Several of the watching drow bristle at the challenge, but Jarlaxle is not so easily vexed. His amused smile dissipates as he stands and saunters toward Pax, speaking in a much more serious and quieter tone as he approaches:

Test you I will, but not in the manner you propose. If the tower of Sorcere is your quest, then it is there you shall go. Should you find there that which you seek, then you will have demonstrated both your prowess and your prophetic mandate, and will be free to proceed with your plan and purpose.

He pauses briefly before continuing:

But should this coveted book not be there as you say, or should you fail to penetrate Gromph's sanctum, I expect you may find yourselves apprehended as intruders and given over to the mercy of the Matron Mother, if you do not perish in the attempt. Either way, I shall retrieve from you that which you possess without this unnecessary exertion. (He speaks this last with a small jiggle of his rapier)

After another brief pause, Jarlaxle claps his hands together, and in a more genial voice says:

Now... "It's a fair test when you're at your best", as I always say. You are welcome to take rest and refreshment here, if you wish to avail yourselves of our hospitality. When you are ready I shall have my men escort you into Tier Breche, after which... you're on your own.

.20

Kaylyn sighed.  "Perhaps you misunderstand our position.  While we have found unlikely allies, we have also found likely enemies during our travels.  We are from above and have a general distrust of the drow, and of mindflayers, to be honest.  This whole escapade started when we were captured as slaves by drow and escaped from them.  From there we have traveled far in the underdark and have helped many.  This task has seemingly been laid upon us and we have taken it up as our own.  Allies along the way have provided the tools to summon the demons and we now must only determine where and how.  To be honest, bringing them here, to lay this city to waste, is something that has crossed our minds."

She sighs again, as if making up her mind and then looks Jarlaxle in the eyes

"Some of us are for it, again, we are distrustful of the drow,. Yet the professor's identity not withstanding, we were trying to help the Society of Brilliance in what we are doing.  I am not convinced we need this book, but are rather more trying to save it from destruction.  Our ally wishes it saved.  How we proceed is not set in stone, though perhaps our success is, here or elsewhere.  Allies within this city are needed I think.  And I am convinced, at least of Prof G's part, that he is an ally.  If he is with you, then perhaps you are also an ally."

"How can you aid us so we can rid the world of this problem?  This is not an issue just for the underdark, but for all of Faerun.  I need no testing, and in no way will imply that I have the skill to summon these demon lords.  I am not without my own power though.  Help us and do not hinder us so we can find the right path."

Persuasion 17

Which one of us has the box? 

That was exactly the excessive information the drow in this room were not supposed to know! Yet again, Sekkar was not the one to trust the present company with the location of the nearby latrine and his personal circle of trust was ending with the group. Sekkar did not say (did not even think) anything about such openness, but was ready to pounce at the first sign of aggression. Sekkar would still enjoy watching that city being razed to the ground but if fate, in the shape of his companions, wished to spare it, well, it provided an endless supply of the enemies to play with in the tunnels. So be it.

Rhayna listens to what's happening, and slowly makes her way back to the group. At one point she was ready to cast Calm Emotions, but since things have cooled down, she just let things proceed.

With the revelation from Kaylyn, Pax flushes, feeling shame in Kaylyn's words about tests and implications. At the same time though, a spike of fear and anger lance through her, and her hand once again goes to her sword hilt, grasping it with intent, as she glances about the room. The words of spells she may use come to mind as she prepares to fight.

((Pax was the last to have the box, when she bound it shut. Presumably she still has it.))

Jarlaxle's eyes first narrow and then widen as Kaylyn proceeds, and the tension in the room certainly doesn't dissipate. Even before Kaylyn finishes the host returns to his chair and listens intently to her discourse. It seems Kaylyn's frankness has caught him off guard, as though he is unaccustomed to such honesty. Is this a ploy? Perhaps a threat to summon the demons here to gain leverage? He ponders the new revelation, with the air of a gambler who knows his opponents hand, and speaks slowly in response.

Honesty is a rare commodity in this place, Kaylyn of the Radiant Song. Rare and perilous. You are right not to trust the drow, even an ally, for they do nothing for you that is not actually for themselves.

So this power you have... it is to summon all the demon lords in one place... So they can destroy each other... It's a terrible idea... But it's the only one we have.

As satisfying as the destruction of Menzoberranzan might be, it would simply create a power vacuum, with other races or factions vying to fill the void. Better the devil you know than the devil you don't, I say. You must have considered other locations for this dreadful rendezvous.

