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Many forces attacked Menzoberranzan while their Clerics were unable to regain spells through prayer during the Silence of Lolth. These attacks culminated in a proper seige of the city by Duergar and Demonic/Goblinoid mixbreeds.

Menzoberranzan before the Silence of Lolth:

Drow: 400 Clr, 200 Ftr, 200 Wiz, 200 Rog(Braegan D'Aerth), 9000 War, 10000 Com

Slaves: 5000 War, 5000 Com

• Clr=Cleric, Ftr=Fighter, Wiz=Wizard, Rog=Rogue, War=Warrior, Com=Commoner

Army of Gracklstugh invading force:

Commander: Prince Horgar Steelshadow

Duergar: 4000 Duergar War1

Slaves: 1000 Orc War1

The first large scale battle during the Silence of Lolth was a slave revolt led by an Alhoon named Syrzan. Though the slave forces were numerous, the plan hinged on their leader. When Pharaun defeated Syrzan the revolt fell apart. Virtually all of the goblinoid slaves trained for war were killed.

Menzoberranzan after the Alhoon-led slave revolt:

Drow: 400 Clr, 200 Ftr, 200 Wiz, 200 Rog, 8000 War, 9000 Com

Slaves: 0 War, 5000 Com

A small battle occurred at a "small outpost" called Rhazzt's Dilemna. Half the troops stationed there were traitors who ambushed the other half then delivered a false report to Menzoberranzan about the distance and time-of-arrival of the approaching armies. Death toll estimated at 20 Drow Warriors.

The leaders of Menzoberranzan, unable to scry the Duergar army due to Wizard counter spells, sends 200 Warrior scouts on War Lizards under Nimor's command to the Pillars of Woe to scout and hold the pass against invaders. They arrive in 1.5 days. The invading army is already there and 100 of the scouts are Nimor's men. They ambush the other 100 scouts. Death toll 100 Drow Warriors.

The second large scale battle leading up to the Battle of Menzoberranzan was an ambush at the Pillars of Woe. Nimor (under the alias of an Agrach Dyrr noble Zhayemd) lines up his 100 Warrior scouts on War Lizards across the pass, acting like he is defending it. Meanwhile, about half of Menzoberranzan's forces form The Army of the Spider. The Army of the Spider's command pavillions arrive in 3 days, leading the way into the vast cavern through three tunnels, essentially a bottleneck since most of their forces are behind them. 300 hidden Duergar on War Lizards rise from underground holes and charge the small number of Drow that have entered the cavern. The 100 traitor Drow Warrior scouts on war lizards also charge. Rushing up behind them from the gorge below is the entire Duergar army. Essentially, the cavern has been filled up with Duergar and War Lizards while the Drow are bottlenecked at the three tunnel entrances. This effectively creates a numerical advantage for the invaders. The disadvantage is that the Duergar are in the famous "fireball formation" and the Drow Wizards do a fair job of neutralizing the advantage. Then, through an illusory cavern wall on the eastern side of the cavern, the whole of the Scoured Legion poured forth and once again the Drow are outnumbered. The Drow retreat, losing all of their supply trains to the Duergar Army and the Scoured Legion.

Menzoberranzan after the Battle at the Pillars of Woe:

Drow: 350 Clr, 150 Ftr, 150 Wiz, 200 Rog, 7000 War, 9000 Com

Slaves: 0 War, 4000 Com

Army of Gracklstugh after the Battle at the Pillars of Woe:

Duergar: 3500 Duergar War1

Slaves: 500 Orc War1

Scoured Legion after the Battle at the Pillars of Woe:

Commander: Kaanyr Vhok

Tanarukk: 1000

Orc/Ogre/Troll/Giant Mix: 1000

Now the siege of Menzoberranzan begins. The only way into the city is via tunnels which are bottlenecks. The drow take Superior Cover at the tunnel entrances and the invaders take Superior Cover inside the tunnels and they exchange missile fire. Any time the invaders rush into the city, they take severe casualties due to the bottleneck effect and the defender's Superior Cover, ranged attacks, and rooftop positioning. The invaders counter this stalemate by hurling Stonefire Bombs out into the city from behind palisades or via ballistas. The Stonefire Bombs slowly burn the structures the Drow are using for Superior Cover and positioning. The invader's progress is slow, but sure. There are a couple notable break-throughs of bands, but generally speaking the Drow keep the invaders at bay until Lolth begins granting spells to her Clerics again. Then, the Drow simply advance, trading injury for injury and retreating for healing. While the Duergar have less healing magic to fall back on. The invaders sense their advantage is lost and eventually retreat.

Menzoberranzan after the siege:

Drow: 350 Clr, 150 Ftr, 150 Wiz, 200 Rog, 6000 War, 9000 Com

Slaves: 0 War, 3000 Com

Army of Gracklstugh after the siege:

Duergar: 2500 Duergar War1

Slaves: 0 War1

Scoured Legion after the siege:

Commander: Kaanyr Vhok

Tanarukk: 500

Orc/Ogre/Troll/Giant Mix: 500

SourcesEdit

War of the Spider Queen