Elistreai
The dark maiden Elistreai
Elistreai, the Dark Maiden, is a drow goddess of moonlight, freedom, beauty, song, dance, swordplay, and the hunt. She is the patron of drow who have turned away from the darkness of Lolth , seeking to embrace the light of the surface world. A deity of hope and sorrow, Elistreai’s presence offers a path to redemption and a new life for her followers, even in a world that distrusts them.
Her faith is one of love, art, and selflessness, encouraging her followers to spread joy and beauty even in the most desolate places. Despite the struggles her people face, she remains a beacon of light for those who seek freedom from Lolth’s cruel tyranny.
Origins and Mythology
Elistreai is the daughter of Lolth and Corellon Larethian, born in the days before the exile of the dark elves. In the time before her mother’s fall, she was raised in the Feywild , alongside her siblings, in what seemed to be a golden age for the elven pantheon.
However, Lolth’s growing ambition and thirst for power shattered this peace. She banished Corellon from the Feywild, severing him from his children. But her own downfall soon followed—when his remaining loyalist cast her and her followers from the Feywild, exiling them into The abyss , where Lolth would establish her own infernal domain.
Unlike her mother and siblings, Elistreai was never drawn to darkness. Though she followed them into exile, her heart remained bound to the light, and she longed for a world where the drow could be free from Lolth’s web. When she found an opportunity, she escaped the Abyss, making her way to Arvandor the first lair of Arborea , where her divine realm, The Glade of Eternal dusk , now stands.
Though she is considered an exile even among the elven gods, her realm stands at the border between Arvandor and the Material Plane, a sanctuary for drow who seek a new path.
Appearance and Divine Form
Elistreai is often described as a vision of grace and luminous beauty, her presence embodying the moon’s soft glow.
Tall and statuesque, standing at around 2.4 meters (8 feet).
Obsidian-black skin, shimmering faintly with an inner glow.
Long, flowing silver hair, like strands of moonlight cascading down her back.
Piercing silver-blue eyes, filled with both melancholy and warmth.
Graceful yet powerful limbs, reflecting both her artistry and martial prowess.
Often bare of clothing, or dressed in a simple gown woven from moonlight.
She is frequently depicted dancing beneath the full moon, her silver sword flashing through the air as she moves in a slow, sorrowful ballet.
Personality and Worship
Elistreai is a goddess of hope, sorrow, and defiance. She is deeply compassionate and emotionally invested in her followers, treating them not as mere worshippers, but as kindred spirits, dear to her heart. Unlike many gods, she does not see herself as a distant ruler—she is a protector, a guide, and, at times, a friend.
Her Dual Nature
She is a goddess of joy and beauty, but also of sadness and longing.
She celebrates love, art, and song, and encourages her followers to find happiness in even the bleakest places.
Yet, she grieves deeply for the suffering of the drow, knowing that they are hated both by the surface world and their own kin in the underdark .
She is fiercely protective of those who seek redemption, but weary of the cruelty of gods and mortals alike.
She rarely trusts other deities, as most care little for the suffering of the drow or actively oppose her goals. Even among the elven gods, she finds little warmth, as they resist the idea of peace between the elven races.
Her worship is free-spirited and communal. Priestesses of Elistreai are not rulers, but dancers, hunters, and warriors, leading by example rather than command.
Teachings and Philosophy
Elistreai’s faith is one of love, redemption, and freedom. She asks her followers to:
Seek beauty in all things. Art, song, dance, and kindness should be cultivated even in the darkest places.
Help those in need, even if they fear you. Many will never trust a drow, but that does not absolve you of the duty to do good.
Defend the weak, especially those who are hunted or outcast. If the world has abandoned them, you must be their protector.
Embrace freedom. No god, ruler, or power should bind you to chains of fate or oppression.
Reject cruelty and tyranny. Lolth’s web is woven from lies, domination, and suffering—you must always stand against it.
She does not test her followers with divine trials; she believes that life itself is challenge enough. However, those who remain faithful are guided to her realm upon death, where they are welcomed as friends and kin.
