Chapter 3 Chapter 1 Menzoberranzan City

To surface dwellers, the dark elf can walk undetected for several feet.The four hooves of the lizard mount he stepped on were fitted with pads, and the footsteps made no sound.Perfectly handcrafted, the inlaid and seamless chain mail hung on the knight and mount, tightly sealed, bending and folding with all their movements, as if they were their second skin. Dinin's lizard moved with easy, quick steps.Tread soundlessly on broken floors, walls, and even the ceiling of long tunnels.With the help of their three-toed slimy feet, subterranean lizards can climb walls like spiders, making them popular mounts.On the bright surface world, stepping on hard ground doesn't leave a damned footprint, but almost all creatures of the Underdark possess night vision and can see the world in infrared light.If travelers follow predictable routes, many creatures can easily track down the temperature anomalies they leave behind.

Gripping the saddle firmly between his knees, Dinin directed the lizard across the top of the hole, and then to another foothold in the wall.Dinin didn't want to be followed. There is no light to guide him, because he doesn't need it.He was a dark elf with dark skin, blood kin to those who danced in the forests of the ground under the dazzling stars.In Dinin's sharp eyes, the subtle differences in temperature are converted into sharp and vivid images, and the Underdark is no longer a dark and lightless world.All the colors on the spectrum danced across the stone walls and floors in front of him, revealing hidden veins of mineral or underground water.Thermal images of creatures are the clearest, allowing the Dark Elves to see their enemies as clearly as surface dwellers see in broad daylight.

Under normal circumstances, Dinin would not leave the city alone.Even for dark elves, the Underdark is not a place to explore alone.However, things are different today.Dinin had to make sure that no unfriendly dark elves were following his tracks. A soft magic light shone behind an exquisitely carved arch, which let Dinin know that he was approaching the entrance of the city, so he slowed down the lizard's pace.Few people use the narrow tunnel to Tyr Bridge, as this area north of Menzoberranzan is reserved for the Academy.Except for priests and martial artists, no one can pass here without arousing suspicion.

Whenever Dinin came here, he couldn't help feeling nervous.Of the hundreds of tunnels that lead to the vast caverns of Menzoberranzan, this is the most heavily guarded.Behind the arch, two giant spiders guard the place silently.If any enemies pass by, the spiders will animate and attack the enemies, and the entire academy area will sound an alarm. Dinin moved away from the lizard's back, allowing it to stand comfortably on the wall at his chest level.He reached into the collar of the demon cloak and took out the neck pouch hanging around his neck.Dinin took out the crest of House Do'Urden from his neck pocket. It was a spider with different weapons on each of its eight legs. The word DN was engraved on its back. An abbreviation for the ancient, formal house name of Demund Nassarth Barnon.

"You wait here for my return." Dinin whispered while waving the family crest in front of the lizard.Like other houses, the sigil of House Do'Urden bears special spells, one of which grants family members absolute control over their livestock.The lizard will faithfully obey this command, sticking to its position with its four hooves as if rooted, even if its favorite food, the rat, is dozing off in front of its big mouth, it cannot be shaken a bit.Dinin took a deep breath and stepped cautiously into the archway.He noticed two spiders looking at him from a height of fifteen feet.Dinin is a dark elf who lives in the city, not an enemy, and can pass through other tunnels without any interference, but the academy is an unpredictable place; Dinin heard that these two spiders often violently reject those who are not invited. of dark elves.

Dinin reminded himself that now was not the time to be dragged down by fear and rumors.This mission is the most important part of the family's strategy.He stared straight ahead, deliberately ignoring the giant spider, and stepped into Tyr Bridge. Dinin dodged to the side, wanting to check whether there were any suspicious figures nearby, and then to overlook the scenery of Menzoberranzan City.Whether you are a dark elf or not, you will be amazed when you appreciate the city from this perspective.From the highest point in the two-mile-high cavern, Tyr Breech afforded a bird's-eye view of Menzoberranzan.The campus of the college is not big, and there is only one building that makes up the college: Spider Academy, a missionary in the shape of a spider in the shape of Goddess Rose; Warlock Academy, with an elegant appearance, has many towering spiers, a place for mages to study and study, a fighting tower, A very modest pyramid-shaped building where male warriors learn their trade.

