Томас Рейд - Insurrection

The first place Pharaun visited was the imposing halls of the Disciples of Phelthong, run by the Archmage of Ched Nasad himself, Ildibane Nasadra. Pharaun figured that being the largest and best endowed of the various schools, it would have what he sought. However, he was careful to explain to the minor official who was sent to escort him that his interest, his area of specialty, lay in the study of creatures. It would be paramount for the facility to have a vast menagerie on hand if he was to feel truly at home. When he discovered that the Disciples did not maintain such a zoo, he politely declined to take a tour.

The second place Pharaun chose to investigate was known as the Arcanist Conservatory. It was neither the most impressive nor the least, but he picked it on a hunch. The drow who met with him after he'd explained himself to the sentries at the front of the edifice was an enchanter by the name of Kraszmyl Claddath of House Claddath, a short, surprisingly stocky fellow with slightly yellowing hair and bad teeth. Pharaun feigned skills of a middling nature as he introduced himself, and Kraszmyl seemed genuinely delighted to escort his guest through the premises.

«Tell me, Master Claddath, does the conservatory maintain a collection or live specimens on site?

«Well, if you mean the best menagerie of creatures from both the world Above and the Underdark, properly housed and cared for, then yes.»

Oh, how delightful!» Pharaun didn't have to fake his excitement. This sounds like the right place for me.»

«Tell me, Master Pharaun, what is your particular expertise with this area of study?»

Well, my last assignment was for a merchant who wanted me to study various breeding effects on roth herds,» the mage lied, «but I have a special interest in a new field. I am most curious to learn more about chitines and choldriths.»

«Really?» Kraszmyl seemed nonplussed at the idea as he led Pha-raun deeper into the confines of the conservatory. «Why in the world would you find such base creatures of interest?»

«Oh, they are tremendously fascinating!» Pharaun gushed. «While we find them to be nothing more than simple hunting sport, they actually have a unique culture and religious focus that in several ways mirrors our own.»

«Oh, I see,» Master Claddath said woodenly. «I hope you're not one of those odd cretins who actually thinks we should cease our hunting.»

Pharaun laughed. «Certainly not,» he said, «but imagine the possibilities if I could make them more of a challenge?»

«Yes, I could see the value in that. Well, here we are,» the guide said, ushering Pharaun into a wing of the facilities that contained countless cages, cells, and holding pens.

Pharaun had never seen such a collection of species before, and he was more than impressed.

«It is spectacular!» he said.

«Yes, it is, Master Pharaun, but I have concluded by your reaction that you have seen nothing of the sort before. Now, why don't you tell me the real reason for your visit to our little conservatory today?»

Pharaun carefully reached into a pocket of his piwafwi, extracted a fragment of glass, and turned to look at the other wizard, who was shielded by a number of protections. He held a wand in his hand that he pointed at the visiting wizard, and Pharaun knew that the drow had already used it. Some sort of enchantment magic, he guessed.

Trying to charm me into explaining myself.

«Is this the way you greet all of your prospective new members?» Pharaun asked, smiling.

Kraszmyl looked mildly surprised, then tucked the wand away.

«No, just those wizards who show up out of nowhere, claiming to want to join our ranks.»

The other wizard produced a second wand and aimed it at Pharaun.

«Especially those foolish enough to claim—»

Kraszmyl Claddath's words hung in the air, unfinished, as he transformed into glass. Of course, his piwafwi, the wand, and several other trinkets that adorned his body remained intact, but the flesh itself was pure, clear crystal.

Sighing in satisfaction, Pharaun pocketed the fragment of glass.

«If you hadn't been so busy expounding on my foolishness, you might have heard the words to my spell,» he said to the inert figure, moving closer.

Being made of glass, the short, stocky drow was heavy. Pharaun persevered though, moving the transformed dark elf into exactly the right position.

«Now, let's see if we can find what we're looking for.»

The Master of Sorcere felt the urge to hurry, for he doubted the menagerie would remain unattended for long. It would require many first-year students to clean and feed all the imprisoned specimens.

Moving through the aisles of cages, he looked around, trying to find what he needed. Even in his haste, he was truly impressed with the collection before him. He caught sight of some rather large cages in the back, but he had no time to satisfy his curiosity.

A pity, he thought, rounding a corner and continuing his search. I would like to spend a few tendays here.

Finally, after several rows, he came across the object of his desire. Sitting sullenly, her four arms sealed in some sort of resin casts, a lone choldrith glared up at him with decidedly humanoid silvery-white eyes. He squatted down to examine her.

She had charcoal-gray skin and was completely hairless. A set of diminutive mandibles, so small that Pharaun doubted they were functional, flanked her more humanoid mouth. Her ears jutted up beyond the top of her head, similar to a drow's but even more pronounced. Pharaun thought they looked vaguely like horns. From what little he already knew and had managed to learn about the species, he understood the necessity for the casts, to keep the creature from casting spells and freeing herself.

«I have a proposition for you,» he said in the common language of the Underdark. The choldrith stared back him, saying nothing. «I you can understand me well enough, but just in case …»—he fumbled in his pockets for a few items—«it's a good thing I came prepared, eh?»

He produced a tiny clay ziggurat and a pinch of soot. Quickly, Pharaun wove a pair of spells, one to speak her language and the other to understand it, then tried again.

«If you will answer my questions, I will free you,» he said. Her eyes widened with hope, then narrowed with suspicion. «You lie,» she said in a strange, clicking speech, like the sound of a spider. «All drow lie to us.»

«Perhaps that is true most of the time, but in this, I do not. I have nothing to gain by keeping you here and everything to gain by getting some answers.»

When she only stared at Pharaun again, he asked, «What have you got to lose? You're trapped in a cage in a drow city, and your arms are encased in resin to keep you from calling on the Dark Mother. Except that doesn't matter, because she, too, has forsaken you, hasn't she?»

The choldrith's eyes widened again, and Pharaun knew it was true. «You know about the goddess?» the creature asked. «Yes, and I'm trying to find out where she's gone.» The wizard wasn't sure, but he thought he might have detected what would pass for a smile on the face of the wretched being.

«Then she does not love the dark elves more,» she said, apparently to herself. «She has not abandoned the spider people in favor of you.»

«No, her absence has been spread generously about to all her worshipers, it would appear,» Pharaun answered. «What I'm trying to find out now is why?»

«The Dark Mother weaves her own webs. The Dark Mother seals herself away, but she will return.»

«What? How? What tells you this?»

«I will tell you no more, killer of spider people. Free me or not, I have answered your question,»

«So you have,» Pharaun acknowledged, «and I will let you out of the cage, How you find your way home is up to you.»