Editing Arach-Tinilith

{{Location
| type          = Temple/School
| name          = Arach-Tinilith
| image         = Arach-Tinilith-symbol.jpg
| caption       = 
| aliases       = 
| capital       = 
| area          = [[Menzoberranzan]], [[Northdark]]
| size          = 
| ruler1        = Mistress [[Triel Baenre]]<ref name="DotD-p2">{{Cite book/Daughter of the Drow/2003||2}}</ref>
| ruleryear1    = 1361
| ruler2        = Mistress [[Quenthel Baenre]]<ref name="Diss-p17">{{Cite book/Dissolution/Paperback|17}}</ref>
| ruleryear2    = 1372
| ruler3        = 
| ruleryear3    = 
| ruler4        = 
| ruleryear4    = 
| ruler5        = 
| ruleryear5    = 
| rulertype     = 
| government    = 
| languages     = 
| races         = [[Drow]]
| religion      = [[Lolth]] 
| currency      =
| reckoning     = DR
| population1   = 
| popyear1      = 
| population2   = 
| popyear2      = 
| population3   = 
| popyear3      = 
| imports       = 
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| alignment     = 
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| usethe        =
| useon         = 
| inhabitants   = yes
| locations     = 
| organizations =
| settlements   = 
}}
'''Arach-Tinilith''' was the clerical school in the [[drow]] city of [[Menzoberranzan]]. Like the rest of the Academy, it was located in [[Tier Breche]].<ref name="RGLoD-p123">{{Cite book/A Reader's Guide to R. A. Salvatore's the Legend of Drizzt|123}}</ref>

==Structure==
The complex -- the largest of the Academy -- was located on the northern side of the [[Tier Breche]] cavern and was shaped like a spider. The "cephalothorax" of the spider housed the grandest chapels, the holiest altars, and the quarters of the senior priestesses.<ref name="Diss-p88">{{Cite book/Dissolution/Paperback|88}}</ref> The crowning gem of the complex was a the main chapel, carved from a single mass of black stone. Inside, seats surrounded circular platform that held a statue of spider with the head of drow female.<ref name="DotD-p195">{{Cite book/Daughter of the Drow/2003|195}}</ref>

[[File:Arach-Tinilith.png|thumb|left|''The exterior of Arach-Tinilith.'']]
The Mistress of the academy had an office on the highest level that had a tapestry depicting Lolth looming over a sacrificed surface elf.<ref name="RGLoD-p123"/> The Mistress also wore a brooch that allowed her to unlock all doors in Arach-Tinilith.<ref name="Diss-p198">{{Cite book/Dissolution/Paperback|198}}</ref>

There were dungeon-like kitchens located in the lower levels. Slaves, such as the [[ogre]] slave [[Chirank]] in [[1361 DR]], were employed there.<ref name="DotD-p89">{{Cite book/Daughter of the Drow/2003|89}}</ref>

A small library was located somewhere in the complex.<ref name="Diss-p240">{{Cite book/Dissolution/Paperback|240}}</ref>

==History==
Arach-Tinilith was founded as part of [[Tier Breche]], [[Menzoberranzan]]'s educational institution as [[House S'sril]]'s literal last act, in order to standardize [[Lolth]]'s teachings and produce [[cleric]]s of any meaningful quality. [[House S'sril]] was one of Menzoberranzan's founding Houses, though a total lack of heirs and inheritors led to the house's extinction. Before the founding, it was normal in Menzoberranzan for each House to teach only their own children. House S'sril, seeing that that this practice to numerous different interpretations of [[Lolth]]'s teachings<ref name="M.CoI-56">{{Cite book/Menzoberranzan: City of Intrigue|56}}</ref>, believed that the founding of Arach-Tinilith would increase the quality of clerics and divine spell casters in [[Menzoberranzan]].
 [[File:Arach-Tinilith.jpg|thumb|The great chamber of worship inside Arach-Tinilith.]]
In [[1372 DR]], the Mistress of Arach-Tinilith, [[Quenthel Baenre]], was attacked at the school by a number of demons intending to assassinate her. A number of novice priestesses and even instructors led by [[Drisinil Barrison Del'Armgo]] believed that Quenthel had lost the favor of Lolth, and thus they planned to murder her. Quenthel discovered their plot and summoned hordes of spiders to kill them and demonstrate that she was in her goddess's favor (although that was during the [[Silence of Lolth]]).<ref name="Diss-p217">{{Cite book/Dissolution/Paperback|217}}</ref> In truth, unbeknownst to her, the demons had been sent by her brother, [[Gromph Baenre]], the [[Archmage of Menzoberranzan]].

In [[1469 DR]], members of the [[Jaezred Chaulssin]] infiltrated and tempered with the graduation ceremony. It caused a large number of [[demon]]s to be summoned, who then ran amok causing heavy damage, not only to the temple's structure but also in a lot of lives.<ref name="M.CoI-68-69">{{Cite book/Menzoberranzan: City of Intrigue|68-69}}</ref> 

==Schooling==
{{quote
|A hungry spider must feed. Give yourself to it joyfully, for in the end Lolth will consume us all. Better to suffer the torments of the flesh now than to face the wrath of the goddess later.|Teaching at Arach-Tinilith <ref name="Extinct-p192-193">{{Cite book/Extinction/Paperback|192-193}}</ref>
}}

Most new priestesses (called novices) had to share rooms with one or two others until the fifth year (although [[Liriel Baenre]] was able to secure her own room).<ref name="DotD-p85">{{Cite book/Daughter of the Drow/2003|85}}</ref> Novices wore black robes with red trim.<ref name="DotD-p86">{{Cite book/Daughter of the Drow/2003|86}}</ref>

