Sussur Technologies Inc., Or "Why Haven't The Drow Conquered The World?"

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

If I were a smart Faerünian, and I am, I would monopolize the cultivation of the Sussur tree and develop technologies around it's use (weapons, armor, siege engines), and then conquer the world with it.

Which then begs the question, if Sussur only grows in the Underdark, and the Drow are the most powerful faction there, as well as being accomplished magic-users, why haven't they learned this and conquered the world?

[Mosey]

The answer is obvious. Take one of those sussur flowers to the surface and see what happens. I think you'll be surprised.

[sevensided]

Originally posted by Pan Darius Loveless:

If I were a smart Faerünian, and I am, I would monopolize the cultivation of the Sussur tree and develop technologies around it's use (weapons, armor, siege engines), and then conquer the world with it.

Which then begs the question, if Sussur only grows in the Underdark, and the Drow are the most powerful faction there, as well as being accomplished magic-users, why haven't they learned this and conquered the world?

Why hasn't one of the most fractious, self sabotaging societies in all of D&D managed to take over the world? I cannot fathom any possible reason...

[IgnatiusJ.Reilly]

It's hard to believe that Sassur weapons actually exist in D&D, it's an absolutely broken enchantment. What is the original lore for the uses of Sassur in the setting? Meaning, is this just a Larian creation or not?

If it's just a Larian creation, then there's your answer.

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

Originally posted by IgnatiusJ.Reilly:

It's hard to believe that Sassur weapons actually exist in D&D, it's an absolutely broken enchantment. What is the original lore for the uses of Sassur in the setting? Meaning, is this just a Larian creation or not?

If it's just a Larian creation, then there's your answer.

Nope, they have existing lore:

https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Sussur

Sussurs were a rare and magical species of tree native to the Underdark, found only in the largest of caverns and often in ones where wizard fire was present.

Habitats

One particular area in the Underdark where sussurs could be found was the vault of Nuur Throth on the western edge of the northern Lowerdark. There circular groves of them surrounded pockmarked stones covering deep, black wells.

Another remarkable speciment grew near the myconid circle known as the Ebonlake Grotto.

History

The Mystran cleric Lenore De Hurst embarked on significant research on sussur trees, specifically the properties of their bark and flowers, in the late 1470s DR. She had even planted a sussur sapling in a small garden near the Arcane Tower.

Literally everything, from the Shush-shush trees, to Lenore and the Arcane Tower, are straight outta FR lore, although I can't find anything about them being used specifically to make weapons. Given their properties though, I think it's a fair interpretation (if a tad too easy).

[IgnatiusJ.Reilly]

Originally posted by Pan Darius Loveless:

Originally posted by IgnatiusJ.Reilly:

It's hard to believe that Sassur weapons actually exist in D&D, it's an absolutely broken enchantment. What is the original lore for the uses of Sassur in the setting? Meaning, is this just a Larian creation or not?

If it's just a Larian creation, then there's your answer.

Nope, they have existing lore:

https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Sussur

Sussurs were a rare and magical species of tree native to the Underdark, found only in the largest of caverns and often in ones where wizard fire was present.

Habitats

One particular area in the Underdark where sussurs could be found was the vault of Nuur Throth on the western edge of the northern Lowerdark. There circular groves of them surrounded pockmarked stones covering deep, black wells.

Another remarkable speciment grew near the myconid circle known as the Ebonlake Grotto.

History

The Mystran cleric Lenore De Hurst embarked on significant research on sussur trees, specifically the properties of their bark and flowers, in the late 1470s DR. She had even planted a sussur sapling in a small garden near the Arcane Tower.

Literally everything, from the Shush-shush trees, to Lenore and the Arcane Tower, are straight outta FR lore, although I can't find anything about them being used specifically to make weapons. Given their properties though, I think it's a fair interpretation (if a tad too easy).

Pan, if you go to original source, i.e Cordell's Underdark campaign accessory, you'll find that it contains nothing concerning crafting with Sassur bark. All we really know from an official source is that the trees exude an anti-magic field. Larian made all the rest up themselves, so it has no 'in setting' bearing.

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

Originally posted by IgnatiusJ.Reilly:

Originally posted by Pan Darius Loveless:

Nope, they have existing lore:

https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Sussur



Literally everything, from the Shush-shush trees, to Lenore and the Arcane Tower, are straight outta FR lore, although I can't find anything about them being used specifically to make weapons. Given their properties though, I think it's a fair interpretation (if a tad too easy).

Pan, if you go to original source, i.e Cordell's Underdark campaign accessory, you'll find that it contains nothing concerning crafting with Sassur bark. All we really know from an official source is that the trees exude an anti-magic field. Larian made all the rest up themselves, so it has no 'in setting' bearing.

Yes, but again, I think that's a fair interpretation.

The tree has anti-magic properties. In D&D it's often enough just to possess a property for a DM to rule that property can be extracted and used somehow in enchanting or alchemy.

There's nothing in the lore stating specifically that it can't be used in crafting, so that's why I say "fair interpretation" since that sort of thing is common in D&D.

[IgnatiusJ.Reilly]

Originally posted by Pan Darius Loveless:

Originally posted by IgnatiusJ.Reilly:

Pan, if you go to original source, i.e Cordell's Underdark campaign accessory, you'll find that it contains nothing concerning crafting with Sassur bark. All we really know from an official source is that the trees exude an anti-magic field. Larian made all the rest up themselves, so it has no 'in setting' bearing.

Yes, but again, I think that's a fair interpretation.

The tree has anti-magic properties. In D&D it's often enough just to possess a property for a DM to rule that property can be extracted and used somehow in enchanting or alchemy.

There's nothing in the lore stating specifically that it can't be used in crafting, so that's why I say "fair interpretation" since that sort of thing is common in D&D.

Well, maybe some newbie DM would do it, but they could then forget about using a spell-caster as an adversary to the party henceforth. Larian's interpretation silences on hit, with no save. Lol, an absolutely legendary enchantment, an absolutely broken enchantment. I don't even know of any artifact level weapons that could do that.

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

Originally posted by IgnatiusJ.Reilly:

Originally posted by Pan Darius Loveless:

Yes, but again, I think that's a fair interpretation.

The tree has anti-magic properties. In D&D it's often enough just to possess a property for a DM to rule that property can be extracted and used somehow in enchanting or alchemy.

There's nothing in the lore stating specifically that it can't be used in crafting, so that's why I say "fair interpretation" since that sort of thing is common in D&D.

Well, maybe some newbie DM would do it, but they could then forget about using a spell-caster as an adversary to the party henceforth. Larian's interpretation silences on hit, with no save. Lol, an absolutely legendary enchantment, an absolutely broken enchantment. I don't even know of any artifact level weapons that could do that.

I don't disagree with you at all about the consequences of such an interpretation...and in fact that's the entire inspiration behind this thread!

The Shush-shush weapon is one of the most powerful artifacts in the entire game!