So, this whole forum is only for drows?
Dont duergars and svirfs live in Underdark on Amia?
After 3 years on Amia I have still to make a underdark character and I have never traveled down there with any of my surfacers.
So, are there any duergar players active there, or svirfneblins.
If so, are they being chased all over UD by drows?
I'm not looking for any IC knowledge only some general stuff on the relations between the races in UD.

There are a few Duergar and and the occasional svirf about although their numbers are both quite small currently.
The bloodbeard's were the last noticable Duegar group I've seen but that was some time ago. Svirf's have never been a huge presence.

Problems with the fact that L'obsul is often fairly dead and Edonil is generally rather drow centric meaning that there isn't often a big RP base in the underdark outside drow and so a lot seem to find that there is not much reason to hang around there if you are another UD race sadly.

No, There's no longer any proper active duergars as far as i know.
It's as Equalizer says, Drow hang in edonil and don't let other races enter - And thus L'obsul get's dead and the other underdark races quickly loose interest.

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Completely untrue. The drow do allow other Underdark races inside their city as long as they act in proper way, acknowledging that they are inferior to drow and bow / respect all drow, specially the females and priestesses and follow all the other rules as well.

Also they shouldn't wear weapons out or cast spells etc etc. that is rather obvious (to most).

PS: Don't take this as 100%, but this is how I would RP it and have seen it RP:ed.

EDIT: typos

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Beldan'aun d'Tinnerai

I have a duergar character and I have just got around to playing him again, though I'm in the Australian timezone so you won't see me that often probably. xP

But yeah, my duergar has been to Edonil a few times and so far no problems, just remember to bow and be respectful to the drow females. You don't have to be entirely all grovelly though, just remember don't push them too far.

Edit: Oh and right, my duergar isn't being chased around by the drow. He goes on hunting trips with them! Remember the drow use Underdarker mercenaries, so you can go on surface raids or join in the House wars if you go mercenary.
Maybe if we get more non-drow underdarkers we can do more non-drow oriented stuff, but until then. Blargh. =S Whatever happened to that Bloody Hand group?

And maybe a DM can do an alternate beginners' thing for underdarkers? >_>

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I think some of the best interactions that can exist are between UD races. They're complex and interesting because everyone is out for themselves, but isn't necessarily mutually exclusive with cooperating or feigning respect - in fact, quite the opposite. They can work together very well because they are so self serving, because it is in their own, selfish interests to get along for a task.

It doesn't really degrade the self-worth of a Duergar to bow to female Drow. It's not as if they have to mean it, they just have to remember to go through the motions and behave a certain way, or things become highly inconvenient, and every race bred in the UD has an instinct to avoid an ambush they know is there. So don't step into a tunnel you know is a trap - don't behave in a way that you know is a trap.

And it really isn't that one-sided, it's just that Drow have louder, more visible customs. A Drow behaves inappropriately when in Duergar territory or to persons of higher status in Duergar society are just as much at risk as the Duergar who tells the female Drow in her city where she can put that whip.

Evil is pretty three-dimensional and complex, and it's a pretty awesome story when people dare to let it be.

That said, yeah, although this forum is Drow-dominated, it's for the UD at large and the only thing holding people back from posting Kobold stuff, or Svirf stuff, or... (etc) is the players themselves!

I'm also trying to find Drow to chill in L'Obsul. People aren't stepping up, so right now Irae'arra is all alone.

Don't insult all drow, plz. You make a bad example of yourself when you do. Anyone playing any UD race is more than welcome to come to L'Obsul and RP. I'd love the company.

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Aly'dra Zau'ana: Priestessish Of Eilistraee
Danika Nefzen: Druid of the Earthmother
Delia Am'Anodel: Paladin of Torm

So, this whole forum is only for drows? Nope.

Dont duergars and svirfs live in Underdark on Amia? Yes, and kobolds and goblins are able to travel around will little difficultly. One of the very cool aspects the designers included were little things that give the surfacers a bit of a surprise as they attempt to travel through the UD area.

