Homebrew Drow (MoTM aligned design) Species Details

“Station: In all the world of the drow, there is no more important word. It is the calling of their—of our—religion, the incessant pulling of hungering heartstrings. Ambition overrides good sense and compassion is thrown away in its face, all in the name of Lloth, the Spider Queen."

— Drizzt Do'Urden

Drow, also known as dark elves, deep elves, night elves, under-elves, and the Dark Ones among orcs, are a dark-skinned sub-race of elves that predominantly live in the Underdark. They are hated and feared due to their cruelty, though some non-evil and an even smaller number of good drow exist.

Dark and Dangerous

In many ways, the drow resemble other elves or eladrin. Their bodies are wiry and athletic, while their faces are chiseled and attractive, though they are shorter and thinner than other elven sub-races. Due to a process of selective breeding that lasts for several generations, the drow (especially nobles) look attractive even in comparison to other elven subraces. Though their alluring appearance can be used for seduction, it is more often utilized to instill fear. According to the goblin Nojheim, the beauty standards of the surface races make them prone to turn a blind eye to the deeds of the drow, showing them greater leniency and acceptance.

Drow skin tones range from dark grey, jet-black, and obsidian, (with various shades of blue), the albino drow known as the Szarkai being an exception. Drow have white, black, or purple teeth, while their gums, tongues, and throats can be red, pink, or purple. Drow eyes can be of any color, with bright red being the most common. Pale shades that appear nearly white of blue, lilac, pink, or silver are also frequent. Drow with green, brown, black, amber, or rose-hued eyes exist, but they are rare. Purple or blue eyes indicate surface elves and/or human ancestry. The color of a drow's eyes can also be indicative of their current mental or physical state; drow eyes redden when they are angry, and turn yellow when they are sick, poisoned, or under some negative magical influence.

Cut-throat Killers

Compared to other sentient beings, drow are notably intelligent, as having an analytical mindset and being observant at all times is needed to survive in their society. Intellect, along with force of personality, are mental traits that are ruthlessly selected for in their socially Darwinian civilization over several generations. However, a lifetime of being indoctrinated with Lolth's dogma, combined with their upbringing giving them limited contact with other beings, surroundings, and alternative ways of life, makes them close-minded and leaves them with little worldly experience.

The drow (fittingly for the dark perversions of the elves they are) are decadent and hedonistic beings with a love for what they consider beautiful and a desire to surround themselves with it, generally without paying attention to the cost of acquiring it. For example, they are often lecherous, with a tendency to take lovers at their leisure and discard them at their whim. However, the drow are able to (or at least try to) hide some of their more heinous traits behind a veneer of sophistication.

Life Down Below

In Lolthite drow society, there are two nominal goals known as "the First and Second Part of the Destiny of the People." The former is about forcing all other races of the Underdark into subservience, while the latter is about driving the entire elven population into extinction, seizing their lands and holdings in the process. Lolth claims that, in order to achieve such goals, the drow must be in a state of perpetual infighting and violent competition, with constant training serving to make them stronger and smarter while breeding out indolence and other weaknesses.

However, the extreme, self-destructive degree to which the Darwinian attitude of the drow is taken prevents them from achieving either of their purposes, barring possibilities for significant growth.

On a personal level, each drow tries to gain and maintain the favor of Lolth, amass material goods (like wealth and slaves), and gain status inside their society. Depending on the station of a drow, there is a difference in the kind of plans they support and execute. Drow of higher standing support endeavors to boost their own prestige by increasing their own people's power and influence. Drow of lower station support plans that drag everybody down, for example, by causing strife and violence within their communities.

Drow communities are known as city-states, although they aren't actually organized as "states," as much as clusters of drow led by oppressive, theocratic nobility. Cities are normally independent and not part of a larger drow nation, and though some have trade agreements, most frequently fall to war with one another. Cities usually include farmlands, where slaves work to produce and harvest meat and crops. Those lands are usually found inside the main cavern, but sometimes, usually due to space limits, they can be found outside as well.

