Interest Check: City of the Drow 3.5 DnD (rebootx2!!)

Started by Zaer Darkwail, February 01, 2012, 05:36:46 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

ulthakptah

Oh, just in case the whole first post was too long and people just skimmed through it, there is an album of drow pictures that will most likely save people the time searching for them on their own.

http://s749.photobucket.com/albums/xx134/ulthakptah/Drows/?start=all

Zaer Darkwail

Kongming; the matron mother feat is for free for all matron mother chars :P. So your missing one feat. What comes to cohort you can let me or do it yourself, up to you :). But beware; I use random dice rolls to determine features with the cohort (so not 100% optimized but he's going to be useful someway).

ulthakptah; It was not meant anyway directed towards you my comment but I have noticed the said char butchers just anyone who is not immune to sneak attacks or crits. The char's situation is not helped by the fact that the char is a swashbuckler/rogue hybrid with skullclan hunter with dark creature template.

So it's not just one char but whole party super optimized, but then again last time when we played the campaign 4 years ago the party suffered 10 PC casualties over the career and they did not reach even half-way to the story before we quited the campaign which got infamous feel of 'meatgrinder'.

kongming

#27
Faeremhara Llaeloth

Appearance:


Background:
Faeremhara was the first daughter of her parents - the first child, in fact. And so, she had a head start of a few years, enough to establish her dominance in the family right from the get-go. Being perhaps savvy and aware that she would need followers if she was to rule everything as was always her goal, she refrained herself from being particularly cruel to her surviving siblings - better to have some degree of loyalty from them, after all.

As usual, maturity took a long time, so she spent many years honing her skills, learning how to be an effective leader and how to run a business. Indeed, while she knew she must one day plot her own mother's demise, for the time being she was content to be an effective underling, a student learning from the best.

It paid off: in the end, she did not have to cause that death. Instead, both her parents led a contingent to fight against the mind flayers who had been getting too close, taking slaves and nourishment from the city. Not a single one returned, except as animate dead, their brains pried out of their skulls. As a result, Faeremhara was thrust into the position of leadership, but she was not found wanting. She did not have a period of mourning, no, she took the reigns instantly and went about securing her control. Within the first week, dozens were enslaved or killed to assert her dominance.

Fortunately for her, that served to set her position firmly enough that she is even now recognised as the Matron Mother of the household - or in her case, her entire fortress-town, the Caverns of Despair. She took on a more persistent, ruthless approach to business, making it known that embezzlement brought death as the penalty for the first offence, and laziness resulting in severe beatings. She doubled the number of workers, went about forging deals with spidery allies to produce the finest silks, bargaining with aranea to permanently bless the more exotic rolls with prestidigitation. Everything so that they could corner the entire silk market. Certainly, some required convincing - bodies of rivals being found bound in the web they spun.

At the moment, it has all been paying off, but she knows there is trouble brewing, a great unrest seems to be about the area. Could it be the start of rebellion, or the final stages of a coup about to be pulled? Or perhaps the nearby monsters that have raided the area from time to time are now starting to get ready for something greater. Only time will tell.

[Will include a section on relationship with her adopted daughter played by Kunoichi, once we've decided on the specifics there]

Stronghold: The Caverns of Despair
Underground, 1-16 miles from Large City (-2%)
-Lawless Area
-Site Controls Income Source
-Nearby Monster Lair: 4x EL 15 challenges (Unless Zaer has his own ideas, it could very well be a Mind Flayer "Lair". Probably a couple of encounters of 1-2 Mind Flayers (EL 8 or 10 respectively - though Mind Flayers are actually stronger than their so called "CR 8"), one encounter of a pair of Mind Flayer Sorcerers (EL 15), a pair of Urophions (EL 15), a Mind Flayer with 7 levels of Illithid Savant (EL 15), and the boss, one Psionic Ulitharid with 3 extra levels of Psion (EL 15). Probably also has several groups of less than EL 15 consisting of slaves, or 1 mind flayer and a few slaves, or a couple of ropers or Umber Hulks)
-Hewn Stone Walls (free)
-Bigger than a Huge Castle

