Velkynvelve

**Velkynvelve** (Drowic for 'Unseen Knife') is a small drow outpost in the Northdark, east of the Darklake and near to the kuo-toa village of Sloobludop. It is subject to the laws and dictates of Menzoberranzan, and was established as a joint operation between Houses Mizzrym, Duskryn, and Vandree. Its purpose is to collect slaves captured in various raids, before taking those captives to Menzoberranzan to be workers or sacrifices to Lolth.

## Geography & Description

Velkynvelve is located high in a cavern, built 100 feet above its rocky floor. The outpost consists of a series of small caves in the cavern walls and four hollowed-out stalactites connected by walkways, stairs, and rope bridges. The towers are concealed by the thick webs of giant spiders stretched below them, so that only the lowermost parts of the stalactites are visible from the cavern floor.

Three caves and two hanging towers surrounding a platform make up the main part of the outpost, housing its drow warriors. The largest of the hanging towers is reserved for the priestesses and the shrine of Lolth, while the other is a guard tower opposite the cave used to hold slaves. North of the slave pen is the den of the outpost's quaggoth servants.

## Government

Velkynvelve, being just a small slaver's outpost subject to the great city of Menzoberranzan, has a simple power structure. At its head is the Mistress of Velkynvelve, usually pertaining to House Mizzrym, with a junior priestess present to learn from the mistress. Below both priestesses are the elite drow males, and below them were the garrison's warriors and quaggoth servants. Since the outpost's founding after the War of the Spider Queen, the outpost has changed leadership three times, being led each time by a High Priestess of House Mizzrym. During that time House Vandree has supplied the most elites and soldiers, as well as the most young priestesses. House Duskryn has only ever provided a single drow elite, as well as a token force of soldiers- though the male scion they sent held the spot of Captain for over nearly a century before he was demoted.

As of 1487 DR, Velkynvelve was being led by Mistress Ilvara Mizzrym, with a single Vandree junior priestess under her command. Her captain of the guard was at one point the respected Jorlan Duskryn, until she replaced him as both a captain and her lover with the younger male Shoor Vandree.

## History

Velkynvelve was established in the year 1375 DR under the order of the Great Council of Menzoberranzan, as a part of the city's attempts to regain power in the region after the disastrous Silence of Lolth. The administration of the outpost was meant to be a joint operation of Houses Mizzrym and Vandree, though House Duskryn would play a minor part in the outpost's defense through their first son Jorlan Duskryn. With the Mistress Aunrae Mizzrym as its first leader, the outpost would go on to thrive in its task of being a slaver outpost.

As of 1487 DR, the outpost was under control of Mistress Ilvara Mizzrym, with her lover Shoor Vandree in charge of drow males. The former captain of the guard Jorlan had been demoted during her rule of Velkynvelve, leading the drow elite to hold a grudge against both Shoor and his Mistress. This would go on to cause a large escape, as Jorlan Duskryn would later go on to help a group of fourteen prisoners escape just to make his former lover and her new lover look incompetent. During the escape, the outpost was also attacked by Chasme demons, who had been following a Vrock before the chase led them all to Velkynvelve's cavern. During the escape from the outpost, the former prisoner Eldeth Feldrun died after a deadly encounter with a psychic gray ooze, though the thirteen others managed to flee and make their way to nearby Sloobludop.

According to Sarith Kzekarit, a former soldier of Velkynvelve, the drow would go on to follow the party and their companions, though they did not succeed in reaching the ex-prisoners before they had made their way to Blingdenstone.

## Notable Inhabitants

* **Asha Vandree**, the Junior Priestess of Lolth in 1487 DR.
* **Ilvara Mizzrym**, the Mistress of Velkynvelve in 1487 DR and a High Priestess of Lolth.
* **Jorlan Duskryn**, the captain of the guard in Velkynvelve until his demotion by Ilvara Mizzrym. After that, he remained the drow elite warrior at her side, though he held a grudge.
* **Sarith Kzekarit**, a former soldier of House Mizzrym, born of a commoner family owned by the House. He served as one of the outpost's scouts until he was imprisoned for allegedly murdering a fellow soldier in a fit of madness. He participated in the escape attempt, aiming to seek refuge in Neverlight Grove.
* **Shoor Vandree**, the current captain of the guard and young lover of Ilvara Mizzrym, who replaced Jorlan after he lost the Mistress' favor.