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{{NotFunny Sourcebook}}
{{Promotions}}
{{Promotions}}
{{Infobox Deity
{{Infobox Deity
|Name = Eilistraee
|Name = Eilistraee
|Symbol = [[File:Eilistraee symbol.jpg|150px]]
|Symbol = [[File:Eilistraee symbol.jpg|150px]]
|Aliases = The Dancing Goddess, the Dark Dancer, the Dark Maiden, Lady of the Dance, Lady Silverhair
|Alignment = Chaotic Good
|Alignment = Chaotic Good
|Divine Rank = Lesser Goddess
|Divine Rank = Lesser Goddess
Line 8: Line 10:
|Portfolio = Beauty, Dance, Song, Freedom, Moonlight, Swordwork, the Hunt
|Portfolio = Beauty, Dance, Song, Freedom, Moonlight, Swordwork, the Hunt
|Domains = '''3E:''' Chaos, Charm, Drow, Elf, Good, Moon, Portal<br>'''5E:''' Life, Light, Nature
|Domains = '''3E:''' Chaos, Charm, Drow, Elf, Good, Moon, Portal<br>'''5E:''' Life, Light, Nature
|Home Plane = '''[[Great Wheel]]:''' ''Svartalfheim'' ([[Ysgard]])<br>'''[[World Tree]]:''' [[Arborea|Arvandor]]; she also detains a small domain in''The Demonweb Pits'' ([[Abyss]])
|Home Plane = '''[[Great Wheel]]:''' ''Svartalfheim'' ([[Ysgard]])<br>'''[[World Tree]]:''' [[Arborea|Arvandor]]; she also detains a small domain in the ''Demonweb Pits'' ([[Abyss]])
|Worshippers = mostly, but not exclusively: surface drow, goodly drow, elves, bards, hunters
|Worshippers = Mostly, but not exclusively: surface drow, goodly drow, elves, bards, hunters, and people who want to be naked
|Favoured Weapon = ''Moonsword'' (bastard sword)
|Favoured Weapon = ''Moonsword'' (bastard sword)
}}
}}
'''Eilistraee''' is the daughter of [[Corellon Larethian]] and [[Lolth|Araushnee]]. Exclusively belonging to the [[Forgotten Realms]] setting, she is the only good [[drow]] goddess, and her domains include: beauty, dance, song, moonlight, hunt, swordwork and, as of 5e D&D, freedom. The Dark Maiden, as she is called, has the main goal of freeing the drow from Lolth's cruelty and tyranny, helping them retake their future, thrive on the surface, their rightful home, and forge their own path after centuries of living blind to the world. She also strives to promote peace among all races, and to reunite the drow with their [[elf|elven]] brothers and sisters. Therefore, she is the patroness of all dark elves who long for a life free from the strife imposed on them by Lolth, of artists, crafters, and hunters. She also looks favorably on outcasts, encouraging her followers to offer them shelter. Even though focused on drow, Eilistraee firmly believes in the possibility of redemption for individuals from all races, and gladly welcomes anyone willing to walk a path that revels in life and its celebration, and who wants to see all people living in harmony together. As a result, she is mostly followed by drow, but has worshippers among various races of any kind (the most common being elves, humans, [[half-elf|half-elves]] and [[half-orc|half-orcs]]).
'''Eilistraee''' is the daughter of [[Corellon Larethian]] and [[Lolth|Araushnee]]. Exclusively belonging to the [[Forgotten Realms]] setting, she is the only good [[drow]] goddess, and her domains include: beauty, dance, song, moonlight, hunt, swordwork and, as of [[Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition|5e]] [[Dungeons and Dragons|D&D]] (post-Sundering timeline of the Realms), freedom. The Dark Maiden, as she is called, pursuits the goal of freeing the drow from Lolth's cruelty and tyranny, helping them retake their future and forge their own path on the surface after centuries of living blind to the world. She also strives to promote peace among all races, and to reunite the drow with their [[elf|elven]] brothers and sisters. Therefore, she is the patroness of all dark elves who long for a life free from the strife imposed on them by Lolth, but also of artists (especially dancers, bards, and musicians), crafters, and hunters. She looks kindly on outcasts as well, and encourages her followers to offer them shelter. Even though focused on drow, Eilistraee firmly believes in the possibility of redemption for individuals from all races, and gladly welcomes anyone willing to walk a path that revels in life and its celebration. As a result, she is mostly followed by drow, but has worshippers among various races.


Due to her choice of sharing the fate of her people, Eilistraee went through many hardships and much pain in her life, but she learned to turn the scars of her battles into flowers. Despite all her wounds, she never stopped seeing and healing the beauty in all things and souls—including what was broken or corrupted; she never stopped loving, dreaming, and smiling to life. The Dark Maiden can still find hope, and the strength to create and nurture, even in the darkest place, and she works to bring her warmth to those trapped in the cold of their night--especially her people.
==Appearance==
[[File:Eilistraee Harping.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Eilistraee playing music]]
Eilistraee appears as a tall and lithe drow woman of glowing beauty (usually unclad), described by Sharlario Moonflower as "the answer to that question which every soul feels but no words can frame". Her skin is as dark as the night sky, and her ankle-long hair, of a luminous silvery hue, frames the graceful and delicate features of her face. Her eyes—larger than in most drow, whose color reminds of moonstones—are warm and expressive of the goddess' emotions. Those who gaze upon her often feel suffering and sadness dissolve, and even the most hopeless night turn into a moment of beauty and solace. However, a feeling of loss—even desolation—can take them upon her leaving because she is another one of Greenwood's excuses to have naked elves be apart of lore.


That said, Eilistraee remains a generally melancholy goddess (in great part because of the suffering of her people, the drow), but she still tries her best to spread joy, show kindness, and make life flourish. She is a lover of peace and beauty, music and dance, and is happiest when seeing artists (especially bards, dancers, and musicians) composing and performing, craftsmen at their work, people doing acts of kindness, and lovers in tender moments. She herself enjoys helping people in need in various practical ways, even those who are not her followers or drow, if they act for good. Despite her kind heart, the Dark Maiden is also a free spirit with a moody and wild side to her personality. She has a fiery streak and is prone to wild action, especially in protection of her faithful when they are harmed.
==Personality==
Due to her choice of sharing the fate of her people, Eilistraee went through many hardships and much pain in her life, but she learned to turn her wounds into empathy and compassion. In order to fight her suffering and grief, she turned her efforts towards healing and looking for the beauty in all things and souls, including what was broken or corrupted. The Dark Maiden can still find hope, and the strength to create and nurture, even in the darkest place, and she works to bring her warmth to those trapped in the cold of their night--especially her people. She knows far too well that the world isn't all bright and happy, but the possibility for joy exists even at the height of suffering, and she wants all to see and find it.


Having shared the path and struggles of the drow, and having chosen to be one of them, Eilistraee is convinced that those who are still trapped in Lolth's web aren't monsters as many believe, but the result of lifelong abuse and neglect from those who should have loved them the most (as even maternal or paternal love are considered taboo and weakness by Lolth). She sees the part of them that was silenced by hatred and strife, their hidden beauty, and strives to nurture it. The Dark Maiden works to "redeem" the drow by showing them all that they've been missing on in life due to Lolth's oppression, and by taking the role of a nurturing mother. While they were taught that love and affection are weakness, Eilistraee loves them as they are--including vulnerabilities and wounds--and shows them the strength in compassion and caring for each other. While they were taught that an individual has no value except for the power and favor from Lolth that they detain, Eilistraee shows them that they matter as people. Lolth's society is governed by rigid roles and rules, and every drow is forced to constantly wear a mask and enegage in the perennial strife. Eilistraee, on the other hand, teaches them the freedom of expressing themselves, of casting off their chains, and experience that full, vivid joy that too many are denied. With her focus on beauty and freedom, Eilistraee lures the drow out of their prison (and, weirdly, comfort zone, due to Lolth's indoctrination), to embark on a journey to see and marvel at what life actually is, to open their eyes and make them understand that a different existence is not only possible, but that it leads to actual happiness and liberation.
The burden of loss made Eilistraee a generally melancholic goddess, but also kind-hearted, gentle, and caring. She knows what it is to suffer, so she cherishes and cares about all beings for what they are (including the scars of the battles that every individual faces), and shows compassion and mercy to all who need them. No one deserves to be alone in their pain, and even individuals who have fallen to cruelty can still hold good within them. She finds joy in helping people in need in various practical ways, including those who are not her followers or drow, if they act for good or uphold her principles.


At some point of their life, all drow come to know Eilistraee--be it through the visions, dreams, and emotions showing a different kind of life that she often sends to all drow (especially when they're near the surface), or by receiving her help in some way. Some drow don't understand her, other reject her, but many secretly long to her and to what she has to offer, even though few actually do something about it on their own, due to how difficult it is to escape Lolth's clutches, and how much risk is involved in even merely attempting it (which is why the followers of Eilistraee often organize expeditions to help the drow actually make that choice, or infiltrate drow settlements to find dark elves who are unhappy with their life and offer them a different path).
That said, the Dark Maiden is also a lover of freedom and nature, with an impish streak and a wild side to her personality (in fact, she wishes and works for peace, but is known to often act quite fiercely in protection of her followers when they are harmed). Her suffering taught her to find happiness in the small things, and in bringing happiness to other people. An act of kindness towards a stranger, learning a new song, or the splendor of a sunrise will be enough to make her smile. She loves all arts and forms of creativity (especially dance and song), and delights not only in performing herself, but also in filling artists with bursts of inspiration (a sign of her favor). She strives to nurture and keep alive the spark that exists in all people, and art and compassion are the most powerful forces to defeat fear and resignation. For that reason, she teaches to celebrate life in its fullness, as to bring passion and a sense of wonder to everyone, and make the world a better place for all.


