Umbragen [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Umbragen [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Shiftkitty
03-06-08, 12:58 AM I'll try a general post before I take the more direct route of PMing Hellcow.

I know there's info or something on the Umbragen in one of the issues of Dragon, but it's probably going to be awhile before I can get it. In the meantime, can anyone give me some insights? I've heard that they're worse than the drow found in FR's Underdark, but can anyone throw me bone, no matter whose or how bloody? What's their social structure like? How does it compare/contrast to that of the Underdark's elficidal little freaks?

Here's the set up. It's a drow campaign on Xen'drik, and the players, three drow and a warforged, are returning back to their settlement with a formerly kidnapped tribesmate and her precious ruby, a ruby that has endless sentimental value to her, but potentially world-shattering value to the Quori. Because they outfoxed my plans and never made it to Reidra, where they were supposed to learn that the ruby is more than just a present an old drow gave to his granddaughter upon her marriage, I have to find another way to send the message, so I've decided that maybe the Umbragen should have need of the ruby's power to tip the balance of their struggle in their favor. (Of course, the Quori will also still be looking for it.)

Two of the PC drow are originally from Menzoberranzan. They're "on assignment" from another campaign, and have become quite comfortable with the tribe after proving their worth to both the chieftess and the warchief. They're very defensive, especially when it comes to girls who don't whip them silly for just looking at them. To them, the Vulkoor-worshipping drow of the jungle are the only other drow they've ever met. The one native drow of the party knows of the existence of the Umbragen, but has never encountered them. The warforged is on a quest for things he can actually experience instead of being on the sidelines and telling everyone else stories about what he saw, rather that what he did. Hence, I'd like to have the party captured by the Umbragen. What can they expect?
Syltorian
03-06-08, 06:51 AM Note that apparently the Umbragen play some role in DDO which I do not play or no anything of value about. So the following is from memories and additional interpretations of the Dragon article. DDO may contradict me. In that case, I hope one of the guys here on the board who play it will point out my errors.

In the meantime, can anyone give me some insights? I've heard that they're worse than the drow found in FR's Underdark, but can anyone throw me bone, no matter whose or how bloody?

First, here is a quote from Keith Baker's Ask the Dreaming Dark

The Umbragen. The ancestors of these dark elves survived the fall of the giants by fleeing into the underdark of Khyber. There they found themselves battling aberrations and other horrors; casting about for a defense against these terrible foes, they forged a bond with a mysterious force of shadows. In contrast to the tribes of Vulkoor, the umbragen are a sophisticated culture with magic and metal-working skills on par with the smiths of the Five Nations. And like the sulatar, the full numbers of the umbragen are left to the DM; there mayonly be one community of these dark elves, or there could be a nation hidden in the underdark. The umbragen appear in Secrets of Xen'drik and the computer game Dragonshard, but the primary source is the article in Dragon 330.

Go here: http://www.bossythecow.com/askthedreamingdark82206.htm

Worse than the drow in FR? Not really. The Umbragen are not nice guys, but they do not kill each other (or anyone else) simply because their goddess demands it or even out of tradition or boredom. They are, as far as I am aware, quite cohesive and have little of the inter and intra house struggles you see in Faerun's Underdark. They are not elficidal. They probably haven't heard of the other elves except in their own legends; there is little they need to take vengeance for. Sacrifices and slavery also do not seem to be a major part of their culture. They have also been away from the surface for a long time; if you are also playing/DMing in FR, some comparisons may be drawn with the City of Shade, minus the arrogance and imperialism. For millennia, the Umbragen were happy to ignore everyone else.

Basically, the Umbragen are one of Eberron's greatest Drow civilisations. They have large cities in Khyber, where they fled from the cataclysm, and bonded with the Umbra. However, the Umbra that gives them their power comes with a price: it consumes their soul eventually. It is possible that they worship the Shadow, but in Eberron, that does not automatically make you a crazed homicide. Ties to the Umbra define much of their culture. You may get Shadow Mages (ToM), Teflammar Shadowlords (Unapproachable East), and possibly Escalation Mages (Faiths of Eberron). They have may have kept magical traditions the other Drow and Elves have forgotten about. Many of the Umbragen are warlocks and soulknives (using shadow instead of psionics).

