, that he must be on his best behaviour. And so he walks, carefully, obediently, into the abyss, his vampiric sight making barely a dent in the endless blackness. Finally, finally, after an age of stairs and darkness, he finds himself at the bottom. There is a hallway before him carved out of the bedrock itself, empty yet decorated as finely as any other room of the palace, resplendent with rugs, statues and artwork. The passageway is dimly lit by braziers of some magical blue flame, and at the very end is a door, massive carved stone with a relief of twining vines and flowers etched into its surface.
Flanking the door are two figures. As he approaches them a foul smell assaults his nostrils - the scent of decay and rotting flesh. He moves closer and - oh. So this is where Aradi went.
The two corpses-given-life regard him for a moment before the one that is more bone than flesh addresses him in a voice like the rasp of wind through dead winter branches. “State your name”
“Cadoc Meivan.”
There is a pulse of force that emanates from the door and Cadoc feels the familiar sensation of his Master’s magic wash over him - like sharp nails dragging lightly over every inch of his skin. Then comes a noise of stone grinding against stone, and the door before him begins to slowly slide open.
“Spawn of the Lord, you may enter”
Cadoc hesitates. He looks to the ghouls before him, examining the once beautiful features of the spawn he knew and envied for so long. “What will I find inside? What are my instructions?”
The corpse of the spawn Aradi speaks for the first time with a wheezing sound of air forced out of a decomposing throat. “Tend the garden. Guard the treasure”
That sounds… simple enough. But again Caradoc finds himself reluctant to enter.
“Do you have any advice?”
Aradi’s corpse regards him unblinkingly from glassy blood-red eyes. For a moment there is a glimmer of something behind them - or is that just the reflection of the flickering flames? After a pause, the ghoul speaks. “Mind yourself. Do not gaze too long at the treasure.”
Well. Fair enough.
There is no point hesitating longer. Cadoc walks forward, the door sliding away to reveal nothing but darkness. Cadoc blinks, his eyes adjusting to the low light, and soon he looks around to see -
A garden. One unlike any Cadoc has ever seen, filled with plants he has only read about - the bizarre flora of the Underdark. Mushrooms and lichen of kinds glowing with eerie bioluminescent light grow up from the bare ground, with strangely-coloured grasses and mosses sprouting up below them. Crystal rock paths stretch out before him, winding their way round comfortable looking benches and grand marble statues - most depicting the Master himself. He hears the sound of water flowing somewhere, and looming before him in the centre of the room is a massive tree. Pale twisted limbs stretch upwards and outwards away from the centre trunk, reaching up into darkness or a ceiling so high Cadoc sees no sign of it. Its leaves glow an uncanny pale blue, casting a cold otherworldly light over the garden, and its branches are covered with beautiful blue flowers that seem to radiate with a strange energy. The ground around the tree is carpeted with these glowing blossoms, and a scent like honey hangs thick in the air.
It's beautiful. It’s extraordinary.
It’s not what Cadoc expected to find in his Master’s most secret, protected vault.
Cadoc walks forward into the unexpected oasis. As his eyes adapt to the light he can see that this room is again carved from the bedrock, but unlike the hallway every inch of its walls are decorated with carving, each more exquisite than the last. Some depict scenes of battles, including a portrayal of the fight against the Elder Brain his Master defeated not long after his ascension. Many others illustrate figures, regal and powerful. There are two of them; one is his Lord and Master - he would recognise his handsome visage anywhere, but the other is unfamiliar. He seems to be a majestic and mighty magic wielder, perhaps his Master’s lost love that he has heard other spawn whisper about. Cadoc had always dismissed these whispers as childish rumours. The Master took many lovers and none would dare to leave him - not even death would presume to take something from the great Lord Ancunín.
As he follows the paths further into the garden, Cadoc finds himself drawn towards the tree at its centre. As he moves closer, he feels a strange kind of power that seems to emanate from it, growing stronger the nearer he gets to it. But Cadoc has never been blessed with magical talent, so he can make no sense of the feeling. He also sees something odd - there are strong chains wrapped around the base of the tree’s trunk.
