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Ending to Challenge 2: Only The Strong Survive The cave was dark and dusty, and there was a knife at her throat. A good sign, she reflected. It meant that somebody wanted her alive. For now. "Move and you die." The voice was young. Young enough to feel insulting. But there was the dagger, after all. "So you say. But what makes you think you have the right person?" A pause. "I know, Kevralyn. Infidel." There were a number of factors in her favour here. Firstly, the young drow assassin wasn't yet aware that his innate magic would fail outside the underdark. Secondly, as a male he would not be among Lloth's clergy, and wouldn't be able to rely on any priestly abilities. Thirdly, by deciding to taunt her rather than knocking her out, he lacked a way to disable her while holding a knife. And he was young. She decided to concede her identity: how many drow females lived above the surface anyway. "Infidel? In whose eyes?" "You have displeased Lloth. And the House looks forward to exacting punishment for your crimes." In the form of torture and prolonged murder, no doubt. The assassin adjusted his grip on the dagger. A smirk flashed across his face. "I found you first." Her eyes flicked to a shadowy corner of the chamber, and she returned the smirk. "It seems not." The boy glanced around, but that was all she needed. She grabbed his wrist and twisted the dagger from his hand. An elbow to his temple knocked the assassin backwards, and she pinned him to the floor. Now it was her turn to sneer. "Stronger than you expected?" She grabbed both his fine-boned wrists with one hand, and drew her own dagger from out of her boot. No time for ceremony. His eyes widened in panic, then started to glaze over. The choking sound lasted a little while longer. Kevralyn stood and wiped the blood off her face. "I found you first". So there was at least another on her tail. And if this little fool had managed to track her, then any other - possibly more experienced - killers could be nearby. She swiped the assassin's dagger and a few choice items from his body and fled the cave. A whispered word chased her through the night air. Whispered over and over. "Infidel." Start of Challenge 3: Chasing Moonlight "Such anger. Such bitterness. Why?" Her eyes burned into the distance and her thumbnails dug into her fingers. Painfully. "It is not something that a drow can speak of." The tone softened. "But do you not wish to experience joy? Joy, and no suffering?" "Such a thing is not possible." "Oh, but it is." She raised a white eyebrow, then laughed inwardly at the thought. "It is," the voice continued, "for a follower of Eilistraee, the Dark Maiden. Eilistraee, Lady of the Dance, of Song, the Hunt and the Sword. The Spider Queen Lloth has forsaken you, or you have forsaken her, either way it matters not. You cannot regain her favour, and she has taken that which is most precious from you." Kevralyn started to speak, but no words came out. Her gaze fell to the rotting leaves on the forest floor. The voice became more pressing. "If you wish to truly live, seek the Temple of Eilistraee in the South. If you do not leave - and leave now -, your House's assassins will find you once more and this time they will not fail their Matriarch. You have a short time to make your decision, but I can guide you if you will it." To abandon everything she had been. To let go of the comforting emotions of rage and despair. To forge a new future and master the new environment. She stepped into the moonlight. "Tell me how to find the Temple."