Lolth and the Drow Pantheon | D&D Lore

[@EffervescentPhantasm]

I love playing a Half-Drow cleric of Eilistraee. She works so hard to make a name for good Drow everywhere, though she does struggle with her darker impulses from time to time. She's even lead the party on a few ritual hunts and has openly discussed her religious beliefs with some of the party and you can count on her to play her flute whenever the party settles down for a meal. The party thought it kinda strange that she dances naked in the moonlight but they've grown used to it.

[@alizard7617]

>be me >be dnd party’s resident cleric >war cleric >dm agreed with me god is some Emperor of mankind looking brotherfucker and I’m functionally a space marine chaplain crossed with ecclesiarch type preacher >Dnd shit happens >Kill some greenskins, the norm >get respectable amount of money for lvl 2 >party wants to get adamantium weps >expensive as fuck compared to money we had at time >dwarf salesman mentions that theirs still relatively common adamantium veins in the underdark >plan is simple >get in, get rocks, get out >session to do some spelunking comes >new girl joins group >(two other girls; one is High Elf bard (uses harp it’s pretty neat) other one in group is a gnome artificer; > Xp to lvl 3 version of artificer drive.google.com/file/d/1jeqp5Ls9paEh0yZ0vyhJRoNKCJ4yARf2/view >Dm says she comes in later in the session >we never see her introduce he character or see the sheet >Mining away >what’s that I found >get some of the adamantium >enough for all of us and then some >drow ambush us and capture us >artificer’s robot arm (doubles as grappling hook cannonicallly has a “vibration” function, it’s when the hook is nearing its weight limit before it will break) >Shit what we gonna do >Drow priestess is talking to us as we’re tied up in cell >one of the bois (rogue) pulls a Marty McFly and says “hey I’ve seen this one before” likely cause he has seen this idea from a thread or vid before it happened to us >Priestess threatens to kill all of unless my character provides her with “adequate pleasure” >always wear deus vult bucket helm >had at the time almost never removed it and even then the dm never described his face and now describes him as a divine looking person, “closest to looking like an aasimar without actually being one” he describes >Elf bard feels bad for me > character couldn’t see Priestess during her proposition to the party >too dark to see >darkvision is kinda op and should give sunlight sensitivity or at least some downside to night vision >starting with war caster however is epic >my abuse of variant human aside >Say fuck it, literally >My boi going in blind on this event >also reminded if I insult priestess in any way party is getting jugulars slit >Emperor forgive me, not for what I have done, but for what I am about to do >let into Priestesses’ chambers >new girl starts rolling a single d20 >am confused at first, just says that she’s rolling for stats >bruh this is a point buy household but ok >never rolled for stats so didn’t know d20 wasn’t for rolling stats >Dm asks me to roll charisma save >fail >later learn she was rolling for seduction >back to campaign >oddly new girl is asked by dm if she wants to voice act this part >says yea >my pious boi is ordered onto the bed >Priestess starts pouring out life story and insecurities, how matron threatens to kill her if she shows anymore signs of weakness >talks about surface raid at night when she saw the error of her ways because of Eilistraee >not a mind control >more of an enlightening like “hey, I’m kinda of an asshole” >story wise it explains her relative emotional instability >My boi starts comforting her >mostly does it in order to save friends, partially feels pity for this abused soul >Priestess says >”I just want to leave this horrid place.” “This is where you and your compatriots come in.” “You will help me escape, understand?” >this was an elaborate play by the Priestess to help plan her escape with some adventurers who would also help her live a peaceful life once she was topside >”And done.” The new girl shows everyone her character sheet >Bard girl starts laughing her ass off >I’m last person in rotation >Class: Cleric >Race: Elf - Drow >Name: Lia (has other parts but first part is only important bit) >cool backstory on her part >already like girl as she coordinated with Dm to have her character introduced organically >Back in game >Lia says >”But before that.” > oh fuck >the fuckening happens >Dm doesn’t go into much detail to avoid weirding people out >”Roll for sexual success.” >the fuk >fine I’ll roll >why do get good luck on stuff like this? >20 > Dm says to add con >22 >Dm they does a spongebob “One hour and forty five minutes later” >bruh that roll wasn’t just for the quality of sex, it was also for the length >I rolled so good it caused a drow to need a breather >Lia then orders character holds her in his arms >Lia falls asleep in his arms >next day (only member of party that got long rest, other than Lia) >brought back to party >tell them plan to escape >escape happens >everyone gets their stuff, artificer gets arm back, party gets adamantium back >character nearly dies to save Lia >We return to surface >go to dwarf salesmen and ask where we could get adamantium forged >Says he could do it himself >does it >Dm rolls for dwarf’s job at smithing overall >20 >E P I C >and so there my character was, with an adamantium warhammer and a drow gf >Since then my one friend in the party who also does 40k (Dragonborn paladin) keeps making Gulliman and Yvraine jokes now and it’s killing me internally >Artarion (name of my boi) and Lia become power couple of the party >better power couple then bard and rogue (human, is swashbuckler, kinda Ezio looking brotherfucker) >Ezio looking brotherfucker argues that “why are you having relationship with drow isn’t that like heresy or some dumb holy stuff?” >Quote the Lectitio Divinitatus >Ignatius 4:27 “All can be redeemed in the eyes of the Emperor >and that was how we spooked the extremely toxic human fighter out of our party through some god tier role play >guy was a prick and was saying “why are you talking to her, just stab her and break us out.” During Lia’s introduction

[@irishspartanstudios]

That's freaky how I envisioned a similar character! Well, he is a guy, Bard, is humbled by being a slave in the Underdark, and is a full Drow; but like yours he plays a flute and at times struggles with darker impulses.

