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Charles Phipps
Master of Realmslore
1425 Posts |
 Posted - 26 Aug 2024 : 16:12:51
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https://beforewegoblog.com/top-ten-favorite-female-dungeons-and-dragons-characters/
We are the products of a variety of factors in our life and one of those things is the media we consume. No, playing roleplaying games and listening to Goth metal didn't turn me into a vampiric wizard (much to my regret) but they opened my eyes to a lot of things I wouldn't have normally been exposed to.
I grew up in a very fundamentalist rural area and I don't think I would have been nearly as educated about girls kicking ass as much as the boys if not for a lot of the heroines I met through the pages of paperback fantasy. Dungeons and Dragons' many heroines (and villainesses) didn't make the entirety of my 12-13 year-old-old's education in this fact but it certainly helped.
So here is a collection of some classic Dungeons and Dragons characters of the feminine persuasion. There's also some modern ones that I've taken a liking to as well because the game never ends.Take note that I'm also only incorporating the ones directly from the game's media or I'd just end up posting the entire cast of Critical Role's campaigns.
10. Kyriani Agrivar (Advanced Dungeons and Dragons comic)
First Appearance: Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 1#
Description: Kyriani is a half-drow, half-human sorceress with a frequent problem of being split into her two halves. After she finally settles that issue, she is a bon vivant who frequently scandalized her teenage male readership by (GASP) having multiple partners at the same time while refusing to settle down. She also saved Waterdeep and her fellow Selunite bar patrons multiple times with her magic. Too bad TSR burned its bridges with DC comics and her comic was abruptly cancelled.
Why We Love Her: Kyriani of Shadowdale was the daughter of a good aligned wizard and a drow priestess that got split into her respective sides before being reunited. While the racial element might not have been handled the best, Jeff Grubb had a strong lesson about her in that both sides of her heritage were important to treasure. Eventually, she became a lusty and chaotic sorcerer thief that had numerous misadventures throughout Waterdeep. Much like Captain Kirk, her friends had to realize that her "good" and "evil" sides were both necessary for a complete person. Now if only they could keep that comic consistently available for purchase.
9. Viconia DeVir (Baldur's Gate)
First Appearance: Baldur's Gate
Description: Viconia DeVir is the sole survivor of the once grandiose House DeVir in Menzoberrazan. Banished for her refusal to sacrifice an infant, she fled to the surface but struggles with the whole "not being evil" thing in a way that Drizzt Do'Urden came to naturally.While the prejudice she faces may have no existing analog (due to the fact Drow really are a bunch of evil murderers), she's someone who just wants to live her own life. Baldur's Gate 3 made a very controversial choice with her subsequent actions post-game and ones that I think were poorly chosen.
Why We Love Her: Despite this, the love of a good man (or woman with mods) can redeem her to being slightly less evil. Compared to the other love interests of Baldur's Gate 2, she had a far more interesting arc and complete character. She was also someone that players loved even if they weren't interested. Plus, we all love Grey Delisle's voice.
8. Larisssa Snowmane (Dance of the Dead)
First Appearance: Dance of the Dead (Ravenloft)
Description: A dancer working on a magical paddle-boat, Larissa Snowmane just wants to live her best life possible in a demiplane not kind to either women or magic-users. Traveling through the fantasy Louisianian land of Sourange, she dares to seek out forbidden supernatural power from its Dark Lord in hopes of figuring out how to survive the dangers around her.
Why We Love Her: I almost put Ivana Bortisi or Gabrielle Aderre on this list. I wish I could have put Tatyana but she's unfortunately defined by Strahd kidnapping her so much that it's hard to remember she's actually pretty badass. Larissa is a likable and well-realized character that fits right into the Gothic atmosphere of the setting.
7. Shadowheart (Baldur's Gate III)
First Appearance: Baldur's Gate 3
Description: Shadowheart is a cleric of Shar, making her the second of the Lady of Loss' priestesses on this list, but there's a very good reason for that. As basically a perky Goth who seems to fundamentally misunderstand that her goddess isn't misunderstood but a genuinely terrible being. She is the most pursued of all of the Baldur's Gate III love interests, which may be because the audience is still primarily male and she's not a lizard-woman or crimson. Still, she has a fantastic character arc that can run to either good or evil.
