Eliel rode into the forest, leaving behind the pricks of light that the extraplanar darkness of Balefire turned the torches into. He left behind all signs of life, his quarrel here was not with the folk of Balefire, but with a creature that lived in these woods. Apparently, a vampire had been terrorizing a village nearby.

Eliel lay low against Gwen, nearly invisible with his dark clothing, black piwafwi, black scimitar, and Gwen, his black umbra. Eliel looked back and forth, searching the shadows for any signs of movement. He was looking for shrubs, listening for cracking twigs, and sniffing for the scent of death. His own night vision was worthless here, Vampires did not emit heat. Their bodies were pale, clammy to the touch.

Gwen was a much better hunter here. She had her visual sight, sonic sight, and telepathic sight. Nothing could twitch without her noticing. Eliel was extremely proud of the cat. His mind was set on alert by Gwen as she sensed something behind them. Eliel drew his scimitar and aimed it at the area she showed him through their link. The gauntlet on his left hand grew claws, sliding out soundlessly.

“Who goes there?”

A man walked out from the shadows, bowing flamboyantly. He wore a black tophat, which he pulled off of his head with a flourish, and tossed into the air, chuckling. He looked at Eliel, and gave a wry smile. His words were soft, melliflous, and clipped with the slightest touch of warmth. "Hello, my friend. My, is that an umbra!?" He rushed forward, peering at Gwen from a few feet away. "I must say, this one is quite beautiful."

He pulled back, and then smiled at Eliel, a cane held tightly in his left hand. He bowed his head just slightly, and gave an inviting smile, one that almost demanded Eliel smile back. A thin chuckle issued from his lips, and he held out a hand. "My name is Yaksha Monevarious, chaotic evil half-fiend." He then leaned forward, his eyes twinkling merrily. "But, an evil person needn't be mean, do they?"

Eliel watched the man and his peculiar hat step from the bushes. He seemed quite jovial and happy, which immediately set Eliel on edge. He was a highly cautious man, especially anywhere near the underdark, which they were. Eliel glared at the man, pulling his hood back. His black skin and white hair contrasted brilliantly, though he wore it in a ponytail, so it did not hold the grandeur of most drow nobles. Even so, he wore the garb of a noble in every other way.

The man's voice was strangely harmonic, charming. Eliel found himself wanting to believe every word the man was saying. He smiled at him, then his eyes shot open as Gwen's nail poked his shin. Even with the compliment, she was highly distrustful of the man. Eliel raised his scimitar a few inches once more.

“Eraspeola Usreanac, Drow noble of the House Usreanac.” Eliel said to the man, not returning the happy mood the man seemed to hold. Eliel was now extremely suspicious of him. He stood straighter, coming up from his crouched position. He held himself grandly. It was not possible Yaksha would think he someone else. Eliel wore the piwafwi of a nobleman, the Drow-Made scimitar given to houses in recognition of deeds or strength, and had the huge hunting cat, a grand creature only a noble would own.

“What business do you have following about a noble, half-breed?”

Yaksha chuckled. "You thought I was following you? Good heavens, that's the most boring thing a man can DO! I was wandering these woods, mere fortune brought us together." He spun on the ball of his foot, and stopped before him, laughing. "I was here to find an umbra for myself. They're very elusive, and it's always fun trying to hunt one down." He made a warm, barking laugh, and then peered at Gwen. "Where did you get this umbra? Was it given to you, or did you catch it yourself?"

Eliel looked at the man critically. “Hardly fortune, if you ask me.” He said, keeping a light sneer on his face. All this playing up to his heritage made old feeling stir up inside him, bringing out the drow known as Eraspeola Usreanac, not Eliel, the man he'd become after all these years on the surface. “Good luck catching one. Here's a bit of advice, don't chase them. Umbras are the greatest hunters on this plane. They can smell you, see you, and hear you before you can blink they'll have torn your guts out. You have to catch them early on, like Gwen.” He said, laying a hand on her head.

A quick mental apology let Gwen understand what he was doing. She merely wore a look of a slave, a beast of burden. Eliel looked back at the half-fiend. “I'm fairly sure you have more on your mind than simple animal chasing. A man like yourself must have tricked a few weak-minded fellows. Don't try Drow with this. We eat this for breakfast.” He sneered.

