eberron

The drow are a race of elves who live on the continent of Xen'drik.[12][13] Like other elves, they were former slaves of the giants, but remained in Xen'drik after the giant civilization collapsed. The main three cultural groups of drow are worshipers of Vulkoor (Vulkoori tribes or "Vulkooridal"), the Sulatar ("firebinders"), and the Umbragen ("shadow elves").[14]

Description

Drow are generally dark-skinned, and smaller and thinner than other elves. Drow can often have vivid red eyes.[1] Drow hair color varies from white being the most common to other pale shades,[1] such as silver, gray, or white-gold.[11] Female drow are slightly larger than male drow, averaging a half-foot taller and 12.5 pounds heavier than their male counterparts.[11]

The Vulkoori drow have a habit of ritual scarification using scorpion venom, which leaves white tattoos.[15][16] Sulatar drow have dark gray skin much like the color of ash.[8] The Sulatar give themselves tattoos of flames, believing that they grant mystical protection in addition to their trained ability to control bound fire elementals.[9] The Umbragen have pure black eyes, with no iris or white sclera.[10] The Umbragen have more of a dusky hue to their skin that helps them blend into the shadows,[9] and their jet black skin has an oily gleam as if shadow flows across it.[10]

History

Like other elves, drow are descendants of eladrin enslaved by the giants during the Age of Giants.[17] About 39,000 years ago, during the elf rebellions, the giants used the drow (warriors made, according to legend, with the essence of night itself)[18] to fight against the elves.[14] When the other elves fled to Aerenal and the giant civilization was destroyed by the dragons, the drow remained in Xen'drik. There they settled the jungles and ruins of their former masters.[12][19]

Lands

Most drow live in Xen'drik or in the area of Khyber beneath the continent.[20] The Umbragen particularly favor dwelling in Khyber,[12] where they dwell deep below the region known as the Ring of Storms[9]

Settlements

Most drow rarely live in the same places for a long period of time. The only time that they do stay is normally in a large tribe, and still they do not stay long. Usually this is just long enough to obtain the magical items in that area.[19][20] The Sulatar are an exception, as they favor permanent stone settlements, including one known as the Obsidian City.[12][21] Some drow also reside in the city of Stormreach.[22]

Religions

The main cultural group of drow worship a scorpion god named Vulkoor.[14] Vulkoor is often represented as a gigantic scorpion, or as a hybrid with the head, arms, and torso of a strong male drow and the lower body of a scorpion. They also revere scorpions, considering other arachnids to be lesser servitors of Vulkoor. Followers of Vulkoor ritually scar themselves using scorpion venom, leaving white tattoos on their black skin.[20] Some who follow the Sovereign Host believe that Vulkoor is an aspect of the Mockery.[12]

Sulatar drow do not believe in the practices of their Vulkooridal brethren. Instead they have stayed loyal to the teachings of their giant masters, in the belief they doing so means that one day they will be allowed to enter the promised lands of fire. Many scholars believe this promised land to be the plane of fire, Fernia. There, they expect to gain immortality and power, which will be used to take over the world. They don't really believe in a god, however. Instead they worship the "Promise of Fire".[21]

The Umbragen drow do not worship Vulkoor. Instead they worship the Umbra, a well of dark power that draws on their souls.[12]

Some cults of drow worship entities that clerics of the Sovereign Host identify as the Fury.[11][23]

Cultures

Vulkooridal

Main article: Vulkoori

Sulatar

Main article: Sulatar

Umbragen

Main article: Umbragen

Other Cultures

Other drow nations beyond the Vulkooridal, Sulatar, and Umbragen may yet exist.[21]

A notable example are the Qaltiar, a series of giant-hunting tribes that share some of their culture with the Vulkooridal but worship several spirits of nature instead of just the Scorpion.[24]

A few dozen urban drow, primarily exiles of Vulkoori tribes, dwell in Stormreach.[22] There, some operate as wilderness guides or turn to violence on the streets or in the Red Ring to make a living while avoiding drow of other tribes.[22] Several half-drow now call Stormreach home as a result of these urban drow finding love in the city.[22]

Notable Equipment

There are several kinds of weapons and armor unique to drow cultures in Xen'drik. These include the Xen'drik boomerang, a three-pronged boomerang favored by hunters; the drow long knife, a throwing weapon similar in size to a shortsword; and the drow scorpion chain, a longer version of a spiked chain.[25][26] The drow also craft armor from the exoskeletons of scorpions.[25] The Vulkoori additionally wield longswords laced with poison called "stingblades."[16]

Sulatar have access to magic items and weapons containing bound fire elementals using their unique Sulatar material of firebrass and blood glass. This includes their firesleds, which allow for two elf-sized creatures to fly, with the pilot directing the vehicle at a speed of 120 feet (37 meters) or 24 miles (39 kilometers) per hour and for a second passenger to fire a mounted staff to produce a scorching ray, or a fireball effect twice per day.[27] Sulatar can craft exceptionally sharp blades out of volcanic glass with flecks of Khyber dragonshards within them known as blood glass. They can further enhance blood glass weapons by crafting "shifting" weapons that are able to shift shape due to the fire elementals bound within.[27] Additionally, Sulatar have constructed fiery tunics resembling liquid flame using bound fire elementals that grant elemental resistance and cause metallic weapons to ignite or protect themselves with a shield of fire,[28][29] and gloves of flame that allow for the wearer to withstand cold environments while letting them burn opponents with a touch or manifest burning hands.[27][28][30]

