Races of Wild

Cleric Training: More than any other deity, Lolthdelights in perpetual tests of her exclusivelyfemale clerics, often pitting them againsteach other or members of their own families.Every cleric of Lolth knows that the path topromotion involves stabbing superiors inthe back, and every cleric is likewise alertthat her underlings are plotting to do thesame to her.Quests: Lolth has set her worshipersthe task of conquering the vast network ofcaverns in the underground realm as well askilling surface elves. Typical quests includeattacking a rival drow community, raiding amind flayer lair for its magic, and buildingan artifact that turns surface-dwelling elvesinto spiders.Prayers: Prayers to Lolth, always made inElven, frequently feature the phrase “ElliyaLolthu,” which means “Test me, Lolth.”Temples: Lolth’s temples among the drowgenerally dominate (in every sense of the word) thecommunities that surround them. These templesare defended by capable and clever spider-worshipers, but theyalso serve as storehouses of dark lore and powerful magic.Rites: Lolth uses a number of competitive rites to identifyparticularly worthy followers. Those who succeed at theserites—most of which involve competitive spellcasting orall-out combat—gain access to more powerful magic.Those who fail are demoted, killed, or turnedinto driders.Herald and Allies: A bebilith demon with18 Hit Dice is a common herald for Lolth.Her allies are succubus demons, bebilithdemons, and marilith demons.Favored Weapon: Dagger.SEHANINE MOONBOWIntermediate God (Chaotic Good)The Daughter of the Night Skiesholds sway over death, dreams, and thebeauty of the night. Now the consort ofCorellon Larethian, Sehanine Moonbowprovided strength to him from her tearsduring his great battle with Gruumshduring the First War. It is she who eases thepassage of dying elves and their spirits to theirfinal reward. When an elf nears death from oldage, disease, or some other nonviolent means, amilky-white, opaque crescent often appears in thelenses of his eyes—Sehanine’s characteristic “moonbow.”At such times, the goddess often sends the dying elf a visionof the next world to give him hope and strength duringhis passage.The Lady of Dreams also governs sleep, dreams, andmystic revelations. She rarely speaks to her followers directly,Holy symbol ofSehanine MoonbowHoly symbolof Lolthpreferring to impart her will through dreams, mystic visions,and journeys of the spirit.Sehanine appears as an ethereally beautifulfemale elf with white hair and blue eyes. She isusually clad in a silvery gown and wearing a pieceof silver jewelry shaped like a full moon.Portfolio: Mysticism, dreams, death, journeys,transcendence, the moon, the stars, theheavens.Domains: Chaos, Good, Knowledge, Travel.Cleric Training: Clerics of Sehanine Moonbowbegin their careers by tending the shrinesof the dead and counseling members of the communityabout the meanings of dreams. Later,they may serve as spiritual counselors to theirfellow elves, preside over funerals, defendtheir communities against undead incursions,and conduct divinations on behalf of leaders who need tomake decisions.Quests: Followers of Sehanine Moonbow often undertakequests to destroy undead, retrieve the bodies of fallenelves who had no proper funerals, or recover lost arcaneknowledge pertaining to illusions or divinations.Prayers: Prayers to the Lady of the Night Skies are oftencouched in riddles and use terms relating to the moon, thestars, and the night. One common prayer spoken beforeundertaking an artistic project or a special quest is “Mayyour holy moonbeams guide me to a deeper understanding,and your starlight reveal the unknown.”Shrines: Sehanine’s temples are situatedso thay they are bathed in the light of thefull moon when it shines. A temple is oftendecorated with silver and moonstones,and its ceiling has an opening thatreveals the night sky. A temple is usuallysurrounded by a garden of night-bloomingflowers.Rites: Clerics of the Lady of Dreamspreside over funerals and bless thosewho are undertaking spiritual journeysof any sort. Once a month, they celebratethe Lunar Hallowing, a festival held inthe light of the full moon. Other holy dayscommemorate lunar eclipses, conjunctionsof heavenly bodies, or other celestial events thatoccur at infrequent intervals.Herald and Allies: A ghost elf 10th-levelcleric/10th-level wizard is Sehanine’s herald on theMaterial Plane. Her allies include bralani eladrins,ghaele eladrins, and planetars.Favored Weapon: Quarterstaff.VANDRIA GILMADRITHIntermediate Goddess (Lawful Neutral)War is never desirable, but sometimes it is necessary.When armed conflict is unavoidable, elves pray to VandriaIllus. by D. CrabappleCHAPTER 1ELVES23