Methil El - Viddenvelp Methil El - Viddenvelp was an illithid from Phanlinksal who served Yvonnel Baenre , and later Quenthel Baenre , as a secret advisor in the drow city of Menzoberranzan . He was also the founder of the Sept of Ill ' Ghact . Descriptions . Methil was about 6 ft ( 1 . 8 m ) . His head was slimy and resembled a squid with pure white eyes . By 1484 DR , Methil had become extremely powerful , existing more in mind than in body . By that point , he was also insane , either from his injury or great power , or perhaps from both . History . Background . Methil was originally from the illithid city of Phanlinksal , where he was born from the host of a human sorcerer . He quickly became one of the most influential members of the city . When House Baenre , the ruling house of Menzoberranzan , threatened the illithids , Methil agreed to serve as an advisor to Matron Mother Yvonnel Baenre in order that the settlement be spared . It was also believed that he was a " double agent " keeping tabs on the drow city . Methil served Matron Baenre as her chief ( and secret ) advisor on affairs outside the city — as well as providing her with valuable insight on Ruling Council affairs . ( She even built a secret room attached to the chamber of the Ruling Council where he could spy on their meetings . ) Methil was particularly valuable to Matron Baenre in helping her understand the psionic powers of House Oblodra . Sept of Ill ' Ghact . In 1339 DR , Phanlinksal was destroyed while Methil was still in Menzoberranzan . The next year , Methil founded the Sept of Ill ' Ghact , a hidden society of illithids and thralls intent on rebuilding Phanlinksal and restoring the elder brain . His greatest success was implanting an illithid tadpole in a drow psion from House Oblodra , which subsequently became an ulitharid named Galgast , capable of serving as the foundation for the elder brain . Injury . In 1358 DR , Methil was involved in the drow attack on Mithral Hall and was believed dead . In truth , he had been badly injured but was rescued ( by Bregan D ' aerthe ) and brought back to the tunnels outside of the city , where he remained for more than a century . Leadership of the Sept of Ill ' Ghact eventually passed into the hands of Galgast . Return . In 1484 DR , Gromph Baenre brought Matron Mother Quenthel Baenre to Methil , who infused her with the memories and indeed some of the personality of their late mother . Quenthel subsequently became much bolder in her actions and planned a Surface conquest for the glory of Lolth . Methil provided the " Darkening " spell to Tsabrak Xorlarrin to aid in Quenthel ' s plans . Gromph and Quenthel believed Methil to be quite diminished , but in reality , he was still connected to the illithid hive mind . Kimmuriel Oblodra , who spent a great deal of time with the illithids , was able to secretly gain information from Methil ' s perspective and discuss it with Jarlaxle . After Dahlia Sin ' felle and Artemis Entreri were captured by the drow in Q ' Xorlarrin in 1484 DR , Methil invaded Dahlia ' s mind , effectively turning her insane and later allowing her to connect with the will of Lolth . He later used his psionic abilities to save Dahlia ' s life after a tunnel collapse , before turning her over to Gromph and Quenthel . Methil was subsequently used to further Quenthel Baenre ' s designs on the Silver Marches , including mindwashing the brothers of Thrym to Quenthel ' s cause .