Eilistraee

Eilistraee (pronounced "eel-iss-TRAY-yee" or "eel-ISS-tray-ee" ), also referred to as the Dark Maiden, was the chaotic good drow goddess of song, swordwork, hunting, moonlight, and beauty. She was the patroness and protectress of the few dark elves who longed to return to the surface Realms and live life there, at peace with other races, and to abandon the endless conflicts and intrigues that dominated the lives of most drow. She was comforted that some worked their way free of the Spider Queen's web.

Description, Personality and Manifestations
Eilistraee appeared as a drow female of extraordinary beauty: she was 9-feet tall, with long, strong and graceful limbs; she had a glossy and obsidian-dark skin and her visage was that of her mother (Lolth), save for her eyes and ankle-long hair, that were of a glowing silvery hue. She usually appeared unclad, cloacked by her hair and silvery radiance  in a smoothly, continuously moving array of beauty .

Eilistraee was a generally melancholic goddess (in great part because of the suffering of her people --the drow--), but despite that she still tried her best to spread joy, create and nurture beauty, show kindness and just make life flourish. She was a lover of peace and of beauty, music and dance; a free spirit, but with a moody and wild side to her personality:

 She was given to quicksilver moods, and she possessed an uncertain temper. One moment she was a carefree child dancing like a moonbeam or running like a silver wolf through the forest; the next moment, she was either as seductive as a siren or as serious as a dwarven god. 

The Dark Dancer was happiest when seeing artists -especially bards, dancers and musicians- at work, people working acts of kindness and the tenderness of lovers, and she herself enjoyed helping people in need in various practical ways.

Eilistraee was convinced and fought so that all races could live peacefully together, helping and accepting each other despite their differences, and strongly believed in the possibility of redemption for those who had fallen to evil, esepcially the drow.

However, she also had a fiery streak: the evil that was inflicted upon -and perpetuated by- most drow caused a feel of burning anger within her, and she was prone to wild action, especially in protection of her faithful when they were harmed.

Eilistraee rarely directly intervened in her people's lives but she was known to watch over them and help and assist any creature that she favored (even if not her worshiper) in immediately useful ways (see below). She was usually seen only from afar, but her song (of unearthly beauty, driving many to tears) was heard whenever she appeared. At times she could also appear during celebrations dedicated to her, leaping from the flames of the bonfires and joining her faithful in their dance, or manifest herself by night cowled, radiance dimmed, to travelers in the woodlands (usually to test their kindness)

She demonstrated her favor and happiness through the discovery of particular minerals or gems (like mithral, moonstones and silver) or with a sudden inspiration to write a beautiful song or poem, or by gifting the ability to craft a good sword. However the Dark Dancer could also let her displeasure be known and did so by making a cold breeze rise, by making the disfavored ones feel a sensation of chill to their hands or feet, or through a sudden lack of inspiration in any form of art, or through the inability to catch anything while hunting.

The Dark Dancer was worshiped by song and dance, if at all possible, in the surface world under the moonlight (preferably in wooded places) and worship of her was usually accompanied by a feast.

Eilistraee took the role of a nurturing and protecting mother-goddess for the whole drow race. She chose to share their exile so that she could be with them when they would have needed her the most, to provide a light in the darkness and a beacon of hope to her children in the difficult times that -as she had foreseen- would have come upon them. Eilistraee helped the drow to strengthen, grow and flourish in a hostile surface world, aiding her faithful in hunting, swordcraft and practical matters (for example, the sound of her hunting horn could be heard when her faithful were in danger -or when people needing help were nearby-, heartening them and scaring away dangerous creatures; her silvery radiance -or silvery moths- guided drow lost in the darkness or lightened childbirths that occured in the dark; hers was the force who brought the stag within the reach of the hungry drow. Eilistraee also manifested, usually through her moonfire, in the moments when her children needed her visible blessing and support/comfort and when a new drow converted to her faith and joined her dance -about 68% of the times in the latter cases- ).

