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silverwolfer
Senior Scribe
789 Posts |
 Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 00:45:28
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I know this sounds weird and all, but do we have any sort of information on what sort of application in society that drows that become druids? I can't even find much in the drow underdark source books.
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
12093 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 01:12:55
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| I know there were some articles on underdark druids. However, since Lolth doesn't promote druids, I'd imagine most Lolth dominated drow societies don't have them. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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ksu_bond
Learned Scribe
New Zealand
214 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 01:38:36
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Undoubtedly they do exist, but in a city such as Menzo I'd wager that they are few and would aid in growing food (such as the mushroom fields) and assist with any hunting/gathering operations outside the city.
Otherwise, druids would be reclusive exiles that either wander the underdark or have found a "quiet" corner to call their own. Though I'd wager these would still be few in number and would likely be cross-classed with the more common Drow classes (representing their training/function prior to being exiled). |
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Cards77
Senior Scribe
USA
747 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 01:40:45
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I'm sure there is or has been drow druids. Hell there's a drow ranger why not a druid? I'm sure there are several "underdark" type rangers that are drow. However, I'm of the mind that in the typical drow society, they would have no place and would have to be loners living alone in the wild underdark or perhaps as part of a druid circle. I guess it's POSSIBLE that a druid could have some sort of role in the cultivation of mushrooms or such to support a drow city. Most druids on the surface are only partially involved if at all with the greater "society", some more than others.
damn KSU beat me to the punch...
Also, I'd like to add that not every drow city is like Menzo...some are radically different, and thus different classes could play different roles than the typical ruling class of female clerics of Loth. I could certainly see evilish druids in particular playing more of a role in the more chaotic cities especially considering recent events. |
Edited by - Cards77 on 08 Aug 2013 01:57:35 |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
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jerrod
Learned Scribe
157 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 05:54:14
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| Well everyone has covered all the bases..lol so I can really contribute now |
I haven't been here in years but I used to be DARKFLAME MILLITHOR(DROW ARCHMAGE of wildmagic |
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TBeholder
Great Reader
2482 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 07:16:05
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| Also, Ghanadaur is all about lifeforce, isn't it? |
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Madpig
Learned Scribe
Finland
148 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 07:18:52
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| Given the chaotic nature of Drows (and elfs in general) it would be rather hard to be a creature who strives to maintain balance. As all druids must be of some neutral alignment. (As i can recall) |
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ksu_bond
Learned Scribe
New Zealand
214 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 07:21:18
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Incidentally, Drow of the Underdark has a Drow Druid class variant.
Oh, and The Complete Guide to the Drow by Goodman Games also has a Blood Druid PrC geared for Drow. |
Edited by - ksu_bond on 08 Aug 2013 07:32:36 |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 14:58:07
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quote:
Originally posted by TBeholder
Also, Ghanadaur is all about lifeforce, isn't it?
I think that would depend on the definition of lifeforce.
Ghaunadaur's portfolio remains:- oozes, slimes, jellies, and all things subterranean. |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
12093 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 16:24:07
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| outside Lolth dominated societies, I could see a drow druid living amongst some myconids, just as a for instance. In a magocracy, I could definitely see theurgist druids.... in fact, it could be interesting if these drow might simulate lighted "surface-like" areas in order to grown commonly used surface world components (possibly using some kind of glasses to protect themselves from the light and captured slaves to help tend the plants). |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Hawkins
Great Reader
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 18:14:48
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| The Pathfinder Cave Druid archetype would lend itself well to a drow druid. |
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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
Posted - 04 Oct 2014 : 15:30:32
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Just thought about the possibility of drow druidic circles forming. In ancient times the dark elves must have had fey guided shamans, so artifacts of ilythiiri or miyeritari origin could have been build by dark elven druidic circles of that time. Naturally very little is known about those orders and their practises are lost in time. Some impressive druidic groves are found in the territory of their lost kingdoms, so it is possible some of them might have been founded by dark elven druidic circles.
