Drow

"Such depravity. Such terrifying cruelty. They are the vile poison that plagues all Elvenkind."
-Nelar Autumnwell

Also called Dark Elves, the Drow are a subrace of Elves that have made their home in the Underdark after being banished there long ago. Refugees from the destruction of Gloomspire, most Drow are now without a home. Forsaken by Lolth, they wander the Stahlic Empire as refugees and outcasts. But there is opportunity in this new order. The future of the Drow, now unshackled from Lolth’s machinations, could be prosperous...if they are brave enough to seize it.

Physical Description and Abilities

As a result of living underground, most Drow have skin that ranges from light shades of grey to charcoal or obsidian, as well as stark white or pale yellow hair. They commonly have very pale eyes (so pale as to be mistaken for white) in shades of lilac, silver, pink, red, and blue. They also tend to be smaller and thinner than most elves. The Drow have lived underground for so long that they have evolved to their surroundings and can see in the dark. However, they can no longer stand sunlight. Just as the Drow have adapted to underground life, so too has their magic. In addition to using that magic to carve their cities from stone, they empower their weapons, create dangerous new magic items, and summon demons from the Abyss.

Culture

Religion

The preeminent deity in Drow culture is Lolth. Lolth, through her faithful priestesses, dictates the rules of Drow society, ensuring that her orders and plots are carried out. Since Lolth is prone to manifesting on the Material Plane and directly punishing those that disobey her, the Drow have learned to heed what she says and do as her priestesses command. Drow handlers raise Giant Spiders and Drow artisans adorn their creations with web-like filigree and spider motifs in her name.

Politics

Drow politics are cutthroat and rife with intrigue. Drow society is divided into noble houses, each ruled by a Matron who seeks to raise the prestige and power of her house above all others. Other high-ranking members of the house are blood relatives, while the middling ranks are flush with Drow from weaker families that have sworn fealty to the greater house. Clinging precariously to the bottom rung of a house's social ladder are the house slaves, made up of Drow of low birth and the occasional non-Drow captive. In Drow society, males are considered subservient to females. A male Drow might lead an Underdark patrol or a raiding party to the surface, but he reports to a female Drow--either the Matron of his house or one of her hand-picked female subordinates. Although male Drow can fill almost and function in a Drow society, they can't be priests, nor can they rule a house. Distilled from spider venom and the flora of the Underdark, poison can be found in abundance among the Drow, and it plays an important part in their culture and politics.

Intercultural Relations

Drow grow up being taught that surface-dwelling races are inferior, worthless except as slaves. Those who develop a conscience or find it necessary to cooperate with members of other races find it hard to overcome that prejudice, especially when they are so often on the receiving end of hatred. Drow are almost universally reviled. To most, they are considered a race of demon-worshiping marauders dwelling in the subterranean depths of the Underdark, emerging only on the blackest nights to pillage and slaughter the surface dwellers they despise. Their society is depraved and preoccupied with the favor of Lolth, their spider-goddess, who sanctions murder and the extermination of entire families as noble houses vie for position. Whether this conception is justified is a matter of debate.