Religion - The Gods of Amia

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This topic contains a fairly thorough list of Forgotten Realms deities, as well as additional information on some popular subjects. You may worship any of the deities listed here if suitable to your character, even if they are not featured in the Amia Deity System. Deities from outside this list may not exist in the Realms, so you should check with a DM before worshiping one.


Pantheons

• The Dragon Pantheon
  The Drow Pantheon
  The Dwarven Pantheon
  The Elven Pantheon
  The Faerûnian Pantheon
  The Gnomish Pantheon
  The Halfling Pantheon
  The Mulhorandi Pantheon
  The Orc Pantheon

Popular Deities on Amia

• Eilistraee
  Lolth
  Vhaeraun
  Torm
  Salandra

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The Dragon Pantheon

Aasterinian (Messenger of Io)

• Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
  Portfolio: Learning, Invention, Pleasure
  Domains: Chaos, Dragon, Illusion, Luck, Travel, Trickery

Astilabor (The Acquisitor, Hoardmistress)

• Alignment: True Neutral
  Portfolio: Acquisitiveness, Status, Wealth
  Domains: Cavern, Craft, Dragon, Earth, Protection, Trade

Bahamut (King of the Good Dragons, The Platinum Dragon, Lord of the North Wind)

• Alignment: Lawful Good
  Portfolio: Good dragons, Wind, Wisdom
  Domains: Air, Cold, Dragon, Good, Law, Protection

Chronepsis (The Silent, The Watcher)

• Alignment: True Neutral
  Portfolio: Fate, Death, Judgement
  Domains: Death, Dragon, Knowledge, Fate, Planning, Time

Falazure (The Night Dragon)

• Alignment: Neutral Evil
  Portfolio: Decay, Undeath, Exhaustion
  Domains: Death, Dragon, Evil, Darkness, Magic, Undeath

Garyx (Firelord, All-Destroyer, Cleanser of Worlds)

• Alignment: Chaotic Evil
  Portfolio: Fire, Destruction, Renewal
  Domains: Chaos, Destruction, Dragon, Evil, Fire, Renewal

Hlal (The Jester, The Keeper of Tales)

• Alignment: Chaotic Good
  Portfolio: Humor, Storytelling, Inspiration
  Domains: Chaos, Charm, Dragon, Good, Rune, Trickery

Io (The Concordant Dragon, The Great Eternal Wheel, Swallower of Shades, The Ninefold Dragon, Creator of Dragonkind)

• Alignment: True Neutral
  Portfolio: Dragonkind
  Domains: Dragon, Knowledge, Magic, Spell, Strength, Travel

Lendys (Scale of Justice, The Balancer, Weigher of Lives)

• Alignment: Lawful Neutral
  Portfolio: Balance, Justice
  Domains: Courage, Destruction, Dragon, Law, Protection, Retribution

Tamara (Her Beneficence, Her Mercy)

• Alignment: Neutral Good
  Portfolio: Life, Light, Mercy
  Domains: Balance, Community, Dragon, Good, Healing, Sun

Tiamat (The Chromatic Dragon, Creator of Evil Dragonkind)

• Alignment: Lawful Evil
  Portfolio: Evil dragons, Conquest, Greed
  Domains: Dragon, Evil, Law, Scalykind, Strength, Tyranny

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The Drow Pantheon

Eilistraee (The Dark Maiden, Lady of the Dance)

• Alignment: Chaotic Good
  Portfolio: Song, Beauty, Dance, Swordwork, Hunting, Moonlight
  Domains: Chaos, Charm, Drow, Good, Moon, Portal

Ghaunadaur (That Which Lurks, The Elder Eye, The Ancient One)

• Alignment: Chaotic Evil
  Portfolio: Oozes, Slimes, Jellies, Outcasts, Ropers, Rebels
  Domains: Cavern, Chaos, Drow, Evil, Hatred, Slime

Kiaransalee (Lady of the Dead, The Revenancer, The Vengeful Banshee)

• Alignment: Chaotic Evil
  Portfolio: Undead, Vengeance
  Domains: Chaos, Drow, Evil, Magic, Retribution, Undeath

Lolth (Queen of Spiders, Queen of the Demonweb Pits)

• Alignment: Chaotic Evil
  Portfolio: Chaos, Drow, Evil, Darkness, Destruction, Spider, Trickery
  Domains: Chaos, Drow, Evil, Darkness, Destruction, Trickery

Selvetarm (Champion of Lolth, The Spider That Waits)

• Alignment: Chaotic Evil
  Portfolio: Barbarians, Fighters, Warriors, Drow, Those Who Like to Kill
  Domains: Chaos, Drow, Evil, Hatred, Strength, War

Vhaeraun (The Masked Lord, The Masked God of Night)

• Alignment: Chaotic Evil
  Portfolio: Thievery, Drow, Males, Evil Activity on the Surface
  Domains: Charm, Chaos, Drow, Evil, Travel, Trickery

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The Dwarven Pantheon

Abbathor (Great Master of Greed, Trove Lord, Wyrm of Avarice)

• Alignment: Neutral Evil
  Portfolio: Greed
  Domains: Dwarf, Evil, Hatred, Luck, Trade, Trickery

Berronar Truesilver (The Revered Mother, Mother of Safety)

• Alignment: Lawful Good
  Portfolio: Safety, Honesty, Home, Healing, Records, Marriage, Faithfulness, Loyalty, Oaths
  Domains: Community, Dwarf, Good, Healing, Law, Protection

Clangeddin Silverbeard (The Father of Battle, Lord of the Twin Axes, The Rock of Battle)

• Alignment: Lawful Good
  Portfolio: Battle, War, Valor, Bravery, Honor in Battle
  Domains: Courage, Dwarf, Good, Law, Strength, War

Deep Duerra (Queen of the Invisible Art, Axe Princess of Conquest)

• Alignment: Lawful Evil
  Portfolio: Psionics, Conquest, Expansion, Duergar Warriors, Duergar Psions
  Domains: Cavern, Dwarf, Evil, Knowledge, Law, War

Dugmaren Brightmantle (The Gleam in the Eye, The Errant Explorer)

• Alignment: Chaotic Good
  Portfolio: Scholarship, Invention, Discovery
  Domains: Chaos, Craft, Dwarf, Good, Knowledge, Rune

Dumathoin (Keeper of Secrets Under the Mountain, The Silent Keeper)

• Alignment: True Neutral
  Portfolio: Keeper of Metals and Other Buried Wealth (Secrets Under the Earth), the Earth's Riches, Buried Wealth, Ores, Gems, Mining, Minerals, Exploration, Shield Dwarves, Guardian of the Dead
  Domains: Craft, Dwarf, Earth, Knowledge, Protection, Repose

Gorm Gulthyn (Fire Eyes, Lord of the Bronze Mask, The Eternally Vigilant)

• Alignment: Lawful Good
  Portfolio: Guardian of all Dwarves, Defense, Watchfulness
  Domains: Dwarf, Good, Law, Protection, Strength, War

Haela Brightaxe (Lady of the Fray, Luckmaiden)

• Alignment: Chaotic Good
  Portfolio: Luck in battle, joy of battle, dwarven fighters
  Domains: Chaos, Community, Dwarf, Good, Luck, War

Laduguer (The Exile, The Gray Protector, Master of Crafts)

• Alignment: Lawful Evil
  Portfolio: Artisans, Gray Dwarves, Magic, Magic Weapon Creation
  Domains: Craft, Dwarf, Evil, Law, Magic, Protection

Marthammor Duin (Finder-of-Trails, Watcher Over Wanderers, The Watchful Eye)

• Alignment: Neutral Good
  Portfolio: Guides, Explorers, Expatriates, Travelers, Lightning
  Domains: Community, Dwarf, Good, Protection, Strength, Travel

Moradin (The Soul Forger, Dwarffather, All-Father)

• Alignment: Lawful Good
  Portfolio: Dwarves, Creation, Smithing, Protection, Metalcraft, Stonework
  Domains: Craft, Dwarf, Earth, Good, Law, Protection

Sharindlar (Lady of Life and Mercy, The Shining Dancer)

• Alignment: Chaotic Good
  Portfolio: Healing, Mercy, Romantic Love, Fertility, Dancing, Courtship, The Moon
  Domains: Chaos, Charm, Dwarf, Good, Healing, Moon

Thard Harr (Lord of the Jungle Deeps)

• Alignment: Chaotic Good
  Portfolio: Wild Dwarves, Jungle Survival, Hunting
  Domains: Animal, Chaos, Dwarf, Earth, Good, Plant

Vergadain (Merchant King, The Short Father, The Laughing Dwarf)

• Alignment: True Neutral
  Portfolio: Wealth, Luck, Chance, Non-Evil Thieves, Suspicion, Trickery, Negotiation, Sly Cleverness
  Domains: Craft, Dwarf, Luck, Rune, Trade, Trickery

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The Elven Pantheon

Aerdrie Faenya (The Winged Mother, Lady of Air and Wind, Queen of the Avariel, She of the Azure Plumage, Bringer of Rain and Storms)

• Alignment: Chaotic Good
  Portfolio: Air, Weather, Avians, Rain, Fertility, Avariels
  Domains: Air, Animal, Chaos, Elf, Good, Renewal

Angharradh (Queen of Arvandor, The Triune Goddess, The One and the Three, The Union of the Three)

• Alignment: Chaotic Good
  Portfolio: Spring, Fertility, Planting, Birth, Defense, Wisdom
  Domains: Chaos, Elf, Good, Knowledge, Plant, Renewal

Corellon Larethian (Creator of the Elves, First of the Seldarine, Coronal of Arvandor, The Protector, Preserver of Life, Ruler of All Elves)

• Alignment: Chaotic Good
  Portfolio: Magic, Music, Arts, Crafts, War, the Elven Race (Especially Sun Elves), Poetry, Bards, Warriors
  Domains: Chaos, Elf, Good, Magic, Protection, War

Deep Sashelas (Lord of the Undersea, The Dolphin Prince, The Knowledgeable One, Sailor's Friend, The Creator)

• Alignment: Chaotic Good
  Portfolio: Oceans, Sea Elves, Creation, Knowledge
  Domains: Chaos, Elf, Good, Knowledge, Travel, Water

Erevan Ilesere (The Trickster, The Chameleon, The Green Changeling, The Evershifting Shapechanger, The Fey Jester, The Jack of the Seelie Court)

• Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
  Portfolio: Mischief, Change, Rogues
  Domains: Charm, Chaos, Elf, Illusion, Luck, Trickery

Fenmarel Mestarine (The Lone Wolf)

• Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
  Portfolio: Feral Elves, Outcasts, Scapegoats, Isolation
  Domains: Animal, Chaos, Darkness, Elf, Plant, Travel

Hanali Celanil (The Heart of Gold, Winsome Rose, Lady Goldheart)

• Alignment: Chaotic Good
  Portfolio: Love, Romance, Beauty, Enchantments, Magic Item Artistry, Fine Art, Artists
  Domains: Chaos, Charm, Elf, Good, Magic, Protection

Labelas Enoreth (The Lifegiver, Lord of the Continuum, The Sage at Sunset)

• Alignment: Chaotic Good
  Portfolio: Time, Longevity, the Moment of Choice, History
  Domains: Chaos, Elf, Good, Knowledge, Rune, Time

Rillifane Rallathil (The Leaf Lord)

• Alignment: Chaotic Good
  Portfolio: Woodlands, Nature, Wild Elves, Druids
  Domains: Chaos, Elf, Good, Plant, Protection, Renewal

Sehanine Moonbow (Daughter of the Night Skies, Goddess of Moonlight, Lady of Dreams, The Luminous Cloud, The Lunar Lady, Moonlit Mystery, The Mystic Seer)

• Alignment: Chaotic Good
  Portfolio: Mysticism, Dreams, Death, Journeys, Transcendence, the Moon, the Stars, the Heavens, Moon Elves
  Domains: Chaos, Dream, Elf, Good, Moon, Repose

Shevarash (The Black Archer, The Night Hunter)

• Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
  Portfolio: Hatred of the drow, Vengeance, Crusades, Loss
  Domains: Chaos, Elf, Hatred, Retribution, Strength, War

Solonor Thelandira (Keen Eye, The Great Archer)

• Alignment: Chaotic Good
  Portfolio: Archery, Hunting, Wilderness Survival
  Domains: Animal, Chaos, Elf, Good, Plant, War

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The Faerûnian Pantheon

Akadi (Queen of Air, the Lady of Air, Lady of the Winds, Queen of Air Elementals)

• Alignment: True Neutral
  Portfolio: Elemental Air, Movement, Speed, Flying Creatures
  Domains: Air, Animal, Illusion, Portal, Travel, Trickery

Auril (The Cold Goddess, The Frostmaiden, Icedawn, Lady Frostkiss)

• Alignment: Neutral Evil
  Portfolio: Cold, Winter
  Domains: Air, Cold, Destruction, Evil, Suffering, Water

Azuth (The High One, Patron of Mages, Patron of Wizards, the Lord of Spells, The Hand of Sorcery, The Lord of Spellcraft)

• Alignment: Lawful Neutral
  Portfolio: Wizards, Mages, Spellcasters in General
  Domains: Illusion, Knowledge, Law, Magic, Rune, Spell

Bane (The Black Lord, The Black Hand, The Lord of Darkness, The Dark One)

• Alignment: Lawful Evil
  Portfolio: Strife, Hatred, Tyranny, Fear
  Domains: Destruction, Evil, Hatred, Law, Strength, Tyranny

Beshaba (The Maid of Misfortune, Lady Doom, Black Bess, The Maid of Misrule, Tyche's Unpleasant Daughter)

• Alignment: Chaotic Evil
  Portfolio: Random Mischief, Misfortune, Bad Luck, Accidents
  Domains: Charm, Chaos, Evil, Fate, Luck, Trickery

Chauntea (The Great Mother, The Grain Goddess, The Golden Goddess, She Who Shapes All, Chantea, Bhalla, Jannath, Pahluruk)

• Alignment: Neutral Good
  Portfolio: Agriculture, Farmers, Gardeners, Summer
  Domains: Animal, Earth, Good, Plant, Protection, Renewal

Cyric (Prince of Lies, The Dark Sun, The Black Sun, Prince of Madness, The Mad God, Lord of Three Crowns)

• Alignment: Chaotic Evil
  Portfolio: Murder, Lies, Intrigue, Deception, Illusion
  Domains: Chaos, Destruction, Evil, Hatred, Illusion, Trickery

Deneir (Lord of All Glyphs and Images, The Scribe of Oghma)

• Alignment: Neutral Good
  Portfolio: Glyphs, Images, Literature, Scribes, Cartography
  Domains: Craft, Good, Knowledge, Protection, Rune, Spell

Eldath (Goddess of Singing Waters, Mother Guardian of Groves, The Green Goddess, The Quiet One, The Mother of the Waters)

• Alignment: Neutral Good
  Portfolio: Quiet Places, Spring, Pools, Peace, Waterfalls
  Domains: Balance, Community, Good, Plant, Protection, Water

Finder Wyvernspur (The Nameless Bard)

• Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
  Portfolio: Cycle of Life, Transformation, Saurils
  Domains: Chaos, Charm, Craft, Luck, Renewal, Scalykind

Garagos (The Reaver, Master of All Weapons, Lord of War)

• Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
  Portfolio: War, Skill-at-Arms, Destruction, Plunder
  Domains: Chaos, Destruction, Hatred, Retribution, Strength, War

Gargauth (The Tenth Lord of Nine, The Lost Lord of the Pit, The Hidden Lord, The Lord Who Watches)

• Alignment: Lawful Evil
  Portfolio: Betrayal, Cruelty, Political Corruption, Powerbrokers
  Domains: Charm, Evil, Knowledge, Law, Trickery, Tyranny

Gond (Wonderbringer, Lord of All Smiths, The Inspiration Divine, The Holy Maker of All Things)

• Alignment: True Neutral
  Portfolio: Artifice, Craft, Construction, Smithwork
  Domains: Craft, Earth, Fire, Knowledge, Trade, Rune

Grumbar (Earthlord, King of the Land Below the Roots)

• Alignment: True Neutral
  Portfolio: Elemental Earth, Solidity, Changelessness, Oaths
  Domains: Balance, Cavern, Earth, Rune, Strength, Time

Gwaeron Windstrom (Master of Tracking, The Tracker Who Never Goes Astray, the Tracker)

• Alignment: Neutral Good
  Portfolio: Tracking, Rangers of the North
  Domains: Animal, Good, Knowledge, Plant, Retribution, Travel

Helm (The Great Guard, The Watcher, The Vigilant One)

• Alignment: Lawful Neutral
  Portfolio: Guardians, Protectors, Protection
  Domains: Community, Law, Nobility, Protection, Strength, War

Hoar (The Doombringer, Lord of Three Thunders, The Poet of Justice, Hurler of Thunders)

• Alignment: Lawful Neutral
  Portfolio: Revenge, Retribution, Poetic Justice
  Domains: Evil, Good, Fate, Law, Retribution, Travel

Ilmater (The Crying God, The Broken God, The Lord on the Rack, The One Who Endures)

• Alignment: Lawful Good
  Portfolio: Endurance, Suffering, Martyrdom, Perseverance
  Domains: Good, Healing, Law, Renewal, Strength, Suffering

Istishia (The Water Lord, King of the Water Elementals)

• Alignment: True Neutral
  Portfolio: Elemental Water, Purification, Wetness
  Domains: Air, Cold, Destruction, Magic, Travel, Water

Jergal (Lord of the End of Everything, Scribe of the Doomed, The Pitiless One)

• Alignment: Lawful Neutral
  Portfolio: Fatalism, Proper Burial, Guardians of Tombs
  Domains: Death, Fate, Law, Repose, Rune, Suffering

Kelemvor (Lord of the Dead, Judge of the Damned)

• Alignment: Lawful Neutral
  Portfolio: Death, the Dead
  Domains: Fate, Law, Nobility, Protection, Repose, Travel

Kossuth (The Lord of Flames, The Firelord)

• Alignment: True Neutral
  Portfolio: Elemental Fire, Purification Through Fire
  Domains: Destruction, Fire, Magic, Portal, Renewal, Suffering

Lathander (The Morninglord)

• Alignment: Neutral Good
  Portfolio: Spring, Dawn, Birth, Youth, Vitality, Athletics
  Domains: Good, Nobility, Protection, Renewal, Strength, Sun

Lliira (Our Lady of Joy, Joybringer, The Goddess of Joy, Mistress of the Revels)

• Alignment: Chaotic Good
  Portfolio: Joy, Happiness, Dance, Festivals, Freedom, Liberty
  Domains: Chaos, Charm, Community, Good, Travel

Loviatar (Maiden of Pain, The Willing Whip)

• Alignment: Lawful Evil
  Portfolio: Pain, Hurt, Agony, Torment, Suffering, Torture
  Domains: Evil, Law, Retribution, Strength, Suffering

Lurue (The Unicorn, The Unicorn Queen, The Queen of Talking Beasts)

• Alignment: Chaotic Good
  Portfolio: Talking Beasts, Intelligent Non-Humanoid Creatures
  Domains: Animal, Chaos, Charm, Dream, Good, Healing

Malar (The Beastlord, The Black-Blooded Pard)

• Alignment: Chaotic Evil
  Portfolio: Hunters, Stalking, Bloodlust, Evil Lycanthropes
  Domains: Animal, Chaos, Evil, Moon, Strength, Suffering

Mask (Master of All Thieves, Lord of Shadows)

• Alignment: Neutral Evil
  Portfolio: Thieves, Thievery, Shadows
  Domains: Charm, Darkness, Evil, Luck, Travel, Trickery

Mielikki (Our Lady of the Forest, The Forest Queen)

• Alignment: Neutral Good
  Portfolio: Forests, Forest Creatures, Rangers, Dryads, Autumn
  Domains: Animal, Good, Moon, Plant, Sun, Travel

Milil (Lord of Song, The One True Hand of All-Wise Oghma)

• Alignment: Neutral Good
  Portfolio: Poetry, Song, Eloquence
  Domains: Charm, Good, Illusion, Knowledge, Nobility, Trickery

Mystra (The Lady of Mysteries, The Mother of All Magic)

• Alignment: Neutral Good
  Portfolio: Magic, Spells, the Weave
  Domains: Good, Illusion, Knowledge, Magic, Rune, Spell

Nobanion (Lord Firemane, King of the Beasts)

• Alignment: Lawful Good
  Portfolio: Royalty, Lions and Feline Beasts, Good Beasts
  Domains: Animal, Community, Courage, Good, Law, Nobility

Oghma (The Lord of Knowledge, Binder of What is Known)

• Alignment: True Neutral
  Portfolio: Knowledge, Invention, Inspiration, Bards
  Domains: Balance, Charm, Knowledge, Luck, Travel, Trickery

Red Knight (Lady of Strategy, Grandmaster of the Lanceboard)

