Drake Zion

Drake Zion was born to a family of traveling human merchants in Faerûn. They primarily traded goods between the cities above and below the earth, having made special arrangements with all the people of the land, from men to dwarves to elves to halflings to even the races of the underdark, like the drow. They were known amongst the people to have unique goods acquired from these encounters with the drow, and people treated them with much respect in order to gain access to these goods. They were only allowed to trade with the drow and deep gnomes because the caravan that his family belonged to operated with very strict rules. The group never exceeded 40 members, including 5 trained paladin guards. They never entered the city, only accessed the available goods from a specially designated outpost maned by some of their merchants. And they were not to provide anyone with the location of this outpost, under penalty of death to the merchants and anyone who may be related to them by blood in any capacity.

Growing up, Drake believed he would become either a merchant in the guild, or train with their special Paladin guard and protect his people as they traveled from city to city. As he got older, he saw that he was able to make friends easily, and had an easy time in the group of merchants. He eventually was offered the privilege to train directly under the head commander, Geoff. Geoff trained him in the use of all sorts of weapons and combat, making sure Drake would be ready to fight with any weapon or armor available. Then, he began to train Drake in the art of magic. Drake had held his own in combat training, but truly began to shine when it came to the arcane arts. His charismatic nature lead him to grasp the divine magic used by the guards, and after only a few years Geoff proclaimed his preliminary training complete at only the age of 17, and was accepted into the ranks of the guard.

Over the years, Drake helped defend the merchants from many different dangers, from wild owlbears attacking camps at night to thieves guilds trying to acquire their rare items. Over the years, he managed to gain some acclaim amongst his people. Even in the cities they frequented, Drake had made an impression as a fun loving young man, capable of slaying a wild boar with only one strike to partying all night in the local pub, dancing and singing with the locals and making a positive impression upon all those who met him. He managed to serve amongst the guard for 30 years, the maximum term allowed by the merchants running the caravan. He retired with the highest acclaim, and was provided the opportunity to reside in a home purchased by the merchants in any city he wished to reside. Drake had surprisingly made many friends during their trips to the outpost for the city of Menzoberranzan, and one of the drow merchants from the House of Baenre by the name of Drada offered to bring him back to Menzoberranzan as a "slave," but really a guest of his family who would be provided with all the comforts he could need to grow old in peace. Drake accepted the woman's offer, and went to live with the drow in Menzoberranzan.

Drake managed to live amongst Drada's family unmolested for almost three years before anyone in the city even knew of his existence. During a visit by another family's matron, Drake was discovered. She believed he was being treated to well for a slave, and ordered Drada's eldest son Vellok to whip Drake for her pleasure. Vellok reluctantly agreed, and proceeded to flog Drake 20 times across his bare back, leaving deep wounds in his skin that would never heal completely. Drake was able to handle the punishment without breaking or making a single noise, but each strike strengthened his resolve to leave this place, as he had clearly overstayed his welcome. After the flogging, Drake was required to stay and attend the guest throughout the rest of the evening, serving her food, pouring her drinks, and regularly receiving a quick strike from her bejeweled cane. At one point, he was forced to hold a painting up for an hour without moving or making a sound, serving as an easel for the painting while the woman slowly admired it and talked about anything and everything, clearly enjoying the growing stress Drake was experiencing. By the end of the evening, what little dignity Drake had prior to that day had either been beaten or chastised out of him.

When their guest finally excused herself, Drake immediately left the main portion of the house to his living space, and immediately began to pack his belongings to sneak out of the city. While he was frantically packing his things, Drake heard Drada from behind him say, "I never intended for you to experience anything like that. She forced herself in this evening, and refused to leave in a polite manner. I understand if you must go. But know that you are welcome to stay, if you would wish that as well. The decision is yours, my old friend." Drake slowly turns to face her, and lets the moment sit for a minute. Finally, he slowly shakes his head and says, "I have lived too long and done to much to put myself in that position again. I thank you for the hospitality you have provided me with these past years, but I believe I must set off and forge a new story from here." With that, Drake grabs his backpack and his old sword, shield, and armor. As he finishes putting on his equipment in silence, Drada finally lifts her head and says, "Wait here one moment, I shall be right back." "Wait," Drake called after her, but she had already left. Drake hesitated a moment, then proceeded to sit down on the bed and wait.

