from¡¡the¡¡shadows¡¡and¡¡assault¡¡her¡¡minions¡¡directly£¿¡¡If¡¡that¡¡is¡¡the¡¡case£»¡¡what¡¡then¡¡bees¡¡of¡¡anyone¡¡foolish¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡defy¡¡the¡¡Queen¡¡of¡¡Spiders¡¡when¡¡she¡¡tires¡¡of¡¡her¡¡test¡¡and¡¡restores¡¡her¡¡full¡¡favor¡¡to¡¡her¡¡priestesses£»¡¡just¡¡as¡¡abruptly¡¡as¡¡she¡¡withdrew¡¡it£¿¡¡I¡¡would¡¡not¡¡care¡¡to¡¡be¡¡caught¡¡out¡¡by¡¡such¡¡a¡¡ploy¡£¡¡Not¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Your¡¡logic¡¡is¡¡sound¡¡enough£»¡¡though¡¡I¡¡think¡¡you¡¡have¡¡perhaps¡¡allowed¡¡the¡¡habit¡¡of¡¡caution¡¡to¡¡hobble¡¡your¡¡thoughts£»¡¨¡¡Dyrr¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡could¡¡almost¡¡agree¡¡with¡¡you£»¡¡dear¡¡boy£»¡¡except¡¡for¡¡this¡¡one¡¡fact¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡more¡¡than¡¡two¡¡thousand¡¡years¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡walked¡¡this¡¡world£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡never¡¡seen¡¡this¡¡happen¡¡before¡£¡¡Oh£»¡¡I¡¡can¡¡recall¡¡several¡¡occasions¡¡when¡¡Lolth¡¡denied¡¡her¡¡clerics¡¡spells¡¡for¡¡a¡¡few¡¡days£»¡¡and¡¡many¡¡instances¡¡in¡¡which¡¡she¡¡arbitrarily¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡stop¡¡favoring¡¡this¡¡priestess¡¡or¡¡that¡¡House¡¡all¡¡together£»¡¡casting¡¡them¡¡down¡¡to¡¡their¡¡enemies£»¡¡but¡¡never¡¡has¡¡she¡¡abandoned¡¡our¡¡entire¡¡race¡¡for¡¡month¡¡after¡¡month¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡lich¡¡glanced¡¡up¡¡in¡¡a¡¡reflective¡¡manner¡£¡¡¡¨It¡¡seems¡¡a¡¡poor¡¡way¡¡to¡¡treat¡¡one's¡¡worshipers¡£¡¡Should¡¡I¡¡ever¡¡attain¡¡godhood£»¡¡I¡¡think¡¡I¡¡will¡¡try¡¡to¡¡do¡¡a¡¡better¡¡job¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡precisely¡¡do¡¡you¡¡propose£»¡¡then£»¡¡Lord¡¡Dyrr£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡propose¡¡nothing¡¡yet£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡do¡¡consider£»¡¡young¡¡Baenre£»¡¡whether¡¡powerless¡¡clerics¡¡should¡¡be¡¡trusted¡¡with¡¡the¡¡rule¡¡of¡¡this¡¡city¡¡for¡¡very¡¡much¡¡longer¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡You¡¡and¡¡I£»¡¡we¡¡still¡¡mand¡¡great¡¡and¡¡terrible¡¡powers£»¡¡do¡¡we¡¡not£¿¡¡The¡¡mystic¡¡secrets¡¡of¡¡our¡¡Art¡¡have¡¡not¡¡abandoned¡¡us£»¡¡nor¡¡are¡¡they¡¡likely¡¡to¡¡at¡¡any¡¡point¡¡in¡¡the¡¡future¡£¡¡Perhaps¡¡it¡¡is¡¡time¡¡to¡¡look¡¡to¡¡the¡¡security¡¡of¡¡our¡¡civilization£»¡¡the¡¡defense¡¡of¡¡our¡¡city£»¡¡by¡¡taking¡¡up¡¡the¡¡reins¡¡of¡¡governance¡¡the¡¡matron¡¡mothers¡¡are¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡strong¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡hold¡£¡¡Our¡¡city's¡¡peril¡¡grows¡¡with¡¡every¡¡hour¡£¡¡We¡¡have¡¡rivals¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡Dark¡¡Dominion£»¡¡after¡¡all£»¡¡other¡¡races¡¡and¡¡realms¡¡that¡¡threaten¡¡us¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡that¡¡is¡¡precisely¡¡why¡¡I¡¡am¡¡hesitant¡¡to¡¡turn¡¡drow¡¡wizards¡¡against¡¡drow¡¡priestesses£»¡¨¡¡Gromph¡¡replied¡£¡¡¡¨The¡¡only¡¡thing¡¡that¡¡could¡¡possibly¡¡increase¡¡our¡¡current¡¡vulnerability¡¡would¡¡be¡¡to¡¡start¡¡a¡¡civil¡¡war¡£¡¡To¡¡spare¡¡ourselves¡¡the¡¡fate¡¡of¡¡Ched¡¡Nasad£»¡¡we¡¡must¡¡shore¡¡up¡¡the¡¡existing¡¡order¡¡until¡¡the¡¡crisis¡¡has¡¡passed¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡what¡¡thanks¡¡do¡¡you¡¡think¡¡you¡¡will¡¡earn£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡priestesses¡¡or¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Spider¡¡Queen¡¡herself£»¡¡for¡¡that¡¡blind¡¡loyalty£¿¡¨¡¡Dyrr¡¡turned¡¡back¡¡to¡¡Gromph¡¡and¡¡tapped¡¡one¡¡skeletal¡¡forefinger¡¡in¡¡the¡¡center¡¡of¡¡the¡¡archmage's¡¡chest¡£¡¡Gromph¡¡could¡¡not¡¡restrain¡¡a¡¡shudder¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡have¡¡potential£»¡¡young¡¡Gromph¡£¡¡You¡¡are¡¡not¡¡without¡¡talent£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡see¡¡past¡¡House¡¡Baenre¡¡to¡¡Menzoberranzan¡¡itself¡£¡¡Put¡¡those¡¡qualities¡¡to¡¡work¡¡and¡¡consider¡¡carefully¡¡the¡¡course¡¡you¡¡choose¡¡in¡¡the¡¡next¡¡few¡¡days¡£¡¡Events¡¡are¡¡ing¡¡that¡¡will¡¡provide¡¡you¡¡with¡¡an¡¡opportunity¡¡for¡¡greatness£»¡¡or¡¡failure¡£¡¡Do¡¡not¡¡make¡¡the¡¡wrong¡¡choice¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Gromph¡¡took¡¡a¡¡cautious¡¡step¡¡backward£»¡¡moving¡¡out¡¡over¡¡the¡¡vast¡¡gulf¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cavern¡¡and¡¡hovering¡¡in¡¡the¡¡air¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡afraid¡¡I¡¡must¡¡tend¡¡Narbondel£»¡¡Lord¡¡Dyrr¡£¡¡I¡¡will¡¡take¡¡my¡¡leave¡¡now¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡and¡¡I¡¡will¡¡think¡¡carefully¡¡on¡¡your¡¡words¡£¡¡You¡¡may¡¡have¡¡appreciated¡¡the¡¡situation¡¡more¡¡accurately¡¡than¡¡I¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡burning¡¡green¡¡gaze¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lichdrow¡¡followed¡¡Gromph¡¡down¡¡into¡¡the¡¡darkness¡¡as¡¡he¡¡fell¡¡softly¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡city¡¡below¡£¡¡He¡¡would¡¡indeed¡¡think¡¡long¡¡and¡¡hard¡¡about¡¡the¡¡lich's¡¡words¡£¡¡He¡¡might¡¡stall¡¡Dyrr¡¡once¡¡with¡¡civility¡¡and¡¡caution£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡would¡¡not¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡do¡¡so¡¡indefinitely¡£¡¡Gromph¡¡didn't¡¡doubt¡¡the¡¡lich¡¡would¡¡expect¡¡a¡¡different¡¡answer¡¡when¡¡next¡¡they¡¡spoke¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Darklake¡¡was¡¡a¡¡strange¡¡and¡¡terrible¡¡place¡£¡¡A¡¡blackness¡¡greater¡¡than¡¡any¡¡Halisstra¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡known¡¡enveloped¡¡her¡¡and¡¡her¡¡panions£»¡¡a¡¡space¡¡so¡¡vast¡¡that¡¡its¡¡unseen¡¡recesses¡¡gnawed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡mind¡£¡¡The¡¡great¡¡caverns¡¡of¡¡the¡¡drow¡¡were¡¡often¡¡miles¡¡across£»¡¡tremendous¡¡places¡¡harboring¡¡cities¡¡of¡¡many¡¡thousands£»¡¡but¡if¡¡Coalhewer¡¡did¡¡not¡¡exaggerate¡the¡¡Darklake¡¡occupied¡¡a¡¡cavern¡¡well¡¡over¡¡one¡¡hundred¡¡miles¡¡from¡¡side¡¡to¡¡side£»¡¡and¡¡thousands¡¡of¡¡feet¡¡in¡¡height¡£¡¡Great¡¡island¡¡columns¡¡the¡¡size¡¡of¡¡mountains¡¡held¡¡up¡¡the¡¡mighty¡¡roof£»¡¡creating¡¡fanglike¡¡archipelagos¡¡in¡¡the¡¡darkness¡£¡¡The¡¡waters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lake¡¡virtually¡¡filled¡¡the¡¡immense¡¡space¡£¡¡As¡¡they¡¡sailed¡¡across¡¡its¡¡surface¡¡the¡¡ceiling¡¡was¡¡often¡¡less¡¡than¡¡a¡¡spearcast¡¡above¡¡them£»¡¡leaving¡¡many¡¡hundreds£»¡¡or¡¡even¡¡thousands¡¡of¡¡feet¡¡of¡¡black¡¡mystery¡¡below¡¡their¡¡feet¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡an¡¡unsettling¡¡sensation¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Coalhewer's¡¡boat¡¡was¡¡less¡¡than¡¡forting¡¡itself¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡an¡¡asymmetrical¡¡vessel¡¡made¡¡mostly¡¡of¡¡planks¡¡sawn¡¡from¡¡the¡¡woody¡¡stems¡¡of¡¡a¡¡particular¡¡type¡¡of¡¡gigantic¡¡Underdark¡¡mushroom£»¡¡and¡¡treated¡¡with¡¡lacquers¡¡for¡¡strength¡¡and¡¡rigidity¡£¡¡The¡¡zurkhwood¡¡formed¡¡a¡¡broad¡¡platform£»¡¡which¡¡floated¡¡on¡¡a¡¡cluster¡¡of¡¡soft¡¡air¡¡bladders¡¡taken¡¡from¡¡some¡¡aquatic¡¡species¡¡of¡¡giant¡¡fungus¡£¡¡The¡¡whole¡¡thing¡¡was¡¡riveted¡¡together¡¡with¡¡the¡¡excellent¡¡metalwork¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gray¡¡dwarves¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Four¡¡hulking¡¡skeletons¡ogres¡¡in¡¡life£»¡¡perhaps£»¡¡or¡¡maybe¡¡trolls¡crouched¡¡in¡¡a¡¡well¡like¡¡area¡¡in¡¡the¡¡boat's¡¡center£»¡¡endlessly¡¡turning¡¡two¡¡large¡¡cranks¡¡that¡¡drove¡¡a¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡zurkhwood¡¡waterwheels¡£¡¡The¡¡mindless¡¡undead¡¡never¡¡tired£»¡¡never¡¡plained£»¡¡never¡¡even¡¡slowed¡¡their¡¡pace¡¡unless¡¡Coalhewer¡¡ordered¡¡them¡¡to£»¡¡driving¡¡the¡¡boat¡¡onward¡¡with¡¡no¡¡sound¡¡but¡¡the¡¡soft¡¡rush¡¡of¡¡water¡¡over¡¡the¡¡wheels¡¡and¡¡the¡¡faint¡¡clicking¡¡and¡¡scraping¡¡of¡¡their¡¡bones¡¡in¡¡motion¡£¡¡The¡¡gray¡¡dwarf¡¡stood¡¡near¡¡the¡¡stern¡¡on¡¡a¡¡small£»¡¡elevated¡¡bridge£»¡¡high¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡see¡¡over¡¡the¡¡waterwheels¡£¡¡He¡¡peered¡¡ahead¡¡into¡¡the¡¡darkness£»¡¡arms¡¡folded¡¡across¡¡his¡¡thick¡¡chest£»¡¡keeping¡¡his¡¡thoughts¡¡to¡¡himself¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡passengers¡¡crouched¡¡on¡¡the¡¡cold£»¡¡unfortable¡¡deck¡¡or¡¡paced¡¡back¡¡and¡¡forth£»¡¡staying¡¡a¡¡little¡¡ways¡¡back¡¡from¡¡the¡¡railless¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡platform¡£¡¡The¡¡journey¡¡from¡¡Mantol¡Derith¡¡was¡¡not¡¡extremely¡¡swift£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡vessel¡¡was¡¡not¡¡quick£»¡¡and¡¡Coalhewer¡¡had¡¡to¡¡carefully¡¡thread¡¡his¡¡way¡¡around¡¡places¡¡where¡¡the¡¡cavern¡¡roof¡¡dropped¡¡so¡¡low¡¡there¡¡wasn't¡¡enough¡¡room¡¡for¡¡the¡¡boat¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Valas¡¡spent¡¡most¡¡of¡¡his¡¡time¡¡standing¡¡on¡¡the¡¡bridge¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡dwarf£»¡¡keeping¡¡a¡¡careful¡¡eye¡¡on¡¡the¡¡course¡¡he¡¡steered¡£¡¡Pharaun¡¡sat¡¡cross¡legged¡¡at¡¡the¡¡base¡¡of¡¡the¡¡structure£»¡¡deep¡¡in¡¡Reverie£»¡¡while¡¡Ryld¡¡and¡¡Jeggred¡¡kept¡¡a¡¡sharp¡¡watch¡¡on¡¡the¡¡port¡¡and¡¡starboard¡¡sides¡¡respectively£»¡¡making¡¡sure¡¡that¡¡none¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lake's¡¡denizens¡¡approached¡¡undetected¡£¡¡The¡¡priestesses¡¡kept¡¡to¡¡themselves£»¡¡wrapped¡¡in¡¡Reveries¡¡of¡¡their¡¡own¡¡or¡¡staring¡¡out¡¡over¡¡the¡¡lightless¡¡waters£»¡¡lost¡¡in¡¡thought¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡passed¡¡almost¡¡two¡¡full¡¡days¡¡in¡¡that¡¡manner£»¡¡pausing¡¡only¡¡briefly¡¡for¡¡austere¡¡meals¡¡or¡¡to¡¡let¡¡the¡¡duergar¡¡captain¡¡rest¡£¡¡Coalhewer¡¡was¡¡extraordinarily¡¡cautious¡¡about¡¡showing¡¡any¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡light¡¡and¡¡made¡¡them¡¡build¡¡their¡¡cookfires¡¡in¡¡a¡¡small£»¡¡secluded¡¡fire¡box¡¡that¡¡shielded¡¡the¡¡flames¡¡from¡¡view¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨There's¡¡too¡¡many¡¡things¡¡as¡¡are¡¡drawn¡¡by¡¡the¡¡light£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡muttered¡£¡¡¡¨Even¡¡this¡¡much¡¡may¡¡be¡¡dangerous¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡After¡¡their¡¡third¡¡such¡¡meal£»¡¡late¡¡on¡¡their¡¡second¡¡day¡¡of¡¡travel£»¡¡Halisstra¡¡retired¡¡to¡¡the¡¡bow¡¡of¡¡the¡¡boat