Dragon #298 Drow Article

[Tetsubo]

I was rather stunned by the article on the Drow culture and their biological functions in
regards to breeding. The article states that Drow have a significantly higher birthrate,
sometimes as much as ten times more births than surface elves. They also have multiple births frequently. Where-in the unborn Drow battle each other (to the death) for the mother's biological resources. In addition the mother gets a physical rush from these internal battles, enjoying the pain and conflict. I find this idea fascinating. And it's inspired a new Rule Zero for my next campaign: Drow aren't Elves. They look like Elves. They can mate with all the standard races as they wish. But they are not interfertile. No Half-Drow. No Elf/Drow mixes. They are a completely separate species. Maybe actually created by Lolth. Descendants of a spider ancestor?

Anyone else think this article was at least interesting?

 

[Kamard]

I thought that one was the best article in the magazine this month. The others lacked luster.

 

[Witness]

Actually, I was a little disturbed by it. That article certainly supports the view of nature over nurture. Also it makes it far more difficult to have a good Drow character as by the time one becomes an adult, one has already killed god knows how many of your siblings both in and out of the womb.

Also (I don't remember exactly which article) the writer(s) dismiss the notion that a society bent on betrayal, deciet, and all-out evil, would self destruct within a few generations. If every Drow is out for themselves, how can they have anykind of a real society, much less the most powerful one in the underdark?

Another question I've had that has yet to be answered adequetly; I've read a few of the Underdark books, and every article and book seems to focus on the elite upercrusts of society. These great families must have hordes of slaves, servants, and soldiers. Aren't they ambitious? Don't they seek to improve their lot in life? How does one insure their loyalty? etc. etc...

 

[Tetsubo]

There maybe a bit of writer hand-waving where the Drow are concerned. They are the way they are because the gods want them that way. Perchances they are playing a part in a larger, long term divine plan. One that they themselves have no knowledge of. Mayhap even a plan that ends in the destruction of the Drow at it's completeion point...

 

[Lela]

Actually, I was a little disturbed by it. That article certainly supports the view of nature over nurture. Also it makes it far more difficult to have a good Drow character as by the time one becomes an adult, one has already killed god knows how many of your siblings both in and out of the womb.

Ah, in the words of R.A. Slavatore, "Good Drow should be the exception, not the rule." Something which I wish one of my players would take to heart (not complaining, just expressing).

But, to defend this, the good Drow would be defending himself, which is okay for a good aligned character. Also, don't forget about Eilistraee, who has a large following of Drow and part Drow her own on the surface.

Also (I don't remember exactly which article) the writer(s) dismiss the notion that a society bent on betrayal, deciet, and all-out evil, would self destruct within a few generations. If every Drow is out for themselves, how can they have anykind of a real society, much less the most powerful one in the underdark?

Have you read the Homeland Trilagy? There was also a recent article on the WotC website (which I can't get to right now) which gave some insight.

To be honest, once I read the first book of the Homeland trilgy, I understood this completely. Basically, they have laws but these are only broken if you actually get caught. For instance, if you attack another house, you must kill all the nobles of that house. If even one survives, they report you, and the Acadomy ( military, arcane, and clerical training school) attacks you. The most commonj way involves a number of Summoning and Gate spells which bring a large amount of demons. Lolth withdraws much of her power from the resedent clerics and the demons have a party. The military guys wait outside with hand crossbows to take out anyone who tries to get out.

Another question I've had that has yet to be answered adequetly; I've read a few of the Underdark books, and every article and book seems to focus on the elite upercrusts of society. These great families must have hordes of slaves, servants, and soldiers. Aren't they ambitious? Don't they seek to improve their lot in life? How does one insure their loyalty? etc. etc...

They can actually start their own house if they'd like to. It must be started by clerics (women only) and they must quickly obtain High Priestess status. While this is commonly done by drow noble women who will not become Matron Mother (2nd and subsiquint girls), it is much more uncommon for a solder or regular cleric--though still possible.

The reason for this is because they need support (a compound to live in, solders and magi for defense). It's hard to get people willing to defend you because the other houses are more than willing to stamp out a tiny house for fun--especally the house from which the smaller one broke off of.

 

[Valmur_Dwur]

Interesting read but not for me! I'll use ideas from it of course but I like my idea(doesn't everyone like their own ideas ) Drow is more of a disease than a way of life. ALL ELVES start out up in the sunlit world. Only those that hear the whispers of Lolth (or Tharizdun, maybe!?) decide to make their way down into the world of which was created for those who are the true masters of the Elven peoples. Along the way Lolth sets many snares for those not truly deserving. Those that make it to Erelhei-Cinlu undergo a few more trials and those that pass become "true" dark elves and undergo the transformation to dark skin, white hair blah, blah,blah. Those that fail obviously become Driders Drow are sterile in my world

 

[Negative Zero]

Tetsubo, i really loved that article too. great marketting stategy i think on the part of the new owners to do a drow issue. always a good seller haven't finished reading the entire mag yet, but i'm deffinitely looking forward to it.

... If every Drow is out for themselves, how can they have anykind of a real society...

every drow isn't for "himself" every drow is for Lolth. at least that's what i got from the articles. individual power only counts because she demands it. and Lela was right on the money. the homeland trilogy was amazing. it paints a very vivid and believeable picture of drow society.

~NegZ