Why We Love Her: A lot of people have very complicated relationships with religion. Sometimes, we spend a lot of time trying to justify when tyrannical and oppressive systems that we would just be better off abandoning. Either for different belief systems or abandoning them altogether. Shadowheart is in a cult that, while it worships a goddess of darkness, has all the earmarks of a real life one. While the ideal path is to help her come to this realization on her own, you can also encourage her to double down on a path that will simply destroy everything that she truly is. Both paths have powerful emotional beats. She's also adorable and a LGBT character.
6. Alias (Azure Bonds)
First Appearance: Azure Bonds
Description: Alias wakes up in Cormyr with no memory of her past, a mute dinosaur man companion, and a set of magical tattoos that she can't explain. Later, she discovers that she has no past to return to and is someone who has to forge her own destiny. She's a sarcastic, forceful, but fun character that gradually has to come to learn to accept the choices of her friends even when they mean going against her.
Why We Love Her: Alias is one of the earliest Dungeons and Dragons heroines and is from a time when they weren't afraid to go utterly weird with her origins. Without spoilers, Alias has a more science fiction origin than traditional fantasy. Jeff Grubb and Kate Novac writes her as a flawed, sometimes even bratty, character that has a lot of growing up to do despite (seemingly) being in her twenties. These flaws give her personality. Fun fact: The (inaccurate) art for the character is somewhat infamous and hilariously led to Kate Novac canonizing her chain mail corset by making it evening wear that was enchanted to be harder than plate.
5. Sadira of Tyr (The Prism Pentad)
First Appearance: The Verdant Passage
Description: Sadira of Tyr is a half-elf born to a woman enslaved by the ruthless Templar Tithian of Tyr. Studying the arts of the preserver, Sadira is part of the resistance known as the Veiled Alliance and wants more than anything to liberate the slaves of her city. Sadira loves both the gladiator Rikus and the nobleman Agis. Rather than being forced to choose, she just carries on a relationship with both. Which was pretty unusual for Nineties fantasy. At least the kinds I read.
Why We Love Her: Sadira is a fantastic antiheroine who doesn't always make the correct choice in the burned out world of Athas. The temptations of dark magic and defiling power are always present. Sadira also doesn't want to give up anything she acquires because she's a woman who grew up with nothing. Faced against the cruelty and oppression of the slave-holding Sorcerer Kings, she is always on the right side of history but that doesn't mean she doesn't have her own personal ambitions.
4. Cattie Brie (The Legend of Drizzt)
First Appearance: The Halfling's Shard
Description: A young warrior woman raised by dwarves, Cattie Brie has been the longtime companion of Drizzt and the other Companions of the Hall. Cattie Brie is an archer and swordswoman who eventually decides to become a sorceress. Cattie Brie eventually becomes lovers with Drizzt but spends the majority of her literary time as simply his closest friend.
Why We Love Her: Cattie Brie isn't the strangest of the Companions of the Hall but is probably the glue that sticks them all together. Like Steve Guttenberg in Police Academy, it's necessary to have a straight man keeping everyone on point. Much of the story is about her coming into her own across the decades and realizing she has more to offer than simply being everyone's support. Plus, it's nice to have a plaintalking and serious protagonist. I fully believe Cattie Brie helped inspire plenty of the archer rogues and magicians out there like Imoen.
3. Crysania Tarinius (Dragonlance Legends)
First Appearance: Time of the Twins
Description: A cleric of the god Paladine, Crysania grew up spoiled sweet and devoted her life to the cause of good after wanting for nothing. Unfortunately, she was a little too confident in her righteousness and was easily persuaded to join Raistlin Majere's blasphemous plan to slay the Queen of Darkness so he could ascend to godhood. Her flaws, like other characters on this list, actually make her interesting.
Why We Love Her: The greatest of all Dungeons and Dragons romances is one built from being an utter train wreck (lightning rail?) from beginning to end. Crysania is attracted to the dark, sinister, and delicate nature of Raistlin while he's always believed himself to be an unlovable monster. In a lesser series, this would have been the start of a redemption arc but it is a story that benefits from acknowledging there's more important things than love. Her care for Raistlin is real but, in the end, she is a person who cares for good more.
