Eilistraee

(Lesser goddess)

Eilistraee, the "Dark Maiden," is the goddess of the good drow-those rare dark elves who yearn for a return to life in the surface Realms, an existence akin to that enjoyed by the elves of the woodlands, left behind by the drow so long ago.

Eilistraee (pronounced "eel-ISS-tray-ee") is a goddess of song and beauty, worshipped through song and dance-preferrably 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 feasting. Eilistraee has worshippers from human, elven, and in particular half elven stock (particularly around Silverymoon), and looks kindly upon the Harpers. She is usually seen only from afar, but her song (of unearthly beauty, driving many to tears) is heard whenever she appears.

Roleplaying Notes

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.

 

Statistics

AL cg; WAL any good; AoC song, dance, swordwork, hunting; SY a silver long sword outlined against a silver moon, with silvery filaments (Eilistraee's hair) around all, in a nimbus.

Eilistraee's Avatar (fighter 9, priest 11, bard 16)

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Eilistraee's avatar takes the form of a glossy-skinned female drow, nine feet in height and with ankle -length, sweeping hair of glowing silver. Her hair and wandering silvery radiances cloak her body in a smooth, continuously moving array of beauty. She can call on all spheres of magic.

Special Attacks/Defenses

The avatar of Eilistraee has True Seeing (continuous, otherwise as the priest spell), and can unleash nine silvery Magic Missiles per round. These unerringly do 2d4 each to all creatures except evil beings and undead, who suffer 4d4 damage per missile. Once per turn, Eilistraee's avatar can employ Spell Turning as the ring, but effective against all magic directed against her in that round. This replaces her Magic Missile attack for the round. Once per turn, the avatar can also Regenerate damage to herself, restoring even lost limbs without a system shock roll, and regaining 1d4+1 lost hit points per round. (This process can continue for four continuous rounds, and precludes spellcasting, but not other activities or combat.) At will, the Dark Maiden's avatar can create a silvery Light or Dancing Lights; cause music to sound-a harp, horn, (a far-off horn is her "sign"), or a flute; and sing. At will, her song can affect undead and evil creatures of 3 hit dice or less as a Repulsion spell; can Stun any one being (saving throw vs. spell at -2 to avoid) for one round; or can act as a Knock spell (as if cast by an 11th level wizard). She can use any of these powers in addition to her attacks, sight, and Levitation (self only, horizontal move of up to 160'/round).

Eilistraee's Manifestations

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The Dark Maiden seldom takes a direct hand in the affairs of mortals, but will sometimes appear 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 plain, cowled cloak, at the campfires of wayfarers in the woodlands by night, to test their kindness. Most worshippers 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 will often rally or hearten 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.)

Eilistraee's most used manifestations are a silvery radiance, sometimes accompanied by wordless song, or a few echoing harp notes. If the radiance surrounds an item (almost always a sword or other bladed weapon), that item typically gains the following powers, for 6 rounds:

- full possible damage (maximum roll, plus all bonuses)

- immunity to breakage or other damage (automatic success of all item saving throws)

Eilistraee's favor typically gives any or all of the following aids to affected beings, for 4 rounds:

- the ability to strike first in any round

- an increase of Armor Class of 2 points

- a bonus of +4 to all attack rolls, including the ability to strike creatures normally affected only by magical weapons of a +2 or greater bonus

Eilistraee has also been known to aid her worshippers 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.

Duties of the Priestesshood

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All clergy of Eilistraee are females of any intelligent race. They must 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. Priestesses must be skilled in the playing of at least one of the Dark Maiden's favored instruments-horn, flute, or harp. They must be adequate singers and fit, graceful dancers. They must gather songs and musical knowledge constantly, and acquire training in the use of the sword when they can. Whenever and wherever possible, the faithful of Eilistraee must encourage drow to return to the surface world, and work to promote harmony between drow and surface-dwelling races, to establish drow as rightful, non-evil inhabitants of Faerûn.