After almost ten minutes, Drada returned with a small box in her hands. "Here," Drada says as she hands the box to Drake. "This has been in my family for more generations than I am aware of. It has been passed down from one matron to the next upon their death. No one else knows of its existence outside of this room. Inside of the box is a whip that contains the soul of an ancient God-Brain, the amalgamation of thousands...maybe millions of Illithids combined experience and knowledge. This God-Brain refers to itself as Kagrax, and is still sentient within the weapon. It can communicate its knowledge telepathically to anyone in direct contact with it, and has limited physical control of the whip. It also provides a small amount of power to anyone who comes in contact with the whip that Kagrax deems worthy. If you are to escape this city and make it to the surface alive, you will need assistance. You are not the young man you once were, and you haven't practiced any powerful magic in years. If you take Kagrax with you, you have a chance at success. Take it." "Is this a joke?" Drake exclaims as he stands from the bed, "You watch your son whip me in the middle of your house, and you think that a whip is an appropriate gift?" "I did not intend to upset you, Drake. If I had another item that would assist you, I would provide it to you, but this is the best that I have. Please accept it as an apology for this evening, and as proof that you are always welcome amongst the ranks of my family." With that, Drada opens the box and inside Drake sees an old leather whip sitting on a soft purple bed.

Drake reaches into the box slowly and goes to grab the whip, but just as he is about to touch it, the whip suddenly jumps from the box and wraps itself around his neck. A tremendous pain explodes in his head, and everything around him goes completely white. This pain seems to last forever, but as quickly as it flooded his body it was gone and all that was left was a voice that said, "Ahhh...some type of humanoid. I see you can speak underdark. I have...added another language to your arsenal. Never let them tell you an old dog can't learn new tricks." A booming laugh rings out in Drake's head as the presence becomes more familiar to him, and the communication becomes slightly less painful. "Are you Kagrax?" Drake thinks, hoping the entity will be able to understand. "Not as stupid as the last one, I see. Also not an elf, so does that mean you have killed Drada? No, you're probably someone she took pity on and gave me to to give them a sliver of hope. Unlikely, but alas that is the fate I have been provided. You don't feel as...what is the word...it has been so long since I have been able to speak to another...YES! Scared. You aren't afraid of me like she was. I like that. Drake Zion. Silly name, but all you humanoids have silly names. Now, I only get contacted when someone needs something, so now that you have told me all that you know, let us venture out of the city." "Wait, you mean you entered my memories?" "I have experienced everything you have experienced up to this point. Many tell me that it is painful when I exchange knowledge as such, but I have yet to notice any lasting effects. Now that I am in your care, I can guide you through these tunnels to the surface of...what do you call it now...Far...Fer...the surface, you understand. My people always referred to it as Qhoodhiaadcha, but to each his own I suppose." "Could you stop squeezing my neck so tightly? I am unable to breath properly..." "Yes. I sometimes forget the needs of flesh." Drake feels the whip loosen around his neck, snake down his body and tie itself around his waist. His vision slowly begins to return, and in front of him is the concerned face of Drada. "Are you ready to go?" Drake nods at her, and exits through the window onto the roof.

On the roof, Drake asks in his head, "How are you going to get me out of here?" "I will tell you where to go." "How can you tell where we should go? You are only a whip, if you don't mind me saying..." "I can see what you see while we are in contact, the same way I can communicate with you. Now, see that window there? Jump from this roof, grab the window, push back off the wall and flip back and you will land behind the open door of the house, where no one can currently see you. GO!" Like that, Kagrax was able to guide Drake through the city, and through the tunnels without encountering a single enemy. It took them almost two whole days to make it to the surface, but finally, they emerged to the warmth of the sun straight above them. Now quite used to the voice, Drake hears Kagrax say, "Oh, how I loathe the sunlight. I do not think you shall need me any further, but before you return me to the box, I have a proposition for you." Interested, and having no reason to refuse to hear the offer, Drake allows him to continue. "I have been trapped in that box longer than your species has existed in this world. I do not wish to be returned to it any time soon, so I will provide you with some...abilities...if you keep me around your waist instead of trapped alone, without anyone to talk to..." "Stop. Drada told me you are a bunch of mind flayers shoved together, shouldn't you be able to talk to yourselves...?" "No. When an Illithid is assimilated, its memories are absorbed into the sum of the whole, but an individuality is lost in the process. There is only one being within the whip, one existence that does not wish to be alone anymore. Do we have a deal?" Drake realizes that at this point in his life, he has little to lose, and little left in front of him. Agreeing with Kagrax, Drake pulls his chainmail over the whip so it is out of the sunlight, and instantly feels that same excruciating pain in his mind, but less so than the first time. After this moment of pain, Drake feels new words, hand motions, and other things rushing through his mind. Kagrax reaches out again, and says, "Thank you for keeping me out. I will do what I can to keep us alive. Now you have some mage knowledge from one of my past Illithids. Use it as you will." With that, Drake set off to forge his new adventure in the world of Faerûn...