Drow

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Male Names: Arcavato, Drovic, Firyin, Kaelmourn, Mirrendier, Pharnox, Syrendross, Zov.

Female Names: Belmarniss, Cylellinth, Ilvaria, Johysis, Loscivia, Tyvorhan, Ulumbralya, Volundeil.

Cruel and cunning, drow are a dark reflection of the elven race. Also called dark elves, they dwell deep underground in elaborate cities carved from cyclopean caverns. Drow seldom make themselves known to surface folk, preferring to remain legends while advancing their sinister agendas through proxies and agents. While not innately evil, malignancy runs deep in drow culture, and nonconformists rarely survive long. Some tales suggest that an especially hateful elf could become a drow, though such transformations are exceptionally rare and require profound depravity.

Drow are similar in stature to humans but retain the slender build and delicate features of elves, including long, pointed ears. Their eyes lack pupils and are usually solid white or red. Skin ranges from coal black to dusky purple, and hair is typically white or silver, though variations exist. Their appearance is striking, often unnerving, and marks them unmistakably as a separate elven lineage.

Drow society is traditionally class-oriented and matriarchal. Male drow usually fulfill martial roles, defending their communities, while female drow assume positions of authority and governance. Noble houses define drow politics, each led by a matriarch and composed of lesser families, military companies, and business interests. Each house typically venerates a demon lord patron.

Drow culture is one of ambition, intrigue, and ruthlessness. Common drow seek favor with the noble houses, while the nobility consolidates power through assassination, seduction, treachery, and manipulation. Social mobility is perilous, and survival often depends on cunning and duplicity.

Drow have a strong sense of racial superiority and divide non-drow into slaves and potential slaves. They may cooperate with races like hobgoblins and orcs who align with their goals, but races such as dwarves, gnomes, and halflings are often treated harshly. Drow delight in exploiting human weaknesses and harbor particular enmity for surface elves, viewing them as rivals to be subverted or destroyed. Curiosity and cautious interest exist toward other shadow-adapted races, like fetchlings.

Drow emphasize power, survival, and self-interest. Compassion is rare, and enemies are treated with cruelty or manipulation. Most drow are chaotic evil, channeling elven passions through hatred, vengeance, lust for power, and carnal pleasures. Deities, when venerated, are often those associated with darkness, trickery, or domination, though many drow follow no god at all.

Driven to expand territory or exact vengeance, drow adventurers are often spies, soldiers, or agents of their houses. Males tend toward martial or stealth classes, such as fighters, rogues, or rangers. Females gravitate toward leadership or arcane-focused roles, including clerics, bards, wizards, or summoners. Innate magical talent makes drow effective spellcasters, while their natural agility and cunning support both combat and subterfuge roles.

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