Eilistraean Sworddancer (2026)

Followers of Eilistraee value independence and choice as inviolate. Their clerics welcome and accept beings of all races who desire to see all people living in harmony, without pointless discrimination or wars, and work towards that goal. They try to bring happiness and merriment everywhere they go, lifting people's hearts with kindness, gaiety, songs, jests, dancing, and revelry.  They respond violence with swift violence, thus quickly removing dangers and threats, so that the fewest might be hurt.

The worshipers of Eilistraee mostly consist of those drow who have escaped the danger and darkness of the Underdark, and Lolth's evil, taking back their place in the surface world. However, in line with her ideals, Eilistraee welcomes beings of all races (though, among her non-drow followers, elves, humans, and especially half-elves are the most numerous). They cherish the desire of seeing all races living in harmony, without pointless discrimination or wars, and work towards that goal (and those among them who were drow also fight to build their own place on the Realms above).

Eilistraean communities are often of matriarchal nature, however, as opposed to Lolth's, theirs are nurturing matriarchies, meant to empower all—males and females alike— to thrive on the surface world, and characterized by a very loose hierarchy. In fact, the clerics of Eilistraee, commonly known as Sword Dancers, act as an extension of Eilistraee's own motherhood of the drow, and take the role of teachers, protectresses, and diplomats. The priestesses aid their people in learning to live and forge their own path in a hostile world, and to rediscover a sense of belonging and community. They also protect their people from danger, and seek to build a place for them to live by establishing friendships and relationships with other races. The Eilistraeans are also known to offer aid and shelter to those who come asking for them (no matter the race), and even to actively travel to other places in order to bring food, cures, arts, and practical help where there is need.

Many followers of Eilistraee, and especially her clerics, strive to learn and promote the arts—with a soft spot for music and dance—as well as teaching them and passing along the knowledge of particular pieces, songs, or dances learned during travels or created by them. They also take care of broken musical instruments, or craft new ones. Those who don't know an art, are often instead known to support bards by hiring them when they can afford it. This is part of their way to promote joy and merriment in their communities and during their travels.

Despite their efforts, the faithful of Eilistraee, are frequently little known and poorly understood by inhabitants of both the Realms Above and the Underdark. Her worshipers are figures of myth and superstition and have been the targets of prejudice and wild mistruths. Some surface dwellers believe they are the disguised vanguard of the Spider Goddess's plan to take over the surface, while those drow who follow Lolth or other evil deities sometimes suspect them of being surface elf spies and saboteurs posing as drow as a prelude to invasion. Most non-elves could not comprehend the existence of a good drow deity, while surface elves can be uncomfortable considering it, finding Eilistraee a threat to their doctrine that the dark elves were wholly to blame for the Crown Wars and other ancient tragedies.

Eilistraee is most commonly worshiped in Cormanthor among the drow there, in the Dalelands among the half-elves, and also in Waterdeep and Skullport. She also has followers (mostly humans, elves, and half-elves) living in Silverymoon and its surroundings. All her worshipers are typically of a good nature.

The Dark Dancer is worshiped through song and dance, if at all possible in the surface world under the moon (preferably in wooded places). Worship of her is ofttimes accompanied by a feast.

Sworddance

You invoke an elven magic called the Sworddance by using a Bonus Action (provided you aren’t wearing armor or using a Shield).

The Sworddance lasts for 1 minute and ends early if you have the Incapacitated condition, if you don armor or a Shield, or if you use two hands to make an attack with a weapon. You can dismiss the Sworddance at any time (no action required).

You gain the following benefits while the Sworddance is active and you can invoke the Sworddance a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of once), regaining all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest, and regaining one expended use when you complete a Short Rest (once per day).

Nimbleness. Your AC gains a bonus equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of +1), and your Speed increases by 10 feet. Additionally, you have Advantage on Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks.

Dancing Blade. When you attack with a weapon with which you have proficiency, you can use your Wisdom modifier for the attack and damage rolls instead of using Strength or Dexterity.

Attention. Your Constitution saving throws made to maintain Concentration, can add your Wisdom modifier to the total.

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Select Invoke the Sworddance below to apply the effects. Deselect it to dismiss the Sworddance.

Invoke the Sworddance

The Sworddance lasts for 1 minute and ends early if you have the Incapacitated condition, if you don armor or a Shield, or if you use two hands to make an attack with a weapon. You can dismiss the Sworddance at any time (no action required).

While the Sworddance is active, you gain the following benefits. You can invoke the Sworddance a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of once), and you regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest. You regain one expended use when you complete a Short Rest (limit once per Long Rest).

Nimbleness. Your AC gains a bonus equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of +1), and your Speed increases by 10 feet. Additionally, you have Advantage on Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks.

Dancing Blade. When you attack with a weapon with which you have proficiency, you can use your Wisdom modifier for the attack and damage rolls instead of using Strength or Dexterity.

Attention. Your Constitution saving throws made to maintain Concentration, can add your Wisdom modifier to the total.

Level 3: Training in Battle and Art

You gain proficiency with all Melee Martial weapons that don’t have the Two-Handed or Heavy property.

You can use a Melee weapon with which you have proficiency as a Spellcasting Focus for your Cleric spells.

You also gain proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Acrobatics, Athletics, Performance, or Persuasion.

Level 6: Extra Attack

You can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn. Moreover, you can cast one of your Cleric cantrips that has a casting time of an action in place of one of those attacks.

Level 17: Flashing Blades

When you take damage while your Sworddance is active, you can take a Reaction to expend one spell slot and reduce the damage taken by an amount equal to five times the spell slot’s level. Additionally, after you cast a spell that has a casting time of an action, you can make one attack with a weapon as a Bonus Action.