Requirements

AB Dex 16+, otherwise standard; AL any good; WP any (swords preferred); AR e; SP all, animal*, charm*, combat, creation, divination*, elemental, guardian, healing, necromantic, plant*, protection, summoning*, sun, weather; PW 4) Magic Missile twice per day (four missiles per spell), 6) Enchanted Weapon thrice per day, by touch, on bladed weapons only, which glow with a silvery radiance and a +2 bonus for 7 rounds, regardless of how many attacks they land or how many Dispel Magics are launched against them, 9) Spell Turning; TU turn.

Aims, Credo, and Ethos

- 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, ways with weapons, spices, and recipes, and pass this learning on whenever possible.
- Learn to play, make, and repair musical instruments.
- Practice music and swordwork.
- Defend and aid all folk, promoting harmony between 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.

This is the credo of the Dark Maiden.

Rituals

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The customary worship of the Dark Maiden is a hunt, followed by a feast and dancing, and a "Circle of Song," in which the worshippers sit and dance by turns in a circle, each one in succession leading a song. If possible, this is done out of doors, on a moonlit night. Daily prayers are sung whenever possible, and priestesses try and lead others in a song or two every evening, even if no formal ritual is held.

"The High Hunt" is celebrated once in each of the four seasons. This involves a nighttime hunt of a dangerous beast or monster, led by priestesses of Eilistraee. By tradition, the hunters may use any bladed weapons, and wear anything-except the priestesses, who go without armor, carrying only a single sword. If the quarry is slain, a chanted prayer and circle-dance to the goddess is held.

Whenever a sword is finished or first taken into use by a worshipper of the Dark Maiden, a priestess will try to call down the blessing of the goddess upon it. This is done by pointing the blade point down in the ground, out of doors and by night, and dancing. If successful (45% chance, per night attempted), the blade glows with a silvery radiance. For three months, the sword will be immune to breakage or rust, and though lacking any bonus or dweomer, can strike creatures normally hit only by magical weapons. If the sword is a drow weapon, it is also made immune to the sun and removal-from-radiation damage for the same period.

At least once a year, priestesses of Eilistraee undertake a "Run." Those who are not drow blacken their bodies with natural dyes and oils. All priestesses, drow or not, boil certain leaves and berries to make their hair silvery, and go wandering (on the surface world). (Hostile drow say their silver hair indicates that the brains within the head are addled, though many drow who don't worship Eilistraee have silver hair.)

Trusting to their music, kind ways, and sword skills to keep them from being slain as drow, priestesses 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 priestesses who do not die in battle hold their greatest ritual: the "Last Dance." In old age, Eilistraee's priestesses will hear the goddess singing to them, by night, calling them to her. When the song feels right, they will go out 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 priestess 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 remains, with two voices raised together in melancholy, tender song.

Customs, Rules, & Taboos

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Worshippers of Eilistraee try to let out all the gathered emotions of the day with an "evensong," which is a personal thing, often wordless and done in private. Priestesses of the Dark Maiden who have coin to do so are required to hire any strange minstrel or bard they meet for a song or two; lay worshippers are encouraged to do so.

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 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."

Whenever possible, priestesses of the Dark Maiden must use swords in battle. If no swords are to hand but other bladed weapons are available, they must be used in preference to other weapons. When faithful and allies of a priestess fall in battle, any priestess present must, if possible, provide burial, a funeral song, and comfort to the bereaved. Any hungry travelers met with, who offer no threats, are to be fed by the faithful of Eilistraee. Priestesses are to carry food with them for this purpose at all times, while traveling. 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 priestesses of Eilistraee, that they may do the same, for none shall go hungry. In times of plenty, food is stored for lean times ahead. In harsh winters, the lands about a priestess' strongholds are patrolled to find and take in the lost, the hurt, and those caught in the teeth of the cold.

Whenever possible, food is eaten with the accompaniment of song. Except for properly sad occasions, feasts are accompanied by merriment; the faithful of the Dark Maiden are commanded to promote happiness and gaiety whenever possible.

Equipment, Garb, & Offerings

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Priestesses of Eilistraee wear their hair long, and dress practically for whatever it is 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. If armor not of drow make is worn, it must be magical.

