Vault of the Drow (adventure)

Greyhawk Source

Vault of the Drow (adventure)
Cover art by Erol Otis(1980)
Type:	Adventure
Code/Abbreviation:	D3
Edition:	AD&D first edition
Author(s):	Gary Gygax
Series:	G1, G2, G3, D1, D2, D3, Q1
First Published:	1978
Class:	Canon

Vault of the Drow is an adventure for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game written by Gary Gygax. The module bears the code "D3" and was published in 1978 by TSR, Inc. for use with the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons first edition rules.

The module is the third and final in the "Drow" series of adventures that began with D1 - Descent into the Depths of the Earth and D2 - Shrine of the Kuo-Toa (later compiled into a single adventure titled simply Descent Into the Depths of the Earth).

The "D" series itself is part of a larger overall campaign of adventures set in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting. The overall campaign begins with the three modules in the Against the Giants series (G1, G2, and G3), continues through the "D" series, and concludes with module Q1 - Queen of the Demonweb Pits. The latter segments of the campaign, including the "D" series and module Q1, are set in a vast network of caverns and tunnels called the Underdark. The entire campaign was eventually combined into a supermodule GDQ1-7 - Queen of the Spiders.

Decription (Cover Blurb)

"This module provides a complete setting for play of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons™rules. Contained herein is background information, a large-scale referee's map with a matching partial map for players, referee' notes, special exploration and encounter pieces, a hex map detailing an enormous cavern area, a special temple map, encounter and map matrix keys, and additional sections pertaining to unique new creatures for use with this module and the game as a whole. This module can be played alone, as the conclusion to module D1-2 Descent Into the Depths of the Earth or a the third module in a series that forms a special extended adventure (G1-2-3 Against the Giants, D1-2, and Q1 Queen of the Demonweb Pits)."

Synopsis

After traveling for league after league into the Underdark, the adventurers come upon Erelhei-Cinlu, the vast subterranean city of the drow (or "dark elves"), the twisted, corrupt cousins of the surface elves. The adventure is written in a very open-ended fashion, giving the Dungeon Master free reign to script any number of mini-campaigns or adventures taking place inside the drow capital. An extensive overview of the Drow power structure is given for just this purpose. Eventually, the players may discover an astral gate leading to the plane of the Abyss, leading into the Q1 module.

Page numbers are given for both the releases with the Blue cover (B) and the Purple cover (P). The Blue cover was the 6 to 7 release of the module and included new art, which required some layout changes and occasional replacement of text.

Characters

Belgos and Silussa, by Jeff Dee (2013, remake of his original 1978 version) on the back cover of the Blue Cover release. Full Res image here

• Baltana, female drow High Priestess of Lolth^{(B&P: p.19)}
• Charinidia, female drow High Priestess of Lolth ^{(B: p.22, P: p.21)}
• Belgos, male drow vampire who guards passage to the vault along with his lover Silussa^{(B&P: p.6)}
• Dilvog, male drow High Bailiff who monitors the comings and goings of people in Erelhei-Cinlu's gate. Possibly of or allied to House Eilserv.^{(B&P: p.11)}
• Drisinil, female drow Lieutenant General of the Female Fighting Society^{(B&P: p.13)}
• Eclavdra, female drow cleric of the Elder Elemental Eye and ruler of house Eilserv^{(B&P: p.18)}
• Istoli, male drow General of the Male Fighting Society^{(B&P: p.14)}
• Inidil, female cleric of Lolth^{(B: p.22, P: p.21)}
• Jyslin, female drow Commander of the noble gate, loyal to Lolth.^{(B&P: p.15)}
• Kreffok, Bugbear hetman ^{(B&P: p.10)}
• Lyme, male drow head consort to Eclavdra^{(B&P: p.18)}
• Merinid, male drow Bailiff who monitors the comings and goings of people in Erelhei-Cinlu's gate. Possibly of or allied to House Despana.^{(B&P: p.12)}
• Nedylene, female drow cleric of House Despana (Only if she survives the end of G3: Hall of the Fire Giant King)^{(B&P: p.18)}
• Nilonim, male drow renegade. Nilonim was 'neutral with a slight tendency towards good', making him the first recorded good drow.^{(B: p.21, P:p.20)} It is mentioned later that he had a male drow lover named Teregin (Dead Gods)
• Pellanistra, female drow Commander in the Temple of Lolth. Originally from House Noquar^{(B: p.22, P: p.21)}
• Relonor, male drow Commander Captain of the Male Fighting Society. Secretly allied to house Tormtor^{(B&P: p.14)}
• Silussa, a succubus and lover of Belgos^{(B&P: p.6)}
• Telanna, female drow General of the Female Fighting Society^{(B&P: p.13)}
• Ttirssslup, Troglodyte Chieftain^{(B&P: p.10)}
• Vlondril, female cleric of Lolth (If she survives D1: Descent Into the Depths of the Earth)^{(B: p.22, P: p.21)}

