The Nine Clans

"Everyone is accounted for."

- Baylin Aball

At a Glance
The Nine Clans were the once-largest noble houses of Drow who survived the bloody Tel'Quessir civil war with their Bor'Nal (Elf) and Eladrin cousins. Brought low by the war, the fractured clans escaped into The Underdark and it was there that they escaped a slow, agonizing end by the actions of the Eladrin-traitor Naggaroth. Enacting a pact with the dark goddess Lolth, Naggaroth damned his fellow Drow to a dark fate but in doing so also allowed the Nine Clans to rise in prominence once more, gifting them with dark magics that allowed for the creation of the black city of Sautekh and reunification of the dying Drow race. This expansion into the Underdark allowed the Nine Clans to re-asser themselves as the ruling caste and revitalize their power. Naggaroth was elevated to the role of overseer of the Nine Clans and envoy to Lolth, and following his death he was mummified in Sautekh in webbing and regarded as a figurehead to unify the clans.

Sadly, the sadistic, covetous, and suspicious energies of Lolth would not lead the Drow to a permanent unification and soon Naggaroth's dream fractured. the Nine Clans' bloodlust resulted in frequent infighting as the Drow were torn between their oppressive duty to Lolth and their duplicitous desire to rule the Underdark and Sautekh for themselves. On the surface, each of the The Nine Clans pledge to serve Naggaroth's memory (and Lolth's power) but subversively (and openly, to some) plot the downfall of their kin.

Membership
The rulers of The Nine Clans live in their own keeps strewn throughout the Underdark to avoid assassination. A ruler will send their envoys as a representative of their power to the capitol of Sautekh -- a death sentence, but a glorious (if brief) posting. It is there that emissaries to keep an eye on their fierce competition. From the black city their empires reach through The Underdark and across the mortal plane, including such individuals as: