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Limited
space prohibits any outline of the long, twisted High History of the Drow
here, from the Dawning Days (that long ago time before the Descent, when
drow dwelt in The Lands of Terrible Light) to their present widespread
control of the Underdark, great wealth, and
mastery of magic.
Instead, a
handful of useful customs are given here. For instance, a drow gesture
of surrender is dropping to one knee, letting fall any weapons, before
the being one submits to (usually performed by male drow, to female drow).
Drow like to give and receive massages
- long, skilled massages involving scented oils, hot water and steam. This
is close to ultimate luxury for them.
Drow enjoy magic, and exult in wielding
its unleashed power. They are fascinated by new spells and effects.
Drow love beauty - the beauty of sculpture
and made items (especially weapons) and the beauty of the body. Drow of
both sexes are proud of displaying their physiques - and all children exhibiting
any physical deficiency are slain.
Drow communities celebrate several annual
festivals. There is always a wild feast when wizards, fighters, and priestesses
graduate from their decade-long training (during which they taste all three
branches of drow expertise: wizardry, clerical teachings, and weapons training),
involving the worship of Lolth and the summoning of denizens who serve
her.
Many drow communities
also observe “The Blooding”, a rite of passage into adulthood for both
sexes, during which the young participants must kill an intelligent or
dangerous surface creature of some sort (e.g. a human warrior or wizard).
If the community is not near the surface, merchant clans provide captives
(for high fees) who are let loose with weapons for the young
drow to hunt.
Drow communities
near links to the surface world usually hold “The Running” instead: a hunt
and revel on the surface in which all who walk participate, once a year.
(Understand that what the drow call a “hunt and revel” the surface dwellers
refer to as “looting and killing”.) The
blades of many drow rivals seem to accidentally
find each other during the raids on surface communities. Young drow participating
in their first Running are expected to carry out The Blooding (as described
above). Drow communities tend to vary the timing of this annual event slightly,
to prevent surface communities from hiring and readying strong guard contingents
to
await them.
It should be
noted that drow can, through training, experience, and repeated exposure,
become accustomed to light, and use both normal sight and infravision.
This process takes about ten years. The only encountered drow likely to
be immune to the detrimental effects of light are veteran surface-raiders
and wizards (who traditionally study by candlelight).
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