Hmm even more drow goodies

[SilentShadow]

Well the pet guide was all fine and good, but hehe... on to bit more serious info, since it can help alot of ppl.

Drow, or "dark elves" as they are called by most surface dwellers, are an offshoot of the elven race. Drow are characterized by white or silver hair, obsidian black skin, and red (or rarely gray, 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 adamantite or another metal unique to the Underdark) slowly lose their magical properties if exposed to the sun. In Advanced Dungeons & Dragons second edition, adamantite disintegrated upon exposure to sunlight unless specifically treated. Drow also employ the unusual dart-firing hand crossbow.

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 almost any surface and subterranean races, such as mind flayers, svirfneblin, duergar, and kuo-toa for spoils and territory. Their society is matriarchal, with priestesses of the goddess Lolth (Lloth in the drow tongue) in the highest seats of power. Males are either enslaved or (rarely) respected if they are powerful wizards, but never allowed to rule.

Below is a list of the drow cities. The more popular ones, or ones mentionsed in books, are astericked.
Abaethaggar
Abburth
Baereghel
Charrvhel'raugaust
Chaulssin
*Ched Nasad*
Cheth Rrhinn
Erelhei-Cinlu
Eryndlyn
Faneadar
Guallidurth
Haundrauth
Ithilaughym
Llurth Dreier
Luihaulen'tar
Maerimydra
*Menzoberranzan*
Orlytlar
*Sshamath*
Sshanntynlan
Szithlin
T'lindhet
Tyrybblyn
Uluitur
Undraeth
V'elddrinnsshar
Waethe Hlammachar
Yuethindrynn

[SilentShadow]

Each and every drow City is different. Below is some information concering specifics of a few cities.
*****Sshamath ~ City of Dark Weavings*****
This is probably the largest of the Drow cities with some 45,000 inhabitants. Of these 42,000 are Drow; around 1,000 or so are other Dark Elves and the remainder are a mixture of slaves, emissaries, traders, undead and conjured creatures. It is a truly cosmopolitan city welcoming any who come to trade ? regardless of race or creed.
Sshamath lies under the Far Hills, east of Scornubel. It is largely built in a single main cavern. This cavern has literally thousands of stalagmites and stalactites reaching between roof and floor, and numerous other rock formations and these create a dense three dimensional web of rock. It is almost impossible to gain a clear line of sight for any distance. The rock formations have been sculpted and reshaped with magic into spirally towers and other dwellings. Travel between these is by magical means, or by the slender and delicate bridges. There are permanent Fairy Fire type spells in the cavern walls and these provide a beautiful light.
Unlike most other Drow cities Sshamath is not a matriarchy ? rather it is dominated by male wizards. The reasons behind this are historical. The city was founded in -4,973 DR by followers of Lolth. Around two thousand years later the region lost its faerzess (the under dark radiation so important to Drow magic). For some 300 years before this there had been an unusually high number of males born. Thus the cities male mages were increasing in number as the female priestesses were declining.

Celrics of Ghaunaduar and Vhaeraun, and more recently Kiaransalee have positons as minor city officials. The greatest power lies in the hands of the high ranking male wiazards.
Sshamath is now an important trading city. It is especially renowned for its traffic in magic artifacts, and dominates Underdark trade in these items.

