[D&D-5e] War of the Spider Queen

[Ysolde]

Game Name War of the Spider Queen

Game System DnD 5e

Theme Dark

Flavour Intrigue / Heresy / Deity level threats

Number and Deadline Open Until I get 4-5 applications

Plot Summary Menzoberranzan - The City of Spiders A name known well in the surface world and the Underdark as well. Here the eight (8) most powerful Drow houses rule over the city. Here evil plans are hatched and evil is wrought upon the surface. You are a member of one house in this dark place. A single slice of good within the darkest of places. House Platin - Is So named because your ancestors found a valuable vein of platinum in the ground. Your house is 14th in power not large enough to be consulted by more powerful families yet not so small that you are entirely ignored in the largest of power plays between houses. This is good for you because your house holds a secret that, were it to be found out, would utterly destroy you. Your house has been devoted to Eilistraee and your Matron mother holds on to a secret apparently even more dangerous than that a secret known only to her and her wives.   Matron Mother - Lady Platin - Cleric Wife - Amethyst Platin - Wizard Wife - Diamond Platin - Druid Wife - Ruby Platin - Fighter Wife - Emerald - Rogue Magister - Vern (a lich) High Priestess - 1st Daughter Silveria House Gardener - 1st daughter of Diamond - Canary Leader of the Guard - 1st son of Ruby - Corubon House Wyrm - Dakon the Black (a black dragon) House Smith - Emmet Smith (A human smith) You will start as a member of House Platin, you need not have the name as they adopt many Drow from around the city. The house is dedicated to finding a path towards good as impossible as that may seem. Because of how you were raised or how you were adopted into the house you are fiercely dedicated to your house, you love your house it is a small slice of peace and order in a world filled with chaos and backstabbing. Most of your family members can be trusted and those who can't are well known to you and purposefully kept out of important tasks or, when necessary, they are removed from the family. This Game will start your character around 10th level and move on up to around 20 (if you stay with me long enough). I am building it based some on the City of The Spider Queen and Menzoberranzan books along with my reading of the War of The Spider Queen with a whole lot of personalization of plots and ideas. The Major things you will be dealing with are Intrigue from other houses, spreading heresy, and dealing with the upcoming Silence of Lolth (around 1372). Expect to interact in a major way with the "Cannon" of Faerun and, with some luck or skill, potentially break it. What I am looking for 1) Characters who have a strong bond to their house and who would never think of betraying it. You can be as evil as you like but you had best find a reason for your character to want to do what their Matron Mother says and wants to keep them and their family safe. 2) People who plan to stick around or, if you're going to leave please just let me know... 3) I will be posting on Tues & Thurs please be able to reply on that schedule 4) PHB+DMG+1 other source for character creation (except cantrips and race) 5) A Nice application Name: Your Character's Name Race: Other Races beyond Drow are allowed. House Platin takes many in and has no actual slaves. They treat all within their walls well and with actual kindness. It makes their defenses some of the strongest in the city. Be Warned: outside of the house your character will be expected to act with extreme deference to any Drow they meet. Alignment: Evil alignments allowed please see above and explain why your evil character is attached to this good house. Class: What is your class Family Rank: Less important in house Platin but how closely related to the Matron Mother are you? You may be as close as her fourth child or one of the third children of her sister wives. You may be as far from her as recently adopted by the house or just bought and freed. Feel free to name and make up the personalities of your parents if they are not specifically listed in the House Platin structure above. Appearance: What do you look like. Description required. Pictures allowed but not required Background: Who are you related to? What was your upbringing like? How does it feel to be raised in a loving household when seeing the rest of the Underdark? Were you adopted and why? Were you purchased/freed and why did you stay? The Player: Have you played with me before? What makes you want to play this game? Do you really think you'll stick with this for at least a year? How about 5? Character Creation 27 Point Buy Characters must be created using DMG + PHB+ Official Book Starting gear will be class and background + DM provided items based on Background Multi Class Allowed Feats Allowed Characters Start at 9th Level as such you may pick a place where you were trained if you wish: You may use the linked threads to roll   Wisdom +2 (or primary casting ability) 1 Powerful Rival 1 Ally/Friend Madness - Going to school and learning under a priestess of the Mad Spider Queen has left its mark.   +2 To attack Bonus or +2 AC 1 Powerful Rival 1 Ally/Friend Physical Injuries - Melee Magthere has left a mark on your body.   Int +2 (or spell casting ability) or +2 spells/day you may choose any spell level up to 5th 1 Powerful Rival 1 Ally/Friend Magical Accident - Sorcere is well known for magical accidents Q&A Q: Ysolde you have two games on your plate why are you doing this? A: I can't get the idea out of my head. I really, really just can't. Q: Do you allow the Customize Your Origin (a.k.a. the "floating racial bonuses") rule from Tasha's Cauldron of Everything? A: Yes as long as Tasha's is your PHB+DMG+1 book Q: If someone knows very little lore, would they be able to keep up with what's going on? A: You would not need much lore and what you do need will be provided. Q: For the non arcane/martial/arcane do we pick one or any that match so that partial casters pick 2? A: Just one school. Pick which your character would have preferred. The absolute horror of two bad rolls is beyond my ken... Q: How dark is it? A: If your character doesn't have dark vision the family will provide an item.

