Nature of Lloth
From Atlantic Roleplay Wiki
Title: Nature of Lloth
Author: Izrem Verin'Vlos
Foreword: Since my birth I have been raised in the teachings of Lloth. She has been reffered to by many names. Lolth and Lorrath are the common others. Even confused with the "Sharess" (a sort of oversoul or energy. Much like a Lightbringer's "god" that has no true personality, but is an essense of "Good"), her true intent never fully understood by those not of her priesthood. Lloth would best be described as a prissy queen. This spreads well to her priestesses, which is the primary reason for my falling away from the Drow society, as well as my banishment to the Overdark (or the "surface" as top dwellers refer to it). As of such I no longer follow the laws of the Lloth Cannon.
However, my knowledge is nonetheless intact. It is useful to know what to say to another drow of that faith, if you need something out of them. I have long lost fear of commiting blasphemy by using Lloth as a tool of personal gain. If she does actually exist, then i'll be sure to make sure I live forever. Failing that, simply find sanctuary in Oblivion instead.
Lloth, The Spider Queen History:
Before Lloth, there was the Sharess. As explained in the foreword, she is something of a mystical entity. Lacking form or a personality, she is often reffered to more often as "fate". By praying to her, it was hoped that your "spiritual energies" would flow differently and more advantageously for you. Thus changing the negative "fate" you seemed destined to receive. During a particularly brutal civil war in the Underdark, a mage-queen, whose actual name has long been forgotten, rose to command one of the factions. Her army consisted of drow, slaves and most importantly, spiders.
Armies of spiders were used to subjugate all the other factions and unite them to her cause. For the first time in Drow history was there a total unification of the Drow people. Ascending to the highest throne, she became known as the first and last Spider Queen. Her power was absolute, therefore she expected absolute obedience to her. This lead to several groups uniting to plan a coup against her. Their plan was to rend the fabrics of space and pull demonic forces through the rends.
The end results of such actions are detailed in other writings (see, The Art of Summoning).
Unable to fully control the powers they unleashed, the leaders of the coup were corrupted by the daemons they sought to control. Bound to the daemons will, they began a wholesale attempt to possess the entire drow race. The Spider Queen, sent the best of her forces to destroy these rogues, but their powers overwhelmed and consumed even the best of her legions. It is here that the truth becomes sketchy, and it becomes difficult to remove all the myth. There are several "histories" on what happened next. Some say alchemists discovered some sort of high socerery that the queen used to increase her abilities. Some say the the Spider Queen discovered how to merge herself with the Sharess.
Whatever the cause, for a short time, the Queen held access to a nearly infinite well of power.
Using this, she used a number of very powerful spells to destroy the demonic forces and seal the demon rifts closed. However, in doing this, her body was unable to contain the energies that flowed through her. Her spirit passed beyond the physical realm never to be reformed. Whether she did it out of selfish reasonings or "a great love for her Drow children" is unknown. But it is the latter reasoning that has stuck with the society. With her sacrafice the drow people were now united and powerful. News of her transformation to energy soon became tales of her ascension to God[dess]hood. And from such tales came the formation of her cult.
Through manipulations of Drow politic and, ironically enough, demonic persuasion, this priestesshood, became the state religion of the Drow world. The Spider Queen was given the title "Lloth", which can be translated as "Greatest Mother" or even "Perfect Savior". Ever since those days, millenia ago, the Drow of the underdark have largely worshipped her. With no gods or goddesses competing with her, it seems she is likely to hold that position for millenia to come.
The Nature of Lloth Personality:
The Black Widow is the favorite incarnation of the Spider Queen and her Priestesses. Like the insect they gladly consume their own mates and destroy any creature that comes in their path.
While the true persoanlity of Lloth is long lost to history, the personality as painted by the Priestesses is one of sadism, arrogance and "feminism".
Sadistic tendencies:
-Enslavement and/or slaughter of non-Drow races is always a good thing.
-Pain is the best way to get close to divinity.
-Fear is a far greater asset then love/kindness.
Both for its ability to control and for its erotic high. Logic: Love lasts only as long as the other pleases you. Fear you can garner from anyone, and it can be the greatest pleasure in the world.
Prideful tendencies:
-All races are inferior to Drow (females specifically)
-Females are always superior to males in all aspects. Any abilities a male shows in excess of a females is an aberration and should be dealt with (painfully usually).
-All other gods, demi-gods or "higher powers" besides Lloth are false.
Feminism defined:
This word I found unique to several areas of human society. In certain cultures where females were considered inferior to males, this popped up.
In short it states that females are equal to, if not superior to, all males.
While there are other facets to it, that much is all that is neccessary to further understand the Priestesshood-defined Lloth.
Feministic tendencies:
-Males are nothing more then organic resources.
-Sexual relations with a male are primarily for reproductive purposes or short term pleasure.
-Sexual relations between woman is a higher form of relation.
-Males are only to hold positions of power as puppets.
Nature of Lloth Priestesshood:
The Priestesshood had several key purposes in Drow society. Dealing with heretics, carrying out sacrafices and rites to Lloth and prime ministers to all Drow who held political, economic or militiary power.
The priestesshood is the element that any Drow have problem with. Even males have learned to accept the innate supremacy of females.
However, it is these priestesses that lord their power over others so brutally that leads to any discontent. The High Priestess in the Underdark was a woman by the name of Ssinssrigg. The one I knew on the surface was named Faith. Both were brutal and underhanded. Both enjoyed the pain of others. And both reveled in their sexuality. These are the ones who controlled most aspects of Drow society. Little can be done without their ascent. Knowing this had lead them to some dearly insane activities which are best left untold. Let it be well enough said that they indulged in any activity they so desired.
We can only hope Lloth was now the Drow they claim she actually was.