Through the main gate and down the North Approachway you're lead. Straight up to the mammoth structure of the Castle. It's high, pitch black walls fade into the darkness above you, giving you no sure comprehension of it's full height. Across the motetaht surrounds the whole castle, large torches burn, though seemingly dim, on either side of the draw bridge door. The Drow guard who silently escorted you this far calls out to the bridge keeper in the Drow language. With a bellowed reply the heavy bridge begins to lower and you're soon crossing above the black pits of the bottomless mote. Reaching the main door, the Drow guard says something to you that sounds like a warning and then he pushes open the looming double door of the Main Entry.
The guard leaves you as you go through, going back to his post at the main gate. Here, within the eerily echoing Entry of the Castle you are greeted by a rather sour looking female. She introduces herself as Itla'bel'la, one of the many minor Priestesses that are of the Yeog'il'rymmin temple, and she has been giving the... "honor" of making you welcome. She guides you to the Main Hall or Family Room, which is set up with many comfortable chairs and couches, tables laid out with food and drink, and even weaponry. Weapons of all kinds line the walls, as does the head of various beasts that fell prey to the hunts the family partakes in. A massive fire place dominates one wall and the rounded walls of the towers take up many of the corners. You catch the scent of hot water and earth-fresh minerals that mean the hot springs. East of you a doorway gives you a glimpse of the inner garden, dimly lit by some magic that sustains the plants. At the center of that is the broad base of the Jabbuk's private tower, not accessable from this level.
You're lead to the Northwest tower and up a winding staircase. The Priestess explains that this floor has one of the few access points to the Patron, Jabbuk's tower, but of course that's through the Matron, Blythraen's chaimbers and getting in there alone would be an impossible task for anyone unwelcome. There is also a bridge that goes across to the upper level of the Temple of Lloth, extending from the West Tower.
"The Mistress Z'ress' chaimbers are on this floor as well..." the Priestess tells you curtly from the doorway of the tower, "... as is the nursery. No male, except the mates of each of the females or those that are invited, are allowed on this level. Any male who breaks that rule is punished by death."
She leads you on up the stairs to the Third Floor of the Castle.
