Drow Pantheon

[Fox²]

Drow Pantheon

Despite what Lolth's priests might claim, drow deities other than the Spider Queen do exist in what is collectively known as the Dark Seldarine.

• Eilistraee
  
• Ghaunadaur
  
• Kiaransalee
  
• Lolth
  
• Selvetarm
  
• Vhaeraun
  

[Fox²]

Eilistraee
The Dark Maiden, Lady of the Dance

Lesser Deity
Symbol: Nude long-haired female drow dancing with a silver bastard sword in front of a full moon
Home Plane: Arvandor (also the Demonweb Pits)
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Portfolio: Song, beauty, dance, swordwork, hunting, moonlight
Worshipers: Good-aligned drow, hunters, surface-dwelling elves

Domains: Chaos, Charm, Drow, Elf, Good, Moon, Travel, [Portal]

Nature Deity: No
Cleric Alignments: NG, CG, CN

Favored Weapon: "The Moonsword" (bastard sword)

The patron of good-aligned drow and those of that race who wish to live in the Realms Above in peace, Eilistraee (eil-iss-tray-yee) is a melancholy, moody deity. She is greatly angered by the evil of most drow but glad that some have worked their way free of the Spider Queen's web. Eilistraee is a lover of beauty and peace but is not averse to striking back against those who would harm her followers. She appears as an unclad, glossy-skinned drow woman of great height with ankle-length, sweeping hair of glowing silver.

The church of Eilistraee is little known and poorly understood by inhabitants of the surface world. Few among the surface-dwelling races give any credence to rumors of good-aligned drow emerging from the Underdark. The possibility of a deity who supports such folk is simply beyond the ken of nonelves, who generally dismiss such talk as idle rumor or a plot by evil drow raiders.

Most elves willfully ignore such talk, uncomfortable for what it might mean to the central tenets of their culture: Dogma teaches that the Crown Wars were primarily caused by the unbridled evil of the ancestral drow. Only among like-minded groups active in the same regions as the church of Eilistraee has the faith begun to be recognized for the hope that it holds out. In particular, the Harpers have begun secretly supporting the church of the Dark Maiden and work toward the day when it is fully accepted throughout Faerun.

Clerics of the Dark Maiden pray for spells at night, after moonrise, singing them whenever possible. Their rituals revolve around a hunt followed by a feast, dancing (wearing as little clothing as possible), and a Circle of Song. This last is held preferably in a wooded glade on a moonlit night, in which the worshipers sit and dance by turns in a circle, each one leading a song. Worshipers of Eilistraee try to let out all the gathered emotions of the day with an evensong. This is a personal thing, often wordless, and done in private. Clerics of the Dark Maiden who have the coin to do so are expected to hire any strangle minstrel or bard they meet for a song or two; lay worshipers are encouraged but not required to do so.

Eilistraee's church observes a number of festivals. The Sword Dance is a ritual of shedding a small amount of blood and invoking Eilistraee's favor to prevent a blade from breaking or rusting for the next three months. The High Hunt, celebrated at least once each season, is a nocturnal pursuit of a dangerous beast or monster, led by clerics of Eilistraee. By tradition, the hunters may use any bladed weapons and wear anything--except the clerics, who go naked, each carrying only a single sword. If the quarry is slain, the celebrants chant prayers and perform a circle dance to the deity. At least once a year, clerics of Eilistraee undertake a Run. Those who are not drow blacken their bodies with natural dyes and oils, and all, drow or not, boil certain leaves and berries to make their hair silvery. They then go wandering on the surface world, trusting to their music, kind ways, and sword skills to keep from being slain on sight. They go where they are strangers, making an effort to seek out elven communities, and bring them game, succor, and helping hands. They try to learn new songs, music, and sword ways, and do not come to preach their faith or make a mark for themselves.

In the end, all clerics of the Dark Maiden who do not die in battle hold their greatest ritual, the Last Dance. In their old age, they hear Eilistraee singing to them by night, calling them to her. When the song feels right, they go out unclad under the moonlit sky and dance--never to be seen again. Those who have observed such dances say that the deity appears and sings overhead, and the aged cleric begins to dance more effortlessly, looking younger and younger. Her hair begins to glow with the same radiance as the Dark Maiden's, and then she becomes slowly translucent, fading away as the dance goes on. In the end, only a silvery radiance is seen, with two voices--the deity and her cleric--raised together in melancholy, tender song.