And now they are back again. But not to conquer the surface out of sheer evil, nor to gain slaves or sacrifices. The Umbragen are fleeing. In Khyber, their cities are under attack, probably by the armies of the Daelkyr, and the Drow are loosing; what they need is help or a new home. Of course, they may be surprised that the surface is not as blasted as their legends tell them, which may have been why they did not come back earlier - but they seem to have done well in Khyber and not really needed anything else until the attack. However, now they do need to escape. Anyone who gets in the way can be killed; it's basic survival here. The alternative is to win the war in Khyber; in this case, the PCs could actually become their allies.

So regarding the Ruby... it would be a godsent. Considering that the Quori and the Daelkyr have a few things in common - both are extraplanar, both manipulate minds - it is quite possibly the artefact will work against both of these foes. The Umbragen are desperately in need of anything that could save them from the sieges they are suffering. Getting that Ruby by any means makes sense, as soon as they learn about it.

They're very defensive, especially when it comes to girls who don't whip them silly for just looking at them.

:D Other difference, then - the Umbragen, just like all other Eberron Drow, do not seem to be matriarchal, from what I know. Your PCs should like them.

Hence, I'd like to have the party captured by the Umbragen. What can they expect?

A much better fate than they would get at the hand of Menzoberranzyr (that is the name, isn't it?).

The Umbragen might have heard that the PCs are good fighters and heroes. Next to the Ruby, such a party could be very useful against the enemy. Use the carrot and the stick. If they help the Umbragen, they will offer great power (a bond to the Umbra, maybe, or some Giant-age artefacts, a place in their society, introduction into Shadow Magic from Tome of Magic, etc).

If the PCs refuse, the Umbragen will take that Ruby, and kill them. They may be able to draw magical energy from the innately magical drow to power a ritual that will drive back a Daelkyr attack, or they may threaten to animate the dead PCs with Qabalrin magic. Perhaps they can also raid Drow communities for such rituals and soldiers. But in general, the important thing to remember is that while the Umbragen deal with vile magic, they are not as evil as they are desperate and victims themselves. They need help, and perhaps some can even be redeemed. Play up their need to save their own culture, families and friends and civilians from the Daelkyr. Evil yes, but the PCs should be able to feel some sympathy for them.

EDIT: Oh. And I would recommend in the strongest terms getting the Dragon article. Paizo has Dragon 330 (http://paizo.com/store/magazines/dragon/issues/2005/v5748btpy7ydc)as a pdf for sale. It gives you much better info than what I could give above. And it has additional rules, substitution levels and feats that you may need, and that we cannot give you here because of copyright.
Hellcow
03-06-08, 12:44 PM What Syltorian has said is a good basic foundation, and I'd also advise you to get the Dragon PDF. However, I would like to clarify one point:

And now they are back again. But not to conquer the surface out of sheer evil, nor to gain slaves or sacrifices. The Umbragen are fleeing.
They aren't actually FLEEING to the surface, IE abandoning their cities in the Underdark and looking to settle the world above. It may come to that, but for now they are sending forces to the surface world in seach of weapons they can use against the forces of Khyber. They don't want to surrender their homes, but they are fighting a losing battle. Hence, on the surface PCs are most likely to encounter them searching for artifacts or other ancient magic from the Age of Giants.

As Syltorian has said, the Umbragen are very different from the FR drow. While they are a culture that leans towards evil alignments, this is based on their brutal struggle to survive; they are a society that believes that the ends justify the means and that will engage in any action to protect their own people. So they will not flinch at torture or murder... on the other hand, they don't glorify these things either. As they grow closer to the Umbra - surrendering their souls to this darkness - they become colder and even more ruthless. It's important to note that the players shouldn't expect any sort of "drow unity" here. In their view, the Umbragen aren't drow: they are Umbragen. Their bond to the Umbra affects them both physically and psychologically, and the other drow should find them to be slightly unnerving. It's not a question of worshipping a dark power - it's that they are physical vessels for it.

Beyond that, yes, the PDF is really the place for more information.
Shiftkitty
03-06-08, 04:04 PM Thanks, guys! I definitely will go for that PDF (although I prefer the printed page). With this info I should be able to start a foundation and stall for time for that issue of Dragon (gotta work out my entertainment budget, ya know!).

