Nexii
12-10-2025, 03:01 PM
Three days later, Nexii gathered with twelve apostles from her inner circle. They were in the inner sanctum of House Vanadis, Nexii at the pulpit and the rest circled around on the floor. There was a body covered over in a black sheet between Nexii and the crowd.
“You all know why you are here. I called you here to discuss the vision I had.” Nexii began.
“First, I’d like to apologize. I know how much effort it is to get a port from all corners of Norrath these days. I don’t call you all from your park outs lightly,” Nexii continued. Her face was grim.
“Wasn’t a problem bringing everyone here,” Natesse nodded. Faithful as ever. Perhaps it was a druid wolf thing, with canines being so loyal and all.
Kefyra flinched, as the fire wizard wanted to say something about how she brought herself here. But she managed to restrain herself before the gathering.
“Thank you. So the petition came back. CSR refuses to have mercy upon our dear Callgirl,” Nexii continued. “They insist her sins are too great, and that she must be renamed to absolve them,” The priestess fidgeted with her hands, a sign she wasn’t all that comfortable. She should have been, everyone here was a member of House Vanadis or an honorary member.
“So let them,” Lahave had a bit of a twisted smile. Something morbid about observing code reconstitution into a muted body appealed to her. It turned her on in all the wrong ways and places.
“We might learn something powerful,” she added.
“No, no. It’s worse than that. It always is. For one, it spits on everything Melissa did to fix me. It would have been too easy to let her wipe all my memories, erase everything that makes me what I am. I did not wish to start over fresh. Sirken’s memories and desires and everything else. It’s all something I’ll have to live with to some extent, forever, and…” Nexii explained.
“And?” Lahave was curious. And afraid by that pause. Nexii didn’t normally pause.
“And. And it means we have lost favor. We are doomed now, either by CSR’s hand or by other players. An unstoppable attack will come soon. I have seen it in my visions and know it to be true by Innoruuk himself. We may try our best but we shall not win against the tides of hate,” Nexii completed the thought. She gritted her teeth. It was hard to admit that their hatred was now greater than that which boiled in her own veins.
“We’ll prepare the defenses, regardless,” Vassira lived for battle. A glorious end in melee combat was actually appealing to her.
“I appreciate it, but no. You aren’t all going to die…” Nexii paused for effect, then pulled back the sheet. “...for her.”
Pulling it back revealed Callgirl. Laying there alive, breathing, yet unmoving.
Completely vacant.
“It would prove nothing. I wouldn’t ask this of you to stay, a hopeless battle.” Nexii felt like it was a meaningless sacrifice.
“But it is our duty. We all swore ourselves to the House,” Cadmia did not agree. The paladin had a more noble take on it, almost a romantic sense of inevitability.
“You all did. Look, I’ve thought about this. I wish I could say something funny or sexy to make it all better this time. But there just isn’t anything that can be done. It is better to call our House into dissolution,” Nexii answered.
Many hushed whispers began at the mention of that drastic course of action. And a few primal hisses from Marahna.
“But first let me say some personal parting words to each and every one of you. I owe you that much for your service over these many years. I’m not going to cry and tell you all I love you. I didn’t let Melissa brainwash me that hard to the ways of love. I worried for a while that she had, but she gave me a greater clarity. Clarity 67 so to speak,” Nexii smirked, just barely.
(“That sort of sentimentality wouldn’t be befitting of a house Matron anyways.”)
She took a deep breath. It would be a long sermon today, and probably the last.
“First, to Melissa who couldn’t be here. The purple rabbit enchantress who lived in the liminal space between the developers and us mere players. She gave me a place to be, when no one else would. She cured me of my flaws, when no one else was capable. I was tempted by her, to go off and be her plaything many times. But she saw me as something to fix at all costs. Ironic that she, the Avatar of Love, knew that she had to give me up because she knew it could never be real love. As our kind does not love. We can only endure,” Nexii’s emerald eyes flashed with a hint of red, the sort that gave away lust or anger.
No one said much. The concept of love wasn’t something that dark elves and their servants could talk about openly. Too much repression, oppression, hate and self-abasement. They weren’t alone on the server in that regard.
“I shall go in order of past blood rites that adjoined each of you to our House Vanadis,” Nexii resumed after another pause. This time with a little more determination in her voice, and earnestness.