Below Tilbricht, once past the numerous towering stalagmites that marked the entrance, the height of the ground dropped rapidly and spread far beyond the reach of Dinin's keen eyes.In the keen eyes of the dark elves, Menzoberranzan is more colorful.Thermal images emanating from various hot spring fissures roll throughout the cavern.Purples and reds, bright yellows and subtle blues cross and mix with each other, climbing up high walls and stone pillars, or flowing alone in the dark rocky background.In the infrared field of vision, the place where the powerful magic power is concentrated is more distinct, and the pair of spiders that Dinin passed just now were shining with energy.And finally there is the real lighting in the city, the faerie fire shining on the specially lit statues in the manor.Dark elves take great pride in their own beautiful creations, particularly ornate stone pillar carvings and majestic stone statues, most of which are bathed in eternal magic light.

Even from this distance Dinin could see House Baenre, the Chief House of Menzoberranzan, with their twenty great stalactite columns, and ten stalagmites equally magnificent.The Baenre family has existed since the foundation of Menzoberranzan city was laid, and has a history of nearly 5,000 years. During this long period of time, the efforts to embellish the family's crafts for perfection have never been slack. Candlelight, rare in the Underdark, streams from the windows of some houses.Only clerics and wizards, Dinin knew, lit candles, for in this way they could read precious scrolls and books.

This is Menzoberranzan, the city of the Dark Elves.Two thousand dark elves live here, and they are also two thousand powerful soldiers in the evil army. When he thought that some soldiers might die tonight, a smile could not help slipping across Dinin's thin lips. Dinin carefully observed Narbondel, the huge stone pillar used to keep time in the center of Menzoberranzan.In a place where there are no seasons of day and night, this is the only way for the dark elves to record the passage of time.At the end of the day, the city's appointed archmage will unleash his magic flame at the base of the pillar.This spell is effective for a full cycle, which is equal to a day on the ground.The temperature of the flame will control the hour column to slowly expand until the entire hour column turns red completely in the infrared field of view.Now the effectiveness of the spell has disappeared, and the entire stone pillar is now dark and gloomy.Dinin deduced that the mage might even be at the bottom of the time column now, ready to start the whole cycle again.It was midnight, the appointed hour.

Dinin stayed away from the pair of spiders at the entrance, and quietly walked along the perimeter of Till Bridger, looking for the shadows in the heat patterns on the wall, so as to effectively hide the heat image displayed by his body.Finally, he arrived at the College of Warlocks, where mages were educated.Immediately, with lightning speed, he slipped into the dark alley formed between the outer wall and the foundation of the college. "Student or Master?" said the predictable whisper. "Under the darkness of the Pillars of Narbondel, only the Master walks outside Tyr Bridger," Dinin replied.A figure in a thick robe walked around the corner of the dark alley and walked up to Dinin.The stranger was in the pose of a master in the academy, arms outstretched, elbows bent, palms folded on chest.

