Further Reading: Lothiriel and the Aspects
Further Reading: The Fall of Lothiriel
Further Reading: Triss Kerithrion's Statement for the Purge
Lolth
The aspect known as Lolth is the best known to our people, in fact many do not realise that Lolth is but one aspect of our glorious queen. Lolth is responsible for how our society operates; she is the authority through which the priestesses rule. The many supplications and prayers of the faithful continue to strengthen this aspect and assure her domination over the others. Many would believe that veneration of the other aspects is worthless and that faith in Lolth is all that matters, these people are fools. Lolth is but one part of a greater whole, the whole must be sustained or the whole withers along with this aspect.
Lolth is the most active of the aspects and as such has many avatars and servants upon our world at any onetime. Her hands rove the underdark carrying out her will regardless of consequence. Sometimes she takes a more subtle approach and will send visions and dreams to the faithful. Her priestesses commune with her often and are fanatical in their faith to her. Lolth expects complete and utter obedience in her people and can change those orders on a whim.
As we know all too well Lolth is cruel and capricious, she delights in acts of great evil and viciousness carried out by her followers. Lolth can bestow great gifts and power upon her chosen, and she delights in removing those gifts when they are needed most or when she feels the follower should be tested. Lolth expects constant sacrifices to be made to her. She is particularly partial to powerful members of our own race. The elves of the surface come a close second and any sentient race will do. Lolth expects complete submission in prayer and constant offerings, those who ask for aid are likely to be punished for their impudence. A true follower of the way of Lolth asks for nothing, she takes it and then offers thanks to the queen.
Lolth expects her chosen to rule by fear. Non believers are to be converted or destroyed. The weak should be weeded out so as only the strong survive to serve her. Any who question her will should be sacrificed to our queen, as should any who aid the enemies of her chosen people.
Lolth tests her followers often and these tests increase in difficulty as her followers gain in power, often you will not know you are been tested or what is required to pass the test. Thus is the nature of Lolth.
Lolth is the dark mother of the drow, amongst all of the dark elven people, the drow are her people. For any drow to walk apart from Lolth is to be condemned to death. However be ever vigilant, for those who follow her dictates blindly will find a swift and painful death from this fickle, whimsical and chaotic aspect.
When Satuun stabs Lothiriel, she thwarts him by creating the planes of the ancestors with her wish from the Dragon. As time goes on, the influence of Satuun causes the elven queen to corrupt, and as a result new consciousnesses are born. These are referred to as the aspects of Lolth.
Lothiriel
Lothiriel ~ Scion of the Illythiiri
LolthirielLothiriel is an aspect that is rarely seen or heard of among the dark elves, and yet she is the original, the first, the blazing light of the dawn that is the true queen of our people. This aspect rules over the hearts of the Illythiiri elves and guides them in their devotion to the old ways.
Lothiriel does not interact with the mortal world any more. Her people have all but disappeared and their descendants no longer revere her as they should. For those who truly turn to the glorious heart of our dark queen, they will discover the awesome power of the first ancestor. Lothiriel created the planes of the ancestors millennia ago and gifted the powers of incantation to us her chosen, and yet we have rejected her and so she watches silent.
Lothiriel represents the sacrifice and noble deeds of those of our race that died to secure our new home, those who gave their lives to ensure our escape from annihilation. She who suffers eternally for the bargains made for us to survive the hostile environment of the underdark.
We the guardians of truth must now restore her to her rightful place, as the unquestioned queen of our people, this will take time, maybe generations will pass and yet it must be done. For if we allow this aspect to be no more, then the planes of the ancestors will be no more and Evron will have his final victory over all the elven peoples.
Lothiriel represents our origins and what we used to be. What we aspired to be before the sundering. She represents what we should be, not what we are. To learn from Lothiriel is to learn of the evil and betrayal of others, but also the self sacrifice of her followers. It is to be filled with the awe and majesty of the early days of our people and to be tasked with rebuilding and reclaiming that lost heritage.
