Drow (Dark Elf)

Drow (Dark Elf)

FREQUENCY: Very rare (at best)
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Dungeon Level III])

NO. APPEARING: 5-50
ARMOR CLASS: 4 (and better)
MOVE: 12" (females 15")
HIT DICE: 2 (and better)
% IN LAIR: 0% (1 Drow Elf: forest, TPL36: 6th, REF3.46) (D3 Vault of the Drow: levels 10-14)

TREASURE TYPE: Individuals: [N] (x 5), [Q] (x 2)

NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 or <check>
DAMAGE/ATTACK: By weapon type
SPECIAL ATTACKS: [SB]
SPECIAL DEFENSES: [SB]
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 50% (and better); all saving throws at +2
INTELLIGENCE: Mean: highly intelligent
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic evil <(malign, hateful)> <(malicious: FR0.C.42)>
SIZE: M (5' tall)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Unknown
Attack/Defense Modes: Unknown
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: II and up | Variable
DEITY: Lolth

<note: there's a lot here, so it might not be a bad idea to lay in headings, and a hyperlinked table : just try not to <change> anything, as always!>
<a different theme could be tried, with faerie fire highlights, perhaps>

Ages past,
when the elvenfolk were but new to the face of the Earth, <>
their number was torn by discord and those of better disposition drove from them those elves who were selfish and cruel.
However constant warfare between the two divisions of elvenkind continued,
with the goodly ones ever victorious,
until those of dark nature were forced to withdraw from the lands under the skies and seek safety in the realm of the underworld. <DSG link>
Here,
in lightless caverns and endless warrens of twisting passages and caves hung with icicles of stone, <DSG link>
the dark elvenfolk -- the drow -- found both refuge and comfort.
Over the centuries they grew strong once again and schooled themselves in arcane arts.
And though they were strong enough to face and perhaps defeat their former brethren in battle,
the drow no longer desired to walk upon the green lands under the Sun and stars.
They no longer desired a life in the upper world,
being content with the gloomy fairyland beneath the Earth that they had made their own.
Yet they neither forgave nor forgot,
and even now,
above all else,
they bear enmity for all of their distant kin -- elves and faeries -- who drove them down beneath the Earth and now dwell in the meadows and dells of the bright world. <link & link>
Though they are seldom if ever seen by any human or demi-human,
the drow still persist,
occasionally entering lower dungeon levels and consorting with other creatures in order to work out their schemes and inflict revenge upon those who inhabit the world above.
<the sun & the earth were capitalized, not so in the original>

Regardless of the number of drow appearing,
there will always be 1 of higher level than the main body.
Drow males are all at least 2nd level fighters -- some are as high as 7th level in fighting ability.
Males can also be magic-users, some as high as 12th level.
Female drow are also at least 2nd level fighters and some have attained 9th level as fighters.
Most drow clerics are female, and no upper limit to their level of ability is known; however no male drow cleric has been known to be higher than 4th level.
<full links & tables>

Drow wear a fine mesh armour of exquisite workmanship.
It is made of an alloy of steel containing adamantite.
Even the lowliest fighters have in effect +1 chainmail,
with higher level drow having +2, +3, +4 or even +5 chainmail.
Small bucklers are also used -- shields of unusual shape --
those drow of greater experience level and importance in drow society having bucklers fashioned of adamantitie so as to be +1, +3 or even +3 value.
<give full details & links for weapons & armor. note that drow chain would be a variant of elven chain>

As will be described later,
all drow move silently and with graceful SPEED,
even when wearing their black mesh or armour.
Each drow carries a small amount of personal wealth in a soft leather bag worn around the neck beneath the mail.
In addition they arm themselves with long dagger and short sword of adamantite alloy (+1 to as high as +3 or even +4 borne by noblefolk);
50% or more carry small crossbows which are held in one hand (6" range light crossbow) and shoot darts coated with a poison which reders the victim unconscious (save is at -4).
These darts also inflict 1-3 points of damage on a victim.
A few drow also carry adamantite maces (+1 to +5) and/or
small javelins (also poisoned with the same substance as the darts) with atlatls (8" range, +3/+2/+1 to hit at short/medium/long range).

