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The Drow Bloodling

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
nytsyn
Nov 28, 2008 19:40:03 Hey whats up guys. I am a new member to this forum and I have been playing/DMing in the Forgotten Realms for years. I am about to start DMing a group of relatives/friends and I was just loosely outlining certain events that would happen in the campaign and how they would all be related.

One of the things I came up with was the adventurers come across a small town shortly after the commencement of the game. Basically, this town desperately begs for the group to protect them from the annual drow ritual of "Bloodling", where a small group of novice drow spellcasters come to the surface to slay x number of surface dwellers to prove themselves worthy of being a Drow. Now, would anyone know if there was a certain time of year this would actually happen (in the sense of a graduation ceremony), or would it happen sporadically? I know I am the DM and its however I want it to happen, but I like to base my DMing a close to what has been set before me as possible because I love FR lore.

Thanks,
Nytsyn
#2
Therise
Nov 29, 2008 8:16:02 So far as I know, the "blooding" and the "running" (which are often combined events) are annual but don't usually have a set date. Often, it varies based on each drow community, and it also varies within that community so that suface-folk can't easily prepare. You could say that your surface town is basically terrorized within a window of three months or so, and the townspeople are becoming frantic given that this seems to happen "around the same time every year," but you'd be "safe" lore-wise in putting it at any time of year I think because the various drow communities vary on this.

For extra fun, you could also use this as a hook for a "returning villain" drow (or even a small group of drow) who essentially fall out of favor with their house for their failure to kill the PCs. Their matron exiles these drow until they can prove themselves against the PCs by eliminating them and bringing back evidence of some sort.
#3
nytsyn
Dec 01, 2008 15:13:54 Wow I really like the idea of the returning villain plot. Just a little obstacle they will have to pass every once in a while. I wouldn't want to make it too often though, so it doesn't become too redundant. Perhaps sporadic encounters of the same group of drow that might outnumber the group a little less than half (group of 3 PCs so about 5 drow, 6 initially where 1 gets killed in the initial Blooding). Eventually the adventurers will learn that the drow they have faced have been terrorizing the small communities the heroes have passed in the name of following the trail. Of course, anything can happen that might throw this story completely off (PC related actions), but it serves for good planning.

Anyone else have any other ideas?
#4
lord_karsus
Dec 02, 2008 23:24:20 -If you have it, DRAGON Magazine Issue...298(?) was extreme Drow-centric, and had a lot of good information in it.
#5
zanan
Dec 03, 2008 3:16:49
-If you have it, DRAGON Magazine Issue...298(?) was extreme Drow-centric, and had a lot of good information in it.

Of all publications on 3,xE drow, this is the last one I'd put forward, for a) it is written with solely Greyhawkian drow in mind and b ) much of it is utter garbage, IMHO. The PrC are good though.

As for the topic at hand, sporadic raids on the surface could be commited by academies (as suggested) or houses (training of their warriors and spellcasters) or settlements hunting for magic and slaves. To the surfacer, this might all be the same, of course. So some of the raids might be annually (spellcaster training) while others might be very sporadic ... which leaves a hectic calender for the surfacers. AFAIK, drow do not care about any specific time of the year, be it winter or spring or summer ... as long as it is dark.
#6
lord_karsus
Dec 03, 2008 10:26:54 -I don't utilize only Forgotten Realms source material in my setting, so I've used a great deal of information presented within (mostly the things concerning events, trends and behavioral patterns).
#7
rinonalyrna_fathomlin
Dec 03, 2008 11:54:49
Of all publications on 3,xE drow, this is the last one I'd put forward, for a) it is written with solely Greyhawkian drow in mind and b ) much of it is utter garbage, IMHO. The PrC are good though.

Is that the issue that states drow always conceive twins, and one twin kills the other in the womb?
#8
faraer
Dec 03, 2008 12:07:33 This is just like old times!

You're referring to one particular article in that issue. It's by Robin Laws, who's one of the few unequivocal geniuses in roleplaying, and it does not describe the drow of the World of Greyhawk or any other established setting.
#9
rinonalyrna_fathomlin
Dec 03, 2008 12:12:16
This is just like old times!

I'm glad.

By the way, I've never read any part of the issue in question, it's just that I hear the "drow fetuses kill each other" idea pop up on messageboards every now and then.
#10
zanan
Dec 04, 2008 10:53:42
Is that the issue that states drow always conceive twins, and one twin kills the other in the womb?

The very one. And it is not just this article. "People" walked (i.e. squashed) over spiders by their hundreds in drow cities, a dozen or so rituals had to by bypassed by any decent enough drow priestess ere she became someone of power - and quite difficult (if not to say ridiculous) tests at that. Failure meant being turned into some sort of creatures of the Lord of Madness - variety with the drider being the least of the testees worries. Well that sort of stuff. The twin-siblings killing each other off in the mother's womb who in turn had a very pleasant "euphoric sensation" at that time was just the icing on the cake.
#11
rinonalyrna_fathomlin
Dec 05, 2008 10:33:35
The twin-siblings killing each other off in the mother's womb who in turn had a very pleasant "euphoric sensation" at that time was just the icing on the cake.

