Editing Drow (section)

==Fictional gods==
===Lolth===
{{Infobox character
| name = Lolth
| image = [[Image:Lolth.JPG|200px]]
| caption =
| first = ''[[Descent into the Depths of the Earth]]'' (1978)
| creator = [[Gary Gygax]]
| alias = (''Forgotten Realms'' only): Araushnee, Lloth (Menzoberranzan and Uluitur), Megwandir, Moander, Zinzerena
| race = Deity
| gender = Female
| title = The Spider Queen, Queen of Spiders, Demon Queen of Spiders,<ref name=AA>{{cite book |title=Dungeons & Dragons Art & Arcana: a visual history |last1=Witwer |first1=Michael |last2=Newman |first2=Kyle |last3=Peterson |first3=Jonathan |last4=Witwer |first4=Sam |last5=Manganiello |first5=Joe |date= 2018 |isbn=9780399580949 |publisher=[[Ten Speed Press]] |oclc=1033548473}}</ref>{{rp|103}} Demon Queen of the Abyss, Spider Bitch,<ref>[[Richard Lee Byers]] (2003). ''[[War of the Spider Queen#Dissolution|Dissolution]]''. ([[Wizards of the Coast]]), p. 200. {{ISBN|0-7869-2944-8}}.</ref> Queen of the Demonweb Pits, Weaver of Chaos, the Hunted, the Mother of Lusts, Dark Mother of All Drow, Lady of Spiders
| alignment = [[Alignment (Dungeons & Dragons)#Chaotic evil|Chaotic Evil]]
| home = [[Demonweb Pits]]
| series = [[Dungeons & Dragons]]
| lbl21 = [[List of Dungeons & Dragons deities#Ranks of divine power|Power level]]
| data21 = Intermediate/Greater
| lbl22 = [[List of Dungeons & Dragons deities#Portfolios|Portfolio]]
| data22 = Spiders, evil, darkness, chaos, assassins, drow
| lbl23 = [[List of Dungeons & Dragons deities#Domains|Domains]]
| data23 = Chaos, Darkness, Drow, Evil, Destruction, Spider, Trickery
| lbl24 = [[List of Dungeons & Dragons deities#Divine hierarchy|Superior]]
| data24 =
}}

Lolth is a fictional [[goddess]] in ''Dungeons & Dragons''. Lolth (''Lloth'' in the Drow language), the Demon Queen of Spiders, is the chief goddess of the Drow. She is also known as the ''Spider Queen'' and the ''Queen of the Demonweb Pits''; her realm in the [[Abyss (Dungeons & Dragons)|Abyss]] is referred to as the Demonweb Pits.<ref name="QotDP">{{cite book |author1=Sutherland III, David C |author2=Gygax, Gary | year=1980 | title=Queen of the Demonweb Pits| publisher=TSR, Inc. | isbn=0-935696-20-2|author1-link=David C. Sutherland III }}</ref> Lolth usually appears in two forms: drow and arachnid. In drow form, the Spider Queen appears as an "exquisitely beautiful" female dark elf, sometimes covered in clinging spiders. In her arachnid form, Lolth takes the appearance of a giant black widow spider with the head of a female drow or human peering from between the eight spider-eyes. Sometimes, the two foremost pair of her spider-legs are actually humanoid arms. In third edition, her arachnid form has taken more of a drider-like appearance, due to the events of the ''[[War of the Spider Queen]]'' novel series.

====Conception and creation====
Lolth was created by [[Gary Gygax]] for the ''[[Greyhawk|World of Greyhawk]]'' [[campaign setting]], later appeared in the ''[[Forgotten Realms]]'' setting, and in the 3rd edition became a member of the [[list of Dungeons & Dragons deities|default pantheon]] of ''D&D'' gods. In those various settings, the drow pantheon of gods consists of the leader Lolth, as well as Kiaransalee, Vhaeraun, and Zinzerena and also the one good goddess Eilistraee. Other drow gods may be present in different campaign settings.

According to the [[Forgotten Realms]] storyline, Lolth began as an intermediary goddess abiding in the sixty-sixth layer of the Abyss, the Demonweb Pits. Through the events that transpired in ''War of the Spider Queen series'', she transformed herself into a greater goddess as depicted in 4th Edition, the Demonweb Pits becoming its own plane.