[@kannonball5789]

Eilistraee is the best Drow deity.

[@Tony-oc3iq]

Does she ever contact drizzt?

[@kannonball5789]

@@Tony-oc3iq no

[@marsneedstowels]

@@kannonball5789 I heard it's because Salvatore doesn't like Eilistraee.

[@kannonball5789]

@@marsneedstowels yeah, I've heard that as well.

[@alanschaub147]

I want to make a Drow Bladesinger 5e character using the new Tasha’s version of this subclass who worships Eilistraee!

[@XanthasSilvermoon]

I have played two clerics of Eilistraee. Best Goddess of the Drow Pantheon.

[@grymhild]

A rather tired Crinti half-blood with light-grey skin, long silvery hair and eyes of pale indigo raises both of her bands, lightly pressing the tips of her fingers and thumbs together to form Eilistraee's sacred moon, "Joyous song, Lady." "May the Song touch your heart and bring you joy."

[@AZDfox]

A very small female Drow with pale purple skin, lavender eyes, and silver hair waves at you both. "May Eli bless you!" she shouts, before hugging you both.

[@NoActuallyGo-KCUF-Yourself]

Best-looking, that's for sure.

[@TheGodlikeDragon]

My Aasimar Sword Dancer concur

[@shadowhuntress1371]

She is the best goddess of the Drow Pantheon and so unappreciated in 5e. She's mentioned maybe once or twice in both the player's handbook and in Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes. Sure, it gives plenty of creative freedom for players and DM's, but at the same time, a bit more info on the Dark Maiden would be really helpful.

[@rachelevil]

I think there's also a small community of Eilistraee worshipers in Waterdeep, who moved there after the goddess was seen nearby. I'm currently playing a Drow warlock (celestial patron) who was raised on the surface by parents who worshiped Eilistraee. It's fun to play a Drow who's basically the exact opposite of what everyone who meets her expects.

[@transient_moonlight]

Yes, the new community (1490s) is sponsored by the Harpers.

[@aysonohbata9746]

I am DMing a taldorei campaign where Elistraee has been killed by Lolth centuries ago but she kept a small portion of her power in a sword. One of my Drow players took the Oath to restore her and and her church.

[@transient_moonlight]

Wow, does she exist in the Taldorei world, or is it just in your campaign?

[@J2982able]

consider this stolen for my table

[@placeholdername3818]

Is your player a Warlock by chance?

[@jackdizzy123]

@@transient_moonlight pretty sure that's homebrew, but a good one nonetheless

[@NuthrMattWright]

Ghaunadaur is also one of my favorites. I like to imagine that Juiblex, Ghaunadaur and Tharizdun are all different aspects of the same greater diety that is in strict opposition to Ao.

[@FromAgonyToLight]

I think all three deities you have mentioned have ties to the Outer/Old Gods.

[@ofekofek7058]

Tharizdun and Jubilex are aspects of Ghaunadaur, it is said in older source books

[@biblebot3947]

ofek elkabets which ones

[@heathhertter5102]

I've got a Drow-fighter an eldritch knight to be exact, who worship's Elistraee and is out to build a city of her followers on the surface. Used to be a weaponsmith until he found out the hard way what happens to Drow males who catch the attentions of more than one Cleric of Lolth.

[@johnmandrage3248]

A threesome?

[@jackdizzy123]

@@johnmandrage3248 🤣

[@ugan2]

Eilistaree has always been favorite deity period if for anything the type of clerics you can come up. My first cleric was a half-drow one who worshipped her (she was left within the Promenade of the Dark Maiden by her father) but she was also naive and kind of sheltered, believing there was always good in everyone and hated when people made her church as though it was some kind of evil cult. The next one I did was more motherly with a fear of fire (she was burned by her slavers for a sick laugh) so it was fun having her rp out her anxiety as she did the flame song. Vhaerun is my next favorite deity if for anything just the lore between him, his mother, and his sister (in 5e both Eilistaree and Vhaerun's churches still don't like each other but have come to some truce in order to take on Lolth). Also I liked how he was okay with working with surface elves (his belief was we're both elves, other surface dwellers are beneath us, let's stop squabbling and take over together). I was disappointed when I couldn't properly use my half-drow bard (yes I love half-drows they're my favorite race) of him. He was raised by his drow father to see his human side as something to brush off and was he was designed to be extremely condescending to other races (I have drow blood and thus better than you). Anyway great work you do :)

[@pyro42]

yeah Eilistraree is one of my favorites to, infact Faerun History just did a video on her, my first game of D&D consisted of helping a small cult of Eilestaree free some of her followers form a drow slaver camp

[@ugan2]

@@pyro42 Nice the first half-drow i made was in Raven's Bluff and apparently one of the family's that supported the church there was suspected of killing a noble who pushed for the temple to be shut down and had a lot of pull to do it. How did that game end for you?

