Mykal knew the Elders of Tangled Trees had scouts of their own, both collectively and who served individual houses, but few ventured as far afield as he did; most returned every week or so to report their observations, and the many hunters who trolled the woodlands were too fixated on finding game to care about the movements of humanoids. So, it was wanders and adventurers like him, who were surprising rare, that provided a much need view of the goings on in the far-flung corners of the great Cormanthor. “You know our scouts stay clear of the Vale of Lost Voices, don’t bother with the Moonsea Ride, as it is well patrolled by Mistledale’s Riders, and rarely venture north of the Halfaxe Trail,” Allys confessed, looking to Mykal to enlighten her of activities beyond that scope. “Little of the Court is free of the drow,” he explained. “Save for the estates on the northern fringe near Elventree and those west of the Duathamper. If any in the heart of the Court still hold-out they’re likely under siege… but I doubt they’ve lasted this long. The drow that laid claim to the Court seem determined to carve out their own territory there, enslaving, killing or driving out all others. However, those to the west of Myth Drannor and north of Shadowdale are clearly of a different ilk… they’re more nomadic and less hostile. Of-course for a drow, less hostile means that they don’t actively seek to rape, pillage and burn everything in sight. Because both groups avoid the area closest to Hillsfar and the Moonsea Ride they don’t seem to interact much, but I’ve seen what appear to be trading groups meet to exchange game for looted goods. Their greatest weakness looks to be that they’re forced to be self-sufficient… which they aren’t. They’re poor hunters and know little of the ways of the woodlands. I think many of their attacks on the Dales are driven by need for food and other resources. They got a harsh lesson about being ill prepared last winter… but I don’t think they took it to heart. Although the two major houses still dominate their respective regions, I saw a growing number of skirmishes between them and what appear to be splinter groups, especially in the eastern territory. I suppose it’s just their nature to vie for supremacy and power… especially when supplies run low.” “It’s their nature alright,” Myst bemoaned, tantalizingly lounging on the bed. She’d contently listened while he conveyed his observations to his cousin, but she knew the drow far better than any surface dweller could, having survived more than three decades in their midst. “They’ll turn on each other at the slightest provocation… especial males. If there’s any chance to promote themselves over another, they’ll take it without hesitation, and if their leaders fail them in any way, they’ll abandon them without a second thought… loyalty is for fools in their eyes. It was only fear of Lolth and the matrons that kept them in line in the Underdark. Females are slightly less disloyal, but only because their schemes are more subtle and convoluted… rather than abandoning their houses, they’ll plot to unseat those above them by any means necessary. Murder, to a drow, is as valid an option as anything else… it isn’t a crime unless it fails… and drow justice is nothing more than an excuse for those in power to keep those below them from challenging them. If Lolth is truly dead… give them enough time and they’ll fall on each other like a pack of rats. But if she returns, and the matrons’ power is restored, they’ll try to subjugate the males again, which will likely mean all-out war!” Allys was initially annoyed by the half-drow’s interruption, but as Myst spoke she realized that she presented a unique resource; someone who’d actually lived amongst the dark elves. But her assertion that Lolth’s return could lead to open war between drow factions, which would likely lay waste to huge swarths of the forest, was less than comforting, even if it meant large numbers of casualties on both sides.