Lolth Intermediate Power of the Demonweb Pits, CE SYMBOL: Black spider with female drow head (at b ottom of figure) or black cloak and short sword (Zinzerena aspect) DOMAIN NAME: Lolth's Web/the Demonweb Pits PORTFOLIO: Assassins, chaos, darkness, drow, evil, spiders WORSHIPPERS: Drow and depraved elves, sentient spiders CLERIC/WORSHIPPER ALIGNMENTS: CE, CN, NE DOMAINS: Chaos, Drow, Evil, Darkness, Trickery, Destruction, Spider FAVORED WEAPON: Dagger Lolth (LOLTH) is the goddess of the drow race and drow society. She is responsible for the nature, customs, laws, and survival of most drow communities. The Spider Queen maintains her absolute rule over drow cities by means of her clergy, who tirelessly seek out and destroy all traces of dissent, disobedience, rival faiths, or sacrilege and who ruthlessly enforce the Way of Lolth. The Spider Queen foments unending chaos in drow society and sets the drow eternally at war with each other both for her own amusement and to prevent complacency, runaway pride from asserting itself, or the rise of other faiths. Lolth is also venerated by chitines, a small spiderlike race that are castoffs of the drow. As Araushnee, Lolth was once a lesser power of the Seldarine and the consort of Corellon Larethian. She was the patron of artisans, the goddess of elven destiny, and - later, by Corellon's decree - the keeper of those elves who shared her darkly beautiful features. The Weaver of Destiny bore Corellon twin godlings - Vhaeraun and Eilistraee -before she turned against her lover and betrayed him. First she aided Gruumsh One-Eye, chief among the orcish gods, in one of his perennial battles with the Creator of the Elves, and then she set Malar on the trail of the weakened Corellon after observing the Beastlord defeat Herne on Faerun. When these plots failed as a result of Corellon's skill at arms and Sehanine's interference, Araushnee raised a host of hostile powers - the Dark Seldarine - to assault Arvandor. Despite the treachery of Araushnee, and to a lesser extent, Vhaeraun, the assault failed and the perfidy of Corellon's consort and son w ere revealed. By order of the Council of the Seldarine, Araushnee was declared a demon and banished to the Abyss. As an Abyssal Lord, Araushnee assumed the name Lolth and conquered a considerable portion of that foul plane, driving off Ghaunadaur and subjugating Kiaransalee in the process. The Spider Queen then turned her attentions toward corrupting the mortal children of the Seldarine. Lolth's attentions were drawn once again to Abeir-Toril by the intrusion of the moon elven heroine Kethryllia Amarillis into her domain, and the Spider Queen immediately began to cultivate followers among the most cruel and corrupt of Corellon's children in Faerun. In the centuries that followed, Lolth made great inroads among the warlike Ilythiiri, who had long since spread across the South conquering their kin- folk under the careful guidance of Vhaeraun, and to a lesser extent, Ghaunadaur. Lolth's machinations among the elves culminated in the Crown Wars, and eventually, the descent of the drow into the Underdark, but by that time she had enmeshed most of the dark-skinned Ilythiiri, now drow, in her webs and engendered the death of countless elves and the destruction of much of elven civilization in Faerun.
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Lolth (LOLTH) is the goddess of the drow race and drow society. She is responsible for the nature,
customs, laws, and survival of most drow communities. The Spider Queen maintains her absolute rule
over drow cities by means of her clergy, who tirelessly seek out and destroy all traces of dissent,
disobedience, rival faiths, or sacrilege and who ruthlessly enforce the Way of Lolth. The Spider Queen
foments unending chaos in drow society and sets the drow eternally at war with each other both for her
own amusement and to prevent complacency, runaway pride from asserting itself, or the rise of other
faiths.
Lolth is also venerated by chitines, a small spiderlike race that are castoffs of the drow.
As Araushnee, Lolth was once a lesser power of the Seldarine and the consort of Corellon Larethian. She
was the patron of artisans, the goddess of elven destiny, and - later, by Corellon's decree - the keeper of
those elves who shared her darkly beautiful features. The Weaver of Destiny bore Corellon twin godlings
- Vhaeraun and Eilistraee -before she turned against her lover and betrayed him. First she aided
Gruumsh One-Eye, chief among the orcish gods, in one of his perennial battles with the Creator of the
Elves, and then she set Malar on the trail of the weakened Corellon after observing the Beastlord defeat
Herne on Faerun. When these plots failed as a result of Corellon's skill at arms and Sehanine's
interference, Araushnee raised a host of hostile powers - the Dark Seldarine - to assault Arvandor.
