The following character was designed to create tension in his party group, who must weigh their decisions carefully when recommending actions to this Drow/Warlock as his spell casting affects his trajectory as he seeks the light, but may be forced by his party or circumstances to cast dark spells, dragging him toward darker magic.
His default is to lean toward casting light spells, but at level one his connection to the Fae is weaker than his connection to the Drow, making his dark spells more powerful by default.
Although his will is aligned toward eventually obtaining "White Warlock" status with full support of the Fae spirits, as the game progresses he may be driven either way, by party choice or by rolls, so he must work as a team with his party if he is ever to find redemption, but may well end up condemned if the fate of the game works against them.
There are "tipping points" on either side of his dark/light scale, thresholds which, once crossed, lock the character into darkness, or the light.
His party (or the DM) may attempt to drag him back to neutral ground if he crosses the dark tipping point, while the spirit of his (DM-driven) patron may attempt to drag him back over the light threshold if he achieves "White Warlock" status.
Veldrin Elg'cahl's Backstory
Veldrin Elg'cahl is a 15-year-old mixed-race Drow, born into a lineage of dark magic and fiendish allegiances. His life has been shaped by the rigid power structures of Drow society, the tyranny of Lolth, and the forbidden relationship between his parents.
His father, Drathir Elg'cahl, was a low-ranking male Drow officer tasked with leading slave raids on the surface. During one of these raids, Drathir captured Elara Dwin'eth, a non-Drow Elf with a deep connection to light magic, intending to sell her into slavery upon his return to the Underdark. However, over time, Drathir’s fascination with Elara grew. She represented everything that the Drow were taught to hate: light, purity, and freedom. Despite his growing feelings, Elara never reciprocated his affection—she remained a captive, devoted only to her desire to return to the surface world and to the light.
Veldrin was born of this forced and forbidden union, a fact that became a dangerous secret. Despite the hostile environment, Elara managed to teach Veldrin the ways of light magic in secret, hoping that her son could escape the grip of Lolth’s influence. However, the practice of light magic in the Underdark was considered a grave heresy, punishable by death.
The Discovery and Lolth's Wrath
Veldrin’s secret was eventually discovered by the priestesses of Lolth, the Spider Queen, whose web of power reached into every aspect of Drow society. The idea that light magic, a symbol of hope and rebellion, could be allowed to fester within their ranks was intolerable to Lolth’s loyal followers. Upon discovering that Veldrin had been trained in this forbidden art, the high priestesses of Lolth, under direct command from the Spider Queen, declared both Elara and Veldrin as heretics who must be punished.
Lolth’s influence runs deep in the Underdark, and her power often extends to alliances with demonic entities. The fiendish creature that served as Lolth’s enforcer—a powerful demon—was sent to oversee their punishment. In a twisted act of cruelty, the demon seized control of Veldrin’s mind and forced him to murder his own mother with a dagger, ensuring her death would haunt him forever. This act served not only to eliminate Elara but also to break Veldrin emotionally, shattering his connection to light magic and binding him to the darkness.
The Role of Drathir and His Rebellion
Drathir, though a product of Drow society, was never completely comfortable with the forces that ruled his world. His fascination with Elara had softened him, and while he never openly opposed Lolth, he could not bring himself to kill his own son, despite being ordered to do so by the priestesses. In an uncharacteristic act of rebellion against Lolth’s will, Drathir defied the order.
Drathir led Veldrin to the surface world under the cover of night, releasing him with a stern warning never to return to the Underdark. While Veldrin had been spared, the price for Drathir’s disobedience was high—he was branded a traitor, and his fate in the Underdark was left uncertain, though it was likely that Lolth’s priestesses dealt with him harshly.
The Spirit of Elara and the Fey
After Elara’s death, her soul did not simply pass into the afterlife. As a devotee of the light, her spirit was claimed by Fey beings of the surface world who had long warred against the fiendish influences of the Underdark. These Fey spirits, though hesitant to involve themselves with a Drow, recognized Veldrin’s potential for redemption. Despite their distaste for his lineage, they saw the purity of Elara’s magic within him.
They chose to tether Elara’s soul to Veldrin, allowing her spirit to guide him through his journey. While the Fey spirits do not directly intervene, they have placed Elara’s soul as a beacon of light to help Veldrin resist the darkness and fiendish temptations that still linger within him.