[Gaijin]

Character Concept Name: Narcelia (NB) Race: Drow Alignment: Chaotic Good Class: Cleric of Eilistraee 9 (Twilight) Family Rank: 4th child of Emerald, treat enthusiast Appearance: Lustrously long alabaster hair streaked with silver threads drape gracefully upon flawless cinereal skin. Both meticulously cared for in reverence of Eilistraee, the goddess of beauty and freedom. While appropriately clad when called for, they prefer to allow their form to be unfettered by modesty. Unburdened by fabric and obligations, they can often be found entranced, whirling alone in the dark, cast in a soft silvery glow. Background: As a child, Narcelia constantly struggled to stay still. There was a need to move, sing, and fill whatever space they were in. Talkative, bold, and mercurial. In an effort to teach restraint, Mother Emerald would often entice them with small snacks to play hide and seek, but the longer that Emerald drew out the exercise, the more quickly Narcelia would lose focus and reveal themself with a flourish. They were youthful and vibrant, an eternal summer in a city of darkness. However, when their paths crossed, Narcilia would often watch the 1st daughter Silveria from around the corner of an entry way, desperate to dance together, but continuously forbade until "another time". When the time came for more seriousness, Narcelia was pressured to attend Arach-Tinilith. The experience was.... harsh. More than they were warned, and certainly more than could be endured in one piece. The teachings of the Mad Priestess were stiff and conflicted deeply with the feelings that the thoughtful nurturing by their house had instilled within. In order to survive, a piece of the spark had to be sacrificed. Madness stole their voice and left the once carefree drowling in silence. Following the traumatic ordeal, Narcelia found their way into the service of Eilistaee under the direction of High Priestess Silveria, as both a keeper of secrets and enthusiastic accompaniment during worship. Grown and more wise to the world, Narcelia struggles to accept that her people have been twisted into such a despicable state and yearns for an opportunity to see things change for the better. The Player: I don't know if we've played together, but my intuition whispers nice things to me when I see your username. Life has been settling down, and I have plenty of time to play with clear skies on the horizon. The Drow represent an interesting culture that I am keen to explore, and I think you are a perfect guide to explore it with.

[Grouchy]

Interested! App complete.

Character Concept Name: Seldizar of House Platin Race: Drow Alignment: Lawful Evil Class: Wizard 9 (Bladesinging from Tasha's, just Deathsinging as that's the drow version.Deathsinging) Mechanical Background: Entertainer Family Rank: Seldizar is the first son of Corubon, Leader of the Guard and first son of Ruby Platin. Grandson of the Matron Mother. Appearance Seldizar is a tall, lean drow man with statuesque features and a regal bearing. His long stark white hair is pulled into a ponytail and well groomed, and he is extremely handsome. His red eyes are ones many drow women find endlessly fascinating, and his face is flawless. In each of his pointed ears he wears two silvered hoop earrings. He dresses in the highest of drow fashion and always seems perfectly put together, with neither a hair nor a thread out of place. He has a light, rich voice which is well polished and shows one of proper upbringing. His posture is erect and confident, and he moves with such effortless grace it is almost a thing of beauty. Background: Seldizar is the first son of Corubon, the Leader of the Guard. Being the grandson of the Matron Mother has great responsibility and honor, and it is a role that both Corubon and Seldizar have taken seriously. Seldizar was always an intensely driven youth so the martial training instilled in him from an early age was an excellent outlet for his energy and self discipline. Seldizar quickly demonstrated his high intelligence once his formal schooling began and his perfectionist personality gave him plenty of success. He also showed an immense talent for the arts, specifically dancing and A deep, resonating singing style that resembles Mongolian throat singingUndersong, and would often deliver impromptu performances for his father and friends. He tried to master the vahzan-do but his manual dexterity was not up to the task, so instead he expresses himself with words and the movement of his body. When he had a firm grasp of the theoretical concepts and formulae of magic, he was taken under the wing of the Platin Magister, Vern, with other promising drow students. As with his other studies, Seldizar exceeded all expectations with his studies and showed incredible drive and self-discipline compared to his peers. It is for this reason Vern took him as a personal student and trained Selidzar in the ancient drow art of deathsinging. Only a drow of Seldizar's talents could master the incredible blend of the arcane, the sword, and the physical self. It was, in fact, the most grueling experience of Seldizar's life and one of his most significant accomplishments. Since then, Seldizar has been a vital member of House Platin and is generally considered the "golden child" due to his complete embodiment of drow culture itself. Seldizar feels quite fortunate to belong to such a noble House as Platin, and has compared his experiences to those from other Houses and realizes Platin is special. He also is unsure if any of the other Houses possess the knowledge and abilities taught to him by Vern, so he tries his best to keep his abilities a secret unless absolutely necessary. The Player: I am currently one of your Knights of Justice. The drow are always an interesting culture, but to be a "good" drow house is something all together different and exciting. It also gives me a perfect excuse to play a deathsinger. As far as my longevity, I have been posting on RPGX for over 5 years now and don't plan to stop anytime soon.