The Dark Maiden does her best to help her "children" in various practical ways, nurturing, protecting and teaching them about the surface world that is their forgotten home. For example, she often scares off aggressors, sends visions warning of danger, or leads a stag within the reach of a hungry drow. She provides dancing beams of moonlight that move about guiding those who are lost in the dark and leading them to safety, or to lighten childbirths. She is also known to often appear when her children need confort and her visible support in difficult moments (or to welcome a new drow to "join her dance"). It usually happens through her own moonlight, or as a protecting, shadowy, tall female dark elf that dances with the drow.
==Attitude Towards the Drow==
[[File:Eilistraee and follower.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Eilistraee manifests to a lost drow]]
Having shared the path and struggles of the drow, and having chosen to be one of them, Eilistraee is convinced that those who are still trapped in Lolth's web aren't monsters as many believe, but the result of lifelong abuse and neglect from those who should have loved them the most (as even maternal or paternal love are considered taboo and weakness under Lolth). She knows their pain, sees the part of them that was silenced by hatred and strife, their hidden beauty, and strives to nurture it. The Dark Maiden works to "redeem" the drow by showing them all that they've been missing on in life due to Lolth's oppression, and by taking the role of a nurturing mother. While they were taught that love and affection are weakness, Eilistraee loves them as they are--including vulnerabilities and wounds--and shows them the strength in caring for each other. While they were taught that an individual has no value except for the power and favor from Lolth that they detain, Eilistraee shows them that they matter as people. Lolth's society is governed by rigid roles and rules, and every drow is forced to constantly wear a mask and enegage in the perennial strife. Eilistraee, on the other hand, teaches them the freedom of expressing themselves, of casting off their chains, and experience that full, vivid joy that too many are denied. With her focus on beauty and freedom, Eilistraee lures the drow out of their prison (and, weirdly, comfort zone, due to Lolth's indoctrination), to embark on a journey to see and marvel at what life actually is, to open their eyes and make them understand that a different existence is not only possible, but that it leads to actual happiness and liberation.
 
The Dark Maiden is there in all the important parts of this journey; while she can't guarantee safety, she tends to her "children" in various practical ways, nurturing, protecting and teaching them about the surface world that is their forgotten home. For example, she often scares off aggressors, sends visions warning of danger, or leads an edible animal within the reach of a hungry drow. She provides dancing beams of moonlight that move about guiding those who are lost in the dark and leading them to safety, or to lighten childbirths. She is also known to often appear when her children need confort and her visible support in difficult moments (or to welcome a new drow to "join her dance"). It usually happens through her own moonlight, or as a protecting, shadowy, tall female dark elf that dances with the drow.


Even then, Eilistraee tries to leave the drow free to choose; she is subtle and delicate when offering her help, and careful to never impose herself or to forcefully intervene in people's choices. She wishes for her children to find their own path, and to see with their own eyes what life has to offer.
Even then, Eilistraee tries to leave the drow free to choose; she is subtle and delicate when offering her help, and careful to never impose herself or to forcefully intervene in people's choices. She wishes for her children to find their own path, and to see with their own eyes what life has to offer.
==Appearance==
[[File:Eilistraee Harping.jpg|300px|thumb|left|Eilistraee playing music]]
Eilistraee appears as a drow woman of glowing beauty. She is tall and lithe (even 9 feet/2,7 meters tall in her avatar form), with long, graceful limbs and a glossy, obsidian-dark skin. Her face is not unlike that of her mother, with smooth and delicately sculpted features and shape, but her hair is ankle-length, of a glowing silvery hue, and her eyes large, with irises of the same color that hold a shifting hint of blue (like moonstones). She usually appears unclad, cloaked only by her hair and silvery radiances that were ever-moving about her body (many say that this makes her fanservice, but there are also [[Eilistraee#Rituals|reasons]] for her nudity). Her voice is soft, warm, and carries a sweet musicality within itself. Mortals are instinctively drawn to it, but such attraction doesn't cloud their minds, nor is of magical origin: it is as simple as the sound of a beautiful song, or of a parent's lullaby. Overall, Eilistraee's appearance inspires utter awe and astonishment, as well as emotions so deep to move mortals to tears. Those who contemplate her often feel as if they found the "answer to that question which every soul feels, but no words can frame", but upon her leaving, they often experience a feeling of deep loss, or even desolation, though only for a brief time.


==History==   
==History==   
When, during her youth, a host of evil deities assaulted [[Arvandor]] (her home), [[Lolth|Araushnee]]'s treachery almost made Eilistraee slay her own father, Corellon. Even though she was cleared from any guilt, Eilistraee chose to share her mother's exile, because she had foreseen that the drow would need her warmth and guidance in the dark times that were to come, and she couldn't provide that from the luxury of Arvandor, but only by being by their side in their struggle. Corellon was pained to see his child go, but at the same time he was proud of her choice.
[[File:Eilistraee and Corellon.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Eilistraee with her father, Corellon]]
 
During Eilistraee's youth, Araushnee's schemes to usurp Corellon's position led various deities, enemies of the Seldarine, to assault and enter [[Arvandor]]. In the ensuing battle, as Eilistraee fired an arrow meant to save her father, Lolth's magic cursed it mid-flight, causing it to pierce the elven god's chest instead. Eventually, the treachery was unveiled and Corellon saved, but--despite having been judged as innocent--Eilistraee chose to share her mother's exile. She had foreseen that the drow would need her warmth and guidance in the dark times that were to come, and she couldn't provide that from the luxury of Arvandor, but only by being by their side in their struggle. Feeling guilty, she also swore to never use the bow again, and started sword-dancing instead. Corellon was pained to see his child go, but at the same time he was proud of her choice.  
After her exile, the Dark Maiden wandered [[Forgotten Realms|Toril]], the same world that the elves--including the dark elves that she wanted to watch over--had chosen as their home. For centuries, she fought [[Vhaeraun]]'s (her brother) and [[Ghaunadaur]]'s corruption of the drow in southern Faerun, but in the end she wasn't powerful enough to prevent their rise. Eilistraee and her people would found a flourishing center of arts and magic in Miyeritar, but the following centuries would inflict blow after blow to them. During the Crown Wars, a conflict started by the power plays of the sun elves of Aryvandaar and fueled by the ruthlessness of the dark elves of Ilythiir, she could only mitigate the growing control Lolth, Vhaeraun, and Ghaunadaur had over the drow from the south, and the Dark Disaster – a magical cataclysm unleashed by the elves of Aryvandaar – caused the death of the majority of her people in Miyeritar, leading her to lose everything she had worked for, and bringing her to a near powerless state.
 
Eilistraee found an unlikely protégé in her nephew-god, [[Selvetarm]]. He was the son of Vhaeraun and Zandilar the Dancer, but had spurned both his parents and walked alone for centuries, neither good nor evil. Finally, he was befriended by his aunt Eilistraee, and the two grew very close to each other. Selvetarm came to admire her goodness and appreciate her teachings, and the goddess hoped that he could become an exemplar that would aid her in healing the rift between the drow and the Seldarine/the elves. However, said hope and friendship ended when Lolth tricked Selvetarm into slaying Zanassu (a demon lord whom Lolth considered her rival, as he claimed to have power over spiders), by promising him that doing so would gain him the appreciation of the Dark Maiden. But Selvetarm was overwhelmed by the demonic essence and he fell wholly to evil, ending up as Lolth's champion. Spiteful Lolth did this to prevent her daughter gaining an ally among the Dark Seldarine.
[[File:Eilistraee and Corellon.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Eilistraee with her father, Corellon]]
As the Crown Wars raged on, Lolth and Ghaunadaur kept gaining great influence among the dark elves, corrupting their rulers, warriors and nobles with demonic influence, until the Seldarine and the elven court cursed and exiled all of them (including the surviving Eilistraee's followers, or those who were otherwise innocent) in the event that became known as "Corellon's Descent". Once again, Eilistraee chose to share the path of her people, but in her powerless state she could not rival Lolth as deity of the dark elves, and the Spider Queen led them in the Underdark. After this event, Lolth's and Ghaunadaur's persecution of worshipers of rival deities further marginalized the influence of the Lady of the Dance for millennia, and her relationship with her father and the Seldarine became strained, if still friendly, due to the deep schism caused by their choice to curse and punish the entirety of the drow. Since after the Descent, Eilistraee has tried her best to be a mother goddess to her people and to bring them the hope of a new life: she fights to lead them back to the lands of light, helping them to flourish and prosper in harmony with all other races, free from Lolth's tyranny. Hers is an uphill battle, however, as her power is little and she is opposed by all the gods of the Dark Seldarine. Multiple times the Dark Maiden and her followers managed to rebuild and gain some prominence, and many times they fell; despite all this, Eilistraee kept starting over and never stopped fighting for her people. In the 1300s DR, the efforts were rewarded with substantial gainings and progresses in her cause.
 
Eventually, the Dark Maiden chose to put her own life at risk in a battle to free the drow from Lolth once and for all. She was left alone to face the deities of the Dark Seldarine one by one, as neither Corellon nor the Seldarine did anything to help her. Her father only intervened when one of her wizard followers performed a ritual that removed Corellon's curse from a small number of drow of pure Miyeritari descent and a narrow portion of her followers (a few hundreds of the few thousands followers Eilistraee has as a Lesser Goddess), changing their appearance into dusky skinned elves. Corellon decided that the transformed drow were worthy of entering his portion of Arvandor, and allowed their souls in--even though they had already access to Eilistraee's realm in Arvandor. In the end, the Dark Maiden was defeated and (apparently) killed--even though, as suggested by Ed Greenwood, thanks to the help of Mystra, the hit that took her down only made her lose her divinity, forcing her to lay low and recover for a century or so. Either way, it lasted only for about 100 years, until the Second Sundering (circa 1480s DR/5e D&D), when Eilistraee returned to her people. Both the goddess and her followers are currently still drow, as most of them weren't changed by the above-mentioned spell, nor has changing their skin ever been Eilistraee's goal, or on her to-do list (if anything, it contradicts her choice of being one of them). Note that the transformed drow were completely ignored and, as of 5e, have been retconned by Wizards of the Coast for all practical purposes.
 
