I am developing a new character and I would love to get some feedback.
Her name is Zesstra Xorlarrin, a drow rogue. For those of you who are unfamiliar, drow are dark elves who were banished, along with their goddess Lolth, Queen of Spiders, to the Underdark a long, long time ago. Zesstra was sold into slavery on the surface at a young age, but managed to escape after she made a pact with a drow deity known as Zenzerena, the goddess of assassins and trickery. She lived on the streets for many years honing her skills as a rogue assassin. Her hatred for other races has since been tempered however by her love for the family she lived with and cared for on the streets.
Though my character is unaware, her mother tasked an elven slave to sell her daughter into slavery in order to save her life. Her mother, the head priestess of House Xorlarrin, was rumored to secretly worship a deity of unknown origin, and anticipating an attack on her House, she decided to take preemptive measures. Though it was not widely known, her mother was a follower of Eilistraee, the Moon Goddess.
After being sold into slavery at the age of 12, Zesstra pleaded for help from the Seldarine, the Drow pantheon of deities. Her prayers were answered by Zinzereena, the Drow goddess of assasins and trickery, to whom, though unbeknownst to her, she shares a bloodline. Zinzereena helped her to slip her bonds and murder her captors in exchange for pursuing the life of an assasin and the promise of agreeing to kill an, as yet, unnamed target in the future.
After escaping from slavery, Zesstra lived as a thief,, on the streets of the city and was adopted into a family of street urchins. She lived this way for many years and without any further contact with Zinzereena she turned to her new family for support. She had grown up with a deep seated hatred for other races, and though exacerbated by her time in captivity, she slowly grew to be more accepting. At the age of 16 she developed a romantic interest in a young human boy who was apprenticed as an assasin, who also began to teach her the trade. Their relationship ends in tragedy however when she is attacked one night by a group of drunken King’s guard and he comes to her defense only to be stabbed fatally.
As my character progresses she may be tasked by Zinzereena to infiltrate a Drow temple to Eilistraee on the surface and kill the high priestess. Regardless, it is my intention for my character to be subtly influenced by Eilistraee’s teachings, and possibly be visited by the goddess, in order to help her to become free from her pact with Zinzereena and the influence of Lolth.
My question is what cities would make a good backdrop? What kind of build should I pursue that would stay true to the character? I feel I would like to pursue an assasin archetype. I had also considered dual classing as a rogue/warlock though I don’t know if it’s worth the effort. Arcane Trickster is also a possibility although I feel it would be dishonest since my character is not a wizard. I feel if she can cast spells they cannot be learned spells but spells acquired through pact magic. So what do you think?
I think I would possibly build this as a rogue (inquisitive) multiclass with Warlock (hexblade)(tome pact). I personally don't like the assassin archtype because of the assassinate feature, it screams underwhelming to me.
I view the inquisitive much more useful than assassin. Eye for detail seems good for detecting prey, don't know how it works against invisible targets. Insightful fighting seems great use to keep getting your sneak attacks. Steady eye sounds beneficial when attempting to locate your targets. Not all assassins are assassins?
I also believe the inquisitive can fit into your story as there isnt a definitive time between the human boy teaching her stuff and his end.
Warlock also seems to fit well with your description, and I suggest the hexblade and tome pact for features. Tome pact gives three cantrips of your choice and count as Warlock spells (seems to fit the flavor). Blade pact seems redundant aside from sneaking weapons into places you may not be able to otherwise. Chain pact doesn't feel right either, less you planned on having a pet sidekick.
Hexblade reads like a good fit for this character too. Hexblade curse could be of great use to stack up the damage against that high value target. Hex warrior seems decent enough if you maximize charisma and not dexterity.
I would also suggest grabbing invocations to support your infiltration needs. Aspect of the moon, devil's sight, eldritch sight, eyes of the runekeeper, ghostly gaze, mask of many faces, one with shadows, relentless hex. If you need more stacking damage against a high value target then I would suggest maddening hex. This is also not relying on your hex spell either. Though eldritch blast with grasp of hadar, or repelling blast invocations could help possible mobility issues? Possibly knock your target out a window to their death?
Hrmm, perhaps ive said too much. Just my suggestions and thoughts on the matter. Hope some of it is helpful.