-Basic Alchemy Lab
-4x Basic Armoury
-Barbican
-15x Barracks
-Luxury Bath (mine)
-Luxury Bedroom Suite (mine)
-20 Basic Bedrooms
-10 Fancy Bedrooms
-Fancy Chapel
-Fancy Common Area
-Fancy Dining Hall
-Guard Post
-Gatehouse
-Fancy Kitchen
-Basic Magic Lab
-72 Prison Cells
-5x Servant's Quarters
-Fancy Shop
-Basic Smithy
-Fancy Storage
-Luxury Study/Office (mine)
-Fancy Throne room (mine)
-Basic Tavern
-Torture Chamber
-Combat Training Facility
-Fancy Workplace
-Iron Portcullis with Amazing Lock
-Bed of Lesser Restoration
-Desecrated Shrine (inside the Chapel itself)
Subtotal: 191,800, for 84.5 SS

Guards: 39
Servants: 8
Maids: 4
Valets: 2
Acolytes: 1
Cooks: 2
Clerks: 3
Smiths: 1
Torturers: 1
Workers: 20
Total: 435/month in wages

Guard Equipment:
5x Guard
15x Skirmisher
14x Archer
Total: 3,357

Subtotal + Guard Equipment: 199,157GP
Minus 2% Discount: 195,174GP

(The rest (4,826) can be used to pay wages for about eleven months, and miscellaneous upkeep)

Business Operations:
"Armour Amore - it's like wearing nothing at all!"
Based inside the fortress itself (near City, +2 Modifier)
Risky Trade: often have to capture more Chitines/keep the current ones in line, and there are often other Drow groups trying to start up their own trade. Will need to sometimes secure deals with groups of Aranea, Driders and similar. (High Risk, -4 to Profit Margin but 50,000*margin)
Primary Business: Fine Woven Silk Production (Craft: Silk Weaving)
-Secondary Skills: Profession: Merchant and Diplomacy (+1 bonus for having 5 ranks in each)
-Resources: Moderate (although silk is expensive, they mostly have their own production)
-Total Bonus: +25 (take ten gives 35)
-Only works 10-20 hours/week herself, but has a specialist in the staff (several, actually) and a business partner
Standard Monthly Profit: (50,000*10) 500,000 GP (which I assume mostly goes into running the fortress, maintaining it, keeping the business running well, bribing necessary people etc. I'm guessing I don't get half a million GP a month to just spend on drugs, concubines and fancy weapons :p)

Secondary: Unnamed "business" of the cult/protection racket Zeranth runs.
-Based in the City (+2)
-Risky Trade (-4)
Main Skill: Intimidate (+20)
Supporting Skills: Knowledge (the Planes) and Bluff (+1 synergy)
Resources: Low (+1)
Total: +20 (Take 10 is 30, for 5*50 = 250 GP/month)

Secondary: Follower (1/2 Elf Expert 6) runs a spider hatchery
-Based near the city (+2)
-Risky Trade (-4)
-Resources: Moderate (+0)
Main Skill: Handle Animal (+13)
Supporting Skills: Knowledge (Nature) and Survival (+2 synergy)
Business Savvy (+2)
Works 40+ hours full time (+2)
Total: +17 (Take 10 is 27, for 2*50 = 100 GP/month)

