Medium humanoid (elf), neutral evil
Armor Class 12 (15 with mage armor)
Hit Points 45 (10d8)
Speed 30 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +3
Proficiency Bonus +5 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 (-1) | 14 (+2) | 10 (+0) | 17 (+3) | 13 (+1) | 12 (+1) |
Skills Arcana +6, Deception +5, Perception +4, Stealth +5
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages Elvish, Undercommon
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)
Fey Ancestry. The drow has advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put the drow to sleep.
Innate Spellcasting. The drow’s innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 12). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
- At will: dancing lights
- 1/day each: darkness, faerie fire, levitate (self only)
Spellcasting. The drow is a 10th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit with spell attacks). The drow has the following wizard spells prepared:
- Cantrips (at will): mage hand, minor illusion, poison spray, ray of frost
- 1st level (4 slots): mage armor, magic missile, shield, witch bolt
- 2nd level (3 slots): alter self, misty step, web
- 3rd level (3 slots): fly, lightning bolt
- 4th level (3 slots): Evard’s black tentacles, greater invisibility
- 5th level (2 slots): cloudkill
Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, the drow has disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
ACTIONS
- Staff. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 2 (1d6 – 1) bludgeoning damage, or 3 (1d8 – 1) bludgeoning damage if used with two hands, plus 3 (1d 6) poison damage.
- Summon Demon (1/Day). The drow magically summons a quasit, or attempts to summon a shadow demon with a 50 percent chance of success. The summoned demon appears in an unoccupied space within 60 feet of its summoner, acts as an ally of its summoner, and can’t summon other demons. It remains for 10 minutes, until it or its summoner dies, or until its summoner dismisses it as an action.
5th Edition Advanced Mode
Limiting the power of a character and making the overall difficulty of the game harder, does not reduce the creativity, indeed it does quite the opposite.
The Game Master has the option to use any and all of the instances proposed in this guide, or just some of them according to their preference.
It is the lack of something that move and motivate characters, not the abundance of it
DESCRIPTION
A drow mage is a dark elf who has mastered the arcane arts. They are usually members of the noble houses of the drow society, where they serve as advisors, leaders, or agents. Drow mages are often arrogant, ambitious, and ruthless, seeking to advance their own interests and those of their house. They have a deep hatred for surface elves and other races that oppose them.
Drow mages have dark skin that ranges from black to purple, and white or silver hair. Their eyes are usually red, but can also be purple, pink, or blue. They dress in fine clothes and jewelry, often adorned with symbols of their house or deity. They carry a staff as a weapon and a focus for their spells.
COMBAT
Drow mages are formidable spellcasters who can unleash a variety of offensive and defensive magic. They can cast spells such as magic missile, lightning bolt, cloudkill, and Evard’s black tentacles to damage and incapacitate their foes. They can also use spells such as alter self, fly, misty step, and greater invisibility to escape or maneuver in combat. They have innate spellcasting abilities that allow them to cast dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire, and levitate without any material components.
Drow mages are not very skilled in melee combat, relying on their staff for defense. Their staff deals bludgeoning and poison damage, and can also be used to summon a demon once per day. The drow mage can summon either a quasit or a shadow demon with a 50 percent chance of success. The summoned demon acts as an ally of the drow mage and can’t summon other demons.
Drow mages have some weaknesses that can be exploited by their enemies. They are vulnerable to sunlight, which impairs their vision and accuracy. They are also susceptible to being charmed or put to sleep by magic, although they have advantage on saving throws against these effects.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
Drow mages live in the Underdark, a vast network of caverns and tunnels beneath the surface of the world. The Underdark is a harsh and dangerous environment, filled with monsters, traps, and rival factions. Drow mages belong to one of the many noble houses that vie for power and influence in the drow society. The drow society is matriarchal and hierarchical, with females holding higher positions than males. The drow worship Lolth, the Spider Queen, a cruel and capricious goddess who demands sacrifices and obedience from her followers.
Drow mages are usually loyal to their house and its matron mother, who is the supreme leader of the family. They may also have personal alliances or rivalries with other drow mages or members of their house. Drow mages often seek to increase their status and prestige by acquiring more knowledge, power, or wealth. They may also plot against their enemies or competitors, using deception, intrigue, or assassination.
Drow mages rarely venture to the surface world, unless they have a specific mission or goal. They may seek to raid or infiltrate surface settlements, capture or kill surface elves, or acquire rare or valuable resources or artifacts. They may also encounter other Underdark dwellers who oppose them, such as svirfneblin (deep gnomes), duergar (gray dwarves), or illithids (mind flayers).
ECOLOGY
Drow mages are omnivorous creatures who can eat a variety of foods found in the Underdark. They prefer meat over plants, and may hunt or scavenge for food. They may also trade with other Underdark races for food or other goods.
Drow mages are not very fertile creatures, as they have a low birth rate and a high mortality rate. They may mate with other drow of their house or another house for political or personal reasons. They may also mate with other races for experimentation or curiosity. Drow mages usually do not care much for their offspring, leaving them to be raised by nurses or tutors.
Drow mages have a long lifespan compared to other races, living up to several centuries. However, they face many dangers and threats in their lives that may cut them short. They may die from violence, disease, accidents, or Lolth’s wrath.