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{{Book
  
{{Book
−
| image = [[Image:Dissolution.jpg|250px|Dissolution]]
 +
| image = [[Image:Dissolution.jpg|250px]]
  ⚫
| caption = Cover of ''Dissolution''.
−
| code = 885540000 (hardcover) <br /> 178790000 (paperback)
 +
| code = 885540000 (hardcover) <br /> 178790000 (paperback)
⚫
| title = Dissolution
  
−
| author = [[Richard Lee Byers]]
 +
| title = Dissolution
−
| publisher = [[Wizards of the Coast]]
 +
| author = [[Richard Lee Byers]]
  +
| cover_artist = [[Brom]]
⚫
| released = July 2002
  
  +
| inter_artist =
⚫
| reprinted = August 2003
  
−
| type = Novel
 +
| publisher = [[Wizards of the Coast]]
−
| binding = Hardcover / <br /> Mass Market Paperback
 +
| type = Novel
  +
| languages =
−
| pages = 320 (hardcover) <br /> 372 (paperback)
  
  +
| realm year = [[1372 DR]]<ref name="GHotR-p153">{{Cite book/The Grand History of the Realms|153}}</ref>
−
| isbn = 07-8692-683-8 / <br /> ISBN 07-8692-944-8
  
  +
| edition1 = Hardcover
−
| realm year = [[1372 DR]]
  
  ⚫
| released1 = July 2002
  +
| binding1 = Hardcover
  +
| pages1 = 320
  +
| isbn10-1 = 07-8692-683-8
  +
| isbn13-1 = 978-0786927142
  +
| cite1 = Hardcover
  +
| edition2 = Paperback
  ⚫
| released2 = August 2003
  +
| binding2 = Mass Market Paperback
  +
| pages2 = 372
  +
| isbn10-2 = 07-8692-944-8
  +
| isbn13-2 = 978-0786929443
  +
| cite2 = Paperback
  +
| edition3 =
  +
| released3 =
  +
| binding3 =
  +
| pages3 =
  +
| isbn10-3 =
  +
| isbn13-3 =
  +
| cite3 =
 
| series = [[War of the Spider Queen (novel series)|War of the Spider Queen]]
  
| series = [[War of the Spider Queen (novel series)|War of the Spider Queen]]
 
| preceded_by = ''none''
  
| preceded_by = ''none''
 
| followed_by = ''[[Insurrection]]''
  
| followed_by = ''[[Insurrection]]''
  +
| source = {{amazon|0786929448}}
 
}}
  
}}
−
'''''Dissolution''''' is the first book in the [[War of the Spider Queen]] series.
 +
'''''Dissolution''''' by [[Richard Lee Byers]] is the first book in the [[War of the Spider Queen]] series.
   
 
{{Quote|''[[Menzoberranzan]] the Mighty.''
  
{{Quote|''[[Menzoberranzan]] the Mighty.''
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''When the power that sustains the city is cut off at its source, enemies flood in from the darkness all around. And what greater enemy could a drow imagine than another drow?''}}
  
''When the power that sustains the city is cut off at its source, enemies flood in from the darkness all around. And what greater enemy could a drow imagine than another drow?''}}
−  
 
==Summary==
  
==Summary==
 
The city of [[Menzoberranzan]] is being subject to the [[Silence of Lolth]]: priestesses no longer have access to their clerical magic. Many [[drow]] males have apparently discovered this fact and run off. After an accident that kills several of his students, [[Pharaun Mizzrym]], a master of [[Sorcere]], is assigned by the [[Archmage of Menzoberranzan]] to track down those renegades to "redeem" himself. He convinces his friend [[Ryld Argith]], a master of [[Melee-Magthere]] who is bored of his position, to help him in this endeavour.
  