==Tenets==
The followers of Eilistraee operate according to these tenets:
 
; On helping others
Aid and protect all folks in need, of any race, weak and strong, kind or rude, promoting harmony and acceptance among all races. Lend your help to all those who fight for good whenever there are ways to do so. When not fighting evil, be always kind—even to those who show rudeness—and aid others in acts of kindness.


Strangers are your friends. Hungry travelers are to be fed and the homeless are to be given shelter—under your own roof if needed--. When traveling and while adventuring, feed, help and protect all those in need met along the way as a prayer and offering to the goddess. Patrol the lands about, especially in cold winters, so that all those who are lost, hurt, or bitten by the cold can be given appropriate cures and shelter.
After her exile, the Dark Maiden followed the elven people--including the dark elves that she had chosen to watch over--to [[Forgotten Realms|Toril]]. There, alone, she fought [[Vhaeraun]]'s (her brother) and [[Ghaunadaur]]'s corruption of the drow in southern Faerun (and, later, Lolth's as well, when she started exerting her influence on Toril). However, in the end, she wasn't powerful enough to prevent their rise, and became hunted by them alongside her followers. Eilistraee and her people would found a flourishing center of arts and magic in Miyeritar, rivaling the splendor of the great elven kingdoms, but it wouldn't last. During the Crown Wars, a conflict started by the power plays of the sun elves of Aryvandaar and fueled by the ruthlessness of the dark elves of Ilythiir, her efforts couldn't contain the so called Dark Disaster, a magical cataclysm unleashed by the Aryvandaari, which caused the death of the majority of her people in Miyeritar, leading her to lose everything she had worked for, and bringing her to a near powerless state.  


; On promoting joy, arts, and beauty
Eilistraee found a precious friend in the demigod [[Selvetarm]] (her nephew and son of Vhaeraun and Zandilar the Dancer) who, neither good nor evil, had walked away from both his parents. She took care of him, raised him by teaching her ways, and the two grew close to each other. Selvetarm admired his aunt and wished to gain, in turn, her admiration; the Dark Maiden hoped that Selvetarm could reunite the drow with the elves and the Seldarine. However, Lolth would later trick him into slaying her rival Zanassu, a demon lord of spiders, with the promise that such a feat would neat him Eilistraee's admiration. Predictably, it didn't go like that; Selvetarm was corrupted by the demon, becoming a near mindless berserker and Lolth's pawn, stripping the Dark Maiden of her friend.
Bring happiness and merriment everywhere you go, lifting people's hearts with kindness, gaiety, songs, jests, and revelry. Nurture and create beauty, promote and practice music and dance, learn new songs and dances and how to play, craft and repair musical instruments. Pass this learning on whenever possible and use it to bring joy to friends and strangers alike. Feasts should always be joyful events and food eaten with the accompaniment of music, save for sad occasions. Practice swordwork, learning new techniques with the blade.


; On Drow
As the Crown Wars raged on, Lolth and Ghaunadaur kept corrupting the dark elves by tempting their rulers, warriors and nobles with demonic powers, until the Seldarine cursed and exiled all of them (including the surviving Eilistraee's followers, or those who were otherwise innocent) in the event that became known as "Corellon's Descent". Once again, Eilistraee chose to share the path and curse of her people, but in her powerless state she could not rival Lolth as deity of the dark elves, and the Spider Queen led them in the Underdark. After this event, Lolth's and Ghaunadaur's efforts to exterminate the followers of the other drow gods brought Eilistraee and her people to a virtual collapse, and her relationship with her father and the Seldarine became strained, if still polite, due to the deep schism caused by their choice to curse and punish the entirety of the drow.
Encourage drow to return to the surface world whenever and wherever there are ways to do so. Work to promote peace with other races, helping the drow to forge their own place in the world and become part of its rightful, nonevil inhabitants. Aid all dark elves who are in danger or in need of help. If they are in combat, the fighting must be ended as soon as possible, with as little bloodshed as possible. All drow met, when not working evil on others, are to be given the message of Eilistraee:


{{Quote|''A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow.''|The Message of Eilistraee}}
Ever since Lolth wrapped her web around the drow, Eilistraee has tried her best to recover from that blow, to offer her people a new life and lead them to flourish once again. She is alone in this battle, however, an underdog who faces forces much greater than her (most of the Dark Seldarine), and too often the results of her efforts and of those of her followers have been swept away like ashes in the wind. Despite all this, after each fall, Eilistraee kept starting over and never stopped fighting for her people, and in the 1300s DR, all the sacrifices were rewarded with substantial gainings and progresses in her cause (in no small part due to the actions of Qilué Veladorn, her chosen). Eventually, the Dark Maiden chose to put her own life at risk in a battle to free the drow from Lolth once and for all. She was left alone to face the deities of the Dark Seldarine one by one, as neither Corellon nor the Seldarine did anything to help her. The Dark Maiden took down Kiaransalee and Vhaeraun (Ed Greenwood said that she spared the latter, merely KOing him with the help of Mystra, who trapped his sentience in the Weave, and borrowing his portfolio), and her church merged with that of her brother for a few years. In the end, however, she was defeated and (apparently) killed--even though, as suggested by Ed Greenwood, thanks to the help of [[Mystra]], the hit that took her down only made her lose her divinity for a while, making her unable to function as a goddess for that time (but still able to communicate with mortals through visions and manifestations). Either way, it lasted only for about 100 years, until the Second Sundering (circa 1480s DR/5e D&D), when Eilistraee returned to her people, and her followers immeidately resumed their activities (which supports the idea that the goddess actually survived and kept in contact with them). Currently, she no longer holds Vhaeraun's portfolio, as he too has re-emerged.


; On food
At some point during the above-mentioned war, an Eilistraeen drow mage (Q'arlynd Melarn) cast a High Magic spell that turned a few hundreds among the few thousands followers of Eilistraee into brown skinned "dark elves" (like the drow used to be before being cursed by the Seldarine more than 10k years before). The mage wanted to target all drow except Lolth's followers, but only those of "pure Miyeritari" descent were affected, with the result that most Eilistraeens remained unchanged. Corellon then decided to acknowledge the new brown skinned elves as "redeemed" (despite the fact that they were already good before changing race, and that many of them, born outside of a Lolthite society, had nothing to be redeemed for) and allow them into Arvandor--even though they could already go there, since Eilistraee's realm is in that plane. Now, this has a lot of problems; for example, in 10k+ years Eilistraee has never once cared or acted to change the race of her people (she literally became one of them to build a place in the world for them, as drow), and forcing such a massive chnage on a mortal runs contrary to everything she stands for. The meaning of this transformation is also something that probably should have never seen the light of the day in 2008, because it implies that the mark of being a "good" drow is a lighter skin tone, that goodness is somehow tied to physical appearance, and that one has to conform to arbitrary standards set by others in order to be acceptable, no matter the actual value of their actions (since this is literally what Corellon does with Eilistraee's followers). It's no surprise that WotC decided to entirely ignore and then retcon this matter: both Eilistraee and all her followers are currently still drow, and the "brown elves" have never been mentioned again.
Learn how to best cook food and game, and gather new recipes and spices whenever there is the chance to do so. Try to feed yourself by your own gardening and hunting skills and assist hunters when possible. If food is aplenty, part of it is to be set aside and given to all those in need (especially outcasts and individuals of other races)--try to always carry some food for this purpose--. Give any remaining food to the priestesses of the Dark Maiden, as they will do the same and none shall go hungry.


; On conflict
==Worshippers and Beliefs==
Repay violence with swift violence, quickly removing dangers and threats, so that the fewest may be hurt.
[[File:Sword Dancer of Eilistraee.png|250px|thumb|right|A typical Sword Dancer of Eilistraee]]
When fighting evil, the bodies of the fallen enemies are to be burned as an offering to the goddess, unless they happen to be edible and nonsentient and hungry people are near. When faithful, friends and allies fall in battle, priestesses of the Dark Maiden must comfort and soothe those who are mourning the loss, and provide a funeral song and burial.
Eilistraee's [[cleric|clergy]], collectively called "Sword Dancers", is mainly composed of elven or drow women (usually skilled dancers, musicians and diplomats), whose duty is to make sure that the communities entrusted to them thrive in the surface world and establish friendly relationship with other races. They are protectors, healers, and teachers--of survival skills as well as arts--and take care of the physical and emotional well-being of their people. Most Eilistraeen communities form around shrines or temples, and are led by the clergy. Therefore, they are often goodly matriarchies--where men are valued and treated with affection and respect (unlike the Lolthite matriarchy). When in positions of leadership, men often take the role of advisors and decision makers in certain areas of expertise; lay men and lay women have the same roles: gatherers, hunters, workers, scouts, etc... For a time, in order to become clerics, male drow had to spend some time as women through a ritual known as Changedance (according to Ed Greenwood, this was because, due to the goddess' nature and role of nurturing mother for the drow, it was only possible to fully cleave to her as a woman and certainly not be because he is horny). This is no longer needed in the current era, as of 5e/post-Second Sundering, and male clerics (and therefore possibly leaders) are becoming more numerous.  