Veldrin’s Quest for Redemption
Now, Veldrin wanders the surface world, filled with guilt and torn by conflicting emotions. He loved his mother deeply, but the murder he was forced to commit under demonic influence has left him haunted. Complicating this further is his love for his father, a figure who spared him but whose actions in capturing his mother can never be fully forgiven.
Guided by the spirit of Elara, Veldrin seeks redemption through mastery of light magic, but the darkness of his Drow heritage remains a constant threat. His blood is tied to Lolth’s web, and the fiendish power within him tempts him at every turn. While the Fey spirits watch from a distance, they know that Veldrin’s fate is far from certain.
Veldrin’s journey is one of constant internal conflict. He is a child of two worlds—one of light and one of darkness—and the balance between them will determine his future.
Key Elements of Veldrin's Backstory:
Matriarchal Influence: The story acknowledges the strong control Lolth and her priestesses have over Drow society, making the punishment for Veldrin’s light magic heresy a natural consequence.
Lolth’s Command: Lolth’s priestesses and a demonic servant of Lolth enforce the punishment, maintaining canonical control by the Spider Queen and her allies.
Drathir’s Defiance: Drathir’s decision to spare Veldrin reflects an unusual act of rebellion in Drow society, allowing Veldrin to escape, though at great cost to Drathir himself.
Fey Involvement: The Fey spirits’ involvement in capturing Elara’s soul provides a good vs. evil contrast that plays out through Veldrin’s journey, without contradicting established lore.
Internal Conflict: Veldrin’s guilt and love for both his mother and father remain central themes, adding emotional depth while complying with Drow societal norms.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Older than D&D but still don't know how to play...
Interesting idea, but if you plan to run this as an NPC alongside the characters be careful that you don't turn them into the Main Character. The story should focus on the player characters and their choices in the world, not necessarily an NPC's choices.
Also hopefully you mean to say that Veldrin's parents had some amount of affection for one another. If not, then a forced interaction wouldn't fly at a lot of tables. Just my 2cp.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
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The following character was designed to create tension in his party group, who must weigh their decisions carefully when recommending actions to this Drow/Warlock as his spell casting affects his trajectory as he seeks the light, but may be forced by his party or circumstances to cast dark spells, dragging him toward darker magic.
His default is to lean toward casting light spells, but at level one his connection to the Fae is weaker than his connection to the Drow, making his dark spells more powerful by default.
Although his will is aligned toward eventually obtaining "White Warlock" status with full support of the Fae spirits, as the game progresses he may be driven either way, by party choice or by rolls, so he must work as a team with his party if he is ever to find redemption, but may well end up condemned if the fate of the game works against them.
There are "tipping points" on either side of his dark/light scale, thresholds which, once crossed, lock the character into darkness, or the light.
His party (or the DM) may attempt to drag him back to neutral ground if he crosses the dark tipping point, while the spirit of his (DM-driven) patron may attempt to drag him back over the light threshold if he achieves "White Warlock" status.
Veldrin Elg'cahl's Backstory
Veldrin Elg'cahl is a 15-year-old mixed-race Drow, born into a lineage of dark magic and fiendish allegiances. His life has been shaped by the rigid power structures of Drow society, the tyranny of Lolth, and the forbidden relationship between his parents.
His father, Drathir Elg'cahl, was a low-ranking male Drow officer tasked with leading slave raids on the surface. During one of these raids, Drathir captured Elara Dwin'eth, a non-Drow Elf with a deep connection to light magic, intending to sell her into slavery upon his return to the Underdark. However, over time, Drathir’s fascination with Elara grew. She represented everything that the Drow were taught to hate: light, purity, and freedom. Despite his growing feelings, Elara never reciprocated his affection—she remained a captive, devoted only to her desire to return to the surface world and to the light.
Veldrin was born of this forced and forbidden union, a fact that became a dangerous secret. Despite the hostile environment, Elara managed to teach Veldrin the ways of light magic in secret, hoping that her son could escape the grip of Lolth’s influence. However, the practice of light magic in the Underdark was considered a grave heresy, punishable by death.