====Publication history====
Lolth was first mentioned in the modules ''[[Descent into the Depths of the Earth]]'' (1978) and more fully described in ''[[Vault of the Drow]]'' (1978), and was the main antagonist of the module ''[[Queen of the Demonweb Pits]]'' (1980).<ref name="QotDP" /> These modules were later reprinted as part of the ''[[Queen of the Spiders]]'' collection in 1986. Lolth's role as a deity was first explored in ''[[Deities & Demigods]]'' (1980).<ref name=AA/>{{rp|111}} Her game statistics were reprinted in the ''[[Fiend Folio]]'' (1981).

Lolth's role in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting was first detailed in [[Ed Greenwood]]'s second edition ''AD&D'' sourcebook, ''[[Drow of the Underdark]]'' (1991).<ref>[[Ed Greenwood|Greenwood, Ed]]. ''[[Drow of the Underdark]]'' (TSR, 1991)</ref> Lolth was detailed as a deity in the book ''[[Monster Mythology]]'' (1992), including details about her priesthood.<ref name="Sargent 1992"/> Her role in the cosmology of the [[Planescape]] campaign setting was described in ''[[On Hallowed Ground]]'' (1996).<ref>[[Colin McComb|McComb, Colin]]. ''[[On Hallowed Ground]]'' ([[TSR, Inc.|TSR]], 1996)</ref> Lolth received a very detailed description of her role in the Forgotten Realms in ''[[Demihuman Deities]]'' (1998).<ref>[[Eric L. Boyd|Boyd, Eric L.]] ''[[Demihuman Deities]]'' ([[TSR, Inc.|TSR]], 1998)</ref>

Lolth is detailed in ''[[Defenders of the Faith (Dungeons & Dragons)|Defenders of the Faith]]'' (2000),<ref>Redman, Rich and [[James Wyatt (game designer)|James Wyatt]]. ''[[Defenders of the Faith (Dungeons & Dragons)|Defenders of the Faith]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2000)</ref> and ''[[Deities & Demigods]]'' (2002),<ref>Redman, Rich, [[Skip Williams]], and [[James Wyatt (game designer)|James Wyatt]]. ''[[Deities & Demigods]]'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2002)</ref> and her role in the Forgotten Realms is revisited in ''[[Faiths and Pantheons]]'' (2002).<ref>[[Eric L. Boyd|Boyd, Eric L]], and [[Erik Mona]]. ''[[Faiths and Pantheons]]'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2002).</ref> Lolth's priesthood is detailed for this edition in ''[[Complete Divine]]'' (2004),<ref>[[David Noonan (game designer)|Noonan, David]]. ''[[Complete Divine]]'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2004)</ref> and her role in the [[Abyss (Dungeons & Dragons)|Abyss]] is detailed in the ''[[Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss]]'' (2006).<ref>[[James Jacobs (game designer)|Jacobs, James]], [[Erik Mona]], and [[Ed Stark]]. ''[[Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2006)</ref> Lolth and the Drow are further detailed in both ''[[Drow of the Underdark]]'' (2007),<ref>[[Ari Marmell|Marmell, Ari]], [[Anthony Pryor]], [[Robert J. Schwalb]], and [[Greg A. Vaughan]]. ''[[Drow of the Underdark]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2007)</ref> and the adventure ''[[Expedition to the Demonweb Pits]]'' (2007).<ref>[[Wolfgang Baur|Baur, Wolfgang]], and Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel. ''[[Expedition to the Demonweb Pits]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2007)</ref>

