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{{ up to date | 2024-01 | {{ up to date | 2024-02-01 }} | ||
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{{Infobox character | {{Infobox character | ||
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Despite her overt dislike for others, she is an observant person, always studying those that surround her. Minthara often understands the plights of her companions, even if she doesn't necessarily care for them, and she's always willing to give them a solution in her own way. Though her methods may sometimes be extreme, they always have a sound reasoning. Still, she doesn't support mindless cruelty if it serves no purpose, and even shows a weak spot for [[Scratch]]. If romanced, she also shows that she harbours doubts about her life and circumstances. | Despite her overt dislike for others, she is an observant person, always studying those that surround her. Minthara often understands the plights of her companions, even if she doesn't necessarily care for them, and she's always willing to give them a solution in her own way. Though her methods may sometimes be extreme, they always have a sound reasoning. Still, she doesn't support mindless cruelty if it serves no purpose, and even shows a weak spot for [[Scratch]]. If romanced, she also shows that she harbours doubts about her life and circumstances. | ||
Whether due to her looks or attitude, Minthara reveals she's had quite a few lovers in the past and even has a few suitors among the goblins,{{ | Whether due to her looks or attitude, Minthara reveals she's had quite a few lovers in the past and even has a few suitors among the goblins, unbeknownst to her.{{cite text|Parchment (Goblin Camp)|Unknown}}{{cite text|Unfinished Love Letter|[[Klagga]]}} | ||
If recruited and freed from the Absolute's influence, Minthara's cruelty will be more tempered, and her fury will be aimed solely at the other leaders of the Cult - particularly [[Orin]]. She also becomes contemplative of her actions under the Absolute's influence, and rues letting them exploit her fears and yearning for belonging to use her as a tool. | If recruited and freed from the Absolute's influence, Minthara's cruelty will be more tempered, and her fury will be aimed solely at the other leaders of the Cult - particularly [[Orin]]. She also becomes contemplative of her actions under the Absolute's influence, and rues letting them exploit her fears and yearning for belonging to use her as a tool. | ||
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==History== | ==History== | ||
===Menzoberranzan=== | ===Menzoberranzan=== | ||
Born into the ancient [https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/House_Baenre House Baenre] of Menzoberranzan, Minthara was raised as a noble of the city in Qu'ellarz'orl, a plateau above the city sprawl. Taught in the ways of Lolth, she eventually rose to be an important house matron, enjoying all the luxuries of her birthright. She survived her first assassination attempt when she was a child, and another at the hands of her mother when she came of age. | Born into the ancient [https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/House_Baenre House Baenre] of Menzoberranzan, Minthara was raised as a noble of the city in Qu'ellarz'orl, a plateau above the city expanse.{{ref|name=drownoble|[[Campsite]], line spoken by Minthara to a drow noble player character.<br>''"Like you, I lived in Qu'ellarz'orl, high above the city's sprawl."''}} Taught in the ways of [[Lolth]], she eventually rose to be an important house matron, enjoying all the luxuries of her birthright. She survived her first assassination attempt when she was a child, and another at the hands of her mother when she came of age.{{ref|name=mother|Campsite, lines spoken by Minthara when inquired about her upbringing in Menzoberranzan.<br>''"(...) I survived my first assassination attempt while I still suckled at my mother's breast. (...) When I came of age, she tried to take my life herself, and I gave her fresh scars to match those she earned protecting me."''}} | ||
Sometime during her life there, she encountered a [[True Soul]] and two novices preaching the message of the [[Absolute]]. Minthara had them hanged and displayed as a warning against heresy, but curiosity got the best of her, and after using necromancy on the corpses to find their base of operations, she prepared a retinue of warriors to strike at [[Moonrise Towers]]. | Sometime during her life there, she encountered a [[True Soul]] and two novices preaching the message of the [[Absolute]]. Minthara had them hanged and displayed as a warning against heresy,{{ref|Campsite, lines spoken by Minthara when asked how she came to be indoctrinated.<br>''"A True Soul came to my city preaching a message of togetherness, accompanied by two novices. Menzoberranzan is not fertile grounds for such messages. I killed them, and hanged their bodies in my garden."''}} but curiosity got the best of her, and after using necromancy on the corpses to find their base of operations, she prepared a retinue of warriors to strike at [[Moonrise Towers]]. | ||
