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them。 The marks of magical attacks； bursts of lightning and sprays of acid； scarred the walls。
By all appearances； the conspirators were hiding in the seat of a House extinguished by its enemies。 No one was supposed to take possession of such a fortress without the Baenre's permission； and few would dare。 The vacant castles were supposedly cursed and haunted places； breeding grounds for sickness； insanity； and bad luck。 As if to pound the potential for ill fortune； the squatters had broken the copious shrouds of spiderweb wherever they impeded traffic and even in corners where they didn't。
At one point； the masters and their warders passed a row of small octagonal windows。 The glass was gone but the molded calcite cames remained。 Ryld glanced out and saw mansions shining green and violet far below。 The rogues had taken a stalactite castle； hanging from the cavern ceiling； for their hiding place。 No doubt the isolation had attracted them。
A minute later； the little procession reached its destination； a chapel with rows of benches； a crooked aisle snaking up the middle to an asymmetrical basalt altar； and murals； agleam with silvery phosphorescence； carved in basrelief on the walls and ceiling。 To Ryld's surprise； these last depicted not the Demonweb but other hells entirely devoid of spiders； yochlols； or the goddess Lolth herself。 Apparently the House that once abode here had sacrificed to forbidden deities。 Perhaps that transgression had contributed to its downfall。
The dark elves settled themselves in the pews。 While Houndaer and the moner seemed convinced of the masters' claim of estrangement from Tier Breche； they nonetheless retained possession of the newers' gear。 Tsabrak crouched just inside the door； his legs splayed out on either side of the entrance。
〃I admire the decor；〃 Pharaun said。 〃Without even trying； I noticed images of Cyric； Orcus； Bane； Ghaunadaur； and Vhaeraun。 Quite a nice selection of patron powers for the discriminating worshiper。〃
〃We're not looking for a new god；〃 Houndaer spat。
〃I'm sure；〃 the wizard said。 〃Perhaps you'd be kind enough to tell Master Argith and me what your grand and glorious scheme is all about。 And why now？〃
〃Why now？〃 the noble asked。
〃Our fellowship has existed for decades；〃 the craftsman cut in； 〃though it's only recently that we all eloped and took up residence here full time。 Formerly we merely gathered for an hour or two every fortnight or so。〃
〃If you're a male；〃 Houndaer said； 〃and utterly dissatisfied with your place in Menzoberranzan； you need some sort of a refuge； don't you？〃
〃I quite agree；〃 the wizard said。 〃Of course； others have opted for a merchant House； the Academy； or Bregan D'aerthe。
Houndaer made a spitting sound。 〃Those are just places to hide from the matrons。 This is a fortress for males who want to turn Menzoberranzan upside down and put ourselves on top。 Why not？ Aren't our mages and even our warriors as powerful as the clergy？
Pharaun grinned and said； 〃They certainly are now that the priestesses have mislaid their magic。〃
Houndaer blinked。 〃You know about that？〃
〃I've inferred it。 You obviously know as well。 Otherwise； you wouldn't run about breaking spiderwebs simply for the fun of it； to say nothing of putting your master plan into motion。 I'd be curious to hear how you found out and if you know why。〃
〃We don't know why；〃 Houndaer said； shaking his head。 〃We started to figure it out after a couple of us saw priestesses die fighting gricks out in the Bauthwaf。 The bitches should've used spells to save themselves； but they didn't； and we guessed it was because they couldn't。 After that； we kept our eyes open and waylaid a few clerics to see what they'd do to defend themselves。 Everything we learned supported our theory。〃
Pharaun sighed and said； 〃Then you aren't in touch with some chatty informant in the realms of the divine。 Like me； you merely observed and deduced。 What a pity。 Aren't you； in your ignorance； apprehensive that Lolth will rekindle the priestesses' magic just when it's least convenient？〃
〃Maybe the goddess turned against the clergy because it's our turn to rule；〃 said the moner。 〃Who's to say？ In any case； this is our chance； and we're taking it。〃
〃Your chance to do what？〃 asked Ryld。 〃You talk as if you intend to revolt； but instead you're inciting the slaves into an uprising。〃
Houndaer cursed。 〃You know that； too？〃
〃We stumbled on it while looking for you；〃 Pharaun explained。 He brushed a stray strand of his coiffure back into place。 His white hair shone like ghost flesh in the soft light shining from the carvings。 〃As Master Argith noted； on first inspection； whipping the undercreatures into a lather would seem irrelevant to your objective。〃
