Drow

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Drow (卓尔)
Alias(es)	Dark Elves; Drow Elves 70 165
Species/Race	Elf subrace / dark elf race 165
Gender	Female-dominated society; male Drow occupy a markedly subordinate social position 66 70 75
Affiliation	Primarily the Spider Queen Lolth; a growing dissident minority follows Eilistraee, the Dark Maiden 35 165
Status	Extant; organized into competing houses and cities, including Gershon City 75 82
First Appearance	Chapter 15 — Drow plan to capture Li Wei for their Matriarch. 15

Background / History

The Drow were originally dark elves of the kingdom of Ilythiir. Lolth lured them into corruption and supported them with dark magic and demonic forces. During the fourth Elven Crown Civil War, their bloodline was further contaminated through mating with the balor Wendonai. Corellon then cursed the race to live beneath the sun no longer and forced them into the Underdark. 165

Lolth’s rule shaped Drow civilization into a culture of intrigue, assassination, rivalry, and ruthless self-interest. She encourages covert schemes and clean, overwhelming strikes against rivals, but opposes prolonged open conflict that would waste Drow strength. Her ultimate expectation is Drow domination of the Underdark and a future invasion of the surface elves. 35

Gershon City is governed through a Matriarch Council in which more than seventy families participate in recurring elimination struggles for rank. Noble houses compete for influence, while commoners, slaves, and weaker families are readily sacrificed to political expedience. 75 82

Appearance

Typical Drow possess sharp, elongated ears, dark black or brown skin, delicate facial features, and compact builds. Female Drow are commonly trained for combat and are physically formidable despite their short stature, while male Drow are generally smaller and more delicate. 36 70 80

• Skin tone — usually black or brown; Moon Elf ancestry can produce lighter skin beneath artificial dye. 70
• Female build — often athletic and heavily trained in martial skills. 36 80
• Male height — commonly around 1.4 to 1.6 meters. 70
• Noble attire — fine robes, elaborate clothing, quality equipment, and an intentionally intimidating bearing distinguish nobles from commoners. 75
• Warrior attire — leather armor, greatshields, scimitars, and other combat equipment are used by Drow fighters. 85 116 665

Society and Culture

Matriarchal Hierarchy

Drow society places females in control of inheritance, family authority, religion, and mating decisions. Female Drow choose partners, while males are expected to remain submissive and are often treated as disposable resources for reproduction, entertainment, or political leverage. 66 70

The scarcity and high mortality of male Drow have not meaningfully improved their social standing. Matriarchs generally consider only enough males to preserve their bloodlines necessary, while female Drow can seek partners among numerous enslaved races. 70

Family Struggle

Drow rivalry begins before birth: female Drow often conceive multiple children, but typically only one survives after prenatal competition for nutrients. Later, siblings, heirs, and noble houses continue competing through sabotage, assassination, and political schemes. 82

Failed heirs and deposed Matriarchs frequently flee or are driven into places such as Zelandia’s lower regions. Many become vulnerable to exploitation, debt labor, exile, or enslavement after losing their family struggles. 16 17 73

Social Classes

Class	Position in Drow Society
Matriarchs and noble houses	Rule families and compete for standing in the Matriarch Council. 82
Priestesses and Clerics	Gain status through Lolth’s faith, intrigue, sacrifice, and assassination. 66
Commoner warriors and mages	May earn status through military achievement or magical talent, often by being adopted into a noble house. 75
Male wizards	Rare and useful enough to possess limited influence, but remain socially beneath even low-ranking female Clerics. 75
Male warriors	Historically trained at Melee-Magthere and used as soldiers; declining male numbers led Gershon City to suspend their conscription. 75
Slaves	Used as laborers, soldiers, sacrifices, experimental material, and expendable property. 28 75 76

Laws and Social Norms

Drow society recognizes a practical rule for intrigue: if wrongdoing cannot be proven, it is treated as though it never occurred. Friendship, affection, and trust are considered liabilities that can be exploited by rivals. 66

“If it cannot be proven, it never happened.” 66

Drow nobles can advance through wealth, family rank, magical ability, military accomplishments, and successful conspiracies. Fairness is not considered a meaningful path to authority. 75 82

Religion

Lolth, the Spider Queen

Lolth is the dominant Drow deity and the foundation of their social order. Her domains and preferences encourage darkness, chaos, evil, assassination, and infighting among her followers. 35

• Divine Emblems — Lolth’s priestesses carry symbols that can identify them as recipients of divine favor. Killing such a favored priestess may draw Lolth’s attention through the severed chain of faith. 37
• Coming-of-Age Ceremony — female Drow must complete a beheading mission and offer the target’s head to Lolth for a Divine Bestowal. 70
• Divine Bestowals — can grant innate spells, enhanced attributes, or physical strengthening, depending on the offering and Lolth’s disposition. 70
• Divine Punishment — failed ceremonies or displeasing sacrifices can result in transformation into a mindless Spider Drow. 70
• Political orthodoxy — public devotion to Lolth and slogans proclaiming Drow supremacy are expected at Drow political gatherings. 81