• Alignment: Lawful Neutral
  Portfolio: Strategy, Planning, Tactics
  Domains: Knowledge, Law, Nobility, Protection, Strength, War

Savras (The All-Seeing, Lord of Divination, He of the Third Eye)

• Alignment: Lawful Neutral
  Portfolio: Divination, Fate, Truth
  Domains: Dream, Fate, Knowledge, Law, Magic, Spell

Selune (Our Lady of Silver, The Moonmaiden)

• Alignment: Chaotic Good
  Portfolio: Moon, Stars, Navigation, Prophecy, Questers, Good and Neutral Lycanthropes
  Domains: Chaos, Dream, Good, Moon, Protection, Travel

Shar (Mistress of the Night, Lady of Loss, Dark Goddess)

• Alignment: Neutral Evil
  Portfolio: Dark, Night, Loss, Forgetfulness, Unrevealed Secrets, Caverns, Dungeons, the Underdark
  Domains: Cavern, Charm, Darkness, Evil, Knowledge, Trickery

Sharess (The Dancing Lady, the Festhall Madam, the Lustful Mistress/Maiden, Feline of Felicity, Succubus of Sensation, the Tawny Temptress, Foe of Set, the Feline Huntress, Lady of the Golden Heart, Princess of Passion, Lady of Lust)

• Alignment: Chaotic Good
  Portfolio: Hedonism, Sensual Fulfillment, Festhalls, Cats
  Domains: Chaos, Charm, Good, Protection, Travel, Trickery

Shaundakul (Rider of the Winds, The Helping Hand)

• Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
  Portfolio: Travel, Exploration, Caravans, Portals
  Domains: Air, Chaos, Portal, Protection, Trade, Travel

Shialla (Dancer in the Glades, Daughter of the High Forest, The Lady of the Woods)

• Alignment: Neutral Good
  Portfolio: Woodland Glades, Woodland Fertility, the High Forest, Neverwinter Woods
  Domains: Animal, Charm, Community, Good, Plant, Renewal

Siamorphe (The Divine Right)

• Alignment: Lawful Neutral
  Portfolio: Nobles, Rightful Rule of Nobility, Human Royalty
  Domains: Charm, Community, Knowledge, Law, Nobility, Protection

Silvanus (Oak Father, The Forest Father, Treefather)

• Alignment: True Neutral
  Portfolio: Wild Nature, Druids
  Domains: Animal, Balance, Plant, Protection, Renewal, Water

Sune (Lady Firehair)

• Alignment: Chaotic Good
  Portfolio: Beauty, Love, Passion
  Domains: Chaos, Charm, Community, Fire, Good, Protection

Talona (Lady of Poison, Mistress of Disease, Mother of All Plagues)

• Alignment: Chaotic Evil
  Portfolio: Disease, Poison
  Domains: Chaos, Destruction, Evil, Hatred, Slime, Suffering

Talos (The Destroyer, The Storm Lord)

• Alignment: Chaotic Evil
  Portfolio: Storms, Destruction, Rebellion, Conflagrations, Earthquakes, Vortices
  Domains: Air, Chaos, Destruction, Evil, Hatred, Retribution

Tempus (Lord of Battles, Foehammer)

• Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
  Portfolio: War, Battle, Warriors
  Domains: Chaos, Courage, Protection, Retribution, Strength, War

Tiamat (The Dragon Queen, Nemesis of the Gods, The Dark Lady)

• Alignment: Lawful Evil
  Portfolio: Evil Dragons, Evil Reptiles, Greed, Chessenta
  Domains: Dragon, Evil, Law, Scalykind, Strength, Tyranny

Torm (The True, The True Deity, The Loyal Fury)

• Alignment: Lawful Good
  Portfolio: Duty, Loyalty, Obedience, Paladins
  Domains: Courage, Good, Healing, Law, Protection, Strength

Tymora (Lady Luck, The Lady Who Smiles, Our Smiling Lady)

• Alignment: Chaotic Good
  Portfolio: Good Fortune, Skill, Victory, Adventurers
  Domains: Chaos, Good, Luck, Protection, Travel, Trickery

Tyr (The Even-Handed, The Maimed God, The Just God)

• Alignment: Lawful Good
  Portfolio: Justice
  Domains: Good, Knowledge, Law, Retribution, Strength, War

Ubtao (Creator of Chult, Founder of Mezro, Father of the Dinosaurs)

• Alignment: True Neutral
  Portfolio: Creation, Jungles, Chult, the Chultans, Dinosaurs
  Domains: Animal, Balance, Plant, Protection, Repose, Scalykind

Ulutiu (The Lord in the Ice, The Eternal Sleeper, Father of the Giants' Kin)

• Alignment: Lawful Neutral
  Portfolio: Glaciers, Polar Environments, Arctic Dwellers
  Domains: Animal, Law, Cold, Community, Protection, Strength

Umberlee (The Bitch Queen, Queen of the Depths)

• Alignment: Chaotic Evil
  Portfolio: Oceans, Currents, Waves, Sea Winds
  Domains: Chaos, Destruction, Evil, Hatred, Retribution, Water

Uthgar (Father of the Uthgardt, Battle Father)

• Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
  Portfolio: The Uthgardt Barbarian Tribes, Physical Strength
  Domains: Animal, Chaos, Courage, Retribution, Strength, War

Valkur (The Mighty, Captain of the Waves)

• Alignment: Chaotic Good
  Portfolio: Sailors, Ships, Favorable Winds, Naval Combat
  Domains: Air, Chaos, Good, Protection, Water, War

Velsharoon (The Vaunted, Archmage of Necromancy, Lord of the Forsaken Crypt)

• Alignment: Neutral Evil
  Portfolio: Necromancy, Necromancers, Evil Liches, Undeath
  Domains: Death, Evil, Knowledge, Magic, Spell, Undeath

Waukeen (Merchant's Friend)

• Alignment: True Neutral
  Portfolio: Trade, Money, Wealth
  Domains: Balance, Knowledge, Portal, Protection, Trade, Travel

[Jes]

The Gnomish Pantheon

Baervan Wildwanderer (The Masked Leaf, The Forest Gnome, Father of Fish and Fungus)

• Alignment: Neutral Good
  Portfolio: Forests, Travel, Nature
  Domains: Animal, Good, Gnome, Plant, Travel, Trickery

Baravar Cloakshadow (The Sly One, Master of Illusion, Lord in Disguise, Bane of Goblinkin)

• Alignment: Neutral Good
  Portfolio: Illusions, Deception, Traps, Wards
  Domains: Darkness, Gnome, Good, Illusion, Protection, Trickery

Callarduran Smoothhands (Deep Brother, Master of Stone, Lord of Deepearth, The Deep Gnome)

• Alignment: Neutral
  Portfolio: Stone, the Underdark, Mining, the Svirfneblin
  Domains: Cavern, Craft, Earth, Gnome, Plant, Travel

Flandal Steelskin (Master of Metal, The Great Steelsmith, Lord of Smiths, The Armorer, The Weaponsmith, The Pyromancer)

• Alignment: Neutral Good
  Portfolio: Mining, Physical Fitness, Smithing, Metalworking
  Domains: Craft, Earth, Fire, Gnome, Good, Knowledge

Gaerdal Ironhand (The Stern, Shield of the Golden Hills)

• Alignment: Lawful Good
  Portfolio: Vigilance, Combat, Martial Defense
  Domains: Courage, Gnome, Good, Law, Protection, War

Garl Glittergold (The Joker, The Watchful Protector, The Sparkling Wit, The Priceless Gem)

• Alignment: Lawful Good
  Portfolio: Protection, Humor, Trickery, Gem Cutting, Gnomes
  Domains: Craft, Gnome, Good, Law, Protection, Trickery

Segojan Earthcaller (Earthfriend, Lord of the Burrow)

• Alignment: Neutral Good
  Portfolio: Earth, Nature, the Dead
  Domains: Animal, Cavern, Earth, Gnome, Good, Repose

Urdlen (The Crawler Below)

• Alignment: Chaotic Evil
  Portfolio: Greed, Bloodlust, Evil, Hatred, Uncontrolled Impulse, Spriggans
  Domains: Chaos, Darkness, Earth, Evil, Gnome, Hatred

[Jes]

The Halfling Pantheon

Arvoreen (The Defender, The Vigilant Guardian, The Wary Sword)

• Alignment: Lawful Good
  Portfolio: Defense, War, Vigilance, Halfling Warriors, Duty
  Domains: Courage, Good, Halfling, Law, Protection, War

Brandobaris (Master of Stealth, The Irrepressible Scamp, Misadventure, The Trickster, The Friendly Rapscallion)

• Alignment: True Neutral
  Portfolio: Stealth, Thievery, Adventuring, Halfling Rogues
  Domains: Charm, Halfling, Illusion, Luck, Travel, Trickery

Cyrrollalee (The Hand of Fellowship, The Faithful, The Hearthkeeper)

• Alignment: Lawful Good
  Portfolio: Friendship, Trust, the Hearth, Hospitality, Crafts
  Domains: Community, Craft, Good, Halfling, Law, Travel

Sheela Peryroyl (Green Sister, Watchful Mother)

• Alignment: True Neutral
  Portfolio: Nature, Agriculture, Weather, Song, Dance, Beauty, Romantic Love
  Domains: Air, Charm, Earth, Illusion, Halfling, Plant

Urogalan (He Who Must Be, Lord of the Earth, The Black Hound)

• Alignment: Lawful Neutral
  Portfolio: Earth, Death, Protection of the Dead
  Domains: Earth, Halfling, Knowledge, Law, Protection, Repose

Yondalla (The Protector and Provider, The Nurturing Matriarch, The Blessed One)

• Alignment: Lawful Good
  Portfolio: Protection, Bounty, Halflings, Children, Security, Leadership, Wisdom, Creation, Family, Tradition
  Domains: Community, Good, Halfling, Law, Protection, Renewal

[Jes]

The Mulhorandi Pantheon

Anhur (General of the Gods, Champion of Physical Prowess, The Falcon of War, Supreme Marshall of All Armies, God of War, Thunder, Rain, and Storms)

• Alignment: Chaotic Good
  Portfolio: War, Conflict, Physical Prowess, Thunder, Rain
  Domains: Chaos, Good, Strength, Storm, War

Bast (Sharess, Bastet, Felidae, Feleis, Zandilar the Dancer)

• Alignment: Chaotic Good
  Portfolio: Cats, Vengeance, Protection, Punishment
  Domains: Chaos, Charm, Good, Protection, Travel, Trickery (Aspect of Sharess)

