Player Character's Guide: The Dark Seldarine (Updated)

Lloth, The Drow Goddess





Lolth, sometimes Lloth in the Drow dialect, the Queen of Spiders or Queen of the Demonweb Pits, is the goddess of the drow, a chaotic evil deity who revels in chaos. She patterns her life and the lives of her worshipers on a regimen of chaotic acts and the veneration of spiders. The way that new-born spider broods tear each other apart to survive especially appeals to her. She promotes this by encouraging her worshipers to kill their rivals, thus ensuring that they are the strongest of the 'brood'. Her love of chaos often makes her appear mad but the wise see her as a calculating individual who is always several steps ahead of those who believe that they can anticipate her. She is cruel and domineering, forcing her will upon her followers and her enemies, a will which instructs the strong to crush the weak in the most torturous way imaginable.


Lolthite Religion

The Five Tenants of Lolthian Faith. (Pieced together from Book 1 of War of the Spider Queen)

1. Darkness
Darkness has seeped into the very being of the drow. It surrounds them, inside and out. It is a gift from Lolth.

2. Evil

Is a concept to be embraced. It encourages ambition and opens the path to strength. It eliminates weakness and proliferates self perfection by any means necessary.

3. Chaos

A formless thing, that is ever changing. Chaos is the essence of creation and change.

4. Spiders

The sacred children of Lolth. There is no creature more sacred. - PER OUR SERVER the Male spider however can be used as a source of food.

5. Assassins

The path to ascension. A holy art form with in itself.

Prayer- The most common form of worship, though the most effective is through sacrifice of blood to Lloth.

Prayers to Lolth are always uttered in Elven. Undercommon is fine for normal conversation, but devotions to the goddess are not to be sullied with words adopted from other races. The drow do not have their own verbal language except for mixing both elven and Undercommon together. However, their official language is  Drow Hand Sign, which is a complex and very efficient mode of communication for this race.

The drow frequently pray before entering into a dangerous situation, beginning an endeavor, or simply preparing for a day’s work. They do not, however, ask Lolth’s aid in the coming trials, or seek her blessing on a task. Requesting help is a sign of weakness, insulting to the goddess, and just begging to be stricken with some horrific malady or misfortune. Instead, prayers to Lolth are requests to be tested, so that the petitioner can display her strength and skill, or promises that the day’s successes will be achieved in Lolth’s name and devoted to her glory. “Zud'dar uns'aa, Lolth” Drow for “Test me, Lolth,” is among the most common phrases uttered in drow prayer. (other varieties of this blessing are "Lolth zud'dar dos" or Loth test you and "Lolth zud'dar udossa" or Lolth test us.

Minor Rites

An individual drow might perform a minor rite when she is celebrating a personal victory, and seeks to offer Lolth her due. More than a simple prayer, these rites usually involve some form of symbolic sacrifice, such as poured wine, burnt riches, or a small amount of the petitioner’s own spilled blood. Such rites require an icon, idol, or symbol of Lolth, (like an altar, or just rp a holy symbol) before which they are performed. They include the recitation of long prayers asking Lolth to accept the offered gifts and to provide even greater challenges in the days to come.

Unlike prayers, which are often uttered in public, and major rites, which are large affairs, minor rites are personal activities. They rarely involve more than one drow, and never more than a handful.

Major Rites

The drow conduct two types of major rites to Lolth, both of which involve the participation of multiple individuals and blood sacrifice to the goddess.

The first is a religious ceremony, in which drow gather to pay homage to their dark queen. Priestesses lead the ceremony with prayers and chants, normally within a temple of Lolth or before a great altar or idol. At least one sacrifice—normally of a captive or slave, but occasionally of a drow citizen—occurs at this time, blood spilled to feed the Spider Queen.

The second is a contest between priestesses or, more rarely, other powerful drow, designed to prove worthiness in the eyes of Lolth. Most of these events include direct combat and competition, either in melee or spell-casting, but others involve tests of knowledge and ritual, or even the acquisition of specific goals. The winner proves her worth and gains additional magic, higher position in the priesthood, and similar prizes. The losers, assuming they survive, are often demoted, maimed, or transformed by Lolth’s anger into driders or other horrific creatures.

The drow conduct major rites to celebrate community wide events and victories, whenever a priestess seeks advancement to a high office, and at regular intervals for no purpose other than the veneration of Lolth.


Other Drow Deities

Vhaerun: God of thievery, drow males, evil activity on the surface.

Eilistraee:  Goddess of song, beauty, dance, swordwork, hunting, and moonlight. (Not Choosable)

Kiaranselee: Goddess of the Undead, vengeance. The main antagonist diety in our campaign setting who holds dominion over Maerimydra.

Ghaunadar: God of oozes, slimes, jellies, outcasts, and rebels.

Theocracy and The Yath


Admission into the clergy of Lloth is a path fraught with intrigue, hard work and tribulation. To become a member of The Church of Lloth one must undergo many trials and exercises to prove they have the wisdom and devotion required for such a Station. Upon passing all tests and trials a character will have ascended into the most highly honored station in the Underdark, one that has no rival in Llothite society. Committing one-self to a higher purpose requires patience, study, social interaction and the ability to lead others back to the fray that are Lloth’s subjects. There are several rankings within the Church of Lloth and all must be approved by a member or members of the current sect in place. Even Yath’abban must be commissioned as such by at least 1 Yathrin. Anytime a Yath’abban is commissioned to train towards becoming a council member of the church, this should be documented on the private church of Lloth forum under a Trainee heading of some kind. Information such as Qu’ellar affiliation might be a useful tracking tool for the Church as well.


