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Daughter of the Drow is the first book in the Starlight & Shadows trilogy by Elaine Cunningham.

Beautiful as she is deadly, Liriel Baenre flits through the shadows of Menzoberranzan, city of the dark elves. Amid treachery and murder that are the drow's daily fare, she feels something calling to her... something beyond this dusky world far removed from the sun. Yet as she ventures toward the surface and the lands of light, enemies pursue her unceasingly. And one enemy may offer her the only hope of salvation.

Summary[]

Liriel Baenre is the prized daughter of Gromph Baenre and therefore a princess of House Baenre in Menzoberranzan. Although Gromph has been able to train her in wizardry and keep her away from the wiles of the priestesses, Matron Mother Triel Baenre insists that she enter the clerical academy of Arach-Tinilith to become a priestess of Lolth. There her practical jokes gain her the enmity of Shakti Hunzrin. Her desire to visit the surface prompts her to study portal magic with her tutor, Kharza-kzad Xorlarrin, and she is able to transport her self to the High Forest, where she meets several followers of Eilistraee.

Meanwhile, Fyodor seeks the Windwalker amulet on a quest he received due to his inability to control his berserker rages. The amulet, which had formerly been held in a tower in Rashemen, has been stolen by a wizard (later revealed to be Merdrith) and then stolen again by a band of drow mercenaries of the Dragon's Hoard. Fyodor follows them through a portal to the Underdark near Menzoberranzan.

Liriel learns of the Windwalker through surface books obtained by Nisstyre, leader of the Dragon's Hoard, and during one of her jaunts out of the city she finds the amulet on the body of a dead drow killed by deep bats. She plans to use the Windwalker to store her drow magic and allow her to travel to the surface. However, the priestesses of Menzoberranzan catch wind of her plan and plot her demise. Shakti allies with Nisstyre in this attempt. Liriel escapes to the surface, joining with Fyodor as she flees her pursuers. They travel to Skullport, entering Waterdeep with the help of Danilo Thann.

Once at the Promenade of the Dark Maiden near Skullport, Liriel and Fyodor join forces with the chosen of Eilistraee and with the deep dragon Zz'Pzora to assault and defeat the Dragon's Hoard headquarters. However, although they have temporarily waylaid their pursuers, Liriel and Fyodor still have far to travel to master the magic of the Windwalker to aid both of them in their goals.

Editions[]

Edition Pages ISBN-10 ISBN-13 Publisher Published Citation
Hardcover 314 0786901659 978-0786901654 TSR, Inc. 1995-09
Mass Market Paperback 352 078690514X 978-0786905140 TSR, Inc. 1996-09-09
Mass Market Paperback 352 0786929294 978-0786929290 Wizards of the Coast 2003-02-01

Index[]

Click here for page index

Characters[]

BrizznarthBythnara ShobalarChirankCodfaelDanilo ThannDargathan Srune'LettElkantarFyodorGalinda Raventree AmcathraGhilanna TlabbarGorlistGromph BaenreHengeHesken-P'aj SymryvvinIljrene AhbruynKer HorlbarKharza-kzad XorlarrinKyrnir KenafinLiriel BaenreMiz'ri MizzrymMod'Vensis TlabbarNisstyrePhraxQilué VeladornRegnet AmcathraSaidaSashaShakti HunzrinSos'Umptu BaenreSsasserSyzwickToskerTriel BaenreYsolde VeladornZeerith Q'XorlarrinZeld MizzrymZz'Pzora
Referenced only
Auro'pol DyrrBerg'inyon BaenreHrolf the UnrulyKinuere HunzrinMerith BaenreMez'Barris ArmgoStara Baba • Suzonia • Anastra Syluné SilverhandYvonnel Baenre

Creatures[]

cowcricketdeep bat (dragazharnighthunter)darkenbeastdeerdragon (deep dragon)dwarfelf (drowforest elfhalf-drowsilver elf)feygiant sluggiant squidgoatgoblinoid (goblin)gnollgolem (ice golem)halflinghorse (mountain pony)human (CalishiteRashemiRusTuigan)impkoboldlichdrowminotaurnaga (dark naga)ogreorcpyrimoquaggothratravenriding lizardrothéspider (giant spider)yochlol
Referenced only
bansheebeholderbugbearchickencrowdogfoxglabrezuhummingbirdillithidlizardmedusamouseplace spiritred dragonshrimpsnakesnowcattrollwolfwyvern

Items[]

bracerschainmaileverdark inkflintharppotionquillraftspellbooktimeclocktorchvellumwand

Food & Drink[]

jhuildteaulaverwine

Substances[]

adamantineamberblack sapphirediamonddrow steelelven steelgoldichorinklacquermithralobsidianonyxplatinumpoison (drow knockout poison)silksteel

Weapons[]

boloclubcrossbowdaggerdartpitchforkslingspearsword
Referenced only
obsidian

Languages[]

Commondrow languagegoblin language

Locations[]

Eilistraee's PromenadeFaerûnHigh ForestLake DonigartenRashemenTier BrecheUnderdark

Buildings[]

Arach-TinilithPromenade TempleSorcereSpelltower XorlarrinSteaming Kettle

Settlements[]

Menzoberranzan (BazaarDonigartenManyfolk districtNarbondellynQu'ellarz'orl)SkullportTrollbridgeWaterdeep (Sewers)

Landmarks[]

Banshee's NeedleDark Maiden's GladeDrygully TunnelNarbondelRiver Dessarin
Referenced only
AnaurochAshenwoodCalimshanCalling HornsChed NasadDead Dragon GorgeDead Horse FordEvermoor WayHigh ForestIronford PathIsle of RotheLake Ashanelower planes (AbyssNine Hells) • Melee-MagthereMithral HallNesméPromenade TempleRiver DessarinRuathymSea of Fallen StarsSilverymoonSshamathTarterusThayTriboarYggdrasilYggdrasil's Child

Magic[]

cantripfaerzressrune magicteleportation

Magic Items[]

Amulet of Plelthangcuff of regenerationdriftdiscelven bootspiwafwiring of teleportationscourge of fangsscrying bowlscrying gemsinging swordthird eyewand of firewand of lichdomWindwalker

Spells[]

acid boltAganazzar's scorcherdarknessdeath spiderdetect magicfaerie fireflame arrowgatefireballinvisibilitylevitatelightning boltmagic missilesendingsummon spidervenom boltweb
Referenced only
circle magicwitchboat

Miscellaneous[]

archmageavatarbarbarianchosendajemmafamiliarinfravisionmaterial componentoaknedeirrareverierunetattooyew
Referenced only
Selûne (moon)Spider's kiss (drow)Time of Troubles

Organizations[]

Dragon's HoardHouse BaenreHouse Barrison Del'ArmgoHouse Faen TlabbarHouse HorlbarHouse HunzrinHouse KenafinHouse MizzrymHouse ShobalarHouse Srune'LettHouse SymryvvinHouse VandreeHouse XorlarrinProtectors of the SongRuling Council of EightRashemaar berserkers
Referenced only
Fangs of RashemenGrand Army of the TuiganHarpersHouse Agrach DyrrHouse Tun'TarlHouse ZinardOld OnesWychlaran

Religion[]

EilistraeeLolthVhaeraun
Referenced only

Appendix[]

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Elaine Cunningham. What Happened Before Daughter of the Drow?. Retrieved on 2010-1-14.
  2. Elaine Cunningham (July 2003). Daughter of the Drow (Mass Market Paperback). (Wizards of the Coast), p. 7. ISBN 978-0786929290.
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