Memories
Matron Ki'Willis remembers.
I hate Irae T’sarran.
Several years ago, Eilos Millithor visited House Morcane in Maerimydra. He introduced Matron Morcane to a potential business contact, Velina T’sarran (although her last name wasn’t known then, she was introduced as a drow commoner and of course no mention was made of Kiaransalee).
Velina offered a very luxurious proposition to Matron Morcane on behalf of her grandmother Irae. Matron Morcane agreed to meet her grandmother Irae to negotiate the deal.
Matron Morcane met Irae to negotiate the transaction. Irae was an incredibly arrogant freak of a commoner. Matron Morcane would have destroyed Irae if not for the vast amount of profit that was at stake. Profit plus the fact that Irae wore a ruby studded half-helm called the Eyes of the Spider, a gift only given to those destined for greatness by the Church of Lolth. Irae might be a commoner, but she undoubtedly had a benefactress of great power.
To sweeten the deal, Irae suggested that some very valuable slave war trolls be sold to Matron Morcane’s business partners. The war trolls would revolt, destroying House Baenre and House Millithor. House Morcane would be the sole owner of L’Tarranen del Egluth (the company of the coiled whip) and, more importantly, the sole owner of the profits.
Matron Morcane cursed the day she stupidly allowed her greed to convince her to accept Irae’s deal. Although she is certain that if she did not accept, Irae would have offered the deal to one of the other Matrons. The deal was simply too good to be refused.
Irae delivered the goods and the War Trolls as promised. The War Trolls were brought to L’Tarranen del Eguth’s corporate headquarters (which Matron Morcane was already planning to rename Szith Morcane). One of Irae’s Lieutenants, a male drow wizard named Umaerh brought the Trolls. Only he was neither drow nor male. He was instead an Alhoon, an undead Illithid of great power, named Syrzan. Syrzan in his guise of Umaerh spent a considerable amount of time at Szith Morcane with Eilos Millithor and running experiments on the trolls.
Two of the war trolls were half-fiends that had fought in the eternal blood war in the lower planes. They would be given the tasks of slaying the Matron Mothers of the respective houses when the revolt came. Bargthoth would slay Matron Baenre and Trygon was ordered to destroy Matron Millithor.
Only there was a magical accident of some sort (it was never explained to Matron Morcane), and both Bargthoth and Eilos Millithor were killed. There was a rumor that Trygon had killed Eilos after Eilos had destroyed Bargthoth.
After the accident, Eilos was animated as a Lich under the control of Solom Ned’Razak.
The war trolls were sent to House Baenre and house Millithor.
When the Silence of Lolth came, Matron Morcane realized that the war trolls would never have a better chance against the powerful priestesses of House Baenre. She sent word to Irae saying now would be the perfect time to strike, never dreaming that someone who wore the Eyes of the Spider worshipped a different Goddess.
Matron Morcane and her most trusted warriors and priestesses traveled to Szith Morcane and took it over from the local administrators. While Syrzan and his associates traveled to Menzoberanzan to order the trolls to revolt.
After seizing control of Szith Morcane, Matron Morcane had barely settled in when they were attacked. She did not understand what was happening until she saw Irae T’sarran wearing the Hand of Kiaransalee.
Then she knew it had all been lies and she was damned. There could be no negotiations, no hope of anything but war to the death and beyond against the followers of Kiaransalee.
The rest of the battle was almost an anti-climax, a pre-ordained ending.
Matron Morcane fought to the last, standing upon the altar in the Inner Fane of the Shrine of Lolth at the very end and praying to the Goddess. Until the last moment, when Irae channeled the power of Kiaransalee into a bolt of black force that destroyed Alisannra utterly, not even dust was left.
Matron Ki'Willis thinks.
Irae T’sarran was behind it all.
The seizure of Szith Morcane, the revolt in Menzoberanzan, and the revolt in Maerimydra.
She sought to destroy two drow cities. She sought to destroy my house. She sought to destroy me.
She did destroy two drow cities. She did destroy my house. She destroyed me.
IRAE T’SARRAN MUST DIE!