The Dark Maiden also taught and showed to the drow the kindness, love and joy of life that were taken away from them, and all dark elves - from the highest matron mother to the lowest male slave - received dreams or visions from Eilistraee, showing them a different, better life (especially when they were close to the surface). Lolth was powerless to stop these visions (as too much intereference from two goddesses could easily bring a mortal's mind to insanity), and the drow definitely came to know about and felt the Dark Dancer at one point in their life, but many of them either would not understand said dreams/emotions or chose to ignore, disbelieve, or reject them. Even then, while not many refused Lolth to cleave to Eilistraee, many secretely yearned for the goddess and all that she wished for them (in fact it was not unusual of them to choose to spare a stricken worshipper of Eilistraee if they thought no priestess of Lolth was watching, or to fail to pass on to other drow something they might have seen of the activities of faithful of Eilistraee, or to stop to watch a dance of Eilistraee worshippers rather than disrupting it)

Eilistraee's Avatar
Eilistraee's Avatar appeared as the goddess herself, described above. She could use any kind of spell, but preferred charm/enchantment, creation and healing spells, or spells related to plants and animals. She could instantly, at will, unleash nine silvery magic missiles from the tips of her fingers, could levitate at will, turn spells against their caster, quickly regenerate wounds or even lost limbs. She wielded a Singing Bastard Sword (the Moonsword, her favored weapon) and two Dancing Swords, which she was capable of using combining the grace and agility of her dance with the lethality of her fencing skills. Eilistraee's Avatar could also manifest wearing deep brown leather boots that allowed her to move in total silence and without leaving any trace and a green cloack that shifted its color according to the surrounding environment, rendering the goddess' avatar invisible.

History
Eilistraee was the daughter of Corellon Larethian and Araushnee, who later became Lolth, and the sister of Vhaeraun. The commonly accepted version of the story (and/or myth) behind her current role in the Dark Seldarine is the following. When Lolth gathered a host of deities enemy of the Seldarine, tricking them into assaulting Arvandor in the attempt to overthrow Corellon, Eilistraee (whose skills in archery, scouting and hunting were widely known among the Seldarine) was the first to spot the threat, allowing her father and the other elven deities to prepare a defense. In the heat of the battle that ensued, when Ghaunadaur made its entrance, Corellon realized that the threat had to come from the Seldarine itself, as a being like Ghaunadaur could only enter Arvandor if a true evil already lurked within the plane. His pain grew even sharper when he realized that his lover, Araushnee, was behind it, as she stood observing the scene in triumph, and as the scabbard that she had crafted for his sword magically drew one of the arrows fired by Eilistraee to protect her father to pierce his chest instead. Seeing the happeing from the skies, Aerdrie Faenya, unaware of the deception, struck the still shocked Eilistraee, incapacitating her. The battle was however won, and the elven deities, still unbelieving that the Dark Maiden could do such a thing, gathered around the wounded Corellon, while Araushnee, faking grief, put in motion the second part of her plan. Pretending to do her best to save her lover, she tried to use a concoction of poisonous herbs, prepared by Eilistraee for the arrows of the mortal dark elves, to finish Corellon, passing it for a healing elixir made up of water from Elysium and healing herbs (in the hope that if her treachery was uncovered, she could still blame Eilistraee, as the potion was her work). This plan didn't go well: Sehanine Moonbow, whom Araushnee and Vhaeraun had ambushed and trapped before the invasion (because she had seen their true intentions and tried to warn them against their plans), had managed to free herself and to come in time to save Corellon (together with Aerdrie Faenya and Hanali Celanil) and free Eilistraee from guilt. After the elven lord had regained consciousness and the truth was made clear, he had to take the painful decision to banish all the drow deities for their roles in the war against the Seldarine. Eilistraee was cleared from any wrongdoing, but she insisted upon this punishment from her reluctant father, because she foresaw that the dark elves would need a beacon of good within their reach and her help and support in the times to come. On Abeir-Toril, the Dark Maiden strove for centuries against the hatred of Vhaeraun and his corrupting influence on the Ilythiir. Eilistraee's power was greatly diminished with the death of many of her people in Miyeritar during the Dark Disaster, and Lolth and Ghaunadaur gaining influence among the dark elves and their persecution against followers of the rival religions marginalized the influence of the Lady of the Dance for millennia, even if the goddess still kept fighting to bring her hope to the drow. Only in the later centuries Eilistraee's faith would regain a small amount of prominence in Faerun, as the Dark Maiden sought to lead the fallen drow back to their rightful place in the light.