Leadership Information:
Followers: (note: I am assuming these won't need stats because if they fight NPCs/monsters of a level to challenge me, or if they fight other PCs, they're going to get slaughtered in like half a move action :) But specific special ones are there in case you want to use a specific one as an NPC to interact with me or another player. Also, I'm assuming followers still have level adjustments as normal)
1st Level: 600
-200x Goblin Rogue
-200x Orc Barbarian
-200x Orc Fighter
2nd Level: 60
-10x Goblin Rogue 2
-10x Goblin Ranger 2
-10x Hobgoblin Fighter 2
-10x Hobgoblin Hexblade 2
-10x Orc Barbarian 2
3rd Level: 30
-10x Chitine Rogue 1 (enslaved workers)
-10x Drow Fighter 1 (guards, mostly)
-9x Drow Sorcerer/Sorceress 1
-1x Drow Cleric of Eilistrae 1 (imprisoned, kept alive just for torture)
4th Level: 20
-5x Drow Rogue 1/Fighter 1
-5x Drow Rogue 2
-5x Drow Wizard 2
-5x Drow Fighter 1/Cleric 1
5th Level: 10
-Adopted Daughter: *Deep Imaskari Beguiler 5 (found interesting and charming enough to keep on hand in a diplomatic position)
-Adopted Daughter: *Fey'ri Swashbuckler 3 (once captured here, kept escaping, daring enough to impress me)
-Adopted Daughter: Drow Paladin of Slaughter 3 (always being sent on taks that let her murder and massacre to keep her blood-lust slaked)
-Blood Daughter: Drow Battledancer 3 (lives a life of excess, too careless with drug use and sex to be part of the intricate game of intrigue)
-Blood Daughter: Drow Sorceress 3 (favourite hobby: tormenting her brothers)
-Blood Daughter: Drow Cleric 3 (looking for the opportunity to backstab her older sister, the level 4 Cleric)
-Blood Nephew: Drow Wizard 3 (always trying to be out of sight, out of mind)
-Blood Son: Drow Archivist 3 (given a role in the libraries, and occasionally I get his Clerical sisters to scribe scrolls for him)
-Blood Son: Drow Rogue 3 (attempting to make himself too useful to kill, probably secretly looking for the moment to strike)
-Blood Son: Drow Dread Necromancer 3 (with Tomb-Tainted Soul - tends to surround himself with weak undead and enjoys their silent company)
6th Level: 10
-Adopted Daughter: Drow Rogue 4 (impressed me enough with her acts of extreme violence and cunning - lets me keep an eye on her!)
-Adopted Daughter: *Fey'ri Warlock 4 (just as evil, just as hateful of other elves, but less likely to turn on me)
-Adopted Daughter: *Half-Elf (Drow) Expert 6 (has all the sneakiness and tenacity of the drow side, works full time raising spiders for silk)
-Blood Daughter: Drow Cleric 4 (taking after me a little too closely for my liking - better keep an eye on her!)
-Blood Daughter: Drow Swashbuckler 4 (a bit crazy and rapacious, being more interested in raids on the surface than normal)
-Blood Son: Drow Wizard 4 (was second-born - minutes before the third (twins), so he knows how close he was to being sacrificed)
-Blood Niece: Drow Swordsage 4 (spends a lot of time fighting in the arenas)
-Blood Niece: Drow Duskblade 4 (enjoys carving the bones of her victims)
-Blood Niece: Drow Druid 4 (talks to spiders more than people)
-Blood Niece: Drow Hexblade 4 (is often put in charge of torture duties - obviously this is something she earned, everyone wants that job)

Cohort/Consort, has taken my name:
Zeranth Llaeloth, CE Male Drow Warlock 5/Demonbinder 5
10 16 (18) 12 16 10 20 (22)
Init +4
Speed: 30'
HP 48/48
Resist: SR 21, +2 vs Spells, +2 Will vs Enchantments, Electricity Resist 10, DR 1/Cold Iron and 2/Good
Immune: Magic [Sleep] effects
AC: 20 (+4 Dex, +5 Armour, +1 Deflect), flat 16, touch 15
F +6 R +6 W +8
BAB/Grab: +5/+5
-melee +5
-range +9
-Eldritch Blast +9 ranged touch attack (5d6 Eldritch damage, 20/x2)
Feats: Dazzling Fire, Radiant Flicker,  Constant Guardian, Dutiful Guardian
Skills: Bluff +11, Sense Motive +5, Craft: Silk Weaving +12, Knowledge: The Planes +12, Intimidate +20, Spot +11
Special: Elven Senses, Detect Secret Doors, 2/day: Dancing Lights, Darkness, 4/day: Faerie Fire
-Eldritch Blast +5d6, Invocations, Detect Magic, Deceive Item
-Baleful Utterance, Spiderwalk, Summon Swarm
-Sudden Swarm, Beshadowed Blast
-Damnation Points (11/11), Demonbind (5/5)
Equipment: Chitine Web +2, Ring of Drow Blood, Cloak of Charisma +2, Gloves of Dexterity +2, Ring of Deflection +1, (total ~19,000)
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.