Not to mention creepy...
#12
blackmasque
Dec 14, 2008 0:55:14 I loved that article. I used it for my own world but the entire magazine had useful stuff for me.
#13
Zireael
Dec 14, 2008 4:19:54 I've heard about it too. But as far as I know the twins are a rarity.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 nytsyn Nov 28, 2008 19:40:03	Hey whats up guys. I am a new member to this forum and I have been playing/DMing in the Forgotten Realms for years. I am about to start DMing a group of relatives/friends and I was just loosely outlining certain events that would happen in the campaign and how they would all be related. One of the things I came up with was the adventurers come across a small town shortly after the commencement of the game. Basically, this town desperately begs for the group to protect them from the annual drow ritual of "Bloodling", where a small group of novice drow spellcasters come to the surface to slay x number of surface dwellers to prove themselves worthy of being a Drow. Now, would anyone know if there was a certain time of year this would actually happen (in the sense of a graduation ceremony), or would it happen sporadically? I know I am the DM and its however I want it to happen, but I like to base my DMing a close to what has been set before me as possible because I love FR lore. Thanks, Nytsyn
#2 Therise Nov 29, 2008 8:16:02	So far as I know, the "blooding" and the "running" (which are often combined events) are annual but don't usually have a set date. Often, it varies based on each drow community, and it also varies within that community so that suface-folk can't easily prepare. You could say that your surface town is basically terrorized within a window of three months or so, and the townspeople are becoming frantic given that this seems to happen "around the same time every year," but you'd be "safe" lore-wise in putting it at any time of year I think because the various drow communities vary on this. For extra fun, you could also use this as a hook for a "returning villain" drow (or even a small group of drow) who essentially fall out of favor with their house for their failure to kill the PCs. Their matron exiles these drow until they can prove themselves against the PCs by eliminating them and bringing back evidence of some sort.
#3 nytsyn Dec 01, 2008 15:13:54	Wow I really like the idea of the returning villain plot. Just a little obstacle they will have to pass every once in a while. I wouldn't want to make it too often though, so it doesn't become too redundant. Perhaps sporadic encounters of the same group of drow that might outnumber the group a little less than half (group of 3 PCs so about 5 drow, 6 initially where 1 gets killed in the initial Blooding). Eventually the adventurers will learn that the drow they have faced have been terrorizing the small communities the heroes have passed in the name of following the trail. Of course, anything can happen that might throw this story completely off (PC related actions), but it serves for good planning. Anyone else have any other ideas?
#4 lord_karsus Dec 02, 2008 23:24:20	-If you have it, DRAGON Magazine Issue...298(?) was extreme Drow-centric, and had a lot of good information in it.
#5 zanan Dec 03, 2008 3:16:49	-If you have it, DRAGON Magazine Issue...298(?) was extreme Drow-centric, and had a lot of good information in it. Of all publications on 3,xE drow, this is the last one I'd put forward, for a) it is written with solely Greyhawkian drow in mind and b ) much of it is utter garbage, IMHO. The PrC are good though. As for the topic at hand, sporadic raids on the surface could be commited by academies (as suggested) or houses (training of their warriors and spellcasters) or settlements hunting for magic and slaves. To the surfacer, this might all be the same, of course. So some of the raids might be annually (spellcaster training) while others might be very sporadic ... which leaves a hectic calender for the surfacers. AFAIK, drow do not care about any specific time of the year, be it winter or spring or summer ... as long as it is dark.
#6 lord_karsus Dec 03, 2008 10:26:54	-I don't utilize only Forgotten Realms source material in my setting, so I've used a great deal of information presented within (mostly the things concerning events, trends and behavioral patterns).
#7 rinonalyrna_fathomlin Dec 03, 2008 11:54:49	Of all publications on 3,xE drow, this is the last one I'd put forward, for a) it is written with solely Greyhawkian drow in mind and b ) much of it is utter garbage, IMHO. The PrC are good though. Is that the issue that states drow always conceive twins, and one twin kills the other in the womb?
#8 faraer Dec 03, 2008 12:07:33	This is just like old times! You're referring to one particular article in that issue. It's by Robin Laws, who's one of the few unequivocal geniuses in roleplaying, and it does not describe the drow of the World of Greyhawk or any other established setting.
#9 rinonalyrna_fathomlin Dec 03, 2008 12:12:16	This is just like old times! I'm glad. By the way, I've never read any part of the issue in question, it's just that I hear the "drow fetuses kill each other" idea pop up on messageboards every now and then.
#10 zanan Dec 04, 2008 10:53:42	Is that the issue that states drow always conceive twins, and one twin kills the other in the womb? The very one. And it is not just this article. "People" walked (i.e. squashed) over spiders by their hundreds in drow cities, a dozen or so rituals had to by bypassed by any decent enough drow priestess ere she became someone of power - and quite difficult (if not to say ridiculous) tests at that. Failure meant being turned into some sort of creatures of the Lord of Madness - variety with the drider being the least of the testees worries. Well that sort of stuff. The twin-siblings killing each other off in the mother's womb who in turn had a very pleasant "euphoric sensation" at that time was just the icing on the cake.
#11 rinonalyrna_fathomlin Dec 05, 2008 10:33:35	The twin-siblings killing each other off in the mother's womb who in turn had a very pleasant "euphoric sensation" at that time was just the icing on the cake. Not to mention creepy...
#12 blackmasque Dec 14, 2008 0:55:14	I loved that article. I used it for my own world but the entire magazine had useful stuff for me.
#13 Zireael Dec 14, 2008 4:19:54	I've heard about it too. But as far as I know the twins are a rarity.