The Legend of Drizzt

ARCHMAGESo many demons! Scores of them, from the worthlessmanes, the fodder of the Abyss, to the great glabrezu, marilith,nalfeshnee, and even mighty balors. They wandered the streets,rampaging, feasting, engaging in orgies with the drow, engagingin battles with the drow, engaging in whatever impulse crossedtheir chaotic and destructive desires.There was chaos, truly!But it was superficial, Matron Mother Baenre realized, like aseries of bar fights in a city full of overlords and armies.And that superficial chaos was enough. The demons causedenough grief, enough trouble, enough chaos, to keep the lesserHouses fully occupied. They could not align and plot against ascendantHouse Baenre with demons literally knocking on their doors.Matron Mother Baenre watched in amusement as herborrowed memories revealed a balor in battle with a band ofinsectoid chasme.The demons were no threat to the greater Houses of the city,even then, in Menzoberranzan’s fledgling days. Never could theycoordinate enough within their own ranks to pose any significantthreat to the order of Menzoberranzan, an order being imposedby House Baenre and House Fey-Branche.But the demons, so thick about the city, had surely kept thelesser matron mothers busy with thoughts of self-preservation.Those lesser Houses were too busy securing their own fences andstructures to contemplate invading others.Matron Mother Baenre blinked open her red eyes and consideredthe glorious revelations.“Chaos begets order,” she whispered.Yvonnel the Eternal’s memories had shown Quenthel the way.“No, she said more loudly, shaking her head, for surely thisdiabolical possibility had been divinely inspired. “Lady Lolthhas shown me the way.” 11