Lolth and the Dark Seldarine
The aim of this volume is to present to the reader a concise and thorough examination of the group of powers collectively known as the Dark Seldarine. These powers take interest and are primarily worshiped among the Ilythiiri, more commonly known as Drow or Dark Elves, that mainly reside in the Underdark.
The most common misconception that ought to be dispelled in a dissertation upon this group of powers is to consider them a pantheon comparable to the Seldarine, the Morndinsamman or the Lord of the Golden Hills. The Dark Seldarine are a pantheon only in name, for the majority of their churches forbids religious syncretism. The religious life of an Ilythiiri usually includes only the worship of a single deity, to the exclusion of all others. Most Ilythiiri inherit their faith from their parents and are raised into it. In most of their societies the act of worshiping another deity other than the established one is generally seen as an act of treason and a challenge to the authority. Therefore such behavior is actively repressed, generally on pain of death. While instances of worship of multiple powers exist in some Ilythiiri societies, these constitute a minority.
The most common misconception that ought to be dispelled in a dissertation upon this group of powers is to consider them a pantheon comparable to the Seldarine, the Morndinsamman or the Lord of the Golden Hills. The Dark Seldarine are a pantheon only in name, for the majority of their churches forbids religious syncretism. The religious life of an Ilythiiri usually includes only the worship of a single deity, to the exclusion of all others. Most Ilythiiri inherit their faith from their parents and are raised into it. In most of their societies the act of worshiping another deity other than the established one is generally seen as an act of treason and a challenge to the authority. Therefore such behavior is actively repressed, generally on pain of death. While instances of worship of multiple powers exist in some Ilythiiri societies, these constitute a minority.
The Dark Seldarine are however commonly still referred to as a pantheon among religious scholarship because apart for the important exception of worship, they do share with other pantheons numerous features from the theological standpoint. For once, they take interest primarily in the Ilythiiri, and most importantly they divide their areas of interest and influence in different portfolios. While these portfolios are not as strictly separated as those of other pantheons, this aspect still shows that deep links exist among these powers. The powers that compose the Dark Seldarine are also connected by a long mythographic tradition that deals with a divine conflict known as the War of the Seldarine.
This event involved a conflict among the powers that inhabited Arvandor, or Arborea, that according to most estimates occurred around thirty thousands years ago. In that circumstance, Lolth, and other powers connected to her, such as Vhaeraun, found themselves opposed to Corellon and the other Seldarine for the control of that Realm. The conflict later extended to other deities among which were Gruumsh the One Eye, Malar the Beastlord, Ghaunadaur the Elder Eye, who joined forces with Lolth. Eventually this conflict ended unfavorably for the coalition guided by Lolth, and she was forced out of Arvandor, along with those powers that had helped her, taking domain in the 66th layer Abyss, which became the Demonweb Pits.
The powers canonically included in the Dark Seldarine are the following ones:
Lolth, the Spider Queen, who is the most powerful and worshiped deity among the Ilythiiri in the Underdark. She is seen as the Dark Mother and the creator of the Ilythiiri and their customs in the Underdark. Her church holds sway on most cities in the Underdark and promotes a matriarchal and theocratic society, where the church regulates all aspects of life.
Vhaeraun, the Masked Lord, a power that presides over trickery and thievery, referred to in the myths as the son of Lolth and Corellon Larethian. His church promotes an egalitarian society and actively moves to destabilize and subvert the Lolthite Matriarchy. It also promotes active attempts for the Ilythiiri to settle and conquer the surface.
Ghaunadaur, the Elder Eye, an ancient power of slimes and oozes, that became widely worshiped by the Ilythiiri in ages past. Presently it is worshiped in isolated cities and by cults that arise among the poorest strata of Ilythiiri societies, particularly among individuals that seek power regardless of the cost.
Kiaransalee, the Revenancer, a power that deals almost exclusively with necromancy and revenge. She is said to have been the first Drow, a queen who was betrayed and exiled by her husband in a distant world, which she later destroyed enacting her revenge. Her worship is mostly practiced by necromancers and small cults.
Selvetarm, the Spider That Waits, consort and champion of Lolth, acts as her champion and guardian. He is said to be the son of Vhaeraun and a minor elven power. In some communities there are militaristic cults dedicated to him, usually tolerated as long as he is not addressed as a deity.
Eilistraee, the Dark Maiden, a reviled power that promotes beauty, song, hunting and peaceful coexistence with other kins on the surface. She is described as the daughter of Lolth and Corellon and sister of Vhaeraun in most myths. Her worshipers are actively hunted and eradicated by all the other churches, and seen as surface agents and a threat to Ilythiiri society.
