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The Promenade of the Dark Maiden was the most sacred temple to Eilistraee. It lay beneath Waterdeep, northeast of Skullport in Undermountain.[7]

Geography[]

A statue of Eilistraee in the Promenade.

A statue of Eilistraee in the Promenade.

The Promenade, though sacred, was an unusual outlier among the other temples to Eilistraee. Its singularity lay in the fact that it was underground; a product of its being built upon the ruins of an ancient temple, the Pit of Ghaunadaur.[8][7]

There were four entrances to the Promenade, three of them entering into twisting and labyrinthine tunnels. Two of them led to the guard's garrisons and armory, one led to the Cavern of Song, and the other led into a room off of the Hall of Healing.[9]

The temple was composed of five major caverns. One cavern contained multiple buildings, used as living quarters for the faithful. These buildings were two to three stories tall, able to house four to six groups each.[9][8]

Another cavern, named the Cavern of Song, served as an open amphitheater used for songs and celebrations dedicated to Eilistraee. The Cavern of Song was incredibly tall, reaching one hundred feet tall. It had a mysterious quality that prevented echoes from occurring, except in song. The Cavern was also notable for the blanketing of flora and fungi covering the floor. The spores emitted soft light and illuminated the freshwater spring in the southern end of the Cavern.[8]

Near the Cavern of Song rested Eilistraee's Mound, a block of stone that had been carefully carved by dwarves. Within the Mound stood a towering statue portraying the Dark Maiden, modeled on Qilué Veladorn's appearance.[8]

A map of the Promenade.

A map of the Promenade.

Next to the main temple was the Hall of Healing, a former temple of the ancient Netherese god Moander. After careful renovation and magical cleansing, the temple was converted into a hospital, where priestesses could tend to the temple's wounded, as well as all those who were rescued by them.[8][10][3]

North of the Hall of Healing remained a one-way portal connecting to the sixth level of the Undermountain. Wounded adventurers occasionally stumbled through the portal, where priestesses would meet them and offer to heal their wounds.[11][8]

Another cavern housed buildings for the Promenade's living quarters, through which many passages—some open, some secret—wove. The largest building, a four-story domicile, housed the high priestess, her consort, and family. A two-story central building housed honored guests and their cook. Lesser worshipers and other visitors stayed in the other buildings; particularly if they wished to remain under the radar.[8]

The final cavern was mostly occupied by the temple guards, storehouses, and armories.[8]

Organization[]

Those of the Promenade of the Dark Maiden were led by High Priestess Qilué Veladorn, youngest of the Seven Sisters, a Chosen of Mystra and also a Chosen of Eilistraee. She led the priestesses while also giving out missions when something needed her attention. Second to her was The Promenade's Battlemistress, Rylla. She led both the fierce warrior-priestesses of the Darksong Knights (who had training in demon-hunting) and the Protectors of the Song. The latter were temple guards often armed with one of the twenty singing swords, whose first duty was to guard the Promenade and patrol the Pit of Ghaunadaur to prevent the return of the slime god.

In the 1360s DR, their commander was Elkantar Iluim, consort of Qilué; Iljrene Ahruyn was their sub-commander, the Hand of the Protectors. They numbered 24 drow (9 females), 9 dwarves, 27 humans (12 females), and 4 halflings,[11][12] but many others would join them in the following years, increasing the population to several hundreds.[2]

One of the highest honors bestowed on a warrior of the Promenade was to be granted use of one of the twenty sacred singing swords. These swords were semi-sentient, powerful magical weapons, with augmented durability, and sharp edges. The blades constantly sang when unsheathed (but could be silenced by the wielder), providing a defense against mind-affecting attacks or spells, and warning of impending danger.[13]

Activities[]

Daily activities in the temple mostly consisted of food-growing, temple building or repairing, chores, patrolling the caverns of the temple and its surroundings (looking for potential threats and injured or lost people), practicing diplomacy and aiding and healing any individual in need that they met (mostly injured adventurers, of all races, who ventured in the Undermountain). Those grateful folks often became Qilué's agents to spread her influence, both in the Underdark and on the surface. Like other Eilistraeens, the Chosen of Eilistraee worked to further the Lady's aims toward the peaceful coexistence of drow with other races of the Realms.[11][14]

However, they were unusual in that they kept their temple beneath the surface, allowing themselves only brief missions and pilgrimages "to the moon" (the moonlit surface lands). They altered the spot where the temple stood to fit their needs (also unusual for clergy of Eilistraee, who tended to live in harmony with their surroundings, leaving few traces of their passage), as their duty was also to follow Eilistraee's instruction about preventing the return of Ghaunadaur, what they called the "great mission".[11][14]