The city of [[Menzoberranzan]] is being subject to the [[Silence of Lolth]]: priestesses no longer have access to their clerical magic. Many [[drow]] males have apparently discovered this fact and run off. After an accident that kills several of his students, [[Pharaun Mizzrym]], a master of [[Sorcere]], is assigned by the [[Archmage of Menzoberranzan]] to track down those renegades to "redeem" himself. He convinces his friend [[Ryld Argith]], a master of [[Melee-Magthere]] who is bored of his position, to help him in this endeavour.
Line 29: Line 49:
 
Meanwhile, [[Gromph Baenre]] has decided to assassinate his sister, the matron mistress of [[Arach-Tinilith]], [[Quenthel Baenre]]. He sends several demon servants to complete the job, thwarted each time by Quenthel's skill in avoiding death. Quenthel discovers and frustrates a coup instigated by lower priestesses, slaying all of the rebels.
  
Meanwhile, [[Gromph Baenre]] has decided to assassinate his sister, the matron mistress of [[Arach-Tinilith]], [[Quenthel Baenre]]. He sends several demon servants to complete the job, thwarted each time by Quenthel's skill in avoiding death. Quenthel discovers and frustrates a coup instigated by lower priestesses, slaying all of the rebels.
   
−
Additionally, [[Faerzyl Zauvirr]], ambassador of [[Ched Nasad]] to Menzoberranzan, has been betrayed by her retainers to [[Matron Mother]] [[Triel Baenre]], who, fearing the dissemination of the priestesses' problem, forbids Faerzyl from venturing out into the [[Underdark]] to determine why no more caravans have traveled from Ched Nasad. Faerzyl is eventually captured by [[Valas Hune]] of [[Bregan D'aerthe]] and turned over to Triel, who allows her [[draegloth]] son [[Jeggred]] to torture her.
 +
Additionally, [[Faeryl Zauvirr]], ambassador of [[Ched Nasad]] to Menzoberranzan, has been betrayed by her retainers to [[Matron Mother]] [[Triel Baenre]], who, fearing the dissemination of the priestesses' problem, forbids Faeryl from venturing out into the [[Underdark]] to determine why no more caravans have traveled from Ched Nasad. Faeryl decides to disobey these orders and attempts to leave the city, but is captured by [[Valas Hune]] of [[Bregan D'aerthe]] and turned over to Triel. Triel then allows her [[draegloth]] son [[Jeggred]] to torture her.
   
−
Pharaun and Ryld spend time disguised as orcs in the poor district of [[Braeryn]]. They dodge an assassination attempt by Pharaun's sister [[Greyanna Mizzrym]] and discover that the undercreatures (mainly slaves and former slaves) have been secretly meeting with the renegade drow males. This renegade group, instigated by the [[alhoon|illithidlich]] [[Syrzan]], is planning an uprising of the undercreatures against the drow, with the intention of killing as many females as possible in order to take over the city themselves. Syrzan detects Pharaun's intentions to report the group's activities to the matron mothers of Menzoberranzan and attempts to kill him; despite Ryld's efforts to revive him, the recovered Pharaun betrays Ryld by leaving him behind to face the renegades on his own.
 +
Pharaun and Ryld spend time disguised as orcs in the poor district of [[Braeryn]]. They dodge an assassination attempt by Pharaun's sister [[Greyanna Mizzrym]] and discover that the undercreatures (mainly slaves and former slaves) have been secretly meeting with the renegade drow males. The two attack an Academy patrol to get the attention of the renegades and manage to secure themselves a meeting with them. They are approached by [[Houndaer Tuin'Tarl]], seemingly the leader of the group, and are asked to join the renegades.
   
  +
Upon arriving at the renegade's fortress, Pharaun and Ryld meet the [[alhoon|illithilich]] [[Syrzan]], who uses his psionic abilities to reveal the true intentions of the two Masters. It is revealed that Syrzan is planning an uprising of the undercreatures against the drow, with the intention of killing as many females as possible in order to take over the city themselves. Ryld and Pharaun are imprisoned, but manage to escape their cell in short order. The two search the hall for an exit, battling renegades along the, and eventually Pharaun decides his best hope for escape is to leave Ryld, who was injured earlier, behind. Upon doing so, he manages to make his way to the exit and escape.
−
In the end, Pharaun helps Triel and [[Tier Breche]] overcome the revolting slaves. As a "reward," Triel sends him, Ryld, Quenthel, Faerzyl, and Jeggred to Ched Nasad to determine the city's status.
  