Each day ended in the chapel in prayer and praise of Lolth.<ref name="DotD-p195"/>

Priestesses received training in weapons combat from older students of Melee-Magthere.<ref name="DotD-p140">{{Cite book/Daughter of the Drow/2003|140}}</ref>

==Inhabitants==
All female, the priestesses of Lolth went to Arach-Tinilith after being trained by their houses in the basics of worship of the [[Lolth|Spider Queen]].<ref>{{Cite book/Homeland/MMP (1990)|131|12}}</ref> This usually happened around the age of 40, and they were to spend 50 years studying under the tutelage of the mistresses there.<ref>{{Cite book/Homeland/MMP (1990)|151,167|13}}</ref> By [[1361 DR]], it appeared priestesses were expected to enter Arach-Tinilith by age 25.<ref name="DotD-p40">{{Cite book/Daughter of the Drow/2003|40}}</ref>

Priestesses provided religious instruction to other students of the Academy.<ref>{{Cite book/Homeland/MMP (1990)|152|13}}</ref>

It was a crime for males to enter Arach-Tinilith unsummoned.<ref name="Diss-p325">{{Cite book/Dissolution/Paperback|325}}</ref>

==Notable inhabitants of Arach-Tinilith==
[[File:Menzoberranzan lolthites pg58.png|thumb|right|250px|]]
===Matron Mistresses/Mistress Mothers===
The Matron Mistress was often addressed as "Exalted Mother," a title also used for [[matron mothers]].<ref name="Diss-p242">{{Cite book/Dissolution/Paperback|242}}</ref>
* [[Triel Baenre]] in [[1361 DR]],<ref name="DotD-p2"/> until Quenthel's ascension.<ref name="Diss-p126">{{Cite book/Dissolution/Paperback|126}}</ref>
* [[Quenthel Baenre]] in [[1372 DR]].<ref name="Diss-p17"/>

===Mistresses (teachers)===
* [[Zeld Mizzrym]] ([[1361 DR]]).<ref name="DotD-p182">{{Cite book/Daughter of the Drow/2003|182}}</ref>
* [[Lirdnolu]], an instructor at Arach-Tinilith who was murdered prior to [[1372 DR]]. She had a classroom in an indoor ampitheatre which was left unused for some time after her death.<ref name="Diss-p211">{{Cite book/Dissolution/Paperback|211}}</ref>
* [[Quave]], senior instructor ([[1372 DR]]).<ref name="Diss-p186">{{Cite book/Dissolution/Paperback|186}}</ref>
* [[Viconia Agrach Dyrr]], senior instructor ([[1372 DR]]).<ref name="Diss-p327">{{Cite book/Dissolution/Paperback|327}}</ref>
* [[Vlondril Tuin'Tarl]] ([[1372 DR]]).<ref name="Diss-p125">{{Cite book/Dissolution/Paperback|125}}</ref>
* [[T'risstree T'orgh]], a commoner warrior-priestess who wielded a falchion ([[1372 DR]]).<ref name="Diss-p126">{{Cite book/Dissolution/Paperback|126}}</ref>
* [[Molvayas Barrison Del'Armgo]] (?-[[1372 DR]]), deceased).<ref name="Diss-p150">{{Cite book/Dissolution/Paperback|150}}</ref>

===Novice Priestesses (students)===
* [[Liriel Baenre]] ([[1361 DR]]).<ref name="DotD">{{Cite book/Daughter of the Drow/MMP||6}}</ref>
* [[Shakti Hunzrin]] (?-[[1361 DR]]).<ref name="DotD" />
* [[Drisinil Barrison Del'Armgo]], who plotted to kill Quenthel (?-[[1372 DR]]).<ref name="Diss-p19">{{Cite book/Dissolution/Paperback|19}}</ref>
* [[Halavin Symryvvin]]<ref name="Diss-p240">{{Cite book/Dissolution/Paperback|240}}</ref>
* [[Gaussra Kenafin]], who had black teeth ([[1372 DR]]).<ref name="Diss-p18">{{Cite book/Dissolution/Paperback|18}}</ref>
* [[Jyslin]], a second-year novice priestess in [[1372 DR]].<ref name="Diss-p167">{{Cite book/Dissolution/Paperback|167}}</ref>
* [[Minolin Fey-Branche]], a fifth-year novice priestess in [[1372 DR]].<ref name="Diss-p167" />
* [[Rilrae Zolond]] ([[1372 DR]]) who attempted to kill Quenthel.<ref name="Diss-p185">{{Cite book/Dissolution/Paperback|185}}</ref>

==Appendix==
===See also===
*[[Melee Magthere]]
*[[Menzoberranzan]]
*[[Sorcere]]
*[[Tier Breche]]

===Appearances===
;Novels:
*''[[Homeland]]''
*''[[Daughter of the Drow]]''
*''[[Windwalker]]''
*''[[Dissolution]]''

===References===
{{refs}}

[[de:Arach-Tinilith]]
[[Category:Temples to Lolth]]
[[Category:Locations]]
[[Category:Locations in Menzoberranzan]]
[[Category:Locations in the Upperdark]]
[[Category:Locations in the Northdark]]
[[Category:Locations in the Underdark]]
[[Category:Locations in Faerûn]]
[[Category:Locations on Toril]]
[[Category:Schools]]
[[Category:Organizations in Tier Breche]]
[[Category:Organizations in Menzoberranzan]]
[[Category:Organizations]]
[[Category:Organizations in the Underdark]]
[[Category:Organizations in the Upperdark]]
[[Category:Organizations in the Northdark]]