My next adventure will involve the party repelling waves of an advancing drow army. The encounter is a guaranteed loss. There will be no end to the waves. They are intended to flee when they feel they are out of steam. But the longer the players survive, the more loot they will get their hands on. Several of the waves will include a drow leader with a magic item, which they will use against the party. Then after each wave there will be a break where the party has a chance to recover loot, including the magic item.
What are some good drow-themed magic items, or items that would be interesting to use against the players in an encounter like this? Players are level 7-8 and I'm thinking mostly rare items, but uncommon and very rare are okay too.
The obvious all sorts of magic swords, hand crossbows, armor, bracers, rings. Anything with a spider theme or poison theme. Magic whips with multiple snake heads being wielded by the more powerful priestesses.
Drow magic items generally lose their magic (and often structural integrity) after prolonged exposure to sunlight, so you should consider whether or not to include them. Prolonged can be as little as one hour.
Obvious choices:
Pifwafwi uniform: A cloak of elvenkind paired with boots of elvenkind (both dissolve in sunlight) and a drow house insignia, which is functionally an amulet of proof against detection and location, but can only be attuned with the assistance of a cleric of llolth (effectively a special use of the ceremony spell) - trying to attune to it without assistance gets you a bestow curse or worse.
Hand Crossbow of Plenty: This hand crossbow manufactures its own ammo - you can ignore loading and the part of ammunition that says you need to reload it. The ammo it makes is coated in Drow Poison. The crossbow is fueled with the souls of non-drow humanoids; one soul is sufficient for around 20 bolts. The crossbow can hold up to 5 souls at once. It automatically tries to collect the soul of anything it kills.
Greater Hand Crossbow of Plenty: As above. When you shoot the hand crossbow, you can let it drink your blood, causing you 1 point of typeless damage, like a stirge deals. Provided you actually take the damage, the poison's save dc is set to 8+your proficiency bonus+your charisma modifier. This damage can't be healed except by a long rest, and even then it won't heal if you are poisoned.
Spider Grenade: you throw this like an oil flask. When it burts open, you get a swarm of spiders, not oil. They are irritable.
Control Wand: This wand can cast Dominate Monster an infinite number of times, but it only works against Driders, Spiders of all sorts (including Phase Spiders), and Spider Swarms (bypassing their charm immunity). It only works on Beasts and Monstrosities - other spiders and driders, such as undead, are immune. The wand is fueled with the souls of male humanoids; normal souls are worth 1 charge, drow souls are worth 2. The wand can hold 10 charges. It automatically absorbs souls when something within 5 feet of it dies.
Wand of Demonweb: this is a wand of web that uses the wielder's Charisma and proficiency bonus to generate its save DC.
In the book series the drow priestesses use tentacle rods
"You dare to question the matron mother?" Briza started sharply, reaching for the snake-headed whipso comfortably strapped-and writhing-on her belt. Matron Malice stopped her with an outstretched hand.
My next adventure will involve the party repelling waves of an advancing drow army. The encounter is a guaranteed loss. There will be no end to the waves. They are intended to flee when they feel they are out of steam. But the longer the players survive, the more loot they will get their hands on. Several of the waves will include a drow leader with a magic item, which they will use against the party. Then after each wave there will be a break where the party has a chance to recover loot, including the magic item.
What are some good drow-themed magic items, or items that would be interesting to use against the players in an encounter like this? Players are level 7-8 and I'm thinking mostly rare items, but uncommon and very rare are okay too.
The obvious all sorts of magic swords, hand crossbows, armor, bracers, rings. Anything with a spider theme or poison theme. Magic whips with multiple snake heads being wielded by the more powerful priestesses.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
Drow magic items generally lose their magic (and often structural integrity) after prolonged exposure to sunlight, so you should consider whether or not to include them. Prolonged can be as little as one hour.
Obvious choices:
Pifwafwi uniform: A cloak of elvenkind paired with boots of elvenkind (both dissolve in sunlight) and a drow house insignia, which is functionally an amulet of proof against detection and location, but can only be attuned with the assistance of a cleric of llolth (effectively a special use of the ceremony spell) - trying to attune to it without assistance gets you a bestow curse or worse.
Hand Crossbow of Plenty: This hand crossbow manufactures its own ammo - you can ignore loading and the part of ammunition that says you need to reload it. The ammo it makes is coated in Drow Poison. The crossbow is fueled with the souls of non-drow humanoids; one soul is sufficient for around 20 bolts. The crossbow can hold up to 5 souls at once. It automatically tries to collect the soul of anything it kills.
Greater Hand Crossbow of Plenty: As above. When you shoot the hand crossbow, you can let it drink your blood, causing you 1 point of typeless damage, like a stirge deals. Provided you actually take the damage, the poison's save dc is set to 8+your proficiency bonus+your charisma modifier. This damage can't be healed except by a long rest, and even then it won't heal if you are poisoned.
Spider Grenade: you throw this like an oil flask. When it burts open, you get a swarm of spiders, not oil. They are irritable.
Control Wand: This wand can cast Dominate Monster an infinite number of times, but it only works against Driders, Spiders of all sorts (including Phase Spiders), and Spider Swarms (bypassing their charm immunity). It only works on Beasts and Monstrosities - other spiders and driders, such as undead, are immune. The wand is fueled with the souls of male humanoids; normal souls are worth 1 charge, drow souls are worth 2. The wand can hold 10 charges. It automatically absorbs souls when something within 5 feet of it dies.
Wand of Demonweb: this is a wand of web that uses the wielder's Charisma and proficiency bonus to generate its save DC.
In the book series the drow priestesses use tentacle rods
"You dare to question the matron mother?" Briza started sharply, reaching for the snake-headed whip so comfortably strapped-and writhing-on her belt. Matron Malice stopped her with an outstretched hand.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks