Araj Oblodra

Araj Oblodra is a drow trader and blood-focused alchemist who can be found in Moonrise Towers and the Lower City of Baldur's Gate. Other than the items she sells, she also offers unique potions in exchange for samples of blood, and asks to speak with Astarion.

“

It is said all House Oblodra perished when our estate was cast into the Clawrift. I am its last living daughter. Now the abyssal gulch in the heart of Menzoberranzan where our House was thrown is but an amusement.

„

— Araj Oblodra in Glory to the House of Oblodra

Overview

Description

While Araj does at first feign the part of a studious researcher and alchemist, the gray-skinned, red-eyed drow has no qualms with deception, torture, murder, and even genocide.

History

Araj Oblodra was a daughter of the now-defunct House Oblodra. Over a century ago, an alliance of rival drow in the city of Menzoberranzan destroyed her House, due to their association with psionics and illithids before and during the Time of Troubles, among many other crimes.

Few survived the House's destruction and, as Araj believes herself to be the last remaining daughter of Oblodra, she yearns to reinstate the House to its former glory.

Involvement

Act Two

In Act Two, Araj Oblodra can be found inside Moonrise Towers, poring over alchemical equipment.

If the player character is also a drow, they can remark upon her name:

• Player character: Oblodra? That House was destroyed a century ago.
  • Araj: Thankfully, I wasn't in it at the time.
    • Araj: My cousins did like to boast about their view over the Clawrift. Now their bones decorate the bottom.
      • (End of dialogue)

Blood-draw elixirs

Araj brews unique Elixirs as payment for drawing blood from the True Souls in the party for her research.

Each character can give blood only once, incurring 1d3 damage in the process. As the elixirs contain some of the donated blood, the effects are generally themed on the race, and (in the case of Dragonborns) subrace of the character giving blood. If the character is disguised while donating their blood, the potion they receive will still be that of their undisguised race.

Unlike normal elixirs, Araj's blood-draw elixir effects are not replaced when a character consumes a second elixir. The half-elven version is not a true elixir at all, as it does not impart a long-lasting condition, but is instead a single-use healing consumable.

However, after consuming a blood-draw elixir and taking a long rest, the character will receive the condition  Blood-draw Sickness, which causes a -1 to all dice rolls until another long rest.

Upon first speaking with Araj (and if Astarion is not in the party) she can be asked about her intentions with keeping the rest of the blood donation. She then attributes it to mere curiosity. However, if the character passes a DC 14 History check, knowledge of House Oblodra allows them to realise Araj does not merely want True Soul blood, but Illithid blood specifically – an illicit subject for drow to research. If this insight is shared with Araj, she pays 200 gold for each blood donation (including the current one) alongside the normal elixir. If Astarion is in the party upon first meeting, the History check may not be made and, by extension, Araj may not additionally offer gold in exchange for blood.

If responding to her offer with Keep it, your gold. I prefer to know what the sect does to non-believers., she refuses, saying that she has a project, where she cannot risk losing a unique specimen like the player character, and now has no choice but to observe the evolution of the player character from afar. She then turns invisible and runs to disappear from Moonrise Towers (and the rest of Act Two).

Donating blood in Act Two awards the "Blood, Sweat, and the Other Thing" Inspiration to all characters with the Guild Artisan background.

Race	Elixir
Black Dragonborn, Copper Dragonborn	Elixir of Dragonborn Prowess: Acid
Blue Dragonborn, Bronze Dragonborn	Elixir of Dragonborn Prowess: Lightning
Brass Dragonborn, Gold Dragonborn	Elixir of Dragonborn Prowess: Fire
Green Dragonborn	Elixir of Dragonborn Prowess: Poison
Silver Dragonborn, White Dragonborn	Elixir of Dragonborn Prowess: Frost
Drow, Elf	Elixir of Elven Elegance
Dwarf	Elixir of Dwarven Resilience
Githyanki	Elixir of Githyanki Providence
Gnome	Elixir of Gnomish Ingenuity
Half-Elf	Elixir of Half-Elven Healing
Half-Orc	Elixir of Half-Orcish Fury
Halfling	Elixir of Halfling Luck
Human	Elixir of Human Versatility
Tiefling	Elixir of Tiefling Vice

Interaction with Astarion

Araj deeply wishes to speak with Astarion. If he is left at camp, or is far enough away from the party during her first interaction, she politely asks that the vampire spawn be brought next time.