*****Menzoberranzan*****
The most famous (or infamous) of the drow cities has a population of some 11,000 drow and of course numerous spiders. There are at least 20,000 slaves (including bugbears, goblins, ogres, ogrillons, orcs, minotaurs, quaggoths, and trolls, and kobolds). The city lies north of the Evermoors and under the River Subrin, not too far from Mithril Hall.
The city is some 3 miles under the surface in a vast cavern, originally a spiders lair. The cavern is shaped rather like an arrowhead and is two miles wide at the broadest point. The dwarves named it Araurilcaurak (Great Pillar Cavern) and the drow still use this name.
The city was founded by Menzobarra, a high priestess of Lolth, who led group of refugees out from war torn Golothaer. The founding of the great city was marked by blood and strife. At first there were battles against dwarves and beholders. Later fighting broke out between the four houses who follow Lolth, and a fifth house who did not. This house was driven out and since then the worship of Lolth has reigned supreme. A steady influx of refugees from various areas affected by strife meant Menzoberranzan grew and prospered.
The worship of Lolth remains the primary religion of Menzoberranzan. The Spider Goddess is known as Lloth throughout the city. Vhaeraun is also worshipped here. The priestesses of Lolth dominate this matriarchal society. Although the power lies in theory with the ruling council formed of the Matron Mothers of the eight highest ranking noble houses. In fact the Matron Mothers of the noble houses are really secondary powers to the rule of the Spider Queen.
It is a beautiful city ? full of magnificent statuary, bright lights and alien but breathtaking buildings. Most of the rock formations on the floor of the cavern have been carved into gorgeous castles of stone. Thousands of stalactites reach down from the high roof. However underneath this beauty lies a city that is said by many to be chaotic and violent, and to reflect the cold hearts of the drow. What is certain is that the city can be a deadly trap for outsiders. The architecture mimics the weaving of spiders, and also mimics the many deadly traps to be found within a spider?s lair.
The cities major trades are in tasty fungi, spell scrolls, riding lizards ,wine and potable water.
*****Ched Nasad*****
The City of Shimmering Webs is said to have had a population of 30,000 Drow and 70,000 slaves of other races. During the Silence of Lolth (1372 D.R.), a lesser House of this city, House Zauvirr, smuggled hundreds of duergar warriors into the city who were to attack the leading Houses, namely Nasadra and Melarn. The alchemist weapons used by the gray dwarves ignited the calcified webs (see below) who supported many of the city's structures and soon most of the web strands collapsed. In the resulting chaos, most of the drow and slave population of Ched Nasad perished and sources say that there were just about 3,000 survivors left in the tunnels and caverns around the city. No word has said about the fate of the nobles of the mighty drow Houses of Ched Nasad, who had some of the mightiest spellcasters amongst their ranks. Today, a few renegade drow worshippers of Shar try to hunt down any former enemy who survived the catastrophe, while House Teh'Kinrellz attempts to rebuild the city to its former glory.
Ched Nasad was founded by House Nasadra of primitive Menzoberranzan, and by other refugees from Golothaer. This city also lived according to the Way of Lolth, and is pledged to remain friendly with Menzoberranzan.
It is located in the North (under High Gap and the Grey Peak Mountains) in a huge mile high cavern. The cavern was crisscrossed with spider?s webs that had been magically calcified by one of Lolth's avatars. These webs sparkled and shimmer in the lights, both magical and natural. The city was built on these platforms, and individual dwellings had the appearance of great cocoons.
It was another matriarchal city, ruled by a council of the Matron Mothers from the twelve highest ranking houses. However House Nasadra held sway over the other houses. The worship of Lolth dominated here, and the government was similar to that of Menzoberranzan.
*********Other Cities**********
***Bhaerynden***
The main "realm" of the Drow before the Descent was Ilythiir, situated in the south, in the region now called the Shaar. Large numbers of Dark elves went underground during the descent, and created the first of the new Drow realms - Telantiwar. The capital was a large city called Bhaerynden . This was destroyed during a great war, and the cavern collapsed, creating the Great Rift.
***Buiyrandyn ***
A now vanished settlement; located west of Westbridge. The Qilu? Veladorn came from here to follow Eilistraee's call.
***Cloibbra***
Another city that followed Lolth, Cloibbra was located far to the south of Menzoberranzan. It was lost to a dwarven alliance about -900 DR
***Chaulssin***
This is located 100 miles west of Citadel Adbar, below the northern tip of the Rauvin Mountains, but has been partly moved to Plane of Shadow, once home of Nurvureem(, a shadow half-dragon / half-drow.)
These days, it is also the stronghold of a guild known as the Jaezred Chaulssin, a secret House of drow master assassins.
***Dallnothax***
Located at Sarenestar (a.k.a. Forest of Mir) with a surface settlement, this city worships Vhaeraun
***Dusklyngh***
Located north-east of Anauroch, and followers of Lolth. Uuedurnn Valsharn, of the drow city of Dusklyngh, has led exploring bands in opening up new routes to the World Above in the northern Cold Reaches of the Underdark. These routes were long blocked by ice, and bounded by areas roamed by purple worms and infested with orc holds.

