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Good Drow
- Thread starter Ghoti
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ladyofdragons
First Post
I know I have in my campaign world a civilization of drow (called Tiavai) that are not evil. Here's an overview of their civilization:
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Kingdom: Tiavai is the kingdom beneath the mountain. Ages ago a fanatical leader led a group of followers beneath the earth to "avoid the end of the world". They were not seen nor heard from for milennia, very few tales about them were even remembered. When the Tiavai surfaced again at the appointed time they found that the world had not been devastated as they thought it had and that their life underground, which had changed them forever, had been for naught. Tiavai is a vast network of natural caves and tunnels in the Fiarmonn mountain range. Homes have been shaped in the rock, giant caverns have walls with layer upon layer of cave entrances to individual dwellings. Underground monsters are common in Tiavai, and the Tiavai have become great hunters.
People: The Tiavai changed in order to camoflage themselves from the monsters that preyed on them, and to better hunt and kill the creatures. Their skin is coal-black and they have grey eyes and hair which ranges in hue from white through gray to blue-black. They can see in the dark, and also have the ability to sense heat patterns. Their eyes are extremely succeptible to bright light, and their skin burns easily in the sun. The Tiavai were so changed from their millennia of underground life that they are generally uncomfortable with life "above". While they do not harbor hatred for other groups of elves, they feel that they no longer belong in the world above, and continue the life that they have made below the Fiarmonn.
Government: The Tiavai were traditionally led by a spiritual leader called the Tiamar, generally chosen by his predicessor. While the Tiamar office still exists, most Tiavai no longer follow his command (since they feel their entire civilization was based on a lie). New governmental processes are being sought.
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Kingdom: Tiavai is the kingdom beneath the mountain. Ages ago a fanatical leader led a group of followers beneath the earth to "avoid the end of the world". They were not seen nor heard from for milennia, very few tales about them were even remembered. When the Tiavai surfaced again at the appointed time they found that the world had not been devastated as they thought it had and that their life underground, which had changed them forever, had been for naught. Tiavai is a vast network of natural caves and tunnels in the Fiarmonn mountain range. Homes have been shaped in the rock, giant caverns have walls with layer upon layer of cave entrances to individual dwellings. Underground monsters are common in Tiavai, and the Tiavai have become great hunters.
People: The Tiavai changed in order to camoflage themselves from the monsters that preyed on them, and to better hunt and kill the creatures. Their skin is coal-black and they have grey eyes and hair which ranges in hue from white through gray to blue-black. They can see in the dark, and also have the ability to sense heat patterns. Their eyes are extremely succeptible to bright light, and their skin burns easily in the sun. The Tiavai were so changed from their millennia of underground life that they are generally uncomfortable with life "above". While they do not harbor hatred for other groups of elves, they feel that they no longer belong in the world above, and continue the life that they have made below the Fiarmonn.
Government: The Tiavai were traditionally led by a spiritual leader called the Tiamar, generally chosen by his predicessor. While the Tiamar office still exists, most Tiavai no longer follow his command (since they feel their entire civilization was based on a lie). New governmental processes are being sought.
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Redleg06
First Post
Y'know what is the deal with "good Drow"? I mean what is the point? I thought the idea of Drow was to have an evil sub-terrainian elf race (reminiscent of Norse dark elves). Why does everyone want "good Drow"? WHY NOT JUST USE REGULAR ELVES?
If you were to add up all the "one good Drow that threw off the ways of Lloth and moved to the surface to fight for good" Player Characters I have seen there are probably more good Drow than regular eveil ones!
There should be NO good Drow, save that one ranger, PERIOD!
If you were to add up all the "one good Drow that threw off the ways of Lloth and moved to the surface to fight for good" Player Characters I have seen there are probably more good Drow than regular eveil ones!
There should be NO good Drow, save that one ranger, PERIOD!
lord irial
First Post
As cliche as it sounds, IMC, the only good drow is a dead drow. Every once in a while there might be a non-evil drow, but good ones are generally detected and eliminated.
Also, I don't allow drow as PC's, saving myself and my campaign from a world of grief and Drizzt wannabes.
Also, I don't allow drow as PC's, saving myself and my campaign from a world of grief and Drizzt wannabes.
ladyofdragons
First Post
I guess it all depends on how you want your world to work. I wanted to have subraces of elves (I have 7, each have distinct physical characteristics). I did want to have elves that had the characteristics of drow (black skin, underground dwelling, heat-sensing vision, innate levitation, etc) without the spider queen god and the "we hate all surface elves" attitude. Thus, I can't just "use regular elves" because regular elves do not have these innate abilities and physical characteristics.