〃Look deeper；〃 the noble said。 〃We're canny enough to know we can't topple the matriarchy all at once。 Even without their spells； our mothers and sisters are too powerful。 They have too many talismans； fortresses； and； most importantly； troops and vassals serving out of fear。〃
〃I begin to prehend； and I apologize for not giving you sufficient credit；〃 Pharaun said。 〃This is merely the opening gambit in a sava game that will last a number of years。〃
〃When fighting engulfs Menzoberranzan；〃 Houndaer said； 〃and the clerics cast no spells to put down the revolt； their weakness will bee apparent to everyone。 Meanwhile； our brotherhood will take advantage of the chaos to assassinate those females who pose the greatest obstacles to our ambitions。 With luck； the ores will account for a few more。 At the end of the day； our gender's position in the scheme of things will be considerably stronger； and every male in the city will start aspiring to supremacy。
〃In the years to e； our cabal will do whatever we can to diminish the females and put ourselves in their place。 One day soon； we'll see a noble House manded by a male and eventually； a master in every House。〃
He smiled and added； 〃Needless to say； a master who belongs to this fraternity。 I'll enjoy ruling over House Tuin'Tarl； and I imagine that you； Brother of Sorcere； wouldn't say no to primacy over your own family。〃
Pharaun nodded and said； 〃You're far too canny to have fotten we've all gone rogue。 。。。〃
〃Our kin will wele us back once we've weakened them to the point where they're desperate for reinforcements。 We'll concoct tales of travels to the far ends of the Underdark； or something。 It won't matter to them when they're desperate enough。〃
〃Indeed； you've plotted everything out so shrewdly that I only see one potential pitfall； Pharaun said。 〃What if the goblins and gnolls should actually succeed in slaughtering us all； or at least inflicting such damage on our city that the devastation breaks our hearts？〃
Houndaer stared at the mage for a moment； then laughed。 〃For a moment； I almost thought you serious。〃
Pharaun grinned。 〃Five me。 I have a perverse fondness for japes at inappropriate moments； as Master Argith will attest。〃
Houndaer smiled at Ryld and said； 〃I'd just as soon hear him attest that I mastered all those lessons on strategy he pounded into my skull。〃
〃You did；〃 said Ryld； and perhaps it was true。 His instincts told him that this scheme； outlandish as it seemed； might work； and he abruptly realized he didn't know how he felt about the possibility。
He and Pharaun had infiltrated the rogues to betray them； to placate the archmage； and because the Mizzrym wizard had some vague notion that they'd achieve greater status and power and thus a permanent cure for Ryld's formless dissatisfaction； thereby。 Yet now the conspirators were offering high rank and a role in a grand adventure。 Perhaps； then； the teachers should bee in truth the rebels they were pretending to be。
The warrior glanced over at Pharaun。 With a flick of his fingers so subtle that no one else would notice； the wizard signed one word in the silent language： Persevere。
Ryld took it to mean that his friend； with his usual acuity； had divined what he was thinking and was urging him to hold to their original intent。 He gave a tiny nod of assent。 He didn't know if Pharaun was making a wise choice； but he did realize he wouldn't even be here listening to this apocalyptic talk if his friend hadn't asked for his aid。 When all was said and done； Ryld had descended from MeleeMagthere to help the wizard achieve his ends； and that was what he was going to do。
Pharaun turned to Tsabrak and said； 〃I assume the driders have allied themselves with the conspiracy because the boys promised you a place of honor in the splendid Menzoberranzan to e。 Perhaps they even pledged to find a way to transform you back into a drow。〃
〃Something like that；〃 Tsabrak sneered。 〃Mainly； though； those of us who joined did it for the chance to kill lots and lots of priestesses。〃
〃I can't say I blame you；〃 Pharaun said。 〃Well； gentlemen； your plans are inspiring to say the least。 I'm glad we sought you out。〃
〃So am I；〃 said Ryld。
〃The only things I'm still hazy on；〃 the mage continued； 〃are Syrzan and the Prophet。 One and the same？ I see by your expressions that they are。 Who is 。。。 it really； and what power does it use to so enthrall the goblins？〃
〃I think you're about to find out；〃 Houndaer said。
An instant later； something droned through the air； almost like a noise； but not。 Actually；