January, 1369 Dalereckoning.
Lolth still gave no response, but the situation in the Underdark had already spiraled out of control.
Gomph Baenre, chief archmage of Menzoberranzan, a figure who had nearly reached the pinnacle of the high legendary tier, and younger brother of Triel Baenre, the First Matron of Menzoberranzan's Ruling Council, had to acknowledge that he needed to see his sister now.
Nearly a year had passed. Lolth had given no response, sent no word, and bestowed no more divine magic.
Rebellions erupted across the Underdark, one after another, without end. At first, they were confined to small cities, then spread to larger regions. Recently, the flames of rebellion had begun closing in on the heartlands of drow rule.
The rumors could no longer be contained. Two theories had emerged in Menzoberranzan. The first was that Lolth had abandoned the drow entirely-abandoned them. The Spider Queen no longer cared about Menzoberranzan. She had found a new favorite.
Those who insisted on this theory were soon invited in for a little chat by the drow warriors. Nobody ever saw them again.
The second rumor claimed that Lolth was testing the people of Menzoberranzan. The supreme Spider Queen had begun to doubt the drow's devotion, so she was using this method to test their loyalty and make them prove their worth.
Gromph Baenre's loyalty to Lolth was beyond question.
Lolth was a cruel and fickle goddess, and her priestesses held her power firmly in their hands. But she was the Spider Queen, and spiders were strong, resourceful predators-and survivors.
Gomph Baenre also saw himself as a spider. Spiders never forgave and never begged for mercy. They spun webs, hunted, and perpetuated their kind. The Spider Holy Symbol carried meaning: it represented power, and power was what every drow pursued.
However, Lolth's