I do play up the differences between Xen'drik and the Underdark. It took the Menzo drow almost half a game to figure out why the girls would giggle whenever they would avert their eyes and call them 'mistress'. It wasn't until they were taken before the chieftess, where they appropriately knelt before her and bowed as low as they could that they heard her say "Ooh! I like this!" and the warchief growling "Don't get any ideas...". They started to think that things were a little odd at that point!
Telagaunt
03-12-08, 11:53 PM Yeah, I think everythings been said already. On their classes however, they were originally statted as Warlocks and Soulknifes. When Tome of Magic came out, I found myself liking the Shadowcaster class for them. It seemed to fit a lot, except for one problem: It excuses any psionic element to the Umbragen. So I suggest Shiftkitty, if you would like to explore a more psionic sense to the Umbragen, and a mix of the shadowy Umbra, you might find yourself liking the Shadow Mind PrC (which is basically the general D&D class of a psionic Shadow Adept from FR, but made to fit any D&D campaign). Here is the WotC web article for it: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20021025b
Hellcow
03-13-08, 01:09 AM Yeah, I think everythings been said already. On their classes however, they were originally statted as Warlocks and Soulknifes. When Tome of Magic came out, I found myself liking the Shadowcaster class for them.
I agree. If Tome of Magic had existed when I first created the Umbragen, I would have worked shadow magic into their culture... and I think it's appropriate to use it with them now.
Shiftkitty
03-13-08, 03:17 PM Thanks! I think I'll run with it! Of course, the players won't have anyway of knowing they're getting hit with psionics until their various protections from magical effects fail them completely...:devil:
Telagaunt
03-13-08, 04:25 PM It's ok Hellcow, you can always change it in an update :P

Though I was thinking myself, how do Umbragen react to/with the other drow and vice-versa?
Shiftkitty
03-13-08, 07:56 PM Yeah, REAL eager to hear this one! (I haven't ordered that issue yet. Gonna do it next week, I promise! I would not lie unto thee, Hellcow!:bow: )
Telagaunt
03-13-08, 11:17 PM Yeah it's a good spread in the magazine. It details Racial feats as well for Umbragen (which mimic some of the shade template abilities from FR), but overall after reading that and this thread, you should find exactly what you're looking for :D