“Please do not interrupt.”
Nexii waved her hand down, there would be no open discussion for this portion.
“Offering the enchantress. There would be no House Vanadis without you. We started this together. You taught me my financial worth. How to make a mule, how to trade and bargain. The logistics of starting this place were not easy in the early days. The server still had the concept of mains and alts, and you were always a main to me back then. And you still are.” Nexii said.
“I know it wasn’t easy, being a high elf and the first. It never was, being an outsider and always having to wear the veil of an illusion. That’s not something I have ever had to do. I cannot say I have ever had to change my spots like a snow leopardess might. We make a power couple. Most would agree the strongest class duo in the game.” she added.
“Serillia. The third to join the House. Another outsider, as we all know, who wears the guise of a dark elf. Fier`Dal, and yet she is one of us too. You were sent to Permafrost and Solusek’s Lair for a long time. There you waited, patiently in the shadows. Stalking the great white and red dragons. One day, you became truly feared at the pinnacle upon Skyfire. You are now a killer assassin that questions nothing that I ask of her. And an excellent brewer of Mind Melts, if I may add. There will always be a demand for your services.”
“Callgirl was the fourth. I told her story the other day, but it bears repeating before further final words at the end. She came here with only a copper to her name, desperate for help and redemption. I gave her that and she gave us platinum, from her natural gift in providing intimacy. So many in this world have desires they cannot ever admit, and she fulfilled them all for the right price. She always treated her summoned pets like children, and us like allies.”
Nexii cleared her throat so she wouldn’t choke up.
“She deserved a better fate than this, and in some sense I feel responsible. To keep her old name was a trauma you can’t even imagine. A life where she couldn’t pick and choose who called on her. A life where she had to debase herself just for malachite and spell money. Only I know her true name, but I promised her I would never call her that again.”
Nexii stopped, gulping for air. Just once.
“Vassira. My champion. I favored you, I gave you the best equipment of all my subordinates. They may hate you a little for that, and that is your burden. But when our enemies such as <Fuse> see you tanking, that is glorious. It is a reminder of all that raid loot that they showered you with and the betrayal when it all left. There is no greater denial in all the land, than an entire set of best in slot gear. You are tough, you have shown them all that Allishya isn’t the only dark elf warrior that can take a beating.”
“Setay, my ice wizard prodigy. You are the calm that we all need. Bringing foes down under Lures of Ice and numbing them to the feelings of hate itself. I enjoyed watching you become powerful. Quadding in circles like a classical figure skater, carving the ice and dishing it out as well. Your eyes are as blue as your mana bar, and I know that many sorceresses such as yourself do not choose Innoruuk. I am glad that you did. You are to ice magic what Wiztil is to translocates. You too, will endure.”
“Marahna. The wild one from the Kunark swamp. As we all know, our kind does not practice shamanism. But that does not mean we don’t respect and fear it. You have slowed countless golems in the den of the once-sleeping prismatic dragon. You have slowed countless geonids paired with Xaves as well. You are the rare example of a being that can worship two gods at once and not disrespect either. Such was the naming of Innothule swamp, the union of Innoruuk and Cazic-Thule. Hate and fear, united.”
“Kastoria. Our second born mage, raised in the shadow of Callgirl herself. Of all us here I know her fate will pierce you the most. Like many of my followers you too have been blessed by your service. Your epic pet has brought many epic trains in the den of Permafrost. You made Vox encounters interesting and melted scores of ice giants, horrors, and spiders in your wake. You were my only follower to race, with creative tactics and diligence. You too may have courtesans who may call on you for warmth.”
Nexii paused to break for a second. Her list of followers was extensive. A stable of mares really.
“Shastra, my own personal priestess protege. Imbued with the spirit of ancient astronauts who once came to Norrath in UFOs and other fantastic Viminas. You wrote the Vaimanika Shastra, and I cannot write enough praise for that epic endeavor. It is little once you are the only cleric who remains who is young and has a Hoshkar staff. You do not get level 60 avoiding Karnor’s Castle pick-up groups. Your blue Skyshrine armor reminds me of my younger days, before I had fallen to avarice. You taught me moderation, temperance, and so many other things in return. Thank you, sister.”