; On possessions
Aside from tending to their communities, the priest(esse)s encourage the dark elves to return to the surface world, and reach to them whether they are fugitives, raiders, or inhabitants of the Underdark. They show that a different kind of life, far from Lolth, is possible, and assist the drow in making this choice by giving them aid, food, acceptance, and safe places to live. The clerics rely on a portal network and on a series of tunnel to lead missions underground (or infiltrate within Underdark settlements) to look for drow who are in need of their help and that can be brought to abandon the Way of Lolth (mostly slaves, commoners, fallen and hunted nobles, or drow who are generally unsatisfied). The priest(esse)s then work to gain their trust: generally, they avoid to force their view, but rescue them, hide them from their enemies, look after them, and offer sincere kindness. When the drow are ready, they are given the message of Eilistraee and a new opportunity:
Wealth should be used to buy food, swords, armor and musical instruments and to assist the work of the goddess. When helping others, take as price no more than a single tool or favor that can be used to serve the goddess' will.


Eilistraee and her church detest slavery and actively fight it whenever possible. Followers of the Dark Maiden are therefore forbidden from taking slaves, and prisoners of war (mostly Lolth-worshipping drow or untrusted individuals who have acquired too much knowledge and that are held for some time to make sure that such knowledge isn't used against the followers of Eilistraee) are usually made work for food and shelter, but they aren't owned and can't be commanded by anyone (only supervisors assigned by the decision-makers among the Dark Dancer’s worshippers can give them orders, in selected cases).
{{Quote|''A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow.''}}


==Worshippers==
The clerics of Eilistraee work to uphold the ideal of harmony among all races (obviously including the drow) so that their people can be accepted and live in peace, and all races can be united against suffering. As the goddess shows, this includes actively providing aid and protection to the needy, no matter their race or condition. Be it by bringing healing to the wounded, food to the hungry and clothing to the poor; by helping to rebuild, or by offering shelter to travelers, homeless and outcasts (even under their own roof), the faithful strive to lend a helping hand. They constantly prepare for such occasions, by growing and storing food, preparing cures, and regularly patrolling the lands in harsh climates.
[[File:Drow Dancers of Eilistraee.jpg|300px|thumb|left|The first ever depiction of a holy rite of Eilistraee, from AD&D FR's "Drow of the Underdark".]]
The followers of Eilistraee mostly consist of surface drow, and of those drow who hope to escape the Underdark and Lolth's evil, taking back their place in the surface world. However, in line with her ideals, Eilistraee welcomes beings of all races who share the desire of seeing all races living in harmony, without pointless discrimination or wars, and work towards that goal.


Eilistraee's clergy is mainly, but not exclusively, composed of elven or drow women (usually skilled dancers, musicians and diplomats), whose duty is to make sure that the drow communities entrusted to them thrive in the surface world and establish friendly relationship with other races. They are protectors, healers, and teachers--of survival skills as well as arts--and take care of the physical and emotional well-being of their people. Most Eilistraeen communities form around shrines or temples, and are led by the clergy. Therefore, they are often a goodly matriarchy--one where men are valued and treated with affection and respect, unlike the Lolthite matriarchy. When in positions of leadership, men often take the role of advisors and decision makers in certain areas of expertise; lay men and lay women have the same roles: gatherers, hunters, workers, scouts, etc... For a time, in order to become clerics, male drow had to spend some time as women through a ritual known as Changedance. The reasons provided by Ed Greenwood, her creator, was that, due to the goddess nature, "[...]one could not truly feel the Divine Dance of Eilistraee PROPERLY except as a female[...]". This is no longer needed in the current time, as of 5e/post-Second Sundering, and male clerics (and therefore possibly leaders) are becoming more numerous.
The Dark Maiden teaches to help those who fight for good and to show kindness to all, but also to "repay violence with swift violence, that the fewest may be hurt, and danger fast removed from the land"--basically, make people's lives better, but take no shit. However, "swift violence" doesn't necessarily mean killing. On the contrary, evil isn't always monster that can be slain with the simple blade; sometimes the only way to truly defeat it passes through understanding and healing. The sword is needed for defense, but there's strength in compassion and in letting a life bloom and rise from their evil as well--otherwise, there would be no redemption for anyone. That said, clerics of Eilistraee are known to fight threats that endanger not only themselves, but also other races, especially on the surface. The Darksong Knights are an example: these warriors, paladins and clerics devoted to the Dark Dancer choose to actively fight Lolth and her pawns, working to thwart their plans and to hunt down the Spider Queen's demonic minions. Another example is the efforts of the church of Eilistraee to fight slavers. Freedom is an important tenet for them, especially due to the oppression that the drow have to endure under Lolth, so they strive to hunt down those who would see others in chains, and offer shelter and protection to slaves.


Despite trying to embrace the teachings of their goddess, and despite actually working for good, the followers of Eilistraee are varied: while it's easier for a drow born on the surface, away from the cruelty of Lolth, to put the tenets of the faith in practice, converts have a much harder time. They come from a place where paranoia is the norm, and where every smile hides a threat. Furthermore, on the surface, many people still react aggressively to seeing a drow. In short, they are essentially re-learning to live with the help of Eilistraee and her communities, but the surface world is not exactly a friendly place to them. For those reasons, former Lolthites can be very jumpy, distrusting, and in some occasions even outright murderous (fearing that someone who found the location of a community could alert his people and then come to kill the drow). New converts can also still display the sexism common among the Lolthites.  
Many clerics work as diplomats and emissaries living near (or sometimes within) other races' communities or cities, trying to integrate the drow followers of Eilistraee among the locals. Usually, the priest(esse)s try to find people who would be more open to engaging in trade or coexistance with the drow; they then explain their history, goals, and beliefs, and make an offer in exchange for sponsorship. The offerings range from something as simple as their performance, to healing, travel magic (throuh their Moonsong, especially useful to merchants), knowledge of the Underdark, or exotic goods crafted by the drow. If the deal goes through, the clerics proceed to solidify the new friendship and coexistence (for example, they did this with the old Myth Drannor--under Coronal Tannivh--with Elventree, Raven's Bluff, and--lately--Waterdeep).
[[File:Priestess of Eilistraee.jpg|250px|thumb|left|A priestess practicing her art]]
Besides their work towards their main goal, the faithful of Eilistraee are taught by their goddess to be beacons of hope--not only by fighting for good, but also by nurturing beauty, and practicing and spreading music, arts, and all that is good in life (such as cooking tasty food) as much as possible. The clerics have to be proficient in playing (and crafting/repairing) at least one instrument, to be good singers and graceful dancers, and to teach their skills and knowledge whenever possible. They use any opportunity to learn and compose new music, as well as experimenting with new recipes and spices. Eilistraeens who go adventuring are encouraged to travel and bring joy wherever they go, be it by kind acts, by sharing their arts, stories, and performances, or by trying out recipes to delight those met along the way. They strive to spark passion into people, so that no moment is lost to the grayness of bore and melancholy, and resignation may always be overcome.  


That said, the followers of Eilistraee have managed, through their work and diplomacy, to integrate with other races in certain areas of Faerun (like Cormanthor/Elventree, Raven's Bluff--to an extent--, Silverymoon and, recently, as of 5e, the city of Waterdeep itself), so the number of places where they can find a home is increasing.
Such focus on arts and beauty is not just hollow optimism. Suffering is well known to both the goddess and her followers, but the act of fully, freely embracing the beauty that the world has to offer can still resonate with the dark elves (despite being absent or corrupted in the Lolthite society). Many unconsciously feel the need to rediscover such joys, which become a way to lure the drow to a life that they have forgotten, and to speak to that part of them that was silenced by Lolth's hatred. Song and music, as well as dance, are also a powerful mean of self-expression, and mark the rhythm of the daily life in the Eilistraeen communities. Even the iconic magic of the Sword Dancers, the Spellsong, is based on music capable of healing, creating and protecting, and their distinctive fighting style relies on a series of evasive, graceful movements that combine dance and swordplay into one.


===Daily Doings===
Finally, the clerics of the Dark Maiden are also known to be proficient smiths who specialize in the making of blades, and skilled users of the Dancing Swords (for the symbolic resonance of these items with their goddess' portfolio).
The priest(esse)s of Eilistraee encourage the drow to return to the surface, and reach to them whether they are fugitives, raiders, or inhabitants of the Underdark. They show that a different kind of life, far from Lolth, is possible, and assist the drow in making this choice by giving them aid, food, acceptance, and safe places to live. They even lead missions underground (or infiltrate within Lolthite settlements) with that purpose in mind.


As the Dark Maiden's teachings require, her clerics actively work to promote harmony between drow and other races, so that their people could be accepted and live in peace. This includes lending their swords to fight against evil, helping others, and providing food and healed to assist people of any race in need. Offering their arts and performance is often a helpful tool in establishing relationships.  
Mechanically speaking, in 5e D&D a College of Swords [[bard]] whose spell selection focuses on healing, support, enchantment and illusion, would be a good fit to represent a Sword Dancer of Eilistraee (while the rest of her clergy is well represented by the Nature, Life, and Light [[Cleric Domain|domains]] that they get. [[Cleric Domain#Mearls' Creations|Mearls' Beauty domain]] is thematically perfect too). In 3e D&D there was a prestige class for it; in 2e, there was a cleric kit.


