Zesstra was the fourth born daughter of Matron Mother Ki’willis of House Millithor, the twenty-fifth house of Menzoberranzan. Showing more aptitude for martial training than devotion to the Spider Queen, she left her house and joined the mercenary band Bregan D’aerthe, where she excelled.
She was assigned to work with Nezznar “the Black Spider,” who broke with Bregan D’aerthe, and sought his own power and fortune after he came into possession of his trademark “spider staff.” Nezznar led Zesstra to the surface, just south of Neverwinter Wood, where he became obsessed with finding the fabled “Forge of Spells.”
Zesstra first encountered the party as they made their way through Phandalin Mine. When her bugbears were defeated and Zesstra attempted to flee, she was caught and subdued by T’Sai. The offer that he made her, and the success of the party where Nezznar had continuously failed, convinced Zesstra that sticking with the foolish “Black Spider” would lead only to her death, and not to the profits she had been promised. In the battle that ensued, Zesstra helped turn the tide and bring down Nezznar.
Once Zesstra answered Sigismund’s questions to his satisfaction, she took T’Sai up on his offer of employment. Over the next year, Zesstra watched out for the safety of Elsa, founded and grew the Tresendar Talons into the force they are today, and supervised the construction of the Tresendar barracks.