D&D (2024) Menzoberranzan Meets The Sopranos - A Drow Campaign.

[TheSword]

Agree with this if the adventure leaves Menzoberranzan. But I think you HAVE to make this a city focused adventure (like you said in your post above)

Is the outside world totally out of the question in a campaign like this??

All good gangster films take a trip somewhere exotic at some point - be it Vegas, Florida or Cuba! Why not the sunlit realms. Though i think it would need to be an interlude not a significant portion lest the focus get lost.

 

[DrunkonDuty]

The sunlit upper world is also a good place to murder a rival and blame it on them dirty sun lighters.

 

[TheSword]

I’m not normally one for evil campaigns, but this is the exactly sort of thing I could enthusiastically get behind. Great concept.

A few random thoughts etc.

What school do drow rogues train in? Presumably Melee-Magthere?

I don’t think there is a clear answer but I’m inferring that roguishness is something a Drow would pick up on the job. A rogue would definitely train at Melee-Magthere in fighting and strategy but be particularly sneaky as they do so.

Don't have the first few levels be just about the schools, and don't have the schools be sacrosant and immune to normal Menzoberranzan politics. Drow family rivalries go everywhere. If your house has enemies who have scions who are students (in instructors...) atthe schools while the PCs attend, then all sorts of things could happen. Sabotaged spell components, interference with exams or trials, biased assessment or rigged tasks, etc etc etc. Hell, even the High Priestess character might interfere, having one of the Matron Mother's children die or fail out of school can only strengthen her hand within the house.

So I’m envisioning the academy section being a serious of encounters that develop the ideas of that class, combined with genuine teaching. So for instance one ‘lesson’ for a priestess might involve casting a spell while districted by a swarm of spiders. When they start to bite one of the NPC classmates how does the PC Priestess react? Save them and make an ally? Use the distraction as an opportunity to settle a score etc. What if they kill one of the spiders? That kind of thing.

Have you decided if the Sorcere master is going to be the father of the PCs? Or even if any of the PCs have the same father, or if any of their fathers are still alive? While filial affection among the drow is ... limited, let's just say, if a father sees their child succeeding in a House that's failing, they might try to lure them away - perhaps to some mercenary group, perhaps to be a consort in another House. Or they miight try to ride that child's coattails up the ladder.

I don’t think he will be. I thought maybe their father could be a rogue of Braegan D’Earthe. I thought it could be a good way of introducing the mercenaries.

I assume the elderboy is very formidable in personal combat to make up for his other failings, or else the matron mother would have gotten rid of him? Or is there simply no alternative at this time? Presumably the martial PC is being groomed to take his place eventually. He of course will be aware of this, and will know what it means for his likely life expectancy.

This is a good point. It might be better to have the house Weapon Master be the patron of the previous matron. Maybe he is Father to the high priestess and elderboy. That lets the elderboy be properly foppish. I’m thinking that while the PCs are in the academy the matron hasn’t been able to simply execute him for lack of active agents. Though you’re right about the succession it sets up paranoia on both sides if he is. Maybe he’s a competent warrior and acts as weapon master but cares more about how things look than how successful they are. This flaw might be uncovered by the PCs when they return to the house after graduation.

One of the measures of strength of a house is the number of its nobles, especially its daughters. Drow society is matrilinear, I believe the children of male noble children are pretty much commoners(?). Would the matron mother encourage the High Priestess to take a consort of her own and have children? On one hand, it'd strengthen the house, but on the other hand, it'd strengthen the High Priestess's hand within the house. I assume that the matron mother might still be trying to have additional children herself? And of course having one or more of the House's chief combat or magical assets in the later stages of pregnancy makes a house vulnerable. And then of course there's the PCs. They might be positively encouraged or even ordered to take particular consorts for political reasons, or to bind a commoner with useful skills to the House. Dynastic marriages don't get talked about much in drow politics because the Houses are so walled off from each other and unwilling to cooperate, but it doesn't mean partnering can't be a useful political maneuver.

Yes you are right. I think there are a few options for growing the nobility. My thought is to spread the admissions over several years of game time. I can definitely conceive (not pun intended) that the character playing the priestess PC could have a Child. The priestess PC could also gain a long term Patron in the process but I think the current matron would frown on this until she is out of the picture. There is the younger sister a few years below them in the academy. They could also potentially adopt nobles from defeated houses. I think this is the eternal dilemma - house can they get what they want but keep their house strong.