The church also acts through envoys, diplomats and emissaries living near (or sometimes within) other races' settlements. They usually approach individuals who would more likely accept a drow presence in their settlement and work to gain their alliance by explaining their cause and offering something beneficial in exchange for sponsorship (it could be their art, magic, exotic goods, or help). They then use this sponsorship as a basis to integrate within the community (For example, they did this with the old Myth Drannor--under Coronal Tannivh--Elventree, Raven's Bluff, and--lately--Waterdeep).
===Militant Orders===
;Darksong Knights
[[File:Darksong Kight.jpg|250px|thumb|right|A paladin of Eilistraee]]
The Darksong Knights are an order of elite [[fighter|warriors]] and [[paladin|paladins]] who serve as a bulwark between the followers of Eilistraee and the zealot crusaders and the fiendish servants of Lolth. Similarly to the Sword Dancers, their fighting style is graceful and acrobatic, but they favor heavier armor than their priestly counterpart, and receive specialized training aimed to face the creatures of the lower planes. The Darksong Knights make a sacred oath, swearing to uphold the teachings of the Dark Maiden, and to tirelessly hunt the Spider Queen's handmaidens—the yochlol—as well as all demons. Fiends caused the downfall of the drow in the ancient times, and no matter what tricks they use to corrupt mortals, the Darksong Knights give them no quarter. They are especially active in southern Faerun, the lands once occupied by ancient Ilythiir. In mechanical terms, in 5e D&D this order would likely include Oath of the Ancient, Vengeance and Devotion paladins, and probably also Horizon Walker [[ranger|rangers]]. In 3e D&D, there was a substitute levels option for the fighter class to represent the Darksong Knights.


Besides their work towards their main goal, the faithful of Eilistraee are known to nurture beauty, music, and arts, and to spread kindness, joy, and hope whenever they see ways to do so (and it's appropriate). The clerics have to be skilled at playing (and repairing) at least one instrument; to be adequate singers; to be fit, graceful dancers; and to teach their art to others. They constantly gather and share songs and musical knowledge, and acquire training in the use of the sword when they can.
;Silverhair Knights
Emissaries of redemption, the Silverhair Knights are an order of paladins focused on bringing any and all drow the choice to be free from Lolth. Like the Darksong Knights, they swear to uphold the teachings of Eilistraee, but focus on mercy and compassion. They take an oath to never willingly kill those who can be redeemed, especially the drow (they can use lethal means only if that means saving more lives; even then, a quest for atonement is needed), and--among the followers of Eilistraee--they are the most dedicated to the missions to reach for their kin in the Underdark and bring them to the light. The Silverhair Knights approach the potential converts with caution, by taking many careful steps to make them feel as safe and comfortable as possible, and offer them the path to a life free of endless strife and paranoia. The Silverhair Knights personally escort the drow to safety, and constantly offer their protection to all followers of Eilistraee, especially the new converts, in order to show that the life that the goddess wishes for her children is not a fairy tale, but a concrete possibility. In extreme cases, these paladins can perform a risky ritual that allows them to take the cruelty and suffering experienced and inflicted by a creature upon themselves, facilitating the process of redemption (a skill that earned them the nickname of "Sin Eaters"). After the Second Sundering, Eilistraee herself often chooses to personally provide direct guidance to the members of this order. Mechanically speaking, in 5e D&D, the Oath of Redemption paladin would be a good fit for a Silverhair Knight; in 3e D&D they were a prestige class.


Finally, the church of Eilistraee, especially near the Promenade of the Dark Maiden, is known for their efforts against slavers of all kinds, actively fighting organizations dedicated to the practice and offering shelter to slaves.
===Internal Differences===
Despite trying to uphold the teachings of their goddess, and despite working for good, the followers of Eilistraee are varied: while it's easier for a drow born on the surface to put the tenets of the faith in practice, converts have a much harder time. They come from a place where paranoia is the norm, and where every smile hides a threat; furthermore, on the surface, many people still react aggressively to seeing a drow. For those reasons, former Lolthites can be very jumpy, distrusting, and in some occasions even outright murderous (fearing that someone who found the location of a community could alert their people and then come to kill the drow). New converts (and even a few old timers) can also still display the sexism common among the Lolthites.


===Rituals===
===Rituals===
The worshippers of Eilistraee practice many rituals, but the iconic form of worship is a nude dance (usualyl solitary, but sometimes in group) in a moonlit glade (or, lacking that, using any source of light--often a candle), in which they let out all the emotions of the day in a wordless message for the goddess to listen. Some say that this created as fanservice, but it can also have a fitting function. The life in a Lolthite society is based on constructs, falsehood, deceit; conflict is constant and trust and spontaneity are taboos. A nude dance in which the drow let out all their emotions is the act of laying down the mask and feeling free to just be themselves and embrace life. Furthermore, in a society of perpetual conflict, where trust is taboo, vulnerability must be hidden. To be free to dance in the nude with others (or while invoking a goddess) is to be free to show one own's vulnerability—it means that vulnerability is sometimes acceptable, forming a bond of trust, and being accepted as a whole. All of this is surely helpful to "heal" a drow who escapes the abuse of Lolth and her society.
[[File:Drow Dancers of Eilistraee.jpg|300px|thumb|left|The first ever depiction of a holy rite of Eilistraee, from AD&D FR's "Drow of the Underdark"]]
[[File:Eilistraee Fanart 3.jpg|300px|thumb|right]]
The followers of Eilistraee practice many rituals, but the iconic form of worship is a nude dance (usually solitary, but sometimes in group) in a moonlit glade (or, lacking that, using any source of light--often a candle), in which they let out all the emotions of the day in a wordless message for the goddess to listen (called Evensong). Some say that this was created as fanservice (and, in part, it likely was) but it can also have a fitting function. The life in a Lolthite society is based on constructs, falsehood, deceit; conflict is constant and trust and spontaneity are taboos. A nude dance in which the drow let out all their emotions is the act of laying down the mask and feeling free to just be themselves and embrace life. Furthermore, in a society of perpetual conflict, where trust is taboo, vulnerability must be hidden. To be free to dance in the nude with others (or while invoking a goddess) is to be free to show one own's vulnerability—it means that vulnerability is sometimes acceptable, forming a bond of trust, and being accepted as a whole. All of this is surely helpful to "heal" a drow who escapes the abuse of Lolth and her society.  
Despite their iconic ritual, unlike many seem to believe, the followers of Eilistraee are '''not''' nudists. They wear the most practical garb for a given occasion and armor in battle.
 
Song and music have important roles among the Eilistraeen drow; not only arts and celebration are tools to show the drow a different kind of life, they're a powerful mean of self-expression, and mark the rhythm of the daily life in their communities. Music is also the conduit of the iconic form of Eilistraeen magic, known as Spellsong. Be it solitary or in group, this song can produce magical effects of various kinds (mostly healing and protective magic, including raising the dead). A particular kind of Spellsong is the Moonsong, a sweet melody reminiscent of the sound of the wind, capable of conjuring a soft curtain of moonlight. The casters can dance within it to enter in tune with Eilistraee's magic and hear the songs of distant lands--the music that surrounds a given place (or the people who live there) when it's lit by the moon. Once the song of the place chosen as the destination, or of its people, is heard, the caster follows it to be transported there along beams of moonlight. The Moonsong can be celebrated as a chorus, a melody that constantly changes around a main tune led by a senior priest(ess). The magic of the chorus creates beams of moonlight, whose intensity grows with the emotion of the singers. If such radiance meets with real moonlight, any creature or item that the priest(esse)s are touching or carrying while singing an be transported along a path of moonlight to any place where the moon is shining. These two spells are often used by the clerics of Eilistraee to travel for their missions.


Dance holds the same importance as music, as well as a similar role. Unlike music, however, the art of dance is used by an order of priest(esse)s of Eilistraee (the Sword Dancers, the most numerous one) to craft a unique combat style resembling that of their goddess. It focuses on evading attacks and spells, rather than on offense, and combines grace and acrobatic skills with the mastery of the blade. Another defining trait is the use of the Dancing Swords, blades that can fight on their own and that the specialized clerics of Eilistraee have learned to use defensively (by letting them dance around their body to deflect attacks when their elusive movements aren't enough).
In any case, despite their iconic dances, unlike many seem to believe, the followers of Eilistraee are '''not''' nudists. They wear the most practical garb for a given occasion and armor (generally light) in battle.


Another unique ritual is the Run, celebrated at least once per year. The participants use particular boiled leaves and berries to make their hair silvery, and those who aren't drow use natural pigments to paint their bodies black. They then venture on a journey through the surface world, relying on their music, kindness, and skills with the sword to not be hunted and killed for being drow. The goalis to go where they are strangers, reaching communities of elves and other races to bring them food, beauty, and help of various kinds--not to preach their faith, but simply out of the good of their heart and to show (together with their day-to-day activities) that the drow could be rightful non-evil inhabitants of Faerûn. Clerics also use this time to learn and/or teach new songs, music, recipes, and sword techniques. The Run usually lasts a month or a month and a half, but it can go on for as long as a season or even a year, depending on the situation.
A peculiar ritual is the Run, celebrated at least once per year (and lasting at least one month and a half). The faithful venture to places where they are strangers, reaching communities of elves and other races to bring them gifts, food, and their art, showing that the drow can be rightful citizens of the surface world and establishing new friendships.


Followers who don't die in battle and reach death of old age, are blessed by Eilistraee with the ritual of the Last Dance. When their moment is nearing, Eilistraee's faithful hear the goddess sing to them by night, calling them to her. When the song feels right, they simply start to dance unclad under the moonlit sky. The goddess comes and sings to her follower, and as the aged worshipper dances, they gradually gains the strength and energy of youth, looking younger and younger. Their hair glows with the same radiance as the Dark Maiden's, and they slowly fade away as the dance goes on. In the end, only a silvery radiance can be seen and two voices, the goddess and her faithful, are heard, raised together in a melancholy, tender song.
When a follower of the Dark Maiden who hasn't fallen in battle and who has reached old age feels that their moment is nearing, Eilistraee sings her call to them. The follower goes out in the moonlight to dance to the music, until the goddess herself joins them in a ritual known as "The Last Dance". As the two revel together, the worshipper becomes more and more youthful, the silvery radiance of the Dark Maiden surrounds them, and they slowly fade away. In the end, only the radiance can be seen, and the voices of the goddess and her faithful sing together a tender yet melancholic song.


