Questions on Drow Back Stories [Archive] - Wizards Community

Questions on Drow Back Stories [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Nightlore
12-10-03, 02:53 PM I did a search of the forum and didn't come up with anything really helpful, so I apologize if this has or is being discussed somewhere else.

I am considering rolling up a drow rogue of some sort for my group's next FR campaign.

My question to you, the experienced, is: have any of you ever played a drow in a campaign before? If so, what kind of background story did you come up with to justify his being on the surface? Was he good? Evil? What deity did he follow? How did your DM handle him? Was he ostracized all the time? Thought to be Drizzit Do'Urden by everyone who saw him?

Any hints or ideas along these lines would be useful. If this discussion has been going on elsewhere, please direct me in the appropriate direction... Thanks all!
BenjCano
12-10-03, 08:05 PM I once played a hulking 6'2, 300 lbs. Drow barbarian whose weapon of choice was a beat'um stick (greatclub). He was Chaotic Neutral, uncouth, quarrellous, mean-spirited and spiteful. And yet all it took to restrain him was a female of any species commanding him around in an authoritative tone, and he would heel like a puppy.

He was on the surface because he was a personal bodyguard/chew toy of a preistess, who tired of him and sold him into slavery to the mind flayers. He was a gladitorial pit fighter until he a group of adventurers raided the mind flayer (nest? colony?) and freed him. He tagged around with them in gratitude/out of boredom, and raised some holy hell.
badmojo
12-12-03, 05:04 PM My fav Drow character was a male rogue who was on the surface.
He used the 'good drow' act to gain peoples trust but in reality he was just as evil as the rest of them.
He didn't stand for any of the political junk from the Underdark and liked thought that with everyone trying to cause a rucus it wasn't as fun. So one day he trekked up to the surface and began hearing stories about the good drow ranger who palled (sp?) around with a barbarian and a dwarf. Thinking he could use this as an advantage he did.
Right now I'm thinking of having him get tossed into D20 modern.
Nightlore
12-13-03, 01:47 PM I really like the story of the gladitorial fighter freed by adventurers, BenjCano. That sounds real interesting, as well as the whole concept of the character, easily cowed by any female. Lets hope there was at least one female in your party!

Badmojo, yeah, I would think that any evil drow rogue on the surface would want to play off the whole concept of "good drow on the surface" that was started by the guy who treks around with a dwarf and a barbarian. If he can convince people that he is likewise trustworthy and not a bad guy, he could stand to make a huge profit...
FireHeart
12-13-03, 11:16 PM Originally posted by Nightlore
My question to you, the experienced, is: have any of you ever played a drow in a campaign before? If so, what kind of background story did you come up with to justify his being on the surface? Was he good? Evil? What deity did he follow? How did your DM handle him? Was he ostracized all the time? Thought to be Drizzit Do'Urden by everyone who saw him?

Yes. Evandele Galonodel of House Azuviir was the youngest daughter a draw family who had been sent to the Cormanthor Forest by a higher family to help in the taking over. The matron mother was going to marry her to a young son of a higher family in the hopes of gaining some prestige to their house. Unfortunately, Evandele (or Del) knew the son to be a cruel and malicious bastard and didn't really want to marry him. She had always felt the cruelty of her family to be a bit unnecessary. She ran away and because she had already spent time in the forest, ran there first.

Del's Chaotic Good with the emphasis on Chaotic. She still has all the drow arrogance and considers herself superior to other elves in particular but does go out of the way to rescue others and right wrongs. She follows Elistrae (sp?). She was ostracized by most at the beginning, not let into towns and such. But eventually, she began traveling with a Cleric of Torm and that has made things easier. She's heard of Drizz't and would like to meet him at some point, if only to compare stories.

Hope that helps.
-Fireheart
Nightlore
12-15-03, 10:21 AM Fireheart, I also like that back story quite a bit. I am beginning to understand just how much the back story will weigh in the character's personality, and thus in how I play him/her.

I like the personality that you have for Del. She sounds like a fun character.
FireHeart
12-15-03, 11:42 AM Originally posted by Nightlore
Fireheart, I also like that back story quite a bit. I am beginning to understand just how much the back story will weigh in the character's personality, and thus in how I play him/her. I like the personality that you have for Del. She sounds like a fun character.

Thank you. To date, she has been one of my favorite characters to play.

