so planning on playing a drow paladin in an upcoming campaign but problem is having some issues on creating a backstory, I know a few things i.e the pre-written background was thinking of Inheritance and getting a Moonblade of Elistrae with her as his deity but aside from "he escaped from the Underdark" I'm literally drawing a blank. Was thinking about maybe somehow him having parents who escaped too but no idea how I could logically tie them into him being separated from them. My basic knowledge of Drow, most of which revolves around the evil Drow/Lolth ones as most videos about them concentrate way more on Llolth ones and less on Elistrae worshippers.
Was thinking about maybe somehow him having parents who escaped too but no idea how I could logically tie them into him being separated from them.
They had no choice but to leave him behind, with people they could trust to keep him safe. Had they remained all of them would have died. It was a sacrifice that saved lives.
Now he's free as well and could be looking to learn what became of them all.
neat, thnx. As a newcomer it irks me how most video talking about drow spend pretty much 95% of the time talking about the ones aligned to Lolth but seem to ignore the 'good drow' entirely making it hard for someone like myself to learn enough to create a proper bs. Is Elistrae not as fleshed out of a goddess as Lolth and her drow are or something? seems like the case
"Born deep within the lightless embrace of the Underdark, I, Ilvara T'sarran, emerged into a world torn between the shadows of Lolth's dominion and the beckoning call of Eilistraee's moonlit dance. My parents, devout followers of the Dark Maiden, raised me in secrecy, nurturing a spirit that yearned for freedom and compassion amidst the drow's cruel society.
As the oppressive grip of Lolth's followers tightened, my parents faced an impossible choice: remain and perish or flee to the surface world, leaving me in the care of trusted hands. With tears and solemn vows, they entrusted me to a guardian who promised to safeguard my life and teach me the ways of Eilistraee.
They left behind a fragment of their Moonblade, a symbol of hope and a reminder of my heritage. Raised in the light, I trained relentlessly, embracing Eilistraee's teachings of dance, song, and the blade, preparing for the day I would venture forth to honor my parents' sacrifice.
Now free from the Underdark's suffocating grasp, I wander the surface lands as a paladin of vengeance, driven by a dual oath: to seek justice against those who perpetuate darkness and to uncover the fate of my parents and the legacy they left behind. With each step, guided by moonlight and the echoes of their love, I strive to bring light to the shadows and reunite with those who gave everything for my chance at life."
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“If you define yourself by the power to take life, the desire to dominate, to possess...then you have nothing.”
thnx. Way more helpful than the GM's on video's online who when talking about drow spend 95% of the video simping over Lolth and her drow and practically ghosting the 'good' drow, which really does make me think that Elistrae is perhaps not as well fleshed out as Llolth? also is it true in regards to drow 'voices' they basically have to be dark-skinned Palpatine? as thats what said GM's seem to voice em as, just sterotypical "goooood, let the hate flow through you"
How about your Paladin was drawn to Elistrae, despite your parents protest. They were a family in high standing, known for cunning stratagems and bold backstabbing that has them close the Priestesses of Lolth, but your faith and honor demanded you follow your path. After you sought out the few drow on the surface to follow your calling, the Priestesses found out about your and used the opportunity to destroy your family reputation, forcing your parents to abandon their town and attempt to find solace on a surface that already mistrusts them. They have little resources, and it's up to you to find out where they have gone and make them safe. Then, it would be time to return to your homeland and make sure the Priestesses cannot suffer such indignities and punishment on the innocent.
born to a noble family of devout drow worshippers of lolth, he was born into a time of strife between his family and their rivals, house Armaryae. trained to be a warrior since he was young, his mother, the granddaughter of the matron mother of the noble house, was a secret worshipper of eilistraee and gifted her son a moonblade of the god at a young age. at the age of 17, his house was attacked by Armaryae, and his mother and whole house were exterminated. on his last legs in the midst of battle, he called out to eilistraee for help, and the god answered. a blast of moonlit energy burst out, killing the warriors of house armaryae. escaping the Underdark after the slaughtering of his family, he swore revenge on the house that killed his mother and vowed that he vowed that he would avenge his house.
My backstory is only ever just what it takes to explain why is this PC out and about in the dangerous world not living the zero lvl NPC life of a typical person.