Despite the treachery of Araushnee, and to a lesser extent, Vhaeraun, the assault failed and the perfidy
of Corellon's consort and son were revealed. By order of the Council of the Seldarine, Araushnee was
declared a demon and banished to the Abyss.
As an Abyssal Lord, Araushnee assumed the name Lolth and conquered a considerable portion of that
foul plane, driving off Ghaunadaur and subjugating Kiaransalee in the process. The Spider Queen then
turned her attentions toward corrupting the mortal children of the Seldarine.
Lolth's attentions were drawn once again to Abeir-Toril by the intrusion of the moon elven heroine
Kethryllia Amarillis into her domain, and the Spider Queen immediately began to cultivate followers
among the most cruel and corrupt of Corellon's children in Faerun. In the centuries that followed, Lolth
made great inroads among the warlike Ilythiiri, who had long since spread across the South conqueringtheir kin- folk under the careful guidance of Vhaeraun, and to a lesser extent, Ghaunadaur.
Lolth's machinations among the elves culminated in the Crown Wars, and eventually, the descent of the
drow into the Underdark, but by that time she had enmeshed most of the dark-skinned Ilythiiri, now drow,
in her webs and engendered the death of countless elves and the destruction of much of elven civilization
WORSHIPPERS: Good-aligned drow, elves, half-elves, and humansCLERIC/WORSHIPPER ALIGNMENTS: CG, CN, NG
DOMAINS: Chaos, Charm, Drow, Elf, Good
FAVORED WEAPON: Bastard sword
Eilistraee (EEL-iss-TRAY-yee) is the goddess of the good drow-those rare dark elves who yearn for a
return to life on the surface Realms, existence akin to that enjoyed by elves of the woodlands, left behind
by the drow long ago. She is a goddess of song and beauty, goodness and light, worshiped through song
and dance-preferably in the surface world, under the stars of a moonlit night. Eilistraee aids her faithful in
hunting and sword craft, and worship of her is usually accompanied by a feast.
Eilistraee also has worshipers of human, elven, and in particular, half-elven stock (particularly around
Silverymoon), and she looks kindly upon the Harpers. She is usually seen only from afar, hut her song(of unearthly beauty, driving many to tears) is heard whenever she appears.
The Dark Maiden is the sister of Vhaeraun and the daughter of Araushnee, who was cast out and
became Lolth, and Corellon Larethian. After Eilistraee nearly slew her father with an arrow during a great
battle between the Seldarine and a host of evil deities bent on conquering Arvandor, the Dark Maiden
forswore the use of ranged weapons (although she permits them to her followers). Although her arrow
went astray, because of Araushnee's treachery, Eilistraee chose banishment from Arvandor (and the
Seldarine) along with her mother and brother, foreseeing a time when she would be needed to balance
their evil.
On Abeir-Toril, the Dark Maiden strove for centuries against the hatred of Vhaeraun and his corrupting
influence on the Ilythiiri (southern, dark-skinned elves). Eilistraee's power ebbed with the death of many ofher faithful in the Dark Disaster, and the rise of Lolth and Ghaunadaur among the dark elves marginalized
the influence of the Lady of the Dance for millennia. Only in recent centuries has Eilistraee's faith
regained a small amount of prominence in Faerun, as the Dark Maiden seeks to lead the fallen drow back
to the long-forsaken light.
Eilistraee is a melancholy, moody drow female, a lover of beauty and peace. The evil of most drow banks
a burning anger within her, and when her faithful are harmed, that anger is apt to spill out into wild action.
It is not her way to act openly, but she often aids creatures she favors (whether they worship her or not) in
small, immediately practical ways. Eilistraee is happiest when she looks on bards singing or composing,
craftsmen at work, lovers, or acts of kindness.
While the Dark Maiden and the Seldarine remain allies, it is a strained relationship that reflects thedivisions that persist among the elves. Among the elven powers, Eilistraee is only close with Erevan
Ilesere, and she has only recently worked out an uneasy truce with Shevarash. Eilistraee is unusually
close with the human goddess of magic, Mystra; Qilue Veladorn, seventh of the Seven Sisters, serves
both goddesses as Chosen of Mystra and as Chosen of Eilistraee. The Dark Maiden hates the corruption
and unredeemable evil that both Lolth and Ghaunadaur represent, and she mourns her brother's enduring
PORTFOLIO: Thievery, drow males, evil activity on the surface world
WORSHIPPERS: Assassins, male drow and half-drow, poisoners, shadow dancers, rogues, thievesCLERIC/WORSHIPPER ALIGNMENTS: CE, CN, NE
DOMAINS: Chaos, Drow, Evil, Travel, Trickery
FAVORED WEAPON: War hammer
Vhaeraun (Vay-RAWN) is the god of thievery and the furthering of drow aims, interests, and power in the
Night Above, as the surface world is known to the faithful. He is also the god of drow males opposed to
the matriarchy of Lolth, teaching that males are as skilled and valuable as females, and thus passively
opposing the teachings of Lolth's priesthood on this point. He believes that drow should work with the
other elven races for common advancement and never associate or trade with duergar, svirfneblin, or
other dwarven and gnome races. (Humans and halflings can be tolerated.)