However be wary, to look upon our true queen is to risk blindness caused by her radiant brilliance. It is to risk heartrending sorrow and an undying thirst for revenge. It is to understand our fall from grace and Evrons' evil hold over us as a people.
The aspect of Lothiriel is almost always at odds with the other aspects and therefore is often ignored by the faithful at large, however she is our ancestor and the other are merely facets of her personality.
Lothiriel's Sacrifice by Julio Delgado González
Araushnee
Araushnee ~ The weaver of dark elf destiny
AraushneeAraushnee is the aspect of our queen that rules over and controls the destiny of her chosen people. This aspect is rarely seen or her presence felt in any obvious way. However it is the hand of Araushnee that guides the leaders of our nation, clan and houses through dreams and visions. It is this aspect that revealed her secrets to the first paladins and guides them to this day.
Araushnee has no need for avatars or ancestral agents, if she wishes to guide you in your endeavours; you will receive visions during prayer or maybe prophetic dreams. Sometimes she manifests as a flash of pure inspiration or foreboding. As such Araushnee is often venerated by followers of a scholarly persuasion or powerful ritualists' who prayer for her guidance when planning such mighty works.
Araushnee expects fidelity and honesty from her chosen, should she honour you with her revelations then they must be acted upon, for she has chosen you for a reason and to keep her inspiration from the faithful is a dangerous slight upon her and to ignore her insights is often lethal.
As we, the chosen guardians of the truth, know all too well, the other aspects of our mighty queen can be contrary and sometimes in diametric opposition to each other. However remember always that Araushnee seeks to guide us towards our ultimate destiny and as such her guidance should always be heeded, if not immediately then most certainly in the near future.
Araushnee is also the patron of the dark elf academies and any other seat of learning, as such it is her most faithful adherents that support and protect the ancient libraries that lie within the Cave of Whispers and elect to teach in our academies. Remember that these individuals are inspired by this aspect and thus can have a powerful impact on her designs for all of us, show them and their opinions the respect they are due lest you anger her.
Araushnee is the guardian of the truth and the keeper of our history, remember that when she graces you with her gifts, as often they may be images of things that have gone before and have been forgotten. To us she has bequeathed the task of maintaining our histories, our rites and rituals. The continuation of knowledge from one generation to the next, separate from the raging chaos of our society.
Araushnee is simply the rock stood in a swirling sea of chaos and change.
She is the law within the chaos, the light in the darkness, and most importantly of all the origin and inspiration for our order.
Aurashnee weaving the Dark Elven Fate by Julio Delgado González
Lareth
Lareth ~ The Temptation
LarethLareth is the aspect that rules over the hearts of the faithful. This aspect is rarely seen and very rarely identified when she chooses to appear. However it is the hand of Lareth that continually tempts and tricks our people. It is Lareth that whispers of the power that would come from forsaking our queen, she who speaks of forbidden lore and hidden secrets.
Lareth rarely uses avatars or ancestral beings but sometimes take the shape of incantors of rival faiths. Lareth will seek out the powerful and lowly alike and try to sway them from the proper path with gifts and promises of greater glory for the individual. Lareth also sometimes seeks to inspire those who search endlessly for the weak and unfaithful, she loves the activities of the inquisitors and the zealous priestesses of our queen.
Lareth expects her chosen to seek out the unfaithful at all times, however she prefers them to trick their targets into revealing their heresy. Clever questioning, elaborate sting operations and spying are her favourite activities. Lareth also delights in testing the faithful at inopportune moments. Taking them from high profile meetings or enjoyable past times.
Should Lareth choose to elevate you to the ranks of her chosen she will expect you to become a relentless force against those who turn their back on our queen. Be wary of such elevation because she tests her own followers even more than those of the general populous. You must be prepared to confront even the highest placed of our people should they descend into heresy.
Lareth seeks to constantly tempt our people so that only the strong of faith will prosper. She has even been known to aid our enemies if they seek to undermine our faith. Lareth is ever watchful, seeking always for the weak of mind and the faithless; her domain in the Demonweb is reserved for those who fell for her temptations. No one has ever left her domain.
