Homebrew Awakened Undead Drow Species Details

THE DARKNESS OF THE DROW

Were it not for one renowned exception, the race of Drow would be universally reviled. To most, they are a race of demon-worshiping marauders dwelling in the subterranean depths of the Underdark, emerging only on the blackest nights to pillage and slaughter the surface dwellers they despise. Their society is depraved and preoccupied with the favor of Lolth, their spider-goddess, who sanctions murder and the extermination of entire families as noble houses vie for position.

Drow grow up believing that surface-dwelling races are inferior, worthless except as slaves. Drow who develop a conscience or find it necessary to cooperate with members of other races find it hard to overcome that prejudice, especially when they are so often on the receiving end of hatred. This may disappear when a Drow is risen from the dead. When raised into its undeath, the Undead Drow retains its experience, muscle memory, and natural ability but due to its seemingly never-ending existence, it becomes woefully indifferent to things that any "normal Drow" may care about. Moral, Social, or Physical superiority becomes meaningless when the worst thing that can happen to the living is their death.  An undead Drow has experienced this reality.  After all they have "lived" far beyond what is expected of them, why should they care? To an undead Drow unknown or forbidden knowledge is the only thing they seek, desire, or want to protect.

 

Uninhibited and Attuned

With their mortality stripped and their sentience untouched undead Drow are able to keep their physical form relatively the same as any normal Drow....to the untrained eye. To more experienced eyes one will find that the skin of an undead Drow ranges from a rotting pale white to a decaying grey. Their flesh can be consciously imbued by dark magic to keep its youthful appearance so as to "appear normal". However, anyone with trained perception can see straight through this farce. 

 

The Timeless Perspective

Elves can live well over 700 years, giving them a broad perspective on events that might trouble the shorter-lived races more deeply. They are more often amused than excited, and more likely to be curious than greedy. They tend to remain aloof and unfazed by petty happenstance. When pursuing a goal, however, whether adventuring on a mission or learning a new skill or art, elves can be focused and relentless. They are slow to make friends and enemies, and even slower to forget them. They reply to petty insults with disdain and to serious insults with vengeance. 

An undead Drow retains its wisdom from the life it once lived but has long forgotten it's birth year or any pettiness brought in its previous life by other mortal beings. In short undeath makes one indifferent. They retain their personality but care not for sentiment, tradition, or the enjoyment of itself or others. Usually, an undead Drow can be found attempting to understand, honor, control or hoard forbidden knowledge as they have the time now to seek it out.

 

Hidden in Plain sight.

Any experienced undead Drow knows how to manipulate and draw from its connection to the shadows. Maintaining social appearance and minimizing personal attention has become an involuntary trait, just as breathing once was in their previous mortal existence. However, the undead Drow is neutral often showing indifference to moral debate, their place within a social hierarchy and completely indifferent to cultural, theological, or social ideology and image.  The Undead drow can choose not to "hide in plain" sight should one prefer exist "as is"

 

Knowledge is Power.

Undead Drow typically have a lust for understanding magical items, powers or knowledge that exceeds their own potential. Since they are so long-lived, they enjoy centuries of wisdom and experience. They dislike and avoid the pace of mortal society, which is regimented from day to day but constantly changing over decades, so they find or make careers that let them slow down and absorb as much information as they are allowed. The Undead Drow enjoys exercising their superior intellect and wisdom by and utilizing the living as tools to carry out their bidding; adventuring allows them to do so freely. 

 

A Hunger for Sleep

In lieu of a need to eat flesh, food, or drink water, the undead Drow feeds of off sleep. A Drow starved of sleep becomes narcoleptic often having to rely on its constitution to not fall asleep from boredom or the ever forward march of time itself. Any Drow who does not receive a long rest once per day will be affected with a sleeping condition upon failing a constitution saving throw, requiring a minimum 1d4 damage to wake up.

 

HAUGHTY BUT GRACIOUS

Although they can be haughty, elves are generally gracious even to those who fall short of their high expectations—which is most non-elves. Still, they can find good in just about anyone.

Dwarves. “Dwarves are dull, clumsy oafs. But what they lack in humor, sophistication, and manners, they make up in valor. And I must admit, their best smiths produce art that approaches elven quality.”

Halflings. “Halflings are people of simple pleasures, and that is not a quality to scorn. They’re good folk, they care for each other and tend their gardens, and they have proven themselves tougher than they seem when the need arises.”