Vhaeraun is vain, proud, sometimes haughty, bears grudges of legendary length, and never forgetsslights or deceptions. Any underhanded means and treachery is acceptable to him if it furthers his aims or
is done in his service-but if others so treat him or his people, it is a deep sin that cannot go unpunished.
He actively involves himself in drow affairs and moderately often sends an avatar to assist the work of his
priests if the proper rituals are performed and the need is genuine.
Vhaeraun is the brother of Eilistraee and the son of Araushnee, who was cast out and became Lolth, and
Corellon Larethian. The Masked Lord was cast out of the Seldarine and banished from Arvandor, along
with his mother and sister, when his complicity was revealed in Araushnee's plot to destroy Corellon.
While he hates all of the Seldarine, Vhaeraun harbors a particular enmity for Sehanine Moonbow, who
escaped the Masked Lord's prison at great cost to herself and unmasked the culpability of both Vhaeraun
and Araushnee. Likewise, the Masked Lord nurtures an abiding hatred of Eilistraee. The Dark Maiden
always held Corellon's favor more than her hateful brother, and she thwarted Vhaeraun's early efforts to
bring all the Ilythiiri (southern, dark-skinned elves) under his sway, enabling Lolth and Ghaunadaur to
make great inroads among those who would become the drow. Vhaeraun reserves his greatest hatred for
the Spider Queen who gave birth to him long ago. The Masked Lord lacks the strength to challenge Lolth
directly, so he works against her in shadow, undermines her in silence, and looks to unite the other drow
WORSHIPPERS: Drow malesCLERIC/WORSHIPPER ALIGNMENTS: CE, CN, CG, N
DOMAINS Chaos, Evil, Knowledge, Travel
FAVORED WEAPON: Long sword
Keptolo (kep-toe-low) is the drow male ideal: elegant, quick-witted, attentive, and eagerly debauched. He
normally appears as a young nobleman dressed in well-tailored silks of red, purple, jet, and amber. He is
armed with a thin but sturdy poniard and a filigreed long sword. He affects a two-handed fighting style,
using both weapons at once. Otherwise he appears dressed for the hunt, velvet-cloaked and armed with
a magnificent crossbow. His relationship with other drow deities is one of insincere amity, save for
Zinzerena, whom he openly despises. His symbol is a stylized mushroom, which in drow culture is
associated with both strong drink and fertility.
Feed the vanity of your mistress, and all her treasures shall be yours. Be careful whom you offend, and
keep an expendable companion nearby to hold culpable for your crimes. Gossip can be as deadly as the
venom on an assassin's blade. Use the poison of words to destroy your rivals, that you may claim for
yourself all they once presumed was theirs.
Shrines to Keptolo are found throughout the underworld, for many mate drow worship him as their patron,
mostly due to his association with drinking. Tales of his sexual exploits are quite popular, and there are
groups of performers who act them out for festivals and private gatherings. His greatest temple is in the
drow city of Erelhei-Cinlu, but only his most attractive or wealthy worshipers are permitted to participate in
services there.
Clerics of Keptolo are found as advisors, critics, philosophers, and politicians: essentially, any role thatdoes not require actual work. They seek to emulate their deity in all ways, and as such number among
the most handsome and charming of the drow race. However, followers of Keptolo remain very
dangerous, for many of them are skilled dirksmen, poisoners, or spies. Utterly capricious and completely
untrustworthy (even by drow standards), worshipers of the Eager Consort are deferential to priestesses of
Lolth and attentive to the matrons of the powerful noble houses. In other relationships, they are
manipulative and abusive, particularly with fellow clerics lower in the hierarchy.
[Editor’s Note: That’s all for the “official” drow pantheon from TSR and Wizards of the Coast. The
following are all from the “lolz teh evolz!1!” sourcebook from Mongoose Publishing, the Quintessential