Help flesh out my drow [Archive] - Wizards Community

Help flesh out my drow [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Galstaf, Sorcerer of Lite
03-27-05, 08:11 PM So, I'll be playing in a new campaign soon, and since the entire group recently got really into the War of the Spider Queen novels, we've decided it would be fun to run something along those lines. Basically, we'll be doing something that parallels the basic idea of the book series (a small group of drow investigating why Lolth has fallen silent) without ripping it off entirely -- the group will actually set forth from Ched Nasad, pre-destruction, and from there I of course have no idea where it will go. Being that I've grown quite fond of Pharaun, I called dibs on the group's wizard.

I've figured out what I'm doing mechanically -- right now the character is a neutral evil drow Wizard 5/Shadow Adept 1/Shadowcrafter 2. And I've got some bits and pieces of his backstory worked out, but there are some holes (particularly at the beginning and end) that need to be filled.

At some point early on, I'd like him sent on some kind of suicide mission to the Lowerdark -- possibly by a sibling (a sister looking to get him out of the way because she's afraid he's manipulating the House's Matron Mother against her?). Of course, this begs the question of why he wasn't just murdered outright.

While wandering the Lowerdark, he runs across a demon exiled to the Material Plane (a quasit who will eventially become his familiar, per the Improved Familiar feat) and the two strike up a partnership. I'm thinking the quasit has a backstory, too -- maybe it used to be a higher order of demon until it ticked off a god/goddess (Shar? Might make sense if I say the quasit is what opened him up to the Shadow Weave Magic feat) and was "demoted" and exiled? The two work together and eventually he makes it back to Ched Nasad, whereupon his return has some unfortunate consequenses for whoever it was that set him up in the first place. However, the fact that he was belived dead might be a decent excuse to send him away again (maybe the Matron Mother of his House doesn't want to look like an idiot in front of the other Matron Mothers, and doesn't want them to find out she was tricked into belivieng he was dead), thus acting as a springboard for the campaign.

So basically, I've got the beginnings of a story I really like, but I need to work out some of the details. Any ideas?
Ouranos Harpy
03-27-05, 08:59 PM I love the War of the Spider Queen series, and I love Phaurun aswell. Just thought I'd get that out of the way. Ok, Althought I do think the sister of your character wanting to kill him is a bit cliche, we can build on it and flesh it out.

Ched Nassad has quite a few trading houses and while this is looked down upon by the ruling Matrons, it is seen as a necessity for the financial survival of your character's house. So under the secrecy of the dark and the shadows, the house trades various goods and services, without actually looking like common street vendors. This also adds to the reason why your Character specializes in shadow, because his house has an elite set of wizards that actually cater to the Matron Mother's needs.

But here's the catch, your matron Mother has been favouring your character over a priestess of Lolth, your sister. Hell bent on revenge, your sister must try to kill you without actually upsetting your matron Mother. Basically what she aranges is for you to travel to the lower dark to trade with a few aboleths/Duregar a special type of posinious plant that grows only in that region. Your matron Mother allows of it, hoping it will bring a lot of money. Even though your character tries to object, he is sent into the lower dark. Your sister, has hired several assasins; even dared to get some driders and one mind flayer after you.

You get the poisin and are on your way back, but you run into one of the Assasins. A drider who is being paid to kill you, but you through your guile and charm trick him into killing your sister. Basically, you tell the Drider to return home and tell her that he has killed you. Overjoyed she will pay the drider for his services, but only then the drider uses the extremly toxic poison (which you give it) to exact vengence upon her, why? 1. because she is a priestess of Lolth and 2. because she was the one who turned him into a Drider (except your sis is kinda dumb, so she didn't realize it).