I have a catapult. Give me all the money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head.

Ons/Offs:
https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=9536.msg338515

Zaer Darkwail

Looks good, anyways I will provide details for DMG 2 bit later. If no one other players get to do it first :P. But basic gist is this; you do profit check once per month which base is 10 + main skill mod. You need do 25 check to keep business running but gain no profit (if going under any reason you face losses).

Now besides main skill there are two supportive skills which add modifier for the check based on 5 ranks in both skills (not just one). So running a weaving business you could add Craft:Weaving and Diplomacy or Appraise as secondary skills.

But note; what riskier business that more profit you gain. Also besides running business you have house expenses to settle in. What higher leadership score/number of followers, that greater house expense is going to be. So your main businss should be preferably be risky one (to cover expenses for sure) or have very darn good profit check which gives 100,000 or so gp per month. Going under that runs risk your house cannot cover expenses with businesses what you run.

But the actual theme what business is up to you but risky factor can be fierce rivals, source of the silk being dangerous or other reason.

Besides main business you got two other business where you have less influence. But overall deal is that major house business means also actual influence in that field of business in the city.

ulthakptah

Quote from: Zaer Darkwail on February 03, 2012, 03:11:23 AM
Kongming; the matron mother feat is for free for all matron mother chars :P. So your missing one feat. What comes to cohort you can let me or do it yourself, up to you :). But beware; I use random dice rolls to determine features with the cohort (so not 100% optimized but he's going to be useful someway).

ulthakptah; It was not meant anyway directed towards you my comment but I have noticed the said char butchers just anyone who is not immune to sneak attacks or crits. The char's situation is not helped by the fact that the char is a swashbuckler/rogue hybrid with skullclan hunter with dark creature template.

So it's not just one char but whole party super optimized, but then again last time when we played the campaign 4 years ago the party suffered 10 PC casualties over the career and they did not reach even half-way to the story before we quited the campaign which got infamous feel of 'meatgrinder'.
Oh boy, swashbuckler/rogue hybrid? I'm guessing he got the daring outlaw feat to go with that. That's what I would do. By which I mean is what I did.

Zaer Darkwail

Oh, and the guy is whisper gnome top of all the cheese. Silence in area radius blocks all undead casters also :P.

Saric

I have sent you a PM with my character sheet Zaer. I look forward to your reaction and response whenever you get around to it.  ;)
"I believe in dragons, good men, and other fantasy creatures." - Slovotsky's Law #42

“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”― Neil Gaiman, Coraline

“The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it.” - Terry Pratchett (Rest in Peace, Master Storyteller)

Marie Reynolds

I would be interested in this but just have a quick question. Would the race the Fey'ri be allowed?

Kunoichi


kongming

Okay, I looked up the full rules for running businesses (and fixed my skills - looks like I had spent way more skill points than I had! Also adjusted my gear) and I think my business is now worked out correctly.

I also statted up my cohort/consort.

Next is just background and physical description, and hopefully that will mean I'm all ready to go.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.

I have a catapult. Give me all the money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head.

Ons/Offs:
https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=9536.msg338515

Kunoichi

Ooh, looks like quite a profitable little business the House is running.  I suppose I should start finalizing the background for Janafae and her mighty steed Zekolyn, as well...

kongming

Just don't get caught embezzling funds (asking for gifts, on the other hand).