This posture was the only normal thing about the man. "Greetings to your heart, Faceless One." He compared the dark elf's silent speech, which was as detailed as the spoken language.Dinin's trembling hands betrayed his inner unease, because this mage made his nerves so tense that he was about to break. "Second son of House Do'Urden," the wizard responded with the same gesture. "Have you brought your reward?" "You will be compensated," Dinin's gesture emphasized, the wave of anger finally suppressing the fear. "Do you dare to doubt the tenth-ranked Demun Nasharsparnon family in Menzoberranzan City, Mistress Maris Do'Urden's promise to you?" The Faceless One took a step back, knowing he had made a mistake. "Second son of the Do'Urden family, I apologize to you." He knelt on one knee, admitting his mistake and giving in.Ever since his involvement in the plot, the mage had feared that his weak patience would cost him his life.He had had an accident during a magical experiment, a tragedy that melted the entire contours of his face, leaving only a warm, white-green goo.Matron Marice Do'Urden was rumored to be the most skilled elixir maker in the sprawling city, and she offered a sliver of hope that the Faceless didn't want to miss. Dinin's cold heart showed no sympathy for the wizard, but House Do'Urden needed the mage. "You'll get your prescription," Dinin promised calmly, "after the death of Ayrton Deaver." "No problem," the mage agreed. "tonight?" Dinin folded his arms and considered the question.Matron Malice ordered that Ayton Deaver should be killed when the fighting between the two families began.But the sight looked too clean, too simple for Dinin.The Faceless One noticed a sudden glint in the young Do'Urden's red eyes. "When the light of the Hour Pillar rises to the top," Dinin replied, gesticulating with both hands excitedly, with a frowning expression like a ferocious smile. "Before he dies, do you want to let this guy whose fate has come to an end know the fate of his family?" The mage guessed his hideous purpose from Dining's expression. "When you gave him the fatal blow," Dinin replied. "Deprive Ayrton Deaver of all hope." Dinin called back his mount, and galloped along the tunnel, finding the fork that would allow him to enter the city on the other side.He entered the city from the east of the great cavern, Menzoberranzan's estates; here no other house would have noticed that he had left the city, and there were only a few crude stalagmites anchored to the flat ground.Dinin exerted force on his crotch, urging his mount to gallop along the shore of East Negaton Lake.There is a small moss-covered island in the large pond exclusive to this city, and there are medium-sized Rothmons that function like cattle.Note 1: Rothe: Its role in the Underdark replaced the status of the cattle on the surface.Its skin, skin, bone, blood, flesh and milk can all be used, so it has become the most important domestic animal.Hundreds of goblins and half-orcs were continuing to fish or herd, and they looked up and noticed the swift pace of the dark elf warrior.However, they also knew their own taboos as slaves, and they dared not look Dinin directly. Anyway, Dining didn't have time to pay attention to them. At this time, he was on his way wholeheartedly.When he came to the narrow alley between the glowing castles again, he urged the mount to speed up and head towards the south-central area of ​​the city.There are many great mushrooms growing there, and it is also where the most beautiful houses in Menzoberranzan gather. When he made a blind turn, he almost stepped on a group of four roaming goblin bears.Bugbear: A variant of goblins, equally evil, greedy, and stupid.The tall, hairy goblin creatures paused for a moment, eyeing the dark elves before slowly and deliberately moving out of the way. Dinin knew that the bears recognized him as a member of House Do'Urden.He was a nobleman by name, heir of the high priestess, and his surname Do'Urden was also the title of the family.Among the 20,000 dark elves in Menzoberranzan, only about a thousand are nobles, that is, the direct blood of the sixty-seven recognized families.The others are just civilian fighters. Ursines are not stupid creatures.They can distinguish commoners from nobles. Although the drow will not openly display their family crests, the ponytail of Dinin's dazzling white hair and the conspicuous purple and red lines on his black magic cloak are already clear. Tell them who the person in front of them is. The urgency of this task left Dining with no time to worry about him, but he couldn't ignore the bear's negligence.If he was a member of the Baan Rui family, or the other eight ruling families, how quickly would they give way?He couldn't help thinking. "You will soon learn to respect House Do'Urden!" the dark elf said in a low voice, turning the lizards around and charging at them.The goblins ran for their lives, turning into an alley full of rubble and gravel.In order to suppress his inner rage, Dinin summoned the innate abilities of the dark elves.He summoned a dark ward that blocked both infrared and normal light, and threw it on their way as they fled.He thought it rather unwise to draw attention, but after a while, when he heard the blind ramming and cursing of the bugbears, it was worth it. After his anger