ttle back and forth。〃 Pharaun nodded toward a trio of filthy； bandy…legged creatures with flat faces and sloping brows。 〃They're aquiver with anticipation。 If they're still as giddy after the gathering breaks up； we may want to seek solace for our frustrations in their hairy； misshapen arms。〃
Certain his friend was joking； Ryld snorted 。 。 。 then realized he wasn't quite sure after all。
〃You'd have relations with a goblin！〃
〃A true scholar always seeks new experiences。 Besides； what's the point of being a dark elf； a lord of the Underdark； if you don't exploit the slave races to the utmost？〃
〃Hmm。 I admit they might be no worse than one of those priestesses who demand you grovel and do exactly as you're…〃
〃Hush！〃
The drum had stopped。
〃Something's happening；〃 Pharaun added。
Ryld saw that his friend was correct。 A stir ran through the crowd and they started to shout； 〃Prophet！ Prophet！ Prophet！〃
The master of Melee…Magthere didn't know what he expected to see next； but it certainly wasn't the figure in the nondescript cloak and hood whose upper body appeared above the heads of the crowd。 Perhaps he'd climbed up on a bench or table； or maybe he'd simply levitated； for this 〃Prophet；〃 plainly beloved of the lower orders； appeared to be a handsome drow male。
The Prophet let his followers chant and shout for a minute or so； then he raised his slender hands and gradually they subsided。 Pharaun leaned close to Ryld again。
〃It's possible the fellow's not really one of us；〃 the wizard said。 〃He's wrapped in a glamour somewhat like ours； but his spell makes every obnotserver perceive him in a favorable light。 I imagine the goblins see him as a goblin； the gnolls； as one of their own； and so forth。〃
〃What's inside the illusion？〃
〃I don't know。 The enchantment is peculiar。 I've never encountered anynotthing quite like it。 I can't see through it； but I suspect we're about to learn his intentions。〃
〃My brothers and sisters；〃 the Prophet said。
His voice sparked another round of cheering； and he waited for it to run its course。
〃My brothers and sisters；〃 he repeated。 〃Since the founding of this city； the Menzoberranyr have held our peoples in bondage or in conditions equally degraded。 They work us until we die of exhaustion。 They torture and kill us on a whim。 They condemn us to starve； sicken； and live in squalor。〃
The audience growled its agreement。
〃You witness our misery everywhere you look；〃 the hooded orator connottinued。 〃Yesterday； I walked through Manyfolk。 I saw a hobgoblin girl…child； surely no older than five or six； trying to pick up a scrap of mushroom from the street。 With her teeth！ Her hands wouldn't serve。 Some drow had magically fused them together behind her back so she would live and die a cripple and a freak。〃
The crowd snarled in outrage； even though their races monly ennotgaged in tortures equally cruel； albeit far less varied and imaginative。
〃I walked through Narbondellyn；〃 the Prophet said。 〃I saw an ore； parnotalyzed in some manner； lying on the ground。 A dark elf slit his chest； spread the flaps of skin； cut some ribs with a saw； and whistled his riding lizard over to feed on the still…living thrall's organs。 The drow told a notpanion that he gave the reptile one such meal every tenday to make it a faster racer。〃
The audience howled its wrath。 One female ore； transported with fury； gashed her cheeks and brow with a piece of broken glass。
The Prophet's litany of atrocities ran on and on； and Ryld gradually felt a strange emotion overtaking him。 He knew it couldn't be guilt…no dark elf experienced that ridiculous condition…but perhaps it was a kind of shame； a disgust at the sheer waste and childishness manifest in Menzoberranzan's abuse of its undercreatures and a desire to rectify the situanottion if he could。
The feeling was irrational； of course。 The goblins and their kin existed only to serve the pleasure of the drow； and if you ruined one； you just caught or bought another。 The weapons master gave his head a shake； clearing it； then turned to Pharaun。
Even through his ore mask； the wizard's amusement was apparent。
〃Resolved to mend your wicked ways？〃
〃I gather you feel the influence； too；〃 said Ryld。 〃What's happening？〃
〃The Prophet has magic buttressing his oratory； again； in a sort of connotfiguration I don't quite understand。〃
〃Right； but what's the point of all this bellyaching？'
〃I assume he'll get around to telling us。'
The speaker continued in the same vein a while longer； goading the crowd to the brink of hysteria。
At last he cried； 〃But it does not have to be that way！'
The undercreatures howled； and for a moment；