Eilistraee's clerics often multiclass as fighters, bards, rangers, or sword dancers.

History/Relationships:

The daughter of Corellon Larethian and Araushnee (who later became Lolth), and sister of Vhaeraun, Eilistraee was banished along with the other drow deities for her (inadvertent) role in the war against the Seldarine. Despite being absolved of any crime, Eilistraee insisted upon this punishment from her reluctant father, because she foresaw that the dark elves would need a beacon of good within their reach. Her allies are the Seldarine, Mystra, Selune, and the good deities of the Underdark races; her enemies are the evil deities of the Underdark, especially the rest of the drow pantheon.

Dogma:

Be always kind, save in battle with evil. Encourage happiness everywhere. Learn and teach new songs, dances, and the flowing dance of skilled sword work. Promote harmony between the races. Befriend strangers, shelter those without homes, and feed the hungry. Repay rudeness with kindness. Repay violence with swift violence so that those that cause it are swiftly dealt with. Aid drow in distress, and give them the Lady's message: "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."

Clergy and Temples:

Whenever and wherever possible, faithful of Eilistraee encourage drow to return to the surface world. They work to promote harmony between drow and surface-dwelling races, to establish drow as rightful, nonevil inhabitants of Faerun. They nurture beauty, music, the craft of making musical instruments, and song wherever they find it; assist hunters and hunting; and help others in acts of kindness whenever they see ways to do so. Clerics are expected to be skilled in hunting and in playing at least one of the Dark Maiden's favored instruments (horn, flute, or harp). They must be adequate singers as well as fit, graceful dancers. They gather songs and musical knowledge constantly, and acquire training in the use of the sword when they can.

Temples of the Dark Maiden are typically established in the mouths of dark caverns and in dim forests on the surface world from which her clerics can venture forth at night, to brave the moonlight. It is rare for clergy of Eilistraee to found a temple below the surface. The Dark Maiden's clergy seek out pristine, natural sites that need little modification. These places of worship are developed much like those dedicated to the Seldarine. Temple complexes typically include a glade in which to dance, offering an unobstructed view of the moon, and a sheltered place away from the light of day (often an access tunnel to the Underdark). Other common features are a thick tree canopy, a lively freshwater stream, a forge and smithy, and a vein of iron or some other metal suitable for the crafting of swords. However, the simplest shrine of the Dark Maiden requires naught but a moonlit glade and a song (audible or imagined) that draws one into a dance.

Clerics of Eilistraee wear their hair long and dress practically for whatever they are currently doing. For rituals, they wear as little as possible. Otherwise, they tend to wear soft leathers for hunting, aprons while cooking, and--rarely--armor when battle is expected. When relaxing, they favor silvery, diaphanous gowns. Most clerics prefer holy symbols of silver, typically worn as pins or hung around the neck on slender silver or mithral chains.

The church of Eilistraee has little in the way of formal hierarchy. Its congregants tend to gather in small, independent bands in deep forests across Faerun. One individual is acknowledged as the high cleric of the faith, however. Qilue Veladorn, Chosen of Eilistraee, Chosen of Mystra, and one of the Seven Sisters. Qilue's authority is a subtle one, her words taken by most members of the faith as advice from a wise elder sister.

[Fox²]

Ghaunadaur
That Which Lurks, the Elder Eye

Lesser Drow Deity
Symbol: Purplish eye on purple, violet, and black circles
Home Plane: Demonweb Pits
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Portfolio: Oozes, slimes, jellies, outcasts, ropers, rebels
Worshipers: Aboleths, drow, fighters, oozes, outcasts, ropers

Domains: Chaos, Drow, Evil, [Cavern], [Hatred], [Slime]

Nature Deity: No
Cleric Alignments: CN, NE, CE

Favored Weapon: An amorphous tentacle (warhammer)

Ghaunadaur is unpredictable by human standards. It may aid worshipers who merely pay lip service to its rituals–even expending great power to grant permanent magical boons– but may also devour or maim them without warning. Ghaunadaur enjoys watching the hunting and devouring activities of large horrible monsters, and the suffering they cause. Ghaunadaur is silent and terrible when outside the inner planes, but old records tell of gibbering bestial language spoken in the deity's great court of mingled mud and gelatia pools. Ghaunadaur only communicates telepathically with blunt and simple communications.