Creatures

• Ant, Giant ^{(B&P: p.3,7)}
• Bat ^{(B&P: p.6)}
• Beetle, Fire ^{(B&P: p.3)}
• Black Pudding ^{(B&P: p.3)}
• Bugbear ^{(B&P: p.3-5,7-10,14,17)}
• Crayfish ^{(B&P: p.8)}
• Demon, I ^{(B&P: p.3,16)}
• Demon II ^{(B&P: p.3,8,16)}
• Demon III ^{(B&P: p.3,16)}
• Demon IV ^{(B&P: p.3,16)}
• Demon V ^{(B&P: p.16)}
• Demon VI ^{(B&P: p.16)}
• Displacer Beast ^{(B&P: p.13,15,17)}
• Drow ^{(B&P: p.3-19, B: p.21-25, P:p.20-22)}
• Dwarf ^{(B&P: p.4,8-9,13,15-16)}
• Elf ^{(B&P: p.4,8-9,15)}
• Elf-Drow ^{(B&P: p.16)}
• Elemental, Fire ^{(B&P: p.13)}
• Frog, Poisonous ^{(B&P: p.8)}
• Gargoyle ^{(B&P: p.19)}
• Ghast^{(B&P: p.3-5,15-16)}
• Ghoul ^{(B&P: p.3-5,15)}
• Gnoll ^{(B&P: p.4,8-9)}
• Goblin ^{(B&P: p.4,7,8-9,15)}
• Golem, Stone ^{(B&P: p.18)}
• Gray Ooze ^{(B&P: p.3)}
• Green Slime ^{(B&P: p.3)}
• Half-drow ^{(B&P: p.15-16)}
• Half-elf ^{(B&P: p.4,8-9,16)}
• Half-orc ^{(B&P: p.4,8-9,15-16)}
• Harvester ^{(B&P: p.8)}
• Hobgoblin ^{(B&P: p.4,8-9)}
• Human ^{(B&P: p.4,7,8-9,15-16)}
• Illithid/Mind-flayer ^{(B&P: p.15-16)}
• Kuo-toa ^{(B&P:p.8-9,12,15)}
• Lizard, Subterranean ^{(B&P: p.3,8)}
• Lizard, Riding ^{(B&P: p.9,13,15,17)}
• Lizard, Pack ^{(B&P: p.8,13,15)}
• Lurker Above ^(B&P:p.3)
• Mezzodaemon ^{(B&P: p.12,16)}
• Night Hag ^{(B&P: p.15,16)}
• Nightmare ^{(B&P: p.8,15,17)}
• Nycadaemon ^{(B&P: p.15-16)}
• Ochre Jelly ^{(B&P: p.3)}
• Orc ^{(B&P: p.4,7,8-9,15)}
• Piercer ^{(B&P: p.3)}
• Pike, Giant ^{(B&P: p.8)}
• Purple Worm ^{(B&P: p.3,8)}
• Rat ^{(B&P: p.6)}
• Roper ^{(B&P: p.3,8-9)}
• Rust Monster ^{(B&P: p.3)}
• Salamander ^{(B&P: p.13)}
• Shadow ^{(B&P: p.3,15-16)}
• Shambling Mound ^{(B&P: p.3,8)}
• Shrieker ^{(B&P: p.3,8)}
• Slug, Giant ^{(B&P: p.3)}
• Snake, Giant Spitting ^{(B&P: p.3,8)}
• Snappng Turtle, Giant ^{(B&P: p.8)}
• Spider, Giant ^{(B&P: p.3,15)}
• Spider, Giant Black Widow ^{(B&P: p.7,19)}
• Spider, Giant Water ^{(B&P: p.8)}
• Spider, Huge ^{(B&P: p.3,15)}
• Spider, Huge Wolf ^{(B&P: p.15)}
• Succubus ^{(B&P: p.6,15-16)}
• Svirfneblin ^{(B&P: p.3,5,7,8-9,13)}
• Trapper ^{(B&P: p.3)}
• Troglodyte ^{(B&P: p.3-5,7,8-10,15)}
• Troll ^{(B&P: p.3-5,8,16)}
• Umber Hulk ^{(B&P: p.3,8)}
• Vampire ^{(B&P: p.3,6,15-16)}
• Violet Fungus ^{(B&P: p.3,8)}
• Xorn ^{(B&P: p.3)}
• Yellow Mold ^{(B&P: p.8)}