Through the portals leading from and to the Promenade, the Chosen also led missions in other drow settlements, looking for those who needed their help or might have wanted to (or could be brought to) join Eilistraee's faith, or worked to encourage trade and drow travel between the surface and the deep realms.[15]

The work of the followers of Eilistraee took precedence over rituals, but their daily life generally observed a routine. Their cycle (day) began with an informal gathering of all the people residing in the temple, for bathing and chatter (save for those who were on guarding duty). Qilué or any of the Dark Ladies present would then conjure Eilistraee's Moonfire and begin to sing the Charge, a collective prayer that saw all priestesses involved. The Charge was often heard in Skullport as "a rising and falling murmur echoing eerily from afar". With the Charge, all the inhabitants of the temple were invited to join the Council, a free-speaking meeting led by the priestess who started the prayer. All the participants were expected to speak with honesty and openness, and their word had equal standing. The council would then conclude, the faithful would ask Eilistraee for her guidance, and the daily work activities would begin.[15]

The Grand Chorus[]

Near the end of the day, another gathering would be held in the Cavern of Song: the Grand Chorus, one of the greatest rituals 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, whose 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 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.[15]

The Call to Eilistraee[]

After the chorus, the temple dwellers had a brief pause, a moment in which priestesses would practice or teach dance and song, until the Call to Eilistraee was heard: a haunting melody, sung by one of the senior Dark Ladies, drawing all the faithful back to the Cavern of Song. A second Charge and another Council would be held, and Chosen would then disperse into small groups (known as tables) to eat their evening meal and informally enjoy each other's company. The meal was followed by a personal work or leisure period, lasting until the end of the cycle.[15]

The Flamesong[]

During this personal time, the Chosen also made their most important, intimate prayer: the solitary Flamesong. Such a prayer was performed when the priestess felt moved to do so. They danced around a flame or a candle, singing freely for their goddess and dancing following the rhythm of the music as it came until the flame was extinguished. Interrupting a Flamesong was considered the height of rudeness, even if strangers would often be forgiven, due to not being aware of that. Priestesses usually tried to find an alcove or passage where they could be alone to make a Flamesong. While they did, "the Promenade was filled with the eerily beautiful echoes of half a dozen or more of these solos at once, drifting down the passages".[15]

Freeing Slaves[]

The Chosen of Eilistraee visited Skullport infrequently, but retained some influence there. They helped many slaves and some adventurers to escape Skullport, which gained them the nickname of "slave shelterers".

Relationships[]

Due to their operations meant to free slaves and shelter them, the Promenade attracted the ire of many slavers, such as Gildar Blackthrone and Ahmaergo. Other enemies included the drow hunters of Malakuth Tabuirr, and the jailers of Zstulkk Ssarmn.[3]

Besides the various slavers, the Chosen were fierce enemies of Ghaunadaur, Moander, and their worshipers. Temples to both gods had previously been built on the site of the Promenade, and destroyed by the Chosen.[10][3] The Chosen also opposed worshipers of Lolth.[16]

These many enemies meant that Skullport did not regard friends of the Promenade highly. However, with the promised rewards of the priestesses, many adventurers accepted quests from them anyway.[17]

Not all of the Promenade's relations in Skullport were poor. As of 1370 DR, the half-drow, Ithlyn, served as their go-between and surface contact. The Chosen also occasionally visited the Fatted Bookworm and Sisters Three Waxworks.[3]

Despite the enmity of the drow followers of Lolth and Vhaeraun, many drow traders who come to Skullport didn't act against their kin of the Promenade. The priestesses promoted their trade by sponsoring merchants, providing them with secure warehouse space and with drow guides.[10][3][17]

History[]

When Qilué Veladorn was but a child, living in her home village of Buiyrandyn, Eilistraee appeared to her, asking her to lead her friends in aiding nearby drow in need. The goddess gifted all the drow children holy singing swords (precious blades that sang when unsheathed, capable of protecting the wielder against fear, despair and magical-induced fascination/domination effects) to assist and protect them in their efforts.[10]

Later, a greater mission awaited them, as the Dark Maiden manifested again, asking to destroy the Pit of Ghaunadaur, a mile-deep shaft connected to the third level of Halaster's Undermountain, a temple to the god of slimes and abominations, from where he could have assaulted the surface world. Surrounded by a glowing aura, a symbol of Eilistraee's favor, and imbued with immense magical power as a Chosen of both Eilistraee and Mystra, Qilué led her friends on this quest. They destroyed many of the monstrous worshippers in the temple, eventually encountering their greatest threat: Ghaunadaur itself.[10] [17][18]

