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IronAngel
Seeker
65 Posts |
 Posted - 14 Jul 2007 : 21:46:39
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Hail, scribes.
I'm DM on a Neverwinter Nights presistent world RP-server, located on Toril. We have drow as a playable race, with their own city. And of course, the "hunting zones" are sometimes inhabited with giant spiders, as there are several spider models in NWN.
Now, an interesting question came up, and I don't really know for sure. It concerns fighting spiders (which I discourage in practice) and the relation between spiders and drow.
Lloth's dogma states: Arachnids of all sorts are to be revered, and anyone who mistreats
or kills a spider must die.
On the other hand, I'm told the new "Drow of the Underdark" states drow favour spiders as appetizers and might consider eating one a good omen and a sign of Lloth's favor. (Supposedly page 27, though I haven't seen it myself)
My question is, therefore: What do the folk of Candlekeep think about the matter, and are there any canon-FR references to eating spiders, anywhere? I know that "Drow of the Underdark Jr." is not Realms-specific, but the goddess is practically the same. It would seem mighty odd for something that was completely taboo on Toril to be perfectly fine with Lloth in other campaign settings.
You thoughts on it? And, even better, solid Realms-lore to solve this one way or another? Thank you for taking the time to read the long-winded post.
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4694 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2007 : 22:05:55
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Well a quick, and pehaps flip, reply is eating the food of the divine brings you closer to the devine if properly done.
I recall reading from some source that even Drow that do not worsihip Lolth respect spiders. I would have to dig for a cite though.
I do not recall any source that says spiders are in any way are considered food. |
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"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2007 : 22:14:33
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All through the Starlight and Shadows books it was often mentioned that harming a spider in any was was taboo. Its probably why very few drow use spiders for mounts, instead favoring riding lizards.
Drow of the Underdark has a lot in it that works fine for FR drow, and quite a bit that doesn't, at all. Its a bit of a pain to sort through which is which. At any rate, where the "core" book conflicts on a cultural matter with the Realms source, I'd definitely go with the Realms source.
Finally, in regards to the goddess being practically the same, Ed has mentioned a few times that many of the beliefs that a given religion develops may not have to do with the actual god's view of a given practice. Lolth doesn't mind if Faerunian drow revere spiders to the point of not harming them, because it shows her that they respect her, but she really could care less, except that once it becomes a cultural norm, ignoring it is a sign of ignoring her wrath.
I hope that makes some sense. |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jul 2007 : 00:07:06
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quote:
Originally posted by IronAngel
I know that "Drow of the Underdark Jr." is not Realms-specific, but the goddess is practically the same. It would seem mighty odd for something that was completely taboo on Toril to be perfectly fine with Lloth in other campaign settings.
There have been several published interpretations of Lolth: Gary Gygax's, Bob Salvatore's, Robin Laws's, to name three. The new Drow of the Underdark is just one more, once more with significant differences, and apart from maybe the specific mentions of the Realms, nothing in it is Realmslore except if a Realms source incorporates it.
But what about this in Menzoberranzan p. 43: "the numerous spiders of all sorts and sizes who scuttle and lurk all about [the Stenchstreets], despite many attempts to slay them or drive them off"? |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jul 2007 : 00:22:28
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quote:
Originally posted by Faraer
quote:
Originally posted by IronAngel
I know that "Drow of the Underdark Jr." is not Realms-specific, but the goddess is practically the same. It would seem mighty odd for something that was completely taboo on Toril to be perfectly fine with Lloth in other campaign settings.
There have been several published interpretations of Lolth: Gary Gygax's, Bob Salvatore's, Robin Laws's, to name three. The new Drow of the Underdark is just one more, once more with significant differences, and apart from maybe the specific mentions of the Realms, nothing in it is Realmslore except if a Realms source incorporates it.
But what about this in Menzoberranzan p. 43: "the numerous spiders of all sorts and sizes who scuttle and lurk all about [the Stenchstreets], despite many attempts to slay them or drive them off"?
But aren't a lot of the inhabitants of the Stenchstreets non-drow "scum" that live in the slum? There wouldn't be much of a stigma for them, unless a priestess saw them and made an example of them. Plus the drow that live there are the lowest of the low, and might have little respect for Lolth and very little to loose. Just a thought. |
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Kiaransalyn
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
762 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jul 2007 : 10:26:42
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One of the things you could with your persistent world is have a Lolth faction and set the spiders to it. That way if some clerics are also of the Lolth faction then they'll turn hostile to spider-slayers until you have a server reset.
When I was involved with a drow NWN PW we had it that spiders were sacred and were not to be harmed. We set most spiders to the Commoner faction. Some of the players were really good since if a new DM accidentally ported in a hostile spider they would refuse to attack it.
Personally, I think most drow revere spiders and treat them as sacred animals. However, recent sourcebooks seem to suggest that this opinion has changed. I seem to recall that drow are outraged by the duergar and their steeders - spiders used as mounts. |
Death is Life
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Revenge is Forgiveness
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Jimmy: Yeah. But don't hold it against me.
Ken: I'll try not to... Just try not to say anything too loud or crass. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36905 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jul 2007 : 16:00:53
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quote:
Originally posted by Kiaransalyn
I seem to recall that drow are outraged by the duergar and their steeders - spiders used as mounts.
The outrage could be because of the "corruption" of the sacred critter -- "lesser" creatures using them as common beasts. |
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Kiaransalyn
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
762 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jul 2007 : 12:14:26
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
The outrage could be because of the "corruption" of the sacred critter -- "lesser" creatures using them as common beasts.
Very true. 
Basically, "do as say not as we do?" |
Death is Life
Love is Hate
Revenge is Forgiveness
Ken: You from the States?
Jimmy: Yeah. But don't hold it against me.
Ken: I'll try not to... Just try not to say anything too loud or crass. |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
12072 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jul 2007 : 21:20:15
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| It might also be a separate heresy within the different drow cities as to how spiders are to be treated. As someone stated, eating of a sacred creature could be viewed as giving one the strength of the god (like those who believe that eating a raw piece of your first kill is a necessary thing). |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Drow and Spiders - Lloth's Dogma vs. Tradition?
