SABERHAVEN NEWS May 2, 2000


    From it's infernal home in the Abyss the yochlol cast it's mind out
across the planes.  Randomly observing drow among the different planes of
existence, it's gaze alighted on three drow meeting on a back alley on
Terra Dyne.  One of the drow she recognized as Gromph Mindtwister, a
fugitive on his homeworld for killing several high priestesses.  The drow
male had come to Terra Dyne and joined a group of drow spreading the
worship of Lolth among the surface-dwellers of Saberhaven.  The male had
access to powers of the mind rare among the drow, preventing the yochlol
from easily reading his thoughts.  In the shadows nearby stood a female,
her mind also closed to the yochlol's probes.  As the third drow walked
down the alley to meet Gromph the yochlol decided to watch.


    As Ebony, co-founder of the contingency Ebony & Ivory, walked down the
alley towards him, Gromph's mind flicked out to Laenix.  Hidden in the
shadows of the alley, further obscured by magic, Laenix sent a reply
assuring Gromph that all was going as planned.  Ixati and Gauroth, inplace 
on the rooftop, had seen his allies, but they were too far away to get
there before they finished with Ebony.
    Stopping ten feet from Gromph, Ebony asked, "Why have you called me
here Gromph Spiderkisser?"
    Smiling, Gromph replied, "Why, I have a proposition I think you would
be interested in."
    Suddenly Ebony cried out as Laenix assaulted his mind.  The magical
bubble kept the sound from leaving the alley and Ebony turned to flee. He
managed to get two steps before going rigid.  Stepping out of the shadows
Laenix said, "We have him."
    Setting to work, the drow woman strengthened her link to Ebony,
allowing her complete control of the reformed drow.  A few minutes later
Ebony stepped out of the alley and headed back to his companions.


    Intrigued at these two drow psionicists, the yochlol watched over the
next few weeks as they continued in their plans.  About a week after his
meeting with Gromph, Ebony took Ivory out for a romantic evening.  The two
went to a small villa just outside Crestwood, which Ebony had rented for
the evening.  The yochlol watched as the gray elf was mentally assaulted
and dominated by the psionicists who waited inside the villa.


    With the heads of the contingency under their control, Gromph and
Laenix began a rivalry between the group and the Powers of the Dark.
Although the members of Ebony and Ivory always put up a good fight, they
almost never won, throwing the fights so Gromph and Laenix could collect
winnings on the bets they laid.
    With the sudden string of losses, a special investigator from the city
guard was put on the case.  Moving with great stealth he was able to
discover that large sums had been added to the coffers of both Ebony and
Ivory, and the Powers of the Dark (conveniently placed their by Gromph and
Laenix, using nearly half of their winnings).  With a definite connection a
special force was formed to wipe out both contingencies.
        Most of the city guard was mobilized, along with the hiring of the Flash
Command, Association of Problem Eliminators, and several competitors in the
Games (including Laenix).  The attack began and fighting raged both above
and below the streets.  The Powers of the Dark were holding out well, but
Ebony and Ivory weren't prepared and were soon overrun.  Only Ebony was
captured alive.  While one of Laenix's henchmen lit a fire (to burn the
bodies and make sure they couldn't be raised or questioned magically),
Ebony admitted that the contingency had been throwing fights, in league
withthe Crusaders of Meph.
        The attack on Powers of the Dark was called of (though in the confusion,
Gromph managed to kill the dark priestess Roulette) and the strike force
traveled out of the city.  Reaching the base of the Crusaders of Meph, the
group attacked.  The battle was long and there were many casualties,
including large numbers from Flash Command.  Some of the Crusaders of Meph
escaped, but no one wanted to go after after them.


        Realizing that Gromph had betrayed the Powers of the Dark, the yochlol
sent a message to Clef, in a dream.  Lolth's high priestess confronted the
psionicist and he barely managed to escape.  Meeting up with Laenix, the
two decided to form their own contingency, just in case the Powers of the
Dark decided to strike at them.  A former warehouse was bought on the edge
of Orctown, near the shore.  They are altering the structure and have
officially formed, calling themselves the Hydra's Heads. 
        In light of the troubles with Ebony and Ivory, the Lord Mayor announced
that no competitor is allowed to bet on the Games. 


--Contributed by DM Jared


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