"Forgotten Realms - The Dark Elf Trilogy 01 - Homeland (1990) (Salvatore, R.A.)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Forgotten Realms)

Part 1
Station

Station:In all the world of the draw, there is no more im-
portant word. It is the calling of their-of our- religion, the
incessant pulling of hungering heartstrings. Ambition over-
rides good sense and compassion is thrown away in its face,
all in the name of Lloth, the Spider Queen.

Ascension to power in draw society is a simple process of
assassination. The Spider Queen is a deity of chaos, and she
and her high priestesses, the true rulers of the drow world,
do not look with ill favor upon ambitious individuals wield-
ing poisoned daggers.

Of course, there are rules of behavior; every society must
boast of these. 1b openly commit murder or wage war in-
vites the pretense of justice, and penalties exacted in the
name of drow justice are merciless. To stick a dagger in the
back of a rival during the chaos of a larger battle or in the
quiet shadows of an alley, howeveI, is quite acceptable-
even applauded. Investigation is not the forte of drow jus-
tice. No one cares enough to bother

Station is the way of Lloth, the ambition she bestows to
further the chaos, to keep her drow "children" along their
appointed course of self-imprisonment. Children? Pawns,
more likely, dancing dolls for the Spider Queen, puppets on
the imperceptible but impervious strands of her web. All
climb the Spider Queen's ladders; all hunt for her pleasure;
and all fall to the hunters of her pleasure.

Station is the paradox of the world of my people, the limi-
tation of our power within the hunger for power. It is
gained through treachery and invites treachery against
those who gain it. Those most powerful in Menzoberranzan
spend their days watching over their shoulders, defending
against the daggers that would find their backs.

Their deaths usually come from the front.

-Drizzt Do'Urden



Part 1
Chapter 1
Menzoberranzan