When Araj can speak with Astarion, she excitedly asks that he bite her, so she may study the effects of vampire bites up close. She offers the priceless Potion of Everlasting Vigour in exchange, which permanently increases the Strength of the one drinking it by 2.

Astarion is loath to do so and, if asked, privately notes to the player character there is something deeply wrong with Araj's blood.

If the player character's approval with Astarion is high enough (in some conversation options where he is presented with a choice in the matter) or if he is told to do so anyway - despite his objections, Astarion gives in to Araj's desires. However, he literally retches after doing so and feels used, resulting in -3 disapproval and a camp scene which impacts a romance between him and the player character, if one exists.

There are no other consequences of Astarion obliging the request, regardless of how foul Araj's blood seems to be.

If Astarion was chosen as Origin, a simpler dialogue is instead shown, where the player character may choose to bite her.

Act Three

If blood was donated in Act Two, Araj can be found again in the Lower City of Baldur's Gate in Act Three. On approaching her shop, Crimson Draughts, just east of The Blushing Mermaid, a series of explosions will trigger and while Araj runs out on fire, she is nevertheless thrilled. She praises the character, as their blood has given her a breakthrough of such magnitude she expects the drow Grand Matriach will restore her disgraced house, House Oblodra. Specifically, their blood proved able to attach to even "the trickiest of substances," unlike anything she has encountered before.

If Astarion did not bite Araj in Act 2, she flirtatiously attempts to offer it once more. However, Astarion has now steeled his resolve and will forcefully refuse.

Araj is a trader in Act Three as well, primarily retaining her inventory from Act Two.

If Araj was killed in Act Two, or no character donated their blood, Araj is not at her store and the explosions do not trigger on approach.

Mysterious Potion

After following Araj into her bombed-out shop, she breathlessly encourages the player character to finish the research, and drink her new formula: Formula Gruna. The entire party urges them not to drink it. If accepting the potion and then leaving her shop without gulping it, she interjects and insists; if refused she turns hostile.

Drinking the offered Mysterious Potion deals 1d4 Slashing damage to the character and triggers a small explosion around them. The character then gains the permanent  Unstable Blood feature, causing them to bleed out  Unstable Blood surfaces when hurt. When these surfaces are exposed to flame, they explode, and turn into  Fire surfaces.

When spoken to next, Araj is pleased to see the character did not die, and is excited at the results. She giddily deems the character the world's first detonative exsanguinator. In parting, and with no qualms at having risked the character's life, she offers to provide another explosive in exchange for a nominal fee: another blood donation.

Agreeing to donate blood again will cause the character to take 2 damage, but gain a Sanguine Explosive. As with previous refusals, she becomes hostile if denied her request to donate more blood.

Thereafter, Araj accepts blood donations once per long rest, gaining two Sanguine Explosives in her trader inventory each time.

Crimson Draughts

Araj's shop Crimson Draughts is her apothecary in Lower City – seemingly for some time before the events of the game. Araj has been operating what appears to be a legitimate business selling potions to infirm citizens. However, a note found inside Crimson Draughts' mailbox reveals the drow alchemist has been swapping some orders with her own tinctures, causing horrific injuries.

Downstairs, untouched by the explosions, Glory to the House of Oblodra reveals the true purpose of her research: she intends to resurrect an army of the dead and reinstate the defunct House Oblodra. And, if rebuffed, to use explosives to kill all in the Drow city of Menzoberranzan and rule as queen over an undead populace.

