Baldur's Gate 3: Eilistraee, Daughter Of Lolth

[@Amber_Scarlet]

Let's play everyone's favorite game; "Find SFW, lore-accurate images of Eilistraee to put in a youtube video!"

[@RacoonDog90]

Considering lore is she appears usually naked that's a really hard and tall order. 🤣I'm glad it was accomplished

[@thebeanz7838]

Ah yes. My favorite Goddess who's been completely forgotten and ignored by Wizards of the Coast. At least Larian respects Lore.

[@thomasrose2149]

It's much more compelling than the bullshit that is the new Drow factions.

[@thebeanz7838]

@@thomasrose2149 I'd be fine with them if they didn't try to bury past lore and what not

[@thomasrose2149]

@@thebeanz7838 Or they didn't retcon it.

[@powerist209]

Yeah, the thing is that Wizards seem to have hard-on against her, especially 4E email calling her as a meme. Like Smedman's awful series and mostly lore changes was to make Drizzt special as "good drow" by omitting other good Drows because that wouldn't make him special (like Waterdeep is like place where a Drow handing out cookies isn't odd and definitely won't get torches and pitchfork, let alone magic mask). Before you say nude dance, they still had lewd rituals.

[@kira68200]

the best goddess

[@willferrous8677]

Actual best girl

[@ChaoticGoodPeasant23]

Absolutely.

[@ACGG4891]

Agreed

[@kingdomkeycrafter]

When I found Eilistraee’s Song Sword in the Underdark as a Seldarine Drow, I was hyped!!

[@transient_moonlight]

You know what's best about Eilistraee IMO? She symbolizes that beauty isn't fragile, it's resilient and always survives in people, no matter the hardships. This is reflected in her story. She chose a life of hardships so that she could reach to the drow and be there for them, even though she knew it'd be an almost impossible battle. The nation she helped nurturing flourished but then was magic nuked by the sun elves. She was reduced into powerlessness but still refused to abandon her people and cause. In the times when her faith had a resurgence, various threats knocked her down. However, despite all of this and being weighed down by melancholy and loss, Eilistraee always licks her wounds and then comes back to action. She's always present for the drow. Basically, she represents that you can never take the beauty out of people, no matter how much you abused them or whatever bleak context you create around them. Some of that beauty and potential will always remain, waiting to manifest again. PS: Ed Greenwood gave an explanation to Eilistraee's return (as well as Vhaeraun's). Basically, they never died, but survived thanks to a plan that Eilistraee crafted with Mystra. Things didn't go as expected, so Eilistraee and Vhaeraun remained powerless for a century or so, as their power was trapped in strands of the Weave, but as Mystra recovered during the Second Sundering, both twins regained their powers. The FRWiki includes more details, but that is what happened in a nutshell.

[@ACGG4891]

Well said!

[@Castapher]

I was absent during the 4th edition and got told she "died". Now thanks to you, my life again has meaning. ♥

[@jeremyleonjonas7657]

I was very happy when I found the Phalar Aluve in the Underdark xD wasn't expecting much Eilistraee content in the game, but getting a sword of hers was a very pleasent surprise.

[@arcanerecovery2567]

Can you explain more about the Phalar Aluve? For those who didn't play the game or are just unfamiliar with that reference.

[@jeremyleonjonas7657]

@@arcanerecovery2567 it is a finesse longsword, that you can find in the Underdark during BG3 first act. The sword is found stuck in a stone and is freed by either an offering of blood (after successful religion check), passing a strength check or as cleric of Eilistraee without any check. Its a sword enchanted by Eilistraee and can give a buff effect to allies or debuff to enemies.

[@greenchilistudioz4537]

@@arcanerecovery2567 Sadly that sword is consider mostly useless unless you use exploit to cheese some fights ingame.

[@MyNameIsBucket]

@@greenchilistudioz4537 Huh? It's one of the best swords in the game, at least for anyone who isn't a 2H bonk machine.

[@TyranusRex721]

Eilistraee is such an interesting character. She is rarely ever seen or mentioned in most D&D media, but a lot of people are obsessed with her on the sole fact that she is a purely good Drow goddess and fights against the evil of Loth in an attempt to free the Drow. There is so much you can do with that and...not much is ever done with it. Even in the Drizzt novels, which is all about a good Drow fighting evil. I really hope she plays a larger role in Baldur's Gate 3 and D&D media as a whole going forward.

[@LadyGoof]

I will say that it’s similar to how people forget or know about Liriel Baenre vs Drizzt Who had a big role in the future of drow. For example, she is the reason why drow magic can be used on the surface.

[@PatrickMJr]

​@LadyGoof those 2 characters definitely need to meet with their respective companions

[@deathbycognitivedissonance5036]

Hotness and goodness is the best combo.

