Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Perun 02-22-07, 02:36 AM	I've noticed several threads mentioning changes within the drow pantheon, presumably connected with the new line of novels (gods being killed, iminent battle between Eilistraee and Lolth, etc.). I haven't read the novels (I did read The War of the Spider Queen, although I guess it has no direct bearing on the current events), but I'd still like to know what's happening, so if anyone could enlighten me, I'd be grateful :) Thanks in advance. Regards.
bitter thorn 02-22-07, 08:04 AM	Wow! You and me both! I've noticed several threads mentioning changes within the drow pantheon, presumably connected with the new line of novels (gods being killed, iminent battle between Eilistraee and Lolth, etc.). I haven't read the novels (I did read The War of the Spider Queen, although I guess it has no direct bearing on the current events), but I'd still like to know what's happening, so if anyone could enlighten me, I'd be grateful :) Thanks in advance. Regards.
Zanan 02-22-07, 09:32 AM	Spoilers as requested ... Frame is that Lolth and Eilistraee play a game of sava (ever since they were banished from the Seldarine, it seems) "over the destiny of the drow race". Well, I doubt Lolth is that chaotic, but anyway. It appears that some Selvetarmites - with the consent of their deity - have strewn away from their loyalties to the Spider Queen and working solely on behalf of their deity. In "sava game" terms, Lolth offers Eilistraee the challenge to play one round using "herself" as the playing piece. Eilistraee agrees, but Lolth puts in her champion (Selvetarm) instead of herself. Eilistraee cries foul, but accepts. Meanwhile, Vhaeraunians use a High Elven ritual to link their god's domain with that of Eilistraee, so he can enter and slay his sister. Similarly, an Eilistraeean champion is send to the Demonwebs to recover the Crescent Blade. She spot Selvetarm there and sneak up on the Spider Demon. End of it, that Darksong Knight of Eilistraee manages to behead Selvetarm utilizing the Crescent Blade. In the sava game, Eilistraee looks defeated, but uses "the one dice throw per game" chance to roll a double number. She succeeds and Lolth crushes Selvetarms statue (which appeared on the board as her playing piece) and the god dies. Eilistraee is warned of the approaching Vhaeraun (i.e., that High Elven magic ritual succeeds too) and from what one can gather out of his priests babble, he runs in a trap and is slain by the Dark Maiden. In the next round of the sava game (cliffhanger stuff and all), Vhaeraun appears as a playing piece on Eilistraee's side and his "dark mask" makes a short but telling appearance on the goddess' face. It seems that Selvetarm is dead and Vhaeraun at least has vanished ... ... though we will have to wait till Lady Penitent III to actually know what will "really" happen.
Perun 02-22-07, 02:22 PM	Spoilers as requested ... ... though we will have to wait till Lady Penitent III to actually know what will "really" happen. Thanks, Zanan! It seems I'll have to get the books now. Seems interesting. How do the books read? I intensely disliked War of the Spider Queen (although I did manage through all six of the books). Regards.
GothicDan 02-22-07, 02:25 PM	Oddly enough, these books seem like they'd be some of the only ones I like centering around the Drow...
Perun 02-22-07, 02:38 PM	Oddly enough, these books seem like they'd be some of the only ones I like centering around the Drow... They're not unreadable. It's just that I don't really care for them. The Lolth priestess turned Eilistraean turned Lolth priestess irked me to no end -- it felt like one author wanted her to become good, and then the next one hated the idea and reversed it. Other character also seemed shallow. The portrayal of Eilistraean worshippers is annoying (I wonder how any actually manage to survive). And the whole idea behid the series (Lolth coccooning and emerging as a greater deity) seems bleh. And it was over the top, as most FR novels I've read are. But, I guess if the book deals with deities, that's to be expected. The sixth novel seemed tacked on, like they wanted to milk the line for all it's worth. Mind you, I haven't yet read a D&D novel I liked. OTOH, I really haven't read that many. But that's all IMO, of course.
GothicDan 02-22-07, 02:43 PM	I'm not a big fan of D&D novels, either. I haven't been since I was in 6th grade, at least. My major series, which I always try to read, are Wheel of Time (mostly to get it done with), Sword of Truth (haven't started the latest one yet), Song of Ice and Fire (WOOT!), and the Kushiel books (WOOT!). So that would give one an idea of the sort of thing I like reading about. D&D books just don't cut it.
QuenthelsChampion 02-22-07, 02:58 PM	Thanks, Zanan! It seems I'll have to get the books now. Seems interesting. How do the books read? I intensely disliked War of the Spider Queen (although I did manage through all six of the books). Regards. You didn't like WoTSQ?! That was my favorite series. though im just ticked it took 6 books for Lolth to get to her status but its going to take 3 to destroy every drow god but one...