Lolth appears as one of the evil deities described in the ''[[Dungeon Master's Guide]]'' (2008) for the 4th Edition of ''Dungeons & Dragons''.<ref>[[James Wyatt (game designer)|James Wyatt]]. ''[[Dungeon Master's Guide]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2008).</ref>  The story of her dissent from and war against Corellon and Sehanine is fleshed out in the supplements ''Underdark'' and ''[[The Plane Above: Secrets of the Astral Sea]]''. A slightly different (and arguably more powerful) version of Lolth is presented in the ''[[Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide]].'' Lolth in the Forgotten Realms has a different appearance, dogma and personality than the core Lolth.<ref>[[Bruce Cordell|Cordell, Bruce R.]], [[Ed Greenwood]], and Chris Sims. ''[[Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide]]''. ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2008)</ref> Wizards of the Coast's D&D Compendium and D&D Character Builder record the core Lolth and the ''Realms'' Lolth as separate entities. Lolth (Demon Queen of Spiders) appears in the 4th Edition's ''[[Monster Manual 3]]'' (2010).<ref>[[Mike Mearls|Mearls, Mike]], Greg Bilsland, and [[Robert J. Schwalb]]. ''[[Monster Manual 3]]''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2010</ref> She is the mascot for this volume, which includes statistics for Lolth in both drow and spider form.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Product.aspx?x=dnd%2Fproducts%2Fdndacc%2F253840000 |title=Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Official Home Page – Product (Monster Manual 3) |access-date=9 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130905020130/http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Product.aspx?x=dnd%2Fproducts%2Fdndacc%2F253840000 |archive-date=5 September 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2021, Lolth was featured on two cards as a "legendary planeswalker" in the ''Adventures in the Forgotten Realms'' line from the ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'' collectible card game.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hall|first=Charlie|date=2021-05-20|title=D&D's Drizzt is coming to Magic: The Gathering, these are the first preview cards|url=https://www.polygon.com/22445601/dungeons-dragons-magic-the-gathering-crossover-drizzt-card-previews|access-date=2021-05-21|website=Polygon|language=en|archive-date=2021-05-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520210711/https://www.polygon.com/22445601/dungeons-dragons-magic-the-gathering-crossover-drizzt-card-previews|url-status=live}}</ref> Lolth was featured on the alternative cover edition of the 2024 Revised 5th Edition ''[[Dungeon Master's Guide]]'' with art by Olena Richards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Abbott |first=Benjamin |date=May 30, 2024 |title=Exclusive: D&D Dungeon Master's Guide alt cover channels every DM's inner schemer' |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/tabletop-gaming/exclusive-dandd-dungeon-masters-guide-alt-cover-channels-every-dms-inner-schemer/ |access-date=May 30, 2024 |website=[[GamesRadar+]] |language=en}}</ref>

====Reception====
''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #359 (September 2007), the final print issue of the magazine, described Lolth as one of the 20 most memorable villains of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' game.<ref name="Lolth">{{cite journal |last1=Bulmahn |first1=Jason |author-link=Jason Bulmahn |last2=Jacobs |first2=James |author-link2=James Jacobs (game designer) |last3=McArtor |first3=Mike |last4=Mona |first4=Erik |author-link4=Erik Mona |last5=Schneider |first5=F. Wesley |author-link5=F. Wesley Schneider |last6=Stewart |first6=Todd |author7=Jeremy Walker |date=September 2007 |title=1d20 Villains: D&D's Most Wanted; Preferably Dead |journal=[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]] |publisher=Paizo |volume=32 |issue=359 |pages=54–69}}</ref> Witwer ''et al.'', in the book ''Dungeons & Dragons Art & Arcana'', considered Lolth one of the "iconic D&D characters", present throughout the decades of the game.<ref name="AA" />{{rp|5, 110–111}}

