Villains' Lorebook.pdf - Department of Political Science

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cross. This stagnant society-where only the faces of
the conspirators change-is likely responsible for a
few, brave drow fleeing their evil culture and seeking
new lives on the surface of Faerûn.
History: The city of Menzoberranzan was
founded some 5,000 years ago, when a group of
seven families left the intrigue- and strife-torn drow
city of Golothaer, seeking release from the endless
cycle of violence and death. This group was led by
the powerful priestess of Lolth, Menzoberra.
The families traveled great distances through the
Underdark, seeking a place to make their new
home. Lolth seemed to aid them on their journey,
but only when all hope seemed lost. Along the way,
the drow battled illithids, svirfneblin, dwarves, and
a beholder.
Those drow who survived these conflicts found
they had fought their way to what they’d sought for
so long. Menzoberra and the others took up residence
in what had been the vast lair of a beholder,
and the new city was named after the priestess who’d
led the drow here: Menzoberranzan.
Soon, however, these drow reverted to type. The
inevitable, evil games of intrigue, revenge, and
death soon became a common part of life in the city,
though the drow seemed not to realize they’d
brought the hell they’d fought so hard to escape from
with them in their hearts and souls. This is the curse
of the dark elves. Only the institution of the Council,
with House Baenre at its head (one of the few
families that traveled with Menzoberra and survived
the journey and subsequent infighting), kept the city
from civil war.
Leaders/Important NPCs: Described below are a
select number of important drow figures in Menzoberranzan’s
recent history.
Matron Mother Baenre, (25th-level priestess of
Lolth), AC 5; MV 12; hp 87; THAC0 4; #AT 1;
Dmg by spell; MR 100%; SZ M; ML 20; AL CE; XP
21,000.
S 9, D 10, C 16, I 18, W 19, Ch 15.
Spells: 12/ll/ll/10/9/8/4; Matron Mother Baenre
also possesses the following spell-like abilities: dancing
lights, faerie fire, darkness, levitate, know alignment,
detect magic, detect lie, clairvoyance, suggestion, dispel
magic.
Special Equipment: Ring of arachnid control*, ring of
anti-venom*, cloak of arachnida, net of entrapment,
spider wand*, as well as a wide selection of other
magical items owned by House Baenre.
Description: Mother Matron Baenre is ancient,
even by elf standards. Her face is criss-crossed with
numerous, deep wrinkles and her hair has become
thin and stringy. She’s also outgrown most physical
pleasures, so she devotes herself to political intrigue
and psychological web-weaving. She’s cocky, having
lost all fear long ago. She seems content to serve the
Spider Queen, though her predilection for chaos
keeps the other houses wary of her at all times.
Gromph Baenre, (20th-level male wizard), AC
-2; MV 12; hp 39; THAC0 14; #AT 1; Dmg by spell;
MR 90%; SZ M; ML 19; AL CE; XP 17,000.
S 10, D 16, C 9, I 19, W 12, Ch 8.
Spells: 5/5/5/5/5/4/3/3/2; in addition, Gromph has
the following spell-like abilities: dancing lights, faerie
fire, darkness, levitate, know alignment, detect magic.
Special Equipment: Amulet of perpetual youth, robe
of the Archmage of Menzoberranzan*, spider mask*,
wand of viscid globs*, wand of acidic spheres*, and
many other esoteric or unknown magical items.
Description: Gromph is older than most other
males in the city; very few drow males make it to
“old age.” He’s aged gracefully, with flowing white
hair and a face that shows few of his 700 years. He’s
a perfectionist and carries himself with dignity. Deep
down, though, he hates the matriarchal nature of
drow society and continually strives to change it in
any small way he can. He’s also quite fond of the
young adventuress, Liriel Baenre.
Jalynfein, “The Spider Mage” (24th-level
mage), AC 1; MV 12; hp 51; THAC0 13; #AT 1;
Dmg by spell or weapon; MR 98%; SZ M; ML 19;
AL CN; XP 20,000.
S 15, D 17, C 14, I 18, W 17, Ch 7.
Spells: 5/5/5/5/5/5/5/5/4; in addition, Jalynfein has
the following spell-like abilities: dancing lights, faerie
fire, darkness, levitate, know alignment, detect magic,
plus a yochlol-granted ability to use a spider summoning
(as the priest spell on page 157) once per day.
This special power is not a spell to be memorized and
cast, it’s activated with but a thought. Whenever Jalynfein
uses this ability, his face appears to be a
writhing mass of long, hairy spider legs lit by a purple-orange
faerie fire radiance; this effect is the
source of his nickname.