Category:Drow

"Nothing is forgotten. Nothing is forgiven."

- Breysis Vilatul

At a Glance
Originally a race of Tel'Quessir, the "Dark Elves" or Drow were a highly intelligent and passionate species who indulged in the arts of pleasure, delving ever deeper into hedonism. Governed by a series of noble clans, the rulers of these houses were seduced by pleasure cults dedicated to achieving the highest levels of hedonistic sensation. Over time, their ceremonies and practices became ever more wild, eventually devolving into violence and sacrifice of their own kind. As their lust grew, these Tel'Quessir (naming themselves the Drow'Quess or Drow) became increasingly obsessed with pleasure, social status and the rites of bloodlines, drawing them into numerous confrontations with their Elven kin. As their competitive nature festered, the Drow began a bloody vendetta against their Tel'Quessir cousins, wipped into open war by Malekir the Ruinous One who declared himself the true ruler of the elven promised land.

As Tel'Quessir civilization fractured, the Drow laid siege to their cousins, forcing them into the woods (resulting in the fracturing of the Bor'nal, or Wood Elves) and back to their cities  (the Eladrin) as battles erupted across the land and sky aboard massive airships. The onslaught would be dramatically routed when Malekir, looking to end the conflict with the siege of Niccasar was killed and the Drow were driven from their stronghold of Cadi'al. On the verge of defeat it was Trakith Coggarm, an Eladrin who took pity on the Drow, who helped them escape through the city's tunnel. With his traitorous act discovered, Trakith and the remaining Drow of Malekir's armada fled into the tunnels to the north as the woods and skies around them filled with vengeful Bor'nal and Eladrin.

The flight from defeat was not kind to the Drow. It was in the tunnels beneath the world that the Drow tapped into the twisted realm of The Underdark and discovered the Dark Gods Lolth and Torog. Realizing that the only way to stave off enslavement by either of these dark deities was to barter passage with their souls, Trakith (now calling himself Naggaroth) chose the lesser of the two evils and once more stalled the immediate doom of the Drow - at the cost of their souls. Tainted by Lolth, the Drow's skin was blackened and in the dark catacombs of Sautekh, it was there that the Drow, lead by the rejuvenated houses (now called The Nine Clans) rebuilt as a nation and formed a city from the ruins of their hedonistic civilization.

Since then, with their souls and bodies blackened by their dark deal, the Drow have cheated corruption by capturing slaves to sacrifice to the Dark God Lolth. When prisoners have run few in supply, the Drow inevitably begin warring amongst themselves (or stealing surface-dweller) to escape the domination of their dark masters -- all in the hope that one day they can one day retake the promised land of Tel'Quessir, by any means necessary.

Racial Features

 * Touch of Lolth: You know the dancing lights cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the faerie fire spell once per day. When you reach 5th level, you can also cast the darkness spell once per day. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
 * Eight-Handed Training: You have proficiency with rapiers, daggers, shortswords, hand crossbows, flails, throwing knives, shurikens, and whip swords.
 * Light Sleeper: Instead of sleeping, you enter a meditative state. You do not dream; instead, you are fully aware of your surroundings.