Lolth was #10 on ''[[Screen Rant]]''{{'}}s 2018 "Dungeons & Dragons: The 15 Most Powerful Villains, Ranked" list—the article states "The ''War of the Spider Queen'' series would show Lolth's transformation into a greater goddess, making her one of the most powerful beings in the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' multiverse. [...] Lolth can appear in the form of a monstrous spider, which many fans have mocked, due to the fact that it only has sixty-six hit points. You likely won't get a chance to get close enough to harm Lolth, due to the fact that you are battling her in her home dimension, which is filled with an army of demonic spiders. Lolth can also transform into the form of a high-level magic-user/cleric, which gives her access to a wide-range of powerful spells. This is to say nothing of her psionic abilities, though these are given to her at the discretion of the dungeon master".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-06-09|title=Dungeons & Dragons: The 15 Most Powerful Villains, Ranked|url=https://screenrant.com/dungeons-dragons-powerful-villains-ranked/|access-date=2021-05-21|website=Screen Rant|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-05-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521160642/https://screenrant.com/dungeons-dragons-powerful-villains-ranked/|url-status=live}}</ref> Lolth was #8 on [[Comic Book Resources|''CBR'']]{{'}}s 2020 "Dungeons & Dragons: 10 Endgame Bosses You Need To Use In Your Next Campaign" list—the article states "the DMs can even get rather creative with the stage; since Lolth is a creature of the Underdark, the fight leading up to her and the boss herself can take place in a dark and nightmarish cave that requires some spelunking and vertical maneuvers. Bonus points if the fight happens in a web network suspended midair with an abyssal drop".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-25|title=Dungeons & Dragons: 10 Endgame Bosses You Need To Use In Your Next Campaign|url=https://www.cbr.com/dungeons-dragons-endgame-bosses-use/|access-date=2021-05-21|website=CBR|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-07-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725032248/https://www.cbr.com/dungeons-dragons-endgame-bosses-use/|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Eilistraee===
{{Infobox character
| name = Eilistraee
| first = ''[[The Drow of the Underdark]]'' (1991)
| creator = [[Ed Greenwood]]
| alias = 
| race = Deity
| gender = Female
| title = The Dark Maiden, The Dark Dancer, Lady of the Dance, Lady Silverhair, Moon Maiden, Dancing Goddess, Dark Lady, The Masked Lady(<ref group="note">After the 1489 DR, Eilistraee no longer holds this last title, which she earned when she took over her brother [[Vhaeraun]]'s portfolio. As described in the [[Eilistraee#The Sundering and Rebirth|history section]], both of them are alive, but separate entities once again</ref>)
| alignment = Chaotic Good
| home = [[Arvandor]]
| series = [[Forgotten Realms]]
| lbl21 = [[List of Dungeons & Dragons deities#Ranks of divine power|Power level]]
| data21 = Lesser
| lbl22 = [[List of Dungeons & Dragons deities#Portfolios|Portfolio]]
| data22 = Song, beauty, dance, swordwork, hunting, moonlight
| lbl23 = [[List of Dungeons & Dragons deities#Domains|Domains]]
| data23 = 
| lbl24 = [[List of Dungeons & Dragons deities#Divine hierarchy|Superior]]
| data24 = [[Lolth]]
}}'''Eilistraee''', also referred to as "'''The Dark Maiden'''", is a fictional deity in the [[Forgotten Realms]] campaign setting. Eilistraee's name is pronounced as EEL-iss-TRAY-yee",<ref name="Demihuman">[[Eric L. Boyd|Boyd, Eric L.]] ''[[Demihuman Deities]]'' ([[TSR, Inc.|TSR]], 1998)</ref> "eel-ISS-tray-ee",<ref name="TDotU">[[Ed Greenwood|Greenwood, Ed]]. ''[[The Drow of the Underdark]]'' (TSR, 1991)</ref> "eel-iss-tray-yee"<ref name="FRCS3E">{{cite book |last=Greenwood |first=Ed |author-link=Ed Greenwood |title=[[Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting#3rd edition|Forgotten Realms: Campaign Setting]] |last2=Reynolds |first2=Sean K. |author-link2=Sean K. Reynolds |last3=Williams |first3=Skip |author-link3=Skip Williams |publisher=Wizards of the Coast |year=2001 |isbn=0-7869-1836-5}}</ref> or "eil-iss-tray-yee".<ref name="FAP">[[Eric L. Boyd|Boyd, Eric L.]], and [[Erik Mona]]. ''[[Faiths and Pantheons]]'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2002).</ref> In the game world, she is a goddess in the drow pantheon, and her portfolios are [[song]], [[dance]], [[Swordmanship|swordwork]], [[hunting]], [[moonlight]] and [[beauty]].<ref name="Demihuman" />

==== Creative origins and Forgotten Realms storylines ====
Eilistraee was first created for the original home campaign run by [[Ed Greenwood]] himself, appearing by manifestation, dream vision, and in person. At the behest of editor [[Newton Ewell]], who wanted a deity for good drow in the game, Greenwood used the opportunity to make the Dark Dancer official and added Eilistraee to ''[[The Drow of the Underdark]]'' (1991) and thus to the official Forgotten Realms.<ref name="EdVerse">{{cite web |title=Disqus - Edverse Home |url=https://disqus.com/home/discussion/edverse/hello_internet/ |access-date=2 January 2018 |website=Disqus.com}}</ref> He meant for Eilistraee to take the role of a nurturing and protecting mother-goddess for the whole drow race.<ref name="Greenwood 2006 I3">{{cite web |title=Candlekeep Forum - Questions for Ed Greenwood (2006) |url=http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5812&whichpage=27#129882 |access-date=2 January 2018 |website=Forum.candlekeep.com}}</ref> Greenwood denies a connection to [[Artemis]]/[[Diana (mythology)|Diana]] of [[Greek mythology|Greek]] and [[Roman mythology]].<ref name="Greenwood 2006 I2">{{cite web |title=Candlekeep Forum - Questions for Ed Greenwood (2006) |url=http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5812&whichpage=27#129882 |access-date=2 January 2018 |website=Forum.candlekeep.com}}</ref>

