Lolth
Lolth’s, the Goddess of Spiders and Lies and greater deity of The Lost, fall from grace is a cautionary tale of how ambition and power can corrupt even the noblest of beings. Her transformation into the Goddess of Spiders and Lies reshaped her followers, particularly the dark elves, into a society built on cunning, fear, and betrayal. Though she abandoned her original purpose of safeguarding the Weave, her influence remains strong in the shadows, serving as a dark reminder of the cost of unchecked ambition. Her web of lies continues to ensnare mortals and immortals alike, ensuring that her legacy of manipulation and deceit endures.
When the Elder Evils invaded during The Ruination, Lolth led her people and fought valiantly against the corrupted forces. Her cunning strategies and deep understanding of magic brought many victories against the Elder Spawn. During this time, she met Corellon, a fellow Icon of the elves, whose mastery of magic matched her own. Their shared connection to the Weave and mutual respect blossomed into a partnership and eventual marriage. Together, they stood as paragons of their people, symbols of elven resilience and power.
In the Divine era, Recognizing her dedication and skill, XXXXXXXXX offered Lolth the Rite of Rebirth. She accepted and passed, ascending to become the Goddess of the Weave. Her divine role was to safeguard and nurture the magical fabric of existence, ensuring it remained strong against future threats. Lolth’s power as the Goddess of the Weave allowed her to influence the flow of magic, making her a revered figure among spellcasters.
Her marriage to Corellon, now the God of Magic, symbolized unity and balance in the magical realms. Together, they worked tirelessly to restore and fortify the Weave after the damage inflicted by the Elder Evils.
During the War of the Divine, as the gods and mortals clashed, an Elder Evil forced its way out of the Void in a desperate bid to influence the conflict. Lolth confronted the abomination to protect the Weave, but the encounter left her grievously injured and corrupted. The poison of the Elder Evil seeped into her essence, twisting her nature.
The corruption fractured Lolth’s once-noble ideals. Paranoia, deceit, and a hunger for control consumed her, and she began spinning webs of lies to manipulate others. Her relationship with Corellon crumbled as trust gave way to betrayal. By the end of the war, Lolth had fully succumbed to her darker impulses, abandoning her role as the Goddess of the Weave to become the Goddess of Spiders and Lies.
Weave the Web: Influence and control those around you, using them as pieces in your grand design.
Embrace Power: The weak are prey for the strong; take what you can and trust no one.
Fear is Control: Instill fear in others to solidify your authority and loyalty.
Assassins and Spies: Those who deal in shadows and deception often honor Lolth as their patron.
Cultists of Power: Individuals willing to betray and manipulate to achieve their goals find solace in her teachings.
Corrupted Mages: Spellcasters who delve into forbidden magics often seek Lolth’s favor to increase their power.
Web Weaving Rituals: Intricate webs spun by hand or magic are offered to her as symbols of loyalty and devotion.
Ceremonies of Betrayal: Worshippers reenact legendary tales of treachery, celebrating Lolth’s cunning nature.
Fearful Reverence: Lolth’s clergy often maintain control through fear, demanding unwavering loyalty from her followers.
The Eclipse of Lies: Observed during lunar eclipses, this day is dedicated to honoring Lolth’s manipulation of light and dark.
Physical Description
Lolth is depicted as a darkly beautiful, sinister figure with features that blend grace and terror. Her upper body is that of a striking elven woman, with pale, luminous skin and silken black hair that cascades like a dark waterfall. Her lower body, however, transforms into the monstrous form of a spider, with glistening black legs and an intricate web-like pattern across her carapace. Her crimson eyes burn with malice and cunning, and her voice is said to carry a hypnotic allure. Lolth is often adorned with silken robes woven from shadows, and her jewelry is crafted to resemble spiders and webs.History
Lolth was an elven High Mage, one of the most skilled practitioners of magic during The Shattered Era. Her unmatched mastery of the Weave made her a revered figure among the elves, earning her the title The Weaver. She dedicated her life to protecting and strengthening the Weave, seeing it as the foundation of magic and existence.When the Elder Evils invaded during The Ruination, Lolth led her people and fought valiantly against the corrupted forces. Her cunning strategies and deep understanding of magic brought many victories against the Elder Spawn. During this time, she met Corellon, a fellow Icon of the elves, whose mastery of magic matched her own. Their shared connection to the Weave and mutual respect blossomed into a partnership and eventual marriage. Together, they stood as paragons of their people, symbols of elven resilience and power.
In the Divine era, Recognizing her dedication and skill, XXXXXXXXX offered Lolth the Rite of Rebirth. She accepted and passed, ascending to become the Goddess of the Weave. Her divine role was to safeguard and nurture the magical fabric of existence, ensuring it remained strong against future threats. Lolth’s power as the Goddess of the Weave allowed her to influence the flow of magic, making her a revered figure among spellcasters.
Her marriage to Corellon, now the God of Magic, symbolized unity and balance in the magical realms. Together, they worked tirelessly to restore and fortify the Weave after the damage inflicted by the Elder Evils.