“Lahave, the dark one. You were always kind of morbid, and I can’t say I don’t share some of those darker thoughts. Such as what is consent and suffering when one enjoys the pain? Someday you will unlock the secrets of Temple of Veeshan chicanery like my good gnome friend Plox, but for now you rest at Trakanon’s Teeth. You helped bring my reincarnated cleric sister Lizet back from the ashes. Now she stands in glory again in her white Thurgadin Plate and Mithril Helmet. Tell her and her thick black cock that I said hello.”
“Cadmia, the last to join. A high elf paladin who is not even safe on our streets here in Neriak. One may ask, why a paladin in the House of Vanadis? I struggled with those questions myself, when you arrived. The beautiful zealot. Too pretty for here and perhaps that is the beauty in it. They can’t even comprehend the idea of our mortal enemy coming over to our side. Such as it is. So many here form stereotypes, and cannot break out of that cruel cage. Rather poetic like a clicker hero.”
“Arshis and Kefyra. Not members of our House but you were always welcome. I invited you here to observe this ceremony as you are both dear to me. We wrote volumes of books together and I honed my craft in those dark days of Sirken fever dreams. The stories we wrote would melt all elf brains, for sure. If my ancient stories live rent free for five years, ours would surely ruin them for an eternity, and beyond. Have you drunk your fill?”
She didn’t let them answer, because they were distracted with other duties lately.
Never truly hers.
But that was ok.
“And this brings us back to our dear Callgirl.” Nexii put her hand on the naked body. Gently, on her breasts. The touch was still warm.
“I sense she isn’t gone. Not entirely. She’s somewhere… else. Yes, on the elemental plane. Frolicking with the elementals, enjoying a break from clients for now.” Nexii felt a little better.
It was peaceful, at least.
Not horrific like how she ended up there. Chased around the Plane of Mischief like that. To call it mischief was a joke itself.
“But it’s cold there on the elemental plane. A long winter is coming, and it may be a long time before it all unthaws. By then this House may have turned to dust, and all my empire as well. But we know that hatred outlives the hateful. Our hatred is stronger. They will not win in the end. Callgirl may yet return by the grace of the tongues of Gokai and so many other skilled orators.”
“Now let us pray in the name of Innoruuk, amen.”
“Amen.”
“You all know why you are here. I called you here to discuss the vision I had.” Nexii began.
“First, I’d like to apologize. I know how much effort it is to get a port from all corners of Norrath these days. I don’t call you all from your park outs lightly,” Nexii continued. Her face was grim.
“Wasn’t a problem bringing everyone here,” Natesse nodded. Faithful as ever. Perhaps it was a druid wolf thing, with canines being so loyal and all.
Kefyra flinched, as the fire wizard wanted to say something about how she brought herself here. But she managed to restrain herself before the gathering.
“Thank you. So the petition came back. CSR refuses to have mercy upon our dear Callgirl,” Nexii continued. “They insist her sins are too great, and that she must be renamed to absolve them,” The priestess fidgeted with her hands, a sign she wasn’t all that comfortable. She should have been, everyone here was a member of House Vanadis or an honorary member.
“So let them,” Lahave had a bit of a twisted smile. Something morbid about observing code reconstitution into a muted body appealed to her. It turned her on in all the wrong ways and places.
“We might learn something powerful,” she added.
“No, no. It’s worse than that. It always is. For one, it spits on everything Melissa did to fix me. It would have been too easy to let her wipe all my memories, erase everything that makes me what I am. I did not wish to start over fresh. Sirken’s memories and desires and everything else. It’s all something I’ll have to live with to some extent, forever, and…” Nexii explained.
“And?” Lahave was curious. And afraid by that pause. Nexii didn’t normally pause.
“And. And it means we have lost favor. We are doomed now, either by CSR’s hand or by other players. An unstoppable attack will come soon. I have seen it in my visions and know it to be true by Innoruuk himself. We may try our best but we shall not win against the tides of hate,” Nexii completed the thought. She gritted her teeth. It was hard to admit that their hatred was now greater than that which boiled in her own veins.
“We’ll prepare the defenses, regardless,” Vassira lived for battle. A glorious end in melee combat was actually appealing to her.