As for this book... If Quenthel had found any document that contained anything in relation to the summoning, I would know about it. Unless... it was well hidden and wasn't found. If such a book exists, then I can aid you in searching for it, with one condition... that you take it as far from Menzoberranzan and the Matron Mother as you can.

One more thing... tell me... who is this ally of yours?

Kaylyn's natural insightfulness, combined with how well she knew her companions, left her unsurprised by the discomfort that radiates from her friends.  She was taking a gamble.  The party had trusted many that perhaps they shouldn't have.  

"We come to the culmination of great events and I will say, with honesty, that we have no other ulterior motive.  We wish to free the known world of this problem.  We do this for the greater good one might say.  If the city must be destroyed to do so, so be it."

She holds up a hand to forestall any objections

"But possibly there is a lesser of two evils in our choices.  One where the city is not destroyed.  The Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little, and it will fail, to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while the Company is true.  I must remain true to myself."

She glanced around for a moment at the others in the room and then looked back to Jarlaxle.

"We have been warned that our ally does have an ulterior motive, and does seek the destruction of Menzoberranzan.  We have also been told that what we need to do does not have to be done here in the city.  However we are not from here and know of no other place.  This is where, perhaps, you can help.  Have the drow treated us poorly?  Yes, but then so have my own people for the half-blood that I am.  Am I to judge all and rain terror down on them, or on the drow?  It is not my place to decide and that is a burden I do not wish to bear."

Kaylyn takes a deep breath,

"I will take this book and remove it from the city.  I will keep it from the Matron Mother.  You have my word.  As for our ally, the one who has helped us so far?  The one we have used to gain what we needed to complete the quest as much as this person has used us to get what he wants?"  Kaylyn places emphasis on the word we, when she says we have used to indicate that we are using just as much as being used.   

"His name is Vizeran."

She lets her words trail off and goes into no further explanation.  She waits to see the reaction of Jarlaxle and the others.

Vizeran... Jarlaxle says quietly, trying to remember. Then his face lights up in recognition. Vizeran de Vir?? That old toad is still alive? Ha! He exclaims as he slaps one knee, then continues as if talking to himself. Of course, he would be the one to want to undo whatever Gromph accomplished, and to get his revenge in the process. I'm impressed, Vizeran. A very shrewd play.

Turning back to the group, Jarlaxle explains: Second only to his rivalry with Gromph, Vizeran de Vir despises the drow's obsession with Lolth, and wants nothing more than to bring down the establishment. I can see his mind in this gambit, although I fear it would have backfired. The destruction of the city might simply galvanise the priesthood and they would use it as a signal to institute even more fanatical measures in the worship of the Spider Queen. No-one wants that. It's bad for business.

If it is Vizeran de Vir that wants Gromph's book, then all the more reason to keep it far away from him. I suspect he requested the book as a precondition of his aid, no? And no doubt he has confirmed its existence prior to sending you to fetch it. Ha! Well then, we will help you acquire it if for no other reason than to keep it out of his hands, and you can retain your precious integrity and inform him that you have done according to his wishes.

Then Jarlaxle returns to thinking out loud... As for where to summon the demon lords. Ah, it seems unreal just to talk about it! I could think of a dozen places... but too much destruction might damage future potential. What about somewhere remote and uninhabited, like Icewind Dale or the Evermoors... no, better that it remain contained. Somewhere in the Underdark, but relatively unpopulated...

Finally turning once more to the group, he says with slightly increasing excitement: I will think on this while you retrieve the book. He gestures to one of the nearby drow. Valimar! You can guide them through the tower, no? Take a team to get them past the guardians, then assist them up to Gromph's sanctum. Then facing the group he asks: Is there a deadline for this summoning to occur?

Pax mentally growls and says, "Better the devil we know, because he is that devil, with all his connections to the top. I do not buy his nonsense about a power vacuum and destruction in Menzoberranzan being worse than leaving it. He cares only about retaining his position. We will discuss this further. Kaylyn, you took a terrible risk. We've not yet paid the price for it, but perhaps we shall get our hands on this terrible book that everyone wants to keep away from Vizeran." 

Out loud she says, "Two days is the deadline."

Menacing clouds in the background were Sekkar' emotions on the matter - he did not buy any of this either. The man was talking about business not lives. And the safety of Jarlaxle's business did not make it to the lizardman's priorities list.

Two days?? Jarlaxle's eyes widen again, and he speaks with more urgency than ever before. We shall need to act quickly then. Make your preparations and inform Valimar when you are ready to depart. You've got the help you wanted, and at no cost to yourself. A good deal, no?