As a conduit for both goddesses' power, a powerful silvery fire erupted from Qilué. Sensing her opportunity, she embraced the avatar of Ghaunadaur and consumed it with fire, destroying it almost entirely. In desperation, Ghaunadaur fled to preserve what little power it had left. Its remaining servants fled with their master, and the divine fire melted and sealed the tunnels and entrances used for their escape. The remaining servants of the god fled with their master, and the divine fire melted and sealed the tunnels and entrances used for the escape.[10][17]

The evil defeated, Qilué collapsed. However, her work was not over: the voice of Eilistraee rang out above her unconscious body warning that Ghaunadaur had only been driven away, not permanently defeated, and that he would one day try to return. The voice said: "You must make a stand here close to the surface world, and you must be ever vigilant against the return of Ghaunadar. For a mighty city of humans shall rise above this place, and if you are to make peace with humankind and your elven kin of the surface world, this place is best suited for you.".[10][17]

The Chosen, as Qilué and her friends would call themselves, obeyed, working to seal off any passage to the Pit. They were eventually able to complete this work by way of a rockfall, filling the Pit entirely. They were known thereafter as the Chosen of Eilistraee.[17][10] The constant presence of oozes, jellies, and hostile drow made it clear to the Chosen that their patrols were needed to ensure that Ghaunadaur could not return. For centuries, they patrolled the passages surrounding the Pit, eventually leading to outside drow mocking them for their "promenades."[17][10]

The Chosen adopted this name for themselves proudly, but faced increasing attacks. Worrying that her community would weaken, Qilué began the construction of a temple for Eilistraee over the site of the former Pit of Ghaunadaur in 1355 DR. The rubble that had filled the Pit for centuries was cleared away with a combination of disintegration spells and water and earth elementals.[10][17]

While expanding the temple, the Chosen discovered an ancient Netherese temple to Moander, the ancient god of decay.Though the Chosen had armed themselves to prepare for entering the temple, they found no great power within. The temple had been destroyed by a group of unknown adventurers, who had placed a symbol of Tyr in the temple instead. With Eilistraee's approval, the Chosen cleansed the temple of Moander's presence and displayed the symbol of Tyr in its place.[17][10][3]

The construction of the temple also revealed several Netherese portals within the area. Though most had been rendered inactive by the fall of Netheril, a few remained sporadically functional.[19] One such portal transported the unlucky user to a plane of infinite mazes, where they would be forever trapped.[20]

The temple was largely completed by 1357 DR. Over the years, the worshipers at the Promenade expanded to not just drow, but also escaped slaves from Skullport and former adventurers. The Promenade became known for their repeated raids on slavers, as well as their safe sheltering of slaves.[17][3]

In 1361 DR, the Chosen of Eilistraee assaulted the headquarters of the Dragon's Hoard Merchant Company's headquarters, a slave trading organization. The same year, they raided a slave ship in Skullport, resulting in the death of the deep dragon Pharx, as well as the destruction of the Dragon's Hoard.[21][22]

The same year, Qilué attempted to help an ex-priestess of Lolth, Liriel Baenre, travel to Rashemen. This favor inadvertently drawing the Spider Queen's attention to the Promenade, Lolth deactivated the Promenade's magical wards and put the worshipers at risk.[23]

In 1368 DR, the Promenade was attacked by cultists of Ghaunadaur. Despite Qilué's sister, Laeral Silverhand, coming to the defense of the Promenade, the battle lasted months. The cultists led a full-scale assault on the temple before being driven off.[22][24]

The Reckoning (1375 DR to 1379 DR)[]

From 1375 DR to 1379 DR, the Promenade was rocked by Eilistraee (temporarily) subsuming Vhaeraun's portfolio and part of his church,[note 1] taking the title of Masked Lady, and was eventually destroyed due to the subsequent events.

In 1378 DR, Vhaeraunite nightshadows started working with the Promenade to infiltrate a cult of Ghaunadaur. Their plan was to promise the cult reclamation of their sacred site that the followers of Eilistraee had usurped, and then lead them into the Promenade—where the priestesses would ambush them.[25]

However, the nightshadows instead turned against the Promenade, hoping to overwhelm the temple with cultists of Ghaunadaur and turn it into a temple to Vhaeraun. The cultists did indeed overrun the Promenade, killing many in their path, and managed to summon an avatar of Ghaunadaur to the former site of the Pit. [25][26]

Though the Vhaeraunites had achieved their goal of overwhelming the temple, they turned against one another as the cultists gained power. However, one of them, Naxil, made the choice to sacrifice himself by allowing Ghaunadaur's avatar to attach itself to him. Using one of the temple's portals, Naxil entered the infinite plan of mazes with the avatar, sealing them within it forever.[27]