Yath'abban

Professional Requirements:

The Yath’abban in our setting is a temple agent. However they are also considered a trainee or recruit commissioned by at least 1 Yathrin (Who must document this on the Church of Lloth Forum to make official). Yath’abban are not sitting council members of the Church and therefore do not get a vote in any proceedings or judgements in progress. Yath’abban do not have access to The church of Lloth private forum unless they have become Trial Appropriate (Ready to Graduate). It is important to note that a Yath’abban has no authority in the church  or any added social authority beyond what they may have already possessed.

Trial Appropriate: When a Yath’abban has achieved an active game time of 6 weeks and the Build Requirements for Yath’rin status, they are then considered Trial Appropriate. This must be claimed on the Church of Lloth forum to notify other sitting members of the Yath’s progression. A recognizable article of clothing will be worn at all times by Trial Appropriates. This article will be determined by the Church Council.

The actual Trials that the Yath’abban must pass is subject to the design of the Church. There may be a thematic Template that all Yath’abban must complete, or can be completely random and unpredictable.
Build Requirements:

Spell Level:
Any

Class:

Cleric, Favored Soul

Duties
1. Student and initiate into the Church of Lloth
2. Learn the Tenants and Domains of her Matron Deity
3. Exercise her abilities upon anything that threatens herself or the Church.
4. Submit to her superiors if it does not contradict the Tenants or Domains of Lloth, or the Church
5. Prepare for her trials and final exam to become Yathrin

Authority
Non Drow


Yath'rin

Graduating to Yath’rin is an important event in a character’s life. Being such means that an appropriate ceremony should be conducted by the Yath’Tallar or Ul’ath’Tallar for proper commission. It is critical to note that once a Yath’abban completes the Trials, a current Yathrin may not induct them into the clergy. Ascension to Yathrin may only be commissioned by Yath’Tallar.

While they are considered sitting members on the Church council, they may only cast 1 vote in each judgement or proceeding. The Yathrin are held to a higher expectation than Yath’abban and should not be making the same mistakes as recruits. The web of authority that a Yath’rin acquires is notably greater than their former title possessed and may be scrutinized heavily by other Yathrin and Yath’Tallar. Yathrin never hold authority over Qu’ellar Masters unless the Masters are physically inside the Temple. Yath’rin should be expected to act with initiative and fervor in their duties, preparing and teaching Yath’abban for the Yath’Tallar’s commission.

Trial Appropriate: In order for a Yath’rin to ascend to the position of Yath’tallar they must remain under Lloth’s favor and must challenge the Yath’Tallar they wish to upsurp. A battle to the death then occurs with the victor claiming right to the station, or a Yath’tallar may digress the position to the challenger without incident.

Build Requirements:
Cleric, Favored Soul

Spell Level:
7th Circle Divine (Able to cast Resurrect)

Duties
1. Train and Test Yath'abban/Temple Servants in the Ways of Lloth
2. Recruit potential prospects into the church
3. Assist and inform the Yath'Tallars with church business
4. Promote the word and will of Lloth
5. Seek out heretics to be judged by the Yath'Tallars

Authority
Yath’abban
Non-Master Noble males
Shebali Males
Shebali Females
Non-Master Noble Females
Non Drow


Yath'tallar (House Priestess)

A Yath'tallar is a Yathrin who belongs to a house and is placed in a position of leadership over the other yathrin of her house. There is only one Yath'tallar per house.  Their place in the ranking system is some what of an odd one, they are above houseless Yathrin, but from there it is more the case that their house rank also comes into play, a Yath'tallar's duties are the same as a Yathrin, but on top of that she has the House duties to do as well

Build Requirements:

Same as Yathrin, but also be accepted into a House's Yath and survive.

Duties
1. Enforce/Encourage the Will of Lloth upon society
2. Interpret signs and messages from Handmaidens
3. Judge and punish accused heretics
4. Test and Train Yathrin to become better advocates for the Church.
5. Hold public executions, church services, and announcements
6. Report all critical issues involving the church to the Ulath'Tallar
7. Conduct council meetings with other Yath'Tallar on important issues
8. Appoint Church Servants (Yath'Sargtlin etc)
9. Collect tithings from the Noble Houses for the Progression of the Church.
10. Communicate with Qu'ellar Nobles, Masters and Ilharess concerning issues that involve betterment of the Church.

Authority
All Males/Females (With Exception to other Yath'tallar [=],Ilharessen[=], Ulath'Tallar[>])
Non Drow


Ulath'Tallar

(This is an NPC, controlled by the DM team)


The greatest station for any divine agent of Lloth to achieve is the Ul’ath’Tallar. She is the direct respresentative of Lloth’s will and has Lloth’s favor at all times. Though she is a driving force behind the schemes of The Spider Queen, often she will allow her subjects to grow and mature on their own, with little interference. Her word is law and she can command any Master or Mistress at any time, to anger her or defy Lloth is to accept ruin, for she interprets Lloth’s will directly and translates her message to the Yath’Tallar. She will not cast a vote in any proceeding or judgement unless it is for tie-breaking purposes. To attain this station a character must be a Yath’Tallar for at least 8 Real Life gaming weeks and must challenge the current Ul’ath’Tallar for the position. Once a Player character decides to challenge for this position they will accept that:


1. If their character dies during the battle, they will be considered Perma Dead
2. If their character Kills the current Ul’ath’Tallar, they will become a permanent NPC and unable to play this character ever again. The actions and decisions of the character will be assumed by the DM.



Build Requirements:

Character Level 30

Spell Level:

Epic

Class Restriction:

Pure Cleric

Duties
1. Directly commune with the representatives of Lloth
2. Test and Appoint Yath'Tallar
3. Make judgments and enforcements that are above the ability of Yath'Tallar
4. Act as a Tie-breaker in the matter of Church deliberation or voting.
5. Divine the disposition of Favor from Lloth on individuals or Qu'ellaren