In Flamerule of 1379 DR, Eilistraee, while inhabiting the body of Qilué Veladorn, was killed by Halisstra Melarn using the Crescent Blade. Meanwhile, a High Magic ritual performed by Q'arlynd Melarn transformed those drow not tainted by Wendonai's blood and the followers of Eilistraee back into their original dark elven form, and Corellon Larethian thus permitted the souls of Eilistraee's faithful and the newly transformed dark elves to enter Arvandor.

Despite Halisstra's actions, it might be that Eilistraee wasn't truly killed. When the Lady Penitent used the Crescent Blade against Qilué Veladorn, the latter was being inhabited by the Dark Maiden, basically becoming an avatar (since deities cannot fully manifest themselves on the material pane ). That would mean that the blade didn't hit the goddess herself, but a part of her essence infused in her chosen's body (albeit probably one holding much of the goddess' power). Another point is that deities can only be truly killed while in their planar realm or by being starved of followers, therefore Eilistraee's survival cannot be excluded a priori. Furthermore the Crescent Blade could not destroy souls anymore after being reforged, as it is shown by Cavatina Xarann's soul surviving it.

Post Sundering (circa 1489 DR), Eilistraee was alive again and she was one of the deities with whom the returned Mystra was sharing the Weave. She and her brother were separate entities again and both Eilistraee and Vhaeraun personally let their return be known, manifesting through their avatars to their followers, who enthusiastically spread the word. . However both the Dark Dancer's and the Masked Lord's power, conditions and what next move they were planning were not clear.

Relationships
Eilistraee's allies were the Seldarine, Mystra, Selûne, Lurue, Haela Brightaxe, Callarduran Smoothhands, and the good deities of the Underdark races. Her enemies were the evil deities of the Underdark, especially the rest of the drow pantheon. However, Selvetarm wasn't always among the Dark Dancer's enemies. After having spurned both his parents (Vhaeraun and Zandilar the Dancer, who would then become one with Bast, forming Sharess), he was befriended by Eilistraee, who would would become close to him. The goddess also hoped that by teaching him her ways, he could become the examplar that would aid her to heal the difficult relationship between the dark elves and the Seldarine. However said hope and friendship ended when Lolth tricked Selvetarm into slaying Zanassu (a demon lord rival of Lolth, as he claimed to have power of spiders), promising him that doing so would have gained him the appreciation of the Dark Maiden. In truth Selvetarm was overtaken by the demonic essence and ended up as Lolth's champion.

While the Dark Maiden and the Seldarine were allies, their relationship was a difficult one, because of the division between drow and elves and because of the idea that many elves had of their dark kin. This was especially true for Shevarash, with whom Eilistraee barely managed to work an uneasy truce. Among the elven powers, Eilistraee was only close with Erevan Ilesere. Eilistraee was also close with the human goddess of magic, Mystra, through Qilue Veladorn, seventh of the Seven Sisters,who served both goddesses as Chosen of Mystra and as Chosen of Eilistraee. The Dark Maiden was infuriated by the evil that both Lolth and Ghaunadaur represented, and she was saddened her brother's cruelty and selfishness.

Teachings
Eilistraee's dogma:

"Protect and aid all folk in need, weak, strong, grateful, and churlish alike, promoting harmony, peace and acceptance among all races. Be always kind, save in battle with evil. Repay rudeness with kindness and help others in acts of kindness whenever there are ways to do so. Repay violence with swift violence, that the fewest may be hurt and danger fast removed from the land.