Outside a few drow and aboleth cities, the church of Ghaunadaur consists of a handful of scattered cults wholly dominated by a single individual. Clerics of Ghaunadaur are to do whatever pleases Ghaunadaur best and serve the Elder Eye absolutely. Clerics of Ghaunadaur have simple duties they are to ensure, by force or threat, that a ready supply of sacrifices reaches Ghaunadaur's altars. The god rewards them with spells and magic items for their success in this. Most of all, Ghaunadaur delights in creatures that offer themselves to him without resistance (regardless of whether these sacrifices have been charmed or otherwise coerced by its clergy). Clerics who can bring offerings to the Elder Eye's altars often are highly valued and favoured by the deity. Clerics of Ghaunadaur are encouraged to become familiar with the use and manufacture of acids, poisons, and alchemist's fire.

Clerics of Ghaunadaur pray for their spells once per day at a time of imagined significance to the local cult. Ghaunadaur expects such prayers of adulation and praise to be accompanied by a sacrifice. If live sacrifices cannot be procured that often, the Elder Eye accepts offerings of bones and food, burned in oil, as braziers of perfumed incense if also burned. If the worshiper is unable to procure such offerings, he must pray while holding one hand in an open flame (without magical protection). In any place of worship to Ghaunadaur, all cloth furnishings and garments worn by faithful are to be of hues pleasing to Ghaunadaur's eye, such as shades of purple, red, black, and metallic colours. Many clerics multiclass as enchanters or fighters.

History/Relationship:

Ghaunadaur is an ancient deity, said to have emerged from the primordial ooze. Venerated by the largest slimes, oozes, slugs, and other crawling things, some of which are said to possess intelligence, albeit alien, Ghaunadaur struck most of them mad in a fit of fury for some transgression and stole their intellects. As a result, many of its worshipers, and most of its power, ceased to exist. Only in recent millennia have evil beings seeking an alternative to established deities begun to worship That Which Lurks, and it is only the veneration of drow disaffected with Lolth that places him within the drow pantheon. Ghaunadaur has no allies. He is opposed by every deity with a presence in the Underdark as well as Malar and the various members of the Seldarine.

Dogma:

All creatures have their place, and all are fit to wield power. Those who hunt weed out the weak and strengthen the stock of all. Those who rebel or who walk apart find new ways and try new things and do most to advance their races. Creatures of power best house the energy of life, which Ghaunadaur reveres and represents. Make sacrifices to the Eye, persuade others to sacrifice themselves to Ghaunadaur or in service of the Eye, further knowledge and fear of Ghaunadaur, and in the end give yourself to Ghaunadaur in unresisting self-sacrifice. Convert all beings to the worship of Ghaunadaur. Slay all clergy of other faiths, plundering their temples and holdings for wealth to better your own lot and to further the worship of Ghaunadaur.

[Fox²]

Kiaransalee
Lady of the Dead, the Revenancer, the Vengeful Banshee

Drow Demigod
Symbol: Female drow hand wearing silver rings
Home Plane: Demonweb Pits
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Portfolio: Undead, vengeance
Worshipers: Drow, necromancers, undead

Domains: Chaos, Death, Drow, Evil, [Retribution], [Undeath]

Nature Deity: No
Cleric Alignments: CN, NE, CE

Favored Weapon: "Cold Heart" (dagger)