The Drider does one thing, which you have no control over. After killing your Sister, he uses a scroll of Ploymorph (using the money he bought from the rest of the poison and the money your sister paid him) transforms himself into your sister (How gender-bendinly unusual and fun). He returns to the house and tells the Matron Mother about your unfortunate death. Upon your return, you are astonishe dto find your sis alive, but the drider take syou aside and tell you everything. Amused, on how the tables have turned, the drider promises an alliance within the house as long as he/she gets to kill the clergy of Lolth. You agree, and because your matron Mother commands of it are off on another journey, but are kept well informed by your new Drider-Sister.

*p.s, I think I really like this Drider he's/she's evil.. Muhahhaha*

Sorry, I don't think I can do justice to the Quasit part.. I'm not very familiar with the Shadow weave.
Morka
03-28-05, 09:48 PM At low level, I think it should be completely suicidal to send you alone in the Lowerdark, and thus not really believable: why a Matron Mother would send a male in an uncertain fate? If she is unpleased by him, she will sacrifice him (in case it would make Lolth answer her prayers).

So it's more likely that your character was member of a crew sent to deal with some annoying things (Goblins, Kobolds, Gnomes, etc.), as was your dear sister. In the middle of a battle, she pushes you in a deep hole, and everyone think you're dead. Or perhaps better, a big demon (I don't have suggestions for now, not too big but scary enough) comes and attack everyone, drows and goblins alike. In the confusion, you are separated from the rest of the group. And then, you meet the Quasit.
Ouranos Harpy
03-28-05, 10:49 PM I don't know, I think the idea that a matron Mother will send a "male" down to the lower dark is perfectly expectable. These are Drow we're talking about, they are chaotic creatures who really don't care about others as long as thier needs are met. In this scenario the Matron Doesn't care about the character because he is fullfilling her need; getting the toxin.

