Mae'ana Religions

Lolth

Lolth
Queen of Spiders, Queen of the Demonweb Pits

(Intermediate Deity)

Symbol: Black spider with female Drow head hanging from a spider web
Home Plane: Demonweb Pits
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Worshipers: Drow and depraved elves, sentient spiders
Cleric Alignments: Chaotic Evil, Neutral Evil & Chaotic Neutral (See the talk page )
Domains: Chaos, Drow, Evil, Darkness, Destruction, Spider, Trickery
Favored Weapon: A spider (dagger)
Cruel and capricious Lloth embodies the absolute evil of the drow. She is malicious in her dealings with others and coldly vicious in a fight, coveting the power of deities worshiped by the surface races. Some believe her to be insane, because the Queen of Spiders pits her own worshipers against one another in an endless struggle for "station". She can be kind and aids those she fancies, but she thrives on death, destruction, and torture -- including those of her own worshipers who have displeased her. Although she can appear in the form of a giant black widow spider with crimson eyes, Lloth's true form is that of a human-sized, exquisitely beautiful female drow.

The Queen of Spiders is the subject of terrifying legend among most surface dwellers and seen as virtually synonymous with the greatly feared drow. Few elves are even willing to discuss their deep dwelling kin, let alone the dark deity who is blamed in large part for their depravity. Only the drow clerics of Eilistraee are even willing to speak of Lloth, and their fury at her enslavement of their kind exceeds even that of the other elven subraces. In the underdark, her church is a well-known evil, hated by dwarves, svirfneblin, and other races for the cruelty of her clerics. Dark elves who venerate other evil deities, as well as all male drow who pay her homage, revile the church of the Spider Queen for its power -- though they would seize such power for themselves if they could. Clerics of Lloth pray for spells after waking from trance or before retiring to trance. They are always female. Lloth requires regular homage from her clerics: submission in prayer, plus offerings. Lloth's aid requires sacrifices, traditionally the blood of drow faithful or captured foes, spilled with a spider-shaped knife whose eight descending legs are blades. Ceremonies sacrificing surface elves are performed monthly during nights of the full moon as deliberate affronts to Sehanine Moonbow, Lloth's hated rival. Rituals customarily take place among women only, in a sacred room or area, but those requiring extraordinary power or a public display may be celebrated in the open and in mixed company. The most powerful ceremonies defy description and are seldom seen by nondrow. Rituals to Lloth involve the burning of precious oils and incense, live offerings, and riches of all sorts, particularly gems. These are customarily placed in a bowl-shaped depression in a black alter or a burning brazier, from which black-and-red flames leap to consume the offerings. If the deity is angered, or impostors are present, the flames may also arc to consume other valuables, such as magic items, jewelry and clothing. Large, important rituals customarily use eight braziers, to provide additional flame and to represent Lloth's eight legs.

Lloth allows herself to be contacted directly (Such as with a commune spell) only when it pleases her to do so. Otherwise, the call reaches her servant yochlols (amorphous demons able to take the form of an elf or spider). When Lloth is displeased she sends a yochlol or a myrlochar (a spider demon of lesser rank) to attack the cleric. Lloth's clerics sometimes multiclass as arachnes, fighters, or sorcerers.

Dogma
Fear is as strong as steel, while love and respect are soft and useless. Convert or destroy nonbeliever drow. Weed out the weak and the rebellious. Destroy impugners of the faith. Sacrifice males, slaves, and those of other races who ignore the commands of Lloth or her clerics. Raise children to praise and fear Lloth; each family should produce at least one cleric to serve her. Questioning Lloth's motives or wisdom is a sin, as is aiding nondrow against the drow, or ignoring Lloth's commands for the sake of a lover. Revere arachnids of all kinds; those who kill or mistreat a spider must die.

Portfolio
Assassins, Chaos, Darkness, Drow, Evil, Spiders

History/Relationships
Lloth was once Araushnee, the consort of Corellon Larethian, patron of artisans, the deity 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 her lover two children, Eilistraee and Vhaeraun, before she betrayed him and tried to invade Arvandor, along with Ghaunadaur, Malar, and many other fell deities. For her crimes, Araushnee was banished to the Abyss in the form of a spider demon, where she took the name Lloth. As the original patron of the dark elves, the Queen of Spiders established herself as the unchallenged ruler of the drow pantheon. Lloth finds it convenient to ally herself on occasion with Loviatar and Malar, and since the Time of Troubles, to masquerade as Moander, an ancient deity of rot, corruption, and decay. Lloth's foes include the Seldarine Ghaunadaur, Eilistraee, nondrow Underdark deities, and Gruumsh.

Selvetarm

Champion of Lolth, the Spider That Waits

Drow Demigod

Symbol: Spider on a crossed sword and mace
Home Plane: Demonweb Pits
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Worshipers: Barbarians, drow, fighters, those who like to kill, warriors
Cleric Alignments: CE, CN, NE
Domains: Chaos, Drow, Evil, Spider, War
Favored Weapon: "Venommace" (heavy mace)

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Selvetarm (sell-veh-tarm) is cruel and malicious by nature, caring only for battle and destruction. He harbors a deep hatred for all living things, to include his dominatinf mistress, finding beauty only in a well-honed and deadly fighting style. The Champion of Lolth sometimes shows a great deal of patience while waiting for prey to fall into an ambush he has set, though he prefers the wild abandon of battle frenzy over a careful and deliberate attack.

Selvetarm's church barely exists as such, serving mainly as the military arm of the church of Lolth. The faithful of the Spider That Waits spend most of their days honing their fighting skills or guarding fortifications. Many of the clergy members spend much of their time training other warriors in the art of war. While the Selvetargtlin are rightly known for their battle skills, the faith's teachings place little emphasis on tactics or strategy, thus few members of the clergy ahieve a high military rank.

Selvetarm's clerics pray for their spells immediately after the first battle of the day, or if there is no actuall battle, immediately following military practice. The faithful of the Champion of Lolth are expected to observe the rituals of Lolth, as directed by her clerics. Selvetarm does expect everyone who takes up arms in his service to cry out his name in the bloodlust of battle, specifically as they deliver the killing blow to a foe. As there is always the chance that any given attack may be a fatal one, Selvetargtlin tend to scream out the name of their deity constantly during a battle. Many clerics multiclass as fighters or barbarians.

History/Relationships
The offspring of an ill-fated tryst between Vhaeraun and Zandilar (now an aspect of Sharess), Selvetarm walked a solitary way for many centuries. He was nearly turned to good by Eilistraee when Lolth convinced him to battle Zanassu, a demon lord with a fondness for spiders. When he defeated and absorbed Zanassu, Selvetarm was overwhelmed by the demon lord's evil and fell into Lolth's mental traps. He now serves the Spider Queen utterly as her Champion. He is allied only with Lolth and Garagos, opposing almost every other deity.

Dogma
War is the ultimate expression of individual power, and only through battle and death can you realize the respect of your comrades. Hone your fighting skills constantly and teach those who will follow into the fray. Never give or receive quarter, and hope to die amid the bloodlust of battle against overwhelming odds.

Portfolio
Drow warriors