Kiaransalee (kee-uh-ran-sa-lee.) is cruel, twisted and consumed by thoughts of vengeance. The Lady of the Dead descended into madness long ago, but she retains her twisted cunning and clear recollection of every slight done to her--real or imagined. The Revenancer is powerful and swift to anger, and she schemes dark revenges against all who have wronged her. Kiaransalee prefers mindless company of the undead (whom she can manipulate at will) to sentient beings capable of individual thought. She prefers to solve problems herself rather than trust someone else to do justice to her vision.
The church of Kiaransalee is organised into tightly regimented cells, but with little over all organisation of faith. Kiaransalee's clerics are secretive and usually found in small drow communities or specially enclaves. They are the agents of vengeance, plotting revenge on those who have slain, harmed or insulted the clergy in anyway. They also undertake regular slaying missions to acquire corpses for animation, and take a prominent role in persecuting slaves.
Clerics of Kiaransalee pray for their spells at midnight, when the spirits are most restless in their graves. While each cleric performs a handful of minor devotions to Kiaransalee every month, they venerate her on a single annual holy day--the Graverending--celebrated each Midwinter Eve. The Graverending is celebrated individually, with each cleric animating as many undead creatures as she can. All such undead--known as Vengeance Hunters--are consumed with thoughts of revenge on their killers and unerringly seek them out over the next 24 hours. If destroyed, a Vengeance Hunter does not rise again. Vengeance Hunters return to their graves, if possible, once 24 have passed since their animation or once they exacted their revenge.

History/Relationships:

Kiaransalee was once a mortal, a powerful dark elven necromancer-queen from another plane. She has long been an unwilling vassal of Lolth, capable of only small acts or rebellion. In recent years, Kiaransalee seized the realm of Orcus, a demon lord of the undead, and is now consumed with efforts to eliminate him every last trace of Orcus in any form. Kiaransalee is loosely allied with many deities in hopes of loosening Lolth's web, including Hoar, Velsharoon, Malar, and Vhaeraun. Her foes include Deep Duerra, Dumathoin, Eilistraee, Kelemvor, Laduguer, and Jergal.

Dogma:

Death comes to all and cruel vengeance will be exacted on those who waste their lives on the petty concerns of this existence. True power comes only of unquestioning servitude of the once-dead. Hunt, slay, and animate those who scorn the Revenancer's power, and answer any slight a thousand-fold, so that all may know the coming power of Kiaransalee.

[Fox²]

Lolth
Queen of Spiders, Queen of the Demonweb Pits

Intermediate Deity
Symbol: Black spider with female drow head hanging from a spider web
Home Plane: Demonweb Pits
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Portfolio: Assassins, chaos, darkness, drow, evil, spiders
Worshipers: Drow and depraved elves, sentient spiders

Domains: Chaos, Drow, Evil, Darkness, Destruction, Trickery, [Spider]

Nature Deity: No
Cleric Alignments: CN, NE, CE

Favored Weapon: A spider (dagger)

Cruel and capricious, Lolth (loath) embodies the absolute evil of the drow. She is malicious in her dealings with others and coldly vicious in a fight, coveting the power of deities worshiped by the surface races. Some believe her to be insane, because the Queen of Spiders pits her own worshipers against one another in an endless struggle for "station." She can be kind and aids those she fancies, but she thrives on death, destruction, and torture--including those of her own worshipers who have displeased her. Although she can appear in the form of a giant black widow spider with crimson eyes, Lolth's true form is that of a human-sized, exquisitely beautiful female drow.

The Queen of Spiders is the subject of terrifying legend among most surface dwellers and seen as virtually synonymous with the greatly feared drow. Few elves are even willing to discuss their deep-dwelling kin, let alone the dark deity who is blamed in large part for their depravity. Only the drow clerics of Eilistraee are even willing to speak of Lolth, and their fury at her enslavement of their kin excess even that of other elven subraces. In the Underdark, her church is a well-known evil, hated by dwarves, svirfneblin, and other races for the cruelty of her clerics. Dark elves who venerate other evil deities, as well as all male drow who pay her homage, revile the church of the Spider Queen for its power--though they would seize such power for themselves if they could.