Geb (King of the Riches Under the Earth, Father Under the Skies and Sands, Lord Earth)

• Alignment: True Neutral
  Portfolio: The Earth, Miners, Mines, Mineral Resources
  Domains: Cavern, Craft, Earth, Knowledge, Protection, Strength

Hathor (The Nurturing Mother, The Quiet One, The Dancer of Fortune, She Who is There for Those in Need)

• Alignment: Neutral Good
  Portfolio: Motherhood, Folk Music, Dance, The Moon, Fate
  Domains: Animal, Community, Good, Fate, Moon, Protection

Horus-Re (Lord of the Sun, Master of Vengeance, Ruler of Mulhorand, Pharaoh of the Gods)

• Alignment: Lawful Good
  Portfolio: The Sun, Vengeance, Rulership, Kings, Life
  Domains: Courage, Good, Law, Nobility, Retribution, Sun

Isis (Bountiful Lady, Lady of All Love, Mistress of Weather, Lady of Rivers, Mistress of Enchantment)

• Alignment: Neutral Good
  Portfolio: Weather, Rivers, Agriculture, Love, Marriage, Good Magic
  Domains: Air, Community, Good, Magic, Plant, Water

Nephthys (Guardian of Wealth and Commerce, Protector of the Dead, The Devoted Lady, The Lady of Sands, The Avenging Mother)

• Alignment: Chaotic Good
  Portfolio: Wealth, Trade, Protector of Children and the Dead
  Domains: Chaos, Good, Protection, Renewal, Trade, Travel

Osiris (Lord of Nature, Judge of the Dead, The White Crown, Reaper of the Harvest)

• Alignment: Lawful Good
  Portfolio: Vegetation, Death, The Dead, Justice, Harvest
  Domains: Good, Law, Plant, Renewal, Repose, Retribution

Sebek (Lord of Crocodiles, The Smiling Death)

• Alignment: Neutral Evil
  Portfolio: Crocodiles, Rivers, River Hazards, Werecrocodiles, Wetlands
  Domains: Animal, Evil, Moon, Scalykind, Trickery, Water

Set (Lord of Evil, Defiler of the Dead, Lord of Carrion, Father of Jackals, Brother of Serpents, Outcast of the Gods, King of Malice, God of Darkness, God of Desert Storms)

• Alignment: Lawful Evil
  Portfolio: The Desert, Destruction, Drought, Night, Rot, Snakes, Hate, Betrayal, Evil Magic, Ambition, Poison, Murder
  Domains: Air, Darkness, Evil, Hatred, Law, Scalykind

Thoth (Lord of Magic, Scribe of the Gods, Knower of All Secrets, The Keeper of Knowledge, King of Knowledge)

• Alignment: True Neutral
  Portfolio: Neutral Magic, Scribes, Knowledge, Invention, Secrets
  Domains: Crafts, Knowledge, Moon, Magic, Rune, Spell

[Jes]

The Orc Pantheon

Bahgtru (The Strong, the Leg Breaker, the Som of Gruumsh)

• Alignment: Chaotic Evil
  Portfolio: Loyalty, Stupidity, Brute Strength
  Domains: Chaos, Evil, Hatred, Orc, Strength, War

Gruumsh (One-Eye, He Who Never Sleeps, The One-Eyed God, He Who Watches)

• Alignment: Chaotic Evil
  Portfolio: Orcs, Conquest, Survival, Strength, Territory
  Domains: Cavern, Chaos, Evil, Orc, Strength, War

Ilneval (The Horde Leader, The War Maker, The Lieutenant of Gruumsh)

• Alignment: Neutral Evil
  Portfolio: War, Combat, Overwhelming Numbers, Strategy
  Domains: Courage, Destruction, Evil, Hatred, Orc, War

Luthic (The Cave Mother, the Blood Moon Witch)

• Alignment: Neutral Evil
  Portfolio: Caves, Orc Females, Home, Wisdom, Fertility, Healing, Servitude
  Domains: Cavern, Earth, Evil, Community, Healing, Orc

Shargaas (The Night Lord, The Blade in the Darkness, The Stalker Below)

• Alignment: Chaotic Evil
  Portfolio: Night, Thieves, Stealth, Darkness, the Underdark
  Domains: Cavern, Chaos, Darkness, Evil, Orc, Trickery

Yurtrus (White Hands, The Lord of Maggots, The Rotting One)

• Alignment: Neutral Evil
  Portfolio: Death, Disease
  Domains: Death, Destruction, Evil, Orc, Suffering, Slime

[Jes]

Eilistraee

ALIASES: The Dark Maiden, Lady of the Dance, Lady Silverhair
SYMBOL: A silver long sword outlined against a silver moon, with silvery filaments (Eilistraee's hair) around all, in a nimbus
PORTFOLIO: Song, Beauty, Dance, Swordwork, Hunting, Moonlight
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic Good
CLERIC ALIGNMENTS: CN, NG, CG

Eilistraee (EEL-iss-TRAY-yee) is the goddess of the good drow-those rare dark elves who yearn for a re-turn to life on the surface Realms, existence akin to that enjoyed by elves of the woodlands, left behind by the drow long ago. She is a goddess of song and beauty, goodness and light, worshiped through song and dance-preferably in the surface world, under the stars of a moonlit night. Eilistraee aids her faithful in hunting and swordcraft, and worship of her is usually accompanied by a feast. Eilistraee also has worshipers of human, elven, and in particular, half-elven stock (particularly around Silverymoon), and she looks kindly upon the Harpers. She is usually seen only from afar, hut her song (of unearthly beauty, driving many to tears) is heard whenever she appears.

The Dark Maiden is the sister of Vhaeraun and the daughter of Araushnee, who was cast out and became Lolth, and Corellon Larethian. After Eilistraee nearly slew her father with an arrow during a great battle between the Seldarine and a host of evil deities bent on conquering Arvandor, the Dark Maiden forswore the use of ranged weapons (although she permits them to her followers). Although her arrow went astray because of Araushnee's treachery, Eilistraee chose banishment from Arvandor (and the Seldarine) along with her mother and brother, foreseeing a time when she would be needed to balance their evil. On Abeir-Toril, the Dark Maiden strove for centuries against the hatred of Vhaeraun and his corrupting influence on the Ilythiiri (southern, dark-skinned elves). Eilistraee's power ebbed with the death of many of her faithful in the Dark Disaster, and the rise of Lolth and Ghaunadaur among the dark elves marginalized the influence of the Lady of the Dance for millennia. Only in recent centuries has Eilistraee's faith regained a small amount of prominence in Faerun, as the Dark Maiden seeks to lead the fallen drow back to the long-forsaken light.

Eilistraee is a melancholy, moody drow female, a lover of beauty and peace. The evil of most drow banks a burning anger within her, and when her faithful are harmed, that anger is apt to spill out into wild action. It is not her way to act openly, but she often aids creatures she favors (whether they worship her or not) in small, immediately practical ways. Eilistraee is happiest when she looks on bards singing or composing, craftsmen at work, lovers, or acts of kindness.

While the Dark Maiden and the Seldarine remain allies, it is a strained relationship that reflects the divisions that persist among the elves. Among the elven powers, Eilistraee is only close with Erevan Ilesere, and she has only recently worked out an uneasy truce with Shevarash. Eilistraee is unusually close with the human goddess of magic, Mystra; Qilué Veladorn, seventh of the Seven Sisters, serves both goddesses as Chosen of Mystra and as Chosen of Eilistraee. The Dark Maiden hates the corruption and irredeemable evil that both Lolth and Ghaunadaur represent, and she mourns her brother's enduring cruelty and selfishness.

Manifestations

• Eilistraee's most used manifestations are a silvery radiance, sometimes accompanied by a wordless snatch of song or a few echoing harp notes. The Dark Maiden seldom takes a direct hand in the affairs of mortals, but she sometimes appears in the midst of a dance in her honor, leaping amid the flames of the feast unharmed. She also appears, radiance dimmed and clad in a plain, cowled cloak, at the campfires of wayfarers in the woodlands by night to test their kindness.
  
  Most worshipers see Eilistraee only from afar, perched on a hillock or battlement, silver hair streaming out behind her. She appears to show her favor or blessing and often rallies or heartens creatures by causing a high, far-off hunting horn call to be heard. (On several occasions, this has frightened off brigands or orc raiders, who thought aid for their quarry was on the way.) When Eilistraee's hunting horn is heard but no foes are present, her followers interpret it as a sign that someone nearby needs their aid.
  
  Eilistraee sometimes manifests to a worshiper or non-worshiper who honors her with a solitary dance as a silver radiance that transforms the recipient's hair into a mane of silver fire for a month or even permanently. Eilistraee has also been known to aid her worshipers by providing a faint silvery radiance when they need to find something dropped in darkness, or follow an unknown trail by night through dark woods, or when childbirth occurs in darkness. She sometimes sends a flutter of silvery swallow-tailed moths to show her favor, join in a dance, or lead her faithful that have become lost or need some indication of the best direction to take.

The Church of Eilistraee

Eilistraee is served by aasimar, mercury dragons, silver dragons and a tiefling or two. She demonstrates her favor through the discovery of mithral or silver, and the sudden inspiration to write a beautiful song or poem or the skilled to craft a gorgeous sword. Eilistraee indicates her displeasure with the sudden rising of a cold breeze, the disfavored ones hands or feet growing chilled, a sudden lack of inspiration for or capability in any artistic endeavor, or the inability to catch anything while hunting.

The followers of Eilistraee are figures of legend in both the Underdark and the Lands of Light. They are the subject of superstitions and wildly inaccurate rumors, held by surface dwellers to be the evil vanguard of the Spider Goddess's plot to plunge all of Faerun into darkness under her rule and held by those drow who follow the Way of Lolth (or other evil gods) to be faerie (surface elf) invaders masquerading as dark elves in preparation for the coming war of annihilation. Rare is the individual-dark elf or not-who appreciates that Eilistraee is forging her own path, one that welcomes beings of all races who revel in life and the free form expression of all that entails.

All clergy of Eilistraee must be female, but they may be of any intelligent race and are collectively known as Dark Ladies, although individual temples often have a unique collective name for the Dark Maiden's priests. Acolytes and aspirants to the clergy who wish to join a temple or who have not yet attained full priesthood are known as Maids.