With one more flash of his winning smile, Jarlaxle then turns from the group and begins giving directions to other drow. Not all of his orders are audible, but it seems he wants to leverage the situation to his gain, and asks his men to contact various business factors and arrange some kind of fee or favor in exchange for ridding them of the troublesome demons. 

(If anyone wishes to engage further with Jarlaxle, the window of opportunity is closing...)

Meanwhile, Grazilaxx steps forward (just a little - he keeps a healthy distance out of respect for prevailing prejudices) and says to Kaylyn: Dealing with Jarlaxle is not without risk, but I find him more favourable than most drow. He is a narcissist with a heart, and more helpful than he would like to admit. He does enjoy a little strife, however, and your friend's challenge probably improved his mood and served to aid your plea. The outcome is as auspicious as could be expected. But I would counsel you not to bestow all the decision-making into his hands. You must decide where to enact this summoning, not he.

<I care not for a power vacuum, or any thing else except the quest.  The only one I may remotely trust is Grazilaxx and only because of the Society of Brilliance.  Jarlaxle has his angle, Vizeran his.  I will use who I need to use to complete the quest.  You poked the dragon in its own lair, my gamble was no more than yours.  We have a powerful ally here in the city now.  Just keep the box in the Haversack.  If Vizeran has spies here and learns of this he may try to move without us being ready.  He said it could be in an extra-dimensional space but it must be removed from such ere the spell is cast.   We no longer need to find a way out of the underdark.  I have the helm, we can leave any time.  But I will see the quest through and will not have the weight of unnecessary death on my mind, even if they are drow.> Kaylyn replies in her mind

Out loud she speaks to Jarlaxle.  "Our disguises will not last much longer.  If you can supply better that would be good, or if they are not needed we will shed them. Other than that I see no other need for preparation."  She looks around at the others.  "Anyone need anything?"

She turns to Grazilaxx as he approahces.  "We will need your help then Grazilaxx.  I will trust you only because of the words of Y, Skriss and Blurg and the Society of Brilliance.  We do not know this area."

Grazilaxx nods slowly. I thank you, and will endeavor to earn your trust of my own accord. If you preferred a location with less impact on the population, somewhere remote and uninhabited, then perhaps the lowest point of the Darklake, the heart of Araumycos, or the bottom of some deep chasm. I hesitate to make such suggestions, however, as they are not entirely benign. Whichever site you choose, it is certain to be affected by the concentrated presence of such powerful demons, and it is difficult to predict who or what could be affected, in what way and to what extent.

Should you decide to perform the summoning here in the city, I would understand your reasons and respect your decision. If you do, you make an enemy of Jarlaxle Baenre. If not, you make an enemy of Vizeran de Vir. The choice is yours.

"Araumycos... That's where The Lady was planning on having her wedding." Rhayna says without realizing that some in the room might now know what she is referring to. "Ohh right. By The Lady, I meant Zuggtmoy, and I believe she is, or was, planning on joining with Araumycos. I think..." She looks around. "I cannot imagine the repercussions if that comes to pass."

Pax shakes her head, mentally responding, "I would not summon the demons to the heart of Araumycos. If one of them were to infect it, that could be disastrous. No, I have seen the Drow city and seen no reason not to destroy it along with some demons. The deaths aren't unnecessary. They inflict death, slavery, and harm to every creature down here. It would benefit the rest of the world. Two birds, one stone, as they say. I have no issue have Jarlaxle as an enemy."

Out loud she says, "The disguise spell should last several more hours. But, if the guardians can see through illusions, perhaps it would be best to adopt disguises in the same way Zeno did. And....a short rest at least would be wise."

Sekkar said (or emoted) everything he had to say on the matter and now simply enjoyed Pax's epiphany. There was hope still at least for one girl around. To him, anything other than a well-walled and protected cave (like the one Menzoberranzan was located in) was too dangerous to consider. And he did not care which particular drow will be called his personal enemy - they all were anyway.  But he was not the one carrying around the artifact. "We still have the labyrinth and the purple worms nest," reminded he in case sanity and reason will not prevail.

Grazilaxx nods with interest at Rhayna's prescient observation. He makes no response to Pax's telepathic comments, suggesting that he is true to his word and not monitoring their private thoughts. However he does respond to Pax's comments about disguises. The jade spider guardians will not be a problem. I believe Jarlaxle's men plan to temporarily deactivate them so you can walk past them. Your previous means of camouflage would be most appropriate.

Pax nods to Grazilaxx, "Very well. Shall we rest an hour then, and get to it everyone?" 

Mentally to Kaylyn she says, "We must agree on where to leave the heart. We should all agree, and we should not leave it up to the Drow,"