Since the Dark Descent the underdark made up the new territory for the transformed drow, but the existing druidic order was not as well equiped to deal with the hostile environment as the new formidable battle clerics of Lolth. The succesful drow cities formed around the beach head defined by the drow clerics of lolth.
Im sure though that in some places, drow might have found a stable area in the underdark by following a savvy drow druid that managed to quickly learn his new terrain. Here a whole different powerstructure could define the drow society. I expect that given the power hungry nature of the lolthite faith, such settlements are actively hunted and subjugated.
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Gray druids are stealthy protectors of nature with a reverence for the deepest dark and all its bounties. They are welcomed by adventurers because of their uncanny ability to travel the underdark in relative luxurious conditions; able to readily track potable water and tasty food supplies, find hidden resting places and take shortcuts around hazardous areas in underdark caverns and caves, all without using a lightsource. They are also sought out for their extensive knowledge of all manner of fungi and oozes. Most see their patron, Ibrandul, as the saviour of man in a coming age of Darkness, and have found the drive to serve as guides to the unwary that have entered their masters domain.
The gray druids of Ibrandul had a following of drow, but the clergy stopped recieving spells when Shar killed his avatar in the Undermountain under Waterdeep. It is suggested they started seeking (or were sought out by) new patrons, finding them amongst dwarven, gnome and other underdark gods.
So one might see drow druidic hermits that have found a connection to Segojan Earthcaller, and forming a sort of caretaker of the dead-like attitude, just like the gnome deity. They are likely to be less mobile, and more focused on defending a particular underdark grove. A loose connection can form between nearby groves and circles are likely to convene in moots in a central gem-studded cavern.
Drow druids of Calladuran Smoothands are more unlikely, but some might have resisted lolthite drow raiding parties long enough and gotten sponsored by the Svirfneblin god of the deep earth. They probably retain more of the underdark guide role of Ibrandul, guiding travellers in peril to safety.
Druids that hold a particular interest in the bounties of the underdark might get a patron in Dumathoin, the Silent Keeper. If their knowledge of the earth is used to aid in safe and efficient agriculture, the gray druid might get the attention of the dwarven god, especially if it can support a nearby mining community. Drow druids need extra good diplomacy skills if they want to settle near a dwarven mining operation though.
The archdruids in the order of the enveloping darkness of Ibrandul operate only in the Deepdark, and are usually never heard of again. They are probably consumed by Shar once they fully enter her domain through the deepest parts of the underdark into the plane of shadow. Some might see use as shade druids that command large packs of shadow creatures, like shadow spores, umberhulks and cloakers. |
My campaign sketches
Druidic Groves
Creature Feature: Giant Spiders |
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Kyrel
Learned Scribe
151 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2014 : 20:20:17
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RAW I don't really see anything that would necessarily prevent the existence of Drow Druids. That being said, based on what I recall about the available fluff on Drow Society, I'm not sure that you are going to find very many Drow Druids. At least not in any society that even remotely resemble Menzo... I just don't see the class lending itself very well to any kind of society that is dominated by the clergy of Lloth. Could they exist in Drow societies structured differently than Menzo...? Sure. But I would say that it would probably have to be pretty different, given the normal requirement about Neutral alignments (as I recall the rules atm) and the focus on balance.
Generally speaking I wouldn't expect to find "Drow Druid Groves" hidden in the wilds of the Underdark. It wouldn't be impossible, but I just don't really see it. IMO the Underdark is sufficiently unforgiving that I just don't see it as particularly viable for a small group of Drow Druids to inhabit a sufficiently large cavern with enough resources to sustain them, and at the same time being able to defend it from wandering predators and other (semi-)sentient creatures who might want it for themselves. I just don't see it.