  +
  +
Ryld fights his way to an empty room and enters a trance. He is later discovered by Houndaer and a couple other renegades, but in his heightened state he manages to defeat them with ease.
  +
  +
Pharaun, meanwhile, heads to Arach-Tinilith and informs Quenthel of the slave revolt. Together, they marshal the forces of the Academy and descend on the slaves. They battle their way through the city, gathering more and more troops as they go along, and eventually meet up with Triel and the forces of House Baenre. Together, they wipe out the last of the slaves, and Gromph summons a rainstorm to put out the fires caused by the undercreatures.
  +
  +
Pharaun, seeking further glory, gathers a group of warriors to help him take the fight to Syrzan before he can escape. At the fortress, they meet up with Ryld, who has slaughtered many of the renegades, and manage to defeat Syrzan and the remaining renegades.
  +
  +
After all is said and done, Gromph approaches Triel and warns her that now that the priestesses' secret is out, chaos will soon follow. He advises her to send Quenthel and Pharaun away because of the threats they pose, and she agrees to send them to Ched Nasad to investigate their sudden silence and determine if they know anything about the Silence of Lolth. They also decide to send along Ryld, Faeryl, and Valas Hune.
  +
  +
All five are summoned before the council and informed of their mission. Quenthel, Valas, and Pharaun all seem eager to go, as does Faeryl until Triel reveals she intends to send Jeggred along as well. Meanwhile, [[Waerva Baenre]], the one who fed Triel false information about Faeryl, attempts to flee the city and is killed by [[kobolds]].
   
 
==Characters==
  
==Characters==
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===Supporting characters===
  
===Supporting characters===
−
* [[Faerzyl Zauvirr]], ambassador of [[Ched Nasad]] to Menzoberranzan
 +
* [[Faeryl Zauvirr]], ambassador of [[Ched Nasad]] to Menzoberranzan
 
* [[Gromph Baenre]], [[Archmage of Menzoberranzan]]
  
* [[Gromph Baenre]], [[Archmage of Menzoberranzan]]
 
* [[Greyanna Mizzrym]], sister to Pharaun
  
* [[Greyanna Mizzrym]], sister to Pharaun
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===Minor characters===
  
===Minor characters===
−
* [[Drisinil Barrison Del'Armgo]], priestess instigating a coup against Triel Baenre
 +
* [[Drisinil Armgo|Drisinil Barrison Del'Armgo]], priestess instigating a coup against Quenthel Baenre
 
* [[Houndaer Tuin'Tarl]], a ringleader of male drow outcasts
  
* [[Houndaer Tuin'Tarl]], a ringleader of male drow outcasts
 
* [[Valas Hune]], scout of [[Bregan D'aerthe]]
  
* [[Valas Hune]], scout of [[Bregan D'aerthe]]
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* [[Northdark]]
  
* [[Northdark]]
   
  +
==Spells==
  +
* [[Darts of force]]
  +
  +
==References==
 
{{refs}}
  
{{refs}}
   
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[[Category:Works by Richard Lee Byers]]
  
[[Category:Works by Richard Lee Byers]]
 
[[Category:Published in 2002]]
  
[[Category:Published in 2002]]
  +
[[Category:Published in 2003]]

Revision as of 22:30, 31 August 2019

Dissolution by Richard Lee Byers is the first book in the War of the Spider Queen series.

“
Menzoberranzan the Mighty.

City of grandeur and cruelty, home of deadly swordsmen and diabolical necromancers, the brightest jewel of the vast subterranean world called the Underdark, and proudest achievement of the sinister race known as the drow, Menzoberranzan is a place with a mystery at its heart, a secret flaw that threatens to destroy it.