===Indoctrination and time in the Cult=== | ===Indoctrination and time in the Cult=== | ||
Minthara gathered her allies to battle the absolutists, yet, when they arrived at Moonrise Towers, they were met with a lavish feast and a welcome fit for a house matron. [[Ketheric Thorm]] had been expecting her, and invited her to partake of his feast alongside [[Orin|Orin the Red]]. He explained he wished to form an alliance between Moonrise and Menzoberranzan, flattering Minthara and playing to her pride. Lowering her guard, Minthara was unable to react in time as Orin jumped on the table and sliced her men's throats as she approached her. Standing before her, Orin expressed her interest in Minthara, and Ketheric approved of it, ordering her to be taken to the [[Mind Flayer Colony]]. There, Minthara was held for some time, helplessly watching as her men were processed for food or to be turned into thralls. Eventually, Orin returned and | Minthara gathered her allies to battle the absolutists, yet, when they arrived at Moonrise Towers, they were met with a lavish feast and a welcome fit for a house matron. [[Ketheric Thorm]] had been expecting her, and invited her to partake of his feast alongside [[Orin|Orin the Red]]. He explained he wished to form an alliance between Moonrise and Menzoberranzan, flattering Minthara and playing to her pride.{{ref|Campsite, lines spoken by Minthara when asked how she came to be indoctrinated.<br>''"I expected a battle, but found a fully-laden feast table, and a welcome befitting a house matron. (...) Ketheric proposed an alliance between Moonrise and Menzoberranzzan. I admit, I was captivated by him."''}} Lowering her guard, Minthara was unable to react in time as Orin jumped on the table and sliced her men's throats as she approached her. Standing before her, Orin expressed her interest in Minthara, and Ketheric approved of it, ordering her to be taken to the [[Mind Flayer Colony]].{{ref|name=orin|Campsite, lines spoken by Minthara when asked how she came to be indoctrinated.<br>''"Then, quick as lightning, she climbed onto the table, a dagger in each hand, and skipped toward me, slicing the throats out of my men as she passed them. (...) ''I want this one'', she said. Ketheric nodded his permission, and I was taken below."''}} There, Minthara was held for some time, helplessly watching as her men were processed for food or to be turned into thralls. Eventually, Orin returned and placed the tadpole in Minthara's eye, sealing the drow's fate as part of the [[Cult of the Absolute]].{{ref|name=tadpole|[[Moonrise Towers]], lines spoken by Minthara in the throne room after slaying Ketheric Thorm.<br>''"There was no god. Orin held me down in a cocoon of flesh, while a mind flayer forced a parasite into my brain. And she laughed at my fear."''}} | ||
Under orders of her new god, Minthara participated in many massacres carried by the cult, mostly against religious communities who refused to convert. She became a zealot, and in time, even began to admire Orin. Orin would manipulate her further, telling her lies of how she was a True Soul, chosen by the Absolute as her greatest weapon. For Minthara, the Absolute was more than just a god, it | Under orders of her new god, Minthara participated in many massacres carried by the cult, mostly against religious communities who refused to convert. She became a zealot, and in time, even began to admire Orin. Orin would manipulate her further, telling her lies of how she was a True Soul, chosen by the Absolute as her greatest weapon.{{ref|name=orin2|Moonrise Towers, lines spoken by Minthara in the throne room after slaying Ketheric Thorm.<br>''"When I first visited Moonrise, I stood before the Absolute in awe. It was more of an idea than an entity. Pure love, total power. Orin was by my side. She told me that god had chosen me to be a True Soul. Blessed and adored."''}} For Minthara, the Absolute was more than just a god, it was everything she ever truly wanted.{{ref|name=orin2}} | ||
== Involvement == | == Involvement == | ||
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* If the player is a [[Lolth-sworn drow]], many unique dialogue options are available, one of which includes condemning Minthara and attacking her for abandoning Lolth. | * If the player is a [[Lolth-sworn drow]], many unique dialogue options are available, one of which includes condemning Minthara and attacking her for abandoning Lolth. | ||
* In traditional Drow names, the prefix "Min-" means "lesser", "minor", or "second", while the suffix "-thara" means "glyph", "marker", or "rune". | * In traditional Drow names, the prefix "Min-" means "lesser", "minor", or "second", while the suffix "-thara" means "glyph", "marker", or "rune".{{ref|Owen K.C. Stephens, "By Any Other Name: The Drow", ''Dragon'' 267 (January 2000): 28-31}} | ||
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== References == | == References == | ||
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