Menzoberanzan

The Forges and Gates of House Platin

You leave the area behind seeking out areas that are less likely to be haunted by a Banshee and perhaps putting your hands to your ears just in case. You arrive back at House Platin and hear a roar, for a moment you feel the utter fear (DC 16 Wis save) coming from the immense adult black dragon that lands right next to you and perhaps find yourself scurrying away from your inevitable fate before the aura fades away.

Your heart is beating fast as you hear a small chuckle. "Apologies, I didn't notice that you were part of the house until I saw your sigils. I hope I didn't scare you too much. I just got home and am greeting all visitors." Dakkon the Black, the immense Black Wyrm raised from a hatchling by your Matron Mother stands before you in all of his awesome glory. He stretches his wings and muscles a bit and his big yellow eyes stare at you. This is the first time you've met him. Shishi had turned into his Lion like form and a huge, clawed hand drops down to delicately stroke him.

---

Magister Vern is Didactic

He opens a pouch at his side and rifles through it; scrolls drop onto the table haphazardly until he finds one. "Ah here it is, this should work on an item for a day or so. The Yrthak won't be able to detect you with the silence spell so that should work no need to add extra days on your journey. As for the Umberhulks that won't work they can feel the movement of the ground. A good fear spell might work to scatter them, but I make no guarantees. Also, make sure you are mentally protected or just avoid looking at their eyes."

He shuffles through more scrolls dropping even more and making the mess worse, "Ah here we are fear oh and a Magic Circle vs Evil too. No, probably won't want a scroll. Hmm, now where did I put it..." He puts his head and half his body into his magic bag and comes out with a wand. "Ah, here it is a Wand of Circle of Protection vs Evil. Excellent for Umberhulks and those pesky Mind Flayers. Keeps everything in here.." He taps his bare skull, "From becoming mush. Mind flayers are going to be resistant to every mental magic, personally I like to disintegrate them but, I suppose other spells and your weapons will do the trick."

He looks at the pile of scrolls and other detritus he's pulled from his bag, snaps his bony fingers and it all floats itself back into the bag. "Now, where was I. Oh, while you are in Szith Morcane can you drop by Sorcere there? It's not a terribly big deal but, the headmaster there borrowed my copy of Szass Tam's 'on Ghoul and Ghast Sapience' and I would like it back."

---

House Melarn

Just as you are walking up into the compound suspended in Lolth's Web you see a huge black dragon swoop down from your house and onto something or someone that was approaching. Dakkon, your house Wyrm and an Adult Black Dragon is apparently here in the city.

As you are escorted up into House Melarn you see Driders and Giant spiders dead from fighting against each other and the forces of House Melarn. You'd heard that some males in the house had become Arachnomancers and apparently this was true. Unfortunately, it seems that many of those Arachnomancers turned against the house in this battle.

You find Arduva and her aunt Zovaralla meeting with other women of the house when you arrive. Arduva gestures to your group, "If not for House Platin I would have been lost in the Bazaar and we would have no priestesses."

Arduva puts a hand on her aunt's shoulder, "Just hear her out. I personally would like to survive this Silence of Lolth and their house has not seen any internal rebellion so far. Their forces have not been halved over the afternoon and maybe, just maybe they can provide some aid. If we have to owe them favors then we must do so."

Zovaralla is perhaps in the middle of her life. You can't quite recall if she was 7th or 8th in line to be Matron Mother. She is rather plump for a Dark Elf and her eyes are purple instead of red much like many of your own house members. From her bloody and rent dress it's quite obvious that while she was in the middle of the fighting, she is clearly not a cleric or a fighter. Noting a wand at her hip you think she's likely a wizard. You also note that her silver hair has blonde streaks in it here and there, likely meaning her father was a 'surface' elf. She looks to your group her back straight and her poise perfect "So, because you are 15th you won't stab us in the back tomorrow? I never had the ability to speak with the Spider Queen and my Neice has guidance from Lolth on this. So, you were allied when you went to school? You didn't backstab you then so maybe you won't now?"

She looks at you with keen and discerning eyes and you feel a spell drift over you as she says, "Go on, tell me what aid you might offer and why I should trust you and your house?"

I'll memorize it and drop Hold Person for now. Can't hurt backing up the scrolls if we need silence more than we planned, "We have to be really prepared, I see the reason for House Branae using some house so low down the totem pole for one of two reasons, 1) They consider us expendable or 2) They don't consider us a threat that can use the opportunity to our advantage if not both."

House Melarn
The Matron mother looks at you and says, "Friend?" Her eyes almost widen and then she looks between the two of you and Arduva makes a simple gesture with her fingers. Zorvalla then nods, "Oh, yes I forgot that your house was more public about such arrangements."

She takes a few moments to wrap her head around it before continuing, "I recently heard the return of your house Dragon. If he could perhaps keep an eye over the entre Western Wall area and maybe provide warning if attackers from outside the city are coming I" She clears her throat and gets into the spirit, "We would greatly appreciate it."

It is something T'rissae expects that her house has already tasked for Dakkon so it is an easy agreement to hold to. Once agreement is made Zovaralla adds, "If you could also ask your Matron Mother to send some diplomats over, we may be able to discuss an even more beneficial arrangement." She looks like she just sucked on something sour but you know as well as she that any 'Diplomat' will assuredly be a spy for Lady Emerald.

Outside House Platin
Shishi seems to almost enjoy the dragon stroking it as Dakkon nods and smiles, "I will keep an eye out for the others. They must have arrived just before I did." He takes a few moments to enjoy petting the celestial before stretching again and inquiring after your names and current house duties. You'll have to dissemble a bit, but he doesn't pry too hard.

Ryo and Kalafein find themselves outside after meeting Magister Vern and they are just in time to see the two other house members talking with the resident Wyrm. Dakkon glances over at the two young men and gives them a 'cheery' smile as they exit and says, "Well, I'll be up on the wall if anyone needs me. Try and avoid the skirmishes to the north." His wings stretch out and he leaps up into the air sailing up and into a recess far up the side of the cave leaving you wondering just what might be happening at the North gates to the city.

Soon enough the entire group gathers back together and begins the trek out of the city. With Dakkon's advice you avoid the skirmishes to the North, and you avoid the western exit due to the Banshee and thus leave through the southern exit if the city.

---

The Underdark
Faerzress fades away as you leave the city and everything is pitch black. It is only due to whatever magical sight you have that you can see at all. Travel will not be simple or easy.