Zhindia Melarn

Zhindia Melarn was the first matron mother of House Melarn in Menzoberranzan.

Personality
Zhindia was known for being extremely fanatical to Lolth, and because of that and her status as the youngest matron on the Ruling Council, she was rarely taken seriously by other matron mothers.

History
Zhindia was born circa 1130 DR, being 253 years old in 1383 DR.

Zhindia became the first matron mother of the newly formed House Melarn in 1383 DR.

At time of Rage of Demons she was respected for her zeal in rooting out drow apostates, especially within nobility.

In 1486 DR Zhindia saw the reformed House Do'Urden as a heresy to Lolth. So she plotted with Matron Mother Shakti Hunzrin of House Hunzrin and even with Kiriy Xorlarrin to destroy it.

However the attack completely failed after the intervention of Drizzt Do'Urden and his companions and only Zhindia and Kyrnill managed to escape alive.

In 1488 DR, Zhindia Melarn summoned the yochlol Eskavidne in order to learn the will of Lolth regarding the resurrection of Zaknafein, hoping it was also possible to resurrect her daughter, Yazhin Melarn. Eskavidne however arrived together with Yiccardaria, who, thanks to strange collateral effects of the Rage of Demons, managed to return to Toril. Later, Eskavidne helped Zhindia to devise a plot to capture or kill Drizzt and Zaknafein. With this objective, the yochlol provided some retrievers for Matron Zhindia.

With these monsters, a demon army created with the support of House Hunzrin and Margaster advised by Eskavidne and Yiccardaria Zhindia started a war against the surface, still with the objective of kill Drizzt and Zaknafein.

Later with the support of Charri Hunzrin and both Eskavidne and Yiccardaria Zhindia obtained the neutrality of Gromph Baenre and his reformed Arcane Brotherhood in her war.

After a retriever had presumedly killed Drizzt and the demon army was advancing trought Gauntlgrym Eskavidne and Yiccardaria granted to Zhindia also the command of an army of risen driders.

Some time after however Eskavidne and Yiccardaria took back the retrievers and pressed Zhindia to send all of her demons to search and kill Zak.

After however secretly Taayrul Armgo went to Zhindia offering House Barrison Del'Armgo assistance in her war in exchange for the promise to elevate Barrison Del'Armgo to the first seat but Zhindia insisted that she would be the absolute dominatrix of Menzoberranzan and Taaywrul went back to tell to her Matron Mother.

Then Zhindia had a final battle against the army of Menzoberranzan but during that fight the spells of Quenthel Baenre and Yvonnel Baenre II managed to turn back all the driders in drow again, a miracolous event, and when Zhindia screamed to Eskavidne and Yiccardaria, they started to laugh, and told her chaos was the will of Lolth and went back to the Abyss.

Relationships
Zhindia was the daughter of Jerlys Horlbar, one of the former co-matrons of House Horlbar. Zhindia's cousin Jhelnae Melarn, an apostate, was the target of her greatest hatred, although the two had once been friends. Zhindia's patron was Sornafein Melarn, whom she truly loved, although she never allowed her feelings to show for fear of being seen as weak.

Appearances

 * Novels:
 * Night of the Hunter
 * Maestro
 * Timeless
 * Boundless
 * Relentless