Finally, as for what positions/functions a Drow Druid might fulfil in a Drow society, I have to say that it really would have to depend on the exact nature of the society. On one level I don't see them fulfilling any particular role in a society as Menzo..., but that's not to say that they couldn't fulfil a variety of functions, like shopkeepers, caravan guides/guards, or fungus/rothe farmers. But neither of these roles would be particular to being a Druid.
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Cards77
Senior Scribe
USA
747 Posts |
Posted - 06 Oct 2014 : 03:46:48
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quote:
Originally posted by Kyrel
RAW I don't really see anything that would necessarily prevent the existence of Drow Druids. That being said, based on what I recall about the available fluff on Drow Society, I'm not sure that you are going to find very many Drow Druids. At least not in any society that even remotely resemble Menzo... I just don't see the class lending itself very well to any kind of society that is dominated by the clergy of Lloth. Could they exist in Drow societies structured differently than Menzo...? Sure. But I would say that it would probably have to be pretty different, given the normal requirement about Neutral alignments (as I recall the rules atm) and the focus on balance.
Generally speaking I wouldn't expect to find "Drow Druid Groves" hidden in the wilds of the Underdark. It wouldn't be impossible, but I just don't really see it. IMO the Underdark is sufficiently unforgiving that I just don't see it as particularly viable for a small group of Drow Druids to inhabit a sufficiently large cavern with enough resources to sustain them, and at the same time being able to defend it from wandering predators and other (semi-)sentient creatures who might want it for themselves. I just don't see it.
Finally, as for what positions/functions a Drow Druid might fulfil in a Drow society, I have to say that it really would have to depend on the exact nature of the society. On one level I don't see them fulfilling any particular role in a society as Menzo..., but that's not to say that they couldn't fulfil a variety of functions, like shopkeepers, caravan guides/guards, or fungus/rothe farmers. But neither of these roles would be particular to being a Druid.
I agree with you accept for one point. As with most wild and inhospitable areas, druids are uniquely equipped to thrive in extremely harsh environments.
The underdark is MORE harsh and there are more areas where extreme conditions dominate, but just like on the surface, if any humanoids can occupy them, it would be druids. Probably high level druids only but just the same. I would expect underdark druids to take even MORE interest in an oasis of resources in the large expanses of inhospitable underdark, potentially setting the stage for circles at least symbiotic relationships if not cooperations. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36910 Posts |
Posted - 06 Oct 2014 : 04:26:34
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I, personally, would expect that any drow who become druids would either live entirely apart from drow society, or at best on the outermost fringes, doing something like assisting with fungus farms.
Druids are generally not found in cities, and usually live apart from their parent societies. The rare drow called to be an Underdark druid would, I think, fit the same mold. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 06 Oct 2014 : 04:40:40
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I, personally, would expect that any drow who become druids would either live entirely apart from drow society, or at best on the outermost fringes, doing something like assisting with fungus farms.
The notion of drow druids conspiring to free the captive rothe herds that are found among dark elf communities is an intriguing roleplaying possibility as well. |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4694 Posts |
Posted - 06 Oct 2014 : 04:53:54
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I, personally, would expect that any drow who become druids would either live entirely apart from drow society, or at best on the outermost fringes, doing something like assisting with fungus farms.
The notion of drow druids conspiring to free the captive rothe herds that are found among dark elf communities is an intriguing roleplaying possibility as well.
Well freeing rothe might be a good idea, the Drow cities are based around water and moss/fungus, the food rothe need. Rothe wandering the tunnels does not strike me as a better life for them.
I do agree that Druids would tend to be on the outskirts of most Drow cities, I do not agree that they would all need to be high level (No way to become high level without starting at low level) as Cards offers.
It hover clearly is possible that a city might make offer to a Druid for blessing of the moss/fungus in exchanged for a slightly coopertive situation. Even Lolth Matrons do get pragmatic at times, however deals hard to trust. |
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ericlboyd
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
2089 Posts |
Posted - 06 Oct 2014 : 13:10:20
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There's a drow druid 7 / barbarian 3 / black blood cultist 6 on page 48 of Champions of Ruin.