Have you thought much about the history of the house? The previous matron saw a decline from near the council to mid 20s in ranking, but that implies the matron before her was presumably quite competent. What happened to THAT matron mother, and how did the relative incompetent end up taking over? Maybe the current matron was an instructor at Arach-Tirilith or something, away from the house and unable to intervene? The now-deceased incompetent might not have known all the secrets of the house if her predecessor hadn't seen fit to share them. Similarly, during the house's decline, the compound may have been partially closed down or mothballed due to lack of soldiers to guard it, or commoners to fill it, or funds to run it. What could have been going on in the walled-off pieces when the PCs need to re-open them once the house's fortunes start turning again?

These are awesome ideas! The PCs grandmother could have a legendary reputation at the academy for that reason. The obvious idea would be for her to have been murdered by the aunt. Or maybe by both the aunt and their mother together? Maybe it was their mother’s great regret. The primary lesson learned that that she hurt the house and ultimately what followed was worse than any benefit they gained by ascending the ranks. I think it could also be the matrons flaw - she is too indulgent of her family. Too tolerant of the elder cousins scheming and the elderboys decadence.

I love the idea of the compound having hidden spaces and disused areas. Full of cobwebs and maybe trapped areas. A whole mission could be uncovering a hidden cache in the house or some forgotten asset.

This is a great idea, keep us updated how it goes.

Will do. I want to get levels 1-10 planned out, then pitch to the players. Would probably be a 6 month lead in to it starting.

 

[TheSword]

Had some thoughts on the Arach-Tirilith training montage.

Students

A selection of students that take part in lessons alongside the student PC. Potential for rivals jealousy and even the need to have lost the favour of Lolth and need killing. It’s likely one might be a romantic interest as well or contacts for later in the campaign.

The Mean Girl - petite and sweet seeming but enjoys inflicting pain.

The Dupe - strong and straight talking, trusting. Destined for betrayal, inclined to wrath when trust is lost.

The Swot - smart and educated, knowing all the theory but struggling to put it into practice. Frustrated when blindsided.

The Braggart - Snide, cocky and arrogant. Regularly makes fun of others. A poweful house to back her up but not that powerful. Likely to get in over her head.

The First Girl - Part of a high house. In the absence of the PC priestess likely to be the head of the year. May still be if the PC priestess doesn’t pull some tricks.

The Teachers

Mistress of Arch Tirilith - Probably Triel Baenre, only used for the most significant lessons.

Aunrae Fey Branche. A sultry and confident high priestess. Who teaches about the role of priestesses and their relationship to males.

Vondrill Tuin’Tarl - slightly mad high priestess but clearly favoured by Lolth. Teaches magic and faith.

Locations

Dormitories. (Rooms designed for 8 students (2 have died already in previous years). Simple beds and writing tables which a chest for each student.

Grand temple of Lolth. The heart of Arach-Tirilith. When the mistress holds her lessons and the most serious rituals take place.

Shrine of Lolth. A small shrine in one of the legs, used for worship for normal lessons.

Training hall. A tiered lecture room with a space for demonstrations. One per teacher.

Streets of Menzoberranzan. Backstreets suitable for an ambush.

Deserted corridor/storeroom. A quiet part of the temple where students can gather in secret and conduct clandestine activities.

Encounters

Cast a spell despite distraction. The students must cast a spell successfully while being swarmed by spiders. When they start to bite one of the students the PC must decide what to do.

Read a males mind. A male for each student his bound in the training hall. The instructor tells each student that the male has a secret. They have to discover the secret by any means possible. The PCs captive has a deeper secret - they are secretly a follower of Vhaeraun. If the PC finds this out they can use the knowledge.

Combat Training. Students are paired off, and made to fight each other to bloodied (half hp) the PC has the opportunity to rig the draw.

Favor of Lolth. One of the students has acquired a scroll of divination and wants to use it to see if they have the favour of Lolth. The summoning reveals that one of the students has lost the favour of Lolth but they don’t know which.

Make a sacrifice. The PC priestess is invited to make a sacrifice to Lolth. A lesser creature captured in a raid and unsuitable as a slave. If the ritual is performed well the priestess can ask for a boon.