[@pyro42]

Kia well it was a 2ed game and on the second game the elf i was playing that i put a lot of work into her back story died by a stray arrow though her throt, 2ed was brutal

[@ugan2]

@@pyro42 Wow, I've only played PF (person who introduced me to it would use FR) and recently 5e but yeah I heard 1st and 2nd ED was crazy

[@pyro42]

@Kia yep, once you go to 0 you are dead, not knocked out but dead, and the combat system was a mess, i like 5th much better

[@bubblecat7827]

Y'know that goddess! Eill...Ill...Ell... Illustration

[@PlayfulOtter]

I had no idea that there was a drow god of oozes. This is great, because I already introduced a cult of ooze in my game.

[@jakeman3659]

A drow blade singer would who worships Ilias tre hi would be a fun character to roleplay

[@ianthegodking]

Male clerics of Lloth exist just not in Menzo. Rai-guy Bondalek was a high priest of Lloth from Ched Nsad for example (see books "the silent blade" and "servant of the shard")

[@feylights166]

I've always been a fan of Eilistraee, and even Vhaeraun (who, while evil, is better than Lolth). I was not a fan of some of the lore changes in MToF, which I could go on about lol. I love godly stuff, so even though I am late to this video, I appreciate it. Now if only WotC would stop shoehorning Eilistraee and Vhaeraun and actually bring them to the forefront. I always thought Drizzt would have made a good follower of Eilistraee, but she is left out of those books, sadly.

[@feylights166]

@Lamodrick Foster the lore that depicts them that way (namely from War of the Spider Queen and Lady Penitent) is an inaccurate portrayal of Eilistraeen followers (Starlight & Shadows does a better job).I don't think Drizzt would have been expected to defer to them. While it's true many Eilistraeen communities are matriarchal, it's not like Lolthite society (see the Worshiper section of this article: forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Eilistraee) Indeed, before his death, Elkantar, a male, was in a prominent role among Eilistraeens. There may be females among her followers (particularly those who were originally Lolthites) who still have condescending views towards males, but Eilistraee herself does not see males as inferior. She wants *all* drow, male and female, to walk in the light. I wish the books had showcased this more, but there was a movement in WotC to get people to dislike her (so I have heard, at least), which is why there were such inaccurate portrayals of her and her followers in WotSQ and LP.

[@nickchucky3173]

@@feylights166the Lady Penitent trilogy concluded the War Of The Spider Queen, explaining a lot of things. The Second Sundering brought back Vhaeraun and Eilistraee from being dead powers, when they finally understood they had a common goal and put aside their enmity. Despite of what the 5th edition says, Vhaeraun doesn’t serve his mother and is not Eilistraee’s enemy anymore, as they both told their worshipers to stop fighting each other and team up if necessary.

[@feylights166]

@@nickchucky3173 oh, I know. I read LP and I know E & V are back in 5e. They're still not really being addressed though.

[@nickchucky3173]

@@feylights166 exactly, not addressed properly if at all.

[@captaindred342]

we can basically ignore what Mordenkainen wrote. He is a tourist from Greyspace who doesnt know the history of the Drow. He did what most historians in that situation do- he made shii up lol

[@mikemares4541]

I’ve watched so many of your videos and only now realized I’m not subscribed. Love your content, keep up the amazing work

[@emmanuelacosta5371]

Another 10/10 video. Thanks, man!!!

[@Nazinsky]

I love Kiaransalee so much, honestly. She's my favourite drow Goddess. And Vhaeraun :,)

[@JynxedKoma]

Lolth: "I'm terrified of you, but don't ignore me, LOL. OH SHI--"

[@patrickdees5256]

I actually have a drow valor bard dmpc that follows Eilistraee. She assists the party in combat, using her lute and inspiring the others. Also a shes a bit of a flirt to the Male PCs.

[@Duchess_Van_Hoof]

Fun fact, Vhaeraun is the dominant deity in Eryndlyn, Shindylryn, Chaulssin and Ched-Nasad. And he seems to be very popular among dow merchants, seeing as Eryndlyn originally was a mercantile republic and Shindylryn ended up as one. Seriously, there seem to be more Vharaun aligned and multi-faith city states than there are Lolth controlled ones.

[@transient_moonlight]

Ched Nasad was extremely devoted to Lolth. Then it was destroyed by the Jaezred Chaulssin. The ruins are now ruled by the this organization (indirectly), which used to be affiliated to the church of Vhaeraun. Their current allegiance, now that Vhaeraun has re-emerged, hasn't been specified, but I guess that they should once again be aligned with Vhaeraun. After all, if they want to infitlrate Lolthite societies and demolish them from the inside, who would be a better ally than the guy who created the concept of Masked Traitor? Eryndlyn was equally split among Lolth, Vhaeraun, and Ghaunadaur. The the Silence came, and it became split between Vhaeraun and Ghaunadaur. Then it was destroyed. Chaulssin isn't even really a drow city tbh, but it's ruled by the Jaezred, so it could be that it's still ruled by Vhaeraunites as of the 1490s DR. As for Sschindylryn, I didn't know that it was Vhaeraun-aligned, but I see no source stating that. I only found sources stating that it used to be Lolth-aligned, then it became Kiaransalee-aligned after the Silence. It doens't say what became of the city after Kiaransalee's (temporary) disappearance, but given WotC's intention for the drow in 4e, I guess it went back to Lolth. Anyway, I agree with you that Vhaeraun has more credits than he's given. In Ed Greenwood's Realms, LOlth doesn't have nearly as much control over the drow as it has in WotC's Realms. Ed didn't say exactly the % of drow who worship him, but the stated that 22% follow EIlistraee, and she's the thried most popular drow deity, with Vhaeraun coming second, so he should be (in EG's Realms, that is) at around 30% of drow following him. Selv, Ghaunandaur and Kiaransalle only have really small niches. LOlth has like 45% (?) of the drow. Once again, this is how Ed Greenwood, the creator of all the drow gods but Lolth, envisions the drow; WotC's version has, like, 90% of drow following Lolth, and ther rest 10% split among the other deities, which is nonsense, considering how stupid evil (TM) Lolth is, but that's WotC's worldbuilding for you (muh Drizzt must be teh most spehsul evah!!!11!!).