During the War of the Divine, as the gods and mortals clashed, an Elder Evil forced its way out of the Void in a desperate bid to influence the conflict. Lolth confronted the abomination to protect the Weave, but the encounter left her grievously injured and corrupted. The poison of the Elder Evil seeped into her essence, twisting her nature.
The corruption fractured Lolth’s once-noble ideals. Paranoia, deceit, and a hunger for control consumed her, and she began spinning webs of lies to manipulate others. Her relationship with Corellon crumbled as trust gave way to betrayal. By the end of the war, Lolth had fully succumbed to her darker impulses, abandoning her role as the Goddess of the Weave to become the Goddess of Spiders and Lies.
Beliefs
Lolth represents betrayal, deceit, and the predatory nature of power. She teaches her followers that strength lies in manipulation and that only those cunning enough to weave their webs of influence can truly thrive. Her philosophy glorifies ambition and ruthlessness, encouraging her worshippers to exploit others to achieve their goals.Core Tenets of Lolth’s Faith:
Deception is Strength: Lies and manipulation are tools to dominate and survive.Weave the Web: Influence and control those around you, using them as pieces in your grand design.
Embrace Power: The weak are prey for the strong; take what you can and trust no one.
Fear is Control: Instill fear in others to solidify your authority and loyalty.
Followers
Lolth’s followers are drawn from those who value cunning, ambition, and control. Her faith is strongest among dark elves and those who dwell in the shadows, seeking to subvert and dominate.Key Followers of Lolth:
Dark Elves (Drow): Once ordinary elves, many were drawn to Lolth’s promises of power, forming her most devout and fanatical followers.Assassins and Spies: Those who deal in shadows and deception often honor Lolth as their patron.
Cultists of Power: Individuals willing to betray and manipulate to achieve their goals find solace in her teachings.
Corrupted Mages: Spellcasters who delve into forbidden magics often seek Lolth’s favor to increase their power.
Temples and Worship
Lolth’s temples are hidden in shadowed caverns, dark forests, or sprawling underground cities. These lairs are adorned with webs, spider motifs, and intricate carvings of her divine form. Her altars are often surrounded by living spiders, considered sacred creatures in her faith.Worship Practices:
Offerings of Subjugation: Followers offer captured prey or subordinates to Lolth, symbolizing their own dominance.Web Weaving Rituals: Intricate webs spun by hand or magic are offered to her as symbols of loyalty and devotion.
Ceremonies of Betrayal: Worshippers reenact legendary tales of treachery, celebrating Lolth’s cunning nature.
Fearful Reverence: Lolth’s clergy often maintain control through fear, demanding unwavering loyalty from her followers.
Holy Days:
The Night of Shadows: A day when followers celebrate deceit and ambition, marked by secretive rituals and power plays.The Eclipse of Lies: Observed during lunar eclipses, this day is dedicated to honoring Lolth’s manipulation of light and dark.
Type
Greater DeityTitle(s)
The Weaver of ShadowsMistress of the Web
The Queen of Lies
Spinner of Fates
Alignment
Chaotic evilSymbol
A ten-legged spider with a jeweled abdomen, often depicted spinning a web of shadowsEdicts
Manipulate others to achieve your goals; spread deceit to strengthen your influence; cultivate fear to control others; eliminate rivals through cunning and treacheryAnathema
Show mercy to an enemy; reveal secrets without personal gain; act with complete honesty when deception could serve better; betray Lolth herself or harm a spiderAreas of Concern
spiders, deceit, ambition, domination, manipulation5e Domains
Trickery, WarP2 Devotee Benefits
Divine Ability
Dexterity or CharismaDivine Font
harmDivine Sanctification
can choose unholyDivine Skill
DeceptionFavored Weapon
whipDomains
ambition, darkness, pain, trickeryAlternate Domains
nightmares, tyrannyCleric Spells
1st: phantom pain, 2nd: invisibility, 3rd: hasteDivine Intercession
Minor Boon:
Lolth grants you the agility and stealth of a spider. You gain a climb speed of 10 feet, and you can climb webs as if they were solid surfaces, regardless of their strength. This boon lasts for 24 hours.Moderate Boon:
Your words become as venomous as Lolth’s webs. Once per day, you can cast Suggestion as a divine innate spell. When you use this ability, it gains the incapacitation trait.Major Boon:
Lolth weaves you into her web of power, granting you dominion over fear and deception. You gain a permanent aura of Dread (30 feet), causing all enemies within the aura to take a -2 penalty to saves against fear and illusion effects.Minor Curse:
Your deceptions fail you when you need them most. Whenever you roll a critical success on a Deception check, it is treated as a normal success.Moderate Curse:
You are marked by Lolth’s displeasure. Spiders instinctively attack you on sight, and their venom is twice as potent against you.Major Curse:
Lolth shatters your ability to trust or be trusted. Allies and enemies alike become inherently suspicious of you, taking a -2 penalty to their initial attitudes toward you. Additionally, any lies you attempt to tell are magically transparent, causing you to fail Deception checks automatically.
Children
Comments