subsided, he set off again, more careful to keep his path in the shadow of the heat.As a member of the tenth house in the city, Dinin could move freely in the cave without questioning.However, Matron Maris strictly requires that no one affiliated with House Dudur should be found in this mushroom cluster. Mistress Maris, Dinin's mother is not a person to be rebelled against.However, this is only a form of regulation.In Menzoberranzan, there is one rule that overrides all other laws: don't get caught. South of the Capsules, the impatient dark elf finally reached his destination.Five towering stone pillars hollowed out from the ceiling to the ground form many rooms connected by metal or rock walls and bridges.Glowing gargoyles, the family's sigil, gazed down from the countless battlements like silent sentinels.This is the Defoe family, the fourth-ranked family in Menzoberranzan. Tall fungi surround the entire area, and one in every five is the Screamer, a type of sentient fungus; as the name suggests, they emit screeching spikes when any creature approaches cry.Dinin kept his distance carefully, not wanting to trigger these traps.At the same time, he also knew that there were more and more deadly barriers guarding the fortress.Matron Malice will take care of these matters. The expected silence made the air here seem to freeze.Almost everyone in Menzoberranzan City knew that Matron Ginafie of the Defoe family was no longer favored by Rose, the spider queen, and that she was the real source behind all the family's power.The Dark Elves would never discuss the situation openly, but everyone expected that the lesser Houses would soon launch an attack on the embattled Deavers.Madam Ginafi and her family will be the last to know the will of the Spider Queen, which is the cruel style of the Spider Queen.Dinin could tell with one glance that this hapless family simply did not have enough time to erect proper fortifications.The Dever family had nearly four hundred soldiers, many of them women, but the faces of the soldiers that Dinin saw between the battlements showed nervous and disturbed expressions. Dinin's smile grew wider as he remembered his family growing stronger under Matron Malice's cunning schemes.As his three sisters are rapidly approaching the status of high priest, his brother is an accomplished mage, and his uncle Zaknafein is the strongest martial arts master in Menzoberranzan. Training three hundred elite soldiers day and night; what the Do'Urden family has is a complete fighting force.Mistress Maris is different from Gina Fey, she is currently the favorite of the Queen of the Spider God. "Damon Nasharsparnon," Dinin whispered, muttering the formal and ancient title of House Do'Urden. "The Ninth House of Menzoberranzan!" He liked the line. In the middle of the city, past the silvery balconies and into the twenty-foot-high archway on the west side of the cavern, gathered the most important members of House Do'Urden.They're here to get the job done for tonight, to make the perfect plan.Sitting on a towering pedestal in this audience room is the venerable Mistress Maris, her abdomen is obviously swollen because of the imminent delivery.Honored to stand by her side are her three daughters, Maya, Verna, and the eldest, Brisa, who has just been elected High Priestess.Maya and Verna look like younger versions of their mother, slender and small in stature but with immense power inside.Briza has none of the family traits.She was massive by drow standards, with round shoulders and hips.Those who knew her knew that this body type was only a faithful reflection of her temper; the slender frame might not be able to handle the violent temper of the new priest of House Do'Urden. "Dinin should be back soon," said Risen, who was the current family's Patron: the male dark elf as opposed to the Matron.But because the dark elves are an absolute matriarchal society, the so-called patriarch is just like the concubines in human history, just a tool to vent their desires.They don't have much official status and power, and the mistress can change these guys at will. Of course, if the servant father has special skills, it's a different matter... "It can let us know whether the time to attack has come." "Let's go as soon as the hour pillar shows morning!" Briza yelled at him in her low but sharp voice.She turned to her mother with an expectant smile, hoping to be praised for letting a man know her status. "The baby is due tonight," Matron Malice said to her anxious husband. "No matter what news Dinin brings back, we must go." "It will be a boy," Briza murmured, not hiding her disappointment. "The eleventh living son of House Do'Urden." "I want to sacrifice to the goddess Rose." Zaknafein interjected, he is the family's former paternal servant, and now holds the important position of chief martial artist.This highly skilled dark elf warrior seemed to be very interested in the so-called sacrifice, and the eldest son Novan who stood beside Zack seemed to be the same.Zhu Fan is the eldest son of the family. Except for Dinin, he doesn't want any other people to compete with him in this family. "According to tradition," Briza glared, red eyes that seemed to glow. "Help us win!" Rui Sen changed his posture uneasily. "Matron Malice," he began boldly, "you should be well aware of the pain