We, as the guardians of the aspects, must be vary of Lareth and the temptation she represents, but we must also welcome the constant questioning of our faith and the many tests Lareth will force upon us. Lareth keeps us pure and focused. Lareth inspires us to ever greater understanding of the true faith and our dedication to it.
Zinzerena
Zinzerena ~ The Hunter and Assassin
ZinzerenaZinzerena is the aspect of our queen that rules over the scouts and assassins of the dark elves. This aspect is rarely seen is but is very active. Zinzerena guides the blades of our scouts and sometimes helps against formidable foes. She sometimes ranges ahead of our patrols or strike missions causing distractions and chaos. She is the aspect of the dark arts of stealth and secrecy, and of the unseen weapon in the dark.
Zinzerena has many avatars and ancestral servants and she takes the guise of many races and people. It is likely that you have seen her in action or fought along side her on a mission and yet you will never know. This aspect is one of the most active of all the aspects and is often restless and impulsive when there is peace.
Zinzerena inspires our people with dreams of murder and assassination. She sows the seeds of murder in our minds when we think of our superiors or brethren. Every murder is a prayer to Zinzerena, every accident a rite in her name, but be wary those who excel in these arts risks drawing her attention. Zinzerena is always looking for worthy prey for the hunt, sometimes our own exceptional scouts become her prey.
Zinzerena expects her followers to be secretive and murderous. To always be plotting the deaths of those around them as well as the foes of our race. However simple murder will not do, she expects our kills to be works of art, to be untraceable and leave our enemies bewildered. Zinzerena delights in the murder of a foe in public places with many witnesses, but leaving everyone unenlightened as to what happened.
We understand that this aspect of Zinzerena is both a blessing and a curse. She teaches our scouts and guides them to their targets, but she also inspires us to murder each other. Zinzerena loves the fear of the hunted and the scared, in this way the fear of all dark elves that rise to positions of prominence feeds and delights her.
Zinzerena is integral to our survival in the underdark, in everyday terms she helps us to hunt our food, to track and slay the monstrous enemies of our civilisation and strike at our surface enemies when we meet in the lands above. As such we are tasked with standing apart from our brethren and resisting the call of Zinzerena in our hearts. We must rise above the hunters calling and so alleviate some of its worst excesses.
Remember that we will all here the call of Zinzerena in our lives but only her chosen must answer. That is the way of the matter.
Megwandiir
Megwandiir ~ Queen of spiders
MegwandiirMegwandiir is the aspect of our queen that rules over the arachnids of our world and the Demonweb pits. Her aspect is rarely seen or her presence felt by us. However she is all around us almost constantly. The spiders we so revere and live alongside are her eyes and ears. Every spider is a link to this most strange and otherworldly aspect. Megwandiir influences us in subtle ways, the beautiful webs her creatures spin enchant us and we seek to emulate them in the design of our houses, fortresses and cities.
Megwandiir rarely uses avatars or ancestral agents as we understand them. If she wishes to show you something then she will use her arachnid servants. They will gather around a secret door to show you the way, sometimes they block your path and in some cases help in attacks on your foes. She shows her favour by having arachnids stay close to her chosen, and equally those who displease her will be attacked and bitten.
Megwandiir expects her followers to emulate the cold blooded, mindless predation of the arachnid. Megwandiir demands that her chosen are emotionless killers, with no sense of remorse or guilt. All that matters is the solitary pursuit of predatory excellence. We believe that this is why our society is built upon the basis of the strong culling the weak, the ruling elite preying on the underclasses.
Megwandiir represents an unattainable perfection to most drow. We can never truly be like this aspect as we can neither emulate her physical appearance nor be as emotionless as the arachnids who serve her. Those of our people who achieve closeness with the aspect of Megwandiir are often seen as cold and unapproachable, they are solitary and withdrawn and in battle or the hunt they are merciless and lethal.
Megwandiir is the strangest and most difficult aspect to understand. She answers prayers rarely and offers nothing in return. Megwandiir stands apart from the other aspects in her emotionless hunt across the Demonweb pits; she often ignores the world around her and the actions of the other aspects. Megwandiir is dedicated solely to the hunt of her prey and her continued dominance within the webs of the Demonweb.