Clerics of Lolth pray for spells after waking from trance or before retiring to trance. They are always female. Lolth requires regular homage from her clerics: submission in prayer, plus offerings. Lolth's aid requires sacrifices, traditionally the blood of drow faithful or captured foes, spilled with a spider-shaped knife whose eight descending legs are blades. Ceremonies sacrificing surface elves are performed monthly during nights of the full moon as deliberate affronts to Sehanine, Lolth's hated rival. Rituals customarily take place among women only, in a sacred room or area, but those requiring extraordinary power or a public display may be celebrated in the open and in mixed company. The most powerful ceremonies defy description and are seldom seen by nondrow.

Rituals to Lolth involve the burning of precious oils and incense, live offerings, and riches of all sorts, particularly gems. These are customarily placed in a bowl-shaped depression in a black altar or a burning brazier, from which black-and-red flames leap to consume the offerings. If the deity is angered, or impostors are present, the flames may also arc to consume other valuables, such as magic items, jewelry, and clothing. Large, important rituals customarily use eight braziers, to provide additional flame and to represent Lolth's eight legs.

Lolth allows herself to be contacted directly (such as with a commune spell) only when it pleases her to do so. Otherwise, the call reaches her servant yochlols (amorphous demons able to take the form of an elf or spider). When Lolth is displeased, she sends a yochlol or a myrlochar (a spider demon of lesser rank) to attack the cleric. Lolth's clerics sometimes multiclass as arachnes, fighters, or sorcerers.

History/Relationships:

Lolth was once Araushnee, the consort of Corellon Larethian, patron of artisans, the deity of elven destiny, and--later, by Corellon's decree--the keeper of those elves who shared her darkly beautiful features. The Weaver of Destiny bore her lover two children, Eilistraee and Vhaeraun, before she betrayed him and tried to invade Arvandor, along with Ghaunadaur, Malar, and many other fell deities. For her crimes, Araushnee was banished to the Abyss in the form of a spider demon, where she took the name Lolth. As the original patron of the dark elves, the Queen of Spiders established herself as the unchallenged ruler of the drow pantheon. Lolth finds it convenient to ally herself on occasion with Loviatar and Malar, and, since the Time of Troubles, to masquerade as Moander, an ancient deity of rot, corruption, and decay. Lolth's foes include the Seldarine (the elven pantheon), Ghaunadaur, Eilistraee, nondrow Underdark deities, and Gruumsh.

Dogma:

Fear is as strong as steel, while love and respect are soft and useless. Convert or destroy nonbeliever drow. Weed out the weak and the rebellious. Destroy impugners of the faith. Sacrifice males, slaves, and those of other races who ignore the commands of Lolth or her clerics. Raise children to praise and fear Lolth, each family should produce at least one cleric to serve her. Questioning Lolth's motives or wisdom is a sin, as is aiding nondrow against the drow, or ignoring Lolth's commands for the sake of a lover. Revere arachnids of all kinds; those who kill or mistreat a spider must die.

Clergy and Temples:

Clerics of Lolth are the rulers, police forces, judges, juries, and executioners of drow society. They wield power in keeping with the cruel and capricious nature of Lolth herself, and manipulate (often by brute force) their fellow drow to behave as their deity. The ultimate aim of every cleric is to achieve and keep the favor of Lolth. They believe that the spirits of those who die in her favor go to the Demonweb Pits, where they become yochlol and other servant creatures, while those in Lolth's disfavor pass into torment on another plane somewhere. (Accursed souls may someday return to Faerun as snakes or spiders; drow beliefs on such matters often change with time and location.) Although she often rewards treachery and cruelty, Lolth does not look kindly on those who let personal grudges and vengeance bring defeat or shame to their House, clan, city, or band.

Drow noble Houses have their own private temples, and every drow city ruled by the church of Lolth has at least one large, open public gathering area for large rituals, calls to war, and the like. Most cities also have a grand temple to the Spider Queen, used for training clerics. In every temple, despite large differences in size, opulence, and importance, certain constants apply. Inner chambers are for the worship and business of Lolth, including most spell casting. These chambers are always shrouded in darkness, except for the radiance involved in spell casting and rituals. Antechambers are set aside for war councils and most business wherein clerics meet with drow males and outsiders. Most temples have guardian creatures, often hidden and occasionally magical in nature, which usually include spiders of all sorts. Statuettes of the Spider Queen, usually worked of black stone, are present in all temple chambers. Marble and obsidian are favored materials for statuary and temple furniture. There are always large braziers, ornately carved with spider shapes, and at least one altar of black stone.