Temples of the Dark Maiden are typically established in the mouths of dark caverns and in dim forests on the surface world from which her priests can venture forth at night to brave the moonlight. It is rare for clergy of Eilistraee to found a temple below the surface. The Dark Maiden's clergy seek out pristine, natural sites that need little modification. Temple complexes typically include a glade in which to dance and from which the view of the moon is unobstructed, a dark place removed from the light of day, a thick tree canopy, a lively fresh water stream that playfully dances and sings, a forge and smithy for Grafting swords, an access tunnel to the Underdark, and a vein of iron or some other metal suitable for the crafting of swords. However, the simplest shrine of the Dark Maiden requires naught but a moonlit glade and a song (audible or imagined) that draws one into a dance.

Dogma

• Aid the weak, strong, grateful, and churlish alike; be always kind, save in battle with evil. Encourage happiness everywhere; lift hearts with kind words, jests, songs, and merriment. Learn how to cook game and how best to hunt it. Learn new songs, dances, and ways with weapons, and spices, and recipes, and pass this learning on whenever possible. Learn how to play, make, and repair musical instruments. Practice music and sword-work. Defend and aid all folk, promoting harmony between the races.
  
  Strangers are your friends. The homeless must be given shelter from storms, under your own roof if need be. Repay rudeness with kindness. Repay violence with swift violence, that the fewest may be hurt and danger fast removed from the land.
  
  The faithful must aid drow who are in distress. If the distressed are fighting with other drow, the combat is to be stopped with as little bloodshed as possible. So long as the drow met with are not working evil on others, they are to be aided and given the message of Eilistraee: "A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
  
  Any hungry travelers met with, who offer no threats, are to be fed by the faithful of Eilistraee. While traveling, priests are to carry food with them for this purpose at all times. Where food cannot be purchased or received, it must be gathered or hunted for. Faithful of Eilistraee are to set aside food and give it as often as possible to strangers in need, particularly outcasts and those of other races. If food yet remains, it is to be given to the priests of Eilistraee, that they may do the same, and none shall go hungry. Except for properly sad occasions, a meal should be accompanied by merriment; the faithful of the Dark Maiden are commanded to promote happiness and gaiety whenever possible. When faithful and allies of a priest fall in battle, any priest present must, if possible, provide burial, a funeral song, and comfort to the bereaved.

Day-to-Day Activities

• Whenever and wherever possible, faithful of Eilistraee encourage drow to return to the surface world and work to promote harmony between drow and surface-dwelling races in order to establish the drow as rightful, non-evil inhabitants of Faerun. They nurture beauty, music, the craft of making musical instruments, and song wherever they find it, assist hunters and hunting, and help others in acts of kindness whenever they see ways to do so. Priests must be skilled in the playing of at least one of the Dark Maiden's favored instruments-horn, flute, or harp; be adequate singers; and be fit, graceful dancers. They gather songs and musical knowledge constantly and acquire training in the use of the sword when they can.

Holy Days/Important Ceremonies

• The customary worship to the Dark Maiden is a hunt, followed by a feast and dancing, and a Circle of Song, in which the worshipers sit and dance by turns in a circle, each one in succession leading a song. If possible, this is done out of doors, in a wooded area, on a moonlit night. Daily prayers are sung whenever possible, and priests try to lead others in a song or two every evening, even if no formal ritual is held.
  
  Worshipers of Eilistraee try to let out all of the gathered emotions of the day with an 'evensong'. An evensong is a personal thing, often wordless and done in private. Priests of the Dark Maiden who have the coins to do so are expected to hire any strange minstrel or bard they meet for a song or two; lay worshipers are encouraged to do so. Whenever a sword is finished or first taken into use by a worshiper of the Dark Maiden, a priest tries to call down the blessing of the goddess upon it. This is done by planting the blade point-down in the ground, out of doors and by night, and dancing.
  
  The High Hunt is celebrated at least once in each of the four seasons: a night-time hunt of a dangerous beast or monster, led by priests of Eilistraee. By tradition, the hunters may use any bladed weapons, and wear anything-except the priests, who go naked, carrying only a single sword. If the quarry is slain, a chanted prayer and circle dance to the goddess is held.
  
  At least once a year, priests of Eilistraee undertake a Run. Those who are not drow blacken their bodies with natural dyes and oils. All priests, drow or not, boil certain leaves and berries to make their hair silvery, and go wandering on the surface world. Trusting to their music, kind ways, and sword skills to keep them from being slain as drow, priests of the Dark Maiden go where they are strangers, making an effort to seek out elven communities and bring them game, kindness, and helping hands. They try to learn new songs, music, and sword ways, and do not come to preach their faith or make a mark for themselves.
  
  In the end, all priests who do not die in battle hold their greatest ritual: the Last Dance. In old age, Eilistraee's priests hear the goddess singing to them by night, calling them to her. When the song feels right, they go out unclad under the moonlit sky and dance-never to be seen again. Those who have observed such dances say that the goddess comes and sings overhead, and the aged priest begins to dance more effortlessly, looking younger and younger. Her hair begins to glow with the same radiance as the Dark Maiden's, and then she becomes slowly translucent, fading away as the dance goes on. In the end, only a silvery radiance is heard, with two voices-the goddess and her priest-raised together in melancholy, tender song.

Equipment

• Priestly Vestments; Priests of Eilistraee wear their hair long, and dress practically for whatever they are currently doing. For rituals, they wear as little as possible. Otherwise, they tend to wear soft leathers for hunting, aprons while cooking, and-when battle is expected-armor. When relaxing, they favor silvery, diaphanous gowns. The holy symbol of the faith is a silver sword pendant the length of a Dark Lady's hand. Such symbols are typically worn as pins or hung around the neck on a slender silver or mithral chain.
  
  Adventuring Garb: Eilistraee's clergy must garb themselves in either magical armor or armor of drow make. Whenever possible, priests of the Dark Maiden must use swords in battle. If no swords are at hand but other bladed weapons are available, they must be used in preference to other weapons. Long bows and silver-tipped arrows are also commonly employed as secondary weapons.
  
  The favored weapons of priests of Eilistraee are singing swords. Some are sentient and aligned to chaotic good, but most can be wielded by any being capable of lifting them. A singing sword is a silver bastard sword that sings constantly and loudly when unsheathed.

[Jes]

Lolth

ALIASES: Araushnee, Megwandir, Moander, Zinzerena, The Spider Queen, Queen of Spiders, Demon Queen of Spiders, Demon Queen of the Abyss, Queen of the Demonweb Pits, Weaver of Chaos, the Hunted the Mother of Lusts, Dark Mother of All Drow, Lady of Spiders
SYMBOL: Black spider with female drow head (at bottom of figure) or black cloak and short
PORTFOLIO: Spiders, Evil, Darkness, Chaos, Assassins, the Drow Race
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic Evil
CLERIC ALIGNMENTS: LN, N, CN, LE, NE, CE

Lolth is the goddess of the drow race and drow society. She is responsible for the nature, customs, laws, and survival of most drow communities. The Spider Queen maintains her absolute rule over drow cities by means of her clergy, who tirelessly seek out and destroy all traces of dissent, disobedience, rival faiths, or sacrilege and w ruthlessly enforce the Way of Lolth. The Spider Queen foments unending chaos in drow society and sets the drow eternally at war with each other both for her own amusement and to prevent complacency, runaway pride from asserting itself, or the rise of other faiths. Lolth is also venerated by chitines, a small spider-like race that are castoffs of the drow.

As Araushnee, Lolth was once a lesser power of the Seldarine and the consort of Corellon Larethian. She was the patron of artisans, the goddess of elven destiny, and later, by Corellon's decree, the keeper of those elves who shared her darkly beautiful features. The Weaver of Destiny bore Corellon twin godlings (Vhaeraun and Eilistraee) before she turned against her lover and raised a host of hostile powers to attack Arvandor. Despite the treachery of Araushnee, and to a lesser extent, Vhaeraun, the assault failed and the perfidy of Corellon's consort and son were revealed. By order of the Council of the Seldarine, Araushnee was transformed into a spider-shaped tanar'ri and banished to the Abyss.

As an Abyssal Lord, Araushnee assumed the name Lolth and conquered a considerable portion of that foul plane, driving off Ghaunadaur and subjugating Kiaransalee in the process. The Spider Queen then turned her attentions toward corrupting the mortal children of the Seldarine and reclaiming her divinity. The Spider Queen immediately began to cultivate followers among the most cruel and corrupt of Corellon's children in Faerun. Lolth's machinations among the elves culminated in the Crown Wars, and eventually, the descent of the drow into the Underdark, but by that time she had enmeshed most of the dark-skinned Ilythiiri, now drow, in her webs and engendered the death of countless elves and the destruction of much of elven civilization in Faerun.

In the centuries since the Crown Wars, Lolth's followers have continued to spread throughout the Underdark, from Dusklyngh to T'lindhet and from Guallidurth to now-fallen V'elddrinnsshar. While other powers contest her rule, the Spider Queen's dominion over the dark elves continues to expand, albeit more slowly than before. Lolth's followers have been occupied with the conquest of the Underdark and the destruction of the faerie elves of the surface, and the Spider Queen has never ceased in her efforts to destroy the elven sanctuary of Evermeet.

Lolth is a cruel, capricious goddess, thought by many to be insane. She delights in setting her worshipers at each other's throats, so that the strongest, most devious and most cruel survive to serve her. Lolth roams the Realms often, appearing in answer to the rituals of drow priests, and working whatever harm she can to the enemies of drow. (During the Time of Troubles, Lolth appeared in the northern city of Menzoberranzan for a short period of time.) The Spider Queen secretly wants to be worshiped by humans and elves of other races on the surface Realms, and sometimes journeys among their communities, whispering of the power Lolth can bring. Lolth is malicious in her dealings and coldly vicious in a fight. She enjoys both personally dealing and causing death, destruction, and painful torture. Even more, Lolth enjoys corrupting elves and humans to her service. Lolth can be kind and render aid to those she fancies-but she really cares only for herself; her favor and aid can never be relied on. The Spider Queen enjoys the company of and can converse with spiders of all sorts.

Manifestations

• Lolth can appear as a giant black widow spider with crimson eyes, or she can change into the form of a human-sized, exquisitely beautiful female drow. In this form she often clothes herself entirely in clinging spiders, but sometimes wearing drow chain mail styled into artful dresses or tunics. She can also combine the two forms, appearing as a giant spider with a coldly beautiful female drow head. This is the form in which she is usually found in the Abyss, and it is thought to be her true form. Lolth can call on any sphere or school of magic for her spells.
  