After 3 years on Amia I have still to make a underdark character and I have never traveled down there with any of my surfacers. If you are interested in checking it out I would suggest a duergar as they can travel relatively unmolested on the surface too. That would give you the option to go elsewhere and duergar are pretty tough. The UD areas are really wonderful. Oh and you will probably get lost. Don’t hesitate to ask for directions.

So, are there any duergar players active there, or svirfneblins. I have run into a Svir on the surface but not in the UD. There are duergar players, didn’t I see a Bloodbeard around the other day?

If so, are they being chased all over UD by drows? The Drow don’t chase other UD races, unless you run. There is an Orog that has been hired by a noble house. A couple duergar that do work for the Drow characters. Drow have been known to work with surface races too.

I'm not looking for any IC knowledge only some general stuff on the relations between the races in UD.

Please note that Drow society takes a bit of getting used to. If you have an UD race character they would know to stay out of trouble you just bow to any female. You would have heard of Matron Mohters (Ilharess) and that they tend to be nastier than other females.

Now keep in mind that your character doesn’t need to bow if they don’t want to however they will be treated in whatever manner that the offended female thinks will restore her to powerful since not bowing basically says “You’re too weak for me to acknowledge your rank.” It’s not fair. It just is.

Also, please note that the character is not the player. I am happy help out any player who has questions. The Drow players are welcoming. The Lolthite Drow…well they are evil!

One of the nice things about UD RP is that because the Drow need to constantly check where they are in the current hierarchy; there is a lot of stopping to RP. Don’t expect to be able to run through Edonil with weapon out. Your character will be stopped to find out as much information as is necessary to determine what your rank would be. Even if you’re not drow.

Hope this helped.

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Ari'aerath Dlues'athsha ~ Silver Singer with the Bow of the Sun
Clarette Feohn ~ Magic is Art.
Victoria Marrs ~ "I have an herb for that."

Also tieflings etc are welcome if they get there. Seen few there time to time. L'obsul is much like Underport, just without the illithids. The drow are minority in L'obsul. Yes, there is one drow house there, but they are not the majority still in the compounds that is mostly just miners, packmules and refiners from reptilian, goblinoid, duergar and srivf populations. The drow are there as traders.


This.


The Red Hand. The player who ran it got so much hate that didn't feel like continuing tho had put much effor to it already. And the idea dried soon after cause no one was there to run it. Good job players!

PS: I was in the Red Hand myself with my duergar. I still play my him from time to time.


EDIT: I seem to say "time to time" quite often >_>

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Beldan'aun d'Tinnerai

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BlackDahlya

Once Upon A Time Played
Adr'ael Ken'rahel, Auron Teken’ath, Aurora Mesodias, 'Daniel' Daoskinaxarijikkym, Eilin'ira, Helena Rios, Layla Faircurrent, May'Une Do'Ndar, Mellinda Tellus, Michael of Cliffside, Rizzen of Twilight, Valkirya d'Claddath

A lot of it had to do with the attitude of the populace. He's gone to a very private server that I don't offhand remember the name of, but he was doing well when last we spoke, and was happier there.

However, I'm trying to do something along the same lines, if people want in. If not that's fine too, but know that the opportunity is open because the UD areas need some life.

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Aly'dra Zau'ana: Priestessish Of Eilistraee
Danika Nefzen: Druid of the Earthmother
Delia Am'Anodel: Paladin of Torm

Thx all for the inputs.
I only play one character here and thought about creating another and since I have never been to underdark well....
Anyway, for a year or two I played a drow over at Arelith so I think I got the basic grib on drow culture, was mainly wondering how you play your evil drows towards eachother and specially towards other races.
Theres also the option to play a shadow elf, since they are outcasts from the surface elfs they could just aswell live down there, but maybe drows are even more hostile to them?

I am considering an alternate beginners campain, after my current plot wraps up. I can't assure you it'll be underdark oriented but I shall take your request into account!

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From my limited experiences, most drow are... pleasant enough to the other UD races. They'll still act like pricks, all superior etc, but they won't go out of their way to trouble them unless they disrespect the drow.

As for shadow elves, I don't think drow would be that receptive to them. Not hostile, but ostracized, mistrusted and probably keep their distance. But then, the one instance I had of witnessing this, there was plenty of suspicion in the air to begin with. Might as well consider shadow elves as a separate UD race. I don't bring up the other UD races mainly because they're less judgemental about the company they keep. And well, there's too few of them.



