The family is introduced. Victory has been achieved over a lesser house. All gather and head for the GrandTemple to give thanks to Lolth for this victory.
Xora and Zarathustriel arrange for the scene to look good and cool. Everyone else gets ready to look their very best and succeed at it too.
The ritual is well under way when suddenly eight of the tapestries surrounding the scen turn black, as if the shadow of the legs of a great spider had fallen upon them.
The Godess is present in person!
As if this wasn't enough, Lolth decides that Zhe'raen is to be touched by her. Outrage! A male! But no one dares question the Goddess, of course. The ritual of thanksgiving is performed and HouseNemalzhi hurries home. MatronNemalzhi is most upset. The rest of the family is confused, Zhe'raen not least.
At home things do not quiet down since Zhaunil has been invited to MatronGlavil. Unable to say no, she must go and MatronNemalzhi, although upset, must let her because no one wants to honk the mighty woman off. She brings Zhe'raen along as an escort, showing him off to the First House - which might be good or bad, but certainly shows some guts. There is a general feeling of relief when they return.
During Zhaunils abscence Xora, Zarathustriel, and Matron try to find out what on earth Lolth meant by touching a male. Lolth is not pleased with being questioned and MatronNemalzhi and Xora get badly burnt (literally) in the process.