Drow
Tainted by the wicked Archfey Arannea, these elves have had the darkness in their hearts grown until it takes them over entirely. While often stereotyped to be dark elves, any variation of elf can become a drow. The only defining trait of one who has become a drow is their bright red eyes that almost seem to glow in the darkness.
Causes
Darkness in an elf's heart, a strong sort of darkness, invites the spider queen in. It can be a burning hatred for a person or group of people, or perhaps a feeling of superiority over those around you. Even a strong desire for something can catch her attention and begin the transition.
One can also become a drow if one or more existing drow perform a certain dedication ritual over them shortly after birth. In such cases, the transition is skipped over entirely. While it is most common for this to be done with the children of drow, some will also dedicate the children of non-drow elves to Arannea, either as an act of spite or to please their wicked Fey goddess.
Symptoms
Aside from the red eyes, those experiencing the transition also display paranoia, trouble sleeping, and irritability. Once the transition is complete, drow are able to see in almost complete darkness.
Prognosis
It begins with the nightmares. She slips into dreams like a spider and spins a web, a cocoon that echoes one's darkest thoughts. Turning dreams into nightmares, twisting them to darker intentions and wearing away at the psyche. Over time, one comes to accept them, sometimes losing the boundary between what is real and what was a dream.
Next are the delusions, the whispers. Reality warps briefly to make good intentions seem selfish and kindness like manipulation. Sometimes her voice whispers into one's ear, telling them terrible things, until they come to loathe the world around them. This is also when the eyes begin to turn red.
Finally, the change of heart. This happens suddenly, when a line they had held previously is crossed. It could be an offence one makes against the individual, or it could be something they themselves did to someone else. It's commonly marked by the killing of a friend or a close loved one. When this happens, the eyes go fully red, almost glowing, and there is little hope of saving them.
Prevention
Dedicating oneself to serving the Archfey Titania or Oberon can help stave off the dreams if one is in the initial stage (or prevent it altogether if they aren't yet affected). However, for those already in the later stages, much effort in serving either of these Fey is necessary to prevent further development, and even then cannot keep the dreams away entirely.
Other methods are not yet known for avoiding Arannea's machinations, though many will prescribe a monastic lifestyle or frequent meditation to clear away any excessively negative thoughts and feelings.
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