Perilous Gateways

Dark Elf Portals

By Ramon Arjona

The Portal of the Dead Goddess

No deity, not even Lolth, can surpass That Which Lurks in depravity, cruelty, and maliciousness. The immeasurably old Ghaunadaur predates the Crown War and Lolth's fall from the elven pantheon. He may even predate the arrival of the elves in Faerûn. Only the most insane and debased individuals pay homage to Ghaunadaur. In a twisted way, this honors Lolth's own cruelty -- so horrible is the Spider Queen that some of her chosen race turn to the service of That Which Lurks in hope of getting a better deal. These individuals, without exception, find only madness and death.

The portal of the Dead Goddess was not created by Ghaunadaur, though it may be as old as he is. The magic used to create it must have been powerful, for after so long a period of time the portal continues to function perfectly. Ghaunadaur's magic has perverted the portal, however. Through the interference of That Which Lurks, the portal has been given a key. This is an uncommon occurrence since the conditions of a portal's activation cannot normally be changed once the portal has been created, and it certainly required a great expenditure of power on Ghaunadaur's part. Because of the taint placed upon it by That Which Lurks, only slimes and oozes can activate the portal. Once the portal is activated, it stays open for 1 round. After this, the portal reseals itself.

The portal connects a section in the deep Underdark with a small realm in one of the Outer Planes. This realm was once the domain of a goddess who has long since disappeared or died. The goddess may have been a contemporary of Ghaunadaur, and she may even have been his enemy. No being that exists, besides Ghaunadaur himself, knows for certain. The name of the goddess, her portfolio, and all details of her existence have been forgotten, except perhaps by That Which Lurks.

It is certain, however, that the god of oozes has taken an interest in this plane. He has dispatched the oozemaster Kurolaboath Notepirroth, one of his most insane and effective servants, to this plane to search for something in the long-forgotten ruins of the dead goddess' domain. What the oozemaster is looking for, and what he will do with it when he finds it, is a secret known only to the Kurolaboath and his incomprehensible master.

How to Incorporate the Portal of the Dead Goddess Into Your Campaign:


Dark Elf Portals