[@ACGG4891]

Eilistaee has always been my favorite deity. I loved war of the Spider Queen and subsequent trilogy. Though she may not have a large role to play is BG3, I am super excited at her inclusion!!!!

[@mal35m]

I have a Drow Eilistraee cleric/ bard in BG3. Of course she dances naked for ummm... roleplaying.

[@queendiscord5973]

Elistraee is basically that bad girl we all knew who grew up with a narcissistic mom & ended up doing her shadow work, becoming stronger, and dropping the rebellious phase for a genuinely proactive life. Also, in the semi-cannon ending where Viconia was assassinated after Throne of Bhaal (if you romanced her) I like to think that Elistraee guided the “vengeance campaign” which Bhaal’s child waged after losing her. Great content as always! ❤️

[@LightStreak567]

"Bhaal's child"? I think you mean the "half-drow child of Bhaal's child".

[@Suzanne_sf]

How do you see her as a bad girl? I've never seen her as a bad girl.

[@transient_moonlight]

To me, her family context makes her desire to reach to the drow much more interesting and personal. And not because of rebellion, really, as Eilistraee genuinely loved her mother back when she lived in Arvandor, and Araushnee had yet to become a Saturday morning cartoon villain. Eilistraee is a goddess who's weighed down by melancholy and the pain of loss, and who has to coexist with the fact that she couldn't prevent her family from breaking apart when she was a teen. She fights this melancholy by cultivating "beauty" where it seems there's no place for it, by looking for it in the broken and striving to heal it. She goes to the people that are forgotten or rejected and works to make their best come out by giving them a place, listening/understanding (a whole ritual is dedicated just to this), and the conditions to start becoming the fullest version of themsleves. That's compelling on its own, but it's much more interesting when you observe that this might be how Eilistraee faces the traumatic events of her life (being neglected by her mother, being manipulated into breaking her family apart). Due to what happened, Eilistraee might very well feel that she's inadequate, and be terrified of loss. That she doesn't have a place among her own people, UNLESS she does something for them: nurture them, protect them, help them find her own sense of fulfilment--all the stuff that her mother didn't do for her. Her empowerer M.O.&focus on arts/freedom of expression are well thought in that they can help people heal from abuse/abandonment, basically the treatment that Lolth gave her. Meanwhile, in looking for the good in everyone and trying to understand them, she might be looking for an answer to questions like "why wasn't I able to prevent my family from breaking? What if I had tried to understand my mother and her feeling powerless over her own destiny? What if I had tried to reach to her?" (see. Evermeet, Island of Elves for more context). So, basically trying to make up for what she didn't have as a child/teen, and answering to a sense of guilt that often comes to people subject to trauma/abandonment/abuse.

[@queendiscord5973]

@@transient_moonlight very well written, why I love the D&D / BG community. 🙏❤️

[@queendiscord5973]

@@Suzanne_sf see Tommasso’s response. You’re right, rebellion probably wasn’t the right word. It implies a kind of childishness that isn’t fair for Ellistrae. I still stand by the other part tho. 🙏✨

[@apres-lachute8718]

I rather completely agree with you about 4th edition lore. They really dropped the ball, changed everything and then retconned it away (well, most of it), probably becaues 4th edition did not do well but who knows. I definitely can see your reasoning there. Thanks for the video!

[@barbarossarotbart]

They were forced to make these changes and did not like it. (According to R.A. Salvatore Ed Greenwood was in tears when he heard what was planned for his world.) But they devised a plan to undo it.

[@relint12]

@@barbarossarotbart they could reset back to just before 4e and I would be super cool with that. The Time of Troubles to about 1400 DR were great, the spell-plague on was just barf. Figure out a way to keep some of the better character development points by sending those folks on a journey through time ‘Back to the Future’ style to stop the spell-plague.

[@johnhodgdon2434]

Eilistraee is in my opinion easily the best deity, but she is at least my favorite. My Seldarine Drow Female Cleric/Bard and my Seldarine Male Drow Cleric/Paladin, in table top and in bg3 are fervent fanatics of hers, and crusade eternally against Lolth Sworn.

[@PatrickMJr]

DOWN WITH THE SPIDER KISSERS!

[@MizuMing]

8:00 That is a very beautiful piece of art for the Drow, lovely. 👍

[@lincolnross9000]

Looks like a holy symbol of Serenrae

[@V-RADIO]

In the Drizzt books, the soul of Zacknafien assured his son that he was quite happy in the afterlife. I always hoped they would eventually reveal he was with Elistraee.

[@PatrickMJr]

I see that as possible considering Zaks experience with Gallifrae the Holy (only listened to the audiobook so my spelling is probably off) 😅

[@iconodule3938]

Eilistraee, Ilmater, and Helm are the GOATs

[@Suzanne_sf]

Thank you for the video. I think she is my favourite, so much so that my "Tav" in my fanfiction worships Eilistraee.