That would be pretty cool, if you made it UD. Could likely bring some fresh blood into the Underdark, which we sorely need. Of course, with timezones as they are, me and Genar will probably have to miss out regardless >_> Ah well. Maybe I'll hold off on making my new drowsie until I see where this is going! Wasn't in any rush with him.

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@Thanatopsis#6293

This type of responce is exactly why drow and by extention all underdark races should be platinum coin races. Far too many people come in without even an ounce of lore, run into someone, usually a drow, who typically has done their research and are trying to RP the lore correctly. Then since one knows the lore and one doesn't, they just assume that the player and their character is an ass. Well f*** you too.

The truth of the matter is that the vast majority of the drow players do their homework, and as such are ostricized for it by players who have not. It's obviously because drow players are stuck up that they know more about drow, right?

For new players who want to get in on RP in the Underdark, don't make the same mistake that Equalizer and Svensk make. Ask! If you are unsure about any interaction, there are no drow players who won't respond with helpful advice when asked. Unfortunately, most just assume a drow is just an ass and never send a tell to clarify what's going on and learning through RP about how things work in the UD. We'd love some new blood and interaction, but it's more politics based RP and not for everyone.

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Thine taste in horrid footwear not withstanding, I did not say that thou were in fact an idiot, I merely implied that such things were self evident.

-Krrja

Considering that I have more or less only played Drow on amia it would seem my comment has been misconstrued. I never meant to imply that Drow or Edonil were hostile or meant to drive people away but rather that; There is not a large UD group outside of Drow and so some players who wish to play other Underdark characters but not be involved heavily in Drow RP often find that there is not much (That is anywhere as easy to find).

I was only speaking to the reason as I see it why there aren't too many other UD characters about. Which isn't a slight upon anyone but rather the truth about UD RP on Amia.

Also not disparaging my name by quoting me and then taking the wrong meaning would be much appreciated too.

If he isn't in Endir's, Ascalon is usually found in one of the two Kobold warrens. We have a large number of Kobo folks that play "traditional" Kurtulmak fearing Kobos and get active every now and again when given advanced notice. If we could find a dedicated DM for it, I bet Kobolds could easily become just as active as any of the Drow families.

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Eli Hodgewall <{/,~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~X
Sven <=={o===========>
Qeelak \ | / ,

Sorry if you feel victimized, it was directed at Svensk, but yours was the beginning of the chain. And moreover you are spot on, the layout simply isn't convenient for any sort of IC mingling. But of course, any player that points this out is just a stuck up bitchy player who hates the Dev team.

Honestly though, Svensk has been a long time opponent of the UD and drow specifically, but when was the last time he logged in a UD PC? Simply because it's vogue to bash something you have no direct connection to, doesn't mean that it's useful. If you have aproblem, fix it IC. I'd love to have a reason to work something non-drow in the UD, but right now your just one more player that talks the talk but can't walk the walk. Can't RP with someone who complains from a distance.

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Thine taste in horrid footwear not withstanding, I did not say that thou were in fact an idiot, I merely implied that such things were self evident.

-Krrja

Woo! Premature rejoicing!



Boo! Premature raging!

Though on a more serious note >.>
If you aren't that knowledgeable on drow lore just remember that tact is very important and throw a tell to any drow you are talking too to have mercy on you until you do get the ropes.

But yeah, maybe if we pushed for more general Underdark events like a festival in L'Obsul we can get more life in this lovely cavernous world by establishing something of an underdarker community, up to us players for the most part though!

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Yeah, my kobolds are all still around "behind the scenes" doing stuff like breeding and mining and totally available. You can usually even bribe FinalSoul to come back for a while if you're looking for Othokentir.