  Lolth rarely aids her worshipers directly, preferring to watch and enjoy their sufferings and struggles. If she wants someone to know that she is watching, Lolth causes a smirking pair of sensuous lips to appear on any spider present. The spider is always outlined in a flickering purple faerie fire. If no spider is present, Lolth creates a smiling, spider-shaped shadow of giant size. More rarely, Lolth acts directly. In such cases, her power may be seen as a flickering black, mauve-edged radiance around a person or object temporarily imbued with her power.
  
  Lolth's laughter - soft, cruel feminine chuckling - is often heard by drow who have lost her favor or who have gone mad. It is also heard by foes of the drow, especially when beings of these sorts are alone and/or fleeing in the endless caverns and passages of the Underdark.

The Church of Lolth

Members of Lolth's clergy must be drow or chitines, although little is known about the latter, even among the dark elves themselves.

The Spider Queen is the subject of terrifying legend among most surface dwellers and seen as virtually synonymous with the greatly feared drow. In the Underdark, she is a well-known evil, hated for the cruel power of her priests by dwarves, svirfneblin, and other races. Few elves are even willing to discuss their deep-dwelling kin, let alone the dark goddess who is blamed in large part for their depravity and for leading them into evil. Only the dark elven priests of Eilistraee are even willing to discuss the Spider Queen, and their fury at her enslavement of their kin exceeds even that of the other elven subraces. Lolth is hated and feared even by her most devout priests; they venerate her for the power she provides, not out of any sense of affection or loyalty or principles. Dark elves who venerate other evil gods as well all male drow who pay her homage revile both the Spider Queen and her priests for the power they possess, not that they would not seize such power for themselves if they could.

Noble Houses have their own private temples, and every drow city has at least one large, open public gathering-area for large rituals, calls to war, and the like. Most cities also have a grand temple to the Spider Queen, used for training priests.
In every temple, despite large differences in size, opulence, and importance, certain constants apply. Inner chambers are reserved for the worship and business of Lolth, including most spellcasting. These chambers are always shrouded in darkness, except for the radiance involved in spellcasting and rituals. Antechambers are set aside for war councils, and most business wherein priests meet with drow males and outsiders. Most temples have guardian creatures, often hidden, and occasionally magical in nature (such as jade spiders). These usually include spiders of all sorts. In the event of an attack, even the harmless sorts of spiders can be equipped with armor-sheaths, strapped to their backs, that bear House defense runes-or even, in the case of intelligent, charmed spiders, house insignia with active magic powers may be wielded.

Statuettes of the Spider Queen, usually worked of black stone, are present in all temple chambers. Marble and obsidian are favored materials for statuary and temple furniture. There are always large, ornately carved (with spider shapes) braziers, and at least one altar of black stone.

Titles used by Lolthite priests vary widely from city to city but are strictly enforced within their respective domains. As an example, in Guallidurth, deep beneath Calimshan, Lolth's clergy are known collectively as Yom'y-athrins. In ascending order, the hierarchy of titles for the Temple City of Lolth include Noamutha, Khalessa, Kyorla, Alura, Quartha, Talintha, Elamshina, and Xundusa. High-ranking priests of the Spider Queen are collectively known as yathtallars. If they rule a noble house they are known as Ilharess (Matron Mother), but otherwise they are titled Streea'Valsharess (Black Widow).

Dogma

• Fear is as strong as steel, while love and respect are soft, useless feelings that none can lean on. All drow who do not worship Lolth must be converted or destroyed. All weak and rebellious drow must be weeded out. All who impugn the faith must perish. Males or slaves of other races who act independently of Lolth's dictates (and those other priests) must be sacrificed to Lolth. Those of the faithful whose loyalty is weak must be eliminated. Children are to be raised as loyal worshipers of Lolth, and each family should produce at least one priest to serve the Spider Queen better than his or her parents. Arachnids of all sorts are to be revered, and anyone who mistreats or kills a spider must die.
  
  Such are the commands of Lolth-but the priest who follows them blindly is on a slippery path leading to swift death. Success in the service of Lolth lies with those who are attentive to the ever-changing, often contradictory will of Lolth. Lolth's capricious nature makes hard-and-fast rules few and uncertainty great. Of course, questioning Lolth's motives or wisdom is a sin. Aiding non-drow against drow is a great sin, as is ignoring the Spider Queen's commands in favor of love. (Lolth often tests her priests by ordering the sacrifice of a favored consort.) Drow who lose the favor of Lolth are always given a single chance to redeem themselves. This is usually a dangerous or difficult mission, though Lolth may test certain individuals by setting no task at all and observing what they do. Those who willfully fail are destroyed. Lolth commands other worshipers to do this (in turn, testing them). Those who fail through mischance or poor planning or execution are usually transformed into driders. Lolth often plays favorites among her drow worshipers, but those who ride high one season are warned that Lolth can turn her dark face upon them without warning and undoubtedly will sometime soon.

Day-to-Day Activities

• Lolth's priests are the rulers, police forces, judges, juries, and executioners of drow society. They wield power daily, and most do so in a manner in keeping with the cruel and capricious nature of Lolth herself. Priests of Lolth strive to act as Lolth wishes and to manipulate (often by brutal force) their fellow drow to do so too. The ultimate aim of every priest is to achieve and keep the Favor of Lolth. The spirits of priests who die in her favor are believed to go to the Abyss, where they become yochlol and other servant creatures. Those who die in Lolth's disfavor are thought to pass into torment on another plane somewhere, perhaps to someday return to the Realms as a snake or spider. (Drow beliefs are confused on such matters, and often change with time and location.) The duties of a good priest, then, are to do whatever is necessary to gain and to keep the Spider Queen's favor. Although treachery and cruelty are often rewarded, Lolth does not look kindly on those who let personal grudges and revenge-taking bring defeat or shame to their House, clan, city, or band.

Holy Days/Important Ceremonies

• Lolth requires homage-submission in prayer, plus offerings-regularly from her priests. Ceremonies involving the sacrifice of surface elves are performed monthly during nights of the full moon as deliberate affronts to Sehanine, Lolth's hated rival. Rituals to Lolth are customarily practiced in female-only company in a sacred room or area. Rituals requiring extraordinary power or a public display may be celebrated in the open and in all sorts of mixed company When Lolth's aid is required, sacrifices must be made. These are traditionally the blood of drow faithful and/or captured foes, spilled with a spider-shaped knife whose eight descending legs are. In other cases, gems or other precious objects may be burned in braziers, as prayers of offering are chanted.In large, important rituals, priests of Lolth customarily use eight braziers to provide additional flame material and in homage to Lolth (the flames represent her eight legs). The most powerful rituals to Lolth defy detailed 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 burning brazier). These offerings are always consumed in the flames of Lolth at some point in the ritual. If Lolth is particularly displeased, or impostors are present, the black-and-red flames that leap from the braziers to consume the offerings may also arc to consume other valuables present, such as magical items, jewelry, and clothing.

Equipment

• Priestly Vestments: When participating in rituals, priests of Lolth work unclad or wear robes (black, trimmed with dark red and purple-or, for lesser or novitiate priests, dark purple or red trimmed with black). In some cities ornate helms carved to resemble writhing spiders are worn by Lolth's clergy, while in others heads are always left uncovered. Jewelry worn by the Spider Queen's priests consists of spider medallions and other spider designs, all made of platinum. The holy symbol of the faith is a platinum disk at least 3 inches in diameter with an embossed depiction on both its obverse and reverse in jet black enamel of a black widow spider or a platinum spider figurine on a platinum or mithral chain necklace.
  
  Adventuring Garb: Lolth's clergy favor drow chain mail. Typically such armor is enchanted. Some priests also carry adamantine bucklers. Clerics of the Spider Queen typically wield adamantine maces or adamantine short swords and long daggers. Priests who are not clerics may also employ hand-held crossbows that shoot darts coated with drow sleep poison. Most senior priests of Lolth carry snake-headed whips of fangs, and delight in using them often.

[Jes]

Vhaeraun

ALIASES: The Masked Lord, the Masked God of Night, the Shadow
SYMBOL: Black half-mask
PORTFOLIO: Thievery, Drow Males, Territory, Evil Activity on the Surface World
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic Evil
CLERIC ALIGNMENTS: LN, N, CN, LE, NE, CE

Vhaeraun is the god of thievery and the furthering of drow aims, interests, and power in the Night Above, as the surface world is known to the faithful. He is also the god of drow males opposed to the matriarchy of Lolth, teaching that males are as skilled and valuable as females, and thus passively opposing the teachings of Lolth's priesthood on this point. He believes that drow should work with the other elven races for common advancement and never associate or trade with duergar, svirfneblin, or other dwarven and gnome races. (Humans and halflings can be tolerated.)

Vhaeraun is vain, proud, sometimes haughty, bears grudges of legendary length, and never forgets slights or deceptions. Any underhanded means and treachery is acceptable to him if it furthers his aims or is done in his service-but if others so treat him or his people, it is a deep sin that cannot go unpunished. He actively involves himself in drow affairs and moderately often sends an avatar to assist the work of his priests if the proper rituals are performed and the need is genuine.

Vhaeraun is the brother of Eilistraee and the son of Araushnee, who was cast out and became Lolth, and Corellon Larethian. The Masked Lord was cast out of the Seldarine and banished from Arvandor, along with his mother and sister, when his complicity was revealed in Araushnee's plot to destroy Corellon. The Masked Lord nurtures an abiding hatred of Eilistraee but reserves his greatest hatred for the Spider Queen who gave birth to him long ago. The Masked Lord lacks the strength to challenge Lolth directly, so he works against her in shadow, undermines her in silence, and looks to unite the other drow powers against her.

Manifestations

• Vhaeraun frequently dispatches his avatar to answer a summoning ritual performed by his priests. He appears as a well-muscled, slim, graceful, handsome drow male with eyes and hair that change in hue from red (for anger) to gold (triumph) to blue (amusement) and green (puzzlement or curious interest) to reflect his mood. He never wears armor of any sort, but he always wears a long, flowing black cloak. Those looking at Vhaeraun's cloak in darkness can see through it the stars, the moon, or whatever else is behind it even if Vhaeraun is obviously within the portion they are observing.
  
  Vhaeraun prefers to appear as an avatar but only comes when summoned by a magical ritual. (In fact, he forbids his priests to use spells from the summoning sphere or sphere as they are only to summon him.) When he cannot send his avatar (in other words, when the ritual of summoning has not been performed), he sends a flitting black shadow.
  
  Vhaeraun may also send a manifestation to signify his displeasure or his defiance of rivals or enemies of his people. This takes the form of a floating, insubstantial half-mask of shadows that drifts silently to confront the beings he wishes to. The mask can only move and utter a chilling, mocking laugh.

