The Worlds Within

Chapter 2

All save one of the occupants of the temple of Lolth in Lith My’athar watched in astonishment as the hero they were pinning their hopes on strode purposefully and alone through the massive temple doors and out into the city proper. 

“She can not seriously think,” Valen broke the silence, “that she can take on the Underdark alone and survive.” 

The Seer smiled enigmatically, knowing that it would be best to allow all to have their say. 

Nathyrra turned to the Seer, a look of confusion mixed with concern on her face.  “I had not thought her a fool, Mother Seer.” 

The Drow fighter whose command to fulfill her destiny seemingly had sent the human cleric, Hypatia on her rash quest also spoke up.  “It was not my intention that she go alone.” 

The Seer nodded slowly.  “Hypatia is what she is because of the way she approaches things.  Rest assured that she follows the leading of her own goddess as resolutely as I follow Lady Eilistraee.” 

Valen frowned thoughtfully, “You had a vision?” 

Smiling the Seer nodded once more.  “She will return before the day is over.  What she will do, and learn now, though, will be of utmost import when the army of the Valsharess marches against us.” 

“Do you know what that will be?” Nathyrra was bold enough to ask. 

The Seer shook her head answering, “No, I do not.  The only thing I know for sure is that Hypatia will make a decision she is not happy about, but will do it for the sake of us all. Her gift is, in it’s own way, powerful.” 

Hypatia stood on the steps of the temple of Lolth and looked out over Lith My’athar.  It wasn’t much of a city.  Before she got busy looking around though she needed to get a feel for the place.  So she stood on the steps of the temple and, closing her eyes, opened her heart to the inhabitants of Lith My’athar.  She was nearly brought to her knees by the overwhelming sense of evil and violence.  Treachery and deceit were a way of life.  They seemed filled with a sense of hopeless futility.   She could almost locate the Seer’s followers by the sensations of determination and calm faith they had, they were like islands in a swirling sea of corruption.  With a shudder Hypatia closed her heart to the Drow.  

It had what looked to be a small port of sorts.  She could see glinting reflections off dark water.  Her curiosity blazed as she peered into the darkness trying to make out details from the inky black water of a large underground…what?  River or sea? 

High above her the uneven ceiling of the cavern was illuminated by some kind of phosphorescence so she wasn’t in utter darkness.  Impossibly huge stalactites dropped down from high above her some ending in hanging points, others meeting giant stalagmites that reached up from the floor of the cavern.  Where these natural pillars were large enough, the cunning Drow had carved out houses and other buildings, like, she realized stepping down and away from the entryway, the temple she had just left. 

Near the docks Commander Imloth was instructing some Drow archers, using the lightweight cross bows the Drow were reputed to prefer.  Hypatia made a mental note of this for she felt that speaking to the Commander might prove fruitful. 

To her left was an open market of sorts and to her right was a large carved structure similar in form to the temple at her back, but much larger.  Her unique vision kicked in as she turned to assess the structure and she knew that it was the public house of the Drow family Maeviir.  She also felt a weight of importance in that direction.  Accustomed to trusting such feelings, she made that her first destination. 

She traversed the short distance between the temple and the arched doors of the common house.  With a certain amount of trepidation she entered and found herself standing in an elaborately carved and inlaid entry hall.  

A Drow male, whose rank and station were unknown to her brushed past then paused to sneer with obvious distaste, “Once this is all over Matron Mother will deal with the Seer and her refugees.” 

Hypatia turned to look at him with an eyebrow raised.  

Unimpressed, the Drow sniffed dismissively and proceeded out the door. 

Well now, this is certainly interesting, Hypatia thought with a frown.  It seems some of the Seer’s allies are reluctant at best.  With a troubled expression she proceeded farther into the great house.  

At the end of the hall opened out a huge central room.  It was lovely—well, except for the blood stained altar in the right front corner.  There were two fountains that filled the room with a fresh scent and the soft sound of flowing water.  Also were two large columns carved into openwork cages, within which were mounted enormous crystals that gave off some kind of magical, reddish tinged, light. 

Her eyes were drawn to a small cluster of Drow standing near the larger of the two fountains.  Again she felt the weight of their importance, and more specifically the female. 

She studied them for a moment longer before deliberately approaching the group from such an angle as to face one of the males first.  He was a soldier and obviously the bodyguard of the nearby female.  As she approached he fixed her with a steely gaze analyzing the threat she might represent.  His voice was as cold as his gaze when he spoke.  “You may speak to the exalted Daughter Zesyyr, but don’t try anything.  We won’t let anything happen to the heir of House Maeviir. 

Oh ho, Hypatia thought, this is getting more and more interesting.  The heir of House Maeviir is she?  Why ever would she be in a common house and not the main tower?  And shouldn’t it be heiress? 

