Drow
Basic Information
Anatomy
Drow retain the graceful, lean physiques common to all elves but are uniquely adapted to their environment. Their skin is usually shades of deep gray, ebony, or jet black, with some individuals bearing subtle purple or blue undertones. Their hair is often stark white or silvery, contrasting sharply against their dark skin, though shades of gray or pale blue are not unheard of. Drow eyes glow faintly in hues of red, violet, or icy blue, granting them a ghostly appearance in the dark. They lack body and facial hair and possess pointed ears that are more finely tapered than those of surface elves.
Genetics and Reproduction
Drow inherit their distinct traits from their Abyss-tainted lineage and have long passed on these features, even when intermingling with other elf subraces. Drow can interbreed with other elves, but their Abyssal traits remain dominant, manifesting strongly in their offspring. Despite their fertility matching that of other elves, Drow birth rates are carefully managed by noble families, who often arrange pairings to preserve and enhance certain bloodlines.
Ecology and Habitats
Drow prefer environments of perpetual darkness or dim light, making the shadow-shrouded city of Yilas in the Moonscape Moor ideal. The city’s combination of coastal breezes and deep, shadowed caverns reflects their dual heritage of water and darkness. They interact with their environment through a careful balance of manipulation and preservation, using illusion and shadow magic to shroud the city while fortifying it against the harsh coastal elements. Their trade thrives in this region, importing goods from the sea and the Underdark and ensuring a steady flow of resources.
Behaviour
Drow society is hierarchical, with a strong emphasis on power, cunning, and ambition. They are strategic thinkers, constantly analyzing situations to gain an advantage. This has made them masters of intrigue and politics. While they are generally stoic and reserved, Drow can be fiercely loyal and protective of their chosen allies and family members. Their minds are often disciplined and calculating, and many practice forms of meditation or trance that focus on enhancing their mental and magical prowess.
Additional Information
Average Intelligence
Highly intelligent and shrewd, with a focus on strategic thinking and magical knowledge
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Drow are highly adapted to life in darkness, possessing Darkvision with an extended range of 120 feet. Their eyes can detect even the faintest light, allowing them to discern their surroundings in near-total darkness. Their perception is sharp, and many have honed their senses to detect subtle shifts in their environment, a necessity in both the Underdark and their shadowed city.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Drow names are melodic but often contain harsh or sibilant tones. Surnames are usually related to family legacy or achievements.
Male Names: Drizlan, Valos, Sereth, Zevrin, Lorthal
Female Names: Valindra, Melariel, Zynnia, Ilvarra, Selûna
Family Names: Vel’thal, Zauvir, Myrthraen, Shadovorn, Nythlir
Beauty Ideals
Beauty among the Drow emphasizes elegance and poise, with dark, smooth skin and striking white or silvery hair highly prized. Noble Drow often adorn themselves with intricate piercings, tattoos, and illusionary enhancements that shimmer under moonlight or in the shadows. Graceful movements and a dignified demeanor are considered attractive, and shadow-draped, flowing clothing is designed to accentuate their natural fluidity.
Gender Ideals
Drow society values strength, cunning, and magical ability equally in all genders. However, there is a lingering matriarchal tradition from their Abyssal heritage, where women are often seen as more dominant, especially in noble families and the Council of Shadows. Nevertheless, men who prove themselves in combat or magic are equally respected. Ambition is admired regardless of gender, and powerful alliances are often gender-neutral.
Courtship Ideals
Courtship among the Drow is a calculated dance, filled with gifts, displays of prowess, and acts of cunning. Matches are often strategic, arranged to strengthen family alliances or political power. However, genuine passion is not unheard of, and Drow lovers may engage in private rituals under the moon or sea, sharing secrets or performing binding oaths of loyalty.
Relationship Ideals
Relationships among Drow are as complex as their politics. Trust and loyalty are highly valued, but so are ambition and independence. It is not uncommon for partnerships to include elements of power dynamics, where both individuals seek to test or challenge one another. Familial loyalty is critical, and marriages or unions are often arranged to fortify political standings. Despite the intrigue, deep love and devotion are not absent; they merely exist alongside ambition.
Common Etiquette Rules
Drow etiquette emphasizes respect for power and rank. Bowing or inclining the head to nobility is expected, and interrupting a superior is considered a grave offense. Ritual greetings and farewells are customary, often performed with precise gestures. In public, stoicism is valued, and emotions are typically kept hidden or expressed subtly. Private conversations are conducted in hushed tones, emphasizing secrecy.
Common Dress Code
Drow clothing in Yilas is dark, elegant, and often enchanted with shadow magic. Robes, cloaks, and fitted armor in shades of black, midnight blue, or dark purple are common. Jewelry made from Underdark gemstones, such as black opals and shadow diamonds, is popular. Noble Drow often wear outfits that can change appearance through illusion magic, ensuring they always look impressive.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Drow cultural heritage is deeply tied to shadow magic and the worship of night or sea-related deities. Their art often depicts scenes of moonlit coastlines or the dark beauty of the Underdark. Music is composed in haunting, echoing melodies that evoke the stillness of darkness. Dance and performance are celebrated, with many festivals held in the Starlight Market to showcase Drow mastery over illusion and shadow.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Shadowblessing: A ritual held when a Drow child reaches maturity, where the Veil Keepers bless them with protective enchantments.
Night’s Vigil: A festival where the Drow celebrate their ancestors by holding a city-wide trance, meditating under the full moon and weaving shadow illusions.
Moonlit Duels: Ceremonial duels performed in the Umbra Quarter, where noble families settle disputes under moonlight, watched by the Council of Shadows.
Common Taboos
Disrespecting the Council of Shadows is seen as a severe offense, as is defiling sacred places like the Vel’thal Bastion. Betraying one’s family or revealing family secrets is also highly taboo. Open displays of emotion, particularly in political settings, are frowned upon, as control is seen as a virtue.
History
The Drow of Astrium trace their history back to their ancestral split from the surface elves, a consequence of their allegiance to Lolth. Over the millennia, they have carved out a society in Yilas, rising to power within the shadowed landscape of the Moonscape Moor. The city was founded by Matron Vel'thal centuries ago, who established a council system that persists to this day. Yilas has survived wars, natural calamities, and the occasional power struggle within the Council of Shadows, becoming a bastion of shadow magic and political maneuvering.
Common Myths and Legends
The Shadow Serpent: A legendary creature said to protect Yilas from unseen threats. Stories tell of a serpent made entirely of darkness, called forth by the first Matron Vel'thal to defend the city in its time of need.
The Phantom Court: A tale of Drow nobles who angered the matron of shadows Moonscape Moor and were cursed to wander the city as shadowy phantoms, whispering secrets to those willing to listen.
The Blackened Pearl: A myth about a powerful artifact said to grant dominion over shadows, lost somewhere in the Inkwell Docks. Many Drow treasure hunters have sought it, but none have returned.
This detailed description captures the essence of the Drow in Yilas, reflecting their rich cultural heritage, complex societal norms, and the dark beauty of their coastal city.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Scientific Name
Humanoidia Sylvania Nocturnus
Lifespan
750 years when underground, however there is constant conflict in Yilas so the drow rarely make it past 300
Average Height
5' to 6'2"
Average Weight
90-150 pounds
Average Physique
Slender and agile, built for stealth and dexterity rather than brute strength
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Ebony, jet black, or deep gray skin with white, silver, or pale blue hair. Eyes that glow in shades of red, violet, or icy blue.
Geographic Distribution
Comments