Soon Cadoc turns a corner to the other side of the tree - and finds the purpose for the chains. In a hollow between roots at the foot of the tree there is a kind of… nest? There are luxurious looking rugs and mountains of push pillows spread over the ground, along with piles of books strewn about haphazardly and a low table loaded with bottles of wine, crystal goblets and a platter of fruit. And in the middle of this is a figure. A man, the chain that wraps around the tree attached to his waist, his wrists, his ankles.
The man looks to be middle-aged, with heavily greying brown hair and dark circles under his eyes that show starkly against skin that looks not to have seen sunlight in far too long - a situation that Cadoc himself is achingly familiar with. He has a face that might once have been handsome were it not for the deep furrows of his brow and the rueful expression on his face. He wears fine clothes that hang off a body that has missed more than a few meals. He looks wretched.
So this is the Master’s prized treasure.
The man looks up at his abrupt appearance. His eyes, deep brown and haunted, search Cadoc’s face.
“I haven’t seen you before. You must be the latest favourite spawn, my new caretaker.” His voice is low and grating, rough from disuse. It sounds to Cadoc somehow more lifeless than the voices of the ghouls that guard the door.
The man stretches out a hand as if to mockingly shake his own in greeting.
“Hello. I’m Gale, formerly of Waterdeep.”
~-~//~-~
Cadoc eventually finds a list of the duties he is to perform, on a table by the entrance. They are more or less what the ghoul at the door had told him:
- Tend to the plants of the garden
- Guard My Treasure - Care for Gale, make sure he is well and bring him anything he requests but Do Not touch him. Do Not touch or remove the chains.
- Remain in the garden until your Master arrives to give you further instructions
As Cadoc ponders the note, he looks back to the tree. The chained man - Gale - hasn’t said much after he introduced himself. He asked about what happened to Aradi, and when Cadoc told him that they are now guarding the door a strange look had passed over him - a mournful look of heartbreak, regret and resignation. He waved Cadoc away after that, and now sits staring off into space,
Time passes, and Cadoc explores more of the garden. Now that his vision has properly adjusted he can really get a chance to appreciate his surroundings. The garden is beautiful in its strangeness; the unusual colours of the vegetation, the hypnotic way the plant life seems to pulse with light, and the strange interplay of light and dark. There is even a water feature, a spring that flows through a part of the garden, resplendent with subterranean aquatic plants.
It is difficult to mark the passing of time in this place with no sun or timepiece, and Cadoc is not sure how long he has been here before he at last hears the grinding sound of the door opening. He looks up to see his Master entering the room, radiating as he always does with power and authority. He heads straight for the base of the tree and carries with him some wrapped parcels and the smell of freshly baked pastries. Cadoc hears a little of what he says when he warmly greets the chained man, but decides it is best to stay out of sight.
(Thou Shalt Make No Unpleasant Noise)
(Thou Shalt Speak To Thine Master Only When Spoken To)
Thou Shalt Never Interrupt or Disrupt Thine Master)
His Master is talking - no, cooing to the man. Cadoc has never heard him sound quite like this, even with his most favourite concubines and consorts. It sounds as though he is telling Gale about his day, his week, and the dealings and politicking he has been doing with the other vampire Lords and powerful leaders of the city. “You should have seen them, pet, the way they grovel for scraps -” Gale remains silent throughout - in fact he has barely moved from the moment his Master entered.
Lord Ancunín seems to grow tired of his one sided conversation; “What, not in the mood for discussing politics today, love? Very well, shall I show you what I’ve brought for you?” His Master proceeds to unwrap the parcels he brought with him and present their contents to Gale - books, jewels, a box of fine pastries. It is strange to see the way his Master fawns over this man. Distressing, even. And throughout all of this, Gale is mute and unmoving. Cadoc turns to busy himself examining more of the garden. He doesn’t want to see any more, less still does he want to be caught intruding.
After a time he hears his Master’s voice becoming louder and more abrasive - more recognisable. He is close enough to hear; “Still intent on throwing your little tantrum, darling ? Very well. I’ll leave you to your Silence.”