Whether through lockpicking or using the key nearby, venturing into the shop's basement reveals Araj's small laboratory. Makeshift cells contain the less-voluntary participants, with humans and beasts chained to the wall or mutilated. The butchered corpse of a Spectator can be found near her research table.

Donating blood in both Act Three awards the "Innovations in Volatility" Inspiration to all characters with the Soldier background.

Epilogue

If the player character donated blood in Moonrise Towers and the Lower City, drank the Mysterious Potion and donated blood again, Araj has left a note in the Chest of Grateful Words during the Epilogue. She reveals that she has begun the process of, quite literally, "resurrecting the glorious House Oblodra."

Notable items sold

Corresponds to MOO_InfernalTrader_Trade.

• Circlet of Hunting
• Purple Worm Toxin
• Boots of Arcane Bolstering
• Risky Ring
• Ring of Free Action
• Robe of Exquisite Focus
• Thunderskin Cloak
• Hat of Storm Scion's Power

Companion approval

Act II, Moonrise Towers

(When Astarion is brought before Araj Oblondra)

• Araj Oblodra: And he's yours to command... My envy is palpable.
  • Player character: Excuse me? He's his own person.  +5
  • Player character: He does what I tell him, if that's what you mean.  -2
  • Player character: Yes. All mine.
• Araj Oblodra: Can't you talk some sense into your obstinate charge?
  • Player character: He said no. There's nothing more to discuss.  +5
  • Player character: I am surprised, Astarion. I thought you'd jump at a chance like this. or Just bite her - the potion sounds useful.
    • Astarion: I'm sorry, but could you excuse us for a moment?
      • Player character: What do you mean? What's wrong with her blood?
        • Araj Oblodra: I don't have all day, True Soul.
          • Player character: Don't do anything you don't want to.  +5
          • Player character: It's up to you, but we could really use that potion.  -3
          • Player character: Just suck it up and bite her already.  -3
      • Player character: A potion that powerful could change our fates. Isn't that worth a bad taste in your mouth?  -3
      • Player character: This is your choice - do what you want.  +5
      • Player character: Don't be dramatic, it's just one bite. One nip and you're done.  -3
  • (End of dialogue)

Combat

Attacks and abilities

 Cunning Action: Dash ()

Cover more distance this turn: double your movement speed.

 Range: Self

 Cunning Action: Disengage ()

Retreat safely. Moving won't provoke Opportunity Attacks.

 Range: Self

 Sneak Attack ()

Normal weapon damage +

1d6 (1~6) Weapon

Deal extra damage to a foe you have Advantage against. Also works if you have an ally within 1.5 m / 5 ft of the target and you don't have Disadvantage.

 Range: Normal weapon range

Recharge: Per turn

 Sneak Attack ()

Normal weapon damage +

1d6 (1~6) Weapon

Deal an extra 1d6 damage to a foe you have Advantage against. You can also use Sneak Attack if you have an ally within 1.5 m / 5 ft of the target and you don't have Disadvantage.

 Range: Normal weapon range

Recharge: Per turn

Notable loot

• Basic Poison
• Potion of Invisibility
• Smokepowder Bomb

Related literature

• A Breakthrough at Last, detailing experiments on the blood obtained from the party
• HELP, an urgent plea from a hapless customer of Crimson Draughts suffering from Araj's care
• Open Investigation, a notice from the Flaming Fist warning Araj that her business is under investigation after complaints

Notes by Araj Oblodra

• Letter from Araj

Books by Araj Oblodra

• Enver... Is your blood sweet?
• Glory to the House of Oblodra

Gallery

• 

  Araj in Act Three.

Notes

• Araj is referred to as an "Infernal Merchant" and demon in the games files.
• Hirelings may exchange blood for elixirs, suggesting that they have illithid blood.
• As of Hotfix 21, in Moonrise Towers, Araj does not seem to become hostile if she catches a party member pickpocketing.^{[Needs Verification]}

External links

• House Oblodra on the Forgotten Realms Wiki
• Clawrift on the Forgotten Realms Wiki