Hypatia took a moment to study the Drow female, who though young looking had a regal bearing about her.  

Noting Hypatia’s interest the female deigned to speak to her.  “So you are the rivvil the Seer had put her faith in?  Hypatia isn’t it?  My name is Zesyyr only daughter and sole surviving heir to Matron Myrune of House Maeviir.”  She paused for a moment to consider her next words and size Hypatia up.  “I was hoping you would come to see me, Hypatia.  I have an offer for you, but it would draw too much attention if I had sought you out.  Since you’ve stumbled over to me…” 

Hypatia listened with growing horror as Zesyyr quickly explained her desire to seize control of House Maeviir thus establishing her own power and position.  

She wants me to kill her own mother!  Hypatia could scarce believe her ears. 

Taking note of the expression mirrored in Hypatia’s emerald eyes Zesyyr changed her tactics.  “Thus it has ever been with the Drow, Hypatia.  My mother knows that I plot against her, just as she plotted against her own mother.  Matron Myrune will betray your Seer.  She does not believe we can defeat the Valsharess.  Her ambition is dead and she would rather live, and serve the Valsharess, than die.  I still have my ambition and would bend knee to no one.” 

“I can not be party to this.”  Hypatia’s voice betrayed her shock.  

“If you change your mind, you know where to find me.”  With those words Zesyyr dismissed her. 

Hypatia left the Maeviir common house shaken.  Her sense of whom or what was important to her quest had never steered her wrong before.  I know, she sent the silent prayer out into the darkness, that you do not expect me to turn amateur assassin. So why did you lead me in that direction?  No answers were forthcoming; however, and she moved to continue with her tour of Lith My’athar. 

Looking around she noticed an obelisk carved with runes.  Curious she made her way over to it and studied it.  Alas her knowledge of the Drow language was such that she couldn’t even tell if the runes were Drow, or some other Underdark language.  She wished she had the leisure to learn the language of the dark elves.  With a shrug for her lack of knowledge she turned.  

To her left Commander Imloth was training some Drow in the use of swordsmanship.  On her way over to the training grounds she passed by a Drow female who, upon meeting her gaze told her, “Once House Maeviir was as great as any in Menzoberranzan.  Now we have fallen on hard times.”

Morale is quite low among the Drow of Lith My'athar, Hypatia realized.  She paused for a moment, somewhat overwhelmed by the enormity of the task before her.  Weaken the Valsharess, somehow.  Strengthen the Seer's forces, somehow.  Getting the morale of the Drow here up, giving them hope would be a good step in the right direction, but how?  I'm not even one of them.  Why should they believe in me?  How can I convince them?

Hypatia pondered these questions as she slowly approached Commander Imloth.

The Drow Commander exuded patience and understanding.  The enchanted dire mace he held easily at the ready told the tale of a seasoned fighter.  Excusing himself from the practicing archers and swordsmen he gave her a brisk salute.

“Commander Imloth at your service.” He introduced himself to her.  “Is there anything you need Hypatia?  I’m pretty busy training my troops, but I can spare a few moments if it’ll help you against the Valsharess and her followers.” 

“Tell me about yourself, Commander.”  Hypatia looked at him while he was talking.  The emotions that swirled around him in a graceful dance were unlike those that surrounded most Drow.  He was confident in his own skill and in the abilities of the Seer and her followers. His loyalty and devotion to the Seer were without question and there was something else too, but she couldn’t pin it down. 

The Commander was a surprised by her question, but answered anyway.  “There’s not much to tell, really.  As you can see, I am one of the Drow.  Like most here, I spent my early years as part of Drow society:  A savage world of cruel and senseless violence.  I distinguished myself in battle, and the Matron Mother of my house elevated me to a position of prominence in her army.  But despite my success, I knew something was wrong with my life. 

We Drow are a corrupt people, our own evil consumes us, it devours us.” 

He’s honest.  Hypatia was a bit taken aback by his account, which spared neither his people nor himself. 

Commander Imloth was not done; however, and Hypatia listened closely to his tale.  “I knew I had to escape,” he continued.  “I fled Drow society, searching for the Followers of Eilistraee, hoping to find a better way.” 

So that’s who the Seer follows. Hypatia tucked that bit of information away for examination later. 

“In time my search brought me here to the Seer,” The Commander paused for a moment before finishing his story.  “Now I use my experience to train others so they can help in the fight against the Valsharess and her army.” 

Sweet merciful heavens! Hypatia suddenly realized what it was that she was seeing in Imloth that she’d been having difficulty pinning down.  He’s in love with the Seer!  Does she know?    No, no I am not going to meddle.  

