Drow
Basic Information
Anatomy
Also called dark elves, the drow have black skin that resembles polished obsidian and 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 tend to be smaller and thinner than most elves. Rarely, a drow may have eyes the color of a precious gem or mineral, such as gold or ruby red.
Drow may also have freckles of a shade darker or lighter than their skin tone. Sometimes a drow's freckles are bright white, giving the appearance of frost or snowflakes on their cheeks.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Drow names vary wildly. Drow that are born in the Underdark tend to have names that stem from Dark Elvish, while drow that grow up on the surface may have names rooted in Fairside Elvish or Common. Common names often refer to gemstones or other beauties within the Underdark, but they could also refer to nature like traditional Elvish names.
Elvish names
Male names: Coranston, Diviniid, Dresvan, Elran, Jystel, Kalan, Tarlyn, Quenthel, Salil, Soldiin
Female names: Cazrena, Chendiira, Elvris, Felyne, Haelra, Quartana, Talana, Tatha, Yazna, Zeeri
Common names
Male names: Cole, Cragg, Flint, Frost, Jasper, Onyx
Female names: Amber, Amethyst, Crystal, Jade, Mica, Opal, Ruby
Family names
Drow family names are often rooted in Undercommon or Dark Elvish, but they might also have roots in Old Varian. A lot of drow last names were created by freed slaves, so their meanings often relate to concepts such as freedom and hope. Many of these names have been translated into Common due to surface influence.
Undercommon and Dark Elvish names: Abbith, Aleanval, Alemtor, Faertala, Freviir, Myana, Niristyn, Omrith
Common names: Gemsong, Hope, Liberty, Righteous, River, Stone, Stoneheart
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
The Elvish Empire taught that drow were the basest, most wretched examples of humanoids. They were thought to be absolute corruption, vile and unclean.
After the empire collapsed, the drow reclaimed their Underdark homes and scarcely saw the surface for hundreds of years. When they finally emerged again, they found a much kinder world. Their rarity earn them a few curious stares, but nothing more. Only a few of the most stubborn high elves still ascribe to the old Empirical hierarchy.
Now, enough drow are moving to the surface in search of new opportunities that Underdark culture is in danger of being lost.