Even hough Laeral Silverhand and Eilistraee herself attempted to save the Promenade and its inhabitants, their work came to a halt when Qilué was killed by Halisstra Melarn, the Lady Penitent, a priestess of Lolth turned into a demonic, agonizing form as a punishment. Qilué had traveled to the ruins of ancient Ilythiir in order to slay the balor Wendonai, the original corruptor of the Ilythiiri, whom she had let possess her body in order to destroy him with her silver fire. However, Halisstra managed to interrupt her. Trying to save Qilué, Eilistraee chose to inhabit her body, and tried to free Halisstra from her torment as well as to convince her to rebel against the Spider Queen. However, Wendonai successfully tricked Halisstra into slaying both Qilué and the Masked Lady, by making her believe they were actually Lolth.[28][note 2] Qilué's soul lingered in the material plane and became a Weaveghost.[29]. Meanwhile, a ritual performed by Q'arlynd Melarn reverted hundreds among the remaining drow followers of Eilistraee (who, as lesser deity, had at least a few thousands of worshipers)[30] from drow to dark elves, returning them to their appearances before the War of the Seldarine.[4][31][32]

Reclamation[]

Trelasarra Zuind, informal leader of the Promenade in the 1490s.

Trelasarra Zuind, informal leader of the Promenade in the 1490s.

In the 1480s DR, during the Second Sundering, Eilistraee returned to life. Manifesting to her remaining followers, her faith experienced a resurgence.[33][34]

After returning, Eilistraee personally appeared inside Waterdeep, leading many of her followers to travel to the city. Some of them found the support of Remallia Haventree and started creating a forest-temple, named The Dancing Haven, within Waterdeep itself.[35][5]

From there, the priestesses led a series of expeditions to quietly cleanse, rebuild and resupply the Promenade. By the 1490s, a dozen priestesses, four novices, and nine lay guardians populated the temple; Trelasarra Zuind was their informal leader.[5][36] Few knew of the restored Promenade, aside from followers of Eilistraee, but rumors regarding its restoration spread in Skullport.[5][37]

Notable Inhabitants[]

Appendix[]

Notes[]

  1. The Grand History of the Realms explicitly says that Vhaeraun's assassination attempt failed and Eilistraee killed him. However, in one of his answers, Ed Greenwood suggests that Eilistraee actually spared her brother's life. The Dark Maiden defeated Vhaeraun with the indirect help of her ally Mystra, as the Weave frustrated the Masked Lord's magic while enhancing Eilistraee's. The goddess temporarily took her brother's portfolio, and trapped his sentience in the Weave, where it was enfolded in a dream by Mystra. The Lady of Mysteries did that to ensure that the two drow siblings would survive the cataclysm that she knew was coming—the Spellplague—in which she would be "killed" to renew the Weave, and magic would go wild.
  2. In the same answer mentioned in the previous note, Ed Greenwood claims that Eilistraee actually managed to survive Halisstra's attempt to kill her, albeit much weakened. When Qilué Veladorn was killed, since the Masked Lady was inhabiting her body, a great part of her power was dragged into the Weave with the Chosen's soul (the souls of Mystra's chosen often become "Voices in the Weave" after their death, as explained in the novel Spellstorm, and their memories and experiences are shared by Mystra). After that, for about a century, Eilistraee could only manfest herself only as a floating black mask surrounded by moonlight, capable of silently communicating with mortals, but not of answering prayers or granting spells (except by direct touch). After Mystra and the Weave were completely restored in 1487 DR, the goddess of magic could finally give Eilistraee her own lost power, and do the same with Vhaeraun, after having awakened him from his dream.

Appearances[]

References[]

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  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Eric L. Boyd, Ed Greenwood, Christopher Lindsay, Sean K. Reynolds (June 2007). Expedition to Undermountain. Edited by Bill Slavicsek. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 36. ISBN 978-0-7869-4157-5.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Joseph C. Wolf (1999). Skullport. (TSR, Inc), p. 17. ISBN 0-7869-1348-7.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Lisa Smedman (June 2008). Ascendancy of the Last. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 292. ISBN 978-0-7869-4864-2.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Ed Greenwood (2020-03-03). Ed Greenwood on Twitter. Retrieved on 2020-03-03.
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  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 Ed Greenwood (December 1991). “If You Need Help - Ask the Drow!”. Dragon #176 (TSR, Inc.), p. 18.
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  39. Elaine Cunningham (July 2003). Daughter of the Drow (Mass Market Paperback). (Wizards of the Coast), p. 321. ISBN 978-0786929290.