Ya'll wanna see a really fascinating note from the Menzobarranzan box set?
The books don't actually give any name's for characters who follow Vhaeraun within it, instead leaving it up to the DM's digression to pick and choose who specifically who is worshiping him in secret, making it harder for the players to metagame it. However, of the cast, I personally think that there's a very obvious answer to be found within it - There's actually someone actively working with the Vhaeraunite group up in Skullport, loyal enough to them to go out of her way to answer a rescue call for them, and who's end goal is dismantle the larger Lolth worshiping priestess power structure, and help create a fairer and more equitable society within Menzo.
And today, I will be introducing you to her.
(Menzoberranzan Boxed Set 2nd Ed. p. 26)
Menzoberranzan’s merchants are chiefly drow males (trade being one of the few outlets for aggressive and creative males), but a current star trader is “Nal” Xalyth (her nickname is an acronym for Not A Lady, a scornful boast she once made at a party, spurning a noble male flatterer).
(p. 28) "Nal" Xalyth:
“Not A Lady” Xalyth rose from humble origins (as a child, she emptied chamberpots’ by hand onto her father’s dung-cart, to be taken to the fungus-farm fields) to dominate gem-dealing (and under-the-table fencing of stolen goods) in Menzoberranzan. Her unadvertised side-line is providing material components for spells.
Xalyth is known as a fair gem appraiser but a hard bargainer, who buys low and sells high (with no discounts for volume or repeated patronage). She doesn’t have to compete overmuch; she is the only steady (as opposed to caravan empty-the-cart windfall sale visits) source of spell components in the city (except for “stiff services” providing corpses to those interested in animating undead). Xalythís success in that trade depends on firm relationships with nine far-traveled suppliers, from the Vhaeraun-worshipping drow male Amryyr of Skullport to the duergar Ubelein “Fatreek” Shubelith, of Underspires.
Xalyth never tries to cheat anyone, holding to even casual promises and agreements (unless forced from her at weapon-point). This trustworthiness is the cornerstone of her success, and she cements it with occasional aid (doctoring, hiding, and giving shelter) to her suppliers, if they arrive wounded or in trouble with the authorities or rivals. On one memorable occasion, Xalyth went out into the Underdark alone, when a magical sending told her Amryyr was endangered by zealous priestesses of Lloth. She attacked their patrol from behind, using special bolts (tipped with a poison that puts to sleep even priestesses immune to the usual crossbow-bolt spider venom). Leaving them slumped asleep as a warning to their Houses, she brought Amryyr in safety to the city. Such deeds have made her famous in Menzoberranzan.
Xalyth always puts on a calm front; shrieking rages are for priestesses who think society revolves around them, and have soldiers at their call. At times, her calm is rather icy, and her sharp tongue is famous, but she is always interested in making a deal first, and fighting later. In fights, Xalyth is known for keeping alert track of foes who work around to attack her from behind, while she confronts those in front of her.
In her shop, Xalyth has several glass vials full of potent sleep-gas; if attacked, she can break one, forcing all within 90’ to save versus breath weapon at -4, or fall asleep for 4d4 rounds. If cornered and fearing death, Xalyth will reluctantly use her secret weapon, bought from a drow wizard for many rare and expensive spell components. If she speaks or whispers a certain word, part of her prominent bust (a magical construct, not her own flesh) vanishes, releasing chain lightning that inflicts 12d6 (save for half damage) harm on the first being struck, 11d6 to the second, and so on; Xalyth can control where the first two jumps go, and is herself immune from all burst damage.
This body-weapon is a magical form of last-ditch defense becoming popular among drow able to afford it. Typically the loss of a body part is involved, and the procedure is long, risky, and expensive. Some drow who want such protections (such as Matrons or ambitious high priestesses) can’t trust a drow wizard enough to have it done.
Xalyth’s chest lightning burst is the simplest, most common sort of body-weapon (for another, see The Spider Mage in the chapter on Mage Lords). It was done for her by the aged Past Master Courdh Mizzrym, Archmage Emeritus of Menzoberranzan, who oversees all teaching at the Academy, and is in charge of experimenting with and guarding most powerful magical items held by Sorcere. He is secretly Sorcere’s overseer of security- which, unbeknownst to the Matrons, means he is their chief spy on the noble Houses. In answer to suspicious queries from the ruling Council, Courdh was able to justify working with a commoner merchant (and not reveal precisely what he did for her) on the grounds of “dangerous, but necessary” experimentation if Menzoberranzan was to keep pace with other drow cities in defensive sorcerous arts – too risky to yet perform on any priestess of Lloth.
Xalyth’s ultimate aims are to break the power of the ruling high priestesses, so that all drow have a greater say over their lives in the city- or if she can’t do that, to leave Menzoberranzan for a more free and equal community near the surface, where she can carry on trade. One day, if drow wizards develop the necessary spells and protective items, she’d like to be able to travel freely between the Underdark and the surface world, to see the wonders of The Lands of Light and to do trade there.
