Aur'riath "Ria" Xolarrin

A drow exile who traded the webs of Lolth for the clash of steel and arcane fire — still deciding whether the surface world deserves her loyalty.

Description

Appearance

A drow woman in chain mail with a shield, carrying an eclectic arsenal: a battleaxe called Hibil Nadruk (silvered), a hand crossbow, a human bone dagger, and a mummified goblin's hand. A Nothic's Eye Orb hangs among her gear. She carries the unmistakable bearing of someone trained at Melee Magthere.

Personality

Guarded, pragmatic, and fiercely independent. Ria's chaotic neutral alignment reflects someone still defining her own moral code after leaving behind the rigid cruelty of drow society. She is blunt, capable, and not easily impressed — but neither is she heartless. Two years among the Zhentarim have sharpened her survival instincts without fully hardening her.

Voice & Mannerisms

• Clipped, efficient speech — says what needs saying and no more
• Unconsciously shifts into a defensive stance when surprised
• Occasionally uses Undercommon phrases when frustrated

Background

History

Born in the oppressive depths of Menzoberranzan, Ria's life was destined for the path of a priestess of Lolth, like many drow females. But her spirit was drawn to the clash of steel and the arcane arts instead. Against the customs of her people, she pursued training at Melee Magthere (the warrior academy) and Sorcere (the arcane school), merging the martial with the magical.

Her father, who raised her alone after her mother's mysterious absence, supported her ambitions. At age 18, driven by a desire for a life unshackled from drow society's cruelty, Ria left Menzoberranzan — a departure fraught with peril, navigating treacherous territories and evading pursuit.

On the surface, the Zhentarim recruited her, valuing her combat skills and offering her a place among them. For two years she served the Black Network. Her current mission came from Davra Jassur, a fellow Zhentarim member seeking vengeance for her husband Yarak, killed by a werewolf attack. Davra tasked Ria with eliminating the werewolf pack leader, offering payment and a favor within the Zhentarim's ranks.

She was to meet Aleric and Daisy at the River Shining Tavern south of Daggerford. The mists had other plans.

Motivations

• Wants: Freedom, power on her own terms, and to prove herself beyond the Underdark's expectations
• Fears: Being recaptured or controlled; becoming what she fled from
• Hiding: The full extent of her Zhentarim obligations

Secrets

Character Arc

Starting Point

A pragmatic survivor doing a job for the Zhentarim — Barovia was never part of the plan. She's trapped in a land that mirrors the oppressive darkness she fled from in the Underdark.

Arc Summary

Ria's central tension is identity. She left Menzoberranzan to escape cruelty and control, only to find herself in Strahd's domain — a land defined by both. Does she lean into the Zhentarim's ruthless pragmatism, or does something in Barovia (or her companions) pull her toward a different path?

Key Moments

Relationships

Party

NPCs

Notable Abilities & Items

Signature Abilities

• Eldritch Knight Spellcasting — Merges martial prowess with arcane magic
• Weapon Bond — Can summon bonded weapon to her hand
• Action Surge — Two actions in a single turn
• Second Wind — Self-healing in combat
• Sentinel — Punishes enemies who try to slip past her
• Fighting Style: Protection — Uses shield to defend adjacent allies
• Drow Magic — Innate Faerie Fire, Dancing Lights

Key Items

Documents & Letters

Spells Known

Session Appearances

GM Notes

Hooks to Use

• Zhentarim ties — the Black Network's influence doesn't reach Barovia, but their methods might. How does Ria operate without her support structure?
• Mother's mysterious absence — could tie into drow politics, Lolth's machinations, or even Barovia's own dark history
• Davra Jassur's favor — a dangling thread from before the mists; what was promised?
• Drow in Barovia — the locals' reaction to a drow should be interesting; surface prejudice meets Barovian insularity
• Sentinel feat — mechanically she's built as a front-line protector despite her "look out for yourself" attitude

Current Status

Fighter/Eldritch Knight, scarred from multiple lingering injuries sustained through the campaign. Navigating Barovia with pragmatic survival instincts and growing bonds with her companions.

Foreshadowing

Barovia mirrors the Underdark in uncomfortable ways: a tyrant who rules through fear, subjects who can't escape, and a darkness that seeps into everything. Ria may find that the surface world she fled to is no different — or she may be the one to recognize patterns the others miss.