Selvetarm

Selvetarm, known also as The Spider that Waits, (self-appointed) Champion of Lolth or, despite being Vhaeraun son and thus her grandson, Son of Lolth was a demigod of battle prowess of the Dark Seldarine whose church could hardly count as to be existent.

His most notable feature was his obscurity. He was practically forgotten outside of his cult in Eryndlyn, who didn't think of him as an actual god, those who did were chased out. The name of this cult-branch in Eryndlyn - Selvetargtlin - could be applied without problems to his entire clergy.

Manifestations
When sending his avatar, the Spider that Waits appeared as a large spider, sometimes with the head of a male drow. He was known to wield a heavy mace, his favored weapon Venomace, in his right and a longsword, Thalack'velve, in his left hand. He could cast spells from any sphere.

Selvetarm's manifestations were rare because he either ignored someone's pleas for one or simply send an avatar of his. Those rare manifestations he did send were tiny sphere of utter darkness, that grew and exploded into a blade barrier. Selvetarm expressed his pleasure through making his followers stumble onrogue stones, dried silverbark or webstones. His servants included myrlochars, retrievers and other spiders.

Worshipers
His followers were divided in two branches, divided along the followers' racial membership.

Among the drow, as mentioned before, Selvetarm was practically forgotten. His church was hardly worth being deemed existent. His main church in Eryndlyn didn't think of him as an independent god, for those who did were chased out of the city. As a general rule, its members trained in martial combat. Practicing Selvetarm's believes was something of a career-killer in drow society for these believes didn't put any meaningful emphasis on the intellectual part of combat like strategy and thus followers of Selvetarm were rarely put into commanding positions. The drow branch had a gender ratio of about 10:1 in favor of male drow.

His aranea followers were a different deal. When they talked about Selvetarm, they talked about his aspect Zanassu. They put emphasis on craftiness, patience and subtlety unlike the drow.

Relationships
Selvetarm hated Lolth like everything else. He was bound to her will and while some of his followers put efforts into freeing him from her, Selvetarm himself felt quite comfortable in his subservient role.

He was Vhaeraun's son but rejected to go with him on birth for his mind at that time was too uncertain to commit himself to one direction. Once under Lolth, the two became enemies. For example, Vhaeraun tried to bring the draegloths under him, Selvetarm's reaction was to bring some draegloth under him too with the goal to subsequently give them to Lolth, because he wanted to hinder his father's goal to unseat his grandmother. He also saved Lolth's from Vhaeraun, thus botching his chance for freedom. Vhaeraun deemed his son something of an idiot and that one's submissiveness was a source of rage for the Masked Lord.

He was known to protect Garagos, who was thought to be opting to steal his powers.

Birth
Selvetarm was the child between Vhaeraun and Zandilar the Dancer. The latter was a demigoddess of the elves in Yuirwood. Lolth's forces attacked the Yuirwood, Zandilar tried to seduce Vhaeraun into help but was imprisoned to be drained of her strength. Bast came by, saved Zandilar, merged with her remnants and Selvetarm was born in the process.

Becoming Lolth's servant
He rejected both parents for he was too uncertain to commit himself to one or the other philosophical direction. He wandered for a number centuries, met Eilistraee and learnt to appreciate her. Eilistraee's goal was to redeem Selvetarm to improve drow-Seldarine-relationships.

During that time, Lolth had two problems. She had competition with the demon lord Zanassu over dominion over spiders. Her other problem was Eilistraee's chance to get an ally. She approached Selvetarm, told him killing Zanassu would please Eilistraee, Selvetarm caught on.

Selvetarm went to Zanassu, killed and absorbed him, but the defeated demon lord's influence proved too strong for his personality. It weakened him enough for Lolth to bound him to her will. Lolth got rid of an enemy, got an ally and Eilistraee got an enemy.

Time of Troubles
During the Time of Troubles, Selvetarm's avatar appeared in Eryndlyn. The city was divided among followers of Vhaeraun, Ghaunadaur and Lolth in a ratio of 1:1:2 in favor of the last group. The avatar raged through the city and was driven back by the non-Lolth followers there. This action of his gave him a small following in the city.

War of the Spider Queen
During the Silence of Lolth, Vhaeraun brought a number of draegloths under to his church. Selvetarm tried to get the draegloths himself to give them to Lolth.

His father also heavily injured Lolth and Selvetarm saved her life. The ensuring was one, that among others caused parts of the Nine Hells to spill into Toril.

On Nightal 20, 1375 DR, Selvetarm was killed by Cavatina Xarann, a priestess of Eilistraee, as part of Lolth's plan. It allowed her to almost completely absorb Selvetarm's church into hers.

Dogma
"War is the ultimate expression of individual power, and only through battle and death can you realize the respect of your comrades. Hone your fighting skills constantly and teach those who will follow into the fray. Never give or receive quarter, and hope to die amid the bloodlust of battle against overwhelming odds."