Update 13: Removed subclasses that don't conform to the 5e design for clarity. Added a bardic college version of the Sword Dancer cleric domain, given that the Bard class lends itself more to the concept of a cleric of Eilistraee than the cleric domain.
Update 12: Added a little tidbit about the Changedance. As recently explained by Ed Greenwood, despite its original function to help male priests to better cleave to Eilistraee, it has turned into a tool to help people transition. The ritual can also physically turn women into men, not just men into women.
Update 11: Added a section on Eilistraeen orders in the main document. Added lore and mechanics for the Silverhair Knights.
Rewrote the Channel Divnity and the lv 17 features of the Sword Dancer domain, to make them more in line with the design of the other domains. Tweaked the level 6 feature, and rewrote the Wardancer feature and feat. Rebalanced the Channel Divinity, lv 15 and lv 20 features of the Darksong Knight Oath. Rebalanced some of the College of the Spellsong features. Credits to Alexander Henry, who provided precious feedback (and who came up with the new Channel Divinity and many of the features).
Added a new fighting style: Battle Dance (credits to Alexander Henry).
Kept the old version of the Sword Dancer in the file for record, in case anyone wants to make something out of it, rebalance it, etc...
Update 10: Added info about possible meanings for the nude ritual dances of the followers of Eilistraee at the beginning of the Rituals section.
Update 9: Added back the Wardancer feat (it had been lost during the updates, but it wasn't intentional)
Update 8: Added a bardic college option (College of the Spellsong)
8.1: Removed a feature, and replaced the Spelldance feature with a different option aimed to show the combined use of spells and sword-dance.
Update 7: Made very minor adjustments to the main file, adding some info from the Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes (The entry about Eilistraee doesn't have anything that isn't already included here).
7.2: Added the Darksong Knight paladin Oath. The mechanics of the class are Dario Boemio's work.
7.1:Updated the Sword Dancer domain accordingly to feedback that I received from the kind Dario Boemio. Tweaked some ability descriptions.
Added a new version of the Domain, crafted also crafted by Dario Boemio. This version of the Sword Dancer domain is meant to highlight a path of growth that leads all priestesses closer and closer to Eilistraee as they gain experience. In this version, the channel divinity feature becomes stronger and stronger at each level milestone (6th, 8th, 14th, 17th), at the cost of renouncing to proficiencies or other kinds of thematic penalties. As always, feedback is welcome
Update 6: Recovered the lost word file and prepared the document for the next update to include the lore about Eilistraee that will appear in the Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes.
-Adjusted the part of the document about the lore. Made the explanation of how the drow of Eilistraee integrate with other races (and get to live within their settlements), and of how they help other drow break free from Lolth, more specific. Added some "ribbons" to the part about Eilistraee's personality. Added a bit of lore by Ed Greenwood that Jenny G kindly provided.
-Divided the document in 2 parts, separating the rules from the lore. The section about the Singing Swords and the Secret Moondancer background are included in both parts (since they include mechanics as well as lore). Replaced the distracting background.
-Added a section explaining how the various D&D classes and subclasses fit among the followers of Eilistraee (named Eilistraeean characters).
-Added a Sword Dancer NPC statblock.
-Changed the Sword Dancer domain. I followed Travis L's suggestion about immunity to opportunity attacks during the Channel Divinity feature's duration, and replaced it with disengage as a bonus action. I also tried to give the class a clear purpose in battle, i.e.: buffing allies with spells, and controlling enemies with mobility and their evasive dance. The domain doesn't provide any significant offensive features but focuses on defense and support. I feel that this is more in line with the Sword Dancers' purpose as extensions of Eilistraee's own mothering of the drow as a race.
-Added a second Sword Dancer domain variant, following Patrick C's advice. I made the Channel Divinity feature closer to the Bladesinger's Bladesong; turned the Spellsong feature into a domain spell and replaced it with the Extra attack feature; replaced the Blessed Blade feature with the melee cleric's standard 8th level Divine Strike.
