Lolth

In the beginning, when Abbadon was but a young God, there sat a single, lonely spider. In the darkness she built her web, waiting for her prey to fall into her trap. She used the most wicked parts of the soul to pull her strings, sowing deceit and jealousy wherever she went. Her power grew and now she is beholden to a new name, Lolth, Goddess of Trickery and Deceit, and her lust for chaos in the mortal world is insatiable. In the beginning, they were the most powerful clan of all the races. Each child of the Drow was born under a sign corresponding with the stars. Those born of the Viper were stealthy and cruel, always striking from the shadows. Those born under the Vultures were opportunistic and cunning, using their prey’s fears against them and picking up the scraps of battles. Children born of the Wasp were relentless and brutal, never taking prisoners only victims. However, all of these paled in comparison to children born of the spider. A spider is cunning and wicked, cruel but patient, and above all else, powerful. They lead the clan and sat above all others, with no equal to name. Lolth was the second child born of the sign of the Spider, her mother being the first. From the very start, however; she emerged as something far more powerful than her predecessor. While her mother wielded terrifying magic, Lolth’s own magic made hers look like no more than a novice. Lolth could manipulate the very life essence of those around her and could whisper dissonant sounds that revealed ones deepest and darkest desires. Lolth’s mother grew jealous and angry, and upon Lolth reaching maturity, she snapped. For days, Lolth’s mother trapped herself in her study, plotting a way to kill her own daughter. Lolth was strong, so her mother devised a plan to kill her in her sleep. Lolth had recently returned from a raid, bringing home spoils from a battle unseen before her time. Her mother feigned joy, professed how proud she was as her mother and wished to throw a magnificent celebration in honor of her daughters triumph. The night was grand, the hall being filled with all the Drow of the clan, all paying reverence to Lolth and her victory. During the night, however; Lolth’s mother set in motion her own plan. Stealthy, she began to slip small amounts of a sleeping agent into Lolth’s own drinks, causing her to steadily grow dreary. It was not to long after that Lolth became too tired to continue, and with one last grand call in her name, she retired to her quarters. The plan had gone exactly as Lolth’s mother had hoped and after waiting a fair amount of time to make sure that her daughter was asleep, she slipped into her room, dagger in hand. This, however; would be the last of her plan that worked out in her favor, for as she raised the dagger to strike her daughter down, a figure dashed from out of the shadows and pinned Lolth’s mother to the ground. Lolth’s mother was dazed and shocked, but when her senses returned to her, she saw her daughter, at the edge of her bed, smiling down on her. What Lolth’s mother had failed to realize in her madness, was that Lolth was always one step ahead of her. From the moment her mother began to grow jealous, Lolth knew it was only a matter of time before her mother moved against her. With this knowledge, she planted a spy among her ranks. Lestran filled that role perfectly. Lolth’s mother was paranoid, believing that her enemies would strike at any given moment, so she did not keep many close, but Lestran was an exception. Born under the sign of the Wasp, he climbed the ranks of warriors quickly and soon made a name for himself. Lolth’s mother had taken notice, and after many trials and tribulations, she made him both her guard and her lover. He quickly grew to be her favorite, even more so than the man who was Lolth’s father, and stayed by her side at all times. What Lolth’s mother did not know was that he was taken by Lolth first, and behind her back, they met in secret. Often to share in fits of passion, Lestran aided Lolth in anyway she desired. It was from him that Lolth learned of her mother's impending betrayal. With this information, Lolth devised her own plan to kill her mother. However, Lolth did not simply wish to strike her down in secret, but instead wanted her mother to die knowing she was far more powerful than she ever could be. On the night of the celebration, Lolth had her lover switch out the sleeping agent with a powder that was useless but looked and smelled similar. Throughout the night, while her mother believed she was drugging her own daughter, Lolth waited patiently for her chance. After a few drinks, she feigned fatigue and retired to her chamber, crawling into bed and waiting for her mother to enter. Once the dagger was drawn, Lestran emerged from the shadows and brought her to the floor. Lolth moved to the edge of her own bed and waited for her mother to look at her, a wicked smile plastered on her face. The terror in her mother's eyes brought her feelings of ecstasy and joy that even being with Lestran failed to achieve. Her mother was utterly and entirely defeated, and it was all because of her. Lolth knelt beside her mother, placing her gentle fingers on her mother's face, holding it in her hands. She quietly watched for a moment as angered turned to defeat that turned into fear. Oh, how she savored the moment. With that, she spoke a single sentence to her mother, “The greatest thing you ever achieved was giving birth to me,” before she coursed necrotic energy through her mother's body, causing it to rack in pain and terror, her mother’s screams filling the room as Lolth just laughed. Once she was certain her mother had died, she had Lestran bring her body and