To us and our order she represents the clinical precision of the arachnid predator. She is to be emulated in this regard; every one of us should seek to be so ruthless.
Moandiir
Moandiir ~ Corruption and Decay
MoandiirMoandiir is the aspect of our queen that represents the self destructive nature of mortal beings. Moandiir whispers in the ears of our people speaking of the powers of corruption and necromancy. Moandiir seeks to create eternal servants in the form of the unliving. Thus corrupting these followers and denying the circle of life of their presence. Moandiir also loves to create and spread diseases to sort the strong from the weak.
Moandiir has no need for avatars as she acts through powerful unliving servants. In many secluded and forgotten corners of the underdark her followers continue to enact her will in secret. Moandiir often seeks to tempt our people into following the path of corruption, tempting us with the power it can bestow, promising exalted rank in exchange for eternal servitude. As such she is often venerated by those who seek the secrets of unlife.
Moandiir expects her followers to tempt and corrupt others, to spread and increase the proliferation of unliving and the continuing disruption to the cycle of life. Moandiir expects you to have no respect for life, and to exalt in destroying it at every turn, but in a manner that causes that being to feed the planes of unlife.
We understand the selfish and self destructive nature of Moandiir. She is the aspect that represents the corrupting wound caused by Evron's dagger. The vile poison that eats at the core of our queen and seeks to ultimately undo Lothiriel's greatest achievement. We know that the power she offers is useful to us and our cause and that eternal service to our queen is a noble endeavour, must we must guard against the whispers of Moandiir, and as such we must use her teachings whilst remaining true to our oaths.
Moandiir is in reality the agent of Evron, and as such, she is the poison in the heart of every one of our people as she is the poison in the heart of our queen. We must check her powers at all times looking for the corruption in our own patterns. For those of us who seek unlife we must be doubly vigilant and ensure that should we fall our pattern goes to our queen and not the great betrayer Evron.
Whilst we must accept the aspect of Moandiir, and one of us must always walk the dangerous path of corruption. Every one of our order must remember above all things:
Evron must never win.
Zanassu
Zanassu ~ The Destroyer
ZanassuZanassu is the aspect of our queen that rules over the destructive and warlike qualities of her people. This aspect is often seen and is embodied by the ancestral warriors of our queens armies. Zanassu inspires our leaders to conquest and war, whether this is between houses, cities or between our nation and the other races of our world. It is this aspect which inspires our warriors and generals on the battlefield or when they are at rest with dreams of conquest and destruction.
Zanassu often appears as an avatar served by ancestral warriors of great renown and skill. Zanassu delights in the thrill of melee combat and wholesale destruction caused by long sieges. Zanassu is often worshipped by people of a martial bent or those about to serve in our nations armies. However it is those who hate and wish to destroy everything in this world that find a receptive mistress in Zanassu.
Zanassu expects her devoted to constantly search for legitimate targets for her wrath, when these are in short supply they are ordered to destroy the ghettos and poor areas of our cities in bloody displays of wanton destruction. Zanassu despises those who wish to build civilisations or works of great art and never accepts such people in to her following.
Our order understands that the wrath and hatred that Zanassu represents is both useful and appealing to our race. However the calling of Zanassu must not be allowed to dominate our thinking or become a dominant voice in our society. To do so would invite internecine civil war that would destroy our race and nation in such a complete fashion that the other races would be in awe of its totality.
Those who choose to follow the path of Zanassu are to be watched at all times. If left unattended when away from the front they will begin to destroy all that our race has built and achieved. They are at best shock troops to be flung at the enemy where their love of carnage and destruction can be put to some use.
It is strange that both brother and sister seek to bring such destruction upon the world they fought so hard to defend. It is bizarre that the radiant twins born to rule our people should contain such self destructive malevolence towards themselves and their own children.
Zanassu is pure hatred of the world and all its inhabitants, as such; she often inspires her followers into suicidal acts of destruction. Her brother Ineluki is just as hateful and demanding.
