"I recognize those fine fabrics resting upon you; Menzoberranzan white spiders, if I'm not mistaken?" Rizzid said, not detecting Zelara's rhetorical question.  "Rizzid, no House.  I come straight from the Crafter's Ward.  Apologies for my forwardness, but I just love to see the blending of the supernal and material in all things.  Every silk upon my flesh, even these glasses you see, were made by my own hands."<br/><br/>"And I'm Lenora, of House Driggli," the other girl said.  "No introduction necessary on my part."<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Driggli</div><div class="spoiler_body">House Driggli controls the southernmost cities of Undrek'Thoz.  The 200 or so Kuo-Toa workers see fit to raise cave fish and various kinds of moss in the water pools, which Driggli funnels throughout the rest of the city and beyond for valuable material components for water-based magic.</div></div><br/>The central pillar lit up again.<br/><br/>"Welcome to the Spider Queen's Blessed Training Center!" a booming voice called out.  Prospects, turn your attention to the messenger!"<br/><br/>As though signalling their attention, a long-haired woman materialized on a podium.  Zelara could detect a strong spell surrounding her:<em>globe of invulnerability.</em><br/><br/>(http://i.imgur.com/RKQBhsd.jpg?1)<br/><br/>"I am Professor Moconnu, Overseer of Abjuration at the Eightfold Academy.  Each of these towers contains living arrangements for those who can prove themselves.  All you have to do is walk to the tower of your choice and make your way inside."<br/><br/>She began to cast a spell, one requiring no verbal component, freeing up her speech.<br/><br/>"And if you can't even manage that, then the Academy has no need for such failures.  For those who pass, I look forward to blessing you with Lolth's teachings."<br/><br/>And with that, she vanished.<br/><br/>Already there were folk rushing across the web-bridges, others holding back and reflecting upon the Professor's words.<br/><br/>Lenora and Rizzid held back.<br/><br/>"Idiots," Lenora said as she looked upon the southeast tower's bridge coming to life and wrapping up a dozen victims in its grasp.  "But if we don't move at all, our journey's already over."<br/><br/>Rizzid looked around for a bit, then smiled.  "Direct north is a bridge are where the traps are thinnest, the west one's too flimsy to hold even a goblin crossing it."<br/><br/>She then began to move, only to notice Lenora still standing.  "If you don't trust me, I'll walk across myself."<br/><br/>"You would do well not to trust her," came a voice belonging to a drow dressed in strange attire.<br/><br/>(http://i.imgur.com/m3FGDW2.jpg?1)<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Knowledge Local DC 8</div><div class="spoiler_body">Ah, it's Sinley, the favored daughter of House Sircem.  Warrior-monks and shadowdancers, and not too shabby in the magical department either.  They are a rising star in the Undrek'Thoz power structure.  Rumors claim they've been edging in on House Dreth's holdings recently, or at least their front companies and "neutral" parties.<br/><br/>Apparently the clothing choice is a foreign thing.</div></div><br/>"And you instead?" Rizzid asked indignantly.<br/><br/>"She's just a commoner," Sinley replied.  "And an initiate to boot.  She does not possess the Gift, so she's either a fool or a liar in her estimations of the defenses."<br/><br/>"In spite of her...behavior, I know her better than a stranger in the shadows," Lenora replied.  "Run along now and leave us be."<br/><br/>Rizzid smiled as her partner-of-sorts brushed off the drow in strange attire.  "Come on ladies, we have a tower to claim."<br/><br/>Sinley replied with only a glare before turning to make her way to the southern tower with a small crew of blade-wielding mages.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Choices, Choices</div><div class="spoiler_body">Although I think I know the answer, Zelara can choose any of the towers herself, following either Lenora/Rizzid, Sinley's crew, or another option.  The trial remains the same due to <em>Plot Power.</em></div></div><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">A Tower to Claim</span></span></div><br/>Rizzid's warning came true, as the western web-bridge fell apart in the center when about fifteen students crossed.  A few were quick enough to ready a<em>feather fall</em>or<em>spider climb</em>spell to catch their descent, but just as many had no means to save themselves, a few hanging on for dear life on the bridges' tattered remains.<br/><br/>The bridge Zelara took was safe enough, although by the time her feet touched the ground on the opposite side a huge metal plate (16 feet in diameter) rose up out of the ground, floating and blocking her progress, its movements in lock-step with hers.  Several others rose up to block the other drow, all forming a half-circle shielding them from the tower.<br/><br/><em>Zelara has several means at her disposal to outmaneuver the magic shield.</em><br/><br/><strong>Dispel Magic:</strong>A targeted dispel vs. DC 14 renders the shield inanimate.<br/><br/><strong>Sheer Terror:</strong>A DC 22 Intimidate check means that Zelara's so frightening that the shield edges away, falling over to allow her entry.<br/><br/><strong>Distraction:</strong>In conjunction with a<em>deeper darkness</em>and a DC 15 Bluff, Zelara can cause a fellow drow to collide with her shield, refocusing its attention on the "closer" intruder.  This is likely to earn the ire of said drow, which may cause something to happen in the future.<br/><br/><strong>Noble Schooling:</strong>Zelara understands that the shields' magic runes are the symbols for<em>"miet,"</em>or "same movement."  Zelara can use her rapier or another sharp implement to deface the symbol (attack roll vs. AC 13) and turn it into one for<em>"biet,"</em>or "no movement."<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Failure</div><div class="spoiler_body">Should Zelara fail, she can try another route.  If she fails three times in a row, Lenora will bail her out.</div></div>