of childbirth. Does the pain distract you--" "Do you dare to question the mistress?" Briza yelled harshly, without hesitation, she stretched out her hand to the snake's head whip wrapped around her waist.Matron Malice held out a hand to stop her. "You just have to fight," the mistress said to Rui Sen. "Let the women of the clan handle the important things in this battle." Rui Sen's body shook, his gaze lowered. Dinin came to the enchanted fence that surrounded the two small stalagmite towers of House Do'Urden, and inside the fence was the compound of House Do'Urden.The fence is made of Adamatine, the hardest adamantine in the world: a metal harder than Mithril, very suitable for attaching spells.It is also the metal that dark elves like to use to make weapons.It is decorated with hundreds of armed spiders, and each statue has deadly spells and enchantments.The majestic gate of House Do'Urden was the envy of many other houses, but Dinin was only disappointed when he saw the shabby scene of his own house after seeing the magnificent buildings among the mushroom clusters.His home looked very ordinary, even bare; the mithril and adamantium balconies on the second story were an exception, since that was reserved for the nobility of the family.Each railing on the balcony is depicted with thousands of groups of carvings, all of which constitute a huge work of art. The difference between House Do'Urden and other houses in Menzoberranzan is that most of their buildings are located in a cave, rather than isolated among towering stone pillars.Although this design is easy to defend but difficult to attack, Dinin still can't help wishing that his home could be more gorgeous. An excited soldier quickly opened the door to welcome the second son.Dinin walked past him without a word, and walked quickly into the compound, aware of the hundreds of curious eyes focused on him.Both soldiers and slaves knew that Dinin's mission tonight had something to do with the battle to come. There were no steps leading up to the second floor where House Do'Urden's silver balcony was located.This design is also planned to keep the nobles from being harassed by slaves and commoners at home.The nobles of the dark elves don't need a ladder. After their innate ability has been specially evolved, they have the ability to float.Dinin easily floated up with a single thought, and landed on the balcony. He rushed through the archway and came to the long corridor, where a faint demon fire was faintly lit, allowing normal vision to function without interfering with the use of night vision.The ornate brass door at the end of the corridor marked his destination, and he paused there for a moment, waiting for his eyes to adjust back to the infrared spectrum.The room behind the door is different from the corridor, without any lighting.This is the audience chamber of the High Priestess, the majestic shrine of House Do'Urden.According to the tradition of the Spider Queen, the dark elves' priest's room is a place where no light is allowed. When Dinin felt that he was ready, he directly pushed open the door, squeezed away the two surprised female guards without hesitation, and boldly walked directly in front of the mistress.All three daughters in the family squinted at their bold and aggressive brother.Barge in without waiting for permission!He knew what they were thinking.Could it be that he is the one who will be sacrificed tonight? ! As much as Dinin enjoyed testing the limits of his lesser male behavior, he couldn't ignore the threat posed by Vierna, Maya, and Bubasha with the grace of a dance.Not only were they taller than Dinin, but they had also spent a lifetime practicing the priest's powers and weapons.The serpent's whip of the priest's mana extension began to stir excitedly, anticipating the imminent punishment.The handle of the snake head whip is made of very simple fine gold, but the whip body and whip head are living poisonous snakes.Briza's six snake whips couldn't wait to dance and push, and twisted herself into many knots along the belt.Briza has always been the quickest to punish. However, Mistress Maris seemed to appreciate Dinin's flamboyance.The second son knew his position in the eyes of the mistress, and he would carry out her orders without fear, let alone the slightest hesitation. Dinin felt relieved from his mother's calm expression, which was in stark contrast to the white-hot anger of his three sisters. "Everything is ready," he told her. "The Deavers are hiding in their pens, of course, only Ayton is still stupidly learning magic in the school of warlocks." "Have you met with the Faceless One?" Matriarch Malice asked. "The college is quite quiet tonight," Dinin replied. "Our meeting went very well." "Did he agree to the agreement?" "Ayton Deaver will be disposed of according to our plan," Dinin chuckled.Then he remembered that in order to make the plan more cruel and satisfy his own desires, he made some changes to Malice's plan, delaying Ayton's execution.Dinin's thought led to another: that the high priestesses of Lolth were especially good at reading minds. "Ayton's going to die tonight!" said Dinin quickly, intending to conclude before the others asked for details. "Excellent." Briza frowned.Dinin breathed a sigh of relief. "Start the fusion!" Mistress Maris ordered Jin to say. Four