==Vandria Gilmadrith==
==Vandria Gilmadrith==
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|Name = Vandria Gilmadrith  
|Name = Vandria Gilmadrith  
|Symbol = [[File:Holy symbol of Vandria Gilmadrith.jpg|150px]]
|Symbol = [[File:Holy symbol of Vandria Gilmadrith.jpg|150px]]
|Aliases = Lady of Grief, Steelheart
|Alignment = Lawful Neutral  
|Alignment = Lawful Neutral  
|Divine Rank = Intermediate Goddess
|Divine Rank = Intermediate Goddess
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|Favoured Weapon = Longbow
|Favoured Weapon = Longbow
}}
}}
Meanwhile back in "Core" D&D, in something similar to a "What if?" Scenario, we have Vandria. Who is also the daughter of Corellon and Araushnee. Though in this case the story does not have his daughter shoot him through the heart with a cursed arrow.
Meanwhile back in "Core" D&D, in something similar to a "What if?" scenario, we have Vandria, who is also the daughter of Corellon and Lolth (no Araushnee in core D&D), but an elven goddess rather than a drow one (though her hair, often worn in a long braid, is white due to her dark elven heritage). In her story, before Lolth's betrayal, she was a free spirit like most elven gods, and lived enjoying the beauty of Arvandor. When Lolth schemed against Corellon, she contributed to the defense of Arvandor like Eilistraee, but her arrows weren't redirected to her father's heart by her mother's magic. After the battle, Vandria didn't follow Lolth in exile; she instead resolved to become the elven goddess of vigilance and war, patroness of elven guardians and warriors. Due to having gained the portfolio of War, Vandria can feel every wound and death suffered by the elves in battle, alongside the pain for the loss of loved ones due to conflict. For that reason, and for the tragedy brought by her mother's betrayal, her carefree personality has turned into a grim and somber attitude, embodying the ability of the elves to adapt to strife. Her focus is on preventing wars, or making them as quick and bloodless as possible when unavoidable.
 
So we get to see what the daughter would have turned out like if she was raised by Corellon instead, and bizarrely she turns out unlike any other Elven god in the Pantheon: Vandria is '''LAWFUL''', but not only that but an entire rank category higher than Eilistraee too.
 
Vandria Gilmadrith is the goddess of guardians in Elven communities. Her servants participate strongly with the town militias, and they have strongholds hidden all over the place. They also act as arbitrators as diplomats because they are likely to be the most even handed amongst elves.


Vandria's followers participate strongly with the town militias, and they have strongholds hidden all over the place. They also act as arbitrators as diplomats because they are likely to be the most even handed amongst elves.
{{clear}}
{{clear}}


==Fanart==
==Fanart==
<gallery>
<center><gallery>
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</gallery>
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File:Eilistraee dancing.jpeg
File:Eilistraee with tambourine.jpeg
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</gallery></center>


{{D&D-Nonhuman-Deities}}
{{D&D-Nonhuman-Deities}}


[[Category:Forgotten Realms]]
[[Category:Forgotten Realms]]

Latest revision as of 03:49, 21 June 2023

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Eilistraee
Aliases The Dancing Goddess, the Dark Dancer, the Dark Maiden, Lady of the Dance, Lady Silverhair
Alignment Chaotic Good
Divine Rank Lesser Goddess
Pantheon Dark Seldarine, Faerûn
Portfolio Beauty, Dance, Song, Freedom, Moonlight, Swordwork, the Hunt
Domains 3E: Chaos, Charm, Drow, Elf, Good, Moon, Portal
5E: Life, Light, Nature
Home Plane Great Wheel: Svartalfheim (Ysgard)
World Tree: Arvandor; she also detains a small domain in the Demonweb Pits (Abyss)
Worshippers Mostly, but not exclusively: surface drow, goodly drow, elves, bards, hunters, and people who want to be naked
Favoured Weapon Moonsword (bastard sword)

Eilistraee is the daughter of Corellon Larethian and Araushnee. Exclusively belonging to the Forgotten Realms setting, she is the only good drow goddess, and her domains include: beauty, dance, song, moonlight, hunt, swordwork and, as of 5e D&D (post-Sundering timeline of the Realms), freedom. The Dark Maiden, as she is called, pursuits the goal of freeing the drow from Lolth's cruelty and tyranny, helping them retake their future and forge their own path on the surface after centuries of living blind to the world. She also strives to promote peace among all races, and to reunite the drow with their elven brothers and sisters. Therefore, she is the patroness of all dark elves who long for a life free from the strife imposed on them by Lolth, but also of artists (especially dancers, bards, and musicians), crafters, and hunters. She looks kindly on outcasts as well, and encourages her followers to offer them shelter. Even though focused on drow, Eilistraee firmly believes in the possibility of redemption for individuals from all races, and gladly welcomes anyone willing to walk a path that revels in life and its celebration. As a result, she is mostly followed by drow, but has worshippers among various races.

Appearance[edit | edit source]

Eilistraee playing music

Eilistraee appears as a tall and lithe drow woman of glowing beauty (usually unclad), described by Sharlario Moonflower as "the answer to that question which every soul feels but no words can frame". Her skin is as dark as the night sky, and her ankle-long hair, of a luminous silvery hue, frames the graceful and delicate features of her face. Her eyes—larger than in most drow, whose color reminds of moonstones—are warm and expressive of the goddess' emotions. Those who gaze upon her often feel suffering and sadness dissolve, and even the most hopeless night turn into a moment of beauty and solace. However, a feeling of loss—even desolation—can take them upon her leaving because she is another one of Greenwood's excuses to have naked elves be apart of lore.

Personality[edit | edit source]

Due to her choice of sharing the fate of her people, Eilistraee went through many hardships and much pain in her life, but she learned to turn her wounds into empathy and compassion. In order to fight her suffering and grief, she turned her efforts towards healing and looking for the beauty in all things and souls, including what was broken or corrupted. The Dark Maiden can still find hope, and the strength to create and nurture, even in the darkest place, and she works to bring her warmth to those trapped in the cold of their night--especially her people. She knows far too well that the world isn't all bright and happy, but the possibility for joy exists even at the height of suffering, and she wants all to see and find it.

The burden of loss made Eilistraee a generally melancholic goddess, but also kind-hearted, gentle, and caring. She knows what it is to suffer, so she cherishes and cares about all beings for what they are (including the scars of the battles that every individual faces), and shows compassion and mercy to all who need them. No one deserves to be alone in their pain, and even individuals who have fallen to cruelty can still hold good within them. She finds joy in helping people in need in various practical ways, including those who are not her followers or drow, if they act for good or uphold her principles.

That said, the Dark Maiden is also a lover of freedom and nature, with an impish streak and a wild side to her personality (in fact, she wishes and works for peace, but is known to often act quite fiercely in protection of her followers when they are harmed). Her suffering taught her to find happiness in the small things, and in bringing happiness to other people. An act of kindness towards a stranger, learning a new song, or the splendor of a sunrise will be enough to make her smile. She loves all arts and forms of creativity (especially dance and song), and delights not only in performing herself, but also in filling artists with bursts of inspiration (a sign of her favor). She strives to nurture and keep alive the spark that exists in all people, and art and compassion are the most powerful forces to defeat fear and resignation. For that reason, she teaches to celebrate life in its fullness, as to bring passion and a sense of wonder to everyone, and make the world a better place for all.

Attitude Towards the Drow[edit | edit source]

Eilistraee manifests to a lost drow

Having shared the path and struggles of the drow, and having chosen to be one of them, Eilistraee is convinced that those who are still trapped in Lolth's web aren't monsters as many believe, but the result of lifelong abuse and neglect from those who should have loved them the most (as even maternal or paternal love are considered taboo and weakness under Lolth). She knows their pain, sees the part of them that was silenced by hatred and strife, their hidden beauty, and strives to nurture it. The Dark Maiden works to "redeem" the drow by showing them all that they've been missing on in life due to Lolth's oppression, and by taking the role of a nurturing mother. While they were taught that love and affection are weakness, Eilistraee loves them as they are--including vulnerabilities and wounds--and shows them the strength in caring for each other. While they were taught that an individual has no value except for the power and favor from Lolth that they detain, Eilistraee shows them that they matter as people. Lolth's society is governed by rigid roles and rules, and every drow is forced to constantly wear a mask and enegage in the perennial strife. Eilistraee, on the other hand, teaches them the freedom of expressing themselves, of casting off their chains, and experience that full, vivid joy that too many are denied. With her focus on beauty and freedom, Eilistraee lures the drow out of their prison (and, weirdly, comfort zone, due to Lolth's indoctrination), to embark on a journey to see and marvel at what life actually is, to open their eyes and make them understand that a different existence is not only possible, but that it leads to actual happiness and liberation.

The Dark Maiden is there in all the important parts of this journey; while she can't guarantee safety, she tends to her "children" in various practical ways, nurturing, protecting and teaching them about the surface world that is their forgotten home. For example, she often scares off aggressors, sends visions warning of danger, or leads an edible animal within the reach of a hungry drow. She provides dancing beams of moonlight that move about guiding those who are lost in the dark and leading them to safety, or to lighten childbirths. She is also known to often appear when her children need confort and her visible support in difficult moments (or to welcome a new drow to "join her dance"). It usually happens through her own moonlight, or as a protecting, shadowy, tall female dark elf that dances with the drow.

