"Take a look, Nastya. It seems my followers are rather rattled."
In the Underdark near Baldur's Gate, an image of Lolth flickered in a mirror.
Dressed in her usual black bodystocking and close-fitting leather armor, Nastya knelt before the mirror. Four of Lolth's ruthless Chosen surrounded Dark Elf Sister, watching her every move.
They were:
Zhuo: a cruel, bloodthirsty female Drow assassin who specialized in concealed weapons.
Sawa: a rare third-gender Drow Barbarian. It was said that Lolth's blessing had granted Sawa both male and female traits, and those dark muscles were the source of extraordinary strength.
Strya: a poison-wielding Drow Ranger, particularly skilled with twin blades and poison-making.
Tus: a Drow Drider who had once suffered Lolth's most terrible punishment. He no longer possessed any awareness of himself; his sole reason for living was to fight for Lolth.
With more than a dozen eyes fixed on her, Nastya could not help feeling nervous. Though Lolth's latest manifestation terrified her, she also felt a strange sense of satisfaction.
After all, in Menzoberranzan, the teachings of House Baenre had always held that giving everything to Lolth was the highest honor.
Nastya told her as much as she could about Aaron's circumstances, the development of the Sunset Lands, and his goals. Unusually, Lolth did not brusquely interrupt her subordinate's account. She simply listened closely to Nastya's report, without interrupting once-something quite out of character for her.
"Yes, evidently, Aaron is trying to find something in Baldur's Gate. It might be a descendant of Baal, or a descendant of some ancient golden giant he has had Annomyn investigating all this time. It might also... have something to do with the green ore that recently appeared on the Sword Coast, and the Skaven it brought."
"I get the impression that you disagree with me,