d I lack the innate canotpacity to master the latter。 What's more； you conspirators know nothing about the priestesses' difficulties。〃 Pharaun cocked his head。 〃Or perhaps you do； Master Eich。〃
〃No；〃 said Syrzan； its mouth tentacles coiling and twisting。 〃Eike the others； I know what's happened but not why。〃
〃So none of what I sought was ever here for the finding。〃 Pharaun laughed and said； 〃My sister Sabal once told me that a clever drow's wits can lead him into follies no dunce would dare to undertake 。 。 。 but that's blood down the gutter。 What of you？ What in the wide world prompted a creature such as yourself to throw in with a band of Menzoberranyr malnotcontents？〃
〃You seek information you can use against me。〃
〃Well； partly 。。。〃 Pharaun had to pause for a second when a wave of psionic force from one of the larger pools dizzied him and threatened to wash his own thoughts away。 〃In the unlikely event I'm ever afforded the chance。 Mostly； though； I'm just curious。 You're a mage。 Surely we share that trait even if little else。〃
Syrzan shrugged； the narrow shoulders beneath its faded robes hitching higher than would a drow's。
〃Well；〃 the alhoon said； 〃I suppose it can do no harm to enlighten you； and it's been a long while since I've had the opportunity to converse with a colleague of genuine ability。 Not that you're my equal…no elf or dwarf could ever be…but you're several cuts above any of Houndaer's allies。〃
〃Your kind words overwhelm me。〃
The two wizards stepped onto a bridge； a crooked limestone span archnoting over one of the briny pools。
〃Dark elves will abide a lich；〃 the alhoon said； a brooding note entering its musical and almost certainly artificial voice。 〃Illithids won't。 By and large； they hate the idea of sorcery； a foreign discipline as potent as the psionic skills that constitute our birthright。 Still； they'll tolerate a limited number of mortal mages； those of us drawn to wizardry despite the stigma； for the advantages we bring。 But the thought of undying wizards enduring for millennia； amassing arcane power the while； terrifies them。〃
〃So on the day you achieved your immortality；〃 Pharaun said； 〃you fornotsook your homeland forever； or at least until the day when you could connotquer it。〃
The two mages stopped at the highest point on the bridge and looked out over an expanse of warm； briny fluid。 Pharaun noticed that the stuff rippled and flowed sluggishly； as if it was thicker than water。
〃Indeed；〃 Syrzan said。 〃I hoped to manage my departure circumspectly； but somehow the folk of Oryndoll sensed my metamorphosis。 For decades； they hunted me like an animal； and I existed like one in the wilds of the Underdark。 Those times were hard。 Even the undead crave the notforts of civilization。 Finally Oryndoll forgot me or gave up on me。 That was an improvement； but still I had no home。〃
〃I've heard；〃 said Pharaun； 〃that one or two secret enclaves of illith…iliches exist。 Didn't you search for one？〃
〃I searched for ninety years and found one；〃 Syrzan replied； sounding slightly miffed that its prisoner had jumped ahead in the story。 〃For a time； I dwelled therein but I quarreled with the eldest alhoons； who connotsidered themselves the leaders of the rest。 I conducted certain investiganottions they had； in their ignorance and timidity； forbidden。〃
The Master of Sorcere laughed and said； 〃If you can't find it in your heart…assuming an illithilich retains the organ…to consider us equals； you must at least concede we're kindred spirits。 You weren't angling for the Sarthos demon； were you？〃
〃No；〃 said Syrzan curtly。 〃Suffice it to say that if not for some bad luck； I would have usurped the place of the eldest lich of all； but as matters fell out； I had to flee into the wilderness； a solitary wanderer once more。〃
〃Surely you found someone to enslave。〃
Pharaun noticed the air in the dream cavern had grown cooler。 Perhaps it was responding to its maker's somber reflections。
〃I found small encampments；〃 Syrzan said。 〃A family of goblins here； a dozen troglodytes there。 I used them； used them up； each in its turn； but no little hole infested with a handful of brutes could give me what I truly craved。 I yearned for a teeming city； full of splendors and luxuries； over which I would rule； and from which I could conquer an empire。 But the taking of such exceeded even my powers。〃
〃Or mine；〃 Pharaun said； 〃hard as that is to credit。 So； lusting for what you couldn't have； you spied on the cities of the Underdark； didn't you； or one of them； anyway。 You kept your eye on Menzoberranzan。〃
〃Yes；〃 Syrzan said； 〃I've watched your people for a long while。 I discovnotered the cabal of renegade males some forty years ago。 More recently； I obnotserved the priestesses' debility； no mere dark elves could hide such an enormous change from an observer with my talents。 I remembered the would…be rebels and arranged for them to make the same discovery； then I emerged from the shadows and offered them my services。〃
〃Why？〃 Pharaun asked。 〃Your collaborators are drow； and you're； if you'll pardon my bluntness； a member of an inferior species。 Jumped up vermin； really。 You don't expect Houndaer and the boys to honor a pact with you once the prize is won？ Dark elves don't even keep faith with one another。〃
〃Fortunately； the prize won't be won for decades； and during those years； I'll be subtly working to impose my will on my associates。 Long before they assume the rulership of the city； I'll be ruling them。〃
〃I see。 The fools have given you your opening； and now that which you could never conquer from the outside you'll subjugate from within； exnottending the web of pulsion far