Even then, Eilistraee tries to leave the drow free to choose; she is subtle and delicate when offering her help, and careful to never impose herself or to forcefully intervene in people's choices. She wishes for her children to find their own path, and to see with their own eyes what life has to offer.

History[edit | edit source]

Eilistraee with her father, Corellon

During Eilistraee's youth, Araushnee's schemes to usurp Corellon's position led various deities, enemies of the Seldarine, to assault and enter Arvandor. In the ensuing battle, as Eilistraee fired an arrow meant to save her father, Lolth's magic cursed it mid-flight, causing it to pierce the elven god's chest instead. Eventually, the treachery was unveiled and Corellon saved, but--despite having been judged as innocent--Eilistraee chose to share her mother's exile. She had foreseen that the drow would need her warmth and guidance in the dark times that were to come, and she couldn't provide that from the luxury of Arvandor, but only by being by their side in their struggle. Feeling guilty, she also swore to never use the bow again, and started sword-dancing instead. Corellon was pained to see his child go, but at the same time he was proud of her choice.

After her exile, the Dark Maiden followed the elven people--including the dark elves that she had chosen to watch over--to Toril. There, alone, she fought Vhaeraun's (her brother) and Ghaunadaur's corruption of the drow in southern Faerun (and, later, Lolth's as well, when she started exerting her influence on Toril). However, in the end, she wasn't powerful enough to prevent their rise, and became hunted by them alongside her followers. Eilistraee and her people would found a flourishing center of arts and magic in Miyeritar, rivaling the splendor of the great elven kingdoms, but it wouldn't last. During the Crown Wars, a conflict started by the power plays of the sun elves of Aryvandaar and fueled by the ruthlessness of the dark elves of Ilythiir, her efforts couldn't contain the so called Dark Disaster, a magical cataclysm unleashed by the Aryvandaari, which caused the death of the majority of her people in Miyeritar, leading her to lose everything she had worked for, and bringing her to a near powerless state.

Eilistraee found a precious friend in the demigod Selvetarm (her nephew and son of Vhaeraun and Zandilar the Dancer) who, neither good nor evil, had walked away from both his parents. She took care of him, raised him by teaching her ways, and the two grew close to each other. Selvetarm admired his aunt and wished to gain, in turn, her admiration; the Dark Maiden hoped that Selvetarm could reunite the drow with the elves and the Seldarine. However, Lolth would later trick him into slaying her rival Zanassu, a demon lord of spiders, with the promise that such a feat would neat him Eilistraee's admiration. Predictably, it didn't go like that; Selvetarm was corrupted by the demon, becoming a near mindless berserker and Lolth's pawn, stripping the Dark Maiden of her friend.

As the Crown Wars raged on, Lolth and Ghaunadaur kept corrupting the dark elves by tempting their rulers, warriors and nobles with demonic powers, until the Seldarine cursed and exiled all of them (including the surviving Eilistraee's followers, or those who were otherwise innocent) in the event that became known as "Corellon's Descent". Once again, Eilistraee chose to share the path and curse of her people, but in her powerless state she could not rival Lolth as deity of the dark elves, and the Spider Queen led them in the Underdark. After this event, Lolth's and Ghaunadaur's efforts to exterminate the followers of the other drow gods brought Eilistraee and her people to a virtual collapse, and her relationship with her father and the Seldarine became strained, if still polite, due to the deep schism caused by their choice to curse and punish the entirety of the drow.

Ever since Lolth wrapped her web around the drow, Eilistraee has tried her best to recover from that blow, to offer her people a new life and lead them to flourish once again. She is alone in this battle, however, an underdog who faces forces much greater than her (most of the Dark Seldarine), and too often the results of her efforts and of those of her followers have been swept away like ashes in the wind. Despite all this, after each fall, Eilistraee kept starting over and never stopped fighting for her people, and in the 1300s DR, all the sacrifices were rewarded with substantial gainings and progresses in her cause (in no small part due to the actions of Qilué Veladorn, her chosen). Eventually, the Dark Maiden chose to put her own life at risk in a battle to free the drow from Lolth once and for all. She was left alone to face the deities of the Dark Seldarine one by one, as neither Corellon nor the Seldarine did anything to help her. The Dark Maiden took down Kiaransalee and Vhaeraun (Ed Greenwood said that she spared the latter, merely KOing him with the help of Mystra, who trapped his sentience in the Weave, and borrowing his portfolio), and her church merged with that of her brother for a few years. In the end, however, she was defeated and (apparently) killed--even though, as suggested by Ed Greenwood, thanks to the help of Mystra, the hit that took her down only made her lose her divinity for a while, making her unable to function as a goddess for that time (but still able to communicate with mortals through visions and manifestations). Either way, it lasted only for about 100 years, until the Second Sundering (circa 1480s DR/5e D&D), when Eilistraee returned to her people, and her followers immeidately resumed their activities (which supports the idea that the goddess actually survived and kept in contact with them). Currently, she no longer holds Vhaeraun's portfolio, as he too has re-emerged.

At some point during the above-mentioned war, an Eilistraeen drow mage (Q'arlynd Melarn) cast a High Magic spell that turned a few hundreds among the few thousands followers of Eilistraee into brown skinned "dark elves" (like the drow used to be before being cursed by the Seldarine more than 10k years before). The mage wanted to target all drow except Lolth's followers, but only those of "pure Miyeritari" descent were affected, with the result that most Eilistraeens remained unchanged. Corellon then decided to acknowledge the new brown skinned elves as "redeemed" (despite the fact that they were already good before changing race, and that many of them, born outside of a Lolthite society, had nothing to be redeemed for) and allow them into Arvandor--even though they could already go there, since Eilistraee's realm is in that plane. Now, this has a lot of problems; for example, in 10k+ years Eilistraee has never once cared or acted to change the race of her people (she literally became one of them to build a place in the world for them, as drow), and forcing such a massive chnage on a mortal runs contrary to everything she stands for. The meaning of this transformation is also something that probably should have never seen the light of the day in 2008, because it implies that the mark of being a "good" drow is a lighter skin tone, that goodness is somehow tied to physical appearance, and that one has to conform to arbitrary standards set by others in order to be acceptable, no matter the actual value of their actions (since this is literally what Corellon does with Eilistraee's followers). It's no surprise that WotC decided to entirely ignore and then retcon this matter: both Eilistraee and all her followers are currently still drow, and the "brown elves" have never been mentioned again.

Worshippers and Beliefs[edit | edit source]

A typical Sword Dancer of Eilistraee

Eilistraee's clergy, collectively called "Sword Dancers", is mainly composed of elven or drow women (usually skilled dancers, musicians and diplomats), whose duty is to make sure that the communities entrusted to them thrive in the surface world and establish friendly relationship with other races. They are protectors, healers, and teachers--of survival skills as well as arts--and take care of the physical and emotional well-being of their people. Most Eilistraeen communities form around shrines or temples, and are led by the clergy. Therefore, they are often goodly matriarchies--where men are valued and treated with affection and respect (unlike the Lolthite matriarchy). When in positions of leadership, men often take the role of advisors and decision makers in certain areas of expertise; lay men and lay women have the same roles: gatherers, hunters, workers, scouts, etc... For a time, in order to become clerics, male drow had to spend some time as women through a ritual known as Changedance (according to Ed Greenwood, this was because, due to the goddess' nature and role of nurturing mother for the drow, it was only possible to fully cleave to her as a woman and certainly not be because he is horny). This is no longer needed in the current era, as of 5e/post-Second Sundering, and male clerics (and therefore possibly leaders) are becoming more numerous.

Aside from tending to their communities, the priest(esse)s encourage the dark elves to return to the surface world, and reach to them whether they are fugitives, raiders, or inhabitants of the Underdark. They show that a different kind of life, far from Lolth, is possible, and assist the drow in making this choice by giving them aid, food, acceptance, and safe places to live. The clerics rely on a portal network and on a series of tunnel to lead missions underground (or infiltrate within Underdark settlements) to look for drow who are in need of their help and that can be brought to abandon the Way of Lolth (mostly slaves, commoners, fallen and hunted nobles, or drow who are generally unsatisfied). The priest(esse)s then work to gain their trust: generally, they avoid to force their view, but rescue them, hide them from their enemies, look after them, and offer sincere kindness. When the drow are ready, they are given the message of Eilistraee and a new opportunity:

A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow.

The clerics of Eilistraee work to uphold the ideal of harmony among all races (obviously including the drow) so that their people can be accepted and live in peace, and all races can be united against suffering. As the goddess shows, this includes actively providing aid and protection to the needy, no matter their race or condition. Be it by bringing healing to the wounded, food to the hungry and clothing to the poor; by helping to rebuild, or by offering shelter to travelers, homeless and outcasts (even under their own roof), the faithful strive to lend a helping hand. They constantly prepare for such occasions, by growing and storing food, preparing cures, and regularly patrolling the lands in harsh climates.

The Dark Maiden teaches to help those who fight for good and to show kindness to all, but also to "repay violence with swift violence, that the fewest may be hurt, and danger fast removed from the land"--basically, make people's lives better, but take no shit. However, "swift violence" doesn't necessarily mean killing. On the contrary, evil isn't always monster that can be slain with the simple blade; sometimes the only way to truly defeat it passes through understanding and healing. The sword is needed for defense, but there's strength in compassion and in letting a life bloom and rise from their evil as well--otherwise, there would be no redemption for anyone. That said, clerics of Eilistraee are known to fight threats that endanger not only themselves, but also other races, especially on the surface. The Darksong Knights are an example: these warriors, paladins and clerics devoted to the Dark Dancer choose to actively fight Lolth and her pawns, working to thwart their plans and to hunt down the Spider Queen's demonic minions. Another example is the efforts of the church of Eilistraee to fight slavers. Freedom is an important tenet for them, especially due to the oppression that the drow have to endure under Lolth, so they strive to hunt down those who would see others in chains, and offer shelter and protection to slaves.

