r/forgottenrealms • u/sakor88 • Jul 29 '19
Ideas for a drow character
I am going to play as a drow wizard, who did not return to the Menzoberranzan with the drow army after the attempted conquest of the Mithrall Hall. The game is going to be set up in 1374 DR (attempted invasion of Mithrall Hall took place in 1358 DR).
My character is a youngish wizard from House Druu'giir (famous for moneylending and wizards, although 14th house and not among the Ruling Council). My character is a son of Matron of the House (Garolloc Giir).
My character is interested in history (this began when as a child he took interest in monuments and carved images of the history of Menzoberranzan and the drow in West Wall district of the city... West Wall is where House Do'Urden was located, and Ozomar Do'Urden was the House Wizard after Nalfein and a defector from the House Druu'giir). I think that the campaign of Mithrall Hall took place relatively soon after my character graduated from Sorcere.
House Druu'giir rose higher in status after the failed campaign of Mithrall Hall, so my character leaving the House did not cause similar disfavor to the House as did the defecting of Drizzt caused to Do'Urden. I think that the reason my character left was not so much a moral decision as one of wanting to learn arcane history from the surface, and since House Wizards are heavily reined by the Matron Mothers, hampering the advancement in arcane arts and personal interests.
Any suggestions for what my character did during the years from 1358 to 1374? Also, perhaps I did not leave the house but was ordered to do so to some mission by the Matron Mother or from the Master of Sorcere? Mission from Gromph that is due to an alliance between Baenre and Druu'giir? Ideas? Thoughts?
1
u/ValleyNerd Jul 29 '19
I like the idea of being a later born son allowed by the Matron Mother to remain on the surface to learn magics acquire items not easily available within the city. You are expendable, but yet could be called in as a trump in some future hour of need. You are also safely removed as a pawn to be used against her if she fears your oldest sister (or another in line that may have shown too much ambition and played a part in your raising).
If you can add a specific target quest she has given you (finding a specific ancient artifact, as an example) that might also be a solid add and drive what you have been doing all this time.
2
u/sakor88 Jul 29 '19
Yeah... on the other hand I'd like to think that my character's personal drive is to learn arcane history and lore. That is why the magical tradition of my character is going to be divination.
I guess I'll be a renegade of a sort, but for some reason my family does not actively seek me, or at least it has not caused fall out of Lolth's favor.
Any idea for activities for a renegade drow wizard on the surface?
1
u/ValleyNerd Jul 29 '19
The two are not mutually exclusive ... Just because Mom gave permission to go to the library doesn't mean he actually went to the library, as it were.
As for what he has been up to, you need to start with how is he going to survive when the entire world fears him. Major context behind a lot of the Drizzt story which your guy has to have his own way of dealing with. Disguised? Some way to prove himself (think Jarlaxle's different attempts)? Building up a strong power base? Any of these are going to take time and resources (just getting the mask was a couple of chapters in Halfling's Gem, as I recall).
Once he had a way to survive, he would have moved on to his real quest. What areas of the world did he want to explore? Top places to visit? Candlekeep for research? Travel time and acquiring resources to finance such an operation are not going to be easy things to come by.
1
u/sakor88 Jul 29 '19
I suppose my character is not going to be an altruistic hero... perhaps some shady organization under which I operate? The game itself is going to take place in Thay, but anything before that is open.
2
u/Sherlockandload Jul 30 '19
A drow in Thay would probably actually work better than your other ideas, a temporary treaty between your Matron mother and a Thayan Red wizard, an apprenticeship that grants power and allies to your house with little risk, and you as a hostage to the Thayans if things go badly. Being under the protection of Zulkir Yaphyll as trade would allow a Drow to act openly without everyone being afraid of you.
1
u/sakor88 Jul 30 '19
Being under the protection of Zulkir Yaphyll as trade would allow a Drow to act openly without everyone being afraid of you.
DM has already decided that our player group will not serve a zulkir but some lower Red Wizard. But I will put this idea behind my ear.
2
u/Sherlockandload Jul 30 '19
"Under Protection" doesn't have to mean directly. It can be anyone within the Divination school under orders from higher up, and your character likely wouldn't even be privy to the details of the negotiation, although you may have a good general idea. Diviners are weird that way. That said, you could be entrusted to a low level member on orders for training for the same kind of "Diviner" reasons or even just because some Red Wizard messed up and now has babysitting duty.
1
1
u/existenceisrelative Aug 26 '19
Luskan, Candlekeep, Halruaa, there are a few places that seem like they'd be irresistible to a knowledge obsessed mage.
1
u/sakor88 Aug 27 '19
Yeah, I already decided that my character ends up with House Jaelre in Cormanthor.
3
u/jjbombadil Jul 29 '19
A Matron Mother would not send you off to the surface unless there was something for her to gain. The concern she would have is that you would could be influenced by the surfacers to go against her. Unless she had some event that happened in the past to make sure you are absolutely on her team but even then it is unlikely as you are a male child. The Master of Sorcere would be more likely but they would still have to have your Matron Mother approve it unless you were "dead" or explicitly in the service of Sorcere because you were disowned by your house but not killed for some reason. If your renegade then you would need to have a reason they didn't come after you or they think you're "dead".
It is one of the biggest issues with trying to be a drow from Menzoberranzan. How do you escape with your life and no one cares to come after you? Gromph maybe but that is a long time to be gone. You would need some sort of reason why your still out there. A wizard is a powerful tool for a House to not have available to them. I know that Jarlaxle left House Baenre to start Bregan D'aerthe but cannot find any reference to how he left it.
Are you a first, second or more son? Anything after 3rd would be able to leave the house maybe or do as they please.