If it helps, I've found that sometimes keeping a journal in character can go a long way in helping to get into that character. Del started keeping one when she became a cleric of Elistrae (mainly because the Cleric of Torm kept one so she thought she should too.) and it's really clear to see her attitude come through in the journal. Our DM says he always knows when the BBEG has reached Del's limits because it shows up in her journal. It's also a great way to keep track of what's happened.

As a drow, I try to play her haughty and arrogant yet at the same time she is willing to help others without thought of reward.

Hope that helps.

-Fireheart
Aenigma
12-15-03, 03:40 PM Well, my drow background is here: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=141626

At the end of my background story he's on the border between chaotic neutral and chaotic evil and he has no god (since Lolth cursed him), and he doesn't have knowledge of the existence of other deities, since in my belief the church of Lolth would not mention their existence anyway.

He's a to-play character and i've no idea how he'll perform.

A likely background for a non-good drow rogue would likely involve searching for some artifact hidden on the surface world or killing some important figure in the realms above to gain power and reputation among the drow because that's what's a drows life (a normal one) is about. He'll most likely follow Lolth, or maybe Vhaeraun, if he's a little bit less orthodox. However, by following Vhaeraun overtly, he would get hunted by followers of Lolth in most drow societies.

I don't think he should be good, most drow are selfish, haughty, arrogant, cunning backstabbers who would love nothing more than more power to themselves.

One more thing: commoners don't trust drow, which is the best thing to do anyway :D However, drow are not dumb and will not go and kill the entire village, or go killing without purpose (without gaining personal benefit). He should keep a low profile because when he's discovered the entire village will now within a day, which is bad when you are a rogue.

I hope this helps somewhat.

Aenigma
TinySilverChalice
12-15-03, 05:04 PM My favorite drow is Zarakin Ssrin'Dalen, CN cleric of Oghma.

She and her sister where students in the religious school in (I forget... that drow city in FR that just got destroyed). Zarakin was always too curious for her own good, too open with her words, always liked knowing everything and telling everyone what she knew. Anyway, they were discovered as they were sneaking around outside a city. The group who discovered them were made up for city guards and a priest of Oghma. They killed her sister and Zarakin thought it better to surender and live than die. The priest took her prisoner and milked her for knowledge of the drow.

She enjoyed every mintue of it. She loved disgusting him with tales of horror and evil. She made no sign to show regret in what acts she had done herself and was glad her sister was now dead. She showed him everything it meant to be drow and he soaked up every word she said. One day he said, "You must be Oghma's ideal of drow."

She took this to heart. If Oghma thought she was ideal, then he must be worthy of some respect. She took up learning all of Oghma's knowledge she could. She shared openly everything she knew about drow and did her best to show people what drow truly were.

There was one problem though. Drow were flawed in only one way: they spent all their time killing each other rather than uniting and overtaking all the world (which they could, of course, being smarted, faster, and more beautiful than any other race). She then decided she would be the perfect drow, as cunning, quick and ruthless as the rest, but smart enough not to waste energy and time killing allies or innocents.

Thus, Zarakin Ssrin'Dalen, CN cleric of Oghma, is my most philophically complex caharcter I got. To the demonweb pits with playing some forest-dancing goodie-goodie Ellistratee-lover, Zarakin's drow and proud!
iamtheholymolyman
12-15-03, 09:47 PM even though i have never played a drow character (more like never found a DM that would let me play one). two excellent examples of non evil drow include my favorite (im sorry for bringing in a character from a literature series but what can i say) drow of all time, Jarlaxle Baenre. He is an excellent example of a now or soon to be nuetral rogue drow character. Because in drow society a drow rogue is a drow with out a family. Also, Jarlaxle has journeyed and adventures in the surface (Servant of the Shard by R.A. Salvatore as well as a short story that is located in Best of the Realms ). Ok, now that i have talked about jarlaxle, there is also Zacknafien Du'orden, another Nuetral drow, how ever he never really made it out of the underdark. oh yah, and their is Drizzt, but Who Cares!.

I am sorry that i couldn't contribute anything really original but it is hard to ignore the classics of R.A. Salvatore. also i wasnt sure of the name, but their is a drow house, they are evil, but are considered rogues for their worship or Vheuron (i understand that i probably spelled that wrong but ow well.) and they live in the surface.

