[quote="Irennan":4u9d27vv][quote="Orin":4u9d27vv]Here's a question that might generate some interesting answers: Eilistraee is a melancholy and rather lonely Goddess. In that vein, who do you think would make a good match for her? Or who would choose to court her - or make the attempt? Who would she herself find most desirable?
I got the idea for this from reading the first part of Lady Penitent where she and Lolth are playing Sava. Lolth gets to basically act through Selvatarm, giving her a distinct advantage. Now I haven't finished it, so I don't know how that plays out, but I found the whole exchange very...as the Goddess herself said, [i:4u9d27vv]unfair[/i:4u9d27vv]. I found myself wondering whether she had like...an exarch or some such, like many other gods seem to. Then I thought, "What if another God found this as unfair as I do, and also thought Eilistraee was pretty
.
Actually, to be fair, I came up with an idea for a character that endeavors to become a God themselves for the purposes of making themselves an equal that they might be a match for the Dark Dancer. Then I thought that was too self indulgent and thought of this instead.
My first choice in FR was Melil, but as I understand it, he's pretty self involved. Then I thought it would be just adorable if it was someone completely unlike her, except for the important parts - like goodness and kindness. Like what if Torm, or like The Red Knight and she had a love at first sight thing going on. They have no idea why they like each other, but it just won't go away.
Anyway, that's my silly thoughts on the subject. What do you all think?[/quote:4u9d27vv]
Before answering your question, I'll just tell you 1 thing. If you like Eilistraee, I vehemently advise against reading Lady Penitent. First, because everything that happens in them has been entirely undone, and it happened merely as an editorial mandate coming from WotC to "make Drizzt moar speshul", not for story value. Second, Smedman and Athans have absolutely no respect whatsoever for Eilistraee or the drow pantheon, or the lore of the Realms. They warped Eilistraee, they threw mud on her, on her lore, on what she stands for, they associated her with things that have never belonged to her (and that are flat out evil), they distorted and polluted her idea of redemption, they flat out contradicted the most fundamental parts of her character. They turned her into some kind of militarist, merciless misandrist whose idea of redemption consists of atoning for what you are, an idea that is toxic, that also nearly excludes the whole drow race in the books, that simply defeats the very point of Eilistraee, and that makes absolutely 0 sense in the context of the Realms (as many others plot-devices used in those novels). If you want to see a goddess that you like getting ruined like that, then go ahead and read those novels, but I'll just tell you that they were painful for me, and that they now no longer matter anyway. EIlistraee lives, and she's her own sweet self again.
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As for a companion for Eilistraee, I don't really see her having a fixed relationship with anyone. She's such a free spirit, she can love with such freedom and spontaneity that I picture her being able to enjoy moments of intimacy, tenderness, or simply affection to their fullest without the need to bind herself to anyone. When you live as long as a goddess, your idea of love also changes just like your perception of reality. I picture Eilistraee as a goddess who can love many at once with intensity and unconditionally, and that the fact that she loves many doesn't diminish the value of her love for the single individual. Just like she does with the drow, she would love each for what makes them just themselves--a unique kind of love for each of them that comes from seeing the beauty that is unique to each of them, from knowing their dreams, their battles, and even the demons that they face. I also think that the lines between romantic and non-romantic love could become blurred in many cases, because we're talking about a creature who can experience this sentiment is such a deep and spontaneous way, and who is *big* on freedom of expression, and one large part of romanticism and sex is that they are an expression of affection among the other things.
Besides, IMO, Eilistraee can love deities and mortals alike (in fact, why would she--who chose to be one of her people--restrict herself to deities)?
Honestly, I don't think that any god except maybe Torm would be an ideal fit for her. Among the goddesses, I could maybe the likes of Lliira or Mielikki enjoying a pleasant relationship with Eilistraee. She's also close friends with Haela Brightaxe.
As for other gods finding Eilistraee desirable, well... she's a goddess of beauty, she literally embodies the drow concept of beauty, I think that many would find such a goddess to be desirable. The deities who could seek her company are, ofc, those who share interests or principles with her. So, the ones that I mentioned above, plus someone like Finder, maybe even Ilmater--since both he and Eilistraee greatly value compassion and fight to defeat suffering wherever they go (even if in quite different ways).[/quote:4u9d27vv]
Ok, so first...I'm starting to see that what you said about LP and WotSQ is very true. I mean....I REALLY don't like criticizing the work of others, ever. I don't enjoy negative criticism myself, it makes me feel awful, but...there does seem to be a kind of disconnect. One of the things I realized when I read all of this was that WotSQ was the last series I read from FR. I'm not even caught up on all the Drizzt stuff and I love Drizzt! Anyway, yeah...kinda sad. I sort of like Q'arlynd though. Oh well. It doesn't really matter if, as you say, all of what happens is undone. I hate it when big IC's have to etcha sketch their own worlds because someone marred them.
I am very glad to hear that Eilistraee is back to her old sweet and cuddly self again too!
So....I agree with your entire second paragraph in full, which is why I almost didn't post this topic. I suppose that the title is a BIT misleading, as I don't know that I meant or said anything about tying down or marriage, but suitor might imply that. So, to be clear, I meant more as a lover or paramour rather than a spouse. That being said...I suppose I just thought it was cute. We don't actually get to decide who we fall in love with, so I just thought it would be hilariously adorable if she fell for someone like...I don't know, Arvoreen or something. Just funny is all.
You're right too. She would love whoever she chose, which seems to be everyone. I think that I was at first approaching this from the perspective of trying to find someone to help her against Lolth, as I found myself wanting to. I was trying to, fix the problem, as it were. That's how I tend to interact with any story. I place myself in it, and imagine myself acting as I would. It's why I tend to read slowly, because I have a rather vivid imagination.
Right? Who wouldn't want her? Another idea I'd had was a story of a bard that came to the same conclusion I did and said "Nope. We gotta figure this out!" fancying themselves a matchmaker, they went out into the planes in search of a companion for the Dark Lady. In one silly scene I saw him speaking to Tempos and telling the war god of her beauty, but Tempos knows her of course, as Svartalfheim is on a layer of Ysgard. Every time I thought of this I heard Tempos exclaim "SHE'S TOO SKINNY!" as he smashed some weapon or another into something that was in want of smashing.
Yeah, Torm would be a fine match, he's also a human deity, which might appeal to Eilistraee's desire for cooperation with surface races. You know I totally thought of Illmater, because while he's not LIKE her, their goals are almost identical. That would be another adorable match.
Anyway, yeah it's a bit moot because, as we've established, she'd love everyone and anyone who met or saw her would be enamored as well. It's a delightful cycle, I think. It's also just fun to play match maker. I still think it would be hilariously cute to have Helm - The Epitome of Stoicism and Discipline, be caught completely off of his guard by the beauty of Eilistraee. His mouth agape and his weapon held only loosely in his grasp as he watches her dance. In her mind she says "He's so stern and rigid. I abhor rigidity...so why can't I take my eyes off of him?"
It makes me giggle cry.