The Church of Vhaeraun

Vhaeraun is little known on the surface world among non-drow or in the Lolth-dominated cities of the dark elves in the Underdark. Among those non-drow aware of the activities of his followers in the surface world, the Masked Lord is often confused with the human god of thieves, Mask. Very few surface dwellers appreciate the threat Vhaeraun and his followers represent to the established order.
In the wilds of the Underdark, the faith of Vhaeraun is seen to be slowly expanding in power and influence, and the followers of the Masked Lord are viewed with fearful respect. To priests of Lolth, priests of Vhaeraun are the enemy, to be hunted down by any means possible -torture of suspected drow is a favorite tactic- and eradicated on the altars of Lolth to earn the maximum glory of the goddess and derive the most personal enjoyment out of one's efforts. To dissatisfied, city-dwelling drow, particularly males, who somehow learn of the Masked Lord, Vhaeraun's faith is seen to offer a means of escape from the enslavement the Spider Queen.

In the Underdark, Vhaeraun is worshiped in deep caverns cloaked in multiple, overlapping darkness spells. Such temples are typically natural amphitheaters, with soaring ceilings studded with sparkling beljurils spaced to resemble stars. In the Night Above, the Masked Lord is venerated in shallow woodland caves cloaked by layers of leaves of deep forest canopies that allow little light to reach the forest floor. Such shrines are typically located near or in small communities of surface-dwelling drow who seek the return of the drow to the Night Above as the Masked Lord has called for. One such temple and community may be found in the western fringes of the High Forest, just two days south of the River Dessarin's headwaters near the Lost Peaks.

All priests of the Masked Lord must be male and Drow, with the rare exception of suborned priests of Lolth. Vhaeraun's clergy are known collectively as the Masked. Novices of Vhaeraun are known as the Uncloaked. All other members of the clergy are known as Nightshadows. Titles used by Vhaeraunan priests vary widely across temple hierarchies, but typical titles (in no particular order) include Ascendant Darkness, Black Moon, Dark Mantle, Deep Rogue, Enveloping Night, Raven's Caw, Shadow Hunter, Silent Sable, and Twilight's Herald. High-ranking priests of the Masked Lord have unique individual titles. Specialty priests are known as darkmasks, and traitorous priests of Lolth are known as masked traitors.

Dogma

• The shadows of the Masked Lord must cast off the tyranny of the Spider Queen and forcibly reclaim their birthright and rightful place in the Night Above. The existing drow matriarchies must be smashed, and the warring practices of twisted Lolth done away with so that the drow are welded into a united people, not a squabbling gaggle of rival Houses, clans, and aims. Vhaeraun will lead his followers into a society where the Ilythiiri once again reign supreme over the other, lesser races, and there is equality between males and females.
  
  Priests of Vhaeraun must encourage, lead, or aid bands of drow and allied chaotic evil creatures in thievery and instigate plots, intrigues, and events to continually increase drow influence and real power in the surface Realms. They must manipulate trade, creatures, and intrigues designed to lessen the power of and frustrate the plans of drow priests (particularly those who serve Lolth), and continually foment rebellion or disobedience among drow males. Drow thieves in need must be aided (even if female): healed, bailed out of jail, or forcibly rescued. Drow men oppressed or under attack by drow women must be physically aided in any circumstances. Cruelties against drow men must be avenged.

Day-to-Day Activities

• Vhaeraun's priesthood is nearly exclusively male and practices passive opposition to Lolth's priests. They are also active in the surface world, and some preach a heresy of the unity of elven races and their need to work together for dominion. They specialize in intrigue, trickery, and treachery and foment disobedience and rebellion among males. In drow communities, Vhaeraun's priests often disguise their allegiance, for obvious reasons.
  
  Contact and marriage with other elven races is encouraged. Half-drow usually breed true back into the drow race; Vhaeraun sees this practice inexorably raising drow numbers in surface lands. Every priest works to establish some sort of permanent drow settlement on the surface world, and either support that settlement's needs personally, or (preferably) make it self-supporting. (The settlement of Vhaeraun worshipers in the High Forest, as discussed above, was established by the drow wizard Nisstyre, captain of the merchant band Dragon's Hoard, before his death in a clash with the Dark Maidens of the Promenade in chambers beneath Skullport.) Poison use, manufacture, and experimentation is also common. Especially effective spells, poisons, and tactics devised by a priest are to be shared with the Masked Lord-and thence, all clergy.

Holy Days/Important Ceremonies

• The most important attacks, negotiations, and other activities of the clergy must occur at night. Priests of Vhaeraun utter prayers to the Masked God of Night whenever they accomplish something to further his aims. Offerings of the wealth and weapons of those they vanquish (enemies of the drow, or regalia of female drow priests) are to be melted in black, bowl-shaped altars. Offerings of magic and wealth are made regularly. The more and the more value, the more Vhaeraun is pleased, though he favors daily diligence more than rare, huge hauls.
  
  Midwinter Night, known to Vhaeraun's followers as the Masked Lord's Embrace, is the most sacred time of the year to the followers of the Masked Lord. This annual holy day is celebrated by the Masked Lord's followers with daylong introspective rituals of total sensory deprivation. Each worshiper is expected to cloak himself in a region of magical darkness and levitate at the middle of the effect for a full 24 hours while contemplating Vhaeraun's teachings and dreaming up schemes to advance the Masked Lord's goals in the coming year.
  
  In the Night Above, nights of the new moon are considered sacred to the followers of the Masked Lord. Such occasions are observed with midnight stag hunts that range over miles of shadowy woodlands, such as the Forest of Lethyr, the Forest of Mir, the Frozen Forest, the Lurkwood, Rawl-inswood, the Trollbark Forest, and the Winterwood. Packs of Vhaeraun worshipers, mounted on riding lizards brought up from the Underdark, run down a noble hart and then sacrifice its rack of antlers and still-beating heart to the Masked Lord in dark rites that pervert the ancient ways of the surface elves.

Traitor Priests

• Very rare, but greatly feared in Lolth-fostered drow folklore and among living priests of Lolth, is the traitor priest who serves Lolth and Vhaeraun. It is for this reason that male drow who aspire to be priests in Lolth s service seldom rise very far in levels: even if they overcome the hatred and resentment of any female drow clergy they must work with, the Spider Queen simply does not trust them-they tend to end their days quickly, being used as temple enforcers or guards.
  
  How can such treachery be tolerated by the Spider Queen? Surely she knows the heart of every worshiper, and could prevail over any influences of a god of lesser power, such as Vhaeraun? The truth is that Vhaeraun is not so much less powerful than the Spider Queen, he simply uses his power in subtle, hidden, behind-the-scenes ways, not in the tyrannical, exultant, and brutal-naked-force manner so beloved by Lolth. He also watches over the drow in any place ruled by Lolth where he does have worshipers often and attentively, looking into their minds for doubts and misgivings. If he finds great hatred or open rebellion against the dictates of the Spider Queen and can find an opportunity for a private audience with the wavering Lolth worshiper, Vhaeraun manifests as a shadowy black face mask, and telepathically speaks to the individual. If the individual is discovered or attacked by others, Vhaeraun typically leaves after destroying the beings who attacked his intended faithful. In doing this he manifests a sign of his power over Lolth and preserves the intended worshiper for another attempt at conversion later.
  
  A double agent priest or priest continues to advance in Lolth's service and to gain spells normally. If the individual's loyalty to Vhaeraun is ever discovered, Lolth typically alerts nearby drow, and refuses to grant any further spells to the traitor, but does not strip the drow of any presently memorized spells. If the drow survives long enough to flee Lolth worshipers he continues at the same priest level and spell power, losing access to spells specifically and only granted by Lolth. The double agent becomes a cleric of Vhaeraun (although the dress and manners of a Lolth worshiper may be retained for use as a disguise), and typically travels to near-surface drow holdings or trading communities used by several races.

Equipment

• Priestly Vestments: Vhaeraun's clergy garb themselves in half-masks, loose silk shirts, form-fitting pants, and leather boots, all of which are jet black. They are never without at least one black-edged bladed weapon on their persons, and most are bedecked with half a dozen or more such weapons. The god's holy symbol is a black half-mask that can, of course, be worn and used like any mask.
  
  Adventuring Garb: No priest of Vhaeraun can wear any type of armor except leather armor, and dark garb is always preferred. Vhaeraun's clergy favor daggers, short swords, and long swords, but they always select the most appropriate weapon for the task at hand. The Masked Lord's priests are well versed in the use of poisons, and typically prepare several varieties of widely varying onset times, methods of application, and strengths before embarking on a dangerous undertaking.

[Jes]

Torm

ALIASES: The True, The True Deity, The Loyal Fury
SYMBOL: Right-hand gauntlet held upright with palm forward
PORTFOLIO: Duty, loyalty, obedience, paladins
ALIGNMENT: Lawful Good
CLERIC ALIGNMENTS: LG, LN, NG

Torm the True is an ascended hero who lived his mortal life in service to a just sovereign. Torm eschews the pretense of his fellow deities, instead adopting a humble position that he exists to serve the common good and the rule of law as established by honorable mortal rulers. Though a true deity with awesome power at his disposal, the Loyal Fury is all too familiar with the failings of mortal men, having fallen victim to hubris, gullibility and ignorance when confined to a mortal shell himself. Stern, righteous, and unyielding in the face of evil, Torm's spirit lifts when dealing with his friends, the weak, the defenseless, and the young.

Torm battled Bane during the Time of Troubles, destroying the Black Lord in personal combat (he too died in the conflict, but was later returned to life by Ao). As such, he became a hero to good-hearted people throughout the continent, a savior who in slaying Bane delivered Faerun from the machinations of the deity of strife and tyranny. In nations across the continent, Torm became a symbol of heroism and bravery, the ideal knight serving his followers with a transforming act of self-sacrifice appreciated even by great Ao himself. This adoration extended to Torm's church, which experienced a renaissance and philosophical blooming as its numbers swelled and new thinkers and adherents joined the congregation.

Clerics of Torm pray for their spells at dawn on the 13th of Eleasis, they celebrate a somber ceremony known as the Divine Death to commemorate Torm's sacrificial destruction of Bane. The 15th of Marpenoth sees a more jovial ritual in the form of the True Resurrection, which celebrates the anniversary of Torm's return to Toril at the behest of Ao. Shieldmeet, traditionally a time when Faerunians enter new agreements and compacts, is a time of great religious significance to followers of the deity of duty, who take their oaths very, very seriously. In addition to the daily morning prayer, clerics are expected to give thanks and honor to Torm through quiet prayers at noon, dusk, and midnight. Torm's clerics often multiclasss as divine champions, divine disciples, or paladins.