P.S!! Does anybody know if the rumors about R.A. Salvatore writing a Jarlaxle and Artemis Entreri series true? i heard if so, it would be after the hunter's blade trilogy

Thanks
-------------
Iamtheholymolyman AKA Quijin
Ceoilte
12-15-03, 10:42 PM Mine is posted here.

http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=84566

Shes a Drow in race and appearance only really. She got raised by non Drow (A Dwarven cleric of Tyr) and ended up a Paladin.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Nightlore 12-10-03, 02:53 PM	I did a search of the forum and didn't come up with anything really helpful, so I apologize if this has or is being discussed somewhere else. I am considering rolling up a drow rogue of some sort for my group's next FR campaign. My question to you, the experienced, is: have any of you ever played a drow in a campaign before? If so, what kind of background story did you come up with to justify his being on the surface? Was he good? Evil? What deity did he follow? How did your DM handle him? Was he ostracized all the time? Thought to be Drizzit Do'Urden by everyone who saw him? Any hints or ideas along these lines would be useful. If this discussion has been going on elsewhere, please direct me in the appropriate direction... Thanks all!
BenjCano 12-10-03, 08:05 PM	I once played a hulking 6'2, 300 lbs. Drow barbarian whose weapon of choice was a beat'um stick (greatclub). He was Chaotic Neutral, uncouth, quarrellous, mean-spirited and spiteful. And yet all it took to restrain him was a female of any species commanding him around in an authoritative tone, and he would heel like a puppy. He was on the surface because he was a personal bodyguard/chew toy of a preistess, who tired of him and sold him into slavery to the mind flayers. He was a gladitorial pit fighter until he a group of adventurers raided the mind flayer (nest? colony?) and freed him. He tagged around with them in gratitude/out of boredom, and raised some holy hell.
badmojo 12-12-03, 05:04 PM	My fav Drow character was a male rogue who was on the surface. He used the 'good drow' act to gain peoples trust but in reality he was just as evil as the rest of them. He didn't stand for any of the political junk from the Underdark and liked thought that with everyone trying to cause a rucus it wasn't as fun. So one day he trekked up to the surface and began hearing stories about the good drow ranger who palled (sp?) around with a barbarian and a dwarf. Thinking he could use this as an advantage he did. Right now I'm thinking of having him get tossed into D20 modern.
Nightlore 12-13-03, 01:47 PM	I really like the story of the gladitorial fighter freed by adventurers, BenjCano. That sounds real interesting, as well as the whole concept of the character, easily cowed by any female. Lets hope there was at least one female in your party! Badmojo, yeah, I would think that any evil drow rogue on the surface would want to play off the whole concept of "good drow on the surface" that was started by the guy who treks around with a dwarf and a barbarian. If he can convince people that he is likewise trustworthy and not a bad guy, he could stand to make a huge profit...
FireHeart 12-13-03, 11:16 PM	Originally posted by Nightlore My question to you, the experienced, is: have any of you ever played a drow in a campaign before? If so, what kind of background story did you come up with to justify his being on the surface? Was he good? Evil? What deity did he follow? How did your DM handle him? Was he ostracized all the time? Thought to be Drizzit Do'Urden by everyone who saw him? Yes. Evandele Galonodel of House Azuviir was the youngest daughter a draw family who had been sent to the Cormanthor Forest by a higher family to help in the taking over. The matron mother was going to marry her to a young son of a higher family in the hopes of gaining some prestige to their house. Unfortunately, Evandele (or Del) knew the son to be a cruel and malicious bastard and didn't really want to marry him. She had always felt the cruelty of her family to be a bit unnecessary. She ran away and because she had already spent time in the forest, ran there first. Del's Chaotic Good with the emphasis on Chaotic. She still has all the drow arrogance and considers herself superior to other elves in particular but does go out of the way to rescue others and right wrongs. She follows Elistrae (sp?). She was ostracized by most at the beginning, not let into towns and such. But eventually, she began traveling with a Cleric of Torm and that has made things easier. She's heard of Drizz't and would like to meet him at some point, if only to compare stories. Hope that helps. -Fireheart
Nightlore 12-15-03, 10:21 AM	Fireheart, I also like that back story quite a bit. I am beginning to understand just how much the back story will weigh in the character's personality, and thus in how I play him/her. I like the personality that you have for Del. She sounds like a fun character.
FireHeart 12-15-03, 11:42 AM	Originally posted by Nightlore Fireheart, I also like that back story quite a bit. I am beginning to understand just how much the back story will weigh in the character's personality, and thus in how I play him/her. I like the personality that you have for Del. She sounds like a fun character. Thank you. To date, she has been one of my favorite characters to play. If it helps, I've found that sometimes keeping a journal in character can go a long way in helping to get into that character. Del started keeping one when she became a cleric of Elistrae (mainly because the Cleric of Torm kept one so she thought she should too.) and it's really clear to see her attitude come through in the journal. Our DM says he always knows when the BBEG has reached Del's limits because it shows up in her journal. It's also a great way to keep track of what's happened. As a drow, I try to play her haughty and arrogant yet at the same time she is willing to help others without thought of reward. Hope that helps. -Fireheart
