Extinction

"The same," Noori said. "The tanarukks that harry our southern approaches are his Scoured Legion."

"That leaves but one," Gromph said.

"The one in the middle?the drow," Prath said, clenching his fists. "That's Zhayemd?the bastard from House Agrach Dyrr who betrayed us at the Pillars of Woe."

"His real name is Nimor," Gromph said. "Nimor Imphraezl."

"Is he a wizard?" Julani asked.

"I don't think so," Gromph answered. "Though there is a strong aura of magic about him; I think he's more than he appears to be. And he certainly has enough magical devices. I can detect an aura of magic on his weapons, several items of his clothing, his rings. ."

He paused for a moment, contemplating the two rings the man wore. One Gromph recognized as a protective device, but the other?the slim black ring that seemed no more substantial than a band of shadow?was quite unusual. Gromph had never seen anything quite like it.

Suddenly Gromph realized what it must be. Ever since Triel had told him that Nimor had somehow spirited an assassin into the inner most corridors of House Baenre's great mound, Gromph had been puzzling over how that might have been accomplished.

That black ring on Nimor's finger must be a magical device that conveyed the ability to shadow walk. That would make him a difficult character to corner, indeed. It was a good thing the wizards were striking from a distance, unseen?otherwise Nimor might have just shadow walked away.

Shaking his head, Gromph continued, "Our matron mother has learned that Nimor belongs to an organization known as the Jaezred Chaulssin. Unfortunately we know little about this group, save for its name."

Zoran toyed idly with his wand of wonder, spinning it between his fingers.

"So we know his name. So what?" he asked insolently.

Gromph resisted the urge to fry the boy where he sat.

"A name is power," he said, speaking to the others. "It helps us to define our target. A target that seems to be the lynchpin holding two otherwise unfriendly armies together." He gestured at the figures in the crystal ball. They had not yet come to blows but were still arguing. "Remove the lynchpin?and the alliance will come apart. The duergar and tanarukk will fall upon one another, and victory for Menzoberranzan will be assured."

Julani glanced at Gromph and asked, "What do you suggest?"

"A concerted attack," the archmage answered. "All of us, casting our deadliest spells at once. Nimor will undoubtedly resist hem, but some, certainly, will get through."

Prath rose from his chair, unlacing the lid of a wand case at his belt.

"Are we going to teleport to the cavern?" he asked.

Gromph patted the air, motioning the impetuous young mage back to his seat.

"We don't need to teleport anywhere," he said. "We can cast our spells from here."

Grendan raised a perfect eyebrow and asked, "How?"

"Through this," Gromph said, pointing at the crystal ball. "Since its creation, I've imbued it with a few. . extras, the knowledge of which you must swear to keep secret."

"Ah," Julani said. "So that's why you summoned only House Baenre mages." He placed the tips of curled fingers to his chest, over his heart. "May Lolth's poison consume me, should I divulge whatever I am about to hear."

Gromph stared at each of the mages in turn, and one by one they nodded their agreement and spoke oaths of silence.

"This is not just a scrying device," Gromph told the others. "Once primed, it can be used to cast spells at a particular target?in this case, at Nimor. It will work not only for spelts that can carry as far as the eye can see but also for those that are limited by distance. Now then, which spells are your most potent?"

One by one, the other mages described which spells they would cast. Gromph rejected some suggestions and approved others. When it was Noori's turn, she spread her hands.

"I don't know if my spells will be any use," she said humbly. "They tend to be divinations."

Gromph smiled and said, "On the contrary, Noori, you will contribute the most useful spell of all. In order to use the crystal ball, we must first cast a spell that will pinpoint the individual we wish to attack. Which is where you come in. Please cast a location spell on the drow."

With a slight bow that didn't quite hide her smile, Noori rose to her feet. She pulled a scrap of fur from her pocket and used it to polish the crystal ball. As she did, Nimor loomed larger inside the crystal ball, his face and chest filling it.

At a nod from Gromph, Noori resumed her seat. As she did, Gromph thought he saw Nimor follow her with his eyes. Had the drow sensed that someone was scrying him and glanced around in an effort to locate the source? Little matter; soon enough he'd be ducking spells.

Gromph pulled a pinch of sand out of a pocket of his piwafwi and flicked it into the air in front of him, chanting the words of a minor creation spell. A tiny hourglass appeared on top of the eagle's cage, and the sand inside its uppermost globe began trickling away.