Von’gleas thoughts on Lolth’s religion
More pages from Of Drow and Lolth.
As abhorent and disgusting as one may find the rituals of Lolth’s preistesses there is a macbre spirituality to the practices. The author in no way, shape, means, or forms condones live sacrifices, torture, or lustful debauchary. Well the later may be acceptible within a group of concenting adults, but I digress…
When one observes the theology of the demon queen of spiders there is a profound albeit dark spirituality. The central tenant presented by Lolth to her followers is the amassing and exercising of personal power. This is the ultimate goal of Lolth’s faithful, be seen by the goddess as being a powerful individual. This is true for both genders. Many casual observers see Lolth worship as a purely female pursuit. This is untrue. Males also are counted amoung the faithful. It is simply that drow males are second class citizens and viewed by their goddess as second class souls. One can see opposite but parallel cultural models in surface races, especially patriachical human societies. Drow men are not quite property.
A theology built on the pursuit and demonstration of personal power would vilify certain acts that most goodly races consider virtuous. Charity is a sin in the eyes of Lolth. Giving aid or comfort removes the possibility that the recipient could use power, guile, or deceit to acquire the gifted resouces. A hungry beggar should find a way to take food from those weaker than himself. Weakness here is not simple strength, but also cunning. Visitors to Menzoberranzan or other drow cities will see beggars and you should be very wary of them; they are some of the most skilled theives and assassins you will encounter in public.
Conversely evil acts in the eyes of the goodly races are sacred and spiritual for the worshipers of Lolth. What better way to demonstrate personal power than to imprison and torture the less powerful. A cleric of Lolth would feel connection with her goddess and joy scourging a less race or even a drow of lesser power, much the same way a cleric of Muradin would feel joy healing the sick or those dwarves wounded in battle.
The torture pits in a drow temple are an affirmation of power as much as the orgies where females take males as consorts and play things. Quite often temple ceremonies involve acts of bonage or sadomasichism that leave worshipers (often the male faithful) bloodied and bruised at best and dead in the most unfortunate circumstances.
Building personal power generates chaos, which is a goal of the goddess. As individuals vie for power using violence and deceit the world becomes more chaotic. The natural order of things is twisted by Lolth’s faithful to meet their goals of forging advantage over her enemies.
Of couse the faithful see nothing wrong with their religion. The traditions and actions are in keeping with the theology. The revulsion by the goodly race is misinterpreted as xenophobia, naievetee, or just plain sinful thinking. A drow murdering a drow to bring about an increase in personal power is a blessed act not something to generate remorse or shame. Leaving this life with more power than when you started will please Lolth, even if you were murdered for your power, proving you were worthy of the goddess’ attention.