Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DMaster42 10-02-07, 11:53 PM	Lolth, deity of the drow, the dark elves, the terror of the Underdark, goddess of the Abyss, is not evil? How could this be, you might ask? Surely he's insane. How could he possibly say that this damned Queen is good? Well, I'm not. I'm saying that she's not as evil as they claim she is. There's an alignment for that I think... um... oh yes Chaotic Neutral. Yes, I know that every other source in the world of D&D says her alignment is Chaotic Evil. I'm just expressing the thought that she may be more chaos than evil, and I would like to have some good conversation about it. You may hold your own opinions, these are mine. Here's some examples of what I mean: ****WARNING (Spoilers from Legacy of the Drow below)******* By all standards of civilizations, the drow society, especially in Menzoberranzan, should not exist. It should fall apart in chaos after a couple of generations, and yet it has survive for thousands of years. If Lolth were truly evil, why would she care so much about the drow. She obviously does. You can say that it's for her own power. Sure, but that was her only reason for keeping the drow around, then she wouldn't cause such mass killing. She kills the ones that truly work against her and the welfare of drow society (see Siege of Darkness for more details)(I'll get to Drizz't in a few moments.). See cares about the drow because they followed her after she was dumped by Corellon and the other elven gods as a traitor and evil. But that's another point. If Lolth wanted, she could destroy Drizz't Do'Urden easily. If she truly wanted him dead, he would be. She never allows her followers to kill him. Even Matron Baenre fails to kill him (twice). She even makes him "the most beautiful drow" so to speak. Because no drow can capture or bed him, he is the most desirable. Therefore, Lolth spreads the chaos even farther. That's what she loves. She loves to watch strife, pure chaos (Jarlaxle stills lives because of this), not for total conquest (see Mithral Hall siege) If she was evil, why wouldn't she just smite him and take his soul to torture? During the Time of Troubles, she did everything in her power to keep the drow alive. She had Errtu protect them. And when House Oblodra tried to define her rule, she responded by annihilating them; defending the other drow. A good act. I don't glorify the fact that she sided with Gruumsh against the other elven gods, but then again, I never said she was good. There's the balancing evil for Chaotic Neutral. She cares for her worshipers and makes sure they survive, thrive and evolve. Plus, she enjoys watching the mortals make all sorts of different attempts to gain her favor. Further chaos. Her portfolio even makes the ultimate chaos. Spiders. They spin webs that are the perfect combination of lawful organization and chaotic beauty. Once again, these are my opinions. I know I don't speak for everyone. That's why I want to hear your opinions. Please keep the conversation from, "LOLTH IS EVIL AND YOU'RE WRONG!" That's not good. We can express our opinions in better ways than that.
Return of the Flumph 10-03-07, 02:21 AM	Defending the races that worship you is not good. It is self interest. Keep in mind that in the Realms, gods depend on worship for survival. Lolth defends the drow because she needs them alive to keep herself in power. Yes, Lolth could smite Drizz't DoUrden just as easily as Coreelon could smite Matron Baenre. Neither of them do it. That doesn't make Lolth good, and it doesn't make Corellon evil. Its more like Mutually Assured Destruction (not to mention I'm pretty sure Ao forbids that kind of intervention). Lolth loves to watch strife and havoc. That is called chaotic evil. If she were chaotic neutral, she would prefer nonviolent disorder. Spiders are neither lawful nor chaotic. They are animals that use sticky secretions to catch their prey. Lolth's adoption of them as her symbol has nothing to do with her alignment. So yes, Lolth is solidly chaotic evil.