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I am developing a new character and I would love to get some feedback.
Her name is Zesstra Xorlarrin, a drow rogue. For those of you who are unfamiliar, drow are dark elves who were banished, along with their goddess Lolth, Queen of Spiders, to the Underdark a long, long time ago. Zesstra was sold into slavery on the surface at a young age, but managed to escape after she made a pact with a drow deity known as Zenzerena, the goddess of assassins and trickery. She lived on the streets for many years honing her skills as a rogue assassin. Her hatred for other races has since been tempered however by her love for the family she lived with and cared for on the streets.
Though my character is unaware, her mother tasked an elven slave to sell her daughter into slavery in order to save her life. Her mother, the head priestess of House Xorlarrin, was rumored to secretly worship a deity of unknown origin, and anticipating an attack on her House, she decided to take preemptive measures. Though it was not widely known, her mother was a follower of Eilistraee, the Moon Goddess.
After being sold into slavery at the age of 12, Zesstra pleaded for help from the Seldarine, the Drow pantheon of deities. Her prayers were answered by Zinzereena, the Drow goddess of assasins and trickery, to whom, though unbeknownst to her, she shares a bloodline. Zinzereena helped her to slip her bonds and murder her captors in exchange for pursuing the life of an assasin and the promise of agreeing to kill an, as yet, unnamed target in the future.
After escaping from slavery, Zesstra lived as a thief,, on the streets of the city and was adopted into a family of street urchins. She lived this way for many years and without any further contact with Zinzereena she turned to her new family for support. She had grown up with a deep seated hatred for other races, and though exacerbated by her time in captivity, she slowly grew to be more accepting. At the age of 16 she developed a romantic interest in a young human boy who was apprenticed as an assasin, who also began to teach her the trade. Their relationship ends in tragedy however when she is attacked one night by a group of drunken King’s guard and he comes to her defense only to be stabbed fatally.
As my character progresses she may be tasked by Zinzereena to infiltrate a Drow temple to Eilistraee on the surface and kill the high priestess. Regardless, it is my intention for my character to be subtly influenced by Eilistraee’s teachings, and possibly be visited by the goddess, in order to help her to become free from her pact with Zinzereena and the influence of Lolth.
My question is what cities would make a good backdrop? What kind of build should I pursue that would stay true to the character? I feel I would like to pursue an assasin archetype. I had also considered dual classing as a rogue/warlock though I don’t know if it’s worth the effort. Arcane Trickster is also a possibility although I feel it would be dishonest since my character is not a wizard. I feel if she can cast spells they cannot be learned spells but spells acquired through pact magic. So what do you think?
I think I would possibly build this as a rogue (inquisitive) multiclass with Warlock (hexblade)(tome pact). I personally don't like the assassin archtype because of the assassinate feature, it screams underwhelming to me.
I view the inquisitive much more useful than assassin. Eye for detail seems good for detecting prey, don't know how it works against invisible targets. Insightful fighting seems great use to keep getting your sneak attacks. Steady eye sounds beneficial when attempting to locate your targets. Not all assassins are assassins?
I also believe the inquisitive can fit into your story as there isnt a definitive time between the human boy teaching her stuff and his end.
Warlock also seems to fit well with your description, and I suggest the hexblade and tome pact for features. Tome pact gives three cantrips of your choice and count as Warlock spells (seems to fit the flavor). Blade pact seems redundant aside from sneaking weapons into places you may not be able to otherwise. Chain pact doesn't feel right either, less you planned on having a pet sidekick.
Hexblade reads like a good fit for this character too. Hexblade curse could be of great use to stack up the damage against that high value target. Hex warrior seems decent enough if you maximize charisma and not dexterity.
I would also suggest grabbing invocations to support your infiltration needs. Aspect of the moon, devil's sight, eldritch sight, eyes of the runekeeper, ghostly gaze, mask of many faces, one with shadows, relentless hex. If you need more stacking damage against a high value target then I would suggest maddening hex. This is also not relying on your hex spell either. Though eldritch blast with grasp of hadar, or repelling blast invocations could help possible mobility issues? Possibly knock your target out a window to their death?
Hrmm, perhaps ive said too much. Just my suggestions and thoughts on the matter. Hope some of it is helpful.