Eilistraee (Eye-liss-tray)
Goddess of Life
Eilistraee is a chaotic good drow, often pictured with bright silver hair contrasting against her obsidian skin and dark clothes. She often wore a dark, viridian green cloak that stopped at her ankles and shrouded her in the colors of life, the domain over which she helped to preside prior to the Great Unveiling. She is always pictured as tall, typically over 9 feet tall, with lithe, graceful limbs and motes of moonlight that danced around her. Her bright silver hair was typically pictured down to her ankled, in various braids or curls, often with the flowers of the season decorating the length. Her eyes were a very light shade of lilac and were expressive of her emotions, whether she wanted to show them or not. Her voice, while quiet, carried like a melody to whoever she was speaking to, often enthralling them in the process. Upon her leaving their presence, those enthralled by her would experience feelings of deep loss and even desolation, though only for a short time. She is often referred to as the Dark Maiden by her followers and scholars of the old world, as that was what she was called in texts found from before the Great Unveiling. She has a fiery streak and is prone to wild action, especially in response to her faithful being harmed.
Prior to the Great Unveiling, Eilistraee was the goddess of beauty, song, dance, freedom, moonlight, swordwork, and hunting. On top of this, she was often the god of the drow who longed to live on the surface in harmony with the other races and to set aside the constant conflicts that plagued the world of the drow. During the final battle of the Great Unveiling, Eilistraee stood with the various gods and goddesses attempting to end the war and suffered the great losses of those close to her. However, she managed to survive and play a key role in diverting the world-ending apocalypse the evil side had planned. In response to the great losses suffered by the gods, Eilistraee vowed to preside over the life domain, encouraging the remaining mortals to rebuild and rejoice in their survival, even helping them to set up their societies only a few months after the end of the Great Unveiling.
Before the Great Unveiling, Eilistraee's worshipers consisted mostly of drow who hoped to escape the danger and darkness of the Underdark. After the Great Unveiling, however, her reach has expanded to anyone with a fervency for maintaining and enjoying life. Communities formed around Eilistraee's ideals are typically matriarchal in structure. Clerics of Eilistraee (commonly known as Sword Dancers) take on the role of teachers, protectors, and diplomats. Priestesses in charge of the physical churches offer aid and shelter to travelers and those seeking help. Many bards draw their powers from Eilistraee since, despite taking over the entirety of the Life domain, she still holds a soft spot for music, particularly instruments. Eilistraee's churches tend to be modest, but teeming with life in all forms- plants, animals that call the building their home, travelers, and people seeking assistance that have found a welcoming home in Eilistraee's presence.