2. Arilyn Moonblade (Songs and Swords)
First Appearance: Elfsong
Description: Arilyn Moonblade was born a half-elf and the child of a Princess of Evermeet. You'd think the latter would count for something but her human heritage means she's just a stain on the royal family's honor. Growing up with no knowledge of her heritage, she is trained to be an assassin for the Harpers and ends up with a lot of very ridiculous notions about how to go about doing this (like challenging opponents to honorable combat). It requires the goofy and flamboyant Danilo Thann to bring her, even partially, out of her shell.
Why We Love Her: Arilyn Moonblade is much like Tanis Half-Elven in that she struggles with her mixed heritage. However, unlike Tanis, it is not a source of shame for her. Instead, it is a source of anger because Arilyn recognizes it is the racism and undeserved pride of the elves that motivates her ostracism. A hardened killer with a heart, Arilyn is a character who normally would be a man in the kind of fantasy I read growing up. However, the fact that she is one doesn't detract from her femininity nor does it require her to prove herself. It's simply her personality and it is always entertaining. If the elves can't accept that about her, she'll just do her own thing.
1. Kitiara Uth Matar (Dragonlance Chronicles/Legends)
First Appearance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight
Description: The only villain on the list and my pick for the all-time best female character in Dungeons and Dragons, Kitiara Uth Matar is a multifaceted female character that could have been the protagonist of her own series. Indeed, she has starred in several spin-offs and prequels to the Dragonlance main series. A hardened warrior, lover, and warlord, she just happens to have chosen to fight on the winning side.
Why We Love Her: Kitiara was unlike any other female characters I'd read when I first picked up the Dragonlance Legends books for the first time. Physically dominant, sexually aggressive, and ambitious, she was a woman after my own dark ambition. Kitiara also was a character who was chiefly opposed by a fellow woman in Laurana Kanan. Lord Soth, Dalamar, Skie, and Ariakas are all impressed with her strength of spirit with only her brother really able to hold her respect. Plus, she's a dragon rider.
Honorable Mentions: Laurana (Dragonlance Chronicles), Neeva (Prism Pentad), Princess Alusair (Forgotten Realms), Ruha (The Harpers), Lirel Baenre (Daughter of the Drow), Alustriel (Forgotten Realms), Imoen (Baldur's Gate), Annah (Planescape: Torment), Falls from Grace (Planescape: Torment), Danica (The Cleric Quintet), Sheila (Dungeons and Dragons cartoon)
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My Blog: http://unitedfederationofcharles.blogspot.com/
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rabbitsboots
Acolyte
1 Posts |
Posted - 17 Mar 2025 : 04:54:10
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1. Laeral Silverhand (Forgotten Realms): One of the legendary Seven Sisters and a Chosen of Mystra.
2. Vex'ahlia ("Vex") (Critical Role): Known for her sharp wit, deadly archery, and deep bond with her bear, Trinket.
3. Jarlaxle’s Lieutenant - Quenthel Baenre (Forgotten Realms):The High Priestess of Lolth and Matron Mother of House Baenre in Menzoberranzan.
4. Keyleth (Critical Role): Half-elf druid of the Ashari and a member of Vox Machina.
5. Tasha (Iggwilv) (Greyhawk & Forgotten Realms): A powerful wizard and archmage known for the spell Tasha’s Hideous Laughter.
6. Alyxian the "Pain Maiden" (Sharran Assassin) (Forgotten Realms): A tragic and darkly poetic figure, sworn to Shar, the goddess of night.