With an effort Hypatia turned her thoughts back to the task at hand.  “Can you tell me about the army of the Valsharess?” 

The Commander nodded in approval of her question.  “The Valsharess commands a massive army, and it’s not just the Drow who follow her.  She’s recruited all sorts of Underdark creatures to her cause:  Beholders, Illithid, and even the undead.  

Eeek, thought Hypatia.  This is going to be quite a battle.  “Thank you Commander Imloth.” 

The Commander gave her another brisk salute before turning back to his troops. 

Deep in thought, Hypatia wandered over toward a booth where a Drow she presumed was a merchant was watching her with interest.  When she was near he spoke up. “The Valsharess has cut off our supply lines and our trade routes. We are all doomed.” 

Hypatia frowned deeply at him then turned.  She needed to find someplace where she could think.  Looking around critically she finally decided upon a spot between Commander Imloth’s training grounds and the rune covered obelisk.  There she stood and looked back at Lith My’athar.  Anyone watching might imagine that she was trying to see the city’s strengths and weaknesses.  In truth she was using her most blessed gift.  

Each decision, whether it be to act or not to act led through paths of probability.  Some paths were set upon by seemingly small actions or inactions.  Some paths crossed other paths, places in time where an outcome could be influenced by more than one action.  Where a course could be charted or changed.  Some outcomes were so unlikely that they appeared to Hypatia as ghosts of paths.  It was her gift to be able to see the lines of probability and follow them to their outcomes.  Like following a maze she was able to trace the twists and turns an action could cause and see its ultimate result.  While there was always the possibility that she might not survive any given battle or encounter, it served no purpose to look at the paths that ended in such outcomes.  So she passed over the numerous probabilities that ended in her demise. 

Hypatia was determined that the threat of the Valsharess was to be ended.  She also determined that the Seer and as many of her followers as could be protected, should survive the coming battle.  To that end she searched the lines of probability for the one that would give her the greatest opportunity for success. 

Deeper and deeper she fell into her gift, blanking out every thing that might distract her from her search.  The noise of the troops training, the sounds of Lith My’athar, she shut out.  Her own fears she banished.  In utter isolation she sought the answers she needed. 

She looked at what order she should approach the allies of the Valsharess and it made no difference whether she eliminated the Undead hordes or the Beholders first.  The outcome in that case was the same.  She turned her thoughts to the Illithid.  Imloth had told her of the colony called Zovak Mur to the west of Lith My’athar, ruled by an overmind of the same name.  He thought bargaining with them would be the best way to proceed, but how she hated the Mind Flayers.  She looked at the twisting line of bargaining with them to convince them not to fight beside the Valsharess, as well as just destroying the Zovak Mur overmind.  While there were vastly different outcomes, neither impacted the Seer and her battle against the army of the Valsharess in the way that Hypatia was looking for.  There had to be something she was missing.  Something more. 

What could it be then?  Could the decision, the action, already have been made?  Is it something I’ve already done or not done? 

With determination Hypatia went back to the one other thing she had encountered during her brief time in the Underdark:  Zesyyr’s request. 

To her surprise two probabilities were very prominent.  In one Matron Myrune lived and as Zesyyr had warned, betrayed the Seer during the battle with the Valsharess.  With her generals directing the battle, the Seer was woefully unprotected when the Drow of House Maeviir turned against her.  With enemies inside the temple, those outside Lith My’athar were able to breach the gates and swarm in.  Though the Seer survived, it was only to fall captive to a vengeful Valsharess.  Hypatia, herself fell to a well placed poisoned bolt while she was trying to get to the Seer’s side to protect her. 

The other probability, Zesyyr was Matron Mother and the Drow of Lith My’athar stood firm beside the Seer.  Beyond that Hypatia could not see in that line.  For though she could follow the most probable outcome based upon what was known, she could not see beyond the point where other actions became so important to the line that it dissolved into the mists of time, unknown and unknowable without knowledge of what such other actions might be.  

Distressed, and exhausted Hypatia sank to her knees and prayed.  She prayed fervently until the last of her strength was gone.  Then utterly spent she removed her pack and fished out some bread and wine to refresh herself with.  Looking at the potentialities always drained her, though fortunately with a brief rest and some food she was able to recover.  She ate slowly, giving her body the time it needed to fully recover.  

The bread was less than satisfactory and she knew that what she craved, always after such an exercise, was fruit and water.  She pulled out a modest parcel of dried fruits she had been hording since she had decided to answer the call from Waterdeep.  With a wistful sigh she put the parcel back in her pack.  She didn’t yet know how long she would be in the Underdark, and she didn’t know when she might need the fruits more than she did now. 