entered the main hall where the Drow were still gathered, now silent from the sound of the Matron’s screams heard only moments ago. Lolth dropped her mother's corpse from atop the stairs and addressed the crowd, now gathered beneath her. Looking upon them, Lolth spoke, “My mother wished to kill me, her own child, and for that she has paid dearly. Once the proud Matron of the Drow, now reduced to a corpse for the buzzards and worms to feast upon.” A murmur broke out from the crowd, all wondering what this meant for the future. Lolth heard their worries and addressed them readily, “some of you seem worried, but do not mistake my victory with condemnation. No, instead I wish to applaud my mother and her efforts, though fruitless as they were.” Lolth looked upon the crowd, now quizzical in her proclamation. She spoke again, “We are the Drow, our very veins run red with deceit and trickery. My mother’s plan was beautiful, from start to untimely finish. Had it been any other other than myself, they would have surely perished. But,” she spoke, her tone now stern and forceful, “I am Lolth, new Matron of the Drow, and none stand above myself. I am the Spider Queen, the one that weaves webs of deceit and betrayal. All other are a pale imitation of my own grandiose, and I proved that this very night. From this night forward, I will lead the Drow to new heights, the likes of which have never been seen before. Choose to follow and I will build an empire that fights to be able to eat our scraps, but choose to betray me and you will wish you had met my mother’s fate.” With Lolth’s proclamation made, the crowd erupted in a grand call, calling out, “Lolth, Lolth, Lolth, Lolth.” Lolth raised her hands up and brought them down again, bringing with them a hush once more. “I have but a few rules, follow them and even the Gods will shake at the sound of our boots. Know them as the Tenants of Lolth and revere them as if the Gods themselves commanded them.” 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. Drow or slaves of other races who act independently of Lolth's dictates (and those of 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 priestess to serve the Spider Queen better than the last. Arachnids of all sorts are to be revered, and anyone who mistreats or kills a spider must die. With the proclamation made, Lolth set out to fulfill her promises and began to move against the elves of the continent. She formed the four noble houses, her own sat atop them all. Each child born under their respective sign was selected to move into their house. First were the Jingokuhachi, the Infernal Wasps, her army of warriors ready to fight at her beck and call. Next were the Baiku, the Poisonous Vipers, whose prowess in sabotague and assassination became the foot hold for her growth. Following after were the Imahage, the Detestable Vultures, whos scavenging and opportunism brought with them many victories in Lolth’s name. Atop the three families were the Byojamo, the Sickly Spider. Lolth’s own personal family, of which only females could join. Together, they spread like a shadow across the lands. In the beginning it was easy, as the tribes were scattered and distant. Through her network of spies and assassins, she quickly swept through the remnant tribes, killing the warriors and capturing the rest to use as slaves. Utilizing the Baiku’s abilities, they sowed the seeds of chaos among the tribes of the land and once they were done fighting amongst themselves, they tore them apart.However, as is the case with all tyrants, Lolth’s reign came to an end. The newly formed Divine Order met with the remaining clans of the elven continent and the Dragonborn of the north and temporarily unified them against the Drow. WIth the aid of the Divine Order, the elves and Dragonborn pushed the Drow back and eventually confronted Lolth in her own home. Two warriors met her head on, one an elven chief and the other a dragonborn high priestess. As powerful as Lolth was, the two warriors defeated her, killing her in the very home she had executed her mother in. Upon reaching the afterlife, Lolth had expected to find herself in one of the nine hells. She however, was greeted by a man in dark armor, whose very presence brought fear into Lolth’s heart, the likes of which she had never known in life. The man approached her, each footstep causing Lolth the let out a small whimper in fear. The man reached down, and with his hand, lifted Lolth’s chin. Gently he spoke to her, “You have no need to fear me, Lolth Queen of Spiders. For a long time I have watched your work, every victory peaking my interest more and more. You are as wicked as you are beautiful, and I wish to utilize your skills in my own pursuits. Should you accept my offer, I will seat you by my side as the Goddess of Trickery and Deceit. Your children will be cursed to forever stalk the shadows, never to bask in the light, but you will lead them as their Goddess and through you they will bring victory.” Lolth was taken with the man, his presence alone caught her attention, but both his demeanor and aura were that of one who stood above all others. Lolth looked upon the man once again, only one question burned inside her, “Who are you?” The man spoke, his voice as stern and powerful as ever and stated, “I am Abbadon, God of Destruction. Through me, all mortals meet their end and empires fall.” Now, Lolth sits as the right hand of Abbadon, aiding him through her people, utilizing the Drow’s power to corrupt. While cursed to forever be trapped in the underdark, the drow wait upon their mistress. From then on, Lolth is said to be the very whisper that brings about the worst in mortals all across Gaya Maahes.