Malyk, the Dark Mage, formerly a drow lich, is a minor power that takes interest almost exclusively in wild magic. He does not have a proper church, but there are cults dedicated to him among Ilythiiri wild mages, particularly among those dedicated to causing strife and mischief.
Zinzerena, the Princess of the Outcasts, a folk hero, described as a female equally unmatched in the arts of illusion and assassination. In her tales she often comes in contrast with the priestesses of the Spider Queen. Minor cults in her name are reported to exist among the poorest Ilythiiri that resent the rule of the nobility and that actively try to oppose it.
Among the members of the Dark Seldarine, that were discussed in general above, the most prominent and influential is without a doubt Lolth. Her Church is the most represented in the Underdark and among the Ilythiiri as a whole. This volume will deal with the main elements of her faith.
LOLTH:
Aliases: Lloth (name used in Menzoberranzan and the Northdark), Araushnee (name used to refer to her before her fall from Arvandor), Megwandir (name used to refer to her in ancient sources).
Common Titles and Epithets: Spider Queen, Dark Mother, Queen of Spiders, Queen of the Demonweb Pits, Fleshcarver, Mother of Lusts, The Weaver, Weaver of Destiny, Weaver of Webs.
Symbol: A black spider with a female drow head (traditionally), a spider (simplified symbol).
Portfolios: Spiders, Chaos, Evil, Drow, Darkness, Assassins.
Realm: Demonweb Pits (66th layer of the Abyss), the Fane of Lolth (formerly, when she resided in Arvandor).
Adjective: Lolthite, Lolthian.
Lolth is the most important and most powerful of the Dark Seldarine. She is seen as a mother and creator deity that shaped the Ilythiiri into what they are today. The myth of her origin sees her as one of the first powers that dwelled in Arvandor and as a consort of Corellon. The Dark Mother however desired for their children to be stronger, while Corellon argued that they were already perfect, and this brought her to attempt to overthrow her consort and become the sole ruler of Arvandor. To achieve this she organized an attack by a group of hostile deities, including Gruumsh and Malar, which however ultimately failed. Once her plot was uncovered Lolth was banished to the Abyss as punishment.
This aspect of the myth resonates deeply with the Ilythiiri historical memory of the Descent, when they were cursed by the Seldarine and forced into the Underdark at the end of the the Fourth Crown War. The eschatology of the Church of Lolth in fact draws a parallel between the goal of the goddess to eventually reclaim Arvandor and the desire of the Ilythiiri to reclaim one day the surface.
Core beliefs of Lolthism revolve around the centrality of fear as a tool both to exercise authority over the community and to keep internal and external threats at bay. The emphasis on fear is used also for the purpose of reviling love and expressions of affection that risk of detracting attention from devotion to Lolth and to upholding the hierarchy of her Church. The Church maintains a strict hierarchical structure in which the clergy is at the top, followed by nobles, then commoners, other races and, at the bottom, slaves. Females are always seen as superior to males within their own races, and Ilythiiri are seen as superior to all other races. Aiding nondrow against drow, and questioning Lolth's will or that of her clergy are considered great sins.
The Queen also exhibits an unpredictable and chaotic nature that encourages internecine conflict among her followers. The removal and culling of the followers that are unworthy and weak is seen as paramount, as well as the removal of any and all who oppose the Church of Lolth, especially if males or slaves. Great emphasis is also put on the need for sacrifices, ideally of elven or Ilythiiri blood or, when a blood offer is not available, of riches. Death is seen as the ultimate failure, but an even worse punishment for the drow that fail Lolth is to be turned into a drider, a monstrous centaur-like being with the upper torso of a drow and the bottom half of a giant spider. This is a particularly curious choice for punishment, because this is the form often taken by Lolth herself in her avatar and common iconography. In general spiders and their form are seen as holy and to be revered, and in many cities intentionally harming a spider can be punished with death.
Priests of Lolth are usually female, and take the title of Yathrin, which means priestess. Other titles of common use are Yath'Tallar, High Priestess, and Ulath'Tallar, Archpriestess. A priestess in training, before she has passed the Test of Lolth, is called Yath'abban, Temple Ally.
Major centres of worship of the Spider Queen are located in the great cities of the Northdark, among which the most important ones are: Menzoberranzan, the City of Spiders, founded by the Chosen Menzoberra at the end of a long pilgrimage across the Underdark; Ched Nasad, the City of Shimmering Webs, created on calcified webs spun by an avatar of Lolth, and founded by House Nasadra after they left Menzoberranzan; and Guallidurth, the Temple City of Lolth, that hosts countless temples, many of which date to the earliest years after the Descent of the Drow.
Aunrae Hlairyn, AR 182