Drow have superior infravision of the 12" range variety and move with silence.

The black boots and cloaks that Drow wear are similar to cloaks and boots of elvenkind,
except that the wearer has only a 75% chance or surprising enemies or blending into shadows.
The material will not cut easily and cloaks have a +6 to saving throws vs. fire attacks;
however,
any alteration to the cloak has a 75% chance of unraveling the material and making it useless.
Drow themselves are only 121/2% (1 in 8) likely to be surprised by opponents.
Drow are both intelligent and highly co-ordinated,
being able to use either or both hands/arms for attack and defence.
They make saving throws versus all forms of magic (clerical included) spells,
whether from a caster or from a device,
at +3.
Drow magic resistance increases by 2% for each level of experience they have gained,
with multi-classed individuals gaining this bonus for but one of their classes (the highest).
Thus,
a 7th level Drow is 64% resistant to any magic and will save at +2 against any magic which could have an effect.

Light Sensitivity: Because the drow have dwelled so long in the dark labyrinthine places under the surface of the Earth, <link: DSG>
they dislike bright light.
They will not venture forth into daylight except on the cloudiest,
gloomiest days.
If within the radius of a light or [continual light] spell the dark elves are 90% likely to be seen,
they lose 2 from their dexterity and all attacks made by them are at -2 on the 'to hit' roll (+2 on saving throws against such attacks as applicable).
If they are attacking targets inside the radius of [light] or [continual light] spells,
the bright illumination causes them to suffer a 'to hit' penalty of -1 and the converse +1 on saving throws against such attacks is awarded to the target <TARGET> creatures.
If bright light exists,
it is 75% likely that drow will retire from the situation because of the illumination,
unless such a retreat would imperil one of their number <#>,
would otherwise be harmful to their desired ends or would expose some important feature to the light-bringing intruders.
In any event,
such dimmer light sources as torches, <link>
lanterns,
magic weapons,
fire beetle essence or [faerie fire] do not adversely affect the performance of dark elves.

Drow are able to speak the subterranean trade language common to most intelligent dwellers in the underworld,
the common tongue,
gnome,
elven and their own language in addition to the other tongues which their level of intelligence allows.
Many know the languages of the various races which speak and dwell underground.
All of the dark elves also have a silent language composed of hand movements,
and this means of communication is highly sophisticated,
being able to convey much information to a considerable degree <> of complexity.
When drow are within 30' of each other,
they use facial and body expression,
movement and posture;
these latter means of communication alone are capable of conveying considerable information, <info>
and when coupled with hand/finger movements the whole is as erudite as any spoken speech.

All of the dark elves can use the following spells once per day:
dancing lights, faerie fire, darkness.
<space added>

Those of 4th level are also able to [detect magic], [know alignment] and [levitate] once per day.
<space added>

Drow females can,
in addition,
use the following spells once per day:
[clairvoyance], [detect lie], [suggestion], [dispel magic].
<space added>
<note: I think all of the above (common, 4th, female) should be spell-like powers, not spells>
<dispel magic should be the clerical version>

Drow have powers which are the same as those of dwarves with respect to stone and things underground.
<space added>
<link or enumerate, in 10 point>

They also detect hidden or secret doors as elves do.
<space added>
<enumerate, in 10 point>

Drow abilities are determined as follows:
    Strength 8 + 1-6 (6 + 1-6 for males);
    Intelligence 12 + 1-6 (10 + 1-8 for males);
    Wisdom 8 + 1-10 (8 + 1-4 for males);
    Dexterity 12 + 2-8;
    Constitution 4-16;
    Charisma 10 + 1-8 (8 + 1-8 for males).
<Comeliness can be added in>
<indentation added>

If more than 10 drow are encountered there will be in addition a male who is a fighter/magic-user of at least 3rd level.
<details>
<space>

If more than 20 are encountered,
there will be a female fighter/cleric of at least 6th level clerical ability in addition to the male fighter/magic-user.
<details>
<space>