In particular, whenever and wherever possible, encourage drow to return to the surface world and work to promote harmony between drow and surface-dwelling races in order to establish the drow as rightful, nonevil inhabitants of Faerun. Aid drow who are in distress. If the distressed are fighting with other drow, the combat is to be stopped with as little bloodshed as possible. So long as the drow met with are not working evil on others, they also are to be given the message of Eilistraee:

The Message of Eilistraee:A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow.

Strangers are your friends. Any hungry travelers met with, who offer no threats, are to be fed -- the faithful are to carry food at all times for this purpose, and to set it aside and give it as often as possible to strangers in need (particularly outcasts and those of other races). If food yet remains, it is to be given to the priests of the Dark Maiden, that they may do the same, and none shall go hungry. The homeless must be given shelter from storms, under your own roof if need be. In harsh winters, patrol the lands about to find and take in the lost, the hurt, and those caught in the teeth of cold. Try to convert at least one stranger per moon to the worship of Eilistraee.

Encourage happiness and gaiety everywhere; lift hearts with kind words and acts, jests, songs, and merriment. Nurture beauty, music, and dance. Learn and practice new songs and dances and how to play, make, and repair musical instruments, to gift joy to friends and strangers alike and to pass this learning on whenever possible. Assist hunters and hunting, learn new recipes and spices to cook and how best to hunt for game. Practice swordwork and learn new ways with the blade. Whenever possible, food should be eaten with the accompaniment of song and merriment; except for properly sad occasions. When faithful and allies fall in battle, any priestess present must, if possible, provide burial, a funeral song, and comfort to the bereaved.

Wealth is to be used to buy food, musical instruments, good swords and armor, and other tools to serve the will of the goddess. When on the road and while adventuring, feed, aid, and defend the needy along the way with a prayer to the goddess. Lend assistance to those who fight for good, asking as price no more than an object that can be used to the benefit of the goddess’ works.

When fighting evil, burn the bodies of the slain foes as an offering to the goddess, unless such creatures are edible and nonsentient, and there are hungry folk near."

Worshipers and Servitors
(NOTE: this is just a general overview, more details are provided by the link below)

The church of Eilistraee mostly consisted of those drow who hoped to escape the danger and darkness of Underdark and Lolth's evil, taking back their place in the surface world. However, in line with her ideals, Eilistraee would welcome beings of all races: Tel-quessir (and also the human half-breeds of Tel-quessir), humans, gnomes, half orcs and even shapeshifters were among the followers of the goddess. They shared the desire of seeing all races living in harmony, without pointless discrimination or wars, and worked towards that goal (and those among them who were drow also fought to build their own place on the Realms above).

The church of Eilistraee was little known and poorly understood by inhabitants of the surface world. Her worshippers were figures of myth in both the Underdark and the Realms above. They were the subject of superstitions and prejudice (such as the belief -held by surface dwellers- of them being the disguised vanguard of the Spider Goddess's plan to take over the surface, and that -held by those drow who follow the Way of Lolth (or other evil gods)- of them being surface elf spies posing as drow.

 Rare was the individual -dark elf or not- who appreciated that Eilistraee was forging her own path, one that welcomed beings of all races who revel in life and the free form expression of all that entails  (even if some harpers (especially Laeral Silverhand's and Khelben's) appreciated the hope that the goddess and her faith represented ).

Some non-drow worshipers of Eilistraee rubbed black dye into their skin.

Eilistraee was served by the following creatures: aasimar, aasimon (particularly lights), asuras, cath shee, einheriar, eladrins, mercury dragons, elven cats, fcystags, frosts, hollyphants, incarnates of faith and hope, lythari, mist dragons, moon dogs, moon-horses, pixies, radiance quasielementals, reverend ones, silver dogs, silver dragons, sprites, sunflies, tieflings, and silverstriped tabby cats or normal-looking animals with solid silver-colored eyes. Silver moths could also be used as a message from the goddess.