drow men stepped forward and knelt in front of Mistress and her daughters: Risen knelt in front of Maris, Zaknafein knelt in front of Briza, Novan to Maya, Dinin to Verna .The priest chants together, placing his hand deftly on each warrior's forehead, attuned to their emotions. "You all know your place!" Matron Malice said after the ceremony.She grimaced in pain from another fetal movement. "Go to work." Less than an hour later, Zaknafein and Briza stood side by side on the balcony overlooking the gates of House Do'Urden.On the ground, the 2nd and 3rd Squadrons led by Ruisen and Novan were busy preparing, wearing heated leather armor and metal plates; these were all used to fool the heat-sensitive eyes of the elves. camouflage.Dinin's troops, the first contingent of a thousand goblin slaves, had set out early. "We're going to be famous after tonight," Brisa said. "No one doubts that the tenth-ranked family dares to stand up to an opponent as powerful as the Devore family. When our bloody project tonight is over and rumors spread, even the Baen Rui family will pay attention to Damon Nashasbanon! Leaning against the railing of the balcony, she watched the two brigades forming a formation and marching silently.The two brigades advanced along different paths, passing through the winding roads of Menzoberranzan City, and finally they would meet at the location of the five huge stone pillars of the Defoe family. Zaknafein stared at the back of Mistress Malice's eldest daughter, only wanting to stab the dagger into her spine.Still, as before, judgment kept Zack's experienced hand securely in place. "Did you receive the props you needed?" Briza asked, her attitude was much more respectful than when Matron Malice was by her side.Zac is just a man, a commoner who is honored to bear the name of the family, all because of the seemingly non-existent husband and wife relationship between him and the mistress, and because he once served as the family's servant.Still, Briza was afraid of offending him.Zac is the chief martial artist of the Do'Urden family. He is a tall and strong man, stronger than most women.Those who have witnessed his rage in battle recognize him as the chief warrior of Menzoberranzan.In addition to Brisa and her mother, who are the high-ranking priests, and Zaknafein's unparalleled superb swordsmanship, these three are the foundation of the Do'Urden family's success. Zac put on a black hood, opened the pouch at his waist, and took out a few small ceramic balls. Briza gave an evil smile and rubbed her slender hands slowly. "Matron Ginafee will be upset," she whispered. Zac returned her the same smile, turned around and looked at the soldiers who were about to set off.For this master of martial arts, nothing could bring more satisfaction than killing a dark elf, especially the priest who killed the goddess Rose. "Get ready," Briza said after a few minutes. Zak shook his thick hair from his face and stood stiff, his eyes tightly shut.Briza slowly drew out her staff and began to chant the spell that would activate the item.She touched Zack's right shoulder, then the other, and finally the staff came to a rest over his head. Zak felt icy splinters fall on him, penetrate his clothing and armor, even touch his skin, until everything on him was at the same temperature.Zak hated the magically low temperature because it was the same as he imagined death would feel.However, he also knew that under the influence of the wand's low temperature, he was like a gray rock, unobtrusive and even more difficult to find for the creatures in the dark regions that rely on heat-sensing vision. Zack opened his eyes and shuddered.He stretched out his hands and tried to shake them, to confirm whether he still had enough dexterity.He looked at Briza, who had fallen into the trance of the second summoning.This time it will take a little longer, so Zach leans against the wall, savoring the somewhat dangerous but very exciting task in front of him.How considerate of Matron Malice to leave him all the priests of the Dever family! "Done," Briza announced a few minutes later.She directed Zac's gaze to the sky, to the invisible top of the huge cavern. It was Zac who first noticed Briza's masterpiece, an approaching air current that was slightly yellowish because it was slightly warmer than the cave.This is a living air current. This creature summoned from the elemental world roared and floated on the outer edge of the balcony, faithfully waiting for the summoner's order. Zack didn't hesitate.He jumped into the air, letting it float around him in the air. Briza saluted him one last time, and motioned the summoned servants to go. "Fight well!" she shouted to Zac even though he had disappeared into the air. Zak couldn't help chuckling at the unintentional but ironic remark as the twisted city of Menzoberranzan flew by beneath his feet.Like Zack, she wanted the priest of the Deaver family to die, but for very different reasons.Putting all that aside, Zak would have been more than happy to kill the priests of House Do'Urden. The martial art master drew out a sharp sword made of pure gold, a dark elf sword made of magic, the blade is not only sharp, but also has a spell that can kill people. "The battle should indeed go smoothly," he whispered.If only Briza could have known how smooth it was.