Drow

Biodata

Background and History

Drow are one of the four major Underdark groups that invade Baldur’s Gate. Their great houses initially struggle to act together, but become more unified after the matron Morantis becomes Lolth’s Chosen. They seize the Upper City and several desirable Lower City districts 263 276 728.

The invasion also brings a Drow schism to the surface. Valera and her sister Drilira lead followers of Eilistraee who seek life under the open sky and moonlight. Pursued by Morantis’s forces, they flee into the Deathlands and later establish a settlement in the Jagged Forest 263 275 363. They agree to join the Horley Federation and relocate to the Vihral ruins, where a planned two-tier city would give Drow underground homes and other residents space on the surface 364 384 396.

Lolth’s forces continue campaigning beyond Baldur’s Gate. A Drow legion advances toward Fort Tamal, where Morantis is present; after heavy losses, a little over two thousand battered troops remain 445 460 478.

Appearance

Drow are described as dark-skinned, though Valera is noted as white-skinned. Drilira has a pale-gray complexion, silver hair, and black eyes 193 263 432.

• Light sensitivity — Drow from the Underdark have difficulty adapting to surface sunlight and are accustomed to activity at night 396.
• Dress — Eilistraee’s followers wear black robes when entering Dawn Town to avoid alarming refugees who regard Drow as enemies 273.

Society and Factions

• Lolth’s followers — Organized around powerful houses and matrons. Morantis’s status as Lolth’s Chosen helps unite their forces, but they remain enemies of Eilistraee’s Drow 263 713.
• Eilistraee’s followers — Seek freedom from the matrons and practice moonlight rituals of song and dance. Valera describes dancing as a symbol of shedding disguises and embracing one’s true self 263 396.
• Slavery — The Eilistraee-aligned settlement in the Jagged Forest holds several hundred Goblin, Kobold, and Gray Dwarf slaves 363 396.

Abilities and Warfare

• Martial training — Drow have a high proportion of trained fighters and professionals. Their warriors use bows and can split into orderly groups while continuing to fire under heavy attack 269 270.
• Spellcasting — Individual Drow include Drilira, a level 17 Sword Singer, and Morantis, an eighteenth-level Cleric who uses spells such as Antimagic Field 193 270 276.
• Limits — Training does not protect ordinary Drow from large-area magic: Anse’s Freezing Spheres kill at least sixty during one battle 269.

Relationships

• Lolth’s Drow and Eilistraee’s Drow — Mortal enemies; Morantis’s forces pursue Valera’s group even after it flees into the Deathlands 263 713.
• Surface communities — Distrust intensified after the Underdark invasion, leaving Drilira’s group unable to settle openly among humans 273 275.
• Horley Federation — Valera’s group agrees to join the Federation in return for protection, while helping guard an Underdark entrance and supporting the planned Twin Cities 364 384.
• Other Underdark peoples — Drow compete with Gray Dwarves and Deep Gnomes for Baldur’s Gate; Deep Gnomes harbor particular hatred for them 728.