Storm of the Dead

Storm of the Dead is the second book in the Lady Penitent trilogy by Lisa Smedman, released in September 2007.

"Lolth always plays to win.

When goddesses sit down to play a game, the stakes are the souls of their worshipers, and their own immortality. Not even the other gods of the Demonweb Pits can resist the draw of that fateful game, and one has already fallen.

But there are mortals that can sense even the shifting winds of the Outer Planes, and not all of them are powerless, even in the face of the Queen of the Demonweb Pits. After all, it took a mortal to make Lolth what she's become, and it may take another mortal to put her back in her place.

But how many more gods will die in the process?"

Summary
Storm of the Dead follows up the events of the Sacrifice of the Widow, with the diffusion of Vhaerun’s clerics with Eilistraee’s priestesses due to the death of Vhaeraun at the hands of Eilistraee. The goddess of the dead, Kiaransalee joins the sava game between Lolth and Eilistraee as a neutral faction. Immediately, Eilistraee was placed at a disadvantage from the double-front of Kiaransalee’s and Lolth’s followers.

Right off the bat, there were conflicts between the former followers of Vhaerun and the priestesses of Eilistraee, represented in the rebellious nature of Kâras and the strictly traditional personality in Cavatina Xarann. More pressing matters are at hand when Faerzress is discovered to be afflicting the magical power of the drow alone. Its influence is spreading across Faerûn, affecting the power of the drow mages and even priestesses and clerics.

Q’alrynd Melarn traveled to Sshamath after leaving the Promenade in the Sacrifice of the Widow.

Halisstra Melarn still remains the battle-captive of Lolth as the Lady Penitent. After being transferred to become the battle-captive of Wendonai, she escapes with the promise to bring Cavatina to the balor demon for “entertainment.”