Gromph Baenre did not relish the latest message he had to deliver, for several reasons. First and foremost, it was not good news, and however much he was removed from the source of the report, he was still the messenger. Ordinarily, he wouldn't mind for that reason alone, for there were few individuals in Menzoberranzan who could actually take out their displeasure on him, the most powerful mage in the city. Of those few, most held on to only a shell of their former power and were relying on him to conceive of a way to restore it. No, being the bearer of bad news this day would not be as risky as it might on other days, but then he didn't often have to deliver such unpleasant information to his sister.
That brought the Archmage of Menzoberranzan around to the other cause for his distress. Triel Baenre was at home, which meant that Gromph had to go visit her, rather than the other way around. He detested leaving Sorcere, detested having to go to the Great Mound even more, and certainly didn't like doing any of it under such circumstances. It was yet another reason for him to add to his list of reasons why he wanted the crisis resolved. He was tired of all the inconvenience it was causing him personally.
As he flew over the streets of Menzoberranzan on his way to the Great Mound, Gromph peered below in consternation. He had sent word to the appropriate individuals in charge that more troops were to be dispatched, but he had yet to see the results of his orders. The disquiet below was growing again, and if they weren't careful, the nobles of the city would find themselves right back in the middle of another uprising.
Well, Triel could put her foot down again, he supposed, insist that the other matron mothers respond promptly when the call came for more soldiers, but he doubted it would make them quicken their pace one whit. They were going to tend to their own Houses first, High Council be damned.
Approaching the edge of House Baenre, Gromph settled himself to the balcony outside his sister's audience chamber. The guards on duty there peered at him warily for a moment, but when they saw who it was, they stiffened in salute. Ignoring them, the archmage walked briskly past them into the council chambers themselves, hoping to find Triel there. She was not.
Clicking his tongue in exasperation, Gromph passed out of the large audience chamber and into the hallway beyond, which led to her personal quarters. Arriving at the door to her suite of rooms, the archmage was greeted by a pair of stoic females, robust specimens who were well armed and apparently trained equally as well in the art of combat as divine magic.
The pair of guards crossed their heavy maces before the door.
«She is not to be disturbed,» one of them said, her stare flat, making it clear she would brook no argument, brother or not.
Gromph sighed, making another mental mark to the tally of reasons he hated doing this. No matter how many times he had to push his proverbial weight around to get to see Triel in her private rooms, the matron mother's personal guards never made it any easier on him the next time. He'd had enough of it.
«I'm not going to stand here and argue with you about this, today. You've got one minute to tell her it's me and let me through, or I will leave you as two piles of smoking ash on her doorstep. Do I make myself clear?»
The flat stares turned mildly baleful, but after some careful consideration, the one who spoke finally nodded curtly and slipped inside, shutting the door behind her and leaving her partner to stare icily at the archmage while he folded his arms and tapped his foot.
Just when Gromph was seriously considering whether or not to make good on his threat, the door opened and the guard appeared again, motioning him through. Arching his eyebrow as though to say, «what else did you expect?» he pushed past her impatiently and shoved the door shut behind him.
Triel was not in the front room, though that didn't really surprise the wizard. Usually, if she was going to bother to be presentable for guests, she would see them in the audience chamber. He figured his odds were about even as to whether he'd discover her in the bedroom or in the baths, most likely with a lover. He tried the bedroom first, with no luck.
Moving through into the bathroom, Gromph found his sister, alone except for a pair of attendants, eyes closed and soaking in an oddly scented oil bath. The odor permeated the room and made him cough.
Triel opened one eye and looked at the wizard, then closed it again, making no move to greet him.
«You really shouldn't threaten my guards like that,» she said, a bit testily. «They're standing there to keep the likes of you out, you know.»
«A thousand apologies, Matron Mother,» Gromph answered. «I will be certain to avoid helping you in the future. Please do drop by sometime and I'll be sure to keep you waiting outside my offices.»
This time, both of Triel's eyes opened, but instead of growing angry, she appeared worried.
«What is it?» she asked. «Your news must be particularly unpleasant for you to behave so boorishly.»
Gromph had to chuckle, but it was a bitter laugh.
«You know me better than most, sister. I suppose I should give you more credit. You're correct, though, the news is bad, and it comes from several fronts. Our patrols are telling me that traffic is picking up on the outskirts of the city. Nothing definitive, but they're growing fearful that we're due for some sort of aggressive act from somewhere, and soon.»
«What sort of traffic?» Triel asked, shifting in the bath so that an attendant could begin to scrub her back with a rough cloth.
«Hard to say. Enough species come and go as it is, but they have reported an inordinate number of troglodyte sightings the last few days.»
Triel made a noise in her throat, and at first Gromph wondered if it was in response to the ministrations of the attendant, but he realized it was derisive when his sister said, «Troglodytes? They've never been able to muster any sizable threat against us. You came all the way over here and harassed my guards to tell me that? Please.»
Gromph clicked his tongue in vexation and strode across the tiled floor to take a seat on a long bench along one wall.
«No, of course not, but don't be so quick to dismiss any potential threat. More than enough generals saw their last battle from underestimating the enemy. We're vulnerable to any attack right now, and you know it.»
«Fine, I'll take it under advisement,» Triel said. «So, what else do you have to tell me? I'd like to enjoy the rest of my bath, but if you insist on giving me more bad news, I don't think I shall be able to.»
Gromph shook his head.
«Yes, there is more bad news,» he said.
«Oh, wonderful.»
«I'm hearing bad things from our expedition to Ched Nasad.»
The matron mother rolled over and sat up, shooing away the attendant. She seemed unconcerned that her upper body was exposed to him, though Gromph ignored that fact.
«What kind of bad things?» she asked, her tone grave.
«The last communication I received reported that riots were beginning. I haven't heard anything since, and the next reports are overdue.»
«How long?» «Two days. I already relayed that information to you.»
«Do you have a means of contacting him?» Triel asked.
«Yes, but not for a while, and not really for the kind of conversation I suspect you'd like for me to have with him. Even with what I can do, I'll have to make preparations to use the appropriate magic.»
«Fine, do that. In the meantime, what are your thoughts?»
Gromph considered the question then said, «Do I believe they are alive? Let's give them some credit. They are an enterprising lot, and I have no doubt that they can take care of themselves. That's half the reason you sent them away, isn't it?»