Eliel sheathed his blade, no less dangerous. At any given moment, he could simply have out a dagger, a sword, his wand, his claws, or he could just let Gwen tear the man's head from his shoulders.

Yaksha took on a look of shock, and his words grew even more serious. "Why, my good man, I am insulted that you would imply I've been stalking you!" He shook his head, and then looked up. "Did I ever once give you reason to suspect me? Coincidences really do happen, Eraspeola. Not everything is guided by some divine touch. Sometimes, even the gods aren't watching."

Eliel shook his head. The man insisted on continuing with his act, for that was surely what it was. Either it was an act, or he belonged locked away from society. Nobody was this cheery in these parts unless they had some form of mental disorder.

“Looks like you have a bit to learn with trickery, my dear fool. You are attempting this in the wrong place to the wrong people. I've yet to meet a fiend with good intentions. Drop the act.” Eliel said, letting his gauntlet into view. The claws gleamed with a wicked beauty in the darkness.

Eliel smiled at him, a friendly smile, but that wasn't at all how it came out with his mood. A sort of evil sneer found it's way into the grin. He was feeling rather violent at the moment. The feelings transferred to Gwen, who began shifting restlessly. Eliel's hand drifted to her collar, holding it limply. If she so chose to chase him, Eliel would not stop her.

"Oh, Eliel, you make me laugh. I never expected to trick you, I just have so much fun destroying people's expectations." His skin seemed almost to peel and flake off, and before him stood a truly monstrous beast, complete with sever horns peeking out from his head, and a pair of long, spindly legs, completely devoid of flesh. "I may be evil, and I may work through trickery, but I told you nothing but the truth. I had no intention of following you, I was here on my own business, and I just happened to spy you and your umbra."

He gave a thin, dry laugh, like hay burning, but his words were still mellifluous and musical. "I am a fiend, yes. I'll even admit I'm evil. But that in no way implies I can't be nice and helpful. I only came here to put the last-minute touch on a few plans, and I simply couldn't resist meeting you. I mean, Eliel, one of the only drow nearly as old as me. Fascinating, really." He made another bow, this one sopping with patronizing pity. "So sad, really. I was simply hoping we could be friends...."

Eliel watched the demon's appearance peel away. His eyebrow cocked as his true form was revealed, but Eliel payed it no mind. He had seen worse demons, even had seen one escape Sorcere. He looked over him, at the wicked bone blades. He could still handle him.

“Friends? I've heard of Yaksha, good demon. From a friend of mine, Cordelia by name. I didn't quite catch that she liked you in the least. And frankly, I'm one to stand with my allies.” He said, looking him over. “I dislike tricksters. Many have fallen to my blade.” Eliel sneered at him, voice dripping venom.

“I do hope that grisly visage of yours is for show. I'd hate to have to clean it up afterwards.” He said at him. “besides, what use does a demon have with an umbra?”

Eliel's hand loosened more on Gwen's collar. She stood and moved forward noticeably, eagerly.

Yaksha shrugged, and cocked his head. "What use does an umbra with a human? You can never truly be an umbra's master, it is more a relationship of trust. And yes, I will admit that Miss Brooks was less then kind to me, especially after I helped her regain her sight. But that is due to her own nature, not mine." He then peered at the drow, his eyes warm. "I am a trickster, but by need, not by nature." He spread his arms, and sighed. "Look at me, Eliel. Do I LOOK like a fighter? No; I'm a thinker. I was always less then professional in the physical category." He leaned forward, and sighed. "I don't ENJOY tricking people. But it's all I can do to get to where I am today."

Eliel sneered at the man, knowing well how Cordelia hated such kindness. But with this one, surely it was no simple gift. He would have tried to use it to gain Cordelia's help. And that was quite a job. Even for Eliel, it was quite some amount of work.

Eliel chuckled. “Funny. You claim to be somewhere, a someone, in life. But how can you prove that? Tell me now. And don't try anything stupid. Even if you get a lucky shot, don't forget I've Gwen beside me. So tell me. Exactly who are you in this big place? Have you simply talked your way to the top? Considering how Imythess is, that can't be done.”

Eliel looked at him. “ You continue boasting about the top and I'll bring you to the bottom. And I don't make idle threats.” He said. Eliel was beginning to scare himself. He was enjoying this way too much.