New character Idea ((OOC))

Hello UD players, I have an idea for a new character, but I would like to talk to someone established in the UD to help make my character and iron-out any lore problems, thank you for whomever helps.

If you have Skype I can invite you to the UD Skype chat. My Skype account is maseoo3.

Otherwise, post away your questions here? It can be intriguing and a learning situation for everyone to discuss character concepts in an open thread - if you feel comfortable doing it.

/maseoo

Oooh ooooh pick me! Pick me!

Friendly neighborhood ADM also available for questions on the topic.

I've got a little bit of experience dealing with atypical Underdark residents, if you'd like.

Am I the only one bothered by the missing "w"..?

I am also planing to play in the UD with a friend on half-drow, so help for us could be welcome too!

(Sorry to kinda highjack the thread)

SilverShadow wrote:

Am I the only one bothered by the missing "w"..?

I've seen quite a lot of worse things over the years...

Ask away how you want and to whom.

I made this thread for specifically UD lore discussions as well, if anyone would like to use it:

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

*cough* Svirfs *cough*

Well my question is super secret so I was wondering who the leaders of the drow are?

If your after leaders that would be myself I would be happy to answer any questions you have.
I run Quellar Dabel'kith, otherwise FOE, Oroboros, Goliath could all help answer any questions.

You mean culturally speaking, lorewise? Or specifically on this server?

Generally, drow society is ruled through an oligarchy of powerful noble houses - in most cases, might makes right. (Might, or wealth, or influence, etc.) The only group that could be considered "above" the noble houses would be the church of Lolth - but the vast majority of powerful priestesses come from said families, and maintain their loyalty to their house. When engaging in politics, drow literally and figuratively weave a tangled web. If you want specifics, you'd have to ask, as the particular details can be complicated and seemingly-contradictory. There are also geographical variations in governance (Sshamath is ruled largely by mages, for example).

Here on the server, the two major PC Lolthite noble houses are Dabel'kith and Zau'afin. I haven't seen many Zau'afin on lately, but I'm sure they're still around.

Pyro sums up the situation reasonably well. Drow society differs depending on who rules the given city, but as the vast majority are held in the grip of Lolthites (as is ours) it typically plays out as such:

The Church of Lolth ultimately has the biggest clout in a city by virtue of being servants of their deity, surviving members being the most devious/ruthless of the group. Angering the church or Lolth puts you (or your house) on the fast track to a messy demise. The Ul'ath'tellar is the head of the church in any given city and is therefore the one person just about everyone seeks to keep appeased.

Of course, the church makes up a relatively small amount of a city's forces overall, the vast majority of military power being in the hands of the noble houses. As such the church needs to keep majority of the houses on side to be certain of having the power to take down renegade houses. This is typically achieved through each individual house's priestesses. It's their role to instill loyalty and a healthy fear of Lolth and the church in their respective house, and to report any signs of widespread heresy if an entire house looks to be straying from the fold (In which event the other houses will band together to annihilate the traitors before it spreads further, and raise their standing in the process).

As such there is a constant cold war between (and within) the houses, and in some cases even the church, as each faction/individual seeks to maintain or raise their standing in the grand scheme of local politics (Each house occupies a rank akin to a ladder system, with the greatest house being second only to the church). Spying, assassinations, sabotage, misdirection etc. are the norm.

When it comes to the running of the city, laws and decision are decided by a council. There are the laws as laid down by Lolth which are set and immutable, and there are those decided by the ruling houses. Each house's Ilharess has one vote they may cast for, or against, a decision in council, with the majority deciding. In the event of a tie, the Ul'ath'tellar decides whether the matter passes or is rejected. This system is as fraught with corruption as the lower levels of Drow society, with houses banding together, buying one another off, or deceiving the others to vote one way or the other.

Szith-Morcane's council currently consists of the Ul'ath'tellar, House Dhuurniv (NPC), and houses Dabel'kith and Zau'afin. These groups are the ones you'll be wanting to curry favor with (or undermine/tear down if you so choose).

This situation is always subject to change, however, as local politics decide. Nothing is ever fixed with the Drow, power and status are fluid and may slip through the holder's fingers as easily as water.

If you wish to know more, please do ask

Thanks, most of what I know about the underdark comes from the R.A. Salvatore books, so I know a little about how part of the underdark is run, so what you have posted helps get clear picture of the social structure of the place.

ADM_Ouroboros wrote:

*snip*

That's a pretty good explanation, actually. Drow society is hard to summarize succinctly.

One two three four, Svirfs are what the UD's for! Five, six, seven, eight! We're more than slave bait?

*Drops a stalactite on the uppity midget*

And thank you Pyro, I could have expanded more on the topic, but it was already becoming something of a wall >.<

jeyme wrote:

Five, six, seven, eight!  We're more than slave bait?

Don't get your hopes up.