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rait even if little else。〃
Syrzan shrugged； the narrow shoulders beneath its faded robes hitching higher than would a drow's。
〃Well；〃 the alhoon said； 〃I suppose it can do no harm to enlighten you； and it's been a long while since I've had the opportunity to converse with a colleague of genuine ability。 Not that you're my equal…no elf or dwarf could ever be…but you're several cuts above any of Houndaer's allies。〃
〃Your kind words overwhelm me。〃
The two wizards stepped onto a bridge； a crooked limestone span archnoting over one of the briny pools。
〃Dark elves will abide a lich；〃 the alhoon said； a brooding note entering its musical and almost certainly artificial voice。 〃Illithids won't。 By and large； they hate the idea of sorcery； a foreign discipline as potent as the psionic skills that constitute our birthright。 Still； they'll tolerate a limited number of mortal mages； those of us drawn to wizardry despite the stigma； for the advantages we bring。 But the thought of undying wizards enduring for millennia； amassing arcane power the while； terrifies them。〃
〃So on the day you achieved your immortality；〃 Pharaun said； 〃you fornotsook your homeland forever； or at least until the day when you could connotquer it。〃
The two mages stopped at the highest point on the bridge and looked out over an expanse of warm； briny fluid。 Pharaun noticed that the stuff rippled and flowed sluggishly； as if it was thicker than water。
〃Indeed；〃 Syrzan said。 〃I hoped to manage my departure circumspectly； but somehow the folk of Oryndoll sensed my metamorphosis。 For decades； they hunted me like an animal； and I existed like one in the wilds of the Underdark。 Those times were hard。 Even the undead crave the notforts of civilization。 Finally Oryndoll forgot me or gave up on me。 That was an improvement； but still I had no home。〃
〃I've heard；〃 said Pharaun； 〃that one or two secret enclaves of illith…iliches exist。 Didn't you search for one？〃
〃I searched for ninety years and found one；〃 Syrzan replied； sounding slightly miffed that its prisoner had jumped ahead in the story。 〃For a time； I dwelled therein but I quarreled with the eldest alhoons； who connotsidered themselves the leaders of the rest。 I conducted certain investiganottions they had； in their ignorance and timidity； forbidden。〃
The Master of Sorcere laughed and said； 〃If you can't find it in your heart…assuming an illithilich retains the organ…to consider us equals； you must at least concede we're kindred spirits。 You weren't angling for the Sarthos demon； were you？〃
〃No；〃 said Syrzan curtly。 〃Suffice it to say that if not for some bad luck； I would have usurped the place of the eldest lich of all； but as matters fell out； I had to flee into the wilderness； a solitary wanderer once more。〃
〃Surely you found someone to enslave。〃
Pharaun noticed the air in the dream cavern had grown cooler。 Perhaps it was responding to its maker's somber reflections。
〃I found small encampments；〃 Syrzan said。 〃A family of goblins here； a dozen troglodytes there。 I used them； used them up； each in its turn； but no little hole infested with a handful of brutes could give me what I truly craved。 I yearned for a teeming city； full of splendors and luxuries； over which I would rule； and from which I could conquer an empire。 But the taking of such exceeded even my powers。〃
〃Or mine；〃 Pharaun said； 〃hard as that is to credit。 So； lusting for what you couldn't have； you spied on the cities of the Underdark； didn't you； or one of them； anyway。 You kept your eye on Menzoberranzan。〃
〃Yes；〃 Syrzan said； 〃I've watched your people for a long while。 I disc