Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Gonf 05-07-07, 06:10 PM	I'm joining an all Drow campaign and I'm working on a character build. However I'm having trouble determining the personality, history and drive. Essentially my char is supposed to be a Drow noble adventuring in the Underdark with some fellow nobles. The group is not going to be good aligned. What I know so far is that my character is a female Drow 'noble', and a Psychic Warrior. This alone make her an oddity in a culture that favors Clerics over any other form of training. I'm not sure how to explain how she developed her rather unique powers. Or even why she would be a 'common warrior' rather then an exalted priestess. I figure that developing her history to match her class will reveal her personality and drive in the process. Therefor I'm trying to figure that out first. So if anyone could give me some ideas for her history I would appreciate it. (Note: I have read most of R.A. Salvatore's books but Psionics were mostly ignored thusly not being very helpful.)
Ensjak 05-07-07, 08:29 PM	I don't remember which book I am thinking about. I thought it was a Salvatore novel, but there is a psionic house in Menzoberranzan that plays a role in the novel. You might want to check it out or ask around. If I had the novels with me I'd tell you exactly which book, but unfortunately I do not have access to them. I'd say you could take a page from that book (excuse the pun) and just explain your situation as coming from a psionic house of Drow. I know you said that your character is a noble, but perhaps she could be a battle captive like Danifae in War of the Spider Queen. Another possibility is that she started off as a common soldier. She developed her psionic powers on her own or perhaps she knew a psionic duergar who she coerced into training her. After displaying her unique powers, she was adopted by the noble House she served due to her skills. A house might due this to help strengthen the house's position similar to how it might adopt nobles of conquered houses.
boggler65 05-08-07, 04:51 PM	Even within the realms not all drow exist within a strict matriarchal society which adheres to a rigid worship of lloth. There are other drow gods, other drow cities. Try starting out with that and working from there, free yourself slightly from the norm and you'll create a more believable character. As for being in an adventuring party... thinking about it there are two possible reasons that I could see. 1. There is some tangible reward awaiting her, a powerful artifact that she wants to get to, a foe she wants to defeat, something valuable. Whatever. 2. Another possibility is that she's there because she has to be, even among Drow nobles there is always someone who's got more power and can bully you around. Maybe a higher ranking noble, perhaps even within her own family, or someone who holds some power over her told her to go. Lastly, just some advice, if you're having trouble developing a clear personality, and a clear history for this character then perhaps you need to go with a different concept. I know it's nice to do things like this, but when you can't figure out where the character came from and what makes the character unique it's time to go back to what you know. Perhaps lower her station in life, have you considered just how the character being a noble is going to affect game play? She will begin at level one with considereable resources and connections. She literally could command a small army. Even if she has been forced to adventure, why is she doing it without a serious retinue, the underdark is dangerous, even for groups of such creatures as drow or duergar. *edit* Ensjak, i believe the psion you're thinking of is Kimmuriel Oblodra, from Servant of the Shard. He's one of Jarlaxle's leiutenants. I could be mistaking the source of his powers though.
Ensjak 05-09-07, 12:30 AM	You're right Boggler. Obladra is the name. The house itself plays a role in another another Drizzt book of Salvatore's. The whole house, females included, are Psionic. I don't want to give away plot elements by saying what happens with House Obladra, but the psionic tradition extends beyond Kimmuriel and the Servant of the Shard novel.
Gonf 05-09-07, 07:14 PM	Hmm, I was just thinking about my DM, he's not fond of psionics and would probably not want to write a psionic house of Drow into his city. Also, a psychic warrior takes advantage of almost none of the drow's bonuses, I hadn't noticed this earlier... I was thinking though, maybe my character could be one of the first Drow to manifest psionic powers and as such is seen as a possible weapon against the other houses? As such, she would be a more powerful weapon if she were a psion rather then a PsyWar or just another cleric. Does this make sense?
ericSHINRA 05-10-07, 12:15 AM	While I cant comment on the the literary works of Salvatore, I dont see why a Psionic Drow would be a problem. I might be wrong but older edition Drow had basic Psionic abilties if I'm not mistake. Drizzt Do'Urden and his many copy-cats aside, do all Drow worship Lloth? But honestly, there isn't a single evil Drow left is there? They've all gone Chaotic Good in the hope of lifting the racial stereotype that has plagued their people for ages.