[delpinator]

nameShidalyn platin
race Drow
alignment cn though mostly evil she clings to the mission of finding goodness.
classway of shadow monk6/swarmkeeper ranger 3
appearance
background
player

[Snicker]

Level 9 is higher than most player characters ever get. When writing our backstories, should we consider our characters to be highly experienced and accomplished?

[Ysolde]

Originally Posted by Snicker

Level 9 is higher than most player characters ever get. When writing our backstories, should we consider our characters to be highly experienced and accomplished?

Yes. I added some more details in creation including the opportunity to study at one of the prestigious institutions...

[BarrowB]

If someone knows very little lore, would they be able to keep up with what's going on?

[Dylan Scott]

Application Name: Alnor Illistyn / Sorn Tanor'Thal of House Platin / Esk / Camnas Trelenus / Kanlur Daric Race: Changeling (Commonly Appears Drow) Family Rank: Officially such a distant cousin he is a Servant of the House / Unofficially the Secretly Adopted Son of Emerald Platin Alignment: Lawful Neutral Class: Rogue (Arcane Trickster) 4 /Artificer (Archivist) 5 Background: Charlatan Personality Trait: I Change my Attitude and Personality to blend in with the people around me Ideal: Contract - The Information is bound to the House Platin, No one else may see it and i will fight to make that happen Bond: I Come from a Noble Family, and one day i'll prove myself worthy to claim my lands and titles without shaming the family Flaw: I've worn so many disguises, I've lost sight of who I truly am Appearance: Completely Changeable but Alnor is an average looking Drow Male, which of course means he is tall and lithe and very attractive, he keeps his hair shorter than the norm for Drow, barely brushing at his collar but it is long enough to fall in front of his eyes when he needs it too. his clothes are well tailored but plain and nondescript and as would be expected for a servant to a noble house, meticulously clean and well maintained. Background: Alnor can be considered an experiment in Nature vs Nurture, for those who know the truth of the mans background. Alnor (as he was named by Emerald Platin) is one of the many adopted wards of House Platin, supposedly plucked from the streets as a homeless orphan and raised as a servant within the House away from the machinations of politics and house warfare. The truth of course is something vastly different. Alnor, one of his many names, is not even in fact a Drow but a changeling. The son of Anluryn and Callimar T'Sarran of House Vandree, an apparently noble house who tried to destroy House Platin but lost. It was only when house Platin retaliated and destroyed House Vandree did the truth come out that the T'Sarran family were actually Changelings attempting to undermine the noble houses of Menzoberranzan, the small child was the only survivor of the Massacre of House Vandree. Plucked from his crib as a crying child by Amethyst Platin, who was about to perform the regrettable act of burning the child as she had his parents moments earlier as her sister wives Ruby and Emerald looked on, they were all surprised when the small child, who moments before matched the colouring of the T'Sarran household changed to look like the Platin's. Both Amethyst and Emerald immediately know what he was and an almost silent agreement passed between them and the child was passed into the care of Emerald Platin who raised the boy to be one of her shadows Growing up to be an agent of the House under the command of Emerald for her shadow network, Alnor was not raised in the spotlight and never officially acknowledged as Emerald's son, which did cause issues over the years for the growing young man but he is fiercely loyal to his family and understands that he is different and that his unique abilities need to be kept secret if he is to be of use to the Mother Matron. So Alnor is, for the vast majority of the house, just a servant and unremarkable, such a distant cousin of a cousin he holds no rank. His easy charm and endearing smile has made Alnor well liked by most but he is so adept at being forgettable most people just do that and ignore him, which lets him perform his job more easily. Using his talents for forgery and his natural ability to assume multiple forms, Alnor has started to establish his own catalogue of identities around the city to help further the goals of his family and even attended the Sorcere Academy under one of these identities (Sorn Tanor'Thal) both to test his skills at subterfuge as well as learn what he could of the magical arts to make himself more versatile and useful to House Platin. The time spent studied there was not without its problems, and for each friend he made there he seemed to have just as many enemies but he appears to have been one of the lucky ones who escaped the Sorcere without a lasting injury or affliction.