Many clerics work as diplomats and emissaries living near (or sometimes within) other races' communities or cities, trying to integrate the drow followers of Eilistraee among the locals. Usually, the priest(esse)s try to find people who would be more open to engaging in trade or coexistance with the drow; they then explain their history, goals, and beliefs, and make an offer in exchange for sponsorship. The offerings range from something as simple as their performance, to healing, travel magic (throuh their Moonsong, especially useful to merchants), knowledge of the Underdark, or exotic goods crafted by the drow. If the deal goes through, the clerics proceed to solidify the new friendship and coexistence (for example, they did this with the old Myth Drannor--under Coronal Tannivh--with Elventree, Raven's Bluff, and--lately--Waterdeep).

A priestess practicing her art

Besides their work towards their main goal, the faithful of Eilistraee are taught by their goddess to be beacons of hope--not only by fighting for good, but also by nurturing beauty, and practicing and spreading music, arts, and all that is good in life (such as cooking tasty food) as much as possible. The clerics have to be proficient in playing (and crafting/repairing) at least one instrument, to be good singers and graceful dancers, and to teach their skills and knowledge whenever possible. They use any opportunity to learn and compose new music, as well as experimenting with new recipes and spices. Eilistraeens who go adventuring are encouraged to travel and bring joy wherever they go, be it by kind acts, by sharing their arts, stories, and performances, or by trying out recipes to delight those met along the way. They strive to spark passion into people, so that no moment is lost to the grayness of bore and melancholy, and resignation may always be overcome.

Such focus on arts and beauty is not just hollow optimism. Suffering is well known to both the goddess and her followers, but the act of fully, freely embracing the beauty that the world has to offer can still resonate with the dark elves (despite being absent or corrupted in the Lolthite society). Many unconsciously feel the need to rediscover such joys, which become a way to lure the drow to a life that they have forgotten, and to speak to that part of them that was silenced by Lolth's hatred. Song and music, as well as dance, are also a powerful mean of self-expression, and mark the rhythm of the daily life in the Eilistraeen communities. Even the iconic magic of the Sword Dancers, the Spellsong, is based on music capable of healing, creating and protecting, and their distinctive fighting style relies on a series of evasive, graceful movements that combine dance and swordplay into one.

Finally, the clerics of the Dark Maiden are also known to be proficient smiths who specialize in the making of blades, and skilled users of the Dancing Swords (for the symbolic resonance of these items with their goddess' portfolio).

Mechanically speaking, in 5e D&D a College of Swords bard whose spell selection focuses on healing, support, enchantment and illusion, would be a good fit to represent a Sword Dancer of Eilistraee (while the rest of her clergy is well represented by the Nature, Life, and Light domains that they get. Mearls' Beauty domain is thematically perfect too). In 3e D&D there was a prestige class for it; in 2e, there was a cleric kit.

Militant Orders[edit | edit source]

Darksong Knights
A paladin of Eilistraee

The Darksong Knights are an order of elite warriors and paladins who serve as a bulwark between the followers of Eilistraee and the zealot crusaders and the fiendish servants of Lolth. Similarly to the Sword Dancers, their fighting style is graceful and acrobatic, but they favor heavier armor than their priestly counterpart, and receive specialized training aimed to face the creatures of the lower planes. The Darksong Knights make a sacred oath, swearing to uphold the teachings of the Dark Maiden, and to tirelessly hunt the Spider Queen's handmaidens—the yochlol—as well as all demons. Fiends caused the downfall of the drow in the ancient times, and no matter what tricks they use to corrupt mortals, the Darksong Knights give them no quarter. They are especially active in southern Faerun, the lands once occupied by ancient Ilythiir. In mechanical terms, in 5e D&D this order would likely include Oath of the Ancient, Vengeance and Devotion paladins, and probably also Horizon Walker rangers. In 3e D&D, there was a substitute levels option for the fighter class to represent the Darksong Knights.

Silverhair Knights

Emissaries of redemption, the Silverhair Knights are an order of paladins focused on bringing any and all drow the choice to be free from Lolth. Like the Darksong Knights, they swear to uphold the teachings of Eilistraee, but focus on mercy and compassion. They take an oath to never willingly kill those who can be redeemed, especially the drow (they can use lethal means only if that means saving more lives; even then, a quest for atonement is needed), and--among the followers of Eilistraee--they are the most dedicated to the missions to reach for their kin in the Underdark and bring them to the light. The Silverhair Knights approach the potential converts with caution, by taking many careful steps to make them feel as safe and comfortable as possible, and offer them the path to a life free of endless strife and paranoia. The Silverhair Knights personally escort the drow to safety, and constantly offer their protection to all followers of Eilistraee, especially the new converts, in order to show that the life that the goddess wishes for her children is not a fairy tale, but a concrete possibility. In extreme cases, these paladins can perform a risky ritual that allows them to take the cruelty and suffering experienced and inflicted by a creature upon themselves, facilitating the process of redemption (a skill that earned them the nickname of "Sin Eaters"). After the Second Sundering, Eilistraee herself often chooses to personally provide direct guidance to the members of this order. Mechanically speaking, in 5e D&D, the Oath of Redemption paladin would be a good fit for a Silverhair Knight; in 3e D&D they were a prestige class.

Internal Differences[edit | edit source]

Despite trying to uphold the teachings of their goddess, and despite working for good, the followers of Eilistraee are varied: while it's easier for a drow born on the surface to put the tenets of the faith in practice, converts have a much harder time. They come from a place where paranoia is the norm, and where every smile hides a threat; furthermore, on the surface, many people still react aggressively to seeing a drow. For those reasons, former Lolthites can be very jumpy, distrusting, and in some occasions even outright murderous (fearing that someone who found the location of a community could alert their people and then come to kill the drow). New converts (and even a few old timers) can also still display the sexism common among the Lolthites.

Rituals[edit | edit source]

The first ever depiction of a holy rite of Eilistraee, from AD&D FR's "Drow of the Underdark"

The followers of Eilistraee practice many rituals, but the iconic form of worship is a nude dance (usually solitary, but sometimes in group) in a moonlit glade (or, lacking that, using any source of light--often a candle), in which they let out all the emotions of the day in a wordless message for the goddess to listen (called Evensong). Some say that this was created as fanservice (and, in part, it likely was) but it can also have a fitting function. The life in a Lolthite society is based on constructs, falsehood, deceit; conflict is constant and trust and spontaneity are taboos. A nude dance in which the drow let out all their emotions is the act of laying down the mask and feeling free to just be themselves and embrace life. Furthermore, in a society of perpetual conflict, where trust is taboo, vulnerability must be hidden. To be free to dance in the nude with others (or while invoking a goddess) is to be free to show one own's vulnerability—it means that vulnerability is sometimes acceptable, forming a bond of trust, and being accepted as a whole. All of this is surely helpful to "heal" a drow who escapes the abuse of Lolth and her society.

In any case, despite their iconic dances, unlike many seem to believe, the followers of Eilistraee are not nudists. They wear the most practical garb for a given occasion and armor (generally light) in battle.

A peculiar ritual is the Run, celebrated at least once per year (and lasting at least one month and a half). The faithful venture to places where they are strangers, reaching communities of elves and other races to bring them gifts, food, and their art, showing that the drow can be rightful citizens of the surface world and establishing new friendships.

When a follower of the Dark Maiden who hasn't fallen in battle and who has reached old age feels that their moment is nearing, Eilistraee sings her call to them. The follower goes out in the moonlight to dance to the music, until the goddess herself joins them in a ritual known as "The Last Dance". As the two revel together, the worshipper becomes more and more youthful, the silvery radiance of the Dark Maiden surrounds them, and they slowly fade away. In the end, only the radiance can be seen, and the voices of the goddess and her faithful sing together a tender yet melancholic song.

Vandria Gilmadrith[edit | edit source]

Vandria Gilmadrith
Aliases Lady of Grief, Steelheart
Alignment Lawful Neutral
Divine Rank Intermediate Goddess
Pantheon Seldarine
Portfolio War, Justice, Vigilance, Decision, Grief
Domains 3E: Law, Protection, War
5E: Grave, War
Home Plane Arvandor
Worshippers Lawful Elves
Favoured Weapon Longbow

Meanwhile back in "Core" D&D, in something similar to a "What if?" scenario, we have Vandria, who is also the daughter of Corellon and Lolth (no Araushnee in core D&D), but an elven goddess rather than a drow one (though her hair, often worn in a long braid, is white due to her dark elven heritage). In her story, before Lolth's betrayal, she was a free spirit like most elven gods, and lived enjoying the beauty of Arvandor. When Lolth schemed against Corellon, she contributed to the defense of Arvandor like Eilistraee, but her arrows weren't redirected to her father's heart by her mother's magic. After the battle, Vandria didn't follow Lolth in exile; she instead resolved to become the elven goddess of vigilance and war, patroness of elven guardians and warriors. Due to having gained the portfolio of War, Vandria can feel every wound and death suffered by the elves in battle, alongside the pain for the loss of loved ones due to conflict. For that reason, and for the tragedy brought by her mother's betrayal, her carefree personality has turned into a grim and somber attitude, embodying the ability of the elves to adapt to strife. Her focus is on preventing wars, or making them as quick and bloodless as possible when unavoidable.

Vandria's followers participate strongly with the town militias, and they have strongholds hidden all over the place. They also act as arbitrators as diplomats because they are likely to be the most even handed amongst elves.

Fanart[edit | edit source]