<em>Menzoberranzan, also known as the City of Spiders, is a city of drow.  At least twenty thousand, drow elves inhabit the city, along with their slaves of goblins, ogres, kobolds, and many other creatures.  But one of the most impressive things aside from their know cruelty, is the training Academy that every drow in the city must attend.  Warrior, wizard, or priestess...they all go there to learn their art, and unlike other elves who take their long life spans at a more relaxing pace... the Academy is anything but relaxing.  Be it the "mere" ten years that a warrior spends there to the much longer fifty years the drow clergy dedicate, it is all devoted to the learning, betterment, and some may say perfection of their art.<br/><br/>Tier Breche was the name of the plateau, upon which the Academy grounds were built, but at times the Academy was referred to as Tier Breche; however more often than not it was simply just referred to as the Academy or was referred to by the individual schools, themselves.<br/><br/>The year is 1300 DR, three years after the birth of the to become legendary, Drizzt Do'Urden.  His family, still is in some of its "best" of times.  The city political structure aside from the recent destruction of House DeVir by House Do'Urden has remained relatively unchanged.  But something just doesn't seem right.... something just hasn't sat right for the past couple of decades.  Could it be, just preemptive "visions" of something as "simple" as perhaps what is to become of Drizzt Do'Urden?  <br/><br/>Or is it something else, something that if ignored would cause great disaster for perhaps the entire city?  Or perhaps cause even greater chaos than that....</em><br/><br/><span class="bbc_u"><strong>New Beginnings - 1300 DR</strong></span><br/><br/>The lingering heat began to fade slowly from Narbondel, another day in Menzoberranzan was ending…  Matron Mistress Triel Baerne, paced impatiently sputtering curses under her breath, for the coming day would bring yet more new acolytes to Arach-Tinilith.<br/><br/>While Triel’s loyalty to Lolth was unquestionable, it was these miserable, undeserving, poor excuses for….<br/><br/>There was a sudden knock at her door, disturbing her train of thought.<br/><br/>“What is it?!” Triel snapped.<br/><br/>“Sorry to disturb you, Matron Mistress… but Matron Baerne has sent word for you.” Mistress Iraeuitna said.<br/><br/>“Very well.  Mistress Iraeuitna, see that the new acolytes get ‘welcomed’ properly.” Triel replied.<br/><br/>“Yes, Matron Mistress.” Mistress Iraeuitna replied, before turning to prepare for ‘welcoming’ the new acolytes.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Meanwhile, Gromph approached the base of Narbondel, as the last of the lingering heat faded away.  It was midnight…the so called “Black Death of Narbondel”.<br/><br/>Sighing slightly, he raised his arms as he muttered the words to bring forth the lingering heat to Narbondel.<br/><br/>“<em>Sila ssussun dal oloth</em>!” Gromph said, bringing forth the arcane power from a brooch on his robe.  The magical energies gathered around and between his hands, then channeled into Narbondel.  A new day in Menzoberranzan had begun…<br/><br/>Gromph turned to return to Sorcere, but raised his eyebrows as he saw all of the new “students” walking up the steps of Tier Breche.<br/><br/><em>Wonderful……more new 'students'.  As if some of the ones in Sorcere aren’t bad enough…</em>Rolling his eyes, the Archmage started to make his way back to Sorcere.<br/><br/><hr/><br/><em>Tier Breche, a small side cavern off the main city cavern and highest point in the city of Menzoberranzan.  Three school complexes stand within the cavern, which are carved from stalagmites and rock.  Melee-Magthere, shaped like a pyramid, is located in the east.  Sorcere, a many-spired tower, is located near the western wall.  Arach-Tinilith, a spider-shaped complex and the largest of the three schools, both in terms of physical and numerical size, is located at the north of the cavern.  <br/><br/>A large staircase connects Tier Breche with the main city cavern, at the top of which stand two large spider statues, one on either side.  Two sentries, generally former students of Melee-Magthere, stand guard at the twin spider statues.</em><br/><br/><span class="bbc_u"><strong>Tier Breche - The Academy</strong></span><br/><br/><strong>The Gathering Crowd</strong><br/>Location: At the stairway leading to and the plateau of the Academy itself<br/><br/>"All right, listen up!" Master Sergeant Relonor Horlbar yelled, over the gathering crowd of new students.  "Warriors, front and center by Master Taleeryn Symryvvin.  Wizards, you go with Master Sabal Hunzrin.  Acolytes, you will follow Mistress Iraeuitna Mizzrym."<br/><br/>Master Sergeant Relonor stepped back to watch the dispersing crowds as they scurried to fill their designated ranks.  The Master Sergeant gave Gromph a small nod, as he saw the Archmage walking past the crowd and towards Sorcere.<br/><br/><em>DM Note: As per pre-game discussion "Warriors" includes fighters, rogues, ToB classes, swashbucklers, barbarians, etc.</em><br/><br/><strong>Faith, Devotion, and the Will of Lolth</strong><br/>Location: Arach-Tinilith, minor summoning chamber<br/><br/><em>A small brazier sat in the middle of the circle shaped room, with an incense burning in it, that seemed to dull one's senses and yet give one an almost sensuous feel at the same time.  The acolytes sat gathered around the room in a circle around the brazier.  Mistress Haelra Kenafin, stood near the brazier at the center of the room.</em><br/><br/>Mistress Haelra Kenafin looked at Ameesril Xorlarrin, "Acolyte Ameesril, I want you to summon a fiendish spider.  Show your devotion to Lolth, and see if the Spider Queen will grant your request!"<br/><br/><em>Game Mechanic: Please Make a DC 15 Spellcraft and a DC 20 Concentration Roll.  Neither may be made using the Take 10 rule.; If you have the Summon Monster II spell available (and prepared/prayed for, etc.), you can just cast it and "impress" Mistress Haelra.</em><br/><br/><strong>Great Balls of Fire</strong><br/>Location: Sorcere, Evocation studies<br/><br/><em>Because of how Master Jevan tended to teach, the room was rather open.  It was almost theater or arena like in design, with Master Jevan having the only desk.  The students all being seated in more of a tiered semi-circle, bench like setting looking down on an open floor, that surrounded Master Jevan's desk.</em><br/><br/>Master Jevan Shobalar glanced around the room, and raised an eyebrow when he saw both Haelen Del'Armgo and Xullim sitting in his class.  While Xullim might have more appreciation for Jevan's art, Haelan on the other hand...still needed to learn.<br/><br/>"And this is why, you never turn your backs on an Evoker." Master Jevan said, before turning towards an empty part of the room and pulling a wand from his robe.  With a quick wave of the wand he sent a fireball that exploded harmlessly just above the students' heads, but still causing the room to suddenly brighten and sting everyone's eyes that was not prepared for the sudden brightness.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>