Drow

Drow
“Elves don’t kill elves. They believe themselves superior in all things to other races. The interesting question then is what to do with elves that must be removed from society? If they cannot be killed, then the answer must be exile or incarceration. The La'shei landed on both. They sent their criminals deep underground, initially to harvest mithril but soon simply to be rid of them. Somewhere down there they found a bosetor, and through that a portal directly to the Abyss. They warred with the shadar’kai, but the shadow elves had to withdraw away from this new trade route.
“To this day, the dark elves traffic with demonic powers. It makes a very good case for taking over Doroinir Nimloth and collapsing the whole tunnel system on them if you ask me.”
~Archmage Dulacar, of The Brass Tower

Dark Elves, or Drow, are descended from the criminal class of the La'shei empire. They were miners and exiles, until the whips of their masters drove them to dig too deep. At the edge of the gray elves’ projectable power, the criminal elves found a bosetor . In the Plane of Shadow, they found what they believed to be the means of their revolution. At first, they traded with the shadar’kai, selling them mithril in exchange for weapons, food and armor from the shadow plane. Using this materiel, they attempted a revolution against the gray elves, which was brutally suppressed. It was then that the criminal elves betrayed the shadar’kai, carving out a small rebel kingdom on the Plane of Shadow. The portal to the Abyss was discovered and the elves were contacted by Graz’zt, and their revolution was born anew with demonic weapons, armor and allies. They were beaten again, but this time the outcome was much less decisive. Many scholars believe that this may be the event that finally crippled the La'shei.
Whether it’s the effect of the long consumption of subterranean animals and fungus, their connection to the Shadow Plane, their long lives underground, part of the demonic curse that helped shape them, or some combination of these factors, drow cannot abide sunlight. It is blinding at the best of times, crippling at the worst. Drow that venture up to the surface require smoked-glass goggles if they’re to function, an item that is in high demand but short supply.
Drow that go to the surface for adventure are extremely rare. They are typically exiles or refugees, though some secretly still serve their mistresses and have come to the surface to find some advantage for her.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Ahlysaaria Akordia Alaunirra Alystin Amalica Angaste Anluryn Ardulace Aunrae Balaena Baltana Bautha Belarbreena Beszrima Brigantyna Briza Brorna Burryna Byrtyn Cazna Chadra Chadzina Chalithra Chandara Chardalyn Charinida Charlindra Chenzira Chessintra Dhaunae Dilynrae Drada Drisinil Eclavdra Elerra Elvanshalee Elvraema Erakasyne Ereldra Faeryl Felyndiira Felyndiira Filfaere G'eldriia Gaussra Ghilanna Greyanna Gurina Haelra Halisstra Ilharess Ilivarrra Ilmra Imrae Jaelryn Jezzara Jhaelryna Jhaelrynna Jhalass Jhangara Jhanniss Jhulae Khaless Kiaran Laele Laele Larynda LiNeerlay Lledrith Llolfaen Lualyrr Lythrana Malice Maya Menzoberra Mez'Barris Micarlin Miz'ri Mizzrym Myrymma Narcelia Nathrae Nedylene Nendra Nizana Nulliira Olorae Pellanistra Phaere Phyrra Qilue Quarra Rauva Rilrae Sabrae Saradreza Sassandra Schezalle Shimyra ShriNeerune Shulvallriel Shurdriira Shurdriira Shurraenil Shyntlara SiNafay Sindyrrith Solenzara Ssapriina T'risstree Talabrina Talice Tallrene Thalra Thirza Thraele Triel Ulitree Ulviirala Umrae Urlryn Urmelena Vhondryl Viconia Vierna Vornalla Waerva Wuyondra Xalyth Xullrae Xune Yasrena Yvonnel Z'ress Zarra Zebeyana Zeerith Zelpassa Zendalure Zesstra Zilvra

Masculine names

Alton Balok Baragh Belaern Belgos Bemril Berg'inyon Bhintel Brorn Bruherd Caelkoth Callimar Chakos Chaszmyr Coranzen Dantrag Dhuunyl Dinin Dresmorlin Dro Duagloth Durdyn Elamshin Elendar Elkantar Filraen Ghaundan Ghaundar Guldor Guldor Gwylyss Hadrogh Hatch'net Honemmeth Houndaer Ildan Ilmryn Ilphrin Imbros Irennan Istolil Istorvir Iymril Jaezred Jalynfein Jeggred Jevan Jhaamdath Jhaldrym Jivvin Jyslin K'yorl Kalannar Kethan Kluthruel Kophyn Krenaste Krondorl Kyorlin Lesaonar Lirdnolu Llaulmyn Malaggar Micarlin Minolin Molvayas Morennel Nadal Nalfein Narissorin Narlros Nilonim Nimruil Numrini'th Nyloth Nym Omareth Orgoloth Ornaryn Pharaun Pharius Quave Quendar Quenthel Quevven Ranaghar Relonor Riklaunim Rinnill Ristel Ruathym Ryld Ryltar Sabal Selakiir Seldszar Seldszar Sengo Solaufein Sorn Syrdar Szordrin Szordrin Taldinyon Tarlyn Tathlyn Tazennin Tebryn Tolokoph Torrellan Trelgath Tsabrak Urlryn Valas Veldrin Velkyn Vhurdaer Vhurindrar Vielyn Vlondril Vorn Vuzlyn Welverin Xarann Xundus Yazston Yuimmar Zaknafein Zeerith Zyn

