Condemnation Condemnation by Richard Baker is the third book in the War of the Spider Queen series . Summary . The group of drow adventurers - - Quenthel Baenre , Pharaun Mizzrym , Jeggred Baenre , Halisstra Melarn , Danifae Yauntyrr , Ryld Argith , and Valas Hune - - are continuing to seek answers for Silence of Lolth . Escaping through a portal from the fall of Ched Nasad , they wind up in the ruins of the Netherese city Hlaungadath in Anauroch . They commit to seeking help from another god by contacting Valas ' s acquaintance Tzirik , a priest of Vhaeraun , whom Valas last saw in the the Labyrinth in the Northdark . Pharaun is able to shadow walk the group there , but they find that House Jaelre has left for the surface . Meanwhile , Nimor Imphraezl and the drow princes of the Jaezred Chaulssin are plotting the downfall of Menzoberranzan , just as they had facilitated the fall of Ched Nasad . Nimor first approaches the King Horgar Steelshadow of the duergar city Gracklstugh , promising him a way to defeat the drow . His plan includes uniting multiple allies , namely House Agrach Dyrr to have them turn on their fellow drow , and the untrustworthy half - demon warlord Kaanyr Vhok and his tanarukk army . As part of Nimor ' s plot , the Archmage of Menzoberranzan , Gromph Baenre , is approached by Lich drow Lord Dyrr . When Gromph refuses to join with Dyrr in a coup against the matriarchy of Menzoberranzan , Dyrr banishes him to an unknown location . After his disappearance , the city ' s wizards are distracted by their attempts to determine who will be the next archmage ; Matron Mother Triel Baenre orders the wizard Nauzhror Baenre to support a candidate from House Xorlarrin or House Agrach Dyrr in order to solidify an alliance . Quenthel ' s group take a portal from the Labyrinth to Cormanthor and , with the help of a spell cast by Pharaun , are able to determine in which direction to travel to find House Jaelre and Tzirik . Along the way , they are attacked by the forces of Elventree . Halisstra is captured , but the others escape and make it to Minauthkeep , the home House Jaelre . They solicit Tzirik ' s help to contact his god to find out what has happened to Lolth , but he first insists that they help Jezz the Lame retrieve " Geildirion of Cimbar " book from the lair of a beholder in the ruins of Myth Drannor . Once the book is obtained , Tzirik reveals that he has learned Lolth is alive but not speaking or leaving her temple in the Demonweb Pits . Meanwhile , Halisstra escape her captor , the Lord Dessaer , by killing Seyll Auzkovyn when the Eilistraee an priestess attempts to convert her . Back in the Underdark , Nimor , posing as " Captain Zheyemd " of House Agrach Dyrr , leads Menzoberranzan ' s Army of the Black Spider to a trap at the Pillars of Woe . They are ambushed by the duergar army and Vhok ' s forces , and they are betrayed by the soldiers of Agrach Dyrr . A quarter to a third of the drow army is lost before Triel Baenre learns of the tide of battle and sends House Baenre forces to rescue them . The army retreats to Menzoberranzan in preparation for a siege , while the opposing armies pursue them . Quenthel ' s group decide to take up Tzirik ' s offer to take their souls directly to the Demonweb Pits via astral projection to seek Lolth themselves . Once there , Lolth does not respond to any of their entreaties . Tzirik opens a gate and brings his own god , Vhaeraun directly into the domain of Lolth , where he attempts to slay the goddess . Selvetarm interferes and drags himself and Vhaeraun to the bottom of the Pits . Quenthel ' s group fights Tzirik in an attempt to save Lolth and escape , but are only successful when Jeggred , who was left behind to guard their bodies , slays Tzirik . However , their faith in Lolth - - particularly Halisstra ' s - - has been badly shaken .