The Legend of Drizzt

ARCHMAGEThe matron mothers all started, some even rising, some beginningspells—except for the matron mother and Sos’Umptu, andof course, the impotent puppet, Darthiir Do’Urden.Mez’Barris quickly calmed at the sight of the demons, the twoglabrezu and the greater female, whom she recognized as eitherMarilith or Aishapra—this type of powerful demon looked toomuch alike for her to be certain.“They are here with the blessings of Lolth,” Sos’Umptu explained.“Forgive my intrusion,” said the female demon, andMez’Barris knew from the voice that it was indeed Marilith, thegreatest of her kind. Mez’Barris recalled then, as well, that yes,it was Marilith whose left breast was considerably larger thanher right for some symbolic reason that no drow had ever discerned.Demons of this power could easily rectify such physicaldeformities if they so chose. Mez’Barris knew, too, from thefemale demon’s tone and personality, that the vile and dangerouscreature cared nothing for forgiveness, nor would ever offer any.“I learned of your council and wanted to see how many ofthe ruling matron mothers were still known to me,” Marilithwent on. “It has been more than a century . . . a fleeting time,no doubt, but I care so little for drow that my memories of youare not forefront in my thoughts.”Screeches, like those of great birds, echoed out in the hallbehind her and her glabrezu guards, and strange creatures thatseemed half-human and half-vulture—vrocks, they were called,hulking and vicious, and standing nearly as tall as the ten-footglabrezu—stalked into view along with a couple of clearly andunderstandably nervous dark elf sentries.“Still, it’s good to be back,” Marilith said. She slithered around ina wide arc and departed, her hulking glabrezu guards close behind.As the door shut, the matron mothers heard the agonized,horrified scream of a drow, and all suspected that one fewersentry now guarded the sacred Council Chamber.Demons were like that.21