Then comes the command he’s been waiting for - “Cadoc!”
He hurries to his Master’s side
(Thou Shalt Never Keep Thine Master Waiting)
and kneels before him.
“There you are, little one.” There is a hand in his hair, stroking. “I do hope you understand just how very privileged you are to see this place. How special. How trusted .”
The hand in his hair tightens, sharp nails digging into his skull. “Yes, Master,”
“Good. Only my most beloved spawn has ever set foot here. The home of my greatest treasure. You understand your duties?”
“Yes, Master.”
“Well?”
Cadoc takes a breath he doesn’t need, and steadies himself. “Tend the garden. Guard your Treasure.”
“Correct.” The hand in his hair loosens, the nails retract and the hand goes back to stroking his head. “There are plenty of gardening tools and books around here somewhere. I’m sure you’ll figure it out if you use that pretty little head of yours. But! I suppose introductions are in order!”
His Master drags Cadoc upright, grasping him by the chin and pointing his face so that he is looking down at the chained man from their position on the slope above him.
“This is Gale, my darling love, my prize.” His Master’s voice has an unexpectedly proud warmth to it as he speaks of the man below them. “We will rule together, he at my right hand, my dark consort - once he gets over this silly tantrum. Isn’t that right, my pet?”
The man below them says nothing, does nothing, doesn’t even look at them - his eyes still lost and gazing into space. Cadoc feels himself fill with a mix of jealousy and rage on his Master’s behalf.
“Gale darling, this is Cadoc, your new keeper and one of my most favoured spawn. He’s quite pretty for a half-elf, isn’t he?” Cadoc turns his eyes toward the ground, a warm blush of pride overtaking him at his Master’s praise. Favoured, he is favoured. “Tsk. Your manners really have gotten bad down here, haven’t they, pet? No introduction? No hello?”
Cadoc clears his throat nervously. “He, ah, he did introduce himself before, master.”
“Indeed.” The ice in Lord Ancunín’s voice sends a shiver down his spine. “What did he say to you?”
“He just introduced himself. And asked where Aradi was. That is all he said.”
“Ah, darling Aradi.” There is mocking pity in his Master’s voice now “Poor, foolish darling Aradi tried to touch what belongs to me alone. But you won’t make that mistake, will you, Cadoc?”
“No, Master.”
His master’s eyes are fixed upon him and begin to fill his vision - bright ruby red suddenly all he can see.
“ Thou Shalt Not Touch That Which Belongs To Thine Master . Unless I let you, of course.” The new command echoes inside Cadoc’s head, reverberating endlessly as it burrows itself into his brain. His fingers itch, his skin alive with electricity, he tastes blood and bile on his tongue. He hates the feeling. And yet, he hungers for more, more of his Master’s instruction to fill the void inside him.
Lord Ancunín’s laughter echoes around the cavernous garden. “You always do take my commands so well, my darling spawn. But I grow weary of this darkness. I shall leave you to your work, Cadoc. You may leave this garden to fetch anything you require to work with, or anything *he* requests - if he does deign to make his wants known. You may also leave for three hours every day, to feed. Make sure the Sussur tree is always in bloom, and if anything happens to my treasure, any change, find me at once. Do not touch the chains. Do not disappoint me.
“Goodbye, my pet.” The last seems to be addressed to Gale, who still hasn’t moved or looked up at them, although his brow seems deeper furrowed than before. Cadoc watches as his master leaves, taking with him all of the energy in the room, then turns back to look at the chained man.
How strange, he thinks. How pitiable, to have the attention and love of Vampire Lord Astarion Ancunín and turn away from it. Cadoc admits to not always understanding his master and his whims - and he would never question any of them! - but he does not understand what his Master sees in the wretched man chained to this tree, too foolish or prideful to see what he has, what he could have. What kind of person would refuse to sit by the side of his Lord? Why keep such a miserable creature at all, let alone treat him with such care? Surely Gale can see how deeply the Master cares for him, to hold him in a secure and protected place, with his every need provided for? Cadoc glares at him, wondering how long he has been here and how long it will be until he finally gives in to his Master.