Drow

Drow also known as dark elves, night elves, under-elves, and the Dark Ones among orcs, were a dark-skinned sub-race of elves that predominantly lived in the Underdark. They were hated and feared in the past due to their cruelty, though some non-evil and an even smaller number of good drow existed back then. As a drow, you are infused with the magic of the Underdark, an underground realm of wonders and horrors rarely seen on the surface above. You are at home in shadows and, thanks to your innate magic, learn to conjure forth both light and darkness.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

The Head is mostly Oval in Form. Eyecolors varies from Yellow, Red and Purple to Silver and White. The Hair is commonly White in different shades that includes grey, yellow and silver, but also red and rarely black.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Drow can be commonly found in Faerun in the Underdark, but also on the Surface for quiet some Time. Outside of Faerun Drow's can be found in Kara-Tur as the second largest number. Some are even in Zakhara and other Parts of Toril, these Numbers are far less.

Average Intelligence

Drow are Considered average to slightly above average Intelligent.

Civilization and Culture

Major Organizations

The principal organization in drow culture and society is the house, an extended clan that comprises many related families, plus a number of lesser families who have pledged loyalty to the house. A house’s membership also includes some (potentially very large) number of indentured drow servants. A house usually specializes in a business, a service, or a craft that supports by providing income.
Houses used to be in constant competition with one another, but today it is not common anymore. Yet there are still squabbles between houses and within a house from time to time. They vie for money, for prestige, and, more than anything else, power withing the society.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Deep Drow: The everyday language of the drow was commonly called "Deep Drow", as well as "Low Drow" or "Drowic". It was an elven dialect.
Drow Sign Language: The Sign language was also commonly known among drow. It could convey information as well as any spoken language.
High Drow: High Drow was an archaic dialect which priestesses
Other Languages: Drow with the time or inclination, such as warriors, had a tendency to learn the languages of creatures that lived physically close to their communities, such as Abyssal, Common, Draconic, and Goblin, as well as those languages that were spoken in the nearest surface area.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

The Blooding: A coming of age event that consisted of killing a dangerous Beast or Apporition.
Nedeirra: A dancing competition where those who mistepped were marked with harmless faerie fire.
The Running: An annual ritual where the drow went out to commit a massacre against a surface community. It was only held where the surface was easily accessible

History

Tens of thousands of years ago, the elves were divided, with those of benevolent disposition battling those that were selfish and cruel. The war among elvenkind ended when the good elves banished their malevolent kin to the subterranean depths. The history of the drow is filled with confusion and uncertainties. Many fanatical drow told lies and fabrications about their own history to serve the ends of the noble Houses and of the faiths. The drow descended from the dark elves of Ilythiir, the first and one of the most powerful elven nations, and, in minor part, from the survivors of Miyeritar. On the other hand, the drow remembered their origins because their feud with the elves was based on history.

Historical Figures

Dradia Yauntyrr - First Empress/ Grand Priestress of the Drow empire in Kara-Tur

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

The drow held some respect towards races capable of resisting their aggressions, and could perceive certain races as at least possible equals (though never superiors) with whom they had mutual gain or non-aggression pacts. However, contracts with "lesser races" were not seen as actually binding, and were readily broken as soon as they stopped being beneficial to the drow party. As a result, the other races learned to anticipate betrayal and always had counters to the treachery prepared. Normally the drow had poor opinions of even their erstwhile allies, and viewed other races, at best, as merely laughable or contemptible.

Lifespan

850 - 1000 Years

Average Height

1.7 - 2.2 Meters for Female and Male

Average Weight

55 - 120 kg

Average Physique

The average Bodytype is considered slender to athletic. Their apperance is mostly seen as very beautiful espacially for the Female.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Skincolor is in range from dark grey, black with shades of blue and purple to obsidian.