Also on the feats though, some of the feats, or maybe I'm just thinking of one or two in particular, I dont remember the names, but one I know is a feat that you have to use in combination with a Warlock invocation. If you decide to use the Shadow Magic classes from Tome of Magic, and like to use some of these feats that may be Invocation-dependent (after reading the article), I would simply change the Warlock invocations into Shadowcaster mysteries (spells) you can use, and/or if you take a more psionic route, turn them into psionic powers. They're pretty simple, you shouldn't have any troubles. Oh and you probably already found it out, but just incase, the magazine is #330.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Shiftkitty 03-06-08, 12:58 AM	I'll try a general post before I take the more direct route of PMing Hellcow. I know there's info or something on the Umbragen in one of the issues of Dragon, but it's probably going to be awhile before I can get it. In the meantime, can anyone give me some insights? I've heard that they're worse than the drow found in FR's Underdark, but can anyone throw me bone, no matter whose or how bloody? What's their social structure like? How does it compare/contrast to that of the Underdark's elficidal little freaks? Here's the set up. It's a drow campaign on Xen'drik, and the players, three drow and a warforged, are returning back to their settlement with a formerly kidnapped tribesmate and her precious ruby, a ruby that has endless sentimental value to her, but potentially world-shattering value to the Quori. Because they outfoxed my plans and never made it to Reidra, where they were supposed to learn that the ruby is more than just a present an old drow gave to his granddaughter upon her marriage, I have to find another way to send the message, so I've decided that maybe the Umbragen should have need of the ruby's power to tip the balance of their struggle in their favor. (Of course, the Quori will also still be looking for it.) Two of the PC drow are originally from Menzoberranzan. They're "on assignment" from another campaign, and have become quite comfortable with the tribe after proving their worth to both the chieftess and the warchief. They're very defensive, especially when it comes to girls who don't whip them silly for just looking at them. To them, the Vulkoor-worshipping drow of the jungle are the only other drow they've ever met. The one native drow of the party knows of the existence of the Umbragen, but has never encountered them. The warforged is on a quest for things he can actually experience instead of being on the sidelines and telling everyone else stories about what he saw, rather that what he did. Hence, I'd like to have the party captured by the Umbragen. What can they expect?
Syltorian 03-06-08, 06:51 AM	Note that apparently the Umbragen play some role in DDO which I do not play or no anything of value about. So the following is from memories and additional interpretations of the Dragon article. DDO may contradict me. In that case, I hope one of the guys here on the board who play it will point out my errors. In the meantime, can anyone give me some insights? I've heard that they're worse than the drow found in FR's Underdark, but can anyone throw me bone, no matter whose or how bloody? First, here is a quote from Keith Baker's Ask the Dreaming Dark The Umbragen. The ancestors of these dark elves survived the fall of the giants by fleeing into the underdark of Khyber. There they found themselves battling aberrations and other horrors; casting about for a defense against these terrible foes, they forged a bond with a mysterious force of shadows. In contrast to the tribes of Vulkoor, the umbragen are a sophisticated culture with magic and metal-working skills on par with the smiths of the Five Nations. And like the sulatar, the full numbers of the umbragen are left to the DM; there mayonly be one community of these dark elves, or there could be a nation hidden in the underdark. The umbragen appear in Secrets of Xen'drik and the computer game Dragonshard, but the primary source is the article in Dragon 330. Go here: http://www.bossythecow.com/askthedreamingdark82206.htm Worse than the drow in FR? Not really. The Umbragen are not nice guys, but they do not kill each other (or anyone else) simply because their goddess demands it or even out of tradition or boredom. They are, as far as I am aware, quite cohesive and have little of the inter and intra house struggles you see in Faerun's Underdark. They are not elficidal. They probably haven't heard of the other elves except in their own legends; there is little they need to take vengeance for. Sacrifices and slavery also do not seem to be a major part of their culture. They have also been away from the surface for a long time; if you are also playing/DMing in FR, some comparisons may be drawn with the City of Shade, minus the arrogance and imperialism. For millennia, the Umbragen were happy to ignore everyone else. Basically, the Umbragen are one of Eberron's greatest Drow civilisations. They have large cities in Khyber, where they fled from the cataclysm, and bonded with the Umbra. However, the Umbra that gives them their power comes with a price: it consumes their soul eventually. It is possible that they worship the Shadow, but in Eberron, that does not automatically make you a crazed homicide. Ties to the Umbra define much of their culture. You may get Shadow Mages (ToM), Teflammar Shadowlords (Unapproachable East), and possibly Escalation Mages (Faiths of Eberron). They have may have kept magical traditions the other Drow and Elves have forgotten about. Many of the Umbragen are warlocks and soulknives (using shadow instead of psionics). And now they are back again. But not to conquer the surface out of sheer evil, nor to gain slaves or sacrifices. The Umbragen are fleeing. In Khyber, their cities are under attack, probably by the armies of the Daelkyr, and the Drow are loosing; what they need is help or a new home. Of course, they may be surprised that the surface is not as blasted as their legends tell them, which may have been why they did not come back earlier - but they seem to have done well in Khyber and not really needed anything else until the attack. However, now they do need to escape. Anyone who gets in the way can be killed; it's basic survival here. The alternative is to win the war in Khyber; in this case, the PCs could actually become their allies. So regarding the Ruby... it would be a godsent. Considering that the Quori and the Daelkyr have a few things in common - both are extraplanar, both manipulate minds - it is quite possibly the artefact will work against both of these foes. The Umbragen are desperately in need of anything that could save them from the sieges they are suffering. Getting that Ruby by any means makes sense, as soon as they learn about it. They're very defensive, especially when it comes to girls who don't whip them silly for just looking at them. :D