TheSword
Legend
All the discussion about evil drow encouraged me to reread Homeland and I forgot how much I loved it. I have been inspired by a RA Salvatore interview where he mentions being heavily influenced by the Godfather in writing of Menzoberranzan Drow. Each house like a crime family. Fully of interesting characters, murder and betrayal everywhere. I’ve long wanted to run an Evil Drow House campaign where the PCs play family members rising through the ranks. I have a synopsis for a campaign (levels 1-10) with an option to extend to 11-20. It’s influenced by the sopranos as well as the adventure in the original Menzoberranzan boxed set.
Guy, Ryan and Steven - Stop Reading Now!
The Drow House
The family unit would be a crucial part of the campaign with some distinctive characters that will feature again and again.
Previous Matron Mother (Deceased) - A weak matron whose mismanagement saw the family fall from 11th house to 23rd. Murdered by her younger sister.
Matron Mother - Current Matron. A shrewd leader of the house trying to rebuild the family fortunes.
High Priestess - Daughter of the previous matron. Eldest cousin to the PCs. A brutal psychopath. Unsubtle and clumsy. Fanatical to Lolth but to the point of blindness. Hates the current matron and wants to take her place. Strong but suffers from some of the worst flaws of her mother.
Elderboy and Weapon Master. A foppish decadent. Debauched and lazy. He has allowed the family military forces to become very lax under his mother (the previous matron)
Patron of the current matron. A Master of Sorcere, a commoner, and one of Carcellen’s strongest supporters. Unfortunately he is planning to betray the family to their enemies as part of a long running ploy involving.
Priestess - The youngest daughter of the current matron. A year or two younger than the current PCs. Will still be training even after the PCs graduate. A potential ally but also someone they can shape in their own image if looked after.
The PCs - the three eldest children of the current Matron. One arcane class attending Sorcere, One divine attending Arach-Tirilith, One martial attending Melee-Magthere.
Campaign Synopsis.
The campaign would starts at the academy at level 1-3 completing trials and tests to introduce them to Menzoberranzan life and set the scene. Lots of class related activities - gaining familiars, some minor magic items, building a reputation and networking with some useful characters from some of the big houses. Probably ran in individual solo sessions. The house patron is a Master of the academy and may assist them but might also try to see them off to prevent a future threat.
Levels 3-5 continue this but as a team completing patrols into the baufwaff and dealing with various threats - including an assassination threat to them from another house or which the players must work together to defeat.
After graduation at level 5 the campaign focuses on rising to prominence within their family - a mixed bag as you’ve seen earlier. Their family was once much more powerful only a step or two away from the council. The previous matron mother saw the family decline and only under the current matron are its fortunes starting to improve. The players might think that one or more family members were behind the assassination attempt at the academy.
The PCs represent the strongest agents that the current matron can rely upon and she impressed upon them that nothing is more important than the house name. The cousins and the previous matron are cautionary examples of what happens when individuals put themselves before the house and the matron reminds them that together they can achieve anything. There should be plenty of plotting within the family to ensure PCs don’t turn on each other.
The next six levels form the bulk of the campaign and would involve various missions which the party can complete to strengthen themselves and their house.
A mission to discover why certain traders and businesses have stopped making payments to the house - a gang of males sponsored by a rival house, who are trying to corner the trade. Chance to introduce Braegan D’aerthe who might have an interest in seeing these rivals off? First introduces house Nurbonnid the 21st house and long time rival of the PCs house - a rival which secretly lusts over the houses much stronger compound. Rewards could include improved drow clothing - Piwafwi and drow boots. As well as chance to outfit the common soldiers.
A mission to reinvigorate the disrupted trade of adamant from house Mines, that results in a fight for resources and a retaliatory raid on a Nurbonnis Faezress facility as well as give the house a link to the Duergar of Gracklstugh. This can be rewarded with Drowcraft arms and armour.
A mission involving the high priestess. That involves some brutal and excessive act on her behalf. Either rescuing her from the consequences of it or trying to mitigate the fallout from it. Opportunity to double cross or neutralise. Details more information about lolths worship and possibly the slaves of Menzoberranzan.
A mission involving the weapon master elder boy. Rescuing him from some form of debauchery or trying to cover it up. Opportunity to double cross or recruit. A test of the families honour and a way of gaining reputation within noble circles.
A testing of each of three characters. Similar to the tests of Lolth. A test of strength for the arcane caster, a test of endurance for the martial and a test of loyalty for the priestess. Passing this will grant a useful item as a reward for the player.
Lastly a false diplomatic expedition to another force in the underdark (probably the Duergar). This is actually a ruse designed to get the PCs out of the city but with the opportunity for them to turn the trick on its head, gain a useful ally and return to Menzoberranzan stronger than before. It also reveals the treachery of the Patron and confirms that a senior house is behind everything.
The campaign would culminate with an attack by house Nurbonnis that kills the Matron and either sees the PCs survive or fall. They have the opportunity to use all the allies they have built up to this point to defeat the attack. If they survive they can level an accusation at house Nurbonnis before the ruling council leading to the full might of the Academy wiping Nurbonnis from the city and if the players were successful leading to a position several rungs higher on the map and the favour of house Baenre. That should comfortably see the party gain level 10. One PC become the next matron of of the house, one becomes the next house mage, and the last become the next house weapon master.
Other Considerations
There is a wealth of Drow information already out there. Particularly the Menzoberranzan boxed set, and the the 4e system agnostic book Menzoberranzan City of Intrigue released just before 5e.
I would use the bastion rules to represent the PCs strengthening of their House to gain some tangible benefits, leveled followers etc.