-Added an effect to the Moonfire spell. It can now be cast as a 1st level slot: if so, Moonfire and the Darkness spell cancel each other out (this ability dates back to the 2e version of the spell. Thought it was nice flavor).
Update 5:Added artwork of Eilistraee (a work that I commissioned to: https://leejun35.deviantart.com/); added a few details about the Misty Forest shrine (credits to Eric Menge for his write-up of the said sanctuary). I've also added a full res copy of the above-mentioned painting of Eilistraee to the downloadable files.
Update 4 (small):Fixed a mistake. The ritual that changed the followers of Eilistraee into dusky skinned elves only affected hundreds among them. However, she--as a lesser deity--had, and has, at least a few thousands of followers, explaining why both she and most of her followers are still drow in the current timeline.
Update 3:Expanded the section about the relationship between the followers of Eilistraee in Cormanthor and the refugees of Myth Drannor. Many thanks to Valerie Erzhlerin, who allowed me to enrich this work with ideas and characters from her work, Eclipsed Empire.
Added a new feat (Wardancer).
Update 2:I've added new lore from Ed Greenwood's new novel, "Death Masks". It can be found under "Current Activities"->"The Promenade, Skullport and Waterdeep"->"Waterdeep and Ardeep". Some typos have also been corrected.
Update: In response to the feedback that I've received, I've added an alternative version of the domain, with a different 8th level feature. The Channel Divinity feature, while retaining its function and flavor, has also been slightly modified and toned down.
This document is an attempt to provide insight into the drow deity Eilistraee and her clergy, the Sword Dancers, and into their goals going forward in the post-Second Sundering era of the Forgotten Realms. It is accompanied by a new domain to play a cleric of Eilistraee in 5e D&D;, two magic items, and a background.
Much of the included information has been put together and elaborated from the lore contained in various official sources (published books, articles, and the lore provided by Ed Greenwood through his answers at the Candlekeep forums). I've indicated (in footnotes) when a piece of information is a speculation of mine, rather than taken from official material.
I tried to detail the culture, ideals and religion of these drow, while also talking about Eilistraee, the bond that unites her with her people, and their role in Faerun: the mission to free the drow from Lolth, and claim back a place for their people in the surface world, in harmony with all races.
I chose to not delve into their full history, only providing a summary of the ''recent'' events (up to Eilistraee's return to her full power in the 1480s DR) in the Current activities section (and more briefly, from a divine viewpoint, in a sidebar about Eilistraee). It mostly covers their present doings and goals, and I tried to fill in the blanks with information regarding the happenings of the 1400s DR (as no source covers that).
The description and rules for the holy relics of the faith are accompanied by the history behind them, to give them a context in the world. The ''Singing Swords'' are merely converted from the previous editions, while ''Moon Maiden's Song'' is completely not official.
The ''Sword Dancer domain'' is an attempt to blend all the features that characterized the ''Sword Dancer of Eilistraee'' kit in 2e and the prestige class in 3.5e into a 5e cleric domain. However, no rule in this document has been playtested, as I don't have the possibility to do so.
The Secret Moondancer is a background for those followers or clerics of Eilistraee that have originally found and practiced (or spread) their faith in the Underdark (or that are still doing that), working clandestinely to elude the priestesses of Lolth, while bringing as many drow as possible away from their reach.
The document includes various internal links connecting different sections, for ease of reading. Some links point to the Forgotten Realms Wiki, regarding those characters, events, or places that couldn't be discussed here (although I assumed that some names, like Corellon, Lolth, or Underdark, didn't need explanation).
Of course, feedback is always welcome, especially when it comes to grammar. English is not my first language, so I apologize if my phrasing sounds off and for any error that this document may contain. For all comments, I can be contacted at tsammarco@hotmail.it
That said, I hope that this document is enjoyable to many, and I am grateful to everyone who decides to give it a chance.