Nezznar Xorlarrin

**Nezznar Xorlarrin**, also known as the **"Black Spider"** or the **"Black Drider"**, was a drow who was in search of the Forge of Spells in Wave Echo Cave.

Sometime in 1491 DR, he sent the bugbears Grol and Klarg to take control of the Cragmaw tribe of goblins. Grol took over as king of the Cragmaws and ruled in Cragmaw Castle, while Klarg took over as leader of the Cragmaw Hideout.

Godon "Blackhand" Lugar, Alaya of Agedon, and Allamir Cromwell attacked Cragmaw Hideout, in search of Gundren Rockseeker, where they found out that an individual known as the Black Spider was involved in Gundren's disappearance.

After heading to Cragmaw Castle and taking on Grol, they were attacked by a drow named Vyerith. After dispatching of her, the adventurers found a note on Vyerith which revealed that she was Nezznar's sister. The note confirmed that Nezznar was working with the goblins and had orchestrated Gundren's kidnapping, who had a map of the entrance to the Wave Echo Cave. Furthermore, the note hinted that Nezznar and Vyerith were working with a mysterious individual named Zalto.

It was later revealed that Nezznar was allied with the leader of the Redbrands in Phandalin, Glasstaff. The two had been in contact, and Nezznar specifically asked him in a letter to take care of the adventurers that were coming to town. The letter confirmed that Nezznar was indeed the mysterious Black Spider.

On 22 Ches 1491 DR, Godon, Alaya, Allamir, Lucy, and Protonian, during their raid in Wave Echo Cave, encountered Vhalak Xorlarrin, which they thought to have been the Black Spider. In an attempt to flee from them, the drow led them to the Temple of Dumathoin, where the real Black Spider was, accompanied by two giant spiders. The adventurers fought valiantly against the drow and eventually managed to corner and overpower the Black Spider.

With his dying breath, Nezznar asked the drow goddess Lolth for strength to defeat his enemies, but the deity punished him for failing his test by turning him into a drider. The adventurers managed to defeat the monstrosity, thus ultimately ending both the Black Spider and the Black Drider.

   After Nezznar's death, Lucy found a letter on his person addressed to him by his uncle, Draac Xorlarrin:

Dearest nephew,

It appears that the cave is somehow connected with the volcano via an underground water spring. It is possible that the primordial's magic from the volcano is seeping through to the cave and powering the Forge of Spells.

As for our other business, I'm sending Vhalak and Vyerith to assist you in getting access to the spellforge. If a fragment of the Vonindod was indeed buried within reach, the divining rod will lead you to it.

Upon collection of the fragment, meet me in Gauntlgrym. Together we shall march to Ironslag and deliver our finds to Duke Zalto.

Make haste. Fire giants are not known for their patience.

Highest regards,

Draac XorlarrinThrough the letter, the adventurers discovered that the mysterious Zalto they had heard of before was apparently a fire giant who resided in Ironslag. Apparently, Duke Zalto had tasked House Xorlarrin with certain tasks that linked the Forge of Spells with the old dwarven fortress city of Gauntlgrym.

Alluded to in the letter, Nezznar had a Rod of the Vonindod, which could be used to locate a Fragment of the Vonindod within 10 miles.

Finally, Nezznar also had an iron key with a head shaped like an anvil, which opened the door next to the Temple of Dumathoin, where Nundro Rockseeker was kept as a prisoner.