Drow deity in Oots-verse?

[Xanamir]

Hey guys,

Just something I was wondering about as I was rereading Start of Darkness. It's probably not a big spoiler, but I'll hide it to be on the safe side.

When Redcloak is discussing how the Dark One was able to become a god through the bloodshed caused by his followers, he also mentions how "certain powerful elves" were also able to become gods. Later, when Loki and Tiamat break ranks to side with the Dark One, it gets mentioned that the gods were welcoming to the new elven gods."

My question, then: has it been mentioned anywhere whether the drow have a god? Do they have someone included in this group of "ascended elves?" If not, do they have a version of Lolth in this universe?

Just wondering if it's ever been mentioned anywhere. If not, what's your rampant speculation on the matter?

[Porthos]

In the 'Dragon Magazine' continuity there is reference to "those dark elf priestesses with the weird arachnid fetish". Not the same continuity, per se. But there is often cross polination between the two.

[CRtwenty]

It's most likely Lolth, but since Lolth is trademarked by WoTC Rich can't directly reference her.

[137beth]

In the 'Dragon Magazine' continuity there is reference to "those dark elf priestesses with the weird arachnid fetish". Not the same continuity, per se. But there is often cross polination between the two.

Yea, this is probably the best hint we have about Lolth existing in OOTS.

[Raenir Salazar]

A little sad, she was definitely one of the more interesting deities in Forgotten Realms in the "Actually gets up and does stuff" department.

[Newwby]

I think it's a moonlight-tinged GENIUS (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2003/04/12/episode-272-mind-games/)

[Heksefatter]

We know next to nothing about the Elven pantheon. Apart from what's been mentioned, the only thing I think is known is that there are gods of knowledge, since V has stated that he worships those.

Presumably if there isn't a specifically drow deity, the drow have just found someone suitably nasty in the general Elven pantheon.

[ti'esar]

My assumption has always been that one of the ascended elven gods is functionally a Stickverse version or "expy" of Lolth, but that this isn't going to come up in the comic due both to copyright issues and the fact that drow civilization isn't relevant to the story.

[Bulldog Psion]

Probably Lulth or Loolth or something. :smallbiggrin:

[Klear]

Wait, LoLth? Seriously? That's hilarious =)

[JustIgnoreMe]

It'll clearly be Olthlay, from Yamara.

(Being a Brit and thus not knowing Pig Latin, that joke took me years to get).

[Ramien]

My assumption has always been that one of the ascended elven gods is functionally a Stickverse version or "expy" of Lolth, but that this isn't going to come up in the comic due both to copyright issues and the fact that drow civilization isn't relevant to the story.

Isn't relevant yet. It's a safe bet we'll be seeing the dwarven homelands at some point soon, and the conflict with the trees can only give us so much story - and Serini/Kraagor's gate is implied to be an underground complex, and we know those attract drow like a sale on cobwebs at a Halloween store.

[Rogar Demonblud]

If Z was still about, I'd think we'd see a small scene in drow territory while the LG regrouped. Not happening now, of course.

[t209]

If they have scene from Drow territories,
Will they (http://drowtales.com/) be referenced?
So
A. A hot drow with leather outfits (mmmmmm, leather).
B. A Spider
C. Eldritch Abomination, like Ground based Cthulhu
D. A Mole, or any underground creatures.

[F.Harr]

It'll clearly be Olthlay, from Yamara.

(Being a Brit and thus not knowing Pig Latin, that joke took me years to get).

I'm an American and I didn't get it either until you pointed it out.


If they have scene from Drow territories,
Will they (http://drowtales.com/) be referenced?
So
A. A hot drow with leather outfits (mmmmmm, leather).
B. A Spider
C. Eldritch Abomination, like Ground based Cthulhu
D. A Mole, or any underground creatures.

Who wouldn't want to worship a mole?

[quasit]

My assumption has always been that one of the ascended elven gods is functionally a Stickverse version or "expy" of Lolth, but that this isn't going to come up in the comic due both to copyright issues and the fact that drow civilization isn't relevant to the story.

...yet.
It's quite a stretch of mine, but the elven gods as well as the drow were mentioned before in comic (thought not being depicted yet) and they even got fruit baskets from Tarquin! It could be otherwise ofc, but it looks a bit like foreshadowing, doesn't it? Also dwarves and caverns.

Back on topic it would depend on how the Drow of the oostverse are (about whom readers do not know much but they having not too good rep). Evil kin people that live as well as they could under a very harsh and ruthless government or caste system or directly compelled (magically or otherwise) to obey his evil deity's wims? Lolth expy, mainly. Rebellious heroes that fight to trow off the reputation of their evil kind Free willed people? Anybody (including lolth): D&D drows can worship and even have non-evil deities on his own panteon.

[Psyren]

Yea, this is probably the best hint we have about Lolth existing in OOTS.

But if their religion is considered "a weird fetish" that implies she doesn't exist, and they're just crazy spider-worshippers.

[CletusMusashi]

The Drow are an unpeakably evil race. Therefore, they worship Celine Dion. Where else would Thog have gotten that record from?

[brionl]

Probably Lulth or Loolth or something. :smallbiggrin:

I'm going with Shmolth.

[Castamir]

It's most likely Lolth, but since Lolth is trademarked by WoTC Rich can't directly reference her.
YAFGC had Lolth as a prominent supporting character for quite a while, so I don't think even a company as litigious as WoTC would allow that but not a mere lookalike.

[F.Harr]

I liked this episode.

http://yafgc.net/?id=2

[Damon_Tor]

YAFGC had Lolth as a prominent supporting character for quite a while, so I don't think even a company as litigious as WoTC would allow that but not a mere lookalike.

There's a lot of throwing around words like "trademark" and "copyright" in this thread, but very little understanding of what those words mean. Copyright is totally meaningless in this context. Trademark law doesn't apply here because 1) trademarks do not work that way and 2) parody is protected speech. Companies can (and do) throw their weight around in the defense of their trademarks and many people will capitulate with their demands because defending themselves in court is a hassle and can be expensive, even if you are totally in the right.

[Thrax]

She's called Lmaoth.

[malloyd]

Given that substituting the vowels is a pretty ordinary thing in both Semitic languages and magical texts, I rather suspect the name Lolth was pulled off a list of actual demons somewhere, as a variation of Lilith, though the spider motif is probably original to Vault of the Drow.

[Dr.Gunsforhands]

2) parody is protected speech.

Well, the drow certainly do know about that (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0789.html). (Yet, Z barely resembles whoever it was he was trying to rip off...)