The Player Have you played with me before? Had the pleasure of gaming with you as both the GM and a fellow Player. Village Survival was the first game i joined when i found the Crossing over a year ago now, still going strong What makes you want to play this game? Magic, Intrigue, Drow, 9th Level! whats not to love. Do you really think you'll stick with this for at least a year? How about 5? If this game proves even half as intriguing as the Village and there is no Leech colonies i'm sure i'm here for the long haul and looking forward to it

[delpinator]

For the non arcane/martial/arcane do we pick one or any that match so that partial casters pick 2?

[Talissen70]

Name: Dral'al'Salith Platin

Race: Drow

Alignment: Lawful Neutral (Fiercely Loyal to house Platin and the Matron Mother)

Class: Battlemaster 6, Swashbuckler 3

Family Rank: 3rd Child of Ruby Platin

Appearance: Dral'al'salith never felt as beautiful as her sisters and cousins but this did not concern her as her future lay in a realm where martial prowess was key. Now her role has changed, she focusses much more on appearance. Her white hair is practically short and can easily be tied back although she wears extensions in public to alter her looks. She is 5ft tall but again, wears heels to change this in public. Slight of build and with eye, pupils stained red by the trauma of her hanging. In public she will wear necklines high enough to be proper but low enough that her neck scar is visible, often mirrored with a ruby pendant as a message of defiance. In private, she prefers studded leather armour and a hood.

Background: Dral'al'salith Platin was born third child of Ruby Platin and seemed forever destined to follow her older brother Corubon through the Magere academy and into the guard. Dral had doted on her older brother since birth, following him around relentlessly and copying whatever he did. He tolerated her well and she was often at his heel or hiding, watching him as he progressed towards his current position. As she grew into maturity, her interests were always martial and she excelled at dance, athletics and all physical activities. She joined the guard and quickly progressed to commanding a small unit, eager to impress her brother at every turn. And impressed he was, Dral had the makings of a fine leader with eloquent speeches to those under her command.

Dral's unit was sent out of the underdark to scout, fears of a small force under command of a young human Lord eager to advance his position hijacking platinum and gem shipments from the Platin mines. This was a trap. It remains unclear who was ultimately responsible but suspicions are high that another house had made a deal with the Lord in exchange for the impact on both House Platin's trade security and knowing a prominent member of the family would be present. Dral was the only survivor and was hung from a tree near the cave mouth for her brother to find.

Fortunately for Dral'al'salith, she did not die, although the wound from the attempt have left her with a burn mark around her lower neck and robbed her of the ability to speak meaningfully. She tends to remain chillingly silent but can, with effort make approximations of words and can communicate effectively with sign language. This is a painful process and reserved for rare occasions. Between the injuries and impact on her emotionally, Dral left her guard position and was not seen outwith the family for many months after the incident.

During her recuperation, Dral spent many hours in the family gardens and developed a close relationship with her sister-cousin Canary. Dral's interest in horticulture grew and became specific. Poison. She had always been smaller and weaker than many of the guard and enemies she encountered, so seeking advantage in other ways was second nature. Her passion flared and after a conversation with her sister-aunt Emerald, her path was irrevocably altered.

Dral'al'salith has now returned to the public eye, but changed from the eager young soldier she once was. She is far calmer, quieter and more demure in her presentation. At times she can be seen, in armour, sparring with the guard and her brother. But more often, she is present at family events, accompanying trade and diplomatic delegations, social gatherings where those of import gather. Or, in the dead of night, in places she should not be, learning secrets which bolster the family. Her methods have changed but her devotion to the family remains.



The Player:

Have you played with me before? I have not but after reading the premise for this game I think I would very much like the opportunity to

What makes you want to play this game? Do you really think you'll stick with this for at least a year? How about 5? Yes. The story and setting sound amazing, I have limited familiarity with the setting but happy to learn. Longer term campaigns are far more attractive to me and the opportunity to play at a higher level sounds very cool.

