Lolth
From Neversummer 4 Wiki
Lolth
God(dess) of: Spiders, Evil, Darkness, Rotting Death, Decay, Corruption
Alignment: CE
Domains: Chaos, Darkness, Destruction, Evil, Trickery
Faction(s): Shadow Legion
DM Assigned: Yonwe
DM Level: Faction DM
The dark-skinned goddess of the Drow, the origins of Lolth is told as two sides of the same story. In this, Lolth was once called Araushnee, the wife and Queen Consort of Corellon Larethian, the god of the Elves, and as such had a hand in the creation of the first Elven races and kingdoms. But as time passed, Araushnee was more and more moved by the supremacy of Corellon over his people, causing the seed of jealousy to be born in her heart, and from her to be spread amongst the devout of her faith. Hence came the great Crown Wars, fought long-off and anon on the home plane of the Elves, long lost by the Ban of Aetheria as more and more souls have become trapped here.
As the wars raged, Corellon discovered that his queen was the source of this terrible violence that tore the Elves in every direction, committing such atrocities that even his great heart was moved to anger. Revealed as the source of corruption, Araushnee was cast from the paradise of the Elves into the burning darkness of the Underdark, cursed by Corellon to forever wear skin as black as her heart; and with her were sent the foulest of her followers, who became the Drow (The Accursed), with Lolth (The Fallen) to bid over the remains of her people.
Yet the Church of Lolth denies none of this story, even the details which portray their goddess as a foul blight upon the face of the world; for while many dark deities may hide the depth of their evil to lure followers into their service, Lolth chides and screams at her punishment, denying her motives to none, and instead keeping a stranglehold upon her Drow through terror and outright despotism.
For in this, Lolth views her followers and Drow not even as tools to achieve her ends, but as the weighted chain about her neck to hold her down, a burden thrust upon her unwillingly and necessary in the end only to remain as powerful as she is now. It must be remembered, that the power of a deity stems from the number of worshippers they garner; and as this is so, Lolth must be reckoned very powerful indeed, as all the Shadow Legion is kept under her heel in terrified glory, her horrors forcing their prayers with the promise of easy reward should they please her.
And yet, Lolth is thought insane and despotic even by her highest clerics; for displeasing the Spider Queen in even the slightest way can spell death and damnation for the wariest of her priestesses. Rather than deny this, this is the unholiest of her commandments: "Let no Drow forget that it is from the bussom of Lolth they are born, and under the heel of her claw that they are dragged back to her."
- - -
- The Dogma of the Spider Queen -
~ Fear is as strong as steel; love and respect are soft and useless.
~ Convert or destroy all nonbeliever Drow; for faith in the Spider Queen is the only belief.
~ Destroy all heretics and impugners of Lolth.
~ Sacrifice males, slaves, and all surfacers who ignore the commands of your Queen.
~ Raise your young to praise and fear Lolth; all families must produce at least one cleric to serve the church, or shall risk her great and boundless wrath.
~ Questioning the church of Lolth is a sin of death.
~ Questioning the power of Lolth is a sin of death.
~ Aiding non-Drow against her people is a betrayal of your birthright, and your life is thus forfeit.
~ Revere all arachnids as avatars of the Spider Queen; and all those who slay a Spider shall be slain in turn.