If more than 30 drow are encountered,
11-16 <(10+d6)> will be females,
the leader will be female cleric/fighter of at least 8th/7th lability <> level,
the male fighter/magic-user of at least 5th/4th ability level and each will have an assistant of level as previously indicated for the ones present with
<errata: the text actually gets cut out here, in my copy of the FF>
<again, details>
<again, space>

Special Note Regarding Drow Treasure:
Cloaks,
armor,
and weapons of the Drow have special properties,
although they do not radiate magic.
The items are made in the strange homeland of the Drow;
vast underground cities of carven stone and minerals,
places of weird and fantastic beauty inundated with unknown radiations which impart the special properties to their items.
When these are exposed to direct sunlight,
irreversible decay starts and the items will become totally useless in 2-12 days.
If protected from sunlight,
they will retain their special properties for 31-50 days before becoming normal items;
and if exposed to the radiations of the Drow homeland for a period of 1 week out of every 4 weeks,
the items could remain potent indefinitely.
Drow sleep poison decays instantly in sunlight,
and will lose its effectiveness after 60 days in any event after being exposed to air,
although unopened packets of the poison will remain potent for up to one year.

Description: Drow are black-skinned and pale-haired.
They are slight of build and have long,
delicate fingers and toes.

Q: How do you pronounce "drow"?
A: It rhymes with "cow."
(142.10)

Q: Can dark elves see through their
own darkness with infravision?
A: This seems reasonable since the
radius of the darkness is so small,
and the ability to see through it
would make the darkness ability
more useful.
All magical darkness spells in the AD&D
game are the same, even if the total area
of effect is different. A dark elf?s darkness
blocks all infravision, even his own. Its
primary uses are for escape and to confuse
enemies.
(145.56)

Q: The FIEND FOLIO Tome's description
of the Drow mentions that their
fine mesh armor is "+1 chain mail," but
the DMG says that there's no magical
elfin chain mail. Which is correct?
A: Both. The FF says "IN EFFECT,
+1 ..."; in other words, it's so finely made
as to be AC4, instead of the normal AC5
for chain mail. It is not magical. The
tougher Drow have even better armor, all
non-magical but having the effects of +2,
+3,+4, or +5 chain mail. Watch for minor
phrasings; they can be very important.
(Polyhedron #11)

Drow chain mail

Drow (Dark Elf), by Gary Gygax

Drow (DSG):

Drow society has developed along strongly matriarchal lines,
with females holding all positions of power and responsibility in
government, the military, and at home. While the males are effective
fighters and can become low-level magic-users or clerics,
they are rarely encountered unless under the command of
higher-ranking females.

The drow worship the spider god, Lolth, and many aspects of
their culture reflect this. Drow of 6th level or higher are often
tested by Lolth. Those that fail become driders-half-drow, halfspider
creatures. Outcasts from drow communities, driders are
often encountered around the fringes of drow realms. Other
spider-like creatures, such as scorpions, pedipalp, and solifugud
are commonly found among drow communities.
The drow emulate spider characteristics in other ways. Their
buildings and cavern networks are often created in a web pattern.
Traps among these structures channel creatures toward the center
of the web. In times of severe population pressure, the drow
practice cannibalism, weeding out the weaker members of the
community. The victims are always the aged, since the safety of
the young is very important to the drow.

The drow culture is perhaps the most widespread and firmly
entrenched of all underground cultures. The drow make treaties
with other races when it serves their own interests, but are quick
to break these agreements if the terms no longer seem advantageous.
This, of course, makes other races reluctant to enter into
alliances with them.

The long-term objective of the drow is to rule over all other subterranean
races, and to control all access to and from the underworld.
The attainment of this goal is obviously unlikely in the near
future, but the drow enthusiastically endorse any proposal that
moves them closer to this objective without endangering their
current dominant position.

For more information on the drow, see the FIEND FOLIO@’
tome.

Guard (F2) (A1-4.89)
Guard Leader (F4) (A1-4.89)
Merchant (C4/F4) (A1-4.89)

Quote:
Finally, what is your opinion of the 'popularity' of the Drow? I know they were originally made as kinda 'one shot' monsters for the G-D-Q series, but do you approve/disapprove of the direction the race has been taken in?

