Character Themes: Fringes of Drow Society By Doug Hyatt Illustration by Craig J Spearing At first glance, the drow of Menzoberranzan might seem like a homogeneous populace of conniving, evil creatures united in fanatical devotion to the Spider Queen. But look a little deeper, and one might notice something different. A slender form clad in black leathers slips through the window of a noble house, whispering a quick prayer to a forbidden god as he draws a blade dripping with venom. In dark caverns beneath the city, a woman with feverish eyes cackles madly as she runs her fingers along slime-covered walls. In a secret chamber, a richly clad human requests a favor from a drow matriarch, and she is pleased to grant it. This article presents options for those who inhabit the fringes of drow society, including drow who have traded the worship of Lolth for a way of life that better fulfills their own needs. TM & © 2012 Wizards of the Coast LLC. All rights reserved. July 2012 | DRAGON 413 1 Fringes of Drow Society OOZE MASTER Sudden Slime Ooze Master Attack A sudden explosion of green slime covers your opponents in Few drow are mad enough to forsake the ways of CHARACTER THEMES corrosive acid. Lolth for Ghaunadaur, the elder evil that rules over Your character’s theme is a career, calling, or Encounter F Acid, Arcane, Evocation, Implement the disgusting filth of the world. Those who do might identity that describes who he or she is in the Minor Action Area burst 1 within 10 squares become lords of the slime-covered caverns of the world. Just as race and class create basic defini- Target: Each creature in the burst Underdark, and command oozes, jellies, puddings, tions about who your character is, theme adds Attack: Highest ability modifier vs. Fortitude and other aberrations to do their bidding. An ooze a third character component to help refine your Hit: Your highest ability modifier acid damage, and the target is slowed until the end of your next turn. master regularly forsakes the comforts of traditional story and identity. drow society to venture into the cold, wet, dark, and For information on using themes as part of abandoned places of the earth. There, an acolyte of character creation and rules for how to gain and Additional Features That Which Lurks can study the slimes of the Under- use theme powers and features, see “Heroes of dark, with only Ghaunadaur’s insane whispers to Nature and Lore,” the first article in this series, Level 5 Feature keep him or her company. When an ooze master from Dragon 399. You have spent a great deal of time researching oozes walks the halls of drow cities and settlements, he and slimes, as well as studying them in their natural or she strives to keep a low profile, because strange habitats. As such, you have become an expert at forag- mannerisms and a fascination with aberrant crea- ing and surviving deep beneath the earth, and you tures serve only to draw unwanted attention. Creating an Ooze Master have become adept at recognizing oozes, slimes, and An ooze master must fight constantly against Most ooze masters are wizards, psions, invokers, cler- other aberrations. whispers of madness that seek to consume the mind. ics, or others who have a bookish nature, a strong Benefit: When you make a Dungeoneering check, Ghaunadaur desires only to devour the world, and mind, and a penchant for magical study. An ooze you can roll twice and use either result. Ghaunadaur’s worshipers claim to hear his voice master is usually a disaffected drow, forced to hide inside their heads, urging them down a path of dark urges from the bulk of drow society. Sometimes, Level 10 Feature destruction. With arcane power gifted by the ancient however, Ghaunadaur seduces humans, tieflings, and god, an ooze master calls forth corrosive goo to scar Ghaunadaur blesses his chosen servants with pro- members of other races with whispered promises tection from oozes and slimes. Not only is your and maim opponents. An adherent that is lucky of power. enough to retain some semblance of sanity normally skin resistant to their acid, your own acid becomes exhibits only a few symptoms of Ghaunadaur’s mad- more potent. ness, but an episode of full-blown insanity can still Starting Feature Benefit: You gain acid resistance equal to 5 + one- strike at a moment’s notice. Ghaunadaur delights in the suffering of others, half your level. In addition, when you hit a creature Worship of Ghaunadaur is forbidden in Menzober- especially when scarring his enemies with acid. By with an acid attack, it grants combat advantage until ranzan. Even the maddest of acolytes knows better channeling arcane power, you can create an explo- the end of your next turn. than to invoke foul magic in the presence of Lolth’s sion of hideous green slime that sears