Lorynäe Anarivon was a powerful elven priestess who attempted to overthrow the nation of Ectharë, triggering the War of Wrath.
Lorynäe originally hailed from the eastern city of Saravôsh. From early childhood, she sought divine powers and became intensely spiritual. As her clerical abilities increased, she began to attract many followers among the elves. She created an all-female order of priestesses, who were fanatically loyal to her. This order became known as the "Zhinza," or "Order of the Spider;" and its followers soon numbered in the tens of thousands.
As her influence in elven society grew, Lorynäe eventually moved to the elven capital of Elutheria and made her presence known at the elven royal court. Once there, she became a close confidant of King Starion Alessarë.
Many sages believe Lorynäe was Starion's mistress and greatly desired to be his wife, but Starion spurned her. Others theorize she only wanted the Eternal Throne for herself, and was influenced by dark spirits. Whatever the true cause may have been, in the year 537/2, King Starion was betrayed by Lorynäe, who murdered him and attempted to steal his throne.
What followed was complete chaos, with elves slaying each other en masse on the streets of the elven capital. The elven loyalists; called the "Silvar," were led by Starion's son; Ismelian, while Lorynäe led the rebellious faction, which were named the "Dro-vhar."
After Lorynäe was defeated in her attempt to steal the Elvish throne, she fled east from Elutheria, back to her home city of Saravôsh. Once there, she established "Drotharë," a new elvish realm east of the Saugreth-Muir Mountains, named herself "the Spider-Queen," and orchestrated a long military campaign against the Elves of Ectharë.
In the centuries that followed, Lorynäe and her followers waged unrelenting warfare against the Silvar-Elves. a bloody, thousand-year conflict called the "War of Wrath." At the climactic Battle of Grôn, Lorynäe and all her followers were defeated and driven from the surface to dwell in the Underdark.
Transformation Into A Deity
At some point during the War of Wrath, Lorynäe underwent a dark magic ritual, transforming herself into a living Goddess; part elf and part spider. From then on, she became known as Lolth; the "Spider-Queen".