When participating in rituals, clerics of Lolth work unclad or wear black robes trimmed with dark red and purple (lesser or novitiate clerics instead wear dark purple or red trimmed with black). In some cities, they wear ornate helms carved to resemble writhing spiders, while in others heads are always left uncovered. Jewelry consists of spider medallions and similar pieces, all made of platinum. Clerics prefer to display either a platinum disk at least 3 inches in diameter with Lolth's holy symbol embossed in black enamel or a platinum representation of it, on a platinum or mithral chain.

Chaotic in the extreme, the church of Lolth has little formal hierarchy outside that imposed by its most powerful members and shaped by the will of Lolth. In drow cities ruled by clerics of the Spider Queen, such as fabled Menzoberranzan, the seniormost clergy also lead the most powerful drow noble Houses and rule through a noble council led by a single Matron Mother. In other cities, there may not be a single ruling council or a single ruling cleric. In most cases, the hierarchy of the church is inextricably linked with the theocracy of the associated city.

In 1384 DR, Lolth's power was diminished to that of an Intermediate Deity after Zuggtmoy ascended to godhood, claiming Moander's divine realm and assuming Moander's cultists who had been worshiping Lolth masquerading as Moander.

[Fox²]

Selvetarm
Champion of Loth, the Spider That Waits

Drow Demigod
Symbol: Spider on a crossed sword and mace
Home Plane: Demonweb Pits
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Portfolio: Drow warriors
Worshipers: Barbarians, drow, fighters, those who like to kill, warriors

Domains: Chaos, Drow, Evil, War, [Spider]

Nature Deity: No
Cleric Alignments: CN, NE, CE

Favored Weapon: "Venommace" (heavy mace)

Selvetarm (sell-veh-tarm), cruel and malicious by nature, cares only for battle and destruction. The Champion of Lolth harbours a deep hatred for all living things, including his dominating mistress, and the only beauty he can appreciate is a well honed and deadly fighting style. Selvetarm can exhibit a great deal of patience while waiting for prey to fall into an ambush he has set, but he prefers the wild abandon of battle frenzy to a careful and deliberate attack.

The church of Selvetarm barely exists as such, largely serving as the military arm of the church of Lolth. Selvetarm's faithful spend most of their days guarding fortifications and honing their fighting skills. Many spend their time training other warriors in the art of war. While the selvetargtlin are rightly known for their skill in battle, the teachings of the faith place little emphasis on tactics or strategy and thus few members of Selvetarm's clergy achieve high military rank.

Clerics of Selvetarm pray for their spells immediately after the first battle of the day, or after military practice if there is no actual battle. Selvetarm's faithful are expected to observe the rituals of Lolth, as directed by her clerics. Selvetarm does expect all who take up arms in his name to cry out his name in the bloodlust of battle as they deliver the killing blow to a foe. Since there is always the chance that any attack will be a fatal one, the selvetargtlin tend to constantly scream out their deity's name during a battle. Many clerics multiclass as fighters or barbarians.

History/Relationship:

Selvetarm is the offspring of an ill-fated tryst between Vhaeraun and Zandilar (now an aspect of Sharess). He walked a solitary way for many centuries, and was nearly turned to good by Eilistraee when Lolth convinced him to battle Zanassu, a demon lord with a fondness for spiders. When Selvetarm defeated and absorbed the demon, he was overwhelmed by Zanassu's evil and fell into Lolth's mental traps. He now serves her utterly. He is allied only with Lolth and Garagos and opposes almost every other deity.

Dogma:

War is the ultimate expression of individual power, and only through battle and death can you realise the respect of your comrades. Hone your fighting skills constantly and teach those who will follow into the fray. Never give or receive quarter, and hope to die amid the bloodlust of battle against overwhelming odds.