[@edwhalen2869]

i played the premade character from menzo boxed set for years (Dariel Kront'tane), we failed to save house millithor and was able to escape with surface characters friends were playing, and converted to eilistraee after being disillusioned with Lolth after losing 2 houses, was fun, did soooo many campaigns with him from myth drannor to undermountain. Miss playing but no one i know plays anymore. So hes just in the nether now never died on him was pretty high level by the time i quit haha

[@_AshB45_]

for all that Vheraun is the second most worshiped Deity of the Dark Seldarine he seems to be the least popular on youtube. I have only found one comprehensive video on him here. any plans on making one for him?

[@xanathar8659]

Before the end when you suggested half drow worshipper of eilistreehi (I think I'm close enough), I thought: "hmm, I could make a drow cleric multiclassed as a bard and a swordmage". Thanks for the awesome videos jorphdan!

[@cappadocius9379]

I play a drow light cleric of Eilistraee that my DM let me reflavor from being Sunlight to Moonlight.

[@Apillis124]

I play a surface drow Kensei monk of Eilistraee with favored weapon being a longsword given that is the favored weapon of Eilistraee (used to be bastard sword back in the 3.5 days and earlier) and that one of Eilistraee's portforlio is "swordplay" which a longsword wielding kensei monk would be all about. But I've also done Hunter and Gloom Stalker drow ranger characters, especially the former given that "Hunting" is also under Eilistraee's portfolio. But a chaotic good surface drow Bard of the College of Swords would pretty much be the prime example of a follower of Eilistraee.

[@TheGodlikeDragon]

There is an old Cleric subclass that only worshippers of Eilistraee could learn(but it was removed in 5e for some reason). The Subclass was Sword Dancer, which is basically a front liner cleric with focus on buffing their allies and enchant weapons with radiant damage

[@usernameunidentified9874]

I have a lawful good drow shadow monk in Out of the Abyss who multiclassed into celestial warlock after making a pact with a unicorn. My drow was a wimp who was supposed to be beaten, tortured then turned into a drider but escaped after secretly making a deal with a unicorn to gain power to help liberate other drow away from Lolth and live a life of peace. My drow was literally surprised when a group of surface dwellers (the party) decided to spare the drow's life and help out the drow in adventures. My DM and I decided that the monk abilities of the drow was a result from making a deal with the patron, starting with a gradual speed boost, punches being able to hit hard and having innate magic enhanced before gaining warlock magic. My drow only deals non lethal damage to humanoids and driders though to hope that they turn good when given a second chance to live.

[@GodlikePoet]

The faces of the priests in the illustration around 3 minutes made me die laughing, specifically because the Eilistraee one is looking at them all like "This is all such bullshit" and the Selvetarm one is like "Gurl don't even GET me started."

[@adamholcomb200]

Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes added 3 more Drow gods to make “The Dark Seldarine” to make a total of 9 Drow gods. One of the new gods is Keptolo a Male Drow: he is god of Drow Male god of hedonistic nature and trickery. Next is Malyk a male Drow god of Rebellions and Chaos. He is popular among male and female of low station wild mages or sorcerers or sorceresses. His Domain is of both Tempest and Trickery. And the last new god is Zinzerena female Drow goddess of Assassins and illusion magic and lies. Her Domain is also Trickery🕷🕷🕸🕸👍🏼💯

[@transient_moonlight]

They're all old gods. Malyk used to be an aspect of Talos, but post-Sundering he took life of his own, similar to how Amaunator and Lathander separated, I guess. Zinzerena is a deity that originates in greyhawk. She entered Toril, but was killed by Lolth during the Time of Troubles. She returned during the Second-Sundering, apparently. Keptolo is a deity of greyhawk, and I don't remember him ever gaining access to Toril (not that I remember Eilistraee ever gaining access to Oerth, but still, there she is. I guess 5e mixed all the cosmologies together).

[@adamholcomb200]

Tommaso Sammarco I guess after the Sundering they were pulled into Toril by AO along with other long dead gods and others that have vanished vanished🤷🏼‍♂️👍🏼👍🏼💯 because now they are all together called “The Dark Seldarine ”👍🏼💯🕸🕸🕷🕷

[@GringatTheRepugnant]

There's also Laraska, a female goddess of fire and martyrdom or something similar? Might be setting-specific given there's not much on her elsewhere.