--Eric |
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http://www.ericlboyd.com/dnd/ |
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Barastir
Master of Realmslore
Brazil
1602 Posts |
Posted - 06 Oct 2014 : 14:16:38
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| IIRC, the picture of the underdark druid in the 2e Complete Druid's Handbook is of a female drow druid. Generic AD&D, but possible in the Realms. Haven't thought of a deity for them, though (unless you consider druids linked to nature but not to a deity). Well, and I haven't checked the Demihuman Deities and Powers and Pantheons sourcebooks, maybe there is something in Ibrandul, Moander or even other deities' entries. |
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Cards77
Senior Scribe
USA
747 Posts |
Posted - 07 Oct 2014 : 01:03:26
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quote:
Originally posted by Kentinal
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I, personally, would expect that any drow who become druids would either live entirely apart from drow society, or at best on the outermost fringes, doing something like assisting with fungus farms.
The notion of drow druids conspiring to free the captive rothe herds that are found among dark elf communities is an intriguing roleplaying possibility as well.
Well freeing rothe might be a good idea, the Drow cities are based around water and moss/fungus, the food rothe need. Rothe wandering the tunnels does not strike me as a better life for them.
I do agree that Druids would tend to be on the outskirts of most Drow cities, I do not agree that they would all need to be high level (No way to become high level without starting at low level) as Cards offers.
It hover clearly is possible that a city might make offer to a Druid for blessing of the moss/fungus in exchanged for a slightly coopertive situation. Even Lolth Matrons do get pragmatic at times, however deals hard to trust.
Keep my statement in context. What I said was I would expect a druid defending an oasis of resources in the wild or deep underdark would likely, of necessity, be high level.
I can definitely see (and suggested in the past) that druids could be key to growing food for large underdark cities. I could see that with any city and any level.
I'm sure there are some mindslave druids tending food sources in more than one abberation city. |
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Cards77
Senior Scribe
USA
747 Posts |
Posted - 07 Oct 2014 : 01:07:12
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quote:
Originally posted by Barastir
IIRC, the picture of the underdark druid in the 2e Complete Druid's Handbook is of a female drow druid. Generic AD&D, but possible in the Realms. Haven't thought of a deity for them, though (unless you consider druids linked to nature but not to a deity). Well, and I haven't checked the Demihuman Deities and Powers and Pantheons sourcebooks, maybe there is something in Ibrandul, Moander or even other deities' entries.
What about Shar/Sharess?
I think a oozemaster prestige class is tailor made for an underdark druid, particularly a twisted evil drow loner.
From Masters of the Wild:
Racially, half-orcs and gnomes are more suited to this class than elves and half-elves, most of whom consider themselves too refined for this basest of prestige classes. The drow, of course, are exceptions, since it was they who created this class in the first place. Certainly, the first oozemaster was a dark elf, though how this magic got out of the subterranean depths is a mystery best unprobed. |
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Fellfire
Master of Realmslore
1965 Posts |
Posted - 07 Oct 2014 : 03:28:12
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Wish I had some Mindflayer Memory Dust, there's something ratlling around up there,
but Cyric take me dancing if I can recall. DDGttU maybe?
The 3e Underdark presented the Cavestalker and the Slyth who were deep druids. I don't see why not, they are elves despite their evil trappings.
I do like the Oozemaster/Ghaunadar (Jubilex, and wasn't there another aspect as well?) angle. Definitely something workable there.
Where is the line? Are slimes and oozes plants? Fungus? Oversized amoeba? Bacterium? |
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Edited by - Fellfire on 07 Oct 2014 04:18:50 |
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Fellfire
Master of Realmslore
1965 Posts |
Posted - 07 Oct 2014 : 03:45:58
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A little help, please. This is making my brain itch. Wasn't there another slimy BBEG somewhere? Not big Mo', Tharzidun, or Zuggymot.
edit: all types of bad spelling there, sorry. You get my drift. |
Misanthorpe
Love is a lie. Only hate endures. Light is blinding. Only in darkness do we see clearly.