Divine Realm: The Glade of Eternal Dusk
Elistreai’s divine domain is The Glade of Eternal Dusk, a realm that exists on the border of Arvandor, bathed in the soft silver glow of an eternal moonrise. It is a place of serenity, joy, and freedom, where her followers find the peace and acceptance they were denied in life.
Notable Locations
The Everdusk Glade – A vast meadow where the sun never rises, but the moon always shines, casting a silver glow over eternal festivities. Here, her followers dance, sing, and live without fear, safe from the hatred and prejudice of the world.
The Silver Stream – A sacred river of shimmering moonlight, believed to cleanse the souls of those who were once bound to Lolth, washing away their pain and sorrow.
The Darkwood Sanctuary – A fortress hidden among the trees, where the most devoted warriors of Elistreai stand ready to protect her realm from any who would bring it
Elistreai, the Dark Maiden, is a goddess of paradox—a dancer of sorrow and joy, a warrior who fights for peace, a goddess who longs for unity, yet stands alone.
She offers a path to redemption for the drow, but she knows that it is a path filled with hardship and rejection. Yet, she does not waver, and neither do her followers.
To those who seek beauty in darkness, who protect the outcast, and who fight not for power, but for love and freedom, Elistreai remains a beacon of hope in a world that would rather forget her.
"Dance beneath the moonlight, even if no one watches. Sing, even if no one listens. Love, even if the world hates you. For you do not need their permission to be free." – Words of the Dark Maiden
Divine Domains
Song, dance, hunt, freedom, beauty, moonlight, swordplay
Tenets of Faith
1. Dance Under the Moon, Even in Darkness
"Even in sorrow, there is beauty. Even in despair, there is joy."
Express yourself through song, dance, and artistry—for joy is a gift to be shared.
Celebrate life even when the world seeks to crush you.
The moon is your guide, and its light reminds you that even in the darkest night, there is hope.
2. Defend the Outcast and the Lost
"No one should walk alone in shadow."
Protect those who are hunted, shunned, or abandoned, regardless of their past.
Show mercy to those who seek redemption, but remain vigilant against those who would enslave or oppress others.
Aid those in need, especially in the Underdark, where even a small kindness can mean survival.
3. Beauty is a Gift to All, Share It Freely
"A melody can break chains. A dance can heal wounds. A smile can shatter despair."
Sing, paint, weave, and create—bring light into the world through art and craftsmanship.
Leave behind acts of beauty wherever you go, whether through a simple kindness or a great masterpiece.
Show others that even the drow, long bound by shadow, can be creatures of light and joy.
4. Freedom is Sacred—Neither Bow Nor Bind
"The will of no god, ruler, or master should cage your soul."
Seek freedom from tyranny, and help others escape bondage, be it of the mind, body, or soul.
Avoid rigid hierarchies—lead through example, not domination.
Never kneel before any who would demand your servitude—even the gods must earn respect.
5. Hunt the Cruel, but Not the Weak
"Wickedness is not in blood, but in choice."
Do not judge by race, origin, or past—judge by action.
Strike down those who revel in cruelty, but spare those who seek redemption.
Fight with grace, not rage—a sword’s dance is an art, and every blow should have purpose.
6. Offer Mercy, But Do Not Blind Yourself to Evil
"Forgiveness is a gift, not a right."
Give second chances where they are deserved.
Do not let kindness make you a fool—some will never change, and you must act when evil persists.
If one refuses redemption, let your blade be the answer.
7. Walk the Path of the Moon, Guide Others to Light
"The path is long and lonely, but you do not walk it alone."
Show others the way to freedom and self-discovery.
Guide those who seek escape from darkness, but do not force them—each must choose their own path.
Be patient with those who fear or distrust you—your existence is proof that change is possible.
8. Do Not Test Those Who Have Already Suffered
"Life is trial enough. I shall not burden my children further." – Elistreai
Unlike many gods, Elistreai does not set divine tests for her followers—she believes life itself is challenge enough.
Trust in your own journey, struggle, and choices—the Dark Maiden will never demand trials of faith, only that you live by her teachings.
Divine Classification
Deity
Church/Cult
Children
Current Residence
The Glade of Eternal dusk
Sex
Female
Presentation
Feminine
Eyes
Silvery blue
Hair
Flowing silver
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Obsidian colored
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