Humans. “All that haste, their ambition and drive to accomplish something before their brief lives pass away—human endeavors seem so futile sometimes. But then you look at what they have accomplished, and you have to appreciate their achievements. If only they could slow down and learn some refinement.”

Elf Names

Elves are considered children until they declare themselves adults, some time after the hundredth birthday, and before this period they are called by child names. The undead drow keep the names given to them only changing it when it is convenient for them. Some undead drow may outright drop their family name so as to remain elusive and inconspicuous. 

On awakening after death depending on the age one died an undead drow may go by the following.

Child Names: Ara, Bryn, Del, Eryn, Faen, Innil, Lael, Mella, Naill, Naeris, Phann, Rael, Rinn, Sai, Syllin, Thia, Vall

Male Adult Names: Adran, Aelar, Aramil, Arannis, Aust, Beiro, Berrian, Carric, Enialis, Erdan, Erevan, Galinndan, Hadarai, Heian, Himo, Immeral, Ivellios, Laucian, Mindartis, Paelias, Peren, Quarion, Riardon, Rolen, Soveliss, Thamior, Tharivol, Theren, Varis

Female Adult Names: Adrie, Althaea, Anastrianna, Andraste, Antinua, Bethrynna, Birel, Caelynn, Drusilia, Enna, Felosial, Ielenia, Jelenneth, Keyleth, Leshanna, Lia, Meriele, Mialee, Naivara, Quelenna, Quillathe, Sariel, Shanairra, Shava, Silaqui, Theirastra, Thia, Vadania, Valanthe, Xanaphia

Family Names (Common Translations if kept): Amakiir (Gemflower), Amastacia (Starflower), Galanodel (Moonwhisper), Holimion (Diamonddew), Ilphelkiir (Gemblossom), Liadon (Silverfrond), Meliamne (Oakenheel), Naïlo (Nightbreeze), Siannodel (Moonbrook), Xiloscient (Goldpetal)

Awakened Undead Drow Traits

Your character can have a variety of natural abilities as it is the result of potientially thousands of years of wandering as a magical corpse. The skills they acquired/developed in life can also be retained when raised in death making them excellent fighters, mages, or even bards. This is the product of sought experience following their death, or their aquired experience in life.

Mortuary Science

Undead Drow are granted an additional racial ability which imitates the magical effects of the cantrip "Mending". However, this racial ability can only be used on self and can only be used to repair parts of their body. If a part of the body is removed, thrown, or sent to a different location from its origin the part must be retrieved by its owner or a member of the owner's party before it can be mended back to its origin unless it is sent to a plane different from its owner. If the part of the body is sent to a different plane of existence, torn, ripped, mangled, blown off, to the extent that it is not recoverable this ability can be cast as a ritual. It requires a short rest or longer and the affected area can be "regrown". 

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 2.

Continuum of Decay

Although elves reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans, the elven understanding of adulthood goes beyond physical growth to encompass worldly experience. A living elf typically claims adulthood and an adult name around the age of 100 and can live to be 750 years old. An Undead Drow can appear living with the correct potions, spells or magical items, this dynamic can play a role into the Undead Drows social interactions. They can choose to appear as alive as they were at the time of their death or before with the correct magical intervention, or they appear in a state of decay bound by magical forces unseen. Typically, this state of decay exists on a continuum. This force prevents complete and total decay of flesh. Usually, the flesh of an undead Drow risen in this state is suspended in a state of rot. 

This continuum often creates hardship for a combat hardened undead Drow. Often losing limb at the slightest bit of stress or physical altercation.

Alignment

Depending on the nature and past of an undead Drow determines if they care about living or not. In life, their exile into the Underdark has made them thick skinned and hardy. However, Undead Drow are typically indifferent to everything related to mortal existence, remaining neutral in and to most circumstances. Outliers always exsist.

Size

Elves range from under 5 to over 6 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

Inhereted from Drow ancestry

Fey Ancestry

You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and intimidated. Disadvantage on being put to sleep.

Trance

As an undead the best way (aside from holy magic) to heal oneself from the trials of the day is through sleep. The undead doesn't needs sleep to offset mental exhaustion and boredom. The undead Drow doesn't need to breathe. As a result, waking a sleeping Undead Drow can be quite difficult as they are a corpse, which the living may find unsettling.  

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Elvish. Elvish is fluid, with subtle intonations and intricate grammar. Elven literature is rich and varied, and their songs and poems are famous among other races. Many bards learn their language so they can add Elvish ballads to their repertoires. If the Drow is older than 500 years pick one additional language to be completely fluent in.