Kefkas's Master

She declared a half-elf child "no one's property" at a Menzoberranzan slave auction, bidding in platinum against the Matron of House Baenre. She trained him, protected him, and died — or disappeared — shoving him through a closing portcullis. He has been looking for her ever since.

Background

Who She Was

A drow noblewoman of House Oblodra — a house defined by its use of psionics rather than conventional divine or arcane magic, which made it perpetually suspect in Lolth's hierarchy. She was a woman of rank and discipline inside a house that was already under scrutiny from House Baenre and the Ruling Eight.

Her name is unknown to Kefkas. He has always called her "Master" — the word she accepted without correcting him.

Role in Kefkas's Life

The Auction (1480 DR)

Kefkas was 7 years old when his parents were killed on a drow slave march to Menzoberranzan. He was taken to auction. Quenthel Baenre was bidding for him — something about the boy had drawn the Matron Mother's interest.

She outbid Quenthel. She paid in platinum. When the auctioneer confirmed the sale she said:

"He is no one's property."

Training (1481–1482 DR)

She trained Kefkas in blind fighting, blade work, and discipline. Her method was rigorous without being cruel — she prepared him to survive, not to serve.

Her guiding philosophy:

"Even a blade forged in darkness can be wielded for honour."

She protected him from his own sister Araj Oblodra, who wanted Kefkas as a psionic research subject. Whatever House Oblodra's predatory internal culture demanded, she placed herself between Kefkas and it.

The Fall of House Oblodra (1482 DR)

House Baenre and allied houses launched an assault on House Oblodra — citing Oblodra's use of psionics (unsanctioned by Lolth) and suspected interbreeding with mind flayers as justifications. The attack was decisive. The House collapsed.

She and Kefkas fought their way through kin-turned-enemies in the chaos. Kefkas made his first kill during this fight.

At a portcullis — the only way out — she shoved him through as it was closing.

"Go — now!"

He tumbled into the sewer system beneath Menzoberranzan, was carried by the current to Skullport, and surfaced in Waterdeep. He has not seen her since.

What She Left Behind

Kefkas became "The Stinging Bard" — pit fighter, performer, survivor. The core of who he is was shaped by two years under her instruction: the discipline to fight blind, the philosophy that honour is not a thing given by birth or house, and the habit of looking for her in every city he reaches.

He came to Luskan originally because he heard of a young man bearing the Baenre name — a thread that might lead back to what destroyed her house. Whether this young man is Othorion and whether the connection holds is unconfirmed.

GM Notes

Threads

• Is she alive? If so, where, and under what identity?
• What did she know about Kefkas's apparent significance (why did Quenthel want him)?
• What was her actual relationship with Lolth — was she a secret instrument of Lolth's will, or simply someone Lolth chose to view charitably in retrospect?
• Does she know Kefkas is now in Faerûn, fighting alongside the party?
• What happened to Araj Oblodra?