[@MrNetWraith]

@@transient_moonlight Zinzerena had roots in AD&D Forgotten Realms as well as Greyhawk; she entered the Dark Seldarine (a title that dates back that far) in the AD&D "Monster Mythology" splatbook, was changed to exist on both worlds in "On Hallowed Ground", and was killed off/exiled from Faerun in "Demihuman Deities". She and Keptolo, alongside a variant of Kiaransalee, appeared in a Living Greyhawk article in Dragon #298 for 3.0 - Keptolo was originally a purely Greyhawk deity, and I don't think he has AD&D roots. The Mordenkainen version of the Dark Seldarine tweaks various details (like making Malyk and Zinzerena into siblings), but mostly preserves their lore.

[@DeerPrince]

These videos are great and help me so much, even though I've been playing in the forgotten realms for over a decade! I was wondering if you could possibly do a video on the Queen of Air and Darkness, or the Unseelie Court in general. It's harder to find much information on some of the Fey deities and they tend to be pretty interesting, and could be useful for running feywild scentered adventures, or even one involving Pandemonium (though I'm not even sure if it exists in 5th edition or not to be honest)

[@tb4495]

As always, well done! Thank you.

[@spikegilfer1997]

Lolth's godly power-level shoots up and down all the time. Mind you, that's kind of expected when you pit your followers against each other for shits and giggles. From Intermediate, to Greater and then way down to a Lesser Deity.

[@transient_moonlight]

She was a demon lord initially, then intermediate, then greater, then lesser.

[@captaindred342]

she was a greater deity 2 editons before the Silence of Lolth too. That was her second time.

[@mr.quantum4543]

I recently created a female moon elf twilight cleric that followed Eilistraee. Many races are welcomed with her. My Evelina Lavandulia moon elf joined the party much later in their campaign. Level 7 exactly. Her teacher, who held a moon blade, passed down from those who pray at a moon well, who also was the chosen one who leads the city. Was killed by a the dms big bad guy and the.moon blade was taken. The forests life has begun to decay around the city because of the moon blade is not being held by a choosen cleric. The moon blade has a consciousness and can only choose its weirder. Here is where our dear Evelina story begins.

[@Dark-Lord-Of-The-Sith]

I had a player run a male Drow fighter looking to become a Judicator. My Priestess of Lolth had fun putting him through his Trials. LOL

[@delcodanglin9382]

So I’ve only read the Drizzt books and my knowledge pretty much ends there. What I always wondered is if Lolth is in the form of a drider then why do the Drow use that transformation on their people and see it as a punishment? Wouldn’t taking on the Spider Queen’s likeness be more an honor than a punishment?

[@transient_moonlight]

In the first editions of D&D, being a drider also meant losing your mind and individuality, and becoming a mindless monster. You could see it as Lolth being resentful of her spider curse (which she got from Corellon) and therefore inflicting it upon drow whom she sees as unloyal. 4e made it a honor. 5e returned it to its roots.

[@delcodanglin9382]

Tommaso Sammarco awesome thanks for the info!

[@SabreSword]

Drow hate weakness in all of its forms, & becoming a Drider means that you are so weak & ineffectual that Lolth herself had to make you more powerful just to survive.

[@Duchess_Van_Hoof]

Eilistraee was also the patron deity of Miyeritar, as it was her followers who left the Ilythiiri to go found a new country. As such one can consider her influence to be stronger in the northwest as various cults and enclaves would have formed and fallen over the centuries. Leaving half forgotten shrines and temples dedicated to her name.

[@transient_moonlight]

I don't want to be that guy going around correcting people, but--while you're right that Eilistraee used to be the patroness of Miyeritar (before the sun elves genocided it and reduced EIlistraee to nonrelevance for millennia), and that Eilistraee and her people fought Vhaeraun's and Ghaunadaur's influence in Ilythiir for a long time--Miyeritar was founded by her followers fleeing Aryvandaar due to politics. I guess many of her people from Ilythiir also migrated to Miyeritar, but not all, as Eilistraee kept a small following in Ilythiir (according to Demihuman Deities).

[@BigbyOShaunessy]

You missed out on Zinzerena, the Drow goddess of assassins and illusions. Maybe she’s not in that 2e book.

[@Taygon45]

I found and refined some subclasses and items for Eilistraee to play a follower of her because I love her so much. Best Drow Goddess, no questions.

[@jackdizzy123]

1:46 Those badonkalonks do be showing tho

[@rickyc1410]

I always look forward to this every week.

[@bunkerhousing]

Yeah he seems cool. You had a picture of Drizzt. I always had a theory that Lolth created Drizzt to be good with the purpose of seeding even more chaos within Drowsociety.

[@coolguythecool1039]

That theory is good and it would add more character development to drizzt and it would also bring into the question of what were thought was good to a group of people actually bring bad thing a another group of people. So should we help the another or stick with the original group?

[@j2dragon109]

But he dosen't stay in Drow society for that long dose he?

[@kannonball5789]

@@j2dragon109 Even so, his very existence is anathema to Drow society.

[@Midnight1339]

I'm currently researching the towns near the moonsea and can't believe there is as much lore for the rest of this land as there is in the sword coast, I would love to see more videos explaining other cities.