7. Imoen (Baldur’s Gate series): The beloved childhood friend of the Baldur’s Gate protagonist.
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jumperslipway
Acolyte
1 Posts |
Posted - 17 Mar 2025 : 06:41:05
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1. Larisssa Snowmane (Dance of the Dead)
2. Kitiara Uth Matar (Dragonlance Chronicles/Legends)
3. Shadowheart (Baldur's Gate III)
4. Arilyn Moonblade (Songs and Swords)
5. Alyxian the "Pain Maiden" (Sharran Assassin) (Forgotten Realms): A tragic and darkly poetic figure, sworn to Shar, the goddess of night. |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11987 Posts |
Posted - 17 Mar 2025 : 12:05:33
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The half-elven ranger, Chastity Heavingbreasts and the halfling bard, Lusty Tightbottom j/k
But more seriously.... I have to agree that for the times, Kitiara, Laurana, and Arilyn were all pivotal characters for me from the realms (edit NOVELS not REALMS). We got to see real people it felt like with these characters. Granted this was also at a key period of my youth when I had a lot more time for reading, and they were also some of my earliest realms books. I imagine if I really delved through my book stacks, I could come up with better written characters, but these 3 have STUCK with me. Maybe it's that there's artwork that helped cement their imagery in my head (Lord knows, I see a picture of Laurana standing over Sturm dead in the snow every time I go in my living room, and Sturm's death was one of the most hardest to hit me of all novel deaths ever). Thinking on Sturm's death and how it hit me of course reminds me of another death that hit me hard, Liriel Baenre and Fyodor, for I loved both Liriel and Fyodor's story as well. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
Edited by - sleyvas on 19 Mar 2025 12:02:24 |
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Gord
Acolyte
Canada
17 Posts |
Posted - 17 Mar 2025 : 13:47:44
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| Cattie, Arilyn and Alias all made the list, so I'm happy. |
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AJA
Senior Scribe
USA
793 Posts |
Posted - 20 Mar 2025 : 07:45:49
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If your favorite isn't Aleena the Cleric, what are you even doing with your DnD.
(damn you, Bargle!   )
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AJA
YAFRP
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Seravin
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1297 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2025 : 01:27:45
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My list, for what it's worth:
Alias
Ruha
The Simbul
Olive Ruskettle
Kitiara
Laeral
Evaine
Danica
Jhessail
Shal Bal
I actually think my fave female D&D characters I like better than my fave male ones - Alias is such a great character (Cat too!); and damned if I don't love Ruha and the Simbul - as well as the character arc of Olive in the Finder's Stone trilogy isn't one of the best in fantasy fiction.
Anyway, good thread. |
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The Arcanamach
Master of Realmslore
1879 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2025 : 01:54:52
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| I've said this before but I always wanted to see more of the Shadowsil. She was an interesting character (and former apprentice of the Old Mage) that needed more stories, IMO. |
I have a dream that one day, all game worlds will exist as one. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36870 Posts |
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The Arcanamach
Master of Realmslore
1879 Posts |
Posted - 23 Mar 2025 : 00:09:20
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| I've watched and loved that video. I'd still love to see her in a novel focused on her though. |
I have a dream that one day, all game worlds will exist as one. |
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Mournblade
Master of Realmslore
USA
1288 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2025 : 21:11:08
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1. Morgan Ironwolf 
2. Deirdre Kendrik
3. Alusair
4. Catti Brie
5. Qilué Veladorn
6. Alicia Kendrik
7. Lady Alustriel
8. Arilyn Moonblade
9. Liriel Baenrae
10. Storm Silverhand |
A wizard is Never late Frodo Baggins. Nor is he Early. A wizard arrives precisely when he means to... |
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Irennan
Great Reader
Italy
3811 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2025 : 00:21:09
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To me, it'll always be Eilistraee: there's something invaluable about her descending into the darkness because she knows there's beauty broken and forgotten there. So she dedicates herself to healing and nurturing what most others would see as living trash, because it will make the world a place more beautiful for all--her included.
I mean, what she does is the quintessential mythological symbolism of the midpoint in transformation arcs: you're eventually dragged way too deep into the unknown, and must confront the knowledge that you despise or fear the most, because that ugly knowledge is the key ingredient that you can turn into strength to start climbing up again.
There are also quite a few easily inferable yet never explored angles to Eilistraee's way of thinking, that make her a good candidate for a character transformation arc. Example: why is that she feels so strongly about seeing the best in people? Given the context she grew in, The most likely answer is that deep inside she thinks it's her only way to be safe. That is, to avoid a repetition of the same situation that struck her family. After all, maybe if her teen self had been closer to her mother, had tried more to understand her, none of what happened would have actually transpired. Also, with how superficial her relationship with Corellon seemed to be from Evermeet, and with how non-existent her relationship with Lolth also was at the time, it's easy to imagine that another reasons Eilistraee does what she does, is that she too would like someone to do the same for her... Could as well explain why she oscillates between being unusually close to people (which could lead to the thing she wants), and trying to always leave them free from external pressure (which she knows is the right thing to do for them).