Summon a Yochlol. The students are invited to be part of a ritual to craft a whip of fangs. It involves summoning a Yochlol, which will test the students learnings of Lolth and punish them if they do badly.

Assassination attempt. There is an attempt on the PC priestesses life in an out of way place. A summoned creature would make the most sense or an animated dead - zombie or skeleton.

Capture a male. A male is identified for capture and testing. If the PC priestess revealed the Vhaeraun worshipers identity it is them. The party must apprehend the male and return him to the temple. The mistress of the academy turns the male into a drider who is then taken to the cavern of outcasts.

 

[Zardnaar]

How about Drow As LE instead?

1. Patrons of the hells. Stereotypical Nazi/caste types.

2. Egalitarian but xenophobic. Think LG welfare state but very warped. They look after themselves and violence is almost unheard of. Every drow is sacred they have Stereotypical elven birth rate/numbers. The state provides housing, wealth etc. Its just extracted from everyone else.

 

[TheSword]

How about Drow As LE instead?

1. Patrons of the hells. Stereotypical Nazi/caste types.

2. Egalitarian but xenophobic. Think LG welfare state but very warped. They look after themselves and violence is almost unheard of. Every drow is sacred they have Stereotypical elven birth rate/numbers. The state provides housing, wealth etc. Its just extracted from everyone else.

Nah. Lolth is Queen of the Demonweb Pits, she’s a creature of chaos. Menzoberranzan is pretty well established.

Though others are welcome to change it. For me the House is what stops the PCs betraying each other but there are plenty of other Drow to betray instead.

 

[Necropolitan]

I'd recommend throwing in cultists of Ghaunadaur and/or Vhaeraun to play the role foreign gangsters would play in a normal gangster story.

PCs might even end up tempted by the forbidden power they offer, which could lead to some fun plotlines.

A plot from a drow campaign I was in was one of the characters was a Fiend-Patron Warlock. While this would be normal in a Drow city, the fact the Fiend he'd made a pact with was a Devil seeking to further their own schemes among the Demon-influenced Drow made it an interesting twist.

The Devil was an original one that was basically a hyper-intelligent humanoid Hellwasp, which was great symbolism since wasps prey on spiders.

 

[TheSword]

I'd recommend throwing in cultists of Ghaunadaur and/or Vhaeraun to play the role foreign gangsters would play in a normal gangster story.

PCs might even end up tempted by the forbidden power they offer, which could lead to some fun plotlines.

A plot from a drow campaign I was in was one of the characters was a Fiend-Patron Warlock. While this would be normal in a Drow city, the fact the Fiend he'd made a pact with was a Devil seeking to further their own schemes among the Demon-influenced Drow made it an interesting twist.

The Devil was an original one that was basically a hyper-intelligent humanoid Hellwasp, which was great symbolism since wasps prey on spiders.

That’s. Really a really good shout. I think the one thing that should stop 90% of the squabbling and unite all Drow is the threat of outsiders. It’s a reason a reason I’d put the Vhaeraunite drow in early at the academy stage. Thinking about it, it would be great if there was a growing circle of Vhaeraunites in Melee Magthere that might try to recruit the PC martial.

 

[humble minion]

I don’t think there is a clear answer but I’m inferring that roguishness is something a Drow would pick up on the job. A rogue would definitely train at Melee-Magthere in fighting and strategy but be particularly sneaky as they do so.

(Not particularly relevant to this campaign, but I've always kinda wondered why drow houses didn't have a spymaster as well as a weapon master, house mage etc. It seems a natural fit. Though the real answer is probably 'because Salvatore decided it would have made the cast of Homeland too unwieldy'...)

I don’t think he will be. I thought maybe their father could be a rogue of Braegan D’Earthe. I thought it could be a good way of introducing the mercenaries.

There's no reason they all need to have the same father. I think canonically Drizzt's siblings had three different fathers. Matron mothers are fickle in their affections and are under absolutely zero obligation to be faithful, consorts can come and go, or perhaps a matron mother might see a trait in a male she wants to bring into her family.

If any of the fathers are still around, there might be a bit of quiet rivalry for the Matron's favour, or else if they've been turfed out onto the street after she tired of them, they might see the success of their offspring as a way back into comfortable noble life. Hey, I gave you one useful child, i can do it again!