When the power that sustains the city is cut off at its source, enemies flood in from the darkness all around. And what greater enemy could a drow imagine than another drow?
”

Summary

The city of Menzoberranzan is being subject to the Silence of Lolth: priestesses no longer have access to their clerical magic. Many drow males have apparently discovered this fact and run off. After an accident that kills several of his students, Pharaun Mizzrym, a master of Sorcere, is assigned by the Archmage of Menzoberranzan to track down those renegades to "redeem" himself. He convinces his friend Ryld Argith, a master of Melee-Magthere who is bored of his position, to help him in this endeavour.

Meanwhile, Gromph Baenre has decided to assassinate his sister, the matron mistress of Arach-Tinilith, Quenthel Baenre. He sends several demon servants to complete the job, thwarted each time by Quenthel's skill in avoiding death. Quenthel discovers and frustrates a coup instigated by lower priestesses, slaying all of the rebels.

Additionally, Faeryl Zauvirr, ambassador of Ched Nasad to Menzoberranzan, has been betrayed by her retainers to Matron Mother Triel Baenre, who, fearing the dissemination of the priestesses' problem, forbids Faeryl from venturing out into the Underdark to determine why no more caravans have traveled from Ched Nasad. Faeryl decides to disobey these orders and attempts to leave the city, but is captured by Valas Hune of Bregan D'aerthe and turned over to Triel. Triel then allows her draegloth son Jeggred to torture her.

Pharaun and Ryld spend time disguised as orcs in the poor district of Braeryn. They dodge an assassination attempt by Pharaun's sister Greyanna Mizzrym and discover that the undercreatures (mainly slaves and former slaves) have been secretly meeting with the renegade drow males. The two attack an Academy patrol to get the attention of the renegades and manage to secure themselves a meeting with them. They are approached by Houndaer Tuin'Tarl, seemingly the leader of the group, and are asked to join the renegades.

Upon arriving at the renegade's fortress, Pharaun and Ryld meet the illithilich Syrzan, who uses his psionic abilities to reveal the true intentions of the two Masters. It is revealed that Syrzan is planning an uprising of the undercreatures against the drow, with the intention of killing as many females as possible in order to take over the city themselves. Ryld and Pharaun are imprisoned, but manage to escape their cell in short order. The two search the hall for an exit, battling renegades along the, and eventually Pharaun decides his best hope for escape is to leave Ryld, who was injured earlier, behind. Upon doing so, he manages to make his way to the exit and escape.

Ryld fights his way to an empty room and enters a trance. He is later discovered by Houndaer and a couple other renegades, but in his heightened state he manages to defeat them with ease.

Pharaun, meanwhile, heads to Arach-Tinilith and informs Quenthel of the slave revolt. Together, they marshal the forces of the Academy and descend on the slaves. They battle their way through the city, gathering more and more troops as they go along, and eventually meet up with Triel and the forces of House Baenre. Together, they wipe out the last of the slaves, and Gromph summons a rainstorm to put out the fires caused by the undercreatures.

Pharaun, seeking further glory, gathers a group of warriors to help him take the fight to Syrzan before he can escape. At the fortress, they meet up with Ryld, who has slaughtered many of the renegades, and manage to defeat Syrzan and the remaining renegades.

After all is said and done, Gromph approaches Triel and warns her that now that the priestesses' secret is out, chaos will soon follow. He advises her to send Quenthel and Pharaun away because of the threats they pose, and she agrees to send them to Ched Nasad to investigate their sudden silence and determine if they know anything about the Silence of Lolth. They also decide to send along Ryld, Faeryl, and Valas Hune.

All five are summoned before the council and informed of their mission. Quenthel, Valas, and Pharaun all seem eager to go, as does Faeryl until Triel reveals she intends to send Jeggred along as well. Meanwhile, Waerva Baenre, the one who fed Triel false information about Faeryl, attempts to flee the city and is killed by kobolds.

Characters

Main characters

Supporting characters

Minor characters

Locations

Spells

References

  1. ↑ Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 153. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
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