A/N: Yay first story :) asked for the disclaimer if i owned any of the original ideas of the races and complex social structures shown in this story do you really think i would be on hear in the first place?

Chapter 1
Master and Apprentice

For most people in the Under-dark it was just another day but for a young sorcerer and his master it was anything but. It had been nearly a week since the robes and charms had mysteriously appeared before he and his master, but it was his master who worried him. His master who had often found a lesson to teach him every five minutes had remained silent ever since. The only time he spoke now was to answer a question or give an order, and even then words were kept to a minimum.
"Master, please say something." said the younger of the pair.
"And what would you have me say Arëm?" his master countered.
"Anything!" came rather loud reply
"Hush, boy! Do you wish to alert the hook horrors to our location?"
"Forgive me master, but the silence from you these past few days is driving me to drink!" exclaimed Arem in a hushed tone.
The old wizard looked down upon his charge with a sympathetic expression. One wouldn't think to look at the the man but he was very nearly 3 hundred years old. However, his magic kept him alive, and looking more around the age of a 60 year old human male. Arem was a unique case himself. He was a Drow, but unlike others of his kind, his eyes were mis-matching. One was the usual crimson blood red, were as the other was beautiful cerulean blue. his House, who ever they were, did not appreciate the notion of 'imperfection' in the servants to Lolth. And so sold him into slavery at a young age. Sensing a keen wit in the boy, the old wizard bought him at market and was not disappointed to find that his purchase had a knack for the mystic arts. it had been over two decades since then and Arem had flourished as, not only as a sorcerer with a natural pull towards magic, but also as a warrior. Using his speed and reflexes to his advantage there were few who could stand against him in single combat.
"Forgive me Arem," said the wizard in an exasperated manner " I've just had allot to think about these past few days."
"Master Tolãs," Arem countered using the wizards name to show how serious he was.
"I am aware that I am young, and still have much to learn. However, there is something to be said for all these years we've been together. is there not?"
Tolas just shook his head at his young ward. after so long around the wizened old man, Arem sounded more Human then Drow.
"Yes I suppose there is, but not here." so said the old man removing a small door from one of his many pockets.
Placing it on one of the Cavern walls, the two watched as it grew to just large enough for a man to walk through. Tolas then opened the door to reveal a beautiful entry hall. the two clearly felt at home here as they allowed their traveling cloaks to be taken by the unseen servants that dwelt within the home. Tolas lead the way into his private study, which was filled to the brim with all manner of protective charm, anti-spay charm, and what-not. it was arguably the safest place in the whole of the Under-dark.
"Now then," said the elder of the two gesturing to a chair for his charge to sit in.
"You will remember, of course, that my reason for living in the Under-dark is due to a curse that was placed on me before you were born."
"Yes master you have told me this many times, how the spell will kill you if you ever enter direct sunlight-"
"Yes my Apprentice, but I never told you why I was cursed now did I?" when all Tolas received was silence he continued.
"You see, I was quite ambitious in my younger years. I dare say I would have give most Drow a run for their money in that regard," he said reminiscing a bit "I fell in league with a religious group. more fanatical plotters then anything, but when your young you tend not to care. They worshiped a god known as Tharizdun." at the name the old mans face scrunched up as if he had just gotten a whiff of something rather foul.
" I've never heard of that god." said Arem looking perplexed. his master had never seemed all that ambitious, and avoided the subject of religion all together whenever possible.
"I would be rather surprised if you had. he is the oldest of all the gods to date, but he is also one of the weakest."
"Then how has he survived so long with so few followers and so little power?"
"He was imprisoned by the first gods of our ancestors working together to beat him. good, and evil. He was once the strongest of all, but within his prison there is little he can do."
"Let me guess, his followers want to release him?" Arem questioned
"The fool's that they are. They actually believe they would be rewarded for granting that thing it's freedom."
"Would they not be?"
"Tharizdun is the god of absolute destruction. his goal is to end all existence it's self. those idiots that I once worked with thought that he wanted to destroy the world so he could remake it in his image. but his image is a void, a never ending expanse of nothing. Myself and two others finally realized this and got out while we still could, killing any we thought might have posed a threat."
"What dose this have to do with anything?"
"The three of us had discovered a way to release him from his prison. But, it could only be accomplished in one of two locations, at a specified time. The ritual is very complex and required both Holy and Arcane magic's. The items that appeared yesterday belonged to one of the two I spoke of had stolen the spell map for the ritual and was charged with its destruction. But, the power of Tharizdun is hard to break so he went looking for the answer at castle Eldön."
"You told me about that place. you said there was no greater source of knowledge."
"Indeed there is not, and my old friend found the answer, it was among the items to appear along with the map." he said removing an old dusty scroll and what looked to be a crystal dagger from his robes and placing them on the desk before him.