[@iDEATH]

You've got a great voice for this sort of stuff, so I'm really enjoying the lore updates from you. I never got too into the novels past the mid-90s, maybe, and all my TTRPG lore/knowledge ends with 3.5e. Maybe 3.0? Was there a book after Faiths & Pantheons? As much as I love the old properly evil Lolth worshipping drow, and like to crack jokes about Eilistraee being the drow goddess of exhibitionism, I've always like Eilistraee as a character. It's the little things, but with them added all together, I think she's really interesting in how Greenwood managed to make her such a positive goddess for the drow, yet still feel distinctly drow and not just like another member of the Seldarine. Maybe it's just me, but I always felt like there's still a bit of ruthlessness there, in that "we don't want to, but we will and we won't feel bad about it after" sort of way. I wish I could explain that a bit better, but it's an old impression. I'd need to dig out the old books and pour over them again before I could give specifics.

[@Ctrooper2011]

Eilistraee should team up with Selûne in an alliance of Chaotic Good goddesses. I also wonder, which Chaotic Good god should also join to make a new triad?

[@nasseralenezi1343]

Sehanine Moonbow since all three are Goddesses of the moon

[@BroderHjort]

You deserve alot more subs, really great content every time you release a video. Always a joy to watch. Keep going, you are going to be huge

[@spellandshield]

Tack så mycket!

[@Mourndarkv]

My favorite diety in the FR

[@kingangst233]

I have been enjoying playing a half drow Paladin. My head cannon is that he follows the dark maiden. Wish I could pick a diety as a Paladin though

[@boomcaboose1]

Just multiclass into cleric for now until it maybe gets added later?

[@damongraham1398]

I have two AL characters that worship her. A Waterdeep naval captain Water Genasi 8th level protection style Devotion Paladin Bronze Dragon sorcerer 5/3. A Chultan born half Drow Waterdeep noble 11th level Bronze Draconic sorcerer Arcane archer two weapon style fighter.

[@Ludydobry]

Loving these lore vids

[@Oneydjak]

Fantastic recap. I'm a bit more optimistic that we'll see a bit more of Elistraee as I somewhat assume more will be added to the Underdark as the game progresses along.

[@honorablepoohbear7332]

your videos are amazing I love how informational they are i love lore and the world of Baldur's gate has so much of it I cant wait to see more from you

[@powerist209]

Wizards Of the Coast seems to have hardon against her. Like in 2E, it kinda want to make Drows nuanced by having different cultures that aren't that dedicated to Lolth and some actually openly trading with surface cultures. Then 3E retconned that and made them "eat babies, intercourse with demons, and lewd rituals" and the awful Smedman series had Eilistraee as "lolth-lite" (namely slaughtering lycanthropes, mutilating males for seeing the dance, and forcing people to convert all of which aren't canonical teachings from her). Even 5E kinda had "so we had good Drow cities...but still tip-toeing on Eilitraee". Definitely not nude dance since 3E had Drow having Chad-Zak orgasm, creating Draegloth in explicit manner, and academy graduation involve debauched rituals (heck even Drizzt novels had Drows "having fun" with their captives).

[@ericfluellen8957]

Well done, informative video.

[@hugewatermelon]

In general I really dislike retconning, but at least we got an interesting goddess like her out of it. Thank you for the vid!

[@transient_moonlight]

The novels mentioned in the video were meant to retcon Eilistraee's lore by smearing her and trying to turn her into some "Lolth, but on the surface" thingy. They were also written with the explicit editorial mandate of removing the drow pantheon, so that Drizzt would be "more special". Even Perkins said as much. Nothing of value was lost with the retcon.

[@hugewatermelon]

@@transient_moonlight Good to hear!

[@kyledayton7829]

​@@transient_moonlightsounds like something the Church of Loth would make up about her

[@Durahan82]

10:30 They were Roommates .

[@dv5488]

great vids, doing all the clicking and commenting for the algorithm

[@TraciPeteyforlife]

My current Patron in my DND game. :) She is awesome.

[@semmikozod1139]

Do you have any favorite deities in the Forgotten Realms? Mine is Ilmater

[@spellandshield]

Probably Torm but there has been no mention of him in 5th Edtion sadly.

[@semmikozod1139]

@@spellandshield Yeah, the restoration of Tyr kinda makes Torm weird I suppose.

[@silverthorngoodtree5533]

WOTC tied Lloth/tahkisis from dragon lance. When Tahkeses died lloth went silent. 4th edition blowing up the world then undoing it all for 5th, most just ignore that part of "cannon".

[@spellandshield]

They messed up for sure.