This is a good point. It might be better to have the house Weapon Master be the patron of the previous matron. Maybe he is Father to the high priestess and elderboy. That lets the elderboy be properly foppish. I’m thinking that while the PCs are in the academy the matron hasn’t been able to simply execute him for lack of active agents. Though you’re right about the succession it sets up paranoia on both sides if he is. Maybe he’s a competent warrior and acts as weapon master but cares more about how things look than how successful they are. This flaw might be uncovered by the PCs when they return to the house after graduation.

There's plenty of ways of doing it. A weapon master who is (for instance) a berzerker or a drunken master - to talk in 5e subclass terms - could be a formidable asset to the house in a stand up fight but useless at training the house troops, designing security measures, organising guard rosters etc. Or maybe he has a weakness for a pretty face and only hires/promotes commoner troops he's attracted to or can convince to sleep with him, to the detriment of troop quality and morale. Or maybe he was a double-edged 'gift' from a more powerful house, and getting rid of him or displacing him would be seen as a mortal insult - and he knows it. It could be an interesting challenge for the PCs to try to get the most out of him - when facing off against a rival house who have a weapon master that's beyond the PCs skills, in addition to their own role in the fight they have to keep this guy focused and on-task long enought to take out his rival.

Students

(can be in any of the schools, not just Arach-Tirilith)

The Scholarship kid. A rank gutter commoner picked up from the scummiest streets by a passing high priestess, possibly because of an omen or because of natural talent, possibly just for expendable sacrifice fodder. Wary and untrusting for good reason. Lacking in social graces, no money, gets looked down on, but knows this is her one big chance and fights like a wildcat when cornered.

The Follower. Not the best or worst at anything, from a middle-low ranking house. Deliberately unobtrusive, hates being in the limelight, consciously puts themselves in the background/middle ground. Will glom onto whoever seems most powerful/highranking/likely to succeed and hope to ride their coattails.

The Godbotherer. Best suited for a Sorcere or Melee-Magthere student, a vocal and outspoken follower of Lloth. Fond of bailing up fellow students and grilling them on theology, or inviting them to pray at awkward times. Tattletale and teacher's pet. Has the somewhat condescending favour of the priestesses, and which makes it ... unsafe ... to lash out at him.

The Vessel. Their family owns a extremely powerful magic item that bestows a very unpleasant curse on its bearer so nobody wants to use it. Nevertheless, it's too powerful to go to waste so the house Matron Mother took the least promising scion of this generation and forced the thing on them. Cannot drop the item, and it cannot be removed, even with remove curse. It's powerful enough to give them a significant head up over their fellow students, but at the cost of a slow putrid fleshrotting disease or something similar. They'd love to get rid of it, but know no way to do so other than dying, and know that even if they did, their usefulness to the family would likely be at an end.

The Dealer. Always somehow seem to have a stash of stimulants, alcohol, exam questions ahead of time, hard-to-find reagents and spell formulae. Nobody knows how they get it all. Everyone owes them a favour. Almost certainly in cahoots with at least one teacher, almost certain to come to a crashing end if the wrong other teacher finds out, absolutely certain to try to sell out their customers rather than go down alone when that happens.

The idiot who gets herself pregnant to a nobody fellow student half way through her first year at Melee-Magthere.

 

[Necropolitan]

That’s. Really a really good shout. I think the one thing that should stop 90% of the squabbling and unite all Drow is the threat of outsiders. It’s a reason a reason I’d put the Vhaeraunite drow in early at the academy stage. Thinking about it, it would be great if there was a growing circle of Vhaeraunites in Melee Magthere that might try to recruit the PC martial.

Given Ghaunadaur's focuses you could easily have his cultists selling drugs, using raw force where other Drow would use subtlety (which given Drow society would not be something they'd likely see coming), or just unleashing oozes into crowded areas.

I love Ghaunadaur as a foil to Lolth, because where she's all about finesse, politics, and scheming he's all about base cunning, naked power, and simple urges. His deal is simple: Feed him sacrifices and you get power (or eaten), so you can see why some Drow would see him as preferable to Lolth's endless betrayals.

You could use Ghaunadaur to represent 'respectable/traditional' gangsters getting overtaken by the drug trade and organized crime getting more and more vicious and openly violent. Going from "An Offer You Can't Refuse" to "Silver or Lead" basically.