...and nothing about dragons. Honest!

The drow were actually created to be the dominant human-like race in the vast subterranean world.
what little i know about how they have been treated by other authors since then is not at all palatable to me.
The drow are purely malign by temperment, as hateful as wolverines, as opportunistic as hyneas.
they have absolutely no angst, save when facing an immediate threat from a mor epowerful drow or demon

Cheers,
Gary

I was creating a different sort of setting for the underdark, one with some new and some familiar races and monsters.
As with Shadowland and the Sea of Dust I never got to really develop the naw material, save for the Drow.

Cheers,
Gary

(1)

Actually, there are no Drow at all.
They are all half-orcs in blackface makeup!

Gary

Quote:
Originally posted by The_Gneech
Heya! I originally posted this question in this thread and got some very interesting responses, but I figure there's probably not a better person to ask, so:

Is there a mythic/folklore precedent for the drow? I know of sidhe, seelie, and unseelie fae folk; I have also encountered the terms "drugh" and "trow." None of them have a clear correlation to the D&D drow, nor have I seen a readily-identifiable source or set of sources for them the way, say, "dwarves" have. So were there drow before the days of D&D?

-The Gneech
Hola!

An easy answer. I saw the reference in an unexpurgated dictionary, "dark elf."
From that I made up the whole of the drow race as the main antagonists for the vasty underdark

Cherio,
Gary

Quote:
Originally posted by Wormwood
Actually, I do have a question.

Why spiders?

Many years ago, we battled our way down down down to the Abyss and discovered that the dark heart of the Drow had eight legs.

We've been fascinated by the Dark Elves ever since, but I've always wondered what inspired their arachnophilia?

It's a wonderful touch which lent the race a uniquely creepy feel (that echoes to this day), but is there some story behind that decision?

Thanks.

You put your finger on the matter nicely. Spiders lurk in dark places, attack savagely, are nasty and poisonous. That's the way most people think of them, so what better symbol for the Drow than that?

No, I don't like spiders in the least <EEK!>

Cheers,
Gary

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gray Mouser
And who could forget the Drow?
Who, by the way, are quite evil and malicious in my campaign, with absolutely no teenage-like angst about serving Lolth and the other demons )

Gray Mouser

Your treatment of those dark elves is absolutely the way I intended them to be.
While abberant individuals can be other than steeped in wickedness, the Drow race is EVIL, more so than the Melnibonean one of Michael Moorcock's creation <paranoid>

Cheers,
Gary

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gray Mouser
More evil than the Melniboneans! Yikes! Man, did a certain twin scimitar wielding Dark Elf confuse things for a lot of people. Even with Elric's angst and existential suffering you always knew the Melniboneans were a wretched lot.

Gray Mouser

Absolutely.
The drow being shunted to the underground was the last straw in their becoming truly wicked, hating all those who dwell above.
If you consider the sorts of creatures that walk the streets of Erelheicindlu, that's plain;0

Cheers,
Gary

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sir Elton
...

Still, I find it ironic that the drow (dark elves) became so attached to Lolth after that. My question is, did you ever plan a different series of Drow themed modules after this one?

Indeed, I planed to use the dwow as villainous antagonists in many an adventure into the fastness of the Underdark. such is life that sometimes plans gang aglay.

Cheerio,
Gary

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sir Elton
I know what you mean. I prefer my dark elves to be unseelie folks, rather than bad mutha dominatrixes. That's why I was considering replacing Lolth, or changing Lolth's role, with an unseelie deity that would be Corellon's Opposite. After I ran it with the original story, first.

Your call as the DM, but...

The drow are an evil and malign race as originally conceived, and their temper is thus correctly spider-like <mad>

Cheerio,
Gary

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gray Mouser
"Gary Gygax: Keeping the Drow evil since 1978!" Heh

Death to all angst-ridden, good-wanna-be Dark Elves!

Gray Mouser

Right on!