[@cernunnos_lives]

We'd probably worship her in this world if it was socially acceptable

[@HikingFeral]

Dungeons and Dragons is just Open Source Lord of the Rings. I used to have no interest whatsoever in it but ever since I started playing BG3 I have been obsessed with learning about D&D to the point I'm even looking at making a character with the 5e ruleset and doing some pretend solo adventures until I can join a grp. I have always loved Dark elves in all media - Warhammer etc and so I love the Drow already. I love that there are Drow who do not follow Lolth, however rare and short-lived they may be. This universe is amazing.

[@mpty2000]

My favourite. 💜

[@AvaNightingale]

There is no goddess ANY sentient being could wish for who would be better at ones side than Her.

[@WhirlwindCK]

Love the Witcher music with this

[@ilyabykov2437]

If I were a drow, I'd tell Lolth to go squish herself.

[@BIGESTblade]

No you won't, cause your mom would turn you into a drider.

[@mal35m]

LOL, that is what a cleric of Eilistraee would say.

[@Whisper2069]

one of the things i liked about playing with Eilistraee as the chosen Deity is the interactions ive had with the duegar slavers, which truthfully i fully support the distaiste for such barbarity, ive enjoyed it.

[@mondric4519]

Ummm...three children. The masked lord, dark maiden,and Vandrel( she stayed in the seldarine.)

[@Dothreban]

Im currently playing a High Elf Bard/Cleric and Eilistraee is my patron Goddess.

[@followernumber1]

The franchise definitely does not give her the screen time she deserves

[@FallfromGrace-ig1pw]

:004 seconds :pfft hold my beer

[@pandoraeeris7860]

I feel like the proper pronunciation of her name is ay-ee-lee-stray-eh.

[@willferrous8677]

That seems incredibly japanese/latin, or really any other language where vowels made sense. Vowels-making-sense is not a luxury english affords however.

[@bretthughes27]

Really well done! Is there one book or series that you would recommend pre-BG3 for someone that has never played D&D, nor read any of the books based on it?

[@spellandshield]

Sadly there are hundreds. No one book can really explain all.

[@bretthughes27]

@@spellandshield Thought that was probably the case, so I'll just continue to rely on your excellent work.

[@ACGG4891]

As stated above, there are so many books and they span a great amount of lore. However, I feel the Drizzt novel is a great starting point. Not only is he a beloved character of the franchise, he covers a lot of ground and meets lots of people. Start with the Icewind Dale Trilogy if you are more interested in the lore as a whole. Start with the Drizzt prequell trilogy ("Homeland" is the first book), if you want a more in depth explaination of Drizzt and/or drow.

[@Son_Daughter_of_Slaanesh]

Elaine Cunninghams Starlight and Shadows trilogie (Daughter of the Drow, Tangled Webs and Windwalker) is a must read for Eilistraee fans.

[@ACGG4891]

@@Son_Daughter_of_Slaanesh That trilogy was fun. Great call.

[@BLACKDOJAH789]

I actually thought the War of the Spider queen wasn't really thought out very well albeit a fun read ( before the 3rd and the 2nd books actually). I'd like the Drow to be even more secluded while still havinga hand on the wheel of Faerun

[@transient_moonlight]

The series had massive problems in terms of structure, coherent caracterization, and lore--both general lore, and Eilistraee's lore. Smedman/Athans intentionally sniped specific lines and core concepts of Eilistraee to turn them upside down and depict Eilistraee as "Lolth, but on the surface".

[@BLACKDOJAH789]

@@transient_moonlight i agree and i wish they would bring back Pharun and Rylll

[@transient_moonlight]

@@BLACKDOJAH789 Yeah, that was some really hot crap too. That WotC chose to axe any interesting drow character that showed any form of independent thinking, because every drow had to be some Lolth drone except Salvatore's characters.

[@BLACKDOJAH789]

@@transient_moonlight ya know i thought i was the only one that think that about Salvatore. I hope they Retcon that whole enterprise.

[@MrZonehawk]

As I understand it the idea was not to banish all illatheeri but just the corrupt ones but the other drow were accidentally cast out as well. Am I wrong?

[@Nazinsky]

I wish Vhaeraun was an option.

[@spellandshield]

Maybe he will be.

[@Nazinsky]

@@spellandshield I hope so! He's my favorite deity of.. all time, genuinely!

[@mauropavanello2816]

Excellent video! my question is though, what is the backround music in this video? I know it but i cant put my finger on it ^^

[@spellandshield]

Fields of Skellige, Witcher 3.

[@mauropavanello2816]

@@spellandshield Thank you!

[@Lazarus1095]

The War of the Spider Queen: Good books, lousy, lousy ending... So they retconned the f**k out of it!

[@MichaelS5400]

I like her cuz drow are hot