Out of the Abyss

BREGAN D'AERTHE
Bregan D'aerthe is a mercenary company with more
power and innuence in Menzoberranzan than all the
lesser noble houses combined. Bregan D'aerthe benefits
from its close ties with House Baenre. The company's
founder and leader.jarlaxlc. is brother to both Matron
Mother Quemhcl Baenre and Arch mage Gromph
Baenre. though thi!. fact isn't widely known.
Jarlaxle doesn't care what the demon lords do in
the Underdark. but he's worried about the future of
Menzoberranzan as well as his secret holdings on the
surface world. He wants to know how the demon lords
arrived and how to send them back. and members of
Bregan o·aerthe will support characters who claim to
have those answers.

COUNCIL OF SPIDERS

Many drow wizards have long sought a means of

increasing their power and innuence. frustrated that

the arcane arls arc viewed as secondary to the divine

magic of Lolth's priestesses. A secret cabal of noble

wizards calling itself the Council of Spiders works

to see wizards represented on the Ruling Council-

overturning thousands of years of tradition while

remaining true to Lolth's will.

The disappearance of Gromph Baenre and the

involvement ofVizeran DeVir in fending off the demonic

invasion offers wizards of the council an unparalleled

opportunity to advance their agenda. Vizeran has

cultivated his role as a patron and ally of the council to

gain inAuence among its members- while giving them

no hint of his desire to destroy the drow's obsessive

worship of Lolth. Vizeran has told council members

that adventurers are helping him banish the demon

lords back to the Abyss. and that they might come to

Mcnzoberranzan seeking lore from Gromph's sanctum

in Sorcerc. The council stands ready to disable the

magical wards on the tOwer. should this come to pass.

PRIVATE MEETINGS

If House Baenrc and Bregan D'acrthe get wind of the

party's presence in the city. the characters are confronted

by drow tasked with escorting them to a private meeting

with the leader of each faction.jarlaxlc sends a devilishly

charming and :,arcastic male drow elite warrior named

Krilelyn H'Kar. tasked with leading characters to the

ruins of Housf' Do'Urden in the West Wall district.

Matron Mother Quenthel Bacnre sends thirty dour drow

elite warriors mounted on gia nt riding lizards (see

the end of chapter 8 for statistics). with six gargoyles

providing aerial support. They have orders to escort the

party to House Bacnre atop Qu'ellarz'orl.

MATRON MOTHER

QUENTHELBAENRE

Matron Mother Quenthcl Baenrc is absolutely loyal to

Lolth, but she has suspected for some time that her

brother Gromph is not. The arch mage has been missing

since the disastrous summoning ritual that pulled the

demon lords into the Underdark. and no one claims

CouN<:IL or

SPIDERS MI\G~

to know his whereabouts. The matron mother and

her closest allies have carefully covered up the truth

about Gromph's disappearance, proclaiming that the

archmage is hard at work investigating the demonic

invasion and seeking the means to send the demon lords

back to the Abys<>. Quenthel doesn't know ifGromph

is alive or dead. She knows only that she can't hide his

disappearance forever e,•en as she must ensure that no

damage C'Omc:. to her house as a result of his actions.

Qucnthel doesn't care that the adventurers are

fighting to send the demon lords back to the Abyss, or

that Menzoberrantan might suffer under another demon

lord assault. She':. conC'erned only about I louse Baenre.

By the matron mother's addled logic. Lolth is using

the demon lords to test the strength of House Baenre

and lay waste to the enemies of the drow. However. the

matron mother does n't want Gromph's spell or damning

evidence of his actions falling into the wrong hands.

Whether the characters arc brought in by force or

arrive willingly. read the following when they meet

Quenthcl Baenrc.

A vast web of heavy metallic strands forms a kind of

fence around a sprawling compound of structures laid

out on the plateau at the top of Menzoberranzan's great

cavern. Dozens of massive stalagm1tes and stalactite s

have been carved and shaped into towers, girded with

balconies and walkways, and connected with delicate·

looking ramps and bridges. All the compound 1s lit with

blaz1ng light 1n pale shades of violet. green, and blue.

Dozens of drow warriors are stationed on the overlooks

and walkways, ever vigilant as they watch your approach.

When the ch<Jractcrs are taken into the compound. the

matron mother welcomes tlwm in her throne room- a