Ghaunadaur

Ghaunadaur (gone-ah-dowr) is a lesser deity in the drow pantheon. He is also known as That Which Lurks and The Elder Eye. His portfolio includes slimey creatures, outcasts and rebels.

Overview
Ghaunadaur is an unpredictable deity. False worshipers may be rewarded by it, sometimes even with permanent magical boons, but they might just as well be devoured by The Elder Eye without a second thought. Ghaunadaur enjoys watching large horrible monsters as they hunt and devour their prey, causing much suffering. When Ghaunadaur leaves the Inner Planes he is always silent, but some old records mention a gibbering and bestial language being spoken in the god's court. When communicating it uses telepathy and keeps its conversations blunt and simple.

Worshipers
The church of Ghaunadaur exists of some cults scattered through the Underdark, each dominated by a single individual. There are only few drow and aboleth cities that are exceptions, with a more organised clergy. Clerics of Ghaunadaur must serve The Elder Eye completely and do whatever pleases Ghaunadaur most. The main duty of its clerics is to ensure, in any way necessary, that Ghaunadaur's altars are supplied with a steady supply of sacrifices. Clerics succesful in these sacrifices are rewarded with magic power and items. Ghaunadaur enjoys most of all those creatures that willingly offer themselves to it, whether or not they have been charmed or coerced by its clerics. Those clerics that succeed in bringing willing sacrifices to Ghaunadaur's altars are its most favored and highest ranked servants. Ghaunadaur encourages its clerics to familiarize themselves with using and creating acids, poisons and alchemist's fire. All cloth furnishing in the temple and the clothing worn by its worshipers must be of colors that please Ghaunadaur's eye. These are mostly shades of purple, red, black and metallic colors. Many clerics multiclass as fighters or enchanters.

Rituals
Ghaunadaur's clergy pray for their spells once per day at any time the local cult deems important. The Elder Eye expects each prayer to be coupled with a sacrifice. It prefers living offerings, but when that is impossible it also accepts bones and food which are burned in oil while braziers of perfumed incense are burned as well. If the worshiper cannot deliver any offerings to the deity, he must perform his prayer while holding one unprotected hand in an open flame.

History
Ghaunadaur is a very ancient deity, rumored to have emerged from the primordial ooze itself. In that age it was worshipped by the largest of slimes and other crawling creatures, many of which contained an alien intelligence. In a fit of fury for an unknown transgression, Ghaunadaur struck most of them mad and took their intellects. As an unforeseen result, many of these worshipers ceased to exist, which caused The Elder Eye's power to collapse. Only in recent millennia have some evil beings turned back to Ghaunadaur, looking for an alternative to the established deities. Ghaunadaur is only a member of the drow pantheon because of the worship of drow that became disaffected with Lolth.

Relationships
As a complete loner, Ghaunadaur has not a single ally. He directly opposes about every deity with a presence in the Underdark. His other major enemies are Malar and the Seldarine.

Dogma
"All creatures have their place, and all are fit to wield power. Those who hunt weed out the weak and strengthen the stock of all. Those who rebel or who walk apart find new ways and try new things and do most to advance their races. Creatures of power best house the energy of life, which Ghaunadaur reveres and represents. Make sacrifices to the Eye, persuade others to sacrifice themselves to Ghaunadaur or in service of the Eye, further knowledge and fear of Ghaunadaur, and in the end give yourself to Ghaunadaur in unresisting self-sacrifice. Convert all beings to the worship of Ghaunadaur. Slay all clergy of other faiths, plundering their temples and holdings for wealth to better your own lot and to further the worship of Ghaunadaur."