The drow are dark-skinned, subterranean elves, known for wickedness and cruelty. Back when elves were new to the face of the Oerth, an elven schism forced the ancestors of the drow below ground were they adapted and flourished. Drow no longer seek to return to the surface but this history has led them to mutually resent surface elves.
Description[]
Drow have strong gender dimorphism. Both sexes have sharp facial features and slight builds, and over all have black skin and pale hair. Their large eyes lack sclera, being a solid colour with pupils. However males tend to average 5ft, have more matt skin and hair, and orange to orange-yellow eyes. Female drow tend to be taller at 5'6ft on average, with glossy skin and hair, and eyes of amber or even violet. Female drow tend to be stronger, and more intelligent and charismatic[1](p.15). It's uncertain how many of these difference might be influenced by nurture or nature.
For combat and travel, Drow tend to wear black boots and spidersilk cloaks tailored to the individual. These boots and cloaks aid the wearer greatly in remaining undetected. Fine adamantine mesh armour gives many drow greater protection than most armours. However drow garb such as these relies on the ambient magic of their homeland and will loose it's fine qualities if away for longer than a month or exposed to sunlight[1](p.15-16).
Physiology[]
Drow have innate magical abilities and can't stand sunlight.
Can live between 800 to 1,000[2]
Habitat and Culture[]
See Erelhei-Cinlu for more information on that major drow settlement. Information below is kept to seemingly generic drow cultural traits and habitats.
Drow live harsh lives that mean the majority of them have fighting experience and skill. This is combined with cunning to make them deadly enemies. Many drow use Drow Poison, made from fungi[1](p.16) and Derro blood(Dragon Magazine- citation pending), which is a potent tranquilliser. Drow also use weapons like the atlatl and javelins and handcross bows.
Both genders can become clerics, but male drow often don't progress as far as female drow[1](p.16).
| Height | 5ft (FF) |
| Weight | |
| Modifiers | As high (UA) or use a different set of rolls(no other racial stats apply to these rolls)
Males: Str 6+1d6, Int 10+1d8, Wis 8+1d4, Dex: 12+2d8, Con: 4d4, Cha: 8+1d8. Females: Str 8+1d6, Int 12+ 1d6, Wis 8+1d10, Dex: 12+2d8, Con: 4d4, Cha: 10+1d8.(FF) |
| Traits | Like High except: +2 vs magical effects. No bonus to hit with bows and swords, but can use two weapon fighting without penalty. Languages (replace high): Common, Undercommon, Elvish, Gnomish, Drow sign language. Infravision 12". Females are faster than males (15" instead of 12"). Stonecunning like dwarves. Innate magic spells 1/day: dancing lights, faerie fire, and darkness, 5´ radius. 4th level in any class; detect magic, know alignment, and levitate. Females of 4th level or higher; clairvoyance, detect lie, suggestion, and dispel magic. Light sensitivity. (UA) |
| Classes | Cleric: Males (Cap 7), Females (uncapped). Fighter: Males (Cap 10), Females (Cap 12). Magic User: Male (Cap 18), Female (cap 11), Thief/Acrobat (Uncapped), Assassin (Cap 12), Ranger (Cap 14). Multiclasss: Fighter/M.U, Fighter/thief, MU/thief, Fighter/MU/Thief. Cannot be Paladins, Druids, Barbarians, Illusionists, Monks, or Bards. (UA) |
| Height | Male: 4'2-5ft, Female: 4'7-5'5ft |
| Weight | Male:80-110lb, Female: 95-125lb |
| Modifiers | +2 Dex, +1 Int, - 1 Con, -2 Cha (Min Req Stats: STR 3, Dex 8, Con 7, Int 9, Wis 3, Cha 6, Max: Str 18, Dex 20, Con 17, Int 19, Wis 18, Cha 16) |
| Traits | Like high elf except: Infravision 90ft. Languages: Drow Elvish, Elvish, duergar,
svirfneblin, deep dwarf, illithid, undercommon, sign language, kuo-toa, bugbear, orcish. Innate spells: dancing lights, faerie fire, and darkness. At 4th level: levitate, know alignment, and detect magic. Cleric: clairvoyance, detect lie, suggestion, and dispel magic once a day. 50% magic resistant + 2%/level (max 80%) and +2 vs magical effects. Bright light causes the drow to suffer -2 to Dexterity. Opponents in light have +2 vs the drow's spells and Attack rolls against are made at a -2 penalty. After two weeks of being outside the underdark, they loose spells and magic resistance daily. -4 penalty to social interactions with other non drow elves. 20% XP cost. |
| Classes | cleric, fighter, mage, thief, or ranger.Multiclass: fighter/mage, fighter/thief, fighter/mage/thief, or mage/thief (PHB2e) |
| Height | Same as High (SRD) |
| Weight | Same as High (SRD) |
| Modifiers | <nonwiki>+2 Dex, +2 Int, +2 Cha, -2 Con </nowiki> |
| Traits | Same as High except: Darkvision 120 feet, SR 11+class levels, +2 will vs spells & spell likes. Spell like abilities once per day: dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire. Caster level equals the drow’s class levels. Weapon Proficiency: hand Crossbow, rapier, short sword (replaces high elf's weapon proficiency). Automatic Languages: Common, Elven, Undercommon. Bonus Languages: Abyssal, Aquan, Draconic, Drow Sign Language, Gnome, Goblin. (replaces the high elf ’s languages). Light Blindness: Abrupt exposure to bright light blinds drow for 1 round. On subsequent rounds, they are dazzled as long as they remain in the affected area. |
| Classes | Favoured Class: (Male) Wizard, (Female) Cleric. +2 level Adjustment |
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Behind the Scenes[]
Left: Drow from Hall of the Fire Giant King (p.15), 1978, David C. Sutherland III. Right: Drow from Against the Giants (p.30), 1981, David C. Sutherland III.
Drow in their debuting module, Hall of the Fire Giant King, were all depicted as white skinned with dark curly hair. This was later changed for some of these images when reused in other media.
References[]
- CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0
Drow. Great Library of Greyhawk, GreyhawkOnline.com. (view authors)