Also, I've finished all my extra stuff now. Only thing left is that we should work out the relationship (or at least the start of it, how they came to know each other) between Faeremhara and Janafae.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.

I have a catapult. Give me all the money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head.

Ons/Offs:
https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=9536.msg338515

Kunoichi

Hmm.  Well, to begin with, when determining the relationship between Faeremhara and Janafae, we should probably start by determining what the relationship is between Faeremhara and Zekolyn.

You see, although Janafae raised her draconic steed from an egg she got from an exotic wares trader in a local marketplace, it didn't take him very long to graduate from 'pet' to 'master' in their relationship.  He became smarter, wiser, and more charismatic than her as he grew older, and since he had a natural tendency towards plots and schemes from his Hex Dragon instincts, he wound up taking to Drow society and teachings particularly well.  He's as devout a follower of Lolth as any priestess, and when she, on some strange whim, granted Janafae the powers of an Anti-Paladin, he wound up becoming her Fiendish Mount, granting him some similarly-unholy abilities while simultaneously tying their fates together for as long as both of them are alive.

Zekolyn chose to interpret this event as Lolth granting him permission to consider Janafae as being a part of his hoard, while Janafae chose to view it as a chance to make his ambition and dominating nature work for her, rather than against her.  Either way, their partnership has been rather productive for the both of them, seeing as Janafae has risen from being some mere low-born Drow commoner to becoming one of the adopted daughters of a noble house, which in turn allows Zekolyn to exercise greater influence behind the scenes...

Zaer Darkwail

Kongming; I have nothing against fey'ri and consider this is generic setting there is no 'fey'ri noble house' in the setting so fey'ri are more and less unique sort tieflings with tigther tied elf vs demon blood lineage. Which can be common in drow society where drows breeding with demons is common and offspring of those unions either spurned or blessed as draegloths (which can be either gender).

Anyways matron mother looking good and I see you found somewhere DMG II info about how running business :). Now think two lesser businesses which has smaller modifier to give profit but it can give enough cash for gifts and such. Minor areas of interest could be mercenary work, alchemy work or perhaps something which supports your main business indirectly (like running spider hatcling farm).

Saric

Quote from: Zaer Darkwail on February 04, 2012, 08:19:40 AM
Anyways matron mother looking good and I see you found somewhere DMG II info about how running business :). Now think two lesser businesses which has smaller modifier to give profit but it can give enough cash for gifts and such. Minor areas of interest could be mercenary work, alchemy work or perhaps something which supports your main business indirectly (like running spider hatcling farm).

Wouldn't alchemy work also support the main business, since web armor is alchemically treated?

Also Zaer I sent you a pm with my character sheet in it. Wasn't sure if you got it.
"I believe in dragons, good men, and other fantasy creatures." - Slovotsky's Law #42

“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”― Neil Gaiman, Coraline

“The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it.” - Terry Pratchett (Rest in Peace, Master Storyteller)

Marie Reynolds

So I was wondering would psionics be allowed and if so would you  be alright with a telepath with the thrall herd prestige class?

Saric

Quote from: Marie Reynolds on February 04, 2012, 03:22:46 PM
So I was wondering would psionics be allowed and if so would you  be alright with a telepath with the thrall herd prestige class?

Psionics are allowed as is the tharllherd prestige class. I know this because that's the character I just submitted. I think two might be overdoing it.
"I believe in dragons, good men, and other fantasy creatures." - Slovotsky's Law #42

“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”― Neil Gaiman, Coraline

“The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it.” - Terry Pratchett (Rest in Peace, Master Storyteller)

Zaer Darkwail

Oh sorry Saric, I got your charsheet and it looks okay for me what I glanced through it.