If I wanted to play drow as drow, then I'd just set up my campaign world like any other generic campaign world. but I don't want my world to be generic and just like all the others, so I make changes like this. Variety is the spice of life, even in D&D.
Mr Fidgit
First Post
hey Ghoti!
the male ruled drow city is in FR. Sshamath is under the Far Hills and is known for trade with surface dwellers and other Underdark communities. (FRCS pg 213)
the 2e book, Drizzt's Guide to the Underdark gives much more information on the city.
they're still evil, though
i'm not sure about a good aligned community in the Underdark. Eilistraee (Good aligned Drow goddess) encourages her worshipers to live on the surface.
the male ruled drow city is in FR. Sshamath is under the Far Hills and is known for trade with surface dwellers and other Underdark communities. (FRCS pg 213)
the 2e book, Drizzt's Guide to the Underdark gives much more information on the city.
they're still evil, though
i'm not sure about a good aligned community in the Underdark. Eilistraee (Good aligned Drow goddess) encourages her worshipers to live on the surface.
Redleg06.....
Seems you might have some deep personal issues on this subject but have you read any the Dragon issue, I believe #298, on Drow? Was there not a god listed for outcast drow? I believe the alignments allowed for his worshipers was CN/CG.
Please explain this.
Also, Lloth is not the only god, there is actually a pantheon of Drow deities, so one could assume that there are cities where Lloth does not hold the supreme place of worship.
Also are you forgetting about Elistraee?
I think its time to wake up and smell the coffee.
Seems you might have some deep personal issues on this subject but have you read any the Dragon issue, I believe #298, on Drow? Was there not a god listed for outcast drow? I believe the alignments allowed for his worshipers was CN/CG.
Please explain this.
Also, Lloth is not the only god, there is actually a pantheon of Drow deities, so one could assume that there are cities where Lloth does not hold the supreme place of worship.
Also are you forgetting about Elistraee?
I think its time to wake up and smell the coffee.
Redleg06 said:Y'know what is the deal with "good Drow"? I mean what is the point? I thought the idea of Drow was to have an evil sub-terrainian elf race (reminiscent of Norse dark elves). Why does everyone want "good Drow"? WHY NOT JUST USE REGULAR ELVES?
If you were to add up all the "one good Drow that threw off the ways of Lloth and moved to the surface to fight for good" Player Characters I have seen there are probably more good Drow than regular eveil ones!
There should be NO good Drow, save that one ranger, PERIOD!
I agree, I played with one player where that is ALL he wanted to play, a good drow. The DM allowed him to play it as his first character, but he did something stupid and died. He kept asking if he could bring in another drow, DM always said no after that. The player got mad and left group, no big lose, IMO. No orginallity.
Redleg06
First Post
Ghoti said:Redleg06.....
Seems you might have some deep personal issues on this subject but have you read any the Dragon issue, I believe #298, on Drow? Was there not a god listed for outcast drow? I believe the alignments allowed for his worshipers was CN/CG.
Please explain this.
Also, Lloth is not the only god, there is actually a pantheon of Drow deities, so one could assume that there are cities where Lloth does not hold the supreme place of worship.
Also are you forgetting about Elistraee?
I think its time to wake up and smell the coffee.
First of all I have not bought a copy of Dragon since probably 1993.
I did however, buy the Fiend Folio and Unearthed Arcana back when they came out and I know for a fact that there were NO good Drow to begin with.
Did said issue of Dragon magazine (#298 I believe) come out BEFORE or AFTER Mr RA Salvatore's Drizzt character? AFTER!
Therefore those "good and otherwise" drow articles are there purely to assuage the Drizzt wannabes who have no imagination and simply cannot fathom the idea of not playing Drizzt.
BiggusGeekus@Work
Community Supporter
I like the take on drow where they see themselves as the "true" elven culture who have been unfairly punished by the "decadent" elves.
I also don't have a problem with players wanting to play good drow. Gobliniods and drow make good outcasts. Even though outcasts are cliche, I don't see why I should force my players to come up with something truly original and pure every single game. Cliches can be fun. Just watch an old episode of Star Trek for proof.
Now good drow societies are a different story. Good dark elves bugged me when I saw them in "Might and Magic 8" and I never washed the taste out of my mouth. I'm with the what's-the-point crowd on this one.
I also don't have a problem with players wanting to play good drow. Gobliniods and drow make good outcasts. Even though outcasts are cliche, I don't see why I should force my players to come up with something truly original and pure every single game. Cliches can be fun. Just watch an old episode of Star Trek for proof.
Now good drow societies are a different story. Good dark elves bugged me when I saw them in "Might and Magic 8" and I never washed the taste out of my mouth. I'm with the what's-the-point crowd on this one.
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