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han 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； until he pushed the feelings away； Ryld felt his magically induced disgust blaze up into savage bloodlust。
〃We can be avenged！ Repay every injury a thousand fold！ Cast down the drow to be our slaves！ We'll wrap ourselves in silks and cloth…of…gold and make them run naked； feast on succulent viands and feed them garbage！ We'll sack Menzoberranzan； and afterward those of us who wish it will return to our own peoples laden with treasure； while the rest of us rule the cavern as our own！〃
Not likely； thought Ryld。 He turned to say as much to Pharaun； then blinked in surprise。 The wizard looked as if he was taking this diatribe senotriously。
〃They're just venting their resentment in the form of a fantasy；〃 the warnotrior whispered。 〃They'd never dare； and we'd crush them in a matter of minutes if they did。〃
〃So one would assume；〃 Pharaun replied。 〃e on； I want a closer look。〃
They started working their way forward through the agitated throng。 Some of their fellow spectators plainly resented their shoving。 Ryld had to toss one hobgoblin down onto the floor of the sunken arena； but no one seemed to think it odd that they wanted to get closer to the charismatic leader。 Others were doing the same。
The Prophet continued his oration。
〃I thank you for your work and your patience； which soon will reap their reward。 Word of our revolt has reached every street and alley。 We have warriors everywhere； and each understands what he is to do when he hears the Call。 Meanwhile； the drow suspect nothing。 Their arrogance makes t