Priesthood

The Temples of the main Underdark Cities also serve as Universities for Priestesses in Training. Novices either live at home and come to the temple for training or if they have travelled to another city, they are permitted to live in modest quarters on the Temple grounds. Once a novice has completed her training and initiation ceremony, she must enter the constant battle to rise through the Temple ranks.

Worship

Rituals to Lolth involve the burning of precious oils and incense, live offerings, and riches of all sorts, particularly gems. These are customarily placed in a bowl-shaped depression in a black altar or a burning brazier, from which black-and-red flames leap to consume the offerings. If the deity is angered, or impostors are present, the flames may also arc to consume other valuables, such as magic items, jewelry, and clothing. Large, important rituals customarily use eight braziers, to provide additional flame and to represent Lolth’s eight legs.
When participating in rituals, clerics of Lolth work unclad or wear black robes trimmed with dark red and purple (lesser or novitiate clerics instead wear dark purple or red trimmed with black). In some cities, they wear ornate helms carved to resemble writhing spiders, while in others heads are always left uncovered. Jewelry consists of spider medallions and similar pieces, all made of platinum. Clerics prefer to display either a platinum disk at least 3 inches in diameter with Lolth’s holy symbol embossed in black enamel or a platinum representation of it, on a platinum or mithral chain.

Demonym

Priestess

Parent Organization

Church of Lolth

Deities

• Lolth

Related Ranks & Titles

• Priestess