[Fox²]

Vhaeraun
The Masked Lord, the Masked God of Night

Lesser Drow Deity
Symbol: A pair of black glass lenses that form a mask
Home Plane: Demonweb Pits
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Portfolio: Thievery, drow males, evil activity on the surface
Worshipers: Assassins, male drow and half-drow, poisoners, shadowdancers, rogues, thieves

Domains: Chaos, Drow, Evil, Travel, Trickery

Nature Deity: No
Cleric Alignments: CN, NE, CE

Favored Weapon: "Shadowflash" (shortsword)

Vhaeraun (Vay-rawn) is vain, proud, and sometimes haughty. He bears grudges of legendary length and never forgets slights or deceptions. Any underhanded means and trickery are acceptable to him if they further his aims or are done in his service--but if others so treat him or his people, it is a deep sin that cannot go unpunished. He actively involves himself in drow affairs and can be easily convinced to send a minion to assist the work of his clerics if the proper rituals are performed and the need is genuine.

The church of Vhaeraun is loosely organized; its adherents are bound to largely autonomous cells. Vhaeraun's clergy is nearly exclusively male and practices passive opposition to Lolth's clerics. They are also active in the surface world, and some preach a heresy of the unity of elven races and their need to work together for dominion. They specialise in intrigue, trickery, and treachery and foment disobedience among males. In drow communities, Vhaeraun's clerics often disguise their allegiance, for obvious reasons. Contact and marriage with other elven races is encouraged. Half-drow usually favour their drow parent, and Vhaeraun sees this inexorably raising drow numbers in surface lands. Every cleric works to establish some sort of permanent drow settlement on the surface, and either support that settlement's needs personally, or (preferably) make it self supporting. Poison use, manufacture, and experimentation is also common. Especially effective spells, poisons, and tactics devised by a cleric are to be shared with the Masked Lord and through him all clergy.

Clerics of Vhaeraun pray for their spells at dusk, before skulking into the shadows. The most important attacks, negotiations, and other activities of the clergy must occur at night. Clerics of Vhaeraun utter prayers to the Masked God of Night whenever they accomplish something to further his aims. Offerings of the wealth and weapons of those they vanquish (enemies of the drow, or regalia of female drow clerics) are to be melted in black, bowl shaped altars. Offerings of magic and wealth are made regularly. The more value, the more Vhaeraun is pleased, though he favours daily diligence more than rare, huge hauls. Midwinter Night, known to Vhaeraun's followers as the Masked Lords Embrace, is the most sacred time of the year to the followers of the Masked Lord. This annual holy day is celebrated by the Masked Lord's followers with daylong introspective rituals of total sensory deprivation. Each Worshipper is expected to cloak themselves in a region of magical darkness and sit or stand at the middle of the effect for a full 24 hours while contemplating Vhaeraun's teachings and dreaming up schemes to advance the Masked Lord's goals in the coming year. All followers of Vhaeraun who wish to perform this ritual are granted the ability to employ their darkness spell-like ability with the necessary extended duration. In the Night Above, nights of the new moon are considered sacred to his followers. Such occasions are observed with midnight stag hunts that range over miles of shadowy woodlands. Pack of Vhaeraun worshipers, mounted on riding lizards brought up from the Underdark, run down a stag then sacrifice its rack of antlers and still-beating heart to the Masked Lord in dark rites that pervert the ancient ways of the surface elves.

History/Relationships:

Vhaeraun is the son of Corellon and Araushnee (who become Lolth), brother to Eilistraee. Cast out when his and his mother's treachery was discovered, he longs for the surface world he was once free to travel. Allied with Mask, Shar, and Talona, he opposes the other Underdark gods, including his sister. His feud with Lolth is subtle, as he lacks the power to oppose her directly.

Dogma:

The shadows of the Masked Lord must cast off the Tyranny of the Spider Queen and forcibly reclaim their birthright and rightful place in the Night Above. The existing drow matriarchies must be smashed, and the warring practices of twisted Lolth done away with, so the drow are welded into a united people, not a squabbling gaggle of rival Houses, clans and aims. Vhaeraun will lead his followers into a society where the drow once again reign supreme over the other, lesser races, and there is equality between males and females.