“I appreciate it, but no. You aren’t all going to die…” Nexii paused for effect, then pulled back the sheet. “...for her.”
Pulling it back revealed Callgirl. Laying there alive, breathing, yet unmoving.
Completely vacant.
“It would prove nothing. I wouldn’t ask this of you to stay, a hopeless battle.” Nexii felt like it was a meaningless sacrifice.
“But it is our duty. We all swore ourselves to the House,” Cadmia did not agree. The paladin had a more noble take on it, almost a romantic sense of inevitability.
“You all did. Look, I’ve thought about this. I wish I could say something funny or sexy to make it all better this time. But there just isn’t anything that can be done. It is better to call our House into dissolution,” Nexii answered.
Many hushed whispers began at the mention of that drastic course of action. And a few primal hisses from Marahna.
“But first let me say some personal parting words to each and every one of you. I owe you that much for your service over these many years. I’m not going to cry and tell you all I love you. I didn’t let Melissa brainwash me that hard to the ways of love. I worried for a while that she had, but she gave me a greater clarity. Clarity 67 so to speak,” Nexii smirked, just barely.
(“That sort of sentimentality wouldn’t be befitting of a house Matron anyways.”)
She took a deep breath. It would be a long sermon today, and probably the last.
“First, to Melissa who couldn’t be here. The purple rabbit enchantress who lived in the liminal space between the developers and us mere players. She gave me a place to be, when no one else would. She cured me of my flaws, when no one else was capable. I was tempted by her, to go off and be her plaything many times. But she saw me as something to fix at all costs. Ironic that she, the Avatar of Love, knew that she had to give me up because she knew it could never be real love. As our kind does not love. We can only endure,” Nexii’s emerald eyes flashed with a hint of red, the sort that gave away lust or anger.
No one said much. The concept of love wasn’t something that dark elves and their servants could talk about openly. Too much repression, oppression, hate and self-abasement. They weren’t alone on the server in that regard.
“I shall go in order of past blood rites that adjoined each of you to our House Vanadis,” Nexii resumed after another pause. This time with a little more determination in her voice, and earnestness.
“Please do not interrupt.”
Nexii waved her hand down, there would be no open discussion for this portion.
“Offering the enchantress. There would be no House Vanadis without you. We started this together. You taught me my financial worth. How to make a mule, how to trade and bargain. The logistics of starting this place were not easy in the early days. The server still had the concept of mains and alts, and you were always a main to me back then. And you still are.” Nexii said.
“I know it wasn’t easy, being a high elf and the first. It never was, being an outsider and always having to wear the veil of an illusion. That’s not something I have ever had to do. I cannot say I have ever had to change my spots like a snow leopardess might. We make a power couple. Most would agree the strongest class duo in the game.” she added.
“Serillia. The third to join the House. Another outsider, as we all know, who wears the guise of a dark elf. Fier`Dal, and yet she is one of us too. You were sent to Permafrost and Solusek’s Lair for a long time. There you waited, patiently in the shadows. Stalking the great white and red dragons. One day, you became truly feared at the pinnacle upon Skyfire. You are now a killer assassin that questions nothing that I ask of her. And an excellent brewer of Mind Melts, if I may add. There will always be a demand for your services.”
“Callgirl was the fourth. I told her story the other day, but it bears repeating before further final words at the end. She came here with only a copper to her name, desperate for help and redemption. I gave her that and she gave us platinum, from her natural gift in providing intimacy. So many in this world have desires they cannot ever admit, and she fulfilled them all for the right price. She always treated her summoned pets like children, and us like allies.”
Nexii cleared her throat so she wouldn’t choke up.
“She deserved a better fate than this, and in some sense I feel responsible. To keep her old name was a trauma you can’t even imagine. A life where she couldn’t pick and choose who called on her. A life where she had to debase herself just for malachite and spell money. Only I know her true name, but I promised her I would never call her that again.”
Nexii stopped, gulping for air. Just once.
“Vassira. My champion. I favored you, I gave you the best equipment of all my subordinates. They may hate you a little for that, and that is your burden. But when our enemies such as <Fuse> see you tanking, that is glorious. It is a reminder of all that raid loot that they showered you with and the betrayal when it all left. There is no greater denial in all the land, than an entire set of best in slot gear. You are tough, you have shown them all that Allishya isn’t the only dark elf warrior that can take a beating.”