Other difference, then - the Umbragen, just like all other Eberron Drow, do not seem to be matriarchal, from what I know. Your PCs should like them. Hence, I'd like to have the party captured by the Umbragen. What can they expect? A much better fate than they would get at the hand of Menzoberranzyr (that is the name, isn't it?). The Umbragen might have heard that the PCs are good fighters and heroes. Next to the Ruby, such a party could be very useful against the enemy. Use the carrot and the stick. If they help the Umbragen, they will offer great power (a bond to the Umbra, maybe, or some Giant-age artefacts, a place in their society, introduction into Shadow Magic from Tome of Magic, etc). If the PCs refuse, the Umbragen will take that Ruby, and kill them. They may be able to draw magical energy from the innately magical drow to power a ritual that will drive back a Daelkyr attack, or they may threaten to animate the dead PCs with Qabalrin magic. Perhaps they can also raid Drow communities for such rituals and soldiers. But in general, the important thing to remember is that while the Umbragen deal with vile magic, they are not as evil as they are desperate and victims themselves. They need help, and perhaps some can even be redeemed. Play up their need to save their own culture, families and friends and civilians from the Daelkyr. Evil yes, but the PCs should be able to feel some sympathy for them. EDIT: Oh. And I would recommend in the strongest terms getting the Dragon article. Paizo has Dragon 330 (http://paizo.com/store/magazines/dragon/issues/2005/v5748btpy7ydc)as a pdf for sale. It gives you much better info than what I could give above. And it has additional rules, substitution levels and feats that you may need, and that we cannot give you here because of copyright.
Hellcow 03-06-08, 12:44 PM	What Syltorian has said is a good basic foundation, and I'd also advise you to get the Dragon PDF. However, I would like to clarify one point: And now they are back again. But not to conquer the surface out of sheer evil, nor to gain slaves or sacrifices. The Umbragen are fleeing. They aren't actually FLEEING to the surface, IE abandoning their cities in the Underdark and looking to settle the world above. It may come to that, but for now they are sending forces to the surface world in seach of weapons they can use against the forces of Khyber. They don't want to surrender their homes, but they are fighting a losing battle. Hence, on the surface PCs are most likely to encounter them searching for artifacts or other ancient magic from the Age of Giants. As Syltorian has said, the Umbragen are very different from the FR drow. While they are a culture that leans towards evil alignments, this is based on their brutal struggle to survive; they are a society that believes that the ends justify the means and that will engage in any action to protect their own people. So they will not flinch at torture or murder... on the other hand, they don't glorify these things either. As they grow closer to the Umbra - surrendering their souls to this darkness - they become colder and even more ruthless. It's important to note that the players shouldn't expect any sort of "drow unity" here. In their view, the Umbragen aren't drow: they are Umbragen. Their bond to the Umbra affects them both physically and psychologically, and the other drow should find them to be slightly unnerving. It's not a question of worshipping a dark power - it's that they are physical vessels for it. Beyond that, yes, the PDF is really the place for more information.
Shiftkitty 03-06-08, 04:04 PM	Thanks, guys! I definitely will go for that PDF (although I prefer the printed page). With this info I should be able to start a foundation and stall for time for that issue of Dragon (gotta work out my entertainment budget, ya know!). I do play up the differences between Xen'drik and the Underdark. It took the Menzo drow almost half a game to figure out why the girls would giggle whenever they would avert their eyes and call them 'mistress'. It wasn't until they were taken before the chieftess, where they appropriately knelt before her and bowed as low as they could that they heard her say "Ooh! I like this!" and the warchief growling "Don't get any ideas...". They started to think that things were a little odd at that point!
Telagaunt 03-12-08, 11:53 PM	Yeah, I think everythings been said already. On their classes however, they were originally statted as Warlocks and Soulknifes. When Tome of Magic came out, I found myself liking the Shadowcaster class for them. It seemed to fit a lot, except for one problem: It excuses any psionic element to the Umbragen. So I suggest Shiftkitty, if you would like to explore a more psionic sense to the Umbragen, and a mix of the shadowy Umbra, you might find yourself liking the Shadow Mind PrC (which is basically the general D&D class of a psionic Shadow Adept from FR, but made to fit any D&D campaign). Here is the WotC web article for it: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20021025b
Hellcow 03-13-08, 01:09 AM	Yeah, I think everythings been said already. On their classes however, they were originally statted as Warlocks and Soulknifes. When Tome of Magic came out, I found myself liking the Shadowcaster class for them. I agree. If Tome of Magic had existed when I first created the Umbragen, I would have worked shadow magic into their culture... and I think it's appropriate to use it with them now.
Shiftkitty 03-13-08, 03:17 PM	Thanks! I think I'll run with it! Of course, the players won't have anyway of knowing they're getting hit with psionics until their various protections from magical effects fail them completely...:devil:
Telagaunt 03-13-08, 04:25 PM	It's ok Hellcow, you can always change it in an update :P Though I was thinking myself, how do Umbragen react to/with the other drow and vice-versa?
Shiftkitty 03-13-08, 07:56 PM	Yeah, REAL eager to hear this one! (I haven't ordered that issue yet. Gonna do it next week, I promise! I would not lie unto thee, Hellcow!:bow: )
Telagaunt 03-13-08, 11:17 PM	Yeah it's a good spread in the magazine. It details Racial feats as well for Umbragen (which mimic some of the shade template abilities from FR), but overall after reading that and this thread, you should find exactly what you're looking for :D Also on the feats though, some of the feats, or maybe I'm just thinking of one or two in particular, I dont remember the names, but one I know is a feat that you have to use in combination with a Warlock invocation. If you decide to use the Shadow Magic classes from Tome of Magic, and like to use some of these feats that may be Invocation-dependent (after reading the article), I would simply change the Warlock invocations into Shadowcaster mysteries (spells) you can use, and/or if you take a more psionic route, turn them into psionic powers. They're pretty simple, you shouldn't have any troubles. Oh and you probably already found it out, but just incase, the magazine is #330.