In the Forgotten Realms campaign setting, Eilistraee is the daughter of [[Corellon Larethian]] and of Araushnee (who later took the name Lolth after being punished by Corellon), a free-spirited and kind-hearted goddess, with a fiery streak in her personality.<ref name="Demihuman" /><ref name="Evermeet: Island of Elves">[[Elaine Cunningham]] (1998) ''[[Evermeet: Island of Elves]]'' ([[TSR, Inc.]] and [[Wizards of the Coast]]</ref> When, during her youth, a host of evil deities assaulted [[Arvandor]] (her home), Araushnee's treachery almost made her slay her own father. Even though she was cleared from any guilt, Eilistraee chose to share her mother's exile, because she knew that the drow would need her light and help in the dark times to come.<ref name="Demihuman" /><ref name="Evermeet: Island of Elves" /> Since after the descent of the drow, in the present era of the setting, Eilistraee tries her best to be a mother goddess to her people and bring them the hope of a new life: she fights to lead them back to the lands of light, helping them to flourish and prosper in harmony with all other races, free from Lolth's tyranny.<ref name="Demihuman" /><ref name="Evermeet: Island of Elves" /><ref name="Greenwood 2006 I">{{cite web |title=Candlekeep Forum - Questions for Ed Greenwood (2006) |url=http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5812&whichpage=27#129882 |access-date=2 January 2018 |website=Forum.candlekeep.com}}</ref> Hers is an uphill battle, however, as her power is little and she is opposed by all the gods of the [[Drow deities|Dark Seldarine]]. But, despite having to overcome many hardships and setbacks, Eilistraee has never given up fighting for her people.<ref name="Demihuman" /> In the 1370s [[Dalereckoning|DR]], her conflict with her mother over the souls of the drow race ultimately led to Eilistraee's defeat and disappearance.<ref name="AotL">[[Lisa Smedman]] (June 2008). [[The Lady Penitent|Ascendancy of the Last]]. (Wizards of the Coast)</ref> It lasted for about a century, until [[The Sundering (Dungeons & Dragons)|The Sundering]] (c. 1480s DR), when Eilistraee returned to life and to her followers.<ref name="forum.candlekeep.com2">{{cite web |title=Candlekeep Forum - Questions for Ed Greenwood (2015) |url=http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19841&whichpage=13#468322 |access-date=2 January 2018 |website=Forum.candlekeep.com}}</ref><ref name="SCAG2">Kim Mohan ed. (2015) ''[[Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide]]''. ([[Wizards of the Coast]]), pp. 23, 108. {{ISBN|978-0786965809}}.</ref><ref name="Death Masks2">[[Ed Greenwood]] (June 2016) ''[[Death Masks (Forgotten Realms)|Death Masks]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]])</ref><ref name="EG476639">{{cite web |title=Candlekeep Forum - Questions for Ed Greenwood (2015) |url=http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19841&whichpage=22#476639 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828103504/http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19841&whichpage=22#476639 |archive-date=28 August 2017 |access-date=2 January 2018 |website=Forum.candlekeep.com}}</ref><ref group="note">As said [http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19841&whichpage=22#476688 here] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828103504/http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19841&whichpage=22#476688|date=2017-08-28}}, in answer to [http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19841&whichpage=22#476640 this question] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828103504/http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19841&whichpage=22#476640|date=2017-08-28}}, only the following lines of text in the reference No. 11 are to be considered official: "After Flamerule 1489, Vhaeraun and Eilistraee are separate deities with the same powers and portfolios they had before 1375, but a new understanding, respect, and even friendship for each other. Some of their followers still war with each other, but the two deities do not. Thus far, Eilistraee’s teachings after the Sundering are the same as before the Sundering"</ref>