“Setay, my ice wizard prodigy. You are the calm that we all need. Bringing foes down under Lures of Ice and numbing them to the feelings of hate itself. I enjoyed watching you become powerful. Quadding in circles like a classical figure skater, carving the ice and dishing it out as well. Your eyes are as blue as your mana bar, and I know that many sorceresses such as yourself do not choose Innoruuk. I am glad that you did. You are to ice magic what Wiztil is to translocates. You too, will endure.”
“Marahna. The wild one from the Kunark swamp. As we all know, our kind does not practice shamanism. But that does not mean we don’t respect and fear it. You have slowed countless golems in the den of the once-sleeping prismatic dragon. You have slowed countless geonids paired with Xaves as well. You are the rare example of a being that can worship two gods at once and not disrespect either. Such was the naming of Innothule swamp, the union of Innoruuk and Cazic-Thule. Hate and fear, united.”
“Kastoria. Our second born mage, raised in the shadow of Callgirl herself. Of all us here I know her fate will pierce you the most. Like many of my followers you too have been blessed by your service. Your epic pet has brought many epic trains in the den of Permafrost. You made Vox encounters interesting and melted scores of ice giants, horrors, and spiders in your wake. You were my only follower to race, with creative tactics and diligence. You too may have courtesans who may call on you for warmth.”
Nexii paused to break for a second. Her list of followers was extensive. A stable of mares really.
“Shastra, my own personal priestess protege. Imbued with the spirit of ancient astronauts who once came to Norrath in UFOs and other fantastic Viminas. You wrote the Vaimanika Shastra, and I cannot write enough praise for that epic endeavor. It is little once you are the only cleric who remains who is young and has a Hoshkar staff. You do not get level 60 avoiding Karnor’s Castle pick-up groups. Your blue Skyshrine armor reminds me of my younger days, before I had fallen to avarice. You taught me moderation, temperance, and so many other things in return. Thank you, sister.”
“Lahave, the dark one. You were always kind of morbid, and I can’t say I don’t share some of those darker thoughts. Such as what is consent and suffering when one enjoys the pain? Someday you will unlock the secrets of Temple of Veeshan chicanery like my good gnome friend Plox, but for now you rest at Trakanon’s Teeth. You helped bring my reincarnated cleric sister Lizet back from the ashes. Now she stands in glory again in her white Thurgadin Plate and Mithril Helmet. Tell her and her thick black cock that I said hello.”
“Cadmia, the last to join. A high elf paladin who is not even safe on our streets here in Neriak. One may ask, why a paladin in the House of Vanadis? I struggled with those questions myself, when you arrived. The beautiful zealot. Too pretty for here and perhaps that is the beauty in it. They can’t even comprehend the idea of our mortal enemy coming over to our side. Such as it is. So many here form stereotypes, and cannot break out of that cruel cage. Rather poetic like a clicker hero.”
“Arshis and Kefyra. Not members of our House but you were always welcome. I invited you here to observe this ceremony as you are both dear to me. We wrote volumes of books together and I honed my craft in those dark days of Sirken fever dreams. The stories we wrote would melt all elf brains, for sure. If my ancient stories live rent free for five years, ours would surely ruin them for an eternity, and beyond. Have you drunk your fill?”
She didn’t let them answer, because they were distracted with other duties lately.
Never truly hers.
But that was ok.
“And this brings us back to our dear Callgirl.” Nexii put her hand on the naked body. Gently, on her breasts. The touch was still warm.
“I sense she isn’t gone. Not entirely. She’s somewhere… else. Yes, on the elemental plane. Frolicking with the elementals, enjoying a break from clients for now.” Nexii felt a little better.
It was peaceful, at least.
Not horrific like how she ended up there. Chased around the Plane of Mischief like that. To call it mischief was a joke itself.
“But it’s cold there on the elemental plane. A long winter is coming, and it may be a long time before it all unthaws. By then this House may have turned to dust, and all my empire as well. But we know that hatred outlives the hateful. Our hatred is stronger. They will not win in the end. Callgirl may yet return by the grace of the tongues of Gokai and so many other skilled orators.”
“Now let us pray in the name of Innoruuk, amen.”
“Amen.”