There are a huge quantity of underdark and Drow elements in AD&D and 3e that can be converted easily to 5e.
For all those who love Drow and Menzoberranzan (and Sopranos) what are your thoughts?
What other missions would be good additions or that could replace some of the elements of mentioned. How could this be improved? What would you make sure got included?
Guy, Ryan and Steven - Stop Reading Now!
The Drow House
The family unit would be a crucial part of the campaign with some distinctive characters that will feature again and again.
Previous Matron Mother (Deceased) - A weak matron whose mismanagement saw the family fall from 11th house to 23rd. Murdered by her younger sister.
Matron Mother - Current Matron. A shrewd leader of the house trying to rebuild the family fortunes.
High Priestess - Daughter of the previous matron. Eldest cousin to the PCs. A brutal psychopath. Unsubtle and clumsy. Fanatical to Lolth but to the point of blindness. Hates the current matron and wants to take her place. Strong but suffers from some of the worst flaws of her mother.
Elderboy and Weapon Master. A foppish decadent. Debauched and lazy. He has allowed the family military forces to become very lax under his mother (the previous matron)
Patron of the current matron. A Master of Sorcere, a commoner, and one of Carcellen’s strongest supporters. Unfortunately he is planning to betray the family to their enemies as part of a long running ploy involving.
Priestess - The youngest daughter of the current matron. A year or two younger than the current PCs. Will still be training even after the PCs graduate. A potential ally but also someone they can shape in their own image if looked after.
The PCs - the three eldest children of the current Matron. One arcane class attending Sorcere, One divine attending Arach-Tirilith, One martial attending Melee-Magthere.
Campaign Synopsis.
The campaign would starts at the academy at level 1-3 completing trials and tests to introduce them to Menzoberranzan life and set the scene. Lots of class related activities - gaining familiars, some minor magic items, building a reputation and networking with some useful characters from some of the big houses. Probably ran in individual solo sessions. The house patron is a Master of the academy and may assist them but might also try to see them off to prevent a future threat.
Levels 3-5 continue this but as a team completing patrols into the baufwaff and dealing with various threats - including an assassination threat to them from another house or which the players must work together to defeat.
After graduation at level 5 the campaign focuses on rising to prominence within their family - a mixed bag as you’ve seen earlier. Their family was once much more powerful only a step or two away from the council. The previous matron mother saw the family decline and only under the current matron are its fortunes starting to improve. The players might think that one or more family members were behind the assassination attempt at the academy.
The PCs represent the strongest agents that the current matron can rely upon and she impressed upon them that nothing is more important than the house name. The cousins and the previous matron are cautionary examples of what happens when individuals put themselves before the house and the matron reminds them that together they can achieve anything. There should be plenty of plotting within the family to ensure PCs don’t turn on each other.
The next six levels form the bulk of the campaign and would involve various missions which the party can complete to strengthen themselves and their house.
A mission to discover why certain traders and businesses have stopped making payments to the house - a gang of males sponsored by a rival house, who are trying to corner the trade. Chance to introduce Braegan D’aerthe who might have an interest in seeing these rivals off? First introduces house Nurbonnid the 21st house and long time rival of the PCs house - a rival which secretly lusts over the houses much stronger compound. Rewards could include improved drow clothing - Piwafwi and drow boots. As well as chance to outfit the common soldiers.
A mission to reinvigorate the disrupted trade of adamant from house Mines, that results in a fight for resources and a retaliatory raid on a Nurbonnis Faezress facility as well as give the house a link to the Duergar of Gracklstugh. This can be rewarded with Drowcraft arms and armour.
A mission involving the high priestess. That involves some brutal and excessive act on her behalf. Either rescuing her from the consequences of it or trying to mitigate the fallout from it. Opportunity to double cross or neutralise. Details more information about lolths worship and possibly the slaves of Menzoberranzan.
A mission involving the weapon master elder boy. Rescuing him from some form of debauchery or trying to cover it up. Opportunity to double cross or recruit. A test of the families honour and a way of gaining reputation within noble circles.
A testing of each of three characters. Similar to the tests of Lolth. A test of strength for the arcane caster, a test of endurance for the martial and a test of loyalty for the priestess. Passing this will grant a useful item as a reward for the player.
Lastly a false diplomatic expedition to another force in the underdark (probably the Duergar). This is actually a ruse designed to get the PCs out of the city but with the opportunity for them to turn the trick on its head, gain a useful ally and return to Menzoberranzan stronger than before. It also reveals the treachery of the Patron and confirms that a senior house is behind everything.
The campaign would culminate with an attack by house Nurbonnis that kills the Matron and either sees the PCs survive or fall. They have the opportunity to use all the allies they have built up to this point to defeat the attack. If they survive they can level an accusation at house Nurbonnis before the ruling council leading to the full might of the Academy wiping Nurbonnis from the city and if the players were successful leading to a position several rungs higher on the map and the favour of house Baenre. That should comfortably see the party gain level 10. One PC become the next matron of of the house, one becomes the next house mage, and the last become the next house weapon master.
Other Considerations
There is a wealth of Drow information already out there. Particularly the Menzoberranzan boxed set, and the the 4e system agnostic book Menzoberranzan City of Intrigue released just before 5e.
I would use the bastion rules to represent the PCs strengthening of their House to gain some tangible benefits, leveled followers etc.
There are a huge quantity of underdark and Drow elements in AD&D and 3e that can be converted easily to 5e.
For all those who love Drow and Menzoberranzan (and Sopranos) what are your thoughts?
What other missions would be good additions or that could replace some of the elements of mentioned. How could this be improved? What would you make sure got included?