It did not take long for her distress to turn to anger.  She did not like being used, she especially did not like being maneuvered into doing things she found distasteful.  So it was in a decidedly disgruntled state of mind that she slowly made her way back to the common house of Maeviir and the awaiting Zesyyr.   

Bearing Zesyyr’s signet ring, Hypatia stood for a long moment and looked up at the craftsmanship of the Tower Maeviir.  With a deep breath she began casting.  She knew that the Drow were fierce warriors and she was walking into a very dangerous situation.  She cast spells to aid her in the coming battle, though, after a moments thought she decided not to use any of her spells that would aid more than one person in a battle.  She might need those later. 

Once done she approached the guard and after he told her that Matron Myrune was seeing no visitors, she showed him Zesyyr’s ring.  

The guard suddenly seemed quite nervous, “Zesyyr gave you that?  She is ready to move now?”  He glanced from side to side trying to see if anyone was watching.  “Some of the guards inside are still loyal to Matron Myrune.” 

There are guards that aren’t?  It’s the woman’s own home for pity’s sake.  Hypatia couldn’t stop her thoughts from running rampant. 

Unaware of her mental wanderings the guard continued, “Others are wavering between her and Zesyyr.  Those one’s won’t fight you, but they won’t help you either.  Hurry, go inside and we’ll summon Matron Myrune.  If you act quickly you can probably kill her and Captain Tebimar before they realize what’s going on.” 

With a heavy sigh Hypatia entered the tower.  Once inside she waited for Matron Myrune.  All too soon the Matron entered the main hall with a fierce looking Drow warrior by her side.  Behind them were two other guards. 

“What is going on here?”  Demanded the Matron in an imperious voice.  “I told them I wanted no visitors.”

Though it had been Hypatia’s intention to strike at the first opportunity she found words flying from her lips as she charged the Matron her two katana gleaming in the dim light.  “Zesyyr sent me to kill you!” 

The Warrior by the Matron’s side was quick to meet the threat, but Hypatia ignored him, focusing on the woman who was starting to cast a spell.  

In her mind came the advice of her Aunt Yzma, if you have to fight a group within which there is a mage, take out the magic user first.  Do not let them cast.  Having become a divine spell caster herself she knew the truth of those words.  

She cried out as the apparently enchanted weapon of the Drow bodyguard bit deeply into her, but was not deflected from her path.  The twin Katana danced in a deadly harmony and the Matron Mother fell to their graceful movements. 

Turning, Hypatia realized that she still had three opponents to go.  The one with the Enchanted weapon was by far the most likely to kill her if she didn’t do something about him.  She turned to face him and took another hit, fortunately the spells she’d cast earlier were still with her.  

Luck was with her though as her next swing with her enchanted blade stunned the fierce warrior.  Quickly she finished him and turned to the other two, who after seeing the bodyguard fall, turned and fled. 

The deed was done and Hypatia stood outside the Maeviir Tower, holding the scythe of the vanquished Tebimar, the late Matron Myrune’s bodyguard.  She was tired, wounded and angry.  Heavens how she hated necessary evils, and whatever had possessed her to demand more from Zesyyr?

The tone of her casting was harsh enough to catch the attention of a small group of nearby Drow, though they calmed somewhat when the light of the healing spell enveloped her. 

Noticing some more Drow practicing for the coming battle, Hypatia strode purposefully over to their commander.  She would see what he had to say about the pending battle.  To her surprise he seemed hopeful that House Maeviir would return to it’s former glory now that Zesyyr was in charge.  On impulse Hypatia gave him the enchanted scythe.  His stunned gratitude greatly improved her mood. 

Pausing to speak to more Drow as she passed them, Hypatia was surprised by two things.  The first one being how quickly news of what she’d done had spread, Even in Drogan’s school news didn’t travel this quickly.  Ah, Drogan, what would you think if you’d seen what I just did?  

With a determined shake of her head, Hypatia refused to dwell on the past. Rather she turned her mind to the second thing that surprised her.  The Drow of House Maeviir seemed to be much more hopeful, to have a sense of purpose that they had lacked before she’d defeated Matron Myrune. 

Cimmera, once told me that faith, regardless of in whom it is placed, is at least as important as raw skill or power, she thought of her twin as yet another Drow told her that he expected House Maeviir to return to its former glory now that Zesyyr was in charge. 

Hypatia mentally reviewed her remaining spells and after deciding that she was still carrying a sufficient spell load, made her way back to the temple, pausing on the way to break up a brewing fight between some Drow of House Maeviir and some of the Seer’s followers. 

Once inside the temple Hypatia was going to ask Nathyrra to assist her, but found herself drawn to the red haired warrior, Valen.  Again trusting her instincts she approached him. 

“You said you could help me?”

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