Araj Oblodra

Araj Oblodra is a drow trader and blood-focused alchemist who is in Moonrise Towers and, later, 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 at first feigns the part of a studious researcher and alchemist, she is utterly ruthless and has no qualms with deception, torture, murder, and even genocide.

History

Araj Oblodra is 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 mind flayers 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 is inside Moonrise Towers, poring over alchemical equipment.

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

• 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.

Blood-draw elixirs

Main article: Sanguine 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 subrace, in the case of a dragonborn) character giving blood. If the character is disguised while donating their blood, the potion they receive is still 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 receives 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)

Minthara at Moonrise Towers, wearing an expression of suspicion and disdain. As a drow, she is already familiar with the history behind why House Oblodra was purged.

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 interacting party member is a drow and passes a  DC 14 History Check, their knowledge of  House Oblodra reveals that 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 offers to pay 200 gold for each blood donation (including the current one) alongside the normal elixir.

If the interacting party member responds to her offer with "Keep your gold. I want to see what the cult does to non-believers", she states 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 their evolution from afar. She then runs to disappear from Moonrise Towers (and the rest of Act Two).

Donating blood in Act Two earns +15 attitude with Araj and awards the ⁠Blood, Sweat, and the Other Thing inspiration to all characters with the Guild Artisan background.

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 he be brought next time.

Astarion is incredulous at Araj's actual desire to be bitten by a vampire.

If Araj speaks 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 to Astarion obliging the request, regardless of how foul Araj's blood seems to be.

If Astarion is chosen as Origin, a simpler dialogue is instead shown, where the player character can choose to bite her. As this decision does not compromise his relationship with any other party member, an Origin Astarion can obtain both special potions from Araj without consequence.

Act Three

If blood is donated in Act Two, Araj moves to 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 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.

Araj is eager to continue her experiments and invites the party inside her bombed-out shop to discuss the matter. Upon finishing this initial dialogue, one or both of the following inspirations are granted, whether the player character agrees to come in or not:

• ⁠Blood of the Covenant ( Sage background)
• ⁠Sanguine Progress ( Guild Artisan background)

If Astarion is currently in the party, Araj once again pays extra attention to his person. Her reactions, as well as Astarion's, depend on several previous choices:

• If Astarion bit her in Moonrise Towers
• If the player character is (or was) romancing him
• If Astarion's personal quest is complete and, if so, what its outcome is.

If Araj was killed in Act Two, or no character donated their blood there, Araj is not at her store and no explosions trigger upon approaching it.

Araj can act as a trader in Act Three as well, primarily retaining her inventory from Act Two, but this depends on whether the player character agrees to bolster her experimentation once more (see below).

Mysterious Potion

Araj in Act Three, outside her freshly exploded shop

When talking to Araj again inside the shop, she encourages the player character to drink her newly brewed  potion: Formula Gruna. Most companions (except Minthara and Minsc) urge the player character not to drink it. If the player character refuses to drink, Araj does not become hostile at this stage, but does not act as a trader until they agree.

Once the interacting party member accepts the potion, Araj is impatient to see the results. She interjects if they move to leave the shop without imbibing the potion. If refused or her formula is destroyed, she turns hostile. However, if the interacting party member leaves without Araj noticing and speaks with her later, she does not become hostile,^[verify] as subsequent dialogue options do not mention outright refusal, which is what causes her to attack.

Drinking the potion deals 1d4 Slashing damage to the character and triggers a small explosion around them. The imbibing character then gains the permanent  Unstable Blood feature, causing them to bleed  Unstable Blood surfaces when they are hurt. When these surfaces are exposed to flame, they explode and turn into  Fire surfaces. If the party succeeds in leaving the shop without Araj noticing, any character can drink her potion, immediately exploding afterwards and gaining the unstable blood feature.

When Araj is spoken with next, she is excited with the results, having no qualms at putting the character's life to risk. She giddily deems the character the world's first "detonative exsanguinator". She then offers to provide another explosive in exchange for a nominal fee: another blood donation.

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

Donating blood to Araj in Act Three awards the ⁠Innovations in Volatility inspiration to party members with the Soldier background.

Thereafter, Araj acts as a trader and additionally can accept one blood donation from the party per long rest, gaining two Sanguine Explosives in her trader inventory each time. In these future instances, she does not become hostile if the imbiber refuses to donate more blood.

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 remains of less-than-voluntary participants, with humans and beasts chained to the wall or mutilated. The butchered corpse of a Spectator is near her research table. However, the laboratory also contains multiple alchemical ingredients, including rare ones.

Epilogue

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

Notable items sold

Corresponds to MOO_InfernalTrader_Trade .

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

Companion approval

Act Two, Moonrise Towers

When Astarion is brought before Araj Oblondra:

• Araj Oblodra

  I assume he belongs to you? or And he's yours to command... My envy is palpable.

  • Excuse me? He's his own person.  +5 +1 +1
  • He does what I tell him, if that's what you mean.  -3

• Araj Oblodra

  Can't you talk some sense into your obstinate charge?

  • He said no. There's nothing more to discuss.  +5 -1 +1 -1 +1
  • 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?

      • What do you mean? What's wrong with her blood?

        • Araj Oblodra

          I don't have all day, True Soul.

          • Don't do anything you don't want to.  +5 -1 +1 -1 +1
          • It's up to you, but we could really use that potion.  -3 +1 -1 +1 +1 -1
          • Just suck it up and bite her already.  -3 +1 -1 +1 +1 -1
      • A potion that powerful could change our fates. Isn't that worth a bad taste in your mouth?  -3
      • This is your choice - do what you want.  +5
      • Don't be dramatic, it's just one bite. One nip and you're done.  -3

Act Three, Lower City

• Araj Oblodra

  Your blood is far more volatile than I'd anticipated.

  • Astarion, we can leave if you don't want to be around her. +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 -1 +1 +1 (if Astarion is present, and the player character is romancing him)

• Araj Oblodra

  If you'd come inside, we could discuss something far more exciting than drow politics.

  • Lead the way. -1 -1
  • Forget it. I saw how you made Astarion feel. I'm done with you. +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 -1 +1 +1 (if Astarion is present)

Combat

Attacks and actions

 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 (Melee) ()   –  Dagger

Damage: 5~13

1d4 + 3⁠Piercing

+ 1d6⁠Weapon

Deal an extra 1d6 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 (Ranged) ()   –  Hand Crossbow

Damage: 5~15

1d6 + 3⁠Piercing

+ 1d6⁠Weapon

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

Loot

• Basic Poison
• Dagger
• Hand Crossbow
• Leather Armour
• Potion of Invisibility
• Smokepowder Bomb

Related literature

• A Breakthrough at Last
• Enver... Is your blood sweet?
• Glory to the House of Oblodra
• HELP
• Letter from Araj
• Open Investigation

External links

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