"Oh, you think darkness is your ally? You merely adopted the dark. I was born in it, molded by it. I didn't see the light until I was already a man, by then it was nothing to me but.. blinding. The shadows betray you because they belong to me." - Bane The Dark Knight Rises
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Edited by - Fellfire on 07 Oct 2014 04:01:34 |
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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
Posted - 07 Oct 2014 : 14:29:23
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Youre probably thinking of Ghaunadaur.
Followers of Ghaunadaur must make a sacrifice each day. His clergy is mostly composed of drow outcasts (among which I think some could very well choose a druidic path), especially since Ghaunadaur left Lolths service a few years after the Spellplague. His motivations are one of the most alien amongst Fearunian dieties. In ancient times when Lolth first spurned his affections, he even struck all semblence of intellect from his ooze followers in spite. He is a very powerful entity though, probably because of the high price he demands from his followers and the general disposability with which he makes use of them.
Oozes and slimes are a type of living creature on itself, with their own type category. They are mindless (since Ghaunadaurs fickle decision) and reproduce sexually through spores that can lay dormant for years, and asexually through combat by splitting in half through damaging attacks.
About the underdark not being able to sustain druid groves. Sure. But a druid (or small druidic circle) can coax a certain node of life to be able to sustain a lot more creatures then normal. Subterranean and wet caverns can be large enough to sustain a localised ecosystem, with lots of intricate symbiotic relations that manage to build relatively complex (more energy consuming) lifeforms. Think of a verdant fungus cave, with photosynthesis possible by the bioluminesence of its fungi, with (night)flowers that are able to bloom at any point in the year and bats functioning as pollinizers (even between two such caves). The scale of such groves is most often a lot less than grove from the surface, but they are definately a possibility (or agruably a necessity for nearby settlements). |
My campaign sketches
Druidic Groves
Creature Feature: Giant Spiders |
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Zireael
Master of Realmslore
Poland
1190 Posts |
Posted - 07 Oct 2014 : 16:49:55
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| I seem to recall a drow druid in a Web Enhancement for Underdark on Wizards site. |
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hashimashadoo
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1155 Posts |
Posted - 07 Oct 2014 : 16:58:15
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quote:
Originally posted by Zireael
I seem to recall a drow druid in a Web Enhancement for Underdark on Wizards site.
I believe that was actually for City of the Spider Queen. She was a werebat drow druid. |
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Barastir
Master of Realmslore
Brazil
1602 Posts |
Posted - 07 Oct 2014 : 18:47:11
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Although I haven't found a deity in the Faiths & Avatars series that is usually worshipped by drow and allows druids in his/her/its clergy, in the tables at the end of Demihuman Deities it is written that drow can become druids of up to 12th level.
The gray (underdark) druid in The Complete Druid's Handbook can be a half-drow, but not a drow, but as it is a core AD&D book, only half-elves (not full elves) can be druids. The Demihuman Deities entry says a drow druid is an exception to the core rules, so maybe you could use it.
Finally, the picture I saw is of the "Hivemaster" druid, with power over insects and aracnids. The picture looks like a full drow, but nothing is said. Considering 2e tradition on using pictures from other books, I'm not sure I would use it as a reliable reference.
However, I see no problem in using a full drow gray hivemaster druid freely in the FR, based on the info in all of these books and combining them. And probably would choose a demihuman deity of the underdark, and/or linked to aracnids. |
"Goodness is not a natural state, but must be
fought for to be attained and maintained.
Lead by example.
Let your deeds speak your intentions.
Goodness radiated from the heart."
The Paladin's Virtues, excerpt from the "Quentin's Monograph"
(by Ed Greenwood) |
Edited by - Barastir on 07 Oct 2014 18:50:31 |
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Drow Druids?