Dogma

• Salvation may be found through service. Every failure of duty diminishes Torm and every success adds to his luster. Strive to maintain law and order. Obey your masters with alert judgment and anticipation. Stand every alert against corruption. Strike quickly and forcefully against rot in the hearts of mortals. Bring painful, quick death to traitors. Question unjust laws by suggesting improvement or alternatives, not additional laws. Your fourfold duties are to faith, family, masters, and all good beings of Faerun.

[Jes]

Salandra

ALIASES: The Healer, the Lady in White, the Mother of Healing
SYMBOL: Two open hands holding a ball of healing light
PORTFOLIO: Cures to Illness, Healing, Health, Medical Herbalism
ALIGNMENT: Neutral Good
CLERIC ALIGNMENTS: CG, CN, LG, LN, NG, TN

Salandra can show interest in the affairs of mortals through miraculous healing, a soft white glow around objects or people, a comforting presence and a gentle brush on one’s cheek, or as in human form. Those who have seen the goddess describe her as a beautiful woman clad in white, who emanates an aura of light and who is surrounded by a feeling of harmony and well-being.

Salandra the Healer is a demigod under Ilmater’s service. Once a mortal priestess of the Crying God on the island of Amia, she dedicated her life to the treatment of illness and eradication of undeath. Eventually, she faced a martyr’s fate when stopping a devastating malady, and Ilmater saw fit to reward her devotion with divinity.

Salandra’s temples are few and far between. The oldest one is located on Amia, her home island. There is a handful of other small temples on Toril: at least on the Moonshaes, somewhere in the Dalelands, and in Tethyr. The temples are most likely to be found in high mountainous regions, or in remote sunlit valleys. The locations are usually chosen to take advantage of beneficial airs, local mineral water springs or other naturally occurring sources of healing. Small shrines exist in a few Ilmateri temples.

The primary duty of Salandrans is to treat wounds and cure illnesses, offering a helping hand to anyone in need. The clergy members are renowned for their skill with herbs, surgery and other forms of treatment, for ailments of both body and spirit. Every servant is expected to learn the basics of medicine, and mundane forms of healing are preferred to those of divine nature whenever possible.


Dogma

• The first duty is to heal the sick and the injured. No other duty will ever outweigh the first. Salandrans will heal those in need without hesitation to the best of their abilities whenever asked. They do this as an act of charity and as a gift both to and from the Goddess. The act of healing is an act of worship.
  
  The second duty is to heal without prejudice or favor. Salandrans heal all who need their aid without regard to who asks or whether their beliefs match our own. On the battlefield it is our duty to aid the wounded on both sides after the battle is over. This holds true for races traditionally regarded as enemies by local people. If a Salandran is asked for aid in a matter regarding the healing arts they are duty bound to answer.
  
  The third duty is to seek out and research new ways of healing or of preventing illness. This includes the duty to seek out and lay to rest any undead who may cross the healer's path. The undead are unclean. It is the Salandran's duty to cleanse them.
  
  The fourth duty is to others. The Salandran will strive for perfection of self through duty to others. Acts of charity and assistance granted to those in need are gifts to Salandra and are the source of the gifts which the Goddess grants us in return.
  
  The final duty is to seek those in need. Outside the Salandran temples, healers are expected to travel the realm seeking those who require their help. A Salandran cannot cure a healthy man. If a town is healthy it is the duty of a Salandran to move on. Seek out the sick and the injured. They may not be able to come to us. We must find them.

Clergy

• Salandra's church is well-structured although relaxed in nature. During the first years of training, a Salandran holds the rank of Novice, after which they may be promoted to Acolytes. After this stage, the experienced clergy members either become priestesses and priests, or take the role of a templar: sworn defender of the temple site and hunter of undead. The vast majority of high-ranking clerics are females, whereas most templars tend to be males. This is due to tradition and natural tendencies perceived in the genders, but the split is not absolute. Temples are overseen by a Temple Mother – or, in more liberal regions, a Temple Father – who are both spiritual and mundane leaders in charge of maintaining the facilities and representing the church officially. One is elected by a council of elder priestesses and priests, nominated by the former holder of the title or, rarely, announced by a Divine Oracle.
  
  The day-to-day activities of Novices include tending to the patients in their sick wards, cleaning and preparing equipment and supplies for use in medical treatment, taking care of the temple’s herb gardens and all manner of chores, accompanied by rigorous study of treating illnesses and wounds. Acolytes are expected to actively research new forms of treatment.
  
  Despite their general aversion to violence, all Salandrans take basic combat lessons in order to fight undead and to defend especially the sick ward if the temple ever were to be under attack. Salandra is a gentle goddess and her worshipers do not wish to cause harm to sentient beings, evil or not. A Salandran should always seek a peaceful solution at first, and only resort to violence when it is the only way to stop those who seek to harm others. Whether this includes taking an active role on the battlefield or is strictly limited to healing allies and self-defense is a topic debated among the Salandrans themselves. Whichever approach one believes to be the right one, every Salandran will have mercy on defeated foes and heal them once the fight is over and necessary precautions have been taken.

Specialty Priests

• Within the church of Salandra, there are some individuals trained for special tasks:
  1. Battle Surgeon – These healers undergo rigorous training to maneuver and heal in the heat of combat. They study combat tactics in order to predict the tides of battle and protect themselves. A typical Battle Surgeon is a large man clad in heavy armor, wielding a mace and carrying a large shield to block strikes and shove attackers aside with. He is equipped with several salves, bandages, potions and wands of healing as well as an arsenal of protective and healing spells.
  2. Templar – These holy warriors are sworn to defend their temple against any threat. They do so not only by standing guard around the compound but also by seeking dangerous undead to destroy and cleansing areas densely inhabited by such abominations. The most typical weapon in a templar’s hand is the morning star, which tears through undead flesh with such ferocity unmatched by any other weapon.
  3. Divine Oracle – The Divine Oracle is an individual touched by Salandra herself. They are few and far between, and there’s no archetype of a Divine Oracle. Their sole goal is to further Salandra’s cause by whatever means seem wise and to follow the goddess’s personal instructions. Divine Oracles wield powerful divine magics, especially those of divination and healing. They tend to work outside the boundaries of the church and are very independent, though they’re highly respected in the temples. ((DM Permission required to play!))

Priestly Vestments

• The Salandran ceremonial garb consists of simple red and white robes. The amount of white cloth denotes one’s rank within the clergy. Novices wear almost completely red robes, whereas a Temple Mother’s ceremonial robe would be of fine white silk. Curiously, Salandrans tend not to use the symbol of their deity in temple decoration or ceremonial clothing and jewelry. Religious practices are rather plain in appearance.

Adventuring Garb

• Salandrans employ whatever armor suits them best, but often opt for heavy armor which protects them on the battle field even when they are focused on treating a fallen comrade’s wounds. Blunt weapons such as maces, hammers and staves are common Salandran weapons, though the most popular of all is the morning star. It is, in fact, Salandra’s favored weapon and is also used as a ceremonial artifact. Many traditional Salandrans frown upon the use of cutting weapons such as axes and swords but some, more or less unorthodox members of the adventuring clergy are known to have wielded them.

The Stone Tablets of Salandra

The two tablets of The Healer record the ancient myth of Salandra's life and ascension. They were brought to the Amian temple by an exhausted, wounded woman in white robes on a rainy night in 1375 DR. The woman passed away that very night but apparently had fulfilled her purpose and promise to Salandra. The tablets are now kept in the temple where scholars and faithful from all around can come to see them.


The Stone Tablets of Salandra

• In times long lost, there was good and evil, just like today, just like in the eons to come. There was illness, famine, pain and death. But there were also those who did not give up. There were those who stood up against the vile and foul. There were heroes.
  
  This is the tale of three such heroes. This is the tale of Salandra the Healer.
  
  Salandra was born to insignificant parents on an insignificant island in the Trackless Sea. Humans were only starting to inhabit the island of Amia, and were faced with many difficulties. Salandra saw the agony and poverty of the people, and her heart ached. She prayed to the Crying God to ease their pain, and He called for her.
  
  Salandra, now a priestess of Ilmater, worked hard in the years to come. She forsook a comfortable life and joined with two other women: Morgana, a strong-willed and determined farmer's daughter, and Eysheila, a wayfarer, pure of heart, in search of a purpose. The Merciful Three quickly made a name for themselves in the turmoil of Amia, a land in desperate need of champions of the common folk. They would heal the sick wherever they went, drive back bands of monsters and help villages in any way they could.
  
  But destiny had more in store for them. A horrible malady was spreading. Nearly a quarter of the population was infected and the victims returned as undead. It was clear to Salandra that she was to act, that this was her calling. Her companions did not hesitate either. They set out to find the source of this famine and vanquish the undead; Salandra with her morningstar, Morgana with mace and crossbow, and Eysheila with her mighty spear.
  
  With guidance from the higher powers, the Three found and confronted the source of this evil: a powerful priest of Talona. The battle was fierce, but the gods were with the Three. It was Eysheila's spear that pierced this foul man's heart, but too late. The curse had been bestowed upon the lands of Amia. It would take power beyond the reach of anyone on Amia to stop the spell. Yet Salandra walked straight into the dark heart of the pulsing curse, and began to unweave it. Faith alone kept her on her feet. With compassion, devotion and the goodness in her soul, Salandra dissolved the malady of Talona. Once it was done, she closed her eyes and was taken from the cares of the world.
  
  The Broken God was moved by this act of selflessness and love. He took the body of Salandra and held her in His arms, crying for the loss. As the tears of a god fell upon her forehead, Salandra awoke. Divinity rushed through her, and she ascended. From then on, Salandra the Healer has served Ilmater beyond time and space, as the gentle goddess we know today.
  
  Later, Salandra appeared to her companions, and spoke: "Friends. Though I have passed from this world, I have not forgotten it. You must make sure it does not forget me, or the work we have done, either. Morgana, strong and warm: Go and build a house in my name. Continue our work, care for the world and be the foundation of my teachings. Eysheila, fearless and wise: Travel the lands near and far, right the wrongs you see, spread my word and do what I ask of you.. Be my long-reaching arm and mouth."
  
  The women heeded Salandra's commands. Morgana became the first Temple Mother to the church of Salandra, and Eysheila acted on her own, as a travelling Oracle of the Lady in White. The church may face many changes in the eventful centuries to come, but these two pillars of the faith will never cease to exist. They have been dictated by Salandra herself.