[@1bookfisher335]

This is really useful for me! I'm still pretty new to DnD, and I've been playing a drow bard who's a worshiper of Eilistraee. Unfortunately, I haven't had a whole lot of time to read up on the drow gods |D My DM pulled some shit on me last session involving Lolth, so it's nice to have a lot of the lore condensed into a video like this so I can get a better grasp on what's going on lol

[@Jorphdan]

Glad to have helped!

[@80budokai]

Jorphdan, great video! Enjoy your Tuesday!

[@carrots4pigeons343]

I'm about to play a Drow Fighter/Warlock (Celestial) of Eilistraee!

[@weedmanbrandon]

This is great and I really appreciate the timing because I have been reading the dark elf trilogy recently.

[@slowpokei55]

Now I have a good reason for my drow bard to exist thanks Eilistrace

[@Jorphdan]

great!

[@patrickdees5256]

My favorite deity is Eliestree, just because she honestly shows that not all drow are evil.

[@robertoakes5117]

Drizzt had to leave. Not like he could've stayed and aligned with the good goddess. Ilias Trakee. Pardon spelling. 😆

[@kannonball5789]

Drizzt doesn't worship Eilistraee. He follows Mielikki, patron of rangers.

[@captaindred342]

Eilistraee did not leave with her mother. She left with her brother. Corellen cast Lolth into the Abyss, and exiled their children. Eilistraee was unconcuous. Her twin brother picked her up and carried her out of Arvandor. They were on Faerun for something like 15,000 years before Lolth found them again (along with their Srii'Tel'Quessir followers).

[@FyreMagyk67]

I really like what Mordekainen's has to say about the Pantheon, especially how Lolth tries to prevent Drow from leaving her clutches on the surface. Should they ever see the full moon or her music playing in the distance, they should retreat immediately. Good stuff!

[@firawood]

About to play as a Drow rogue who gets trapped outside of the Underworld due to a cave in and is influenced, almost fought over, by both Eilistraee and Vhaeraun.

[@PyroX792]

The Drow cleric in the Out of the Abyss game I'm running is a follower of Eilistraee masquerading as a follower of Lolth

[@transient_moonlight]

A Secret Moondancer!

[@baddonkey6876]

Or a traitor chosen...or something like that, read daughter of the drow, it has something like that

[@josephlawter2994]

Wow. I wouldn't have thought there were so many cool drow Gods and Godesses. Much thanks for the info, sir.

[@DarChaos21]

You where talking about Ghaunadaur beeing the Elder Eye. Since im a GM and currently running the campain "Princes of the Apocalypse" I researched about the Elder Elemental Eye. During my research I read that Tharizdun should be the Eye. But in your Video you stated that Ghaunadaur is also beeing called the Elder Eye. I looked it up and it says to me that both are the Elder Eye. So my question is. Who is now the Elder Elemental Eye and how are Tharizdun and Ghaunadaur connected? Is there any connection? Are they both the same? They have different backstories so I doubt it. Who is Vizeran D'evir worshipping?

[@bubblecat7827]

JORFDAN

[@Firstgenamerican21]

The “War of the Spider Queen” saga is my favorite.

[@digunder14]

jueblix is not unrelated, the drow god of oozes is an aspect of the mighty underrated demon lord

[@Joshuazx]

I'm gonna need a curse word checklist.

[@bad06denby]

@5:29 that picture looks like Liliana from MTG

[@VikingMale]

Drow, rhymes with toe according to Gygax.

[@MorgulDemonVegeta]

I don't know about you boys and girls... but i call Eilistraee as --> Elly - strah - Ĕe (the tone highlight is on the last letter, sounds much better and more exotic IMHO)

[@PetalsAndPlague]

I have a Drow Barbarian who was a daughter of a noble family. Their family was attacked and her mother took her out of the Underdark. Quickly the two got attacked by humans and separated. My character was enslaved, a girl of 7 and made to fight in illegal human fighting pits. For 18 years she had to fight. When the pits were suspected by authorities her master's wife released her. The once beautiful Drow woman is now missing an eye, chunk of an ear, scarred to all shit and has had her throat slit and healed so many times that she can barely speak. In the game this character was approached by Eilistraee and told when her mother died she prayed that someone would take care of her daughter. Eilistraee answered. My character refers to her as mother now and prays to her. It's an odd relationship and the character feels unworthy. How could a Drow deity of song and beauty love a Drow who can not sing and is so cut up you'd be pressed to find somewhere not scarred.

[@ugan2]

Approximately 92 Sobbing Goats Huh this is actually an interesting backstory. Always like hearing how others build good drow characters. But I do have to ask did your character ever come to her own answer for that?

[@transient_moonlight]

Because "the Dark Lady smiles upon those who can see the deeper beauty within" ;) Your barbarian will eventually learn.

[@PetalsAndPlague]

Tommaso Sammarco She hopes so. As of right now she thinks Eilistraee thinks she loves her out of pity.

[@ugan2]

Approximately 92 Sobbing Goats Would definitely be interesting to see how she goes from that to finally accepting Eilistaree cares no matter what.

[@natelovellette2713]

Approximately 92 Sobbing Goats as it's said beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[@Ivoryforge11207]

0:40 * edits in a Night Elf from WoW* oh, okay im fine with that

[@neilcarlsontansy6382]

Hi! Which book series or novels can I read about the fight between Quenthel and Triel Baenre? I greatly enjoyed the War of the Spider Queen and the Lady Penitent book series. But after those, I couldn't find any more about Triel and Quenthel. Would really appreciate your tips.