[DiceGoblin]

Higher level play, Drow, and Ysolde? Sign me up. I'll get a character up tomorrow probably.

[Tydorei]

Seems like a good time...

[Dyerdon]

Mayala Agrach Dyrr Name: Mayala Agrach Dyrr (Paltin) Race: Drow Alignment: Chaotic Good Class: Wizard (Bladesinger) Family Rank: Adopted twenty years ago Appearance: Like most of her species, she is dark of complexion, stark of hair, and crimson of eyes; though she has a smattering of blue and purple hued freckles forming a band across her nose and cheeks. Her hair is long, flowing, and often worn loose, or in a tight, whip-like braid. With a dancer's body and a face that has never held a scowl, she has been described as impish in looks. She wears a variety of fashionable attire, though she prefers things she can move in. Background: Mayala's House was all but wiped out before she was even born. A House of powerful mages, they were once said to be the most magical House in all of Menzoberranzan. That was why House Baenre had taken a liking to them, forcing them to be one of their vassals. When Baenre collapsed, so too did House Agrach Dyrr. A few survivors did what they had to do to stay surviving. A handful even joining Bregan D'Aerthe. Unfortunately, Baenre's enemies would eventually find them as well. Mayala was born amidst the chaos. Her father had once been a warrior, was now an agent of Bregan D'Aerthe, her mother had been a priestess of Llolth. They both saw their daughter as a means to an end. A way to restore their House to power. She was raised to be cautious, to be wary... to lie and beguile. Yet there was always a song. A song at the back of her mind, cloyingly sweet, toxic... she found herself dancing, often. Which in turn got her in trouble with her parents, for not taking their teachings seriously. And it was ultimately her dancing that caught the attention of a more a powerful House. Mayala was caught in the middle, her father betrayed by a former ally when it became evident that they'd benefit more from doing so at that point. Both of her parents were killed, and she was shot with a poisoned bolt. She managed to escape her assailants, but not before she succumbed to the toxins in her blood. She collapsed in a place she thought was secluded. As she drifted ever closer to death, she heard the song, and saw images of a dancing woman. Her dance mirrored the dance she had so often performed. Stylish and graceful... she felt a warmth and wonderment fill her being. The vision was over sooner than she'd have liked. She awoke in a warm bed, greeted by a High Priestess named Silveria. She too had heard the song. All drow supposedly did, but most closed it out. Most ignored it. It was the song of Elistaree. It was a long road to recovery, but under their tender care, she was treated with a kindness she had never known... and for the first time in a very long time, she wept. She would go on to ask to serve Elistaree, utilizing the magic she learned from her parents, and her father's tutelage with a blade... though she longed for the surface world, she'd gladly serve as a Sword Dancer. She intends to repay the kindness the Patil's showed her, as they heard the song she was always called crazy for. The Player: Have you played with me before? I have! You ran my very first Pathfinder game on here! What makes you want to play this game? Despite being overwhelmed with trying to learn a new system, I rather enjoyed the story and your DMing style. To top that off, I am a sucker for Menzoberranzan, one of my very first characters in an RPG was a drow! I still hold a lot of love for any R. A. Salvatore novel. Do you really think you'll stick with this for at least a year? Absolutely! I need more D&D in my life! How about 5? 10, 15... I'm here for the long haul! Starting at level 9 and moving to 20 sounds amazing!

[BarrowB]

VERY WIP Name: Race: Half elf or Drow Alignment: Chaotic good Class: Fighter (Eldritch Knight) 6 / Bard (Swords) 3 Family Rank: A very recent arrival Appearance: Background: The Player: Have you played with me before? Yup. We are playing The Lost Mines together but that's it. What makes you want to play this game? I never placed in this setting and never got to think about making a 9 level character. I feel like it would be fun to be a good and playful character in a city full of evil. Do you really think you'll stick with this for at least a year? Most of the games I'm in lasted already longer than a year, so it shouldn't be too hard.

[Zangul]

NAME: Nix / K'yorl A'Daragon (Paltin) / Sarah McGregor / Stitches

K'yorl A'Daragon

RACE: Changeling
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic Neutral
CLASS: Rogue Assassin
FAMILY RANK: House Paltin spy / assassin
APPEARANCE: in his natural state Nix looks thin and lanky. Purple skin, silver hair, and all black eyes. when in the form of K'yorl A'Daragon (Paltin) he is a typical Drow, light gray skin tone white hair and green eyes. Wears all Black leather with a black cloak.
BACKGROUND: