Drow
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- This article refers to the mythical race from Dungeons & Dragons. For the "Drow" of Scottish folklore as well as other examples of Dark Elves and Black Elves from mythology, folklore, and fantasy fiction, see Dark Elf.
Drow (pronounced: ) are a species of elf in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. The term is probably derived from the Shetland Isles Drow (Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1970) states: "Drow, n., [scot.] A tiny elf which lived in caves and forged magick metal work."), while the race itself seems based on another Dark Elf, specifically the Dokkalfar of Norse mythology. (See also [1] (http://web.archive.org/web/www.cs.ualberta.ca/~wade/HyperDnd/TSR/drow.html).)
In Irish mythology, a drow is a stone monster of the Fomori, similar to the Scandinavian troll.
The Drow were first mentioned in the Dungeons & Dragons game in the 1st Edition D&D Monster Manual under 'Elf'. They made their first statistical appearance in D&D in the module D1 Descent Into the Depths of the Earth (1978) by Gary Gygax (monochrome cover). The story continued in modules D1-2 Descent into the Depths of the Earth, D2 Shrine of the Kuo-Toa, D3 Vault of the Drow, and Q1 Queen of the Demonweb Pits. The first monster encyclopedia that the Drow appeared in, statistically, was the original Fiend Folio.
Drow, or dark elves as they are called by most surface dwellers, are an offshoot of the elven race. Drow are characterized by white hair, obsidian black skin, red, and rarely violet or yellow eyes, as well as innate spell powers and spell resistance. This is balanced by their weakness in daylight. Also, drow weapons and armor (usually made of adamantium or another specifically Underdark metal) slowly lose their magical properties if exposed to the sun (In the second edition, unless specifically treated adamantium disintegrated upon exposure to sunlight). Drow also employ the unusual dart-firing hand crossbow. Half-drow are the result of crossbreeding between humans and drow, and share characteristics of both.
Drow characters are extremely intelligent, charismatic and dextrous, but share surface elves' comparative frailty and slight frames. As a race they are usually evil. Drow males are commonly wizards or fighters. Females are almost always clerics, and almost never wizards.
Drow hate elves, but wage war with other surface and subterranean races, such as mind flayers, svirfneblin, duergar, and kuo-toa for spoils and territory. Their society is matriarchal, with priestesses of Lolth in the highest seats of power. Males are either enslaved or (rarely) respected if they are powerful wizards, but never allowed to rule. The Drow sometimes use their dark arts to turn human slaves into living sculptures.
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Influences
Whilst the drow were designed by Gary Gygax for the Dungeons & Dragons worlds of Oerth and Abeir-Toril (Forgotten Realms) they may be found in many other published and gamemaster-created campaign settings.
The creation of the fictional Drow was likely influenced by the Drow of Scottish myth, "a tiny elf which lived in caves and forged magick metal work." (Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1970)). Drow are also likley influenced by the fictional dero of Amazing Stories (1940s), an evil 'degenerate' subterrannean race who also enslaved humans and turned them into living sculptures. Gary Gygax was a fan of sci-fi and fantasy pulp of the 1940s, especially from authors of L. Sprague de Camp (Astounding Science Fiction) and Robert E. Howard (Weird Tales). The Derro (of Dungeons & Dragons' Monster Manual II by Gary Gygax) is also a evil 'degenerate' subterrannean race who enslaves humans. The Dark Elves of Norse Mythology and The Lord of the Rings were added to the mix. So, the Drow are most likely to be a fictional fusion of all these influences.
Drow in the Oerth
In the world of Greyhawk, the drow were driven underground by their surface-dwelling relatives because of ideological differences. There they eventually adapted to their surroundings, especially by attracting the attention of the goddess Lolth, Queen of Spiders. The centre of drow civilisation is the subterreanean city Erelhei-Cinlu, and its surrounding Vault.
Some Drow, especially of the House of Eilservs, worship a nameless Elder Elemental God instead of Lolth.
Drow in the Forgotten Realms
In the Forgotten Realms, the drow were elves of the ancient tribes of Ilythiir, cast down and driven underground by the light-skinned elves because of the drow's betrayal. The drow had fallen under the influence of Lolth, who was cast down into the Demonweb Pits along with her son Vhaeraun by the elven god Corellon Larethian because of Lolth's and Vhaeraun's attempt to take control of the elven pantheon. There the drow eventually adapted to their surroundings, especially by attracting the attention of the goddess Lolth, Queen of Spiders. The centre of drow civilization is the subterreanean city of Menzoberranzan.
Drow may also worship Eilistraee, Ghaunadaur, Kiaransalee, Selvetarm or Vhaeraun.
Amongst the most infamous of drow are the members of House Baenre, whilst Abeir-Toril is also home to some famous good-aligned drow including Drizzt Do'Urden and his deceased father Zaknafein, Liriel Baenre (formerly of Menzoberranzan's aforementioned House Baenre), and Qilué of the Seven Sisters.
The Baldur's Gate series of computer games features drow as enemies and NPCs, as well as part of the game being set in the fictional drow city of Ust'Natha. The drow cleric of Shar, Viconia, features in Baldur's Gate, and Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn as a party member and, in the second game, a possible romantic interest. The Eilistraee-worshipping drow male Solaufein plays a minor role in the second game, but his role can be expanded into a romance with a mod.
Drow in Popular Culture
The Dark Elves of Everquest's Norrath are clearly Drow-inspired.fr:Drows