That is the only thing i need from my backstory. And then i might dream up one or two specific moments form their past, that are why they have a certain personality trait or whatever.
but for me importantly, I do not place campaign story demands into my backstory of any kind. I craft my backstory to be a basic spring board that launches the PC out into the life of adventure, but does not place skeletons in their closet or make what went on about them before we met them be of any real importance to their on screen story.
I try to make it so that what happens "on screen" is what my PC's story is all about. Not what i said happened off screen before we ever met them.
As the story telling adage goes: show don't tell.
And as backstories are nothing but tell, i find them unworthy of too much effort.
Your PC could be part of the Silverhair Knights, an order of Eilistraeens dedicated to the conversion and subsequent protection of drow who have come to the surface of Faerûn and seperated during a Moondancers ritual and feast after an attack by rival Drow of Lolth.
Or your PC could have gone to the surface with other member of the order of Sword Dancers of Eilistraee to dance on moonlit nights for Eilistraee, while trying to find, help and protect any drow looking to return to the surface and join a different life away from Lolth until attacked by barbarians.
Either way, your character would be on his own now, looking for adventure elsewhere away from the Underdark tunnels from where he emerged and trying to promote its goddess through virtues of paladinhood.
Have you read the Dark Elf trilogy by RA Salvatore? First book is Homeland. Could give you some ideas about the Underdark and its politics and help develop ideas about why your character wanted to escape and what made them decide to become a paladin.
Maybe it is that they had a vision from one of the good alignment elf Deities and received a moonblade from them but then lolth ordered her high rank priestesses to hunt them down for accepting a gift from another deity so they had to escape from the underdark. They then swore vengeance on Lolth and her priestesses.
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so planning on playing a drow paladin in an upcoming campaign but problem is having some issues on creating a backstory, I know a few things i.e the pre-written background was thinking of Inheritance and getting a Moonblade of Elistrae with her as his deity but aside from "he escaped from the Underdark" I'm literally drawing a blank. Was thinking about maybe somehow him having parents who escaped too but no idea how I could logically tie them into him being separated from them. My basic knowledge of Drow, most of which revolves around the evil Drow/Lolth ones as most videos about them concentrate way more on Llolth ones and less on Elistrae worshippers.
They had no choice but to leave him behind, with people they could trust to keep him safe. Had they remained all of them would have died. It was a sacrifice that saved lives.
Now he's free as well and could be looking to learn what became of them all.
neat, thnx. As a newcomer it irks me how most video talking about drow spend pretty much 95% of the time talking about the ones aligned to Lolth but seem to ignore the 'good drow' entirely making it hard for someone like myself to learn enough to create a proper bs. Is Elistrae not as fleshed out of a goddess as Lolth and her drow are or something? seems like the case
Did some thinking and got to this text:
"Born deep within the lightless embrace of the Underdark, I, Ilvara T'sarran, emerged into a world torn between the shadows of Lolth's dominion and the beckoning call of Eilistraee's moonlit dance. My parents, devout followers of the Dark Maiden, raised me in secrecy, nurturing a spirit that yearned for freedom and compassion amidst the drow's cruel society.
As the oppressive grip of Lolth's followers tightened, my parents faced an impossible choice: remain and perish or flee to the surface world, leaving me in the care of trusted hands. With tears and solemn vows, they entrusted me to a guardian who promised to safeguard my life and teach me the ways of Eilistraee.
They left behind a fragment of their Moonblade, a symbol of hope and a reminder of my heritage. Raised in the light, I trained relentlessly, embracing Eilistraee's teachings of dance, song, and the blade, preparing for the day I would venture forth to honor my parents' sacrifice.
Now free from the Underdark's suffocating grasp, I wander the surface lands as a paladin of vengeance, driven by a dual oath: to seek justice against those who perpetuate darkness and to uncover the fate of my parents and the legacy they left behind. With each step, guided by moonlight and the echoes of their love, I strive to bring light to the shadows and reunite with those who gave everything for my chance at life."
“If you define yourself by the power to take life, the desire to dominate, to possess...then you have nothing.”
