Drow

The drow, or "cave elves" (a slightly derogatory term coined by the high elves), are descendants of the proto-elves that fled their great calamity underground. Led by priestesses of Shar, the shadow of Seluné/Shar, they established great cities in natural and hand-dug caverns underneath Estenwald and Ester Fal. As time went on, the religious leaders of the drow became their political leaders as well, cementing the influence of the drider matriarchs as absolute rulers. By the age of Beasts, records indicate that the drow had become completely isolationist, aggressively ousting or subjugating any peoples who attempted to share the Underdark. The matriarchy twisted drow society over time into a profoundly stratified, fascist oligarchy, using their people's love for the goddess Shar as a form of social control. While little is known about the drow in the southern Underdark, the drow of the north are more widespread, especially after the destruction of their capital city Tzer in 2696 Dawning. Still, the remnants of Tzer crouch underground, struggling to rebuild after their matriarch leaders were slaughtered in the mysterious attack.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

At Fangrys Eyel, Tres Fangrys Eyel, Shenza Tovet Shah, Liz'eveth Y'zeph Kaala, K'iri Yovah Tzera

Masculine names

Hav Tarya Eyel, Oto Ivanah Vezet, Fel Eveth Kaala, Quev Shah Veret, Liseron Meteph Kira

Family names

Traditional drow naming convention consists of three names in order: the name of calling (n’vethe ves kaalde), the name of home/the close (n’vethe ves mvetkah), and the name of the matriarch (n’vethe ves quophet). The first name is the individual's casual name. The second name is the casual name of the individual's maternal grandmother, and is used by family or loved ones in a pair with the first. The third name is the family name, and is the casual name of either the individual's mother or, if he is male and married, his wife. Often second and third names are shortened from their original forms.
The three names of a drow can be used in different combinations as part of a linguistic formality system. As an example, with the individual K'iri Yovah Tzera:

• "K'iri" is casual. Used by friends and family in everyday circumstances.
• "K'iri Yovah" is used only in intimate settings by loved ones or family. It is a privilege to be allowed to do so, and very private. It would be extremely rude to use this combination without explicit permission from the individual.
• "K'iri Yovah Tzera" is formal and used by strangers and institutions. This is the most "safe" form of address when one is unsure.
• "K'iri Tzera" is an antiquated and hyper-formal combination that is rarely, if ever, used. Denotes little trust if an individual asks to be referred to in this way, or possibly overly professional.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Drow speak Undercommon, which is descended from Proto-elven. There are regional differences between southern and norther drow dramatic enough that they cannot wholly understand each other; northern Undercommon is the language that has made it above ground and is more common.

Shared customary codes and values

Traditionalist drow are deeply religious and devoted to Shar, who they see as their protector and savior. They are xenophobic and nationalist, and raised from birth to believe in the inherent superiority of their people over those who chose to remain aboveground. Their stiff, formal manners entrench these values into their society. However, they are also believers in scientific and magical progress and are constantly striving to improve the arts, crafts, and sciences of their civilization. They revere spiders as sacred creatures of Shar and have cultivated many breeds of domesticated arachnids, and are very exacting caretakers of the animals in their care.

Average technological level

At the height of its power, the northern drow city Tzer was on par technologically with Blackmoor or Sarkhaan. The beginning of engineering, modern medical science, and arcane weaponry. However, they have not yet recovered to the point where they can continue that progress and have lagged behind. The southern drow are rumored to be even more technologically advanced than Chandris, but no one can confirm, since no one ever returns from the Underdark there.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

One of the darkest traditions in drow culture, which in the Dawning age is finally beginning to be questioned, is the ritual cannibalism of the drider matriarchs. For many ages, in certain circumstances, a matriarch might choose a member of their household for the honor of being ritually devoured by her while drugged with the toxin vess’mahva. Often used as a roundabout form of political assassination or way to get rid of an unwanted wife or husband, the practice has been controversial but entrenched in the higher echelons of drow society. Cannibalism is practiced outside of the ritual by driders to punish criminals in extremely rare cases (often without drawing too much attention), although it is far more common to feed the unwanted or the argumentative to their phase spiders.

Ideals

Gender Ideals

Drow matriarchs have crafted their society to reinforce their power on a gendered level. Men are viewed as inherently inferior in intelligence and rationality, sexually promiscuous, and better at "brute" labor. Even their magical abilities are called into question, despite there being no evidence of gendered difference in magical talent. Their rights to own property outside of marriage and other civil rights are limited. There is a transgender community that exists, although largely unacknowledged by society at large; transgender women are tolerated as they are seen as trying to "uplift" themselves, while transgender men are looked down upon for doing the opposite.

Relationship Ideals

Marriage in traditional drow society, especially among the upper class, is a three-person affair. One dominant female, the matriarch, and her wife, and then their shared husband. The matriarch is the political head of the family, and producing heirs is normally the job of the wife and the husband. It is not unheard-of for a matriarch to bear an heir herself, however. These marriages exist in this structure regardless of sexual orientation, even if the two women are a political match only. Lower classes may not adhere to the same traditions; there are many two-person marriages among them.

Major organizations

The Sisterhood of Shar

Related Locations

• Estenwald
• Ester Fal