It's all pretty darn cool; too bad she's a goddess, which makes her direct inclusion into stories hard. IMHO, Eiilistraee makes a way better archfey, or an entity with less power than an outright deity, because it allows for more room to explore stuff in stories, without the need to drag in the heavyweights to create any semblance of meaningful external challenge. |
Mathematics is the art of giving the same name to different things. |
Edited by - Irennan on 03 Apr 2025 07:11:38 |
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lordsknight185
Learned Scribe
USA
104 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2025 : 04:26:11
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| Farideh and Havilar not making anyone's lists makes me sad. |
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Delnyn
Master of Realmslore
USA
1032 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2025 : 07:13:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Irennan
To me, it'll always be Eilistraee: there's something invaluable about descending into the darkness because she knows there's beauty broken and forgotten there. So she dedicates herself to healing and nurturing what most others would see as living trash, because it will make the world a place more beautiful for all--her included.
I mean, what she does is the quintessential mythological symbolism of the midpoint in transformation arcs: you're eventually dragged way too deep into the unknown, and must confront the knowledge that you despise or fear the most, because that ugly knowledge is the key ingredient that you can turn into strength to start climbing up again.
There are also quite a few easily inferable yet never explored angles to Eilistraee's way of thinking, that make her a good candidate for a character transformation arc. Example: why is that she feels so strongly about seeing the best in people? Given the context she grew in, The most likely answer is that deep inside she thinks it's her only way to be safe. That is, to avoid a repetition of the same situation that struck her family. After all, maybe if her teen self had been closer to her mother, had tried more to understand her, none of what happened would have actually transpired. Also, with how superficial her relationship with Corellon seemed to be from Evermeet, and with how non-existent her relationship with Lolth also was at the time, it's easy to imagine that another reasons Eilistraee does what she does, is that she too would like someone to do the same for her... Could as well explain why she oscillates between being unusually close to people (which could lead to the thing she wants), and trying to always leave them free from external pressure (which she knows is the right thing to do for them).
It's all pretty darn cool; too bad she's a goddess, which makes her direct inclusion into stories hard. IMHO, Eiilistraee makes a way better archfey, or an entity with less power than an outright deity, because it allows for more room to explore stuff in stories, without the need to drag in the heavyweights to create any semblance of meaningful external challenge.
I still would warn people not to regard the Lady Penitent series as accurately depicting Eilistraee. Those books were an exercise in character assassination. This is not to blame the authors, who were probably under strict WoTC orders. |
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Irennan
Great Reader
Italy
3811 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2025 : 07:17:42
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quote:
Originally posted by lordsknight185
Farideh and Havilar not making anyone's lists makes me sad.
I liked them well enough alongside others, but I really didn't feel like posting a top 10 list, so I just posted the one character that still has an impact on me.
Still, I remember being rather fond of Evans' tieflings back when I still cared about the published setting (now I just keep up with Ed's lore, because it always has some interesting gems, and because of nostalgia. It feels like still having a window on a world that has meant a lot of me, and that is the original home of a character that I still hold really, really dear). |
Mathematics is the art of giving the same name to different things. |
Edited by - Irennan on 03 Apr 2025 07:18:57 |
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Irennan
Great Reader
Italy
3811 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2025 : 07:25:43
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quote:
Originally posted by Delnyn
quote:
Originally posted by Irennan
To me, it'll always be Eilistraee: there's something invaluable about descending into the darkness because she knows there's beauty broken and forgotten there. So she dedicates herself to healing and nurturing what most others would see as living trash, because it will make the world a place more beautiful for all--her included.
I mean, what she does is the quintessential mythological symbolism of the midpoint in transformation arcs: you're eventually dragged way too deep into the unknown, and must confront the knowledge that you despise or fear the most, because that ugly knowledge is the key ingredient that you can turn into strength to start climbing up again.