Aenigma 12-15-03, 03:40 PM	Well, my drow background is here: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=141626 At the end of my background story he's on the border between chaotic neutral and chaotic evil and he has no god (since Lolth cursed him), and he doesn't have knowledge of the existence of other deities, since in my belief the church of Lolth would not mention their existence anyway. He's a to-play character and i've no idea how he'll perform. A likely background for a non-good drow rogue would likely involve searching for some artifact hidden on the surface world or killing some important figure in the realms above to gain power and reputation among the drow because that's what's a drows life (a normal one) is about. He'll most likely follow Lolth, or maybe Vhaeraun, if he's a little bit less orthodox. However, by following Vhaeraun overtly, he would get hunted by followers of Lolth in most drow societies. I don't think he should be good, most drow are selfish, haughty, arrogant, cunning backstabbers who would love nothing more than more power to themselves. One more thing: commoners don't trust drow, which is the best thing to do anyway :D However, drow are not dumb and will not go and kill the entire village, or go killing without purpose (without gaining personal benefit). He should keep a low profile because when he's discovered the entire village will now within a day, which is bad when you are a rogue. I hope this helps somewhat. Aenigma
TinySilverChalice 12-15-03, 05:04 PM	My favorite drow is Zarakin Ssrin'Dalen, CN cleric of Oghma. She and her sister where students in the religious school in (I forget... that drow city in FR that just got destroyed). Zarakin was always too curious for her own good, too open with her words, always liked knowing everything and telling everyone what she knew. Anyway, they were discovered as they were sneaking around outside a city. The group who discovered them were made up for city guards and a priest of Oghma. They killed her sister and Zarakin thought it better to surender and live than die. The priest took her prisoner and milked her for knowledge of the drow. She enjoyed every mintue of it. She loved disgusting him with tales of horror and evil. She made no sign to show regret in what acts she had done herself and was glad her sister was now dead. She showed him everything it meant to be drow and he soaked up every word she said. One day he said, "You must be Oghma's ideal of drow." She took this to heart. If Oghma thought she was ideal, then he must be worthy of some respect. She took up learning all of Oghma's knowledge she could. She shared openly everything she knew about drow and did her best to show people what drow truly were. There was one problem though. Drow were flawed in only one way: they spent all their time killing each other rather than uniting and overtaking all the world (which they could, of course, being smarted, faster, and more beautiful than any other race). She then decided she would be the perfect drow, as cunning, quick and ruthless as the rest, but smart enough not to waste energy and time killing allies or innocents. Thus, Zarakin Ssrin'Dalen, CN cleric of Oghma, is my most philophically complex caharcter I got. To the demonweb pits with playing some forest-dancing goodie-goodie Ellistratee-lover, Zarakin's drow and proud!
iamtheholymolyman 12-15-03, 09:47 PM	even though i have never played a drow character (more like never found a DM that would let me play one). two excellent examples of non evil drow include my favorite (im sorry for bringing in a character from a literature series but what can i say) drow of all time, Jarlaxle Baenre. He is an excellent example of a now or soon to be nuetral rogue drow character. Because in drow society a drow rogue is a drow with out a family. Also, Jarlaxle has journeyed and adventures in the surface (Servant of the Shard by R.A. Salvatore as well as a short story that is located in Best of the Realms ). Ok, now that i have talked about jarlaxle, there is also Zacknafien Du'orden, another Nuetral drow, how ever he never really made it out of the underdark. oh yah, and their is Drizzt, but Who Cares!. I am sorry that i couldn't contribute anything really original but it is hard to ignore the classics of R.A. Salvatore. also i wasnt sure of the name, but their is a drow house, they are evil, but are considered rogues for their worship or Vheuron (i understand that i probably spelled that wrong but ow well.) and they live in the surface. P.S!! Does anybody know if the rumors about R.A. Salvatore writing a Jarlaxle and Artemis Entreri series true? i heard if so, it would be after the hunter's blade trilogy Thanks ------------- Iamtheholymolyman AKA Quijin
Ceoilte 12-15-03, 10:42 PM	Mine is posted here. http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=84566 Shes a Drow in race and appearance only really. She got raised by non Drow (A Dwarven cleric of Tyr) and ended up a Paladin.