Notable Drow

Appendix

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, and Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual (3.5 edition). (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 103–104. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
  2. ↑ Keith Baker, Jason Bulmahn, & Amber Scott (2006). Secrets of Xen'drik. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 51. ISBN 0-7869-3916-8.
  3. ↑ Keith Baker, Scott Fitzgerald Gray, Nicolas Logue, & Amber Scott (2007). Dragons of Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 146. ISBN 0-7869-4154-5.
  4. ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014). Monster Manual (5th Edition). (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 126–129. ISBN 978-0786965614.
  5. ↑ Mike Mearls, Stephen Schubert, and James Wyatt (2008). Monster Manual (4th edition). (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 94–95. ISBN 0-7869-4852-3.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 109. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
  7. ↑ Jesse Decker, Matthew Sernett, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, & Keith Baker (2005). Races of Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 77. ISBN 0-7869-3658-4.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 198. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Keith Baker, Nicolas Logue, James Desborough, C.A. Suleiman (2008). City of Stormreach. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 51–52. ISBN 0-7869-4803-5.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Keith Baker (April 2005). “The Umbragen: Shadow Elves of Xen'drik”. Dragon #330 (Paizo Publishing), p. 44.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3  (July 2006). Monster Manual IV. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 59. ISBN 0-7869-3920-6.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 196–198. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
  13. ↑ Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 223. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Keith Baker, Jeremy Crawford, & James Wyatt (2019). Eberron: Rising from the Last War. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 22. ISBN 0786966890.
  15. ↑ Jesse Decker, Matthew Sernett, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, & Keith Baker (2005). Races of Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 77. ISBN 0-7869-3658-4.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 197. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
  17. ↑ James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 32. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
  18. ↑ Keith Baker (2006). The Gates of Night. (Wizards of the Coast), p. ?. ISBN 0-7869-4013-1.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 James Wyatt, Keith Baker, Luke Johnson, Steven Brown (2006). Player's Guide to Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 154. ISBN 0-7869-3912-5.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Jesse Decker, Matthew Sernett, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, & Keith Baker (2005). Races of Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 77. ISBN 0-7869-3658-4.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Keith Baker, Jason Bulmahn, & Amber Scott (2006). Secrets of Xen'drik. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 51–52. ISBN 0-7869-3916-8.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 Keith Baker, Nicolas Logue, James Desborough, C.A. Suleiman (2008). City of Stormreach. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 124. ISBN 0-7869-4803-5.
  23. ↑ James Wyatt, Keith Baker, Luke Johnson, Steven Brown (2006). Player's Guide to Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 33. ISBN 0-7869-3912-5.
  24. ↑ Keith Baker, Nicolas Logue, James Desborough, C.A. Suleiman (2008). City of Stormreach. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 123–124. ISBN 0-7869-4803-5.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Jesse Decker, Matthew Sernett, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, & Keith Baker (2005). Races of Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 171–172. ISBN 0-7869-3658-4.
  26. ↑ Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 119. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 Keith Baker, Jason Bulmahn, & Amber Scott (2006). Secrets of Xen'drik. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-3916-8.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Bruce R. Cordell, Stephen Schubert, and Chris Thomasson (2005). Magic of Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 118. ISBN 0-7869-3696-7.
  29. ↑ Andy Collins, Eytan Bernstein, Frank Brunner, Owen K. C. Stephens, John Snead (March 2007). Magic Item Compendium. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 99–100. ISBN 978-0-7869-4345-6.
  30. ↑ Andy Collins, Eytan Bernstein, Frank Brunner, Owen K. C. Stephens, John Snead (March 2007). Magic Item Compendium. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 105. ISBN 978-0-7869-4345-6.
  31. ↑ Keith Baker, Jason Bulmahn, & Amber Scott (2006). Secrets of Xen'drik. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 132. ISBN 0-7869-3916-8.
  32. ↑ Keith Baker, Nicolas Logue, James Desborough, C.A. Suleiman (2008). City of Stormreach. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 143. ISBN 0-7869-4803-5.
  33. ↑ Keith Baker, Nicolas Logue, James Desborough, C.A. Suleiman (2008). City of Stormreach. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 101. ISBN 0-7869-4803-5.
  34. ↑ Keith Baker, Nicolas Logue, James Desborough, C.A. Suleiman (2008). City of Stormreach. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 130. ISBN 0-7869-4803-5.
  35. ↑ Chris Sims (February 2010). “Explore Fairhaven: Villains and Vagabonds” (PDF). Dungeon #175 (Wizards of the Coast) (175)., p. 70.

Connections


Races
Player's Handbook Races: Aasimar | Dragonborn | Drow | Dwarf | Elf | Goliath | Gnome | Half-Elf | Half-Orc | Halfling | Human | Orc | Tiefling
Eberron Races: Bugbear | Changeling | Goblin | Hobgoblin | Kalashtar | Shifter | Warforged
Other Races: Armand | Asherati | Bhuka | Doppelganger | Dragon | Gnoll | Kobold | Lizardfolk | Medusa | Sahuagin | Shulassakar | Thri-kreen | Yuan-Ti
Outsiders: Angel | Archon | Daelkyr | Demon | Devil | Elemental | Genie | Githyanki | Githzerai | Inevitable | Mephit | Quori | Slaad