Artifacts
The Crescent Blade was a magical curved blade with a leather hilt. There was silver inlaid in the blade. On it were the Drow words, "Be your heart filled with light and your cause be true; I shall not fail you." It was said that Eilistraee plucked a pebble from the heavens and tossed it to earth. It grew as large as a boulder and very hot. It was made of moonmetal; if one looked at the moon, they can see the hole in the shape of a crescent. The boulder was forged into a crescent-shaped blade with enchantments, including moonlight—it could cut through armor and stone—protection against evil, and being able to strike quickly. If the wielder was a true priestess, she could use it to sever the neck of any creature, including gods.
 * The Crescent Blade

The Singing Swords were twenty magical singing silver bastard swords provided by Eilistraee and wielded by Qilue Veladorn and the Chosen of Eilistraee who patrolled the Pit of Ghaunadaur near Skullport. The swords sang constantly (and loudly) when unsheathed, and lost their abilities and bonuses when silenced. The blade's song made its wielder confident and immune to charm, command, confusion, fear, friends, repulsion, scare and suggestion. An emotion cast on the wielder only caused rage, focused on the one who cast the emotion spell. The sword's song also cancelled the effects of a harpy's song, silenced shriekers, and could entrance weak, earthly, living creatures, although this ability could be negated by a bard's counter-song.
 * The Singing Swords

Magic
The most notable form of Eilistraeen magic was the Spellsong, the ability to invoke various magical effects through song. Those included replicating other spells, protecting from magic or healing. If more priestesses took part to a Spellsong, its power could grow and become able to regenerate lost limbs or cure a wide variety of illnesses, poisons or other negative effects. A particular form of Spellsong was the Grand Chorus, celebrated by the priestesses of the Promenade. This was the greatest ritual of worship to Eilistraee,  an ever-changing song of celebration led by a senior priestess who guided the song with an overriding theme or melody . The Chorus could bring into being beams of moonlight, which intensity grew with the emotion of the singers. If such radiance met with real moonlight, Eilistraee's power made it so that all beings and items that the priestesses were touching or carrying while singing could, at will, be transported along a path of moonlight to any place where the moon was shining. In that way they could move from the location of the Chorus to any place on the surface lit by the moon and it was through this spell that the priestesses traveled to the surface for their missions.
 * The Spellsong

The most iconic Eilistraeen spell was the Dark Maiden's Moonfire. It was a beacon of light, which intensity and color could be controlled by the creator at will (ranging from a faint glow to a clear, bright -but not blinding- light). Moonfire had the same intensity as moonlight, and it was generally used as a light source for reading, to see in the dark, as a signal for communication or for artistic purposes. Manifestations of moonfire lasted as long as its summoner desired and concentration was not required to maintain it. This spell and the darkness spell negated each other. Manifested moonfire could move as the creator wished and it was always attached to the her body (even if experienced Priestesses could make it drift away from their bodies altogether, resembling the spell dancing lights). The radiance could move around the creator's body as fast as desired, however it moved up to 6.6 feet per second when far from the caster's body. The manifester could guide it in any direction, through any opening, and cause the glow to appear in any size. Eilistraee could also gift a creature the power to temporarily manifest her moonfire.
 * The Moonfire

Shrines and Temples
Temples of the Dark Maiden were typically established in the mouths of caverns or in woodlands, places that allowed her followers to reach and act on the surface world. Temples in the Underdark -even shrines close to the surface- were unusual and the Promenade of the Dark Maiden was unique in being a large center of worship of the Dark Dancer, the main one, founded in the caverns of the Undermountain, to prevent the return of Ghaunadaur. Eilistraee's places of worship were chosen mostly like elves chose spots to dedicate to the Seldarine: followers of Eilistraee used natural places that needed little modification and tended to live in harmony with their surroundings, leaving few traces of their passage, with only few exceptions (like the drow of the Promeande of the Dark Maiden). Temples typically included a glade in which to dance and from which the moon was fully visible, a dark place removed from the light of day, a thick tree canopy, a fresh water stream, a forge for the crafting of swords, an access tunnel to the Underdark, and a vein of iron or some other metal suitable for the craft. However, all of that was not necessary, as a shrine of the Dark Maiden only required a moonlit glade and a song capable of leading one into a dance. .

