The Atraakzian Experiment was the internal name of an Illithid operation that worked out of the Drow city of Lyth Mya'athar in The Underdark.
About[edit | edit source]
The noble family of Atraakzian, a well founded house in Lyth Mya'athar, came unto unfortunate circumstances when a Mind Flayer ambush put their matron, a powerful Drow named Zetheena Atraakzian, under an occluding thought, causing her to believe anything the Flayers would have her believe. With this seed, the Illithids slowly took a secret control over the house. Ultimately, it provided the Mind Flayers with a healthy pool of Drow subjects to use in their projects, without risk of having to kidnap, capture, or seek subjects.
Through the demands of Matron Zatheena, the Drow of the house willing subject themselves to visit Skull City and undergo the experimentation at The Bleak Academy, which is not always lethal. The Illithid could, in theory, eviscerate the matron and destroy the foundations of the house at any time. This lethal form of blackmail ensures that even the most resistant of the Atraakzian Drow comply with the orders.
Typically the subjects would be escorted back to Lyth My'Athar, as they were not always in the right state of mind following the Illithid experiments. Jintuk was one of several escorts or "Ambassadors" for the project. The only duties the escorts had were to explain to Illithid in the city their purpose and to deescalate any situations that might arise when Drow enter a Mind Flayer society. They also have the generous honor of escorting the post-experiment Drow back to the house, which can lead to some very interesting trips.
