Triel Baenre

Triel Baenre a drow priestess and the matron mother of house Baenre, first house of Menzoberranzan until 1383 DR. She came to power in 1358 DR when her mother, Yvonnel Baenre, was killed during the drow assault on Mithral Hall. As the matron mother of the first house, Triel is the most influential drow in the city, and as such can be seen as the unofficial leader of Menzoberranzan; however, due to the nature of the drow, no other matron mother would ever willingly accept her dominance publicly - they are a far too envious and power hungry of a race to concede power to a single figurehead.

History
Triel is Yvonnel Baenre's first and most powerful daughter. She is a potent cleric of Lolth, and prior to her succession to the throne of house Baenre she served as Mistress of Arach-Tinilith in the Academy of Menzoberranzan. Shrewd and ambitious though she is, Triel did not expect to be landed with the role of House Matron so early, and she slightly resented the position at first due to the precarious position house Baenre was in at the time (Yvonnel Baenre had just been killed, which caused mounting unrest and political change in the city). As the eldest daughter of house Baenre, however, Triel was trained in preparation for becoming Matron Mother by Yvonnel Baenre herself; she was well qualified for the position by the time she ascended to it.

Paranoid about her height, Triel fills her mother's role but not her throne (literally; she even sets about adding a foot pedestal to the Baenre throne). However, Triel is shrewd and calculating, and a powerful vessel for Lolth's Will, despite her often flippant attitude toward her goddess. She has guided Menzoberranzan through tough times and continues to do so in the presence of looming catastrophe, continually proving herself to be a capable drow politician - just as her mother was.

Appearance
Triel is short, even by drow standards, but broad and strong. She is not particularly attractive compared to many other drow elves, either, but makes up for this with her ferocity and ambition (which are often seen as attractive traits in drow society). Despite her cruel and aspiring nature, Triel is patient, a character trait that allows her to carefully maneuver situations to her advantage.

Relatives
Triel's mother was Yvonnel Baenre, the ancient and powerful matron mother of House Baenre who had ruled for as long as anyone could remember. Triel has a number of siblings, but the most notable is her brother Gromph, archmage of Menzoberranzan and probably the most powerful male in the city. She once had a draegloth son, Jeggred, who served as her personal bodyguard until he was presumed slain in Lolth's realm, the Demonweb Pits. Quenthel Baenre, her younger sister, is currently (after the events of the War of the Spider Queen) the Mistress of Arach-Tinilith.