==== Publication history ====
Eilistraee was first detailed in ''The Drow of the Underdark'' (1991).<ref name="EdVerse" /> Her role in the cosmology of the [[Planescape]] campaign setting was described in ''[[On Hallowed Ground]]'' (1996).<ref name="Hallowed">[[Colin McComb|McComb, Colin]]. ''[[On Hallowed Ground]]'' ([[TSR, Inc.|TSR]], 1996)</ref> Eilistraee received a very detailed description in ''[[Demihuman Deities]]'' (1998).<ref name="Demihuman2">[[Eric L. Boyd|Boyd, Eric L.]] ''[[Demihuman Deities]]'' ([[TSR, Inc.|TSR]], 1998)</ref> She is described as one of the good deities that [[Celestial (Dungeons & Dragons)|celestials]] can serve in the supplement ''[[Warriors of Heaven (Dungeons & Dragons)|Warriors of Heaven]]'' (1999).<ref>[[Christopher Perkins (game designer)|Perkins, Christopher]]. ''[[Warriors of Heaven (Dungeons & Dragons)|Warriors of Heaven]]'' (TSR, 1999)</ref> Eilistraee then appears in 3rd edition in the ''[[Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting]]'' book (2001),<ref name="FRCS3E2">{{cite book |last=Greenwood |first=Ed |author-link=Ed Greenwood |title=[[Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting#3rd edition|Forgotten Realms: Campaign Setting]] |last2=Reynolds |first2=Sean K. |author-link2=Sean K. Reynolds |last3=Williams |first3=Skip |author-link3=Skip Williams |publisher=Wizards of the Coast |year=2001 |isbn=0-7869-1836-5}}</ref> and was further described in ''[[Faiths and Pantheons]]'' (2002).<ref name="FAP2">[[Eric L. Boyd|Boyd, Eric L.]], and [[Erik Mona]]. ''[[Faiths and Pantheons]]'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2002).</ref>

Eilistraee is one of the Forgotten Realms deities that made a reappearance during the event known as [[The Sundering (Dungeons & Dragons)|The Sundering]] which transitioned ''Dungeons & Dragons'' from [[Editions of Dungeons & Dragons#Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition|4th Edition]] to [[Editions of Dungeons & Dragons#Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition|5th Edition]].<ref name="forum.candlekeep.com3">{{cite web |title=Candlekeep Forum - Questions for Ed Greenwood (2015) |url=http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19841&whichpage=13#468322 |access-date=2 January 2018 |website=Forum.candlekeep.com}}</ref><ref name="SCAG3">Kim Mohan ed. (2015) ''[[Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide]]''. ([[Wizards of the Coast]]), pp. 23, 108. {{ISBN|978-0786965809}}.</ref><ref name="EG4766392">{{cite web |title=Candlekeep Forum - Questions for Ed Greenwood (2015) |url=http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19841&whichpage=22#476639 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828103504/http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19841&whichpage=22#476639 |archive-date=28 August 2017 |access-date=2 January 2018 |website=Forum.candlekeep.com}}</ref> She is mentioned as such in the novels ''Spellstorm'' (2015) and ''Death Masks'' (2016) by Greenwood.<ref name="Spellstorm">[[Ed Greenwood]] (June 2015) ''[[Spellstorm]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]])</ref><ref name="Death Masks3">[[Ed Greenwood]] (June 2016) ''[[Death Masks (Forgotten Realms)|Death Masks]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]])</ref> In the 5th Edition sourcebook ''[[Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide]]'' (2015), Eilistraee receives a brief description, and is listed as one of the deities active in the post-Sundering era of the Forgotten Realms.<ref name="SCAG3" /> ''[[Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes]]'' (2018) includes a full entry for Eilistraee.<ref name="MToF">[[Mike Mearls]], [[Jeremy Crawford]] (May 2018) ''[[Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]])</ref>

