Underdark General Discussion Thread

[DM Strahd]

This weekend, (Friday 11/05 and Saturday 12/05 GMT evenings for sure, say GMT 20.00+) expect trouble in the tunnels surrounding the City of Dark Weavings...

The Alhoon has proven he can hit Ssamath's defenses with the attack at Mist Lake, and while the Circle forces defeated the first Undead sighted at Undrek Valanor, a few "shards" of that attack force seem to have splintered, and are reported roaming the tunnels...

Be on your guard, and remember: every lone hero...is likely a dead hero.

/// Due to a minor technical problem that caused a bit of delay, I decided to move today's event to tomorrow. I will put something together on sunday (same time) to make it up to you guys.
Thank you for your patience, have fun!

[illithid]

Does anywhere in the UD sell thieves tools?

[Kenshin]

Have you checked within the shop near where Ithic the Mind Flayer merchant is standing? There are three merchants inside and the one in a private office sells primarily rogue equipment.

[illithid]

yes, nothing there that I can see

[MasterSilke]

The gnome merchant in Varalla's Passage might sell thieves tools, though I can't say for certain.

[Mastermind]

What musical instruments are traditional in drow culture?

[Lampir]

Drums made from the skulls of fallen enemies? Flutes made of...

*whistles innocently*

I've seen a drow playing some sort of a stringed instrument, but I can't remember what it was. Lyre I assume.

[MasterSilke]

What musical instruments are traditional in drow culture?

According to the Drow of the Underdark sourcebook, "the dark elves possess a variety of unique instruments, including the vazhan-do, a complex lute with sixty-four strings that can be plucked swiftly for a torrent of notes, or bent slowly, producing a ghostly wail; and the ezhirkiri, a wind instrument that transforms the air blowing through it into the sound of agonized, yet strangely melodic, shrieks."

However, since Sshamath is a huge trade metropolis, it would not be very farfetched for some traditional surface instruments to be found there, particularly if they possess any magical properties.

[Mastermind]

Thank you... 64 strings is ... disturbing

[Hoihe]

How can one play such an instrument lol?

[broham1]

How can one play such an instrument lol?

Standing up...like a large harp I assume.. *shrugs*

[Eviloth]

In a far off world, I used to DM for an Underdark and I was curious though on how this server would view warlocks being part of the Yath of Lolth? Reason being is because of something another player pointed out to me while I was DMing and I was cool with it but I think we all at that time settled on the Eldritch Desciple since the server had that as a PrC. Any thoughts on this?

[TheVoid]

There was a warlock drow female that played part of the clergy in one of the old houses. She was not given a title but was regarded as a guide or a seer... If I recall correctly. Warlocks are considered blessed by the many demon stewards within lolth's court, however they are not necessuarily blessed by the spider queen herself, since she does not need to create a pact to bestow power on those she favors. This is the reason why the clergy will always remain on the upper eschelon in the matriarchial pecking order of lolthite drow.

I think that a warlock can excel but can never dwarf a full blown priestess in terms of rank and importance in traditional drow society although there were houses with matrons that had no divine power but relied on powerful psionics that was a gift through heredity. that sets a precedent that being a priestess with divine prowess is not the sole requirement to be a matron of a house which opens the door for warlocks as well...

[Servin]

To (partly) back what The Void said:

http://bgtscc.net/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=19965

Ranks of the Temple Outside the Clergy

Faerz'un'arr
A Seeress of the Yath, all of the Faerz'un'arren - like the priestesses of Lolth - are female. Users of the Art and other forms of magic is valued highly in the Temple (especially in mage-dominated Sshmath). A Faerz'un'arr was a user of magic (Sorcerer, Wizard, Warlock "or") who put their abilities in the holy service of Lolth and Her temple. They were ranked only second to the priestesses in the hierarchy of the Yath; their powers both respected and feared. With their powers they enforced the will of the temple, and kept a check on ambitious 'heretical' male mages. They are lead by the Ul'Faerz'un'arr (Arch-Seeress), who takes part in the highest councils of the temple.

[DM Strahd]

I tend to let every Lolthite Drow serve the temple his or her own way. Most of all in our current situation, where the "Temple" is in truth direct part of House Sshamath (so: a Velg'larn can serve the House and in so doing the Temple, the Quel'Faeruk/Saeruk of the House are obviously tied to the Temple as well, and so on).

The ONLY thing that I really am not willing to yeld is: female clerics and favored souls of Lolth have a higher standing in the Temple. Clerics even more than FSs. Lore skill is paramount to officiate rituals and know the mysteries of Lolth (try to get 10/12+, if possible). Splashing in Cle/FS can get you into the temple, and even to positions of prestige, but the higher Cle level you have, the higher your standing will be in case you want to climb the ladder (web, really).

Warlocks are extremely appreciated servants. Powerful, useful tools. Clerics (and Favored Souls) are the ones in command. Every non-clerical title means little compared to a full (or near full) cleric belonging to the Yath.

This just as a reference.