The faith held by most Drow
Shaytas the Eternal King | Lolth the Queen of Spiders | Vhaerun the Masked Lord | Eilistraê the Moon Witch |
|---|---|---|---|
Shaytas the Eternal King of the Underdark, your resplendent Ashen Spirit-Tree stands as a monument to our faith and our renown. Master of Death, Undeath, and Dark, may your power guide your people to glory. | Cunning Lolth, the Webweaver and Matron of Spiders, highest among our churches. In your grasp we live and breathe, your ambitions sets in us a passion and desire. Teach us cruelly so that we may cruelly teach. | Masked Lord of Shadow Vhaerun, whose arm strikes above the Underdark. Renowned son of Shaytas and Lolth, your visage is feared by those above. Make your war on the kivvin in Lolth's name that we may tend our own bidding in the dark. | Moon Witch in the Dark, beware the Lady of the Dance lest she lead you astray. |
Shaytas is the Eternal King of the Drow. His betrayal of the Fae Lords caused the Drow to be cursed never to live on the surface, and still he rules over them in the dark. Shaytas holds no church, but his holy order, the Swords of the Eternal, enact his will in the Underdark. | The Church of Lolth is the most powerful among the Drow Eparchy faith, its all-female clerics having a strong grasp on daily Drow life. Her hold on the Drow is near absolute, molding their society to fit her desires. | Vhaerun is a war god, and his Church the second strongest among the Drow Eparchy. Under the yoke of Lolth, many see his church only as a military arm of her's. | The Church of Eilistraê is the smallest of the Drow Eparchy. Her worship is outlawed and persecuted by Lolth, despising her daughter for her ambition to lead the Drow away from her. |
The Drow Eparchy, or Aôlyth'ri faith, is the faith of the Drow people. Their highest deity and Eternal King is Shaytas, who led them against the other Fae Lords and ensured their destiny in the Underdark. While Shaytas holds the highest position, the faith is dominated by the Church of Lolth.
The Drow Eparchy is divided into Churches, one for each of their deities. The strongest church by far is that of Lolth, which controls most Drow settlements. Under the dominion of Lolth, the other churches power is limited.
A follower of the faith is called an aôlythi in the Drow tongue, or an eparchist in common.
Ideals/Tenets
Bound Eternal to Our King. We are eternally bound to the will of Our King, that we should hold dominion over the dark places of this world. All Drow who are not faithful must be converted or destroyed.
Hold the Ambition of Lolth in Your Heart. Dark Queen Lolth instills in us the ambition to rise above all others. Strive to live up to her will, no matter the cruelty to others.
Fear and Strength. Fear is as strong as steel, while love and respect are soft useless feelings that none can lean on. All weak and rebellious Drow must be weeded out.
Obey the Order of Our Faith. Live in obedience to the Order of the Eparch. All who are weak of faith deserve to be destroyed. Our progeny are brought up as loyal servants of the Eparchy and each family should send atleast one child to be a servant of the church.
Drow Superior. The Drow are marked by our gods as the greatest beings, let no other hold sway over you and disregard their word.
Sacred Arachnids. Spiders are the sacred beings of Lolth and are to be revered. The sin of causing one harm means death.
Holy Places, Principal Temples
Temple of the Eternal King. The temple at the base of Shaytas great ashen spirit-tree.
Holy Orders, Organisations
Swords of the Eternal.
Handmaidens of the Spider Queen.
Symbolism and Worship
The Drow Eparchy are symbolised by a spider for Lolth, but each church holds its separate symbol.