The "problem" with kobolds that I see is that people are just more happy playing kobolds without their culture attached to them. I balk because they have such an immense and rich lore to draw from for a monster race that it's just a damn shame to me whenever I see a kobold running around who's chaotic, enjoys being a loner, has no work ethic, and plays chess with gnomes on the weekends. It their show with their character, certainly, but it makes me howl with despair, is all. They're so interesting and playable for a monstrous, evil race and it goes largely ignored in favor of other avenues, so tribes of stereotypical kobolds tend to be only a few players large, and the kobolds are only ever alts and not quite taken as seriously as another PC that person has so it typically falls apart from a lack of broader interest.

Here concludes my deviation into kobold affairs.

Oh, this topic again.

*reads*

Yep, same replies as usual.

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Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

Obvious troll is obvious

The arguments may be the same, but the context is different. There's a change in the atmosphere in the underdark. I could even go as far as to say that the DM Topic that was brought to daylight actually changed something.
Perhaps im wrong, but i sincerely hope im right - At least i, On the European side, have seen a more humble attitude from player to player, and less hostility occly and more agression icly

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I'm playing a Svirf who lives in L'Obsul. I've been trying to keep him in the Underdark as much as possible so I'm open to meeting players of other Underdark races. He's wise enough to keep his mouth shut and pay proper respects to Drow if the need arises, he wasn't born yesterday after all. If you see me online and want to setup a "chance" meeting send me a tell. PC name is Brunnur. Doesn't matter what the object is, just some RP in the town or "exploring", I'm up for it.

He hangs out by the "Sacred Pool" when in L'Obsul.

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Tark Hammerfeast - Immovable Object
True Greenspan - Bendir's Boy Wonder

Mag, if you see me on as Aly'dra or Elrien Rowa, poke me. I'm looking for any possible rp with Irrae in L'Obsul

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Aly'dra Zau'ana: Priestessish Of Eilistraee
Danika Nefzen: Druid of the Earthmother
Delia Am'Anodel: Paladin of Torm

So, this whole forum is only for drows?
No, but I have not been posting in here much. I will now though. Its up to the L'Obsul players, to make the Underdark work for non-Drow.

Dont duergars and svirfs live in Underdark on Amia?
Yes they do, in L'Obsul they've each got their own village. I play a svirfneblin and a shadow elf, both live in L'Obsul for instance. There's very few of us though, and its been a while since L'Obsul was made a staple place for RP. I'm intending on refixing that, if others join in, then it WILL be a place again, for other races.

After 3 years on Amia I have still to make a underdark character and I have never traveled down there with any of my surfacers.
A pity, go there, its fun! Trouble is, the mechanics of it are such that few surfacers are willing to go there, because, its tougher than the surface and typically, you can get better xp in easier areas on some surface areas (like the she-kats versus duergar or like giants versus Contested Caves). Its not for the faint hearted, and most surfacers are weaklings *nods sagely*

So, are there any duergar players active there, or svirfneblins.
Yes! I play a svirfneblin call Ivridda Seamfinder, seek her out, she's usually on most days in L'Obsul. I have a more Elder type figure called Driarry Earthshaker, but she's mostly retired now.

If so, are they being chased all over UD by drows?
Not really, Drow chase surfacers around mostly. They largely ignore the other races, being separated off from L'Obsul with Edonil for instance. Largely, they leave us to ourselves. There was a time, in the past, when tensions were pretty high though.

I'm not looking for any IC knowledge only some general stuff on the relations between the races in UD.

The relationships between the races, is either one of hostility, distrust or working together for trade only. However, L'Obsul in an exception to most Underdark cities, where the races, work together, for mutual gain (production) but there's still a bit of animosity that goes on between the races, just not as much as in other Underdark cities.

There are also Drow, in L'Obsul, who live there (well, there were in the past). Either non-Llothites (Kiriansaleens, Ghaunadaurians, Vhaeraunites, etc) or Llothites whom see greater profit in L'Obsul, without the hassle of worrying about the extreme ultrahard faith practices of Edonil.

I could see a Bregan Daerthe style mercenary Drow faction doing very well in L'Obsul as an idea or PCs whom play as part of House Zau'tar (the Drow House that rules the Drow area of L'Obsul). These ideas, are just ideas at this stage, but its there, for an enterprising player, to make reality.

As for me, I like my svirf and shadow elf roleplay. If you're interested in either of these races, let me know. L'Obsul has been dead, but is just starting to come back to life, with people discovering just how cool a city it really is.