A Woman's World

Under Lolth's dogma, female drow are recognized as being more valuable than males, who are considered worthless. This gives female drow absolute power over males and means they are less likely to be sacrificed. It is easy to imagine, therefore, that drow females have it much easier compared to males, but this is merely an illusion. In drow society, where rank is power and power is everything, a prestigious position comes at a high cost. Drow ambition, combined with the other teachings of Lolth, means that the competition between female drow, particularly those who belong to powerful houses, is violent, aggressive, and lethal in a way that males don't have to deal with. It is even worse for those women who seek power outside of Lolth's church, for they have to compete both with other females and oppressed and resentful men.

Still, males who hope to find any place of power often resort to ends as treacherous as the women who rule the drow. Men generally try to curry favors with women, attempt to advance their station by attaching themselves to them. For example, some try to gain high officer positions or win a coveted place as the consort of a powerful matron mother. Drow "courting" is the domain of women in Lolthite society, and for a male to try to initiate a relationship is a form of insubordination and a reason for execution by torture and sacrifice. In general, drow women choose their partners as animals are chosen for breeding purposes, with males expected not to resist the other's affections. Males have no chance of when the relationship will start or end, while females can do so at their leisure, at least in theory.

Good Drow

Unlike creatures such as orcs, drow have no innate inclination towards evil, with their morality being colored by their society. A minority of drow are not evil, although most of them aren't actually of the good alignment, being merely chaotic neutral or lawful neutral. Within Lolthite societies, even drow with a disposition towards what is considered good generally have problems developing a strong personal sense of morality. They generally behave the same way as evil drow due to social pressure, as being soft in any way is lethal in drow society and often results in the death of such drow.

Only truly exceptional "good drow," such as Drizzt Do'Urden, are capable of freeing themselves from a Lolthite society. The majority are found out and sacrificed to Lolth, and those who manage to leave their settlements often die in the dangerous wilderness of the Underdark. Furthermore, even those who escape the cruelties of the Underdark find it more difficult to form long-term friendships than most races do and have to constantly be on the lookout for pursuers who could kill them.

Drow Names

Drow names often include double letters and are designed to be pleasant to the ear. They believe that having first names similar to those of the Dark Seldarine guarantees misfortune, and names similar to that of their patron are considered blasphemy. Nobles have a strong tendency to avoid giving names that are similar in sound to the common tongue of Deep Drow. Drow last names never start with the "L"-sound like that of "Lolth," "Lloth," or "Loethe," as this is reserved for the Spider Queen's avatar. Holding a last name, in general, means that the holder is either born into a noble family or has a rank and role (like a weapon master) in a household. Drow that don't meet those criteria aren't allowed to have a surname.
Female Names: Alaun, Ardul Chess, Dris, Faer, Felyn, Houn, LiNeer, Myr, Umrae, Waer

Male Names: Alak, Adin, Bhin, Cal, Dur, Div, Kalan, Rhyl, Rik, Ilzt, Omar, Phyx, Quev, Szor

Family Names: Eilservs, Hun'ett, Jenn'Yxir, Maerret, Nurbonnis, Rilynt'tar, Tuin'Tarl

Drow (MoTM aligned design) Traits

As a drow, you have the following racial traits.

Age

Although drow reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans, the drow understanding of adulthood goes beyond physical growth to encompass worldly experience. A drow typically claims adulthood and an adult name around the age of 100 and can live to be 750 years old.

Size

Drow range from under 5 to over 6 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Superior Darkvision

Accustomed to dim caverns and the starless stone above, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Keen Senses

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

Fey Ancestry

You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.

Trance

Elves don’t need to sleep. Instead, they meditate deeply, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day. (The Common word for such meditation is “trance.”) While meditating, you can dream after a fashion; such dreams are actually mental exercises that have become reflexive through years of practice. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep.

Languages

Your character can speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you and your DM agree is appropriate for the character. The Player’s Handbook offers a list of languages to choose from. The DM is free to modify that list for a campaign.

Sunlight Sensitivity

You have disadvantage on attack rolls and Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of the attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.

Drow Magic

You know the Dancing Lights cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Faerie Fire spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the Darkness spell onceand regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. You can also cast either of those spells using any spell slots you have of the appropriate level. Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells when you cast them with this trait (choose when you select this race).

Drow Weapon Training

You have proficiency with rapiers, shortswords, and hand crossbows.