The Drow are as as sympathetic and caring as wolf spiders <mad>

Cheers,
Gary

Quote:
Originally Posted by jasper
How dare you make fun of wolf spiders Gary. We all know Drow are as as sympathetic and caring as IRS agents on audit.

IRS agents prowl about as do wold spiders... <mad>

Heh,
Gary

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gentlegamer
I think this analogy is rather apt . . .

Not so, as the Drow have no political agenda, do not desire to do more than enslave, pillage, loot, and send sacrificial victims to Lolth.

<EEK!>
Gary

Quote:
Originally Posted by Storm Raven
But, isn't that just a political agenda?

No, politics concerns the government, and al Qaidia seeks to force their form of government on all.
the drow simply want to exploit all <paranoid>

Cheers,
Gary

Quote:
Originally Posted by Edena_of_Neith
Hey there. Edena_of_Neith here. Greetings and salutations to you, Gary.

I have a rather frivolous set of questions:

Have you read my humorous post on drow? (my first post in the thread in this forum titled: I Must Protest. The Drow are not like that!)
If yes ...

... did you find it humorous?

What is your reaction to my blasphemous portrayal of the dark elves?
(After all, they are your creation, and I have argued they must be gentle, loving, shy, and demure people. )
And (HORRORS) does such a drow society, or a drow society similar to that described, exist anywhere on Oerth?
Indeed,

I read it and found it amusing, an obvious spoof.

As to the existance of such a community, no, I never contemplated a similar community of Drow dwelling on the Oerth. That would be rather akin to herbivorous spiders...

Gary

Quote:
Originally Posted by rossik
hi gary!
sorry if someone asked this before, but...

why drows have spiders as "sacred"?

i mean, why do you choose spiders? any reason in particular?

what is your thoght about "good" drows (not drizzt, i was thinking on that eberron scorpion clan, or something like that)

tx!

The Drow are nasty and poisonous and lurking and dwell in darkness as do many sorts of spiders.

As I created them, there are absolutely no good Drow save for the insane.

Cheerio,
Gary

Hi Darkwolf71,

As a natter of fact I have not seen the Mongoose treatment of the Drow. I can say though, that if the dark elves are seeking to remove themselves to the surface world, wrong! Only if the drow could make the upper world lightless would they want to inhabit it.

Of course there is a leap there, but just in case... <>

Feel free to address me as Gary, and to ask whatever questions you might have. I am not shy about answering, or not replying to the query save to say no way will I address the subject<>

Cheers,
Gary

Comments
15 now

Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnRTroy
The Drow of Oerth maybe.

The Drow of Phaeree (Aerth), rivals of the Slaugh, might want to escape the awful sun they have in Inner Phaeree which is sickly and ghastly.

No Drow on Learth...but there are Dockalfar and Huldra and maybe Ulfs... <>
An excellent creative alternative, JRT <>

When you visit let's discuss you detaiing the material <>

Cheerio,
Gary

Quote:
Originally Posted by rossik
hi gary!

how are you doing today?

i have another question about drow:

why they are ruled by women (the exact word i dont remember)? any inspiration for this?

as far as i remember, they are the only "society" where women have higher status in the d&d game (im i wrong?)

The Drow are as they are because they are evil, subterranean elves.

When I conceived the race they were meant to be fascinating and horrid at the same time, the most powerful and most malign group in the vast Underdark.
They are like no other humanoid or demi-human race. It is thus natural that the female of the species is larger and more powerfyl than the male.

Cheers,
Gary

Quote:
Originally Posted by rossik
sorry gary, im not teasing or anything, but i really dont get it.

why is natural?

Sorry, but I do not understand that statement.

What is there not to get in the explanation of why I created the Drow as they are stated in the AD&D game?

Cheers,
Gary

Quote:
Originally Posted by rossik
no, i mean why is natural that women are more powerfull in drow society?
pls dont get upset, im not trying to upset you <>

<>
Okay, no problem.

Drow females are loke spiders in regards their superiority to the male.
There are quite a few examples of females being larger and stronger than their male counterparts in the animal kingdom, and it seems that many of the theropod dinosaurs were likewise.
The first mammal I can think of that fits the case in point is the hyena.

Cheerio,
Gary