Lolth in Amber, by Jeff Dee (2014, remake of his original 1978 picture). Full Res image here

Locations

• Underoerth
  • Pitchy Flow (river) ^{(B: p.23, P: p.22)}
  • Svartjet River ^{(B: p.23, P: p.22)}
  • Sunless Sea ^{(B: p.23, P: p.22)}
  • Erelhei-Cinlu

Organizations

• 8 Drow Noble Houses: Aleval, Despana, Eilservs, Everhate, Godeep, Kilsek, Noquar, Tormtor. ^{(B&P: p.17-18)}
• 16 Drow Merchant Clans: Bars, Bone, Chain, Coiled Whip, Crescent, Gem, Hook, Lozenge, Horsetail Mushroom, Morel, Mushroom, Prism, Puffball, Shelf Fungi, Star, Urn ^{(B&P: p.16)}
• Drow Fighting Societies (Male & Female)
• Temple of Lolth
• Cult of the Elder Elemental Eye

Adventure artwork

The initial publication of the module in 1978 featured monochrome cover artwork by David C. Sutherland III. In 1981, however, TSR re-issued the adventure to coincide with the release of the D1-2 compilation Descent into the Depths of the Earth. The D1-2 compilation featured color cover artwork, and so Erol Otus was tasked with creating a new color cover for D3 as well (pictured above). Sutherland's interior artwork was retained, and other interior artists for the module include Jeff Dee, David S. LaForce, David A. Trampier, and Otus.

Art By:

• Jeff Dee:Lolth ^(B:p.20), Belgos & Silussa^{(B: Backcover)}
• David S. LaForce:Svirfneblin^(B:p.28)
• Erol Otus: Drow Cleric^{(B: p.1)}
• David C. Sutherland III: Evil Ritual^{(P:p.2- same as cover)}, Silussa The Succubus ^{(B&P: p.6)}, Demons^{(B:p.27, P:p.24)}
• David A. Trampier: Approaching the Vault^{(B:p.10, P: p.10-11)}, Lolth^(B&P:p.19), Adventurers vs Drow^{(P: Backcover)}
• Unconfirmed: Spiderweb^{(B: p.2)}, Erelhei-Cinlu^{(B&P:p.15-Trampier?)},Galley^{(B:p.23, P:p.22)}

Publishing history

The Vault of the Drow (the cavern location this adventure is set in), and specifically the city of Erelhei-Cinlu in it, were updated in later products: "The Vault of the Drow." in Dragon magazine #298 (2002) and Drow of the Underdark (2007) in third edition, and Underdark (2010) fourth edition.

Gallery

• 
  D. Sutherland III cover (1978)
• 
  Erol Otis cover (1980)
• 
  Vault of the Drow Walkthrough, by Jason Thompson, High Res Version here

External links

• RPG.net
• RPGGeek
• Drow Series at the Acaeum.com.
• Acaeum (Drow Series)
• Vault of the Drow at the TSR Archive.
• Vault of the Drow at the Pen & Paper RPG Database.
• DriveThruRPG

References

Bibliography

• Gygax, Gary. D3 Vault of the Drow. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1978. Item code TSR9021.
• Heinsoo, Rob, and Andy Collins. Underdark. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2010.
• Marmell, Ari, Anthony Pryor, Robert J. Schwalb, and Greg A. Vaughan. Drow of the Underdark. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2007.
• Weining, Frederick. "The Vault of the Drow." Dragon #298. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2002.

Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index

The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.

Topic	Type	Description	Product	Page/Card/Image