Characters:
Jóni Dawnbrow | Mountain Dwarf Battle Master | LVL. 3
Atherhiwion "Jehan" Oakmane | Wood Elf Circle of the Moon Druid | LVL. 5
RIP Markus Wulfenhauer | Variant Human Oath Of Ancients Paladin | LVL. 11
nice one dude, love how helpful the DnD Beyond forums can be to complete newcomers like me
Just spreading the love for the game, brother.
Keep on keeping on!
“If you define yourself by the power to take life, the desire to dominate, to possess...then you have nothing.”
Characters:
Jóni Dawnbrow | Mountain Dwarf Battle Master | LVL. 3
Atherhiwion "Jehan" Oakmane | Wood Elf Circle of the Moon Druid | LVL. 5
RIP Markus Wulfenhauer | Variant Human Oath Of Ancients Paladin | LVL. 11
thnx. Way more helpful than the GM's on video's online who when talking about drow spend 95% of the video simping over Lolth and her drow and practically ghosting the 'good' drow, which really does make me think that Elistrae is perhaps not as well fleshed out as Llolth? also is it true in regards to drow 'voices' they basically have to be dark-skinned Palpatine? as thats what said GM's seem to voice em as, just sterotypical "goooood, let the hate flow through you"
How about your Paladin was drawn to Elistrae, despite your parents protest. They were a family in high standing, known for cunning stratagems and bold backstabbing that has them close the Priestesses of Lolth, but your faith and honor demanded you follow your path. After you sought out the few drow on the surface to follow your calling, the Priestesses found out about your and used the opportunity to destroy your family reputation, forcing your parents to abandon their town and attempt to find solace on a surface that already mistrusts them. They have little resources, and it's up to you to find out where they have gone and make them safe. Then, it would be time to return to your homeland and make sure the Priestesses cannot suffer such indignities and punishment on the innocent.
Your path of righteous vengeance is set.
born to a noble family of devout drow worshippers of lolth, he was born into a time of strife between his family and their rivals, house Armaryae. trained to be a warrior since he was young, his mother, the granddaughter of the matron mother of the noble house, was a secret worshipper of eilistraee and gifted her son a moonblade of the god at a young age. at the age of 17, his house was attacked by Armaryae, and his mother and whole house were exterminated. on his last legs in the midst of battle, he called out to eilistraee for help, and the god answered. a blast of moonlit energy burst out, killing the warriors of house armaryae. escaping the Underdark after the slaughtering of his family, he swore revenge on the house that killed his mother and vowed that he vowed that he would avenge his house.
My backstory is only ever just what it takes to explain why is this PC out and about in the dangerous world not living the zero lvl NPC life of a typical person.
That is the only thing i need from my backstory. And then i might dream up one or two specific moments form their past, that are why they have a certain personality trait or whatever.
but for me importantly, I do not place campaign story demands into my backstory of any kind. I craft my backstory to be a basic spring board that launches the PC out into the life of adventure, but does not place skeletons in their closet or make what went on about them before we met them be of any real importance to their on screen story.
I try to make it so that what happens "on screen" is what my PC's story is all about. Not what i said happened off screen before we ever met them.
As the story telling adage goes: show don't tell.
And as backstories are nothing but tell, i find them unworthy of too much effort.
Your PC could be part of the Silverhair Knights, an order of Eilistraeens dedicated to the conversion and subsequent protection of drow who have come to the surface of Faerûn and seperated during a Moondancers ritual and feast after an attack by rival Drow of Lolth.
Or your PC could have gone to the surface with other member of the order of Sword Dancers of Eilistraee to dance on moonlit nights for Eilistraee, while trying to find, help and protect any drow looking to return to the surface and join a different life away from Lolth until attacked by barbarians.
Either way, your character would be on his own now, looking for adventure elsewhere away from the Underdark tunnels from where he emerged and trying to promote its goddess through virtues of paladinhood.
Have you read the Dark Elf trilogy by RA Salvatore? First book is Homeland. Could give you some ideas about the Underdark and its politics and help develop ideas about why your character wanted to escape and what made them decide to become a paladin.
https://dungeonsanddragonsfan.com/legend-of-drizzt-books-in-order/
Maybe it is that they had a vision from one of the good alignment elf Deities and received a moonblade from them but then lolth ordered her high rank priestesses to hunt them down for accepting a gift from another deity so they had to escape from the underdark. They then swore vengeance on Lolth and her priestesses.