"If you have the tool to destroy it then why haven't you?"
"Location my boy," said Tolas pinching the bridge of his nose in aggravation. "In the pure irony that is life, in order to destroy the map you have to use this dagger in one of those specified locations at the specified time. The old fool, sending it to me, I can't leave the Under-dark without turning into fertilizer! How am I supposed to destroy the blasted thing!?" so saying Tolas slammed his fist into the table his magic flaring up, causing a few books on the shelf behind him to fall to the ground with a dull 'thud'.
"I could go."
"Out of the question." said Tolas waving off his student.
"And why not?" Asked Arem feeling rather underestimated. he was ranked as one of the top 15 sorcerers in the Under-dark now, yet he always had more to learn. which is why he stayed with Tolas even now. but, he could still hold his own Lolth Damn it!
"You, my friend," Tolas said trying to sound diplomatic "have never been to the world above things are no less dangerous there then they are here. But, the dangers are different. sending you there would be as dangerous as sending a human down here with no experience. you'd be dead in a day."
"Well then why not keep it down here then, until after the appointed date?"
"Won't work either, the map is protected by the power of Tharizdun himself, which his followers can sense. It would only be a matter of time before they found it, and us. Which is just one more reason you shouldn't go."
"Well let me put it to you like this master. What other choice do you have?"
"And now we come to why I have been silent for the past few days."
the two looked at one and another for a moment before Arem let out a sigh and shook his head in aggravation.
"We'll be in the city tomorrow, I can seek counsel there on the situation. For now, let us sleep on it." Said Tolas picking up the scroll and dagger and tucking them away safely on his person once more.
a
"As you wish master." said Arem rising from his seat and turning towards the door.

The next morning after the two had eaten a proper breakfast, they set out once more. With the mystic door tucked safely into Talos's robes. Within six hours they reached the main gates of Menzoberranzan.
"Ah, master Arem! How good to see you again." greeted one of the guards.
It wasn't uncommon for Drow who didn't know them to great Arem and ignore Talos. After all, it wasn't exactly normal for a human to be considered equal to a Drow counterpart. Talos, however, was a unique case, he had groan quite the reputation in the Under-dark higher circles. Enough so, so that most actions that would earn any other human a swift death, were over looked when it came to him. Such as the death of a Drow, committed in self defense of course, but still. Under any other situation the human would most likely have been fed to a demon in the temple of Lolth.
In this case however Arem did know this Guard, not overly well. They had only spent a few nights together the year before when they had last visited Menzoberranzan. It seemed that he had become a fine soldier since they had last met. For a moment Arem contemplated questioning when the guard would be off duty, then pushed the idea to the side. There were more important problems that required his attention before his Libido. So, in response to the greeting Arem settled for a mere nod of acknowledgment. Once they were past the gate, Talos leveled a knowing gaze at Arem.
"What?" said Arem attempting to sound innocent.
"You know perfectly well 'what'." responded Talos shaking his head in amusement "Honestly I can't take you anywhere."
"Are you trying to call me a whore master?" Arem questioned in mock affront
"No, there are two things that set you apart from that title." responded Talos in a sagely manner. "One, you have standards...not many but enough to make good choices. and second," said Talos with a devious grin.
"second?"
"A whore gets paid, you spread 'em for free."
They both laughed at the dry sarcasm that had been so sorely missed during the past few days that lacked conversation. They continued on their way towards Tier-Breche which housed the three schools of the they were at the top of the stairs they were stopped by two male Drow.
"Who go's there?"one questioned. Talos was the one to answer.
"Master Wizard Tolãs, and Master of Sorcere Arëm. We are here to speak with Archmage Alakas-Atar Mizzrym." said Tolas being sure to use the proper language and pronunciation in the Drow dialect. the stairs were always guarded by students from the battle Academy Meele-Magthere in their last year. last year or not, a multilingual soon-to-be-warrior who spoke surface tong as some Drow called it was unheard of.
The two looked at them for a moment before one lifted a horn from his belt and blew, a few seconds later a new Drow appeared, this one clearly a a student at Sorcere.
"What is it I was in the middle of an important experiment, you dolt." said the new comer to the guard who blew the horn.
"Master Wizard Tolãs, and Master of Sorcere Arëm are here to speak with the Archmage Master Tath." answered the Guard as though he hadn't just been insulted.
Tath looked at the two with disdain and pursed his lips at Arem upon seeing his blue eye.