There are also quite a few easily inferable yet never explored angles to Eilistraee's way of thinking, that make her a good candidate for a character transformation arc. Example: why is that she feels so strongly about seeing the best in people? Given the context she grew in, The most likely answer is that deep inside she thinks it's her only way to be safe. That is, to avoid a repetition of the same situation that struck her family. After all, maybe if her teen self had been closer to her mother, had tried more to understand her, none of what happened would have actually transpired. Also, with how superficial her relationship with Corellon seemed to be from Evermeet, and with how non-existent her relationship with Lolth also was at the time, it's easy to imagine that another reasons Eilistraee does what she does, is that she too would like someone to do the same for her... Could as well explain why she oscillates between being unusually close to people (which could lead to the thing she wants), and trying to always leave them free from external pressure (which she knows is the right thing to do for them).
It's all pretty darn cool; too bad she's a goddess, which makes her direct inclusion into stories hard. IMHO, Eiilistraee makes a way better archfey, or an entity with less power than an outright deity, because it allows for more room to explore stuff in stories, without the need to drag in the heavyweights to create any semblance of meaningful external challenge.
I still would warn people not to regard the Lady Penitent series as accurately depicting Eilistraee. Those books were an exercise in character assassination. This is not to blame the authors, who were probably under strict WoTC orders.
I agree, as the series gives you nothing and only takes away.
That said, I also blame the author--I really don't think the WotC managers were there breathing on Smedman's neck, telling her to depict Eilistraee and her followers--the "nurture and help the drow to build each their own path" guys--as some sort of fanatics forcing the drow to convert or be slain, and playing a chess game with the drow as literal, expendable pawns. Or deciding that mutilating people for daring to watch a dance is cool. Or that "traps for males" on doorfronts are the new trend in exterior design. The WotC design team most likely just told the author to get rid of the drow pantheon and the good drow factions and was done with it; Smedman just picked up the core traits of Eilistraee's character and attempted to subvert them for whatever reason.
Anyhow, sort of a moot point, now that the novels have been retconned, and the whole setting doesn't really even have a coherent published lore. |
Mathematics is the art of giving the same name to different things. |
Edited by - Irennan on 03 Apr 2025 07:43:46 |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11987 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2025 : 12:56:37
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quote:
Originally posted by lordsknight185
Farideh and Havilar not making anyone's lists makes me sad.
They were okay, but their young girl focus.... while very realistic feeling ... wasn't something that I felt a bond with. That being said, I bet a lot of younger women would have loved them a lot more than a character like Laurana whom I loved for being more selfless.
You know, I wonder how many novels have been made better by having a pair of authors writing them? |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11987 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2025 : 13:08:49
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On the Lady Penitent series .... much like the series about Lolth's silence .... I think the problem itself was simply the overarching plot..... which was essentially to get rid of the dark elf pantheon and make Lolth the center of things with multiple aspects of herself. Ultimately that was the end goal, and those of us that were just reading them didn't see the inkling of 4e on the horizon where reduction of gods was a focus there as well.
That being said, while there were some areas where I may have had a knee jerk reaction to some of what was done, I also read it with an eye towards "people aren't perfect, and just because you follow a god doesn't erase all your prior issues". Or in other words, people are NOT a reflection of their religion. One can see this in EVERY religion of our real world, where there are people who are fervent believers in some good book... and yet don't see their own faults in how they treat others in real life. It's natural. People aspire to be a certain way, but that doesn't mean all the prejudices they were raised with are instantly erased, nor that they are instantly giving and unselfish and hard working either. Even those that may be giving, unselfish, and hard working may only be so towards certain individuals (i.e. those of their family, local community, etc...). So, all that to say, when I saw a follower of Eilistraee doing something that I would have said "that's more like the mindset of a follower of Lolth", I instantly go "well, she has some work to do still". It can be surprising what will make a person near instantly turn on another human being and destroy any trust they have in them, for instance I can honestly say if I find out that someone has a drug problem, I instantly lose all respect and trust in them because of how I've seen it ruin so many I know and cared for. Some may see that as bad, others may shake their heads and go "I get it". In the end, no person is perfect.