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Illithira Frostmaiden (Snow Elf) Guardian of the Frostfell
Elithiel Issatheerin (Shadow Elf) She who Lurks
Isolia Oussea'lylth (Sun Elf) Apprentice Wizardess

It would help if people would team up.

I've been trying to start a drowish faction in L'Obsul. No one but -one- player has joined up from the ud, and one from the surface.

I post here, and ICly, and get all of....one smart remark from a surfacer, and one lonely player who wants to help shake up the UD playstyle that everyone bitches about.

So my apologies, but I see a lot of talking, but not a lot of action, on any front.
I can't imagine what I have in mind is that distasteful, but I don't know, because, uh...no one's asked, offered any input, or even acknowledged what I'm trying.
So yeah. That's that.

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Aly'dra Zau'ana: Priestessish Of Eilistraee
Danika Nefzen: Druid of the Earthmother
Delia Am'Anodel: Paladin of Torm

Don't think you need more factions, Just a steady group of likeminded players to RP With. We've got enough factions as it is.

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'Faction' is what I consider a group of likeminded players. And atm there are -no- non-Lolthite UD factions. But everyone complains that they don't -want- Lolthite/Edonil/what have you. So here it is...and no one takes it. So I don't know what else to do other than say "Fine, have it your way" and leave people to their comfortable misery.

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Aly'dra Zau'ana: Priestessish Of Eilistraee
Danika Nefzen: Druid of the Earthmother
Delia Am'Anodel: Paladin of Torm

Well, just now, there was what, 8 or 9 Underdarks in L'Obsul! Only two were from Edonil...

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Illithira Frostmaiden (Snow Elf) Guardian of the Frostfell
Elithiel Issatheerin (Shadow Elf) She who Lurks
Isolia Oussea'lylth (Sun Elf) Apprentice Wizardess

Hmm. Well I can understand your frustration, but for my part at least, I had my reasons for not getting involved. Input however, I can do. I'm not much for sending PMs but here should be okay. For the record, a few of us did notice. We actually had one of us go and chat with your character about it, I think (and on that note, I hesitate to say too much lest it invite metagaming). In retrospect we should have done more with this though. My bad.

As for the general lack of interest... well, on the one hand there isn't really that many drow to begin with, and most of those that are are either entrenched in what they're involved in, or quit outright because they're sick of it. Personally? I feel that with stuff happening lately, drow who have sat through it are divided, which isn't really a good thing given our generally low population (disclaimer: I see less drow than most drow players do due to Aussie timezone). It's stabilised a little since then, but hard to say how much so. My point is, while introducing another, radical faction, might have the result of uniting a lot of drow, it also has a good chance of dividing them further as the fragments gravitate towards bigger fragments. My character held similar concerns (in addition to being an unrepentant Lolthite, if an atypical one, not to mention a cleric) and made a point not to get involved with any "Damn the gods" movements (though sent someone to investigate anyway).

That aside, I don't think there's a problem with the Lolthite way. It's hard to do it well without devolving into a destructive cycle, but that just means we have to work at it, maybe make some concessions here and there--slightly low-fidelity but sustainable drow (and other UD race) RP is better than nothing. I'm willing to favour it over a heretical faction because... it seems to be where the numbers are (we do need numbers) and it just strikes me as more realistic. I was going to say "most drow aren't heretics" but on Amia that's not really true (see: Shrine. I don't have a problem with it, I'm just saying). Most UD drow are (apparent) Lolthites, and probably a majority of players who make drow are interested in the Lolthite experience (which includes the dirty heretics working in secret among us, that's part of the experience!) So, I think we should focus on getting the Lolthite thing right, without any of the poisonous OOC which seems to be our bane, and build ourselves back up. Then all you heretics can start secretly sabotaging us or jump out and devour us or whatever it is you might want to do. Just my opinion. Maybe starting up a radical faction will actually work given time and support, who knows. But it's not what I would go for.

So yeah. Opinion and stuff. I also don't know the UD playerbase that well, and it's likely that I'm being overly optimistic. But I am genuinely interested in generating good RP.

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@Thanatopsis#6293