==== Reception ====
Scholar Michael Blume posited that the inclusion of Eilistraee as a benign counterpart to her evil mother Lolth in ''D&D''s mythology of the elves contributed to bringing a complexity to the fantasy drow, beyond racist and antifeminist stereotypes perceived in the writings of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] and [[Gary Gygax]].<ref>{{cite conference |last=Blume |first=Michael |date=2021 |title=Mitarbeit am Mythos – Fantasy-Rollenspiele in der Bewältigung von Antisemitismus und Klimakrise |trans-title=Collaboration on the myth - Fantasy role-playing games in coping with antisemitism and climate crisis |url=https://d-nb.info/1260578623/34#page=85 |conference=[[SPIEL]] |location=Essen |publisher=Boardgame Historian/[[WWU Münster]] |publication-date=2022 |page=89 |access-date=2025-04-01 |editor-last1=Boch |editor-first1=Lukas |editor-last2=Falke |editor-first2=Anna Klara |editor-last3=Krause |editor-first3=Toni Janosch |book-title=Mehr als nur Zeitvertreib? – Wissenschaftliche Perspektiven auf analoge Spiele |lang=de}}</ref> Rob Bricken of ''[[Kotaku]]'' identified Eilistraee as one of "The 13 Strangest Deities in Dungeons & Dragons", commenting: "To know Eilistraee, you have to know the Drow. The Drow are a race of evil elves who live underground and basically spend all their days murdering each other because they're so damn evil. There has been one good Drow in the history of D&D, and that's Drizzt Do'Urden, who is one of the Mary Sue-iest characters in all of fiction—and he's been the star of countless novels and is the only reason any D&D player has even been interested in the Drow, of which now there is a terrifying amount of material. Anyways, Eilistraee is apparently the goddess of good Drow, which means she has one worshipper on the planet. This is nonsense."<ref>{{cite web |date=28 March 2016 |title=The 13 Strangest Deities in Dungeons & Dragons |url=http://www.kotaku.com.au/2016/03/the-13-strangest-deities-in-dungeons-dragons/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331030901/http://www.kotaku.com.au/2016/03/the-13-strangest-deities-in-dungeons-dragons/ |archive-date=March 31, 2016 |access-date=2 January 2018 |work=[[Kotaku]]}}</ref>

=== Other deities ===
{{See also|List of Dungeons & Dragons deities}}
The drow deities Ghaunadaur, Kiaransalee, Selvetarm, Vhaeraun, and Zinzerena were primarily introduced during the ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd Edition era. Ghaunadaur first appeared in ''The Drow of the Underdark'' (1991)<ref name="DROW" /> and was expanded upon in ''Demihuman Deities'' (1998)<ref name="Demihuman" /> and 3rd Edition's ''Faiths and Pantheons'' (2002).<ref name="FAP" /> Kiaransalee debuted in ''Monster Mythology'' (1992),<ref name="Sargent 1992" /> was further detailed in ''On Hallowed Ground'' (1996),<ref name="Hallowed" /> ''Demihuman Deities'' (1998),<ref name="Demihuman" /> and ''Faiths and Pantheons'' (2002);<ref name="FAP" /> she also appears in module ''[[City of the Spider Queen]]'' (2002) and Forgotten Realms novels. Selvetarm's lore was expanded in ''Faiths and Pantheons'' (2002)<ref name="FAP" /> and novels such as Lisa Smedman's ''[[The Lady Penitent|Sacrifice of the Widow]]'' (2007). Vhaeraun was also introduced in ''Monster Mythology'' (1992)<ref name="Sargent 1992" /> and was featured in ''On Hallowed Ground'' (1996),<ref name="Hallowed" /> ''Demihuman Deities'' (1998),<ref name="Demihuman" /> and ''Faiths and Pantheons'' (2002),<ref name="FAP" /> with additional narrative developments in Forgotten Realms novels. Zinzerena appeared in ''Monster Mythology'' (1992)<ref name="Sargent 1992" /> and ''On Hallowed Ground'' (1996),<ref name="Hallowed" /> but later lore relegated her to a minor or deceased status under Lolth's dominance. As part of the world restructuring of the [[Forgotten Realms]] in preparation for [[D&D 4th Edition]], many deities were removed from the game to simplify the pantheons.<ref>{{cite interview |last=Perkins |first=Chris |subject-link=Chris Perkins (game designer) |interviewer=GamerZer0 |title=Forgotten Realms Interview with: Chris Perkins |type= |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_OVG18__dQ |format=video |date=December 19, 2007 |accessdate=September 11, 2009}}</ref>

Ghaunadaur, also known as That Which Lurks and The Elder Eye, is a chaotic god of oozes, rebels, and outcasts, known for his capricious nature and ancient origins from primordial slimes. Kiaransalee, the vengeful Lady of the Dead, is a goddess of undead and retribution who rose from mortal royalty to godhood, only to later fall from power through epic magic. Selvetarm, the Spider that Waits, embodies mindless battle and bloodlust, having been corrupted and enslaved by Lolth after a tragic manipulation. Vhaeraun, the Masked Lord, champions drow males, surface raiding, and rebellion against Lolth's matriarchy; it is believed he was killed by Eilistraee during a failed assassination attempt. Zinzerena, a chaotic goddess of assassins and trickery, ascended through theft of divine power and embodies stealth, betrayal, and ruthless survival, though her influence waned under Lolth's supremacy.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}