Below is a simple list of major shrines, more info are provided by the link in the heading.


 * The Chondalwood Shrine
 * The Dancing Dell, Ardeep Forest
 * The The Dancing Stone, Elventree
 * The Dark Dancer, Ravens Bluff
 * Darkmaiden's Leap, The High Forest:
 * Forest of Lethyr Shrine
 * Forest of Shadows Shrine
 * Forest of Tethir Shrine
 * The Grey Forest Shrine
 * Lake Sember Shrine
 * The Misty Forest Shrine
 * The Mouth of Song, The Moonwood: 
 * The Promenade of the Dark Maiden
 * The Shadowtop Glade, Velarswood 
 * The Tower of the Dark Moon' , The Twisted Tower', Shadowdale 


 * The Yuirwood Shrine


 * Wildwinds Coven, The High Forest: 

Further readings and appearances

 * 1) Novels, articles and sourcebooks.
 * Dragon Magazine, Issues: 172, 211, 227, 249, 251
 * Ed Greenwood (June 2015). Spellstorm. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-6571-7
 * Dragon Magazine, Issues: 172, 211, 227, 249, 251
 * Ed Greenwood (June 2015). Spellstorm. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-6571-7
 * Dragon Magazine, Issues: 172, 211, 227, 249, 251
 * Ed Greenwood (June 2015). Spellstorm. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-6571-7
 * Dragon Magazine, Issues: 172, 211, 227, 249, 251
 * Ed Greenwood (June 2015). Spellstorm. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-6571-7
 * Dragon Magazine, Issues: 172, 211, 227, 249, 251
 * Ed Greenwood (June 2015). Spellstorm. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-6571-7
 * Dragon Magazine, Issues: 172, 211, 227, 249, 251
 * Ed Greenwood (June 2015). Spellstorm. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-6571-7
 * Ed Greenwood (June 2015). Spellstorm. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-6571-7
 * Ed Greenwood (June 2015). Spellstorm. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-6571-7
 * Ed Greenwood (June 2015). Spellstorm. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-6571-7
 * Ed Greenwood (June 2015). Spellstorm. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-6571-7
 * Ed Greenwood (June 2015). Spellstorm. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-6571-7
 * Ed Greenwood (June 2015). Spellstorm. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-6571-7
 * Ed Greenwood (June 2015). Spellstorm. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-6571-7
 * Ed Greenwood (June 2015). Spellstorm. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-6571-7
 * Ed Greenwood (June 2015). Spellstorm. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-6571-7
 * Ed Greenwood (June 2015). Spellstorm. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-6571-7
 * Ed Greenwood (June 2015). Spellstorm. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-6571-7
 * Ed Greenwood (June 2015). Spellstorm. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-6571-7
 * Ed Greenwood (June 2015). Spellstorm. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-6571-7


 * 2) Video Games
 * In Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal (game) Eilistraee is mentioned through one of her followers in the drow city of Ust Natha, Solaufein.
 * In Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark, a drow matron mother, who calls herself the Valsharess, manages to invade the Undermountain, conquer the Underdark region around it and use it as a base to launch attack on the city of waterdeep. The player character find themselves involved in this matter through a geas spell casted by Halaster Blackcloak himself, but also find an ally in the Eilistraeen drow assassin named Nathyrra. She leads the player character to the base of a resistance, formed by a ragtag rebel army led by Eilistraee's followers. A mysterious priestess of Eilistraee known as The Seer is the guide of said small band of Eilistraeen drow in an abandoned Lolthian temple, located in the Underdark port city of Lith My'athar.
 * In Neverwinter Nights 2, Eilistraee is one of the deities that can be chosen in the character creation.
 * In Neverwinter Nights 2, Eilistraee is one of the deities that can be chosen in the character creation.

Trivia
Even if Eilistraee was added to the official Forgotten Realms by at the behest of editor Newton Ewell (in ), the goddess had already been created for the original Forgotten Realms by Ed Greenwood, who used this opportunity to make the Dark Dancer official.

Connections
Eilistraee