Paledrow 02-22-07, 03:07 PM	You didn't like WoTSQ?! That was my favorite series. though im just ticked it took 6 books for Lolth to get to her status but its going to take 3 to destroy every drow god but one... WotSQ rocked and this new series isn't bad either. At first read when Vhaeraun apparently died I went into denial , then anger, then hate of Smedman...then after long debate on what really happened, I am now up in the air like everyone else. The book added a small bit of personality to certain organizations that up to now have been nothiing more then a small footnote in a realms rule book. I think Smedman did a great job at creating a mystery around the events she unfolded. She was much more interesting then in her WotSQ book. I am certain anyone who read this first Lady Penitent book will without a doubt not hesitate to get the rest of the series.
QuenthelsChampion 02-22-07, 03:15 PM	Haha. Well i think personally that Vhaerun was a horrible villian in the first place. He was just for the guys to worship to spite the Lolthites really. He though did accept females into his clergy and gave them divine power but since the females could get farther in Lolthite society they never did. Ah well i was more upset when Ryld died then anyone in this book though i like Halisstras brother a lot more then i like her.
Boda 02-24-07, 07:34 PM	Since lolth took the worship of the dark elfs from vhaeraun back them, became a greater goddess, reduced selvtarm to bouncer status, and ghaunadaur to old news, finishing of the bouncer, the mask poor version, and kicking the little miss 'mystra steal my chosen' goddess seams like a good cleanup.
BrianCritchley 02-24-07, 10:10 PM	Since lolth took the worship of the dark elfs from vhaeraun back them, became a greater goddess, reduced selvtarm to bouncer status, and ghaunadaur to old news, finishing of the bouncer, the mask poor version, and kicking the little miss 'mystra steal my chosen' goddess seams like a good cleanup. ... could you translate that into english please?
MessiahOmega 02-25-07, 09:16 PM	I'm not a big fan of D&D novels, either. I haven't been since I was in 6th grade, at least. My major series, which I always try to read, are Wheel of Time (mostly to get it done with), Sword of Truth (haven't started the latest one yet), Song of Ice and Fire (WOOT!), and the Kushiel books (WOOT!). So that would give one an idea of the sort of thing I like reading about. D&D books just don't cut it. i personally love dnd books, esp. forgotten realms novels. grouped together they form one uber-series, like an immense literary Voltron. Wheel of time: hate it, loved it when i first started reading it, but lets just say that when i started reading it, i brought it as a trillogy. die already. sword of truth: mmmmmmm, truth.....love those books. the rest i have not read.
Zanan 02-26-07, 04:28 AM	Lady Penitent really is a treat! As much as it leaves me in a rantish mood regarding the drow pantheon et al, it is IMHO a "must-read" for anyone really wanting to go for Eilistraeens. Very detailed on them and Qilué in particular. As for the outcome, I just hope that Kiaransalee survives the next couple of novels ... and we will get some more action by the serie's namesake spidery-thing .
Paledrow 02-26-07, 06:25 PM	Haha. Well i think personally that Vhaerun was a horrible villian in the first place. He was just for the guys to worship to spite the Lolthites really. He though did accept females into his clergy and gave them divine power but since the females could get farther in Lolthite society they never did. Ah well i was more upset when Ryld died then anyone in this book though i like Halisstras brother a lot more then i like her. Vhaearuan is a villian with ausome potential. Hallistra's brother is indeed interesting. Q seems like a replacement for Pharaun(sp?)
Zireael 02-27-07, 09:11 AM	Hah.... better bring him back. And Vhaeraun is a great potential of scheming in beautiful body... perfect drow male.
MarkusTay63 02-27-07, 09:56 AM	They're not unreadable. It's just that I don't really care for them. The Lolth priestess turned Eilistraean turned Lolth priestess irked me to no end -- it felt like one author wanted her to become good, and then the next one hated the idea and reversed it. Other character also seemed shallow. The portrayal of Eilistraean worshippers is annoying (I wonder how any actually manage to survive). And the whole idea behid the series (Lolth coccooning and emerging as a greater deity) seems bleh.You know, I thought I was the only one that caught that. The characters were COMPLETELY inconsistant. One minute they risk life and limb to save each other, and then in the next novel they are plotting each others murder. poorly conceived, they should have stuck to one, maybe two authors. Too much yo-yoing and I couldn't get into the characters because they kept changing with the author. I guess if they were going for the "Drow are Chaotic" thing they achieved it. :( I'm not a big fan of D&D novels, either. I haven't been since I was in 6th grade, at least. My major series, which I always try to read, are Wheel of Time (mostly to get it done with), Sword of Truth (haven't started the latest one yet), Song of Ice and Fire (WOOT!), and the Kushiel books (WOOT!). So that would give one an idea of the sort of thing I like reading about. D&D books just don't cut it.Seems like we have similar tastes. I just switched back to 'real' literature myself. My brain is starting to rebel from injesting too much 'pulpy' cr@p. Have you ever read The Dying Earth, Dan? I just finished it. Thats the novel that gave ol' Gary Gygax the concept for D&D. When your reading it, it seems eerily familiar. There's a spell called 'Prismatic Spray', and one of the main wizard characters like to say "Indeed". So much for originality, huh? ;) The Book is a great read, though.