Eilistraee, the Dark Maiden

Some Drow secretly seek escape from Lolth’s influence through devotion to Eilistraee. These dissidents hope to leave the Spider Queen’s oppressive society, return to the surface, live beneath moonlight, and build a new people sometimes envisioned as “Night Elves.” 114 165

Eilistraee’s followers prepare rituals such as the Dance of the New Moon, intended to offer Drow hope of freedom and to support an attempt against Lolth through the divine artifact New Moon Blade. 662

Abilities & Skills

Martial Training and Assassination

Drow remain dangerous even when their spellcasting is restricted. They are noted for archery, decapitation tactics, stealth, and surprise attacks. 30

• Combat professions include Rangers, Shadowdancers, Executioners, Shadow Warriors, Dark Rangers, and swordswomen. 70 73
• Archery is a major Drow strength; the legendary Drow Aikaria could provide battlefield-wide suppressive fire alone. 100 299
• Assassination is culturally encouraged as both a political and religious tool. 35 66
• Limitation: Drow spellcasters can become severely vulnerable in Dead Magic Domains or Dark Magic Web regions, where magic is restricted. 30 73

Arcane and Divine Magic

Arcane study is one of the few avenues through which male Drow can gain limited power, while priestesses derive status and supernatural abilities from Lolth. 70 75

• Sorcere — Gershon City’s institution for training Drow wizards and mages. 75
• Divine spellcasting — priestesses may receive spells and physical boons through Lolth’s Divine Bestowal. 70
• Magical sensing — Drow nobles commonly develop the ability to perceive magical fluctuations or recognize unusual innate traits. 76
• Limitation: slave Drow may be fitted with Magic Suppression Collars that mark their status and restrict spellcasting. 28

Spider Drow Transformation

Lolth can transform Drow into Spider Drow as punishment or through divine intervention. Spider Drow are powerful, monstrous forms associated with the Spider Queen’s faith. 66 70 126

• Trigger conditions include failed coming-of-age rites, divine punishment, and desperate invocations of Lolth. 66 70 126
• Capabilities include immense physical strength, rapid combat movement, dark curses such as Power Word: Dark, and spell-like abilities such as Faerie Fire. 68
• Limitation: a transformed Drow may become mindless, losing their former identity and autonomy. 70

Key Relationships

• Lolth / Araushnee — racial goddess and architect of the Drow’s chaotic, matriarchal social order; she can exert supernatural control over dark elves within her power. 35 665
• Eilistraee — Lolth’s daughter and the Dark Maiden; regarded by dissident Drow as a path toward redemption and escape from Lolth’s rule. 165 662
• Corellon — Elven god who cursed the corrupted dark elves and forced their relocation into the Underdark. 165
• Gershon City — major Drow city ruled by rival houses and a Matriarch Council. 75 82
• Zelandia — lower-city refuge and economic power tolerated by Gershon’s Drow in exchange for rare ores and extermination of goblins. 16
• Dishana Jadiel — Drow priestess and later Matriarch of the Jadiel Family; secretly seeks a future beyond Lolth’s rule. 37 114
• Lucifer — half-Drow, half-Moon Elf who survived Drow society by being raised as a female; later rejects his Drow identity while receiving Lolth’s blessing. 70 84
• Aikaria — legendary Drow Shadow Ranger and crossbow wielder whose archery can suppress an entire battlefield. 100 299

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Investigation of Zelandia — Drow seek to capture Li Wei after his battle in the Underdark, then send Dishana’s investigation team to examine Hogg Mining and its emerging technology. 15 35 36
• Dishana’s rise — after Li Wei captures Dishana, he chooses to cultivate her as a puppet candidate for the Matriarch position rather than kill a Lolth-favored priestess. 37
• Gershon City conflict — Drow spies, assassins, and the Bangier Family oppose Dishana’s alliance with Zelandia; Li Wei’s group enters Gershon amid family conflict and warfare. 68 75 90
• Netheril magic ship expedition — Drow houses recruit auxiliary troops and send representatives into the dangerous ruins in search of magical knowledge and relics. 113 118
• Drow reformist movement — Dishana reveals her desire to establish a new society of Drow beyond Lolth’s control, while Eilistraee’s followers prepare to use the New Moon Blade against the Spider Queen. 114 662
• War against the Northlands — Drow conquer Evermeet Island and dispatch a fleet to threaten Water-Drawing City, relying on an undisclosed strategic advantage. 656 657
• Lolth’s defeat — after Lolth is defeated and captured, Li Wei orders surviving Drow to convert to Eilistraee or face execution. 667