Priestesses of the goddess are allowed to keep and accumulate moneys given them as offerings-with the understanding this wealth will be used to buy food, musical instruments, and other tools (such as good swords) to serve the will of the goddess. Priestesses of Eilistraee are allowed to go adventuring, so long as they feed, aid, and defend the needy along the way. They are encouraged to aid adventuring parties, with the price of their aid to be provision of some sort of magical armor they can use (or failing that, an enchanted sword of some sort).

Faithful of Eilistraee are encouraged to give food to others in need, with a prayer to the goddess, to act with kindness, and to give food and money they can spare to the priestesses.

Priestesses are to feed themselves as much as possible by their own gardening and hunting skills, and to try and convert at least one stranger per moon to the worship of Eilistraee. Leading a convert in a prayer to the Dark Maiden is itself an offering to the goddess, who often (68%) manifests as a sign to the convert. When priestesses of the goddess must fight evil, they are to burn the bodies of the evil creatures they slay as an offering to the goddess-unless such creatures are edible, and there are hungry folk near.

Specialty Magick

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Clergy of Eilistraee widely employ at least two spells unique to the faith. The use of these magics has given them the name "spellsingers" in the North (there are also, Elminster warns, spellsinger wizards, who cast spells in the same way, but who worship Mystra and other gods, with other aims).

Fourth-Level Spell

Lesser Spellsong

(Evocation, Alteration)

Sphere:	Creation
Range:	Variable
Components:	V, S
Duration:	Variable
Casting Time:	1 round
Area of Effect:	Variable
Saving Throw:	None

This spell enables the caster, by song and supplication to the goddess, to cause an effect equivalent to any desired clerical spell of 3rd level or less to occur (in effect, casting the spell with normal effects, range, duration, saving throws, and so on, but without the usual gestures or material components).
The caster must be able to move (hands and shoulders at least) and sing, free of magical silencing. If any such silencing occurs before spellcasting ends, the DM may allow partial spell effects to occur, or the spell may be wasted. Priestesses of Eilistraee are trained to sing when in pain, and may sing while dodging about in combat (but not launching physical attacks of their own).

Sixth-Level Spell

Spellsong

(Evocation, Alteration)

Sphere:	Creation
Range:	Variable
Components:	V, S
Duration:	Variable
Casting Time:	1 round
Area of Effect:	Variable
Saving Throw:	None

This spell enables the caster, by song and supplication to the goddess, to cause an effect equivalent to any desired clerical spell of 5th level or less to occur (in effect, casting the spell with normal effects, range, duration, saving throws, and so on, but without the usual gestures or material components). Alternatively, a Spellsong may be used to recall to memory (and the immediate ability to cast) any one spell cast by the Spellsong-caster earlier in the last 24 hours to any creature embraced during the song (the caster can work this upon herself). A differently-worded Spellsong can heal 1d4+1 lost hp to the caster or to any creature touched.

If the Spellsong is cast when more than one priestess of Eilistraee is present, the other priestess(es) can join in the song without using a spell themselves. Each additional singing priestess who touches the injured creature while the Song continues heals 1d4 more hp. This choral addition can be used only for hit-point healing, not in other uses of the spell.

If seven or more priestesses of Eilistraee are present, they can work a Cure Blindness, Slow Poison, or Cure Disease instead of a hit-point healing, if they will it so, and sing together.

If nine or more priestesses are present, a Dispel Magic, Remove Curse, or Neutralize Poison can be worked.

If twelve or more priestesses are present, a Regeneration or Spell Immunity (only for spells known to at least one of the singers, by casting or by the experience of having it cast on or against them) can be worked instead.

Choral work involves a circular dance, around the person to be aided, a fire, or other focal point (failing anything else, a longsword driven point-down into the ground, or a tripod of sticks surmounted by the holy symbol of the caster). The caster (and additional choral participants, as noted above) must be able to move about freely (to dance) and sing, without magical silencing of any sort. If any such silencing occurs before spellcasting ends, the DM may allow partial spell effects to occur, or the spell may be wasted. If silencing occurs before the end of the spellcasting, the DM may allow partial spell effects to occur, or the spell may be wasted.

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