On that subject, the inclusion of a deep love of a protective quality towards dogs for someone as deplorable as Drasek Riven was by far one of the best inclusions in a character that I've seen in a while. The one thing that makes a person believable is that all evil characters are not entirely evil, nor are all good characters entirely good. Its the one reason I was extremely irritated with the blanding out of Szass Tam that occurred, and why I very much blame his activities on curse, lies, etc... |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
Edited by - sleyvas on 04 Apr 2025 13:20:48 |
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Irennan
Great Reader
Italy
3811 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2025 : 13:24:32
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@Sleyvas Look, I'm no stranger to nuance. I didn't bat an eye when Elaine had, say, that one priestess of Eilistraee be an ass*ole to Liriel. Or depicted the lythari champion as overly violence-happy. Or when Qilué went way too hard on Liriel because she had (unknowingly, IIRC) led Lolth's gaze to the Promenade, so Qilué was freaking out. Or yet, when Ed had a circle of dancers turn hostile to a human mage in the Seven Sisters handbook, because they were resentful that humans were claiming all the suitable land, and feared that even their dancing place would now be lost. The problem with Lady Penitent isn't nuance, it's the absolute lack thereof in the depiction of Eilistraee&followers, in a clear attempt to subvert not just any single character, but the very concepts at the core of Eilistraee's character. Especially the main Eilistraean PoV, who was never a Lolthite yet is violent, zealous, and tyrannical all the time. She was chosen as the main Eilistraean PoV for a reason, after all.
In fact, from the very beginning of these novels, the faith as a whole--basically ALL the priestesses (including those who had never been Lolthites, like the main PoV) and even Eilistraee herself, are depicted as fanatic scumbags that wouldn't recognize compassion if it hit them in the face (playing chess with the drow as expendables to *dictate* their fate? Forcing religious conversion at a swordpoint or by withdrawing life-saving healing? And this as a common behavior that nobody bats an eye at?! WTF? This is clearly no Eilistraee and no dark ladies). Even Qilué, the friggin chosen, does the "convert or we won't help you/slay you" thing, which is very blatantly antithetical to Eilistraee's whole belief. Oh, let's not forget how Smedman/Athans decided that in, their headcanon, Eilistraee's philosophy is that redemption is inherently tied to Miyeritari blood purity (TM), and she has apparently chosen to share her people's fate and fight an uphill battle for millennia, not to help them build their place in the world, but to change the skin of a literal handful of them--just a few hundreds. So, at the end of the books, once the purebloods are redeemed it is stated that there is no hope for the rest, and Smedman/Athans think Eilistraee'd be fine with that (explicitly stated at the end of the novel by the 2 solars sent by Corellon, who call the unchanged drow "doomed", and "necessary sacrifices" for the mere hundreds to have a skin change and be granted access to a different paradise. And they also define the whole thing "a victory"). It's just vomit-inducing drivel, that not only makes for a really sh*tty story, but goes infinitely beyond depciting some converts as still having old beliefs (this is what, say, Elaine does), and is an obviously intentional smear that, like I said, tries to subvert not just any single character, but the concepts at the core of Eilistraee and her faith.
Now, yes, we can indeed sit here and try to come up with (probably over convoluted) in-universe reasons to justify why they could have behaved like Smedman&Athans depicted (even though if you have the slightest care for believable characterization, you don't have a character act like you please and then justify it, you have the character act like they would in accordance to their goals and M.O.). The point is that justifications are irrelevant, because the intention very clearly was to mischaracterize. Heck, there are FR authors (Erik de Bie) who outright stated that at the time when this novel series was published, WotC wanted people to dislike Eilistraee.
Honestly, good riddance that this was all scrubbed away: not only the novels being retconned, but Smedman and Athans not getting to touch FR or D&D anymore. Can't stand when people who never create sh*t on their own put their hands on stuff that they didn't create and inxstead of cherishing it and the opportunity to work on it, they take the biggest dump they can all over it (and the original author with it). I've seen this happen so many times, it should come with an auto-ban from any creative work that uses established settings for those people.
Anyhow, I will try to avoid commenting further, as to not turn this thread into a "WotC craps on FR" rant. |
Mathematics is the art of giving the same name to different things. |
Edited by - Irennan on 04 Apr 2025 14:28:20 |
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[List] Ten Favorite Female D&D characters
