Laelanis Zareerae: Vol. 2

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Not satisfied with Xymerria, Laelanis soon set her sights on Gal Ranidon. Seeing the potential for a large slaving operation, she ordered the capture of Sir Sylph's mother, framing the duergar using the same mind-breaking procedure pioneered in her conquest over House Do'Rekkdin. Giving a figurehead to the act in a Duergar noblemen named Slaven, she succeeded in justifying a war against Gal Ranidon which the surface would not intervene with. It was justice, after all, to bring such a heinous criminal to face judgement.

Her siege of Gal Ranidon is perhaps the best example of her

patience in her plans. Forming a perimeter around the city, she sent in a Demonweb Spider which she called The Broodmother, Lloth's gift to her for such exemplary service and understanding of Her truest teachings. The Broodmother's toxin proved potent in turning duergar against duergar. The hallucinogenic effect would paint pictures in the victim's mind of an imagined slight against them, which would in time prove violent. The Duergar defeated themselves from within, surrended to her Lord Slaven, and were promptly rewarded with a full-scale invasion. Their greatly diminished numbers stood no chance, and were quickly forced to surrender unconditionally.

She even managed to press into the territory of the Illithids, after a failed assassination attempt by the Mindflayer known as Nyx left them vulnerable to retaliation. This war ended swiftly, as Xymerria now boasted a formidable army of slaves and drow alike, where the Illithid population had all but vanished from Aabahran.

With none left to challenge her domain in the Underdark, she

solidified her position by joining the Council of Nations, Corithera, and through clever political maneuvering, was able to secure a much more advantageous position than any other member of the Council, creating a leverage in which Xymerria had more freedom and more power within the Council than any other nation. Even this, however, was another ploy. Through this council, she began her plans to obtain the Eight Eyes of Deceit, powerful demonic artifacts which Laelanis could use to not only defeat Lloth, but also strip her of her power, and become the new Spider Queen.

Whether or not she has acquired them is uncertain. What is

certain is that, almost overnight, she has vanished from Aabahran, leaving her adopted daughter, Ilivnolu, as Matron of House Zareerae. Whether House Zareerae can survive her departure is yet to be seen. Some in her house swear that they can still hear her whispers as the flames flicker in their braziers. Some nights, you can even hear her laughter from within the throne room, though no trace of her form has been seen. __________________________________________________