Family names

A'Daragon Abaeir Abbylan Argith Baenre Beltaulur Blaerabban Blundyth Chaulssin Coborel Coloara Cormrael Daevion'lyr Dalael Dhalmass Dhunnyl Diliriy Dinoryn Dryaalis Duskryn Dyrr Elpragh Elpragh Faertala Filifar Gallaer Glannath Glaurach Helviiryn Hune Hunzrin Hyluan Icharyd Ilaleztice Illistyn Illykur Jhalavar Jusztiirn Keteeruae Khalazza Khalazza Kront'tane Lhalabar Lueltar Mizzrym Mlezziir Naerth Nirinath Olonrae Omriwin Philiom Quavein Rhomduil Rrostarr Seerear Ssambra T'orgh T'sarran Tanor'Thal Telenna Tlin'orzza Tlintarn Tuin Uloavae Vrammyr Vrinn Waeglossz Xiltyn Yauntyrr Yauthlo Yril'Lysaen Zaphresz Zauviir Zolond

Other names

Drow Houses are organizations based around matriarchs. A few, such as Xalandrin and Shti'Zor are public knowledge due to their overwhelming power. Most others are known only by a few. Even many of the drow in the house are not aware of which house they serve.
Agrach Dyrr Aleanrahel Aleval Arabani Argith Arkhenneld Auvryndar Barrison Del'Armigo Claddath Despana DeVir Do'Urden Drezz'Lynur Druu'giir Eilservs Faen Tlabbar Fey-Branche Freth Horlbar Hun'ett Jenn'Yxir Jusztiirn Kenafin Khalazza Kilsek Maerret Melarn Mezrylornyl Millithor Mylyl Naerth Nanitarim Noquar Nurbonnis Oblodra Ousstyl Phaundal Q'Xorlarrin Rilynt'tar Shobalar Srune'lett Sshurlynder Symrivvin T'sarran Teken'duis Telenna Tlabbar Tlintarn Tuin'Tarl Vandree Xalyth Xorlarrin Yauntyrr Yauthlo

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Drow speak elven and undercommon. Spies and scouts may speak common, dwarf, or gnome as well.

Shared customary codes and values

Drow society is matriarchal, with the males too paranoid to band together long enough for a revolution. An all-female priesthood known as the Chosen of Graz’zt rules with an iron fist wrapped in a silk glove. It is a society of debts and slavery, with the Chosen as the ultimate owners of all debt and flesh in drow society. The priestesses use these webs of slaves in intricate political intrigues to jockey for position in their temples. Most drow don’t even actually know who their ultimate mistress is.

Common Dress code

Drow tend to dress provocatively, a consequence of long association with Graz'zt.

Art & Architecture

Drow architecture tends to be big, with many spires and usually a few rotting corpses. They love to project power and dominance in every conceivable way, and what better way than enormous stones covered in tapestries made from woven hide flayed off the last slave that disappointed them?

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

The demonic pact and millennia of trafficking with evil has left them mad, petty, spiteful, hateful, and monstrous. Their skin is ashy gray to startlingly void-black. Their hair is usually purest white, though the practice of dying it has caught on from their dealings with the shadar’kai. They have an innate ability to magic, martial training similar to their high elf cousins but more suited to tunnel warfare, and even the best of them have a seed of hatred in their hearts.

Gender Ideals

Males tend to be shorter and slimmer than the females by up to 6 inches. Men are closer to the “elven ideal” to the women, with symmetry even being artificially forced upon them if their mistresses find them too displeasing to look at. The females tend to be more humanlike in build, with thicker muscles and more pronounced curves than typical elves.

Courtship Ideals

"Courtship" is a foreign concept to most drow. A female chooses to add a male to her harem and chases away all competition. The male gets little to no say, and simply must survive the process and endure what comes next.

Relationship Ideals

"Imagine a high-heeled boot stomping on a dark elven male face. Now imagine that every single generation since they first met a demon. That's the drow history of marriage." Archmage Dulacar