The Queen of Spiders is the subject 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 exceeds even that of the 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 non-drow.
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.
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 non-drow 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.
Physical Description
Lloth can appear as a massive Black Widow spider with glowing red or lavender eyes or, as an exquisitly beautiful drow woman.
Mental characteristics
Cruel and capricious, Lolth (loalth) 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 chaos, preferring to cause death, destruction, and torture.
Social
Lolth has sworn vengeance against Corellon Larethian
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