Genteel Steel

Assassin and drow warrior from Yvoth-Lened, Shelav Jyslara xund Zesstra started her life with an unpromising future as third noble daughter of the rising House Despana. This all changed at her off-hand meeting with an arachnomancer from House Noquar, the powerful Zajir. There was no knowledge of their continued correspondence, even after she departed for the Academy of Melee-Magthere in another city. This time proved a turn around for the young drowess, who began building her legend below ground.

Her name was granted true infamy when she proved a heretic and openly defied both the will of Lolth and Her priestesses. She fled to the surface after being marked by the Flesh-Carver in some matter, but is still seen in her home city and across the Vault–such visits are dreaded by the priestesses who have proven unable to apprehend her, and enjoyed by the rakes and other outcasts of the city.

Shelav has flourished on the surface, a member of the shadowy Counsel Macabre in Kel’Baazar. She reserves the right to reject commissions on personal privilege, and often serves those unable to repay her. Despite the fact that she operates as an assassin in most of the known world, governments tread lightly around her…perhaps in the hope of acquiring her services at some future date. She travels quite frequently and is almost always in the company of her family or friends.
Age: 326
Height: 5′2″
Weight: 109
Hair: silver
Skin: ash-colored, pale
Eyes: blue-silver
Handedness: ambidextrous
Patron Religion/Deity: Arachne

The fearsome Arch Priestess of Lolth in the great city of Yvoth-Lened keeps her history well shrouded in shadow. It suits her purposes that people not remember her less than prestigious start.

Inva was born a slave of House Vae in the city, her mother cultivating both a hate of those above her and a deep devotion to the Spider Queen. Matron Quarniss’s eldest daughter, Rauvaste, soon spotted the young drowess’s ambition and promised Inva freedom in exchange for assistance in murdering her mother.

With her help, Rauvaste ascended to the position of Matron Mother. However, Inva did not get her reward. Furious at this betrayal, Inva bided her time until a new contender rose up. An equally ambitious and vengeful house matriarch too sought her aid. Rauvaste was displaced, and Inva finally freed.

The newly liberated slave attended Arach-Tinilith at the new matron’s insistence, quickly catching the interest of powerful priestesses with her fanaticism and zeal in enforcing the Goddess’s will. After her graduation, Inva made a meteoric rise through the ranks of the clergy, emerging on top as Arch Priestess after murdering her predecessor, Malavin Ken’ar.

Inva Kenrahel stands about 5′4”. Her eyes are a strikingly rich blood-like red, and looking in them is not advised as she is rumored to be proficient at mesmerism and psionics as well as divine magic. She is feared by all of Yvoth-Lened’s inhabitants, and rightly so.