The Mothers had just killed the mage student in his cell and looted his body and his room of any valuables. Fonesca realised that the Knock spells that they had cast to get past the Arcane Locks on the doors only suppressed their power and they might get trapped if they did not leave. Jito and the others ferried themselves down to the floor of the octagonal chamber to plan again.
After a few moments thought, Jito attempted to cast a Dispel Magic on an area between where Gaspode had exposed the presence of the upper two doors. His first and second attempt failed (they realised this by flying up and testing them). The third attempt revealed the doors themselves, the false images protecting them had been removed! Jito and Gaspode flew up to the lower one, which was one level above the one that they had entered before. Here they found another corridor filled with obscuring fog, but there was no door on the opposite wall like before. Instead the corridor went off to the left and right for twenty feet, ending in seemingly blank walls. Gaspode's gem revealed the doors there, but they had no further magic to bypass the locks.
They returned to the octagonal chamber and decided to attempt the highest door. This they found unlocked, but as soon as they opened it, Jito and Gaspode were forced back to the far wall of the octagon by a constant rush of air from within the chamber. It was all that they could do to hang on to the broom, so they descended to plan a route through the portal. Gaspode got out a grappling hook and rose again with Jito. He eventually managed to snag the grapple on the edge of the door and he swung off the broom on the attached rope. He pulled himself up into the chamber beyond the door and then helped the others in.
When they had caught their breath, the wind ended. They turned and saw a throne on a dais flanked by tapestries. Before the throne stood an immaculately dressed male drow. His purple shirt was loose and his fine white hair was held back by a golden headband. He waited for the Mothers to speak. When they meekly said hello, he asked why they had come to his "tower". Obrana claimed that they had come seeking fame and fortune, but the drow said that he would let them leave unharmed if they would target the priestesses of either drow goddess. He wished to gain power over Szith Morcane and eventually promised to halt raids on the surface if his wish could be fulfilled. He told them of the main areas off the web cavern and of the forbiddance cast over the entry to the nobles area. He also gave them leave to remain in the guard quarters for twenty-four hours.
The party left him and rested in the guardroom, after cleaning some of the gore. Fonesca concentrated on improving her skills and felt as if she could master more magics if she had more free time. The others carefully discussed their tactics when it came to spell selection given what they had planned to tackle next.