¡¡so¡¡that¡¡she¡¡could¡¡look¡¡out¡¡over¡¡the¡¡waters¡¡and¡¡not¡¡find¡¡herself¡¡staring¡¡at¡¡one¡¡or¡¡another¡¡of¡¡her¡¡panions¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡furious¡¡battle¡¡to¡¡escape¡¡Hlaungadath£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡walk¡¡through¡¡the¡¡Plane¡¡of¡¡Shadow£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡had¡¡little¡¡time¡¡to¡¡embrace¡¡and¡¡understand¡¡her¡¡new¡¡circumstances¡£¡¡Empty¡¡hours¡¡of¡¡listening¡¡to¡¡the¡¡soft¡¡murmur¡¡of¡¡water¡¡and¡¡the¡¡insectlike¡¡clicking¡¡and¡¡scraping¡¡of¡¡the¡¡boat's¡¡skeletal¡¡engine¡¡had¡¡unfortunately¡¡failed¡¡to¡¡immerse¡¡her¡¡in¡¡activity£»¡¡leaving¡¡her¡¡with¡¡the¡¡opportunity¡¡to¡¡replay¡¡the¡¡fall¡¡of¡¡Ched¡¡Nasad¡¡over¡¡and¡¡over¡¡again¡¡in¡¡her¡¡head¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡What¡¡became¡¡of¡¡my¡¡House£¿¡¡she¡¡wondered¡£¡¡Did¡¡any¡¡of¡¡our¡¡servants¡¡and¡¡soldiers¡¡survive¡¡by¡¡escaping¡¡Ched¡¡Nasad£¿¡¡Are¡¡they¡¡together£»¡¡and¡¡who¡¡leads¡¡them£¿¡¡Or¡¡did¡¡they¡¡all¡¡die¡¡amid¡¡the¡¡flame¡¡and¡¡ruin£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡Matron¡¡Mother¡¡Melarn's¡¡death¡¡left¡¡Halisstra¡¡as¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡the¡¡House¡presuming¡¡that¡¡none¡¡of¡¡her¡¡younger¡¡cousins¡¡had¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡claim¡¡leadership¡£¡¡If¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡¡had£»¡¡Halisstra¡¡was¡¡certain¡¡she¡¡could¡¡wrest¡¡it¡¡away¡¡from¡¡her¡¡kinswoman¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡always¡¡been¡¡the¡¡most¡¡favored¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Melarn¡¡daughters£»¡¡the¡¡oldest£»¡¡the¡¡strongest£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡knew¡¡her¡¡cousins¡¡could¡¡not¡¡deny¡¡her¡¡her¡¡birthright¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡very¡¡likely¡¡indeed¡¡that¡¡her¡¡birthright¡¡was¡¡nothing¡¡more¡¡than¡¡ash¡¡and¡¡rubble¡¡at¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡of¡¡Ched¡¡Nasad's¡¡great¡¡chasm¡£¡¡Even¡¡if¡¡some¡¡part¡¡of¡¡her¡¡household¡¡had¡¡escaped£»¡¡would¡¡she¡¡want¡¡to¡¡seek¡¡them¡¡out¡¡and¡¡join¡¡them¡¡in¡¡a¡¡miserable£»¡¡squalid£»¡¡and¡¡dangerous¡¡exile¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Underdark£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡was¡¡not¡¡how¡¡it¡¡was¡¡supposed¡¡to¡¡be£»¡¡she¡¡thought¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡to¡¡ascend¡¡to¡¡my¡¡mother's¡¡place¡¡in¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡wield¡¡the¡¡pow