1) Indeed the believers/followers can be any race or class but consider they must be types which can survive underdark long enough reach you so you get only the kind of followers which are adapted to underdark or are able travel there one way or another securely.
2) You likely need stronghold/business for so many followers. But you get no freebie feats like matron chars get. So your case best investment is in landlord feat from stronghold builder's guide. Also you run business same way as house runs as minor business (when compare profit gain). But in return you do not have that great expenses to cover up as matron chars have.
3) Hat works disguise looks but many psionic powers have audible or visual effects which you cannot disguise away without using metapsion feat.
4) It's something what you should ask/discuss in here in this thread or in OOC thread.
5) Could work, but note those who break from your control may feel/remember for acting weird and connect dots on you and they would not be pleased from discovering it.
6) Understood, taking it into account
7) I allow use of the item.

kongming

I don't have enough skills that are high enough to support additional businesses >.<
Unless cohorts or other players are allowed to cover them, in which case I suppose my cohort could have a sort of evil cult "business" (ie collecting protection money for Lolth from people) as a secondary one, using Intimidate (supported by Know: Planes and Bluff for +17 (risky), total 27 or 100,000GP/month)?

As for Zekolyn...
Faeremhara would have immediately noticed the presence of such a dragon in the nearby area, and realised that he is very powerful. As such, her first course of action would be to send a messenger bearing the mark of Lolth to see if he was there to take over/destroy the place or for less violent reasons. She also would have sent a slave with the messenger, for the sole purpose of being a gift (ie "Feel free to keep/eat this one").

Assuming those first negotiations went well, she would arrange a meeting in person, to see how this Lolth-blessed Hex Dragon might wish to make use of the area (and how she could benefit from this). Obviously, if he were in the area as a guard, she would be more than happy to provide substantial living quarters and free use of slaves. So the relationship would probably be one of cordial "we both benefit here" (leaning towards "she's not stupid, and knows a hostile dragon means real trouble, so is erring on the side of appeasement").

And in that meeting in person, she'd have met Janafae, and been intrigued. Upon learning of the link between the two, knowing the kind of blessings Janafae received, she'd be eager to bring the anti-paladin on as an ally, indeed, would have made the offer of adoption fairly early, after some form of testing. After that, she would defer to Zekolyn on matters pertaining to Janafae, but would broach the subject of sharing her - while making Janafae the honest "you can turn this down with no consequences" offer of sharing her quarters (and wealth/business) from time to time.

About the only real "demand" she'd make would be that the pair do still fall under her laws, even if not under her rule. Given her laws aren't exactly far-reaching, and are mostly "Do what you like with those underneath you, just don't act against me or do anything to jeopardise the fortress and business", that shouldn't be an issue. It would also mean that Janafae would, if she ever stepped out of line, be subject to Faeremhara's punishments, though Zekolyn would be allowed to watch.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.

I have a catapult. Give me all the money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head.

Ons/Offs:
https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=9536.msg338515

Saric

Quote from: Zaer Darkwail on February 04, 2012, 05:27:42 PM
Oh sorry Saric, I got your charsheet and it looks okay for me what I glanced through it.

1) Indeed the believers/followers can be any race or class but consider they must be types which can survive underdark long enough reach you so you get only the kind of followers which are adapted to underdark or are able travel there one way or another securely.
2) You likely need stronghold/business for so many followers. But you get no freebie feats like matron chars get. So your case best investment is in landlord feat from stronghold builder's guide. Also you run business same way as house runs as minor business (when compare profit gain). But in return you do not have that great expenses to cover up as matron chars have.
3) Hat works disguise looks but many psionic powers have audible or visual effects which you cannot disguise away without using metapsion feat.
4) It's something what you should ask/discuss in here in this thread or in OOC thread.
5) Could work, but note those who break from your control may feel/remember for acting weird and connect dots on you and they would not be pleased from discovering it.

Ok thanks. I'll just address the issues you raised and then I should be done.