The Discovery and Lolth's Wrath
Veldrin’s secret was eventually discovered by the priestesses of Lolth, the Spider Queen, whose web of power reached into every aspect of Drow society. The idea that light magic, a symbol of hope and rebellion, could be allowed to fester within their ranks was intolerable to Lolth’s loyal followers. Upon discovering that Veldrin had been trained in this forbidden art, the high priestesses of Lolth, under direct command from the Spider Queen, declared both Elara and Veldrin as heretics who must be punished.
Lolth’s influence runs deep in the Underdark, and her power often extends to alliances with demonic entities. The fiendish creature that served as Lolth’s enforcer—a powerful demon—was sent to oversee their punishment. In a twisted act of cruelty, the demon seized control of Veldrin’s mind and forced him to murder his own mother with a dagger, ensuring her death would haunt him forever. This act served not only to eliminate Elara but also to break Veldrin emotionally, shattering his connection to light magic and binding him to the darkness.
The Role of Drathir and His Rebellion
Drathir, though a product of Drow society, was never completely comfortable with the forces that ruled his world. His fascination with Elara had softened him, and while he never openly opposed Lolth, he could not bring himself to kill his own son, despite being ordered to do so by the priestesses. In an uncharacteristic act of rebellion against Lolth’s will, Drathir defied the order.
Drathir led Veldrin to the surface world under the cover of night, releasing him with a stern warning never to return to the Underdark. While Veldrin had been spared, the price for Drathir’s disobedience was high—he was branded a traitor, and his fate in the Underdark was left uncertain, though it was likely that Lolth’s priestesses dealt with him harshly.
The Spirit of Elara and the Fey
After Elara’s death, her soul did not simply pass into the afterlife. As a devotee of the light, her spirit was claimed by Fey beings of the surface world who had long warred against the fiendish influences of the Underdark. These Fey spirits, though hesitant to involve themselves with a Drow, recognized Veldrin’s potential for redemption. Despite their distaste for his lineage, they saw the purity of Elara’s magic within him.
They chose to tether Elara’s soul to Veldrin, allowing her spirit to guide him through his journey. While the Fey spirits do not directly intervene, they have placed Elara’s soul as a beacon of light to help Veldrin resist the darkness and fiendish temptations that still linger within him.
Veldrin’s Quest for Redemption
Now, Veldrin wanders the surface world, filled with guilt and torn by conflicting emotions. He loved his mother deeply, but the murder he was forced to commit under demonic influence has left him haunted. Complicating this further is his love for his father, a figure who spared him but whose actions in capturing his mother can never be fully forgiven.
Guided by the spirit of Elara, Veldrin seeks redemption through mastery of light magic, but the darkness of his Drow heritage remains a constant threat. His blood is tied to Lolth’s web, and the fiendish power within him tempts him at every turn. While the Fey spirits watch from a distance, they know that Veldrin’s fate is far from certain.
Veldrin’s journey is one of constant internal conflict. He is a child of two worlds—one of light and one of darkness—and the balance between them will determine his future.
Key Elements of Veldrin's Backstory:
Matriarchal Influence: The story acknowledges the strong control Lolth and her priestesses have over Drow society, making the punishment for Veldrin’s light magic heresy a natural consequence.
Lolth’s Command: Lolth’s priestesses and a demonic servant of Lolth enforce the punishment, maintaining canonical control by the Spider Queen and her allies.
Drathir’s Defiance: Drathir’s decision to spare Veldrin reflects an unusual act of rebellion in Drow society, allowing Veldrin to escape, though at great cost to Drathir himself.
Fey Involvement: The Fey spirits’ involvement in capturing Elara’s soul provides a good vs. evil contrast that plays out through Veldrin’s journey, without contradicting established lore.
Internal Conflict: Veldrin’s guilt and love for both his mother and father remain central themes, adding emotional depth while complying with Drow societal norms.
Older than D&D but still don't know how to play...
Interesting idea, but if you plan to run this as an NPC alongside the characters be careful that you don't turn them into the Main Character. The story should focus on the player characters and their choices in the world, not necessarily an NPC's choices.
Also hopefully you mean to say that Veldrin's parents had some amount of affection for one another. If not, then a forced interaction wouldn't fly at a lot of tables. Just my 2cp.
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?