Drow Elf

Drow, also known as dark elves, deep elves, night elves, or sometimes "The Ones Who Went Below" on the surface, were a dark-skinned sub-race of elves that predominantly lived in the Underdark. They were hated and feared due to their cruelty, though some non-evil and an even smaller number of good drow existed.

Additional Information

Social Structure

The drow society nominally had two purposes, called "the First and Second Part of the Destiny of the People". The former was about forcing all other races of the Underdark into subservience, while the latter was about driving the entire elven population into extinction.
Lolth claimed that, in order to achieve such goals, the drow needed to be forced into perpetual infighting and violent competition, so that the constant training would make them stronger and smarter. However, the extreme, self-destructive degree to which this was taken prevented the drow from achieving either of their purposes, barring possibilities for significant growth. In fact, despite her rhetoric, Lolth merely enjoyed the infighting that she promoted and put no effort into reaching the supposed goal.
On a personal level, each drow tried to gain and maintain the favor of Lolth, as well as to amass material goods, like wealth and slaves, and to gain status inside their society, in which the concept of inherent value of life did not exist. Depending on the station of a drow, there was a difference in the kind of plans they supported and executed. Drow of higher standing supported endeavors to boost their own prestige by increasing their own people's power and influence. Drow of lower station supported plans that dragged everybody down, for example by causing strife and violence within their communities

Facial characteristics

Generally, the drow kept their hair long, and decorated it with pins and webbing made of precious metals. Drow hair could be stark white, pale yellow and, more rarely, silver or copper in color. Due to the Eilistraeen ritual of The Run, drow of other faiths would often say that silver hair was a sign of mental handicap. Drow hair thinned and changed color with age, turning pale yellow in women, and silver or grey in men.
Drow were incapable of having beards, but some males managed to grow long sideburns or even tufts of wispy hair on the cheek or chin.
Drow eyes could be of any color, with bright red being the most common. Pale shades that appeared nearly white or blue, lilac, pink, or silver were also frequent. Drow with green, brown, black, amber, or rose-hued eyes existed, but they were rare. Purple or blue eyes indicated surface elves and/or human ancestry. It was possible to read some information in the eye color of a drow. For example, drow eyes reddened when they were angry, and turned yellow when they were sick, poisoned, or under some negative magical influence.
Drow had white, black, or purple teeth, while their gums, tongues, and throats were pink, red or purple.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Most Drow live in the Underdark in the Fey Wild. Some have crossed over to the material plane in the recent centuries, mostly for nefarious purposes.

Average Intelligence

Drow were intelligent even when compared to other sentient creatures. This was due to selective breeding over several generations and to the necessity of being analytical and observant at all times to survive in their society.
However, the drow were not wiser than other races. Their upbringing in secluded societies, with little contact with the outside, as well as the indoctrination of Lolth's dogma, made them close-minded.

Civilization and Culture

History

While the Third Age of Man saw the portals to the Fey Wild open, it wasn't until almost the end of the Fourth Age of Man that the Drow were seen. They had spent millennia fighting each other in the Underdark and occasionally trying to wipe out all the creatures in the Fey. Under the tenuous leadership of Galador Tinduel, a large group of Drow infiltrated the material plane and plotted to take it over. With the help of a destroyer god, wild magic, and the trust that Elves had built with man, Galador was able to bring on The Darkness.

Lifespan

700 years

Average Height

5'

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

The skin of the drow was dark grey, jet-black or obsidian (with shades of blue). An exception were the albino drow, the Szarkai.