1. Pretty much any race can survive in the underdark, it specifically lists humans under race the drow enslave and there's an entire subrace of humans the came from them being stuck in the underdark, and there's always that level 2 human shopkeeper who manages to wander down while avoiding all hazards through sheer luck but I see your point. I guess I mostly just want to know if I'm getting mostly warriors and adepts or commoners and experts as that would affect what I can do with them. Also whether I'm likely to 'inherit' any mushroom farms or fishing pools or the like by gaining the owners as believers since that would also impact what I end up doing.
2. Do you accept Flaws for extra Feats? Cuz I'm already barely making ends meet there. Also I need to know what my Thrall and the higher level believers are so I can see if any of them have spells that might let me cut down on the construction costs somewhat.(Stoneshape or greater stoneshape for instance. Or even just the free labor or skills like carpentry or stonecutting.)
3. I got that covered. Quote: "Dispense with Displays Despite the fact that almost every power has a display, a psionic character can always choose to manifest the power without the flashy accompaniment. To manifest a power without any display (no matter how many displays it might have), a manifester must make a Concentration check (DC 15 + the level of the power). This check is part of the action of manifesting the power. If the check is unsuccessful, the power manifests normally with its display."
4. Ok, will do.
5. I was mostly thinking of using Charm on Driders to establish contact without fighting, given that I'm offering them a chance to live in civilization again and possibly even regain some authority as well, I think that most of them won't notice anything being off about them being grateful to me and the ones that do may become cautious around me but are unlikely to actually be angry at the outcome.

@everyone else: I was thinking of being an independent drow. Ether running a mercenary group or some form of 'shady' business. Suggestions on how this might tie in with the rest of the group or alternative suggestions would be welcome. Possibly I could ether be hired by Faeremhara to help guard the fortress from the Illithids or I could be the secondary business in which case I would need to redo some skills so I could do the checks but she wouldn't need to worry about it. Possibly both if the secondary business is selling mercenary services. Ether of these would also eliminate, or drastically reduce anyway, the need for me to get a stronghold of my own. I might need to scare up the cash to add an extension to the existing one somewhere but that's still less of an issue then building my own.
"I believe in dragons, good men, and other fantasy creatures." - Slovotsky's Law #42

“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”― Neil Gaiman, Coraline

“The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it.” - Terry Pratchett (Rest in Peace, Master Storyteller)

Zaer Darkwail

Kongming; A cohort or PC can cover house business or your follower if skilled enough. You must have two lesser businesses for the house.

Saric; True any race can survive in theory but this is meant to discourage from taking extremely exotic races from far distant realms in surface. I am okay with say handful but they must not be majority, let's say around 40% of total believer population can be from surface or other locale than underdark. What comes heritage and stuff; you need keep believer to upkeep any business they own so they are not 'in hand' so to speak and only function in distant locales and send gold or income through caravans and such.

This can present multiple businesses and I allow you have max 10 of such business but they provide income exactly as the DM II rules regarding business does (instead having some odd modifier which I present as house rule to make idea of running business profitable for a PC compared to dungeon dwelling). So at most you could get between 10-20gp per business this way.

Anyways class wise commoners must be most common, then warriors and experts are second common, adepts and aristocrats are most rare. So percentage wise; 45% commoners, 40% warriors/experts and then 15% adepts/aristocrats from whole believer population.

You can decide what highest level believers are, I will start work on your thrall.

Anyways ok on psionic display thingy. What comes to driders; no one likes to be mind controlled so they only go one category worser in behavior. So if they were helpful they turn neutral if they figure out you had mind controlled them. As said; if they discover it.

Kimera

#46
Interested

If you still have room


I had an idea for an aranea sorcerer or an ecl 14 demon/yugoloth being loyal servant of lolth

kongming

Saric: I would be okay with hiring your mercenary services and providing adequate housing, yes.

Zaer: okay, I added the two secondary businesses, one run part-time by my cohort, the other run full-time by a follower. As they get only the normal profit rate, that's fairly small but it means the businesses stay afloat and make some small profit. This means there are plenty of opportunities for adventures to crop up.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.

I have a catapult. Give me all the money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head.

Ons/Offs:
https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=9536.msg338515

Kimera

Too bad the yochlol doesn't have an Level adjustment. Handmaiden of Lolth would have been fitting

Snake

Hmm what would be a good hook to get a human assassin into this though.... business perhaps?