Editing Lolth (section)

==Tests==
Lolth "tests" her followers who achieve power, and she tests her priestesses and powerful matriarchs quite regularly. Failing such a test results in death or being turned into a [[drider]] (and thus seen as weak and being preyed upon by other drow, in older editions drow kill driders). The drow call these tests punishments, because success is only rewarded by being spared the fate of those who fail. One who is being tested by Lolth is called a "Zwy'il". Outside interference in such tests are forbidden, but of course Lolth generally only takes action against those that interfere if the interfering individual(s) (who are typically sabotaging the Zwy'il) gets caught by someone other than Lolth herself. Such tests may be (but aren't limited to):

* The Test of Loyalty: The Zwy'il is betrayed by a former ally (whose betrayal is engineered by Lolth) and now must slay said ally. Showing mercy is a sign of weakness and results in failure.
* The Test of Strength: Probably the least creative of Lolth's test. The tested subject must defeat a foe (be it rival drow or a monster) of equal or greater strength than the subject.
* The Test of Mettle: Covering the Zwy'il in venomous spiders while in an enclosed space (in this test the Zwy'il must escape without harming said spiders).
* The Test of Doubt: Taking away hard-earned power (such as removing spell casting abilities, giving negative levels, and even transformation into a drider or another creature). The Zwy'il must endure this for a period of time, sometimes weeks, sometimes less, and sometimes even more. And the subject must not only survive, but thrive, while maintaining faith in Lolth.

Needless to day, three out of four tests go against the very Drow culture she cultivates, making her an absolutely fucking worthless Goddess, textbook case of a psychologically abusive parent who as zero interest in having more followers to shower her with belief, ending up killing 90% of her own flock through intra-societal violence and ending up stuck to Underdark regarding dominions because she raises her kids to do one thing then openly punishes them for acting true to their upbringing.