[@transient_moonlight]

No series details that fight, it happened offscreen and was reported in the 4e Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting. Just like the return of all the drow gods--a followup to the novels that you mention--happens offscreen during the Sundering, and we get just a recount that they're back in the Sword Coast Guide, in the Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, and as a couple tidbits in an unrelated novel.

[@inter-dimensionalhorror733]

i've been using these videos as reference for a chaotic good drow gunslinger i've been working on. i'm not sure what i'm going to do with him or what campaign i'm going to use him in (maybe i'll even make him an npc or something who knows) but i think he's gonna be fun to play with when i do mess around with him. his most notable feature is that i gave him a mullet for whatever reason... i mean it's A LOOK, alright... his hair is ugly as hell but he's here for a good time

[@rb9882]

Lolth be praised

[@khaza1wolfgurl]

Eilistraee is my hero!!!

[@clarkside4493]

So if I want to play a drow cleric with the Arcana Domain, I'm pretty much shoe-horned into Kiaransalee? Or can my cleric worship the Dark Seldarine as a whole?

[@cyborgvalkyrie]

No Zinzerena mentioned?

[@screwedupcivic2285]

2:22 cleric's of Lolth are not always female, Rai'gy bondalek mystic thurge

[@transient_moonlight]

Males can only advance so much as a cleric of Lolth (IIRC, they are unable to go beyond 7th level), but you're right.

[@screwedupcivic2285]

Tommaso Sammarco idk a male couldn't go beyond 7th lv.😲

[@transient_moonlight]

It was in the 2e rules

[@steffenlee3768]

Question: how much of a demon lord is Lolth? For one she was banished to the abyss, and the abyss has shiwn influence over other beings deities i believe. And two, Zenasu was the demon lord of spiders, did she skip the demon part of his portfolio and just grabbed the spiders? Not sure if there is an answer to this question, but I do wonder if Lolth holds any demonic influence, or rather if she's influenced by any demonic forces. Although you did say she separated the endless web as her own realm so I'm not sure

[@akkariel8228]

Question: did Eiliastraee die after the war of the spider queen or did I imagine it? Or what it only her champion?

[@transient_moonlight]

Qilué died, but Eilistraee didn't, according to Ed Greenwood. However, Qilué's soul was dragged into the Weave, bringing a large part of Eilistraee's divine power with her (since Eilistraee was using her as an avatar when she was killed), making the goddess basically powerless for a century, until Mystra returned and returned the lost power to Eilistraee. During the Second Sundering, Eilistraee was reborn, alongside many other gods. Here is Ed Greenwood's explanation (the 3 final notes): forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Eilistraee#cite_note-52; here is some general info about their return. forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Eilistraee#Rebirth

[@akkariel8228]

Tommaso Sammarco Thanks! That clears it up pretty good.

[@willynthepoorboys2]

I like the idea of playing a half-drow bard that follows Illius Traky (most likely misspelled that).

[@transient_moonlight]

Eilistraee?

[@akkariel8228]

Hahaha, I had to Google it to know the correct pronunciation. Rather complex word.

[@transient_moonlight]

Ed Greenwood says that Eilistraee pronounces her own name as "Isle-iss-tree" or "Aisle-iss-tree" or something like that, but she basically doesn't care anymore how people pronounciate it, lol.

[@heathenwizard]

My half-drow fighter Zirik worships Lolth and Selvetarm, calling out to them in battle. He's been good fun! I don't see Ghaunadaur as being served by Clerics, and I don't think I'd allow that in my campaign. He's listed as a Great Old One in the player's hand book. If anything, I'd also say that clerics to Selvetarm don't really exist, though I can see him occasionally empowering paladins with the Oath of Conquest or a drow fighter with the Magic Initiate feat (I'd probably take Guidance, Spare the Dying, and Bless or Shield of Faith as your spells).

[@prg212]

How to play this clerics that you recommend? Normally needs to be caotic evil and not all the partys are agree with that 😔

[@cowpuddles4851]

I wonder is Verhune is an aspect of Mask.

[@00rasen]

He is not, but both he and Mask reportedly take full advantage of the confusion caused by the apparent similarities of their symbology/regalia to attempt to steal followers or potential followers from each other or manipulate followers in the other camp in attempts to bolster their own power and plots.

[@Breakfst4dinner]

Writing up my Pantheon for my first ever campaign! It's a world where The High Elves and Drow live together in twin kingdoms and have enslaved (or ' Steward') the lesser races of man, orc and gnomes. Thank you for the info! can't wait to play

[@Jorphdan]

Sweet!!

[@tinachandler3091]

Actually does sound interesting. Maybe team up with a cleric of Talons?

[@SadBoi_1066]

Man, every time, highest quality. Love your stuff mate. Cool video series idea: dieties from real world pantheons and how they have/could be used in forgotten realms or dnd in general. For example, Athena, Hermes, Zues, and Poseidon, or even Odin, Thor, and Loki.

[@GreenLupin01]

Actually in the Drizzt novels there is a male cleric of lolth

[@j2dragon109]

What?!

