Decades passed, and only once was the blood of the renegade male any closer to tasting than it had been in his duel with his father. But he escaped Matron Baenre's clutches, and the magnificent domed roof of House Baenre's chapel was shattered by the rogue's human companion. Then, as though the traitorous drow had been a foul Harbinger, the Time of Troubles was upon her. Her efforts to preserve the spellfire were in vain, as Drizzt clearly no longer possessed the spark. Thirty years had passed since he was last in her city and never had he used his gift!
Lolth lost much of her power after that. The new god of death, Cyric, was too ambitious and insane to bargain with, and his successor was too strict. Thenceforth, no unfaithful souls could be taken to the Abyss by sacrifice, as Kelemvor would release such a soul only to the archon of the deity that was favored by the victim. Even if one of her faithful could recapture Drizzt, he was promised to Mielikki, the cursed goddess of the forests--who had stolen Zaknafein's soul from her during the confusion following the Time of Troubles--a personal gesture toward the ranger who was so rapidly becoming one of her favored worshippers.
It was years before Lolth came upon a new idea. Certain spells and artifacts were designed to suck souls from corporeal shells and seal them in a container. After all, wasn't that how Matron Baenre had kept the spirit of Gandalug Battlehammer for so many years?
So she set about "leaving" such a device in the path of one who could--and more importantly would--use it on Drizzt Do'Urden. Then Lolth would command her faithful servant to open a portal to the Abyss and step through with her prize! Pleased with her handiwork, she turned her attention to the punishment of the entire drow race, determined to repay them all for having so little faith.
Little did the wicked Spider Queen know, not all her plans were secret. Upon the surface of Abeir-Toril, on the continent known as Faerûn, in the kingdom known as the Silver Marches... something else stirred, its focus the life, mind, and soul of the one it protected.
Deep in his ranger's heart, the spark of spellfire stirred.