"How do I know your not imposter's?"he questioned, earning a sigh of exhaustion from Tolas
This wasn't the first time this had happened. Tolas was well known as one of te only humans to earn the respect of the Drow. but when it came to Arem things were a bit more complicated. Arem didn't like the spot light. he preferred to watch from the sidelines. true he like his freedom, but that didn't mean he went around the Under-dark flouting his abilities for all to behold. most just new he was Drow, but as soon as they saw his eye they questioned his supposed magical prowess. And therefor Tolas's as well.
"Would you like to do the honors or should I?" Tolas remarked turning to his companion.
"Oh, please alow me. You got the last one." said Arem removing what looked like a cocoon of some sort from one of his many hidden pockets.
Tath raised an eyebrow at the artifact only for his other to join it as the item turned to dust and fell to the ground harmlessly. looking at the two visitors all he saw was a pleased looking Drow with a blue eye. An old human with a calculating smirk and both guards seemed to have lost their composure.
"What did-Oh, Lolth!" so saying he cast a quick mirror charm in the air allowing him to see that his head had been changed to that of an ilithid. long tentacles now hung were his mouth and chin once were and his hair had disappeared to make way for a bulbous membranous like replacement similar to that of an octopus.
"The spell will were off in a minuet, but the fact that I was able to Pierce those flimsy attempts you call wards and curse you should be enough proof that we are who we say." said Arem looking smug. He never missed a chance to knock a royal regal ass down a few pegs.
True to his word, the spell began to were off showing an astounded looking Tath, who simply swallowed a lump in his throat and gestured for them to follow him. He led the two to the left, past the Arachnid form of Aranch-Tinilith to the Tower of Sorcere. no sooner had they reached the door then a certain Archmage drop down with a wave.
"Tolas, Arem, has it truly been a year already?"
"Alak,"greated Tolas with a grin and a small bow.
"Master Alakas." said Arem with a large feral grin and a deep bow.
Alakas-Atar Mizzrym was not your typical Drow. He wore his mask well. to the rest of the under-dark, save a few, the Archmage was a cruel merciless master of magic with no emotion. to Tolas and Arem, along with a few others, he was one of the kindest souls you could ever hope to meet. he was the first Mizzrym to ever hold the office since it usually went to the top two houses of Menzoberanzan, House Baenre, and House Del'Armgo. but it seemed even a smaller House could produce true power. the last Archmage had been a Baenre, who was unwilling to give up his position. He lasted all of five minuet's in a duel with Alakas. So if anyone could help them with there little map problem. It would more then likely be him.
During this whole exchange Tath was standing by dumbfounded. The Archmage was the most powerful male in the whole city. yet he spoke to these two as equals. something that the young sorcerer had never even heard of since first arriving at sorcere. Whilst Tolas engaged in a conversation with the Archmage in a language he had never heard, Arem turned to him. Deciding to take mercy on the young Noble.
"So, Tath was it? What house do you belong to?" It took Tath a moment to realize he was being spoken to before answering.
"F-Fey-Branche." he finally managed to get out, then scolded himself for sounding like a pathetic first year.
"Huh, I think that's one of the only houses that hasn't given me an offer."
"Offer? Do you mean to tell me you don't belong to a house master Arem?" Tath questioned.
It wasn't unheard of for a Nobel House to offer an induction or 'adoption' to commoners if they showed promise. However Arem spoke of 'offer's'. which would imply more then one. Which also meant he had turned some down. if he did belong to a House, it would have to be equal in power to the first House of their city, House Baenre. That is, if it wasn't Baenre it's self.
"No I don't. Tolas and I are considered Traveling Citizens of Sshamath. Which Doesn't have a house system like here." Arem answered honestly.
Sshamath was a city in the control of males, due to a massive increase in male births and recent discoveries in ancient magical ruins near it's location. If you asked a Priestess about it you'd get whipped on the spot. The females never liked to be reminded of when they have lost something.
"I've read about Sshamath, I'd kill to be able to see it."
"Don't let them hear that." Arem replied gesturing towards Aranch-Tinilith where a priestess was 'disciplining' a trainee.
Tath looked over then back to Arem who was outrightly sneering at the scene. Tath was beginning to question his sanity when a random voice called out to them.
"OI, Arem! You come for a visit and you don't come to say Hello?" said a very buff and scarred Drow male walking past the scene that Arem had been sneering at.
this attracted the attention of the priestess who sent her younger away then followed the other. Tath grew pale when he finally realized who the two were. Orgallyn Melarn, Arm's Master of Meele-Magthere, and Alyara Baenre High Priestess of Lolth and Head Mistress of Aranch-Tinilith. She was also next in line for the title Matron Mother Baenre, who was basically queen of the city in all but name. After all, who's going to challenge a House with a military Force Three times bigger then anyone else's The fact that they both seemingly knew Arem, and at least Arm's Master Orgallyn was seemingly friendly with him raised a question. Just what kind of People were Tolas and Arem to receive this kind of attention?