[@GreenLupin01]

Rai-guy Bondalek forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Rai-guy_Bondalek

[@DrowFighterMage]

Yeah, it depends what city you're in how strict those rules are. There are even some drow cities that have multiple dominant religions.

[@varelsemind5741]

Yup, it depends mostly on the city being more or less strict, but there are very few male clerics of Lolth, especially by the time she was experimenting with the Demon Weave (an attempt by Lolth to create a parallel Weave controlled by herself), because she needed male wizards to operate it. Powerful spellcasters are the only male Drow who would expect some social prestige, and could earn positions in the clergy and military, but always submissive to the Matron of their house, her female relatives and the priestesses.

[@shaulkramer7425]

Eilistraee is the best Forgotten Realms deity, if I lived there, even as a human, she'd be the deity I appreciate most. Question, does Selune share her Moon domain with her? Or are the domains fully separate?

[@professorsponge1554]

Ghaunadaur was a diety I always wanted to have a character worship because I always wanted to make an ooze-centric character. best I've ever been able to do was a cave-archetype druid who could shapeshift into an ooze.

[@moth4457]

This was a super helpful video thank u!

[@dustikov]

good job!

[@transient_moonlight]

Nice job!

[@Jorphdan]

Thanks :D

[@DavidMonks718]

Are the art credits listed anywhere?

[@benjoe1993]

Aboleths worshipping a drow lesser god? Now THAT doesn't make sense to me. They are one of the most ancient of beings, preceding the existence of gods. They have the memory of all of their ancestors and are't affected by ageing (once they reached "adulthood"). It's like if greater gods were worshipping a mortal child. It don't make no sense...

[@transient_moonlight]

Ghaunadaur is not really a drow god. He's far older than the "younglings" among the drow pantheon (Eilistraee and Vhaeraun), and he was a god even before drow were a thing. He's always been a deity of slimes and aberrations, among the other things, and is even considered to be the FR aspect of Tharizdun. It makes sense that the Aboleths worship him.

[@cyanblue9775]

Very old comment but just in case anyone else reads this comment: In the Lady Penitent trilogy, Lolth outright claims that Ghaunadaur is older than Ao himself during her conversations with Eilistraee. Aboleths worshiping him isn’t that far-fetched.

[@bakeryclerk7434]

Make a longer version of this game!

[@LG-ff5bn]

Whuut? Jorphdan u also play on the BG server?? ? Dude, I'm Designing Sshindylryn for The UD. We're finally getting a Lolthite city. You should stop by if u are still playing 😁 U should make a video about Sshindylryn. I could use your expertise on its Lore x)

[@pyro42]

So Forgotten Realms History just did a video on Ghaunadaur, i am kind of starting to agree with Jorphdan, Ghaunadaur is neat

[@Jorphdan]

He's so cool!

[@redstarkboxingsportsnews4289]

Kiaransalee was definitely not a minion of lolth was actually played svvasee or whatever they called it for her realm vs lolth in the book named in this video...war of the spider queen

[@transient_moonlight]

Kiaransalee was a minion of Lolth at the beginning, after Lolth was banished. She tried to fight Lolth for the control of the layer of the abyss but failed. She gained independence long after that. Kiaransalee is also still independent after she returned during the Second Sundering, alongside all the other drow gods. Also, keep in mind that the novels that you mention have a reputation for being full of huge mistakes in the portrayal of the various drow gods (especially Eilistraee--the author just got so much of the lore wrong), and have been completely ignored and then reversed by WotC, so they are to be taken with a grain of salt.

[@misterbeans3590]

Thank you for this interesting video

[@jonerikson5925]

Ever since I discovered the old menzo PC game usually play as a Drow

[@xios42]

I think you may have forgotten to mention Eilistraee's death and rebirth.

[@transient_moonlight]

That goes for all the members of the drow pantheon, actually. Anyway, Ed Greenwood suggested an explanation of Eilistraee's return with some detailed lore saying that she managed to survive with the help of Mystra. Even though it's not canonically approved by WotC, the insight of Eilistraee's own creator is surely useful. forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19841&whichpage=22#476639

[@MrDannidy]

I was LIKE # 999.

[@MrChupacabra555]

Even though the 'official' Drow Pantheon is very interesting, years ago I found a 3rd party product that gives a really good alternative pantheon (essentially the 'Spider Queen' uplifted several of her loyal servants, and granted them domain over a separate sphere of magic): www.rpgnow.com/product/51511/Advanced-Race-Codex-Drow-d20-35?manufacturers_id=536

[@daveerk6573]

Kirensalee and Orcus My favorite

[@jamesgordon364]

Guanadaur is an aspect of therizdun

[@Functional-Potato]

I always liked the ooze God, it's so Lovcraftian

[@alainpbat3903]

The ph is SILENT!!!

[@FuturPlanet]

Whats that outro-song?

[@PlanetEarth1369]

The name of the song is in the description.

[@FuturPlanet]

@@PlanetEarth1369 merci

[@cookinwithneelix3569]

I can't wait for more videos like this! Maybe you can cover the Dwarves and their pantheon Maybe you can also go over some of the non-human deities like the gods of the giants, Bahamut and anything else you can think of! (I don't know much FR lore) It would also be cool if you did more videos that aren't FR related, like your Rolling and Adventure Using the DMG video from a few months back

[@MidKnightOTC]

What about Keptolo?