Dread Fang of Lolth

DREAD FANG OF LOLTH

“All things are possible with the grace of the Spider Queen. It is a shame you did not realize this before your treasonous transgression.” —Shalzad Raelnan, dread fang of Lolth

 CLASS FEATURES

Dread fangs of Lolth specialize in the element of surprise. From the outset, they are granted blessings from their goddess that set them apart from others. As they gain levels, they develop a number of techniques that help them make swift and deadly attacks.

Rogue Level	Feature
3rd	Lolth’s Whispers, Fleet Footed, Hypervigilance
9th	Superior Mobility
13th	Ambush Master
17th	Sudden Strike

 PLAYING AS A DREAD FANG OF LOLTH

As a dread fang of Lolth, you enforce the will of the priestesses. The goddess favors you, filling your mind with her whispers and mutterings. Most times, it is a constant, almost maddening noise, but you have learned to pick out some wisdom from her litany—insights that make you a better warrior.

You are more than just a soldier, though. You are part of an elite fighting force that protects and furthers the Spider Queen’s interests. As a group, you and your fellow fangs protect temples, priestesses, and the city, and occasionally undertake important missions for the clerics of Lolth. You take your responsibilities seriously and are loyal to a fault.

Combat

You can certainly hold your own in a fight, but you’re most dangerous when ambushing your enemies.

Like the eyes of Lolth, you are most effective when fighting alongside allies. When grouped with other fangs or eyes, you and your allies can respond to changes in the battlefield and best allocate your resources to win the fight.

Advancement

Becoming a dread fang of Lolth was no easy task. It involved endless hours of training, including the extensive study of numerous fighting techniques as well as in-depth religious indoctrination. For years, you honed your abilities, improving upon your already formidable talents. But the priestesses waited for a sign of greater ability, and then it came: The mark of Lolth’s favor began as a faint voice, the slightest whisper, something you might have imagined. But it soon became far more insistent. It distracted you and pushed you to the brink of madness, but somehow you resisted—and eventually embraced the whispering, knowing that it was the voice of the goddess herself. And thus, you were welcomed into the ranks of the fangs.

Since nearly all your abilities rely on surprise, invest in feats and skills that help you take advantage of these circumstances. Feats such as Improved Initiative, Spring Attack, and Great Cleave are good choices, but don’t overlook feats that enhance your sneak attack and sudden strike abilities, particularly Razing Strike and Staggering Strike. When you gain treasure, spend it on items that improve your stealth. Cloaks and boots of elvenkind are vital, as are elixirs of hiding and sneaking.

Resources

You are a chosen servant of Lolth and, by virtue of your status, few drow dare cross your path. The priestesses supply you with your basic equipment, as well as housing, clothing, and the necessary supplies to survive. In addition, you have an easy time finding trainers and mentors who can help you refine your craft.

DREAD FANGS IN THE WORLD

“The dread fangs of Lolth are lackeys at best, but as elite guards, shock troops, and enforcers, they are useful allies. If they have one fl aw, it’s their obedience. They never question orders. Ever.” —Xune Argith, eye of Lolth

 The dread fangs of Lolth are important additions to any campaign in which the drow are featured as principal antagonists. They use drow tactics and perfect them, and so are extremely evasive, unpredictable, and mobile. Even when used alongside lesser soldiers, the dread fangs drive home the cunning tactics the drow favor.

Organization

The dread fangs of Lolth have a presence in nearly every drow city. Wherever there are priestesses of the Spider Queen, fangs are not far. As the enforcement arm of the church, the fangs ensure that the wishes of the priestesses are fulfilled and their enemies destroyed.

The clerics assign fangs to the eyes of Lolth. Under the command of these operatives, the fangs provide the muscle to ensure a successful mission. Eyes and fangs work exceptionally well together, their abilities complementing each other. When so paired, they can be a nearly unstoppable force.

Candidates are always carefully screened before being invited to join the fangs, since the priestesses cannot afford to compromise the integrity of the organization with dissent or treasonous thoughts. They pick talented males (and rarely females) who are unswervingly loyal to the Spider Queen. Candidates endure a difficult period of training to alter their personalities and correct their conflicting loyalties until a single-minded warrior remains. Of these, only the ones who hear the voice of Lolth are allowed to become full-fledged members.

Requirements: To qualify to become a dread fang of Lolth, a character must fulfill all of the following criteria.

Alignment: Lawful evil.

Race: Drow.

Base Attack Bonus: +5.

Lolth’s Whispers

The dread voice of the Spider Queen fills your thoughts. You gain a +2 bonus on damage rolls, and your racial bonus on Will saves against spells and spell-like abilities increases to +4.

Swift Action

As a swift action, you can give up this +2 damage bonus and bestow it on an ally within 30 feet that you can clearly see. The ally’s bonus lasts for 1 round.

Fleet Footed

Starting at 3rd level, you are difficult to pin down during a fight. You can move up to half your speed as a reaction when an enemy ends its turn within 5 feet of you. This movement doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks.

Hypervigilance

At 3rd level, you learn how to land a strike and then slip away without reprisal. During your turn, if you make a melee attack against a creature, that creature can’t make opportunity attacks against you for the rest of your turn.

Superior Mobility

At 9th level, your walking speed increases by 10 feet. If you have a climbing or swimming speed, this increase applies to that speed as well.

Ambush Master

Starting at 13th level, you excel at leading ambushes and acting first in a fight.

You have advantage on initiative rolls. In addition, the first creature you hit during the first round of a combat becomes easier for you and others to strike; attack rolls against that target have advantage until the start of your next turn.

Sudden Strike

When you reach 17th level, you have become adept at laying ambushes and quickly escaping danger. You can take two turns during the first round of any combat. You take your first turn at your normal initiative and your second turn at your initiative minus 10. You can’t use this feature when you are surprised.