your opponent’s servants. Traveling with an ooze master is dangerous; flesh and hinders movement. Optional Powers many of the Spider Queen’s agents have been trained Benefit: You gain the sudden slime power. As a worshiper of Ghaunadaur, you have an affinity to recognize the telltale signs of insanity. for oozes, slimes, and other abominations. Your magic can call forth toxic mucus from the dark places of the world in your time of need. July 2012 | DRAGON 413 2 Fringes of Drow Society Level 2 Utility Power Pudding Sight Ooze Master Utility 10 and does not hesitate to kill members of his or her Locked chests and barred doors do not hinder you. You gain the senses of a pudding and can detect the faintest race if the occasion demands it. You can secrete a highly acidic substance that cor- vibrations of your enemy’s movements. For those who follow the arduous and lonely road of the secret apostate, it is better to risk torture and rodes even the toughest of metals. Daily F Arcane Minor Action Personal death as a free drow than to endure an existence of Scouring Palm Ooze Master Utility 2 Effect: You gain tremorsense 10 until the end of the servitude. Let the weak-willed sheep bind themselves encounter. Your hands become coated in a caustic acid that eats through to the Spider Queen. A secret apostate lives a life whatever you touch. unfettered, or dies trying. Daily F Arcane SECRET APOSTATE Minor Action Personal Some Menzoberranzan drow yearn for a life free Creating a Secret Apostate Effect: Until the end of your next turn, you gain a +5 Secret apostates hide in every corner of drow society, power bonus to Thievery checks and to Strength from the tyranny of the Spider Queen. These apos- checks made to force open, break, or bend wood tate drow have renounced the teachings of Lolth and linked only by their renunciation of Lolth. Most have objects and metal objects. embraced a philosophy based on individuality and some weapon training: fighters, warlords, and rogues Sustain Minor: The bonus persists until the end of your free will. Existence for these secret apostates is dan- slightly outnumber bards, swordmages, and warlocks. next turn. gerous, because they live in constant fear of discovery Few secret apostates worship gods, so divine classes by Lolth’s many spies. If their true nature is discov- are rare, but those who do worship a deity favor the Level 6 Utility Power ered, they face certain torture and death. gods of the surface-dwellers. When time is of the essence, you summon a large, A secret apostate values freedom and choice, and Prerequisite: Drow. All secret apostates are drow slick patch of jelly that accelerates the movements each pursues personal goals independent of those who have turned against Lolth. of all who tread upon it. Imbued with arcane power, dictated by other members of drow society or its dark the ooze whisks its occupants across the battlefield at mistress. By no stretch of the imagination does this Starting Feature breakneck speed. imply most secret apostates are noble or good; they A secret apostate cherishes freedom and despises ser- remain just as selfish and avaricious as other drow. vitude. Through years of training and a formidable Celerity Jelly Ooze Master Utility 6 They believe that their aspirations and desires trump desire never to be shackled to another’s will, you can You smear the nearby ground with a slick jelly that acceler- those of an overbearing and controlling theocracy. cast off any chains that would seek to bind you. ates your party’s movements. After renouncing Lolth, a secret apostate usually Benefit: You gain the apostate’s freedom power. Encounter F Arcane, Zone travels one of two paths. Some develop such a strong Minor Action Close burst 2 hatred for their own society that they actively work Apostate’s Freedom Secret Apostate Attack Effect: The burst creates a zone that lasts until the end to undermine and destroy it. Specializing in elabo- of your next turn. The zone is difficult terrain for your You break free of the bonds that hold you and move swiftly to rate schemes and intrigues, such an apostate might punish your foe. enemies. When you or an ally starts his or her turn in foment a slave rebellion or create conflict between the zone, that character can move from one square in F two houses by assassinating a high-ranking official of Encounter Martial, Weapon the zone to another as a free action. Standard Action Melee or Ranged weapon one house and framing the other for the deed. Effect: Before the attack, you can make a saving throw Level 10 Utility Power Other secret apostates become loners, seeking to against a single immobilizing effect on you that a save avoid others of their kind and to forge their own des- Slimes and puddings have no eyesight, and rely on can end.