It could also very well be an early test, to see if he is worth his salt. A test to the lower dark, and he might be accepted into the family shadow craft wizardry. Plus, we also have the sister manipulating the matron Mother to send the character on his journey. And above all, her character is a male, and males especially at low levels are expendable. If he gets the posion, he rises in her eyes, if he doesn't "oh well" a drow version of; C'est la vie.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Galstaf, Sorcerer of Lite 03-27-05, 08:11 PM	So, I'll be playing in a new campaign soon, and since the entire group recently got really into the War of the Spider Queen novels, we've decided it would be fun to run something along those lines. Basically, we'll be doing something that parallels the basic idea of the book series (a small group of drow investigating why Lolth has fallen silent) without ripping it off entirely -- the group will actually set forth from Ched Nasad, pre-destruction, and from there I of course have no idea where it will go. Being that I've grown quite fond of Pharaun, I called dibs on the group's wizard. I've figured out what I'm doing mechanically -- right now the character is a neutral evil drow Wizard 5/Shadow Adept 1/Shadowcrafter 2. And I've got some bits and pieces of his backstory worked out, but there are some holes (particularly at the beginning and end) that need to be filled. At some point early on, I'd like him sent on some kind of suicide mission to the Lowerdark -- possibly by a sibling (a sister looking to get him out of the way because she's afraid he's manipulating the House's Matron Mother against her?). Of course, this begs the question of why he wasn't just murdered outright. While wandering the Lowerdark, he runs across a demon exiled to the Material Plane (a quasit who will eventially become his familiar, per the Improved Familiar feat) and the two strike up a partnership. I'm thinking the quasit has a backstory, too -- maybe it used to be a higher order of demon until it ticked off a god/goddess (Shar? Might make sense if I say the quasit is what opened him up to the Shadow Weave Magic feat) and was "demoted" and exiled? The two work together and eventually he makes it back to Ched Nasad, whereupon his return has some unfortunate consequenses for whoever it was that set him up in the first place. However, the fact that he was belived dead might be a decent excuse to send him away again (maybe the Matron Mother of his House doesn't want to look like an idiot in front of the other Matron Mothers, and doesn't want them to find out she was tricked into belivieng he was dead), thus acting as a springboard for the campaign. So basically, I've got the beginnings of a story I really like, but I need to work out some of the details. Any ideas?
Ouranos Harpy 03-27-05, 08:59 PM	I love the War of the Spider Queen series, and I love Phaurun aswell. Just thought I'd get that out of the way. Ok, Althought I do think the sister of your character wanting to kill him is a bit cliche, we can build on it and flesh it out. Ched Nassad has quite a few trading houses and while this is looked down upon by the ruling Matrons, it is seen as a necessity for the financial survival of your character's house. So under the secrecy of the dark and the shadows, the house trades various goods and services, without actually looking like common street vendors. This also adds to the reason why your Character specializes in shadow, because his house has an elite set of wizards that actually cater to the Matron Mother's needs. But here's the catch, your matron Mother has been favouring your character over a priestess of Lolth, your sister. Hell bent on revenge, your sister must try to kill you without actually upsetting your matron Mother. Basically what she aranges is for you to travel to the lower dark to trade with a few aboleths/Duregar a special type of posinious plant that grows only in that region. Your matron Mother allows of it, hoping it will bring a lot of money. Even though your character tries to object, he is sent into the lower dark. Your sister, has hired several assasins; even dared to get some driders and one mind flayer after you. You get the poisin and are on your way back, but you run into one of the Assasins. A drider who is being paid to kill you, but you through your guile and charm trick him into killing your sister. Basically, you tell the Drider to return home and tell her that he has killed you. Overjoyed she will pay the drider for his services, but only then the drider uses the extremly toxic poison (which you give it) to exact vengence upon her, why? 1. because she is a priestess of Lolth and 2. because she was the one who turned him into a Drider (except your sis is kinda dumb, so she didn't realize it). The Drider does one thing, which you have no control over. After killing your Sister, he uses a scroll of Ploymorph (using the money he bought from the rest of the poison and the money your sister paid him) transforms himself into your sister (How gender-bendinly unusual and fun). He returns to the house and tells the Matron Mother about your unfortunate death. Upon your return, you are astonishe dto find your sis alive, but the drider take syou aside and tell you everything. Amused, on how the tables have turned, the drider promises an alliance within the house as long as he/she gets to kill the clergy of Lolth. You agree, and because your matron Mother commands of it are off on another journey, but are kept well informed by your new Drider-Sister. p.s, I think I really like this Drider he's/she's evil.. Muhahhaha Sorry, I don't think I can do justice to the Quasit part.. I'm not very familiar with the Shadow weave.
Morka 03-28-05, 09:48 PM	At low level, I think it should be completely suicidal to send you alone in the Lowerdark, and thus not really believable: why a Matron Mother would send a male in an uncertain fate? If she is unpleased by him, she will sacrifice him (in case it would make Lolth answer her prayers). So it's more likely that your character was member of a crew sent to deal with some annoying things (Goblins, Kobolds, Gnomes, etc.), as was your dear sister. In the middle of a battle, she pushes you in a deep hole, and everyone think you're dead. Or perhaps better, a big demon (I don't have suggestions for now, not too big but scary enough) comes and attack everyone, drows and goblins alike. In the confusion, you are separated from the rest of the group. And then, you meet the Quasit.
Ouranos Harpy 03-28-05, 10:49 PM	I don't know, I think the idea that a matron Mother will send a "male" down to the lower dark is perfectly expectable. These are Drow we're talking about, they are chaotic creatures who really don't care about others as long as thier needs are met. In this scenario the Matron Doesn't care about the character because he is fullfilling her need; getting the toxin. It could also very well be an early test, to see if he is worth his salt. A test to the lower dark, and he might be accepted into the family shadow craft wizardry. Plus, we also have the sister manipulating the matron Mother to send the character on his journey. And above all, her character is a male, and males especially at low levels are expendable. If he gets the posion, he rises in her eyes, if he doesn't "oh well" a drow version of; C'est la vie.