[SilentShadow]

***Eryndlyn***
Under the High Moor, east of Illefarn. This city trades with the Sword Coast. Lolth, Ghaunadaur and Vhaeraun are all worshipped here and there is tense rivalry between their followers. As the followers of the Spider Queen still outnumber the combined forces of the other two factions, the Silence of Lolth hasn't changed much of the internal politics of the place.
***Guallidurth***
Deep under Calimshan, west-northwest of Calimport. This is a temple city and a centre of the worship of Lolth. It is ruled by 21 Noble Houses.The Silence of Lolth has had no influence of the city's politics, it only intensified the religious fervour. The faith of Vhaeraun as well as Kiaransalee is growing in power, but only the latter seems to have a chance of survival, as it also appeals to drow females.
***Holldaybim***
Like Dallnothax, Holldaybim is located under Sarenestar ( Forest of Mir) , has a surface settlement, and worships Vhaeraun.
***Iskasshyoll***
The third city under the Forest of Mir, this also has a surface settlement and follows Vhaeraun
***Jhachalklyn***
Close to Menzoberranzan. Recently invaded by the distant city of Maeralyn, and all but destroyed, with many refugees fleeing from the city. House Fey-Branche has kin and investments in the city.
***Karsoluthiyl***
Located some 200 miles west of Baldur's Gate, this city worships Lolth and is dominated by House Tanor'Thal. It supports one of the drow strongholds in Skullport.
***Llurth Dreier***
By far the largest drow city; this city lies about 10 miles under the Shaar and was formerly inhabited by some 400,000 drow. In ancient times, Lolth turned away from this place and the resulting feuds and House wars still rage on to this day. The worship of Ghaunadaur rules supreme here, even though the faiths of Eilistraee, Vhaeraun as well as Kiaransalee has worshippers here. Around 60,000 drow and about twice that amount of slaves inhabit this miserable place, which claims to be protected by one of Ghaunadaur's avatars. The city is noted for its vast fungi-farm caverns, but has been on the decline for many centuries now.
***Maeralyn***
All that is known of this city is that it is some 20 miles west of Tharsult and recently invaded Jhachalkhyn. It is probably another city that follows Lolth.
***Maerimydra***
This drow city was ruled by House Chumavh until the Silence of Lolth in 1372 D.R.. Maerimydra lies beneath almost in the heart of the Dalelands, about a dozen miles below the south-central border of Mistledale. It were drow from this city who were the scourge of Shadowdale and its surroundings and they were also prominent in the forests of Cormanthor. Internal strife within the city lead an army of invaders into Maerimydra, whose drow are either dead or undead and most of the living have pledged allegiance to Kiaransalee, whose priestesses now vie for power with the invaders. There are some scattered followers of Lolth in the Underdark or on the surface near Maerimydra, as well as a handful of Vhaeraunians.
(In game terms, the city counts as another victim of Lolth's Silence and is - for the time being - either destroyed or poses no thread whatsoever to its neighbours.)
***Sschindrylyn***
This city of around 15,000 people lies on the shore of lake Thalmir miles beneath the king's Forest in Cormyr. Sschindrylyn is a major trading centre, but only a minor military power at best. The drow who live here are skilled in the arts of divination and magical travel. in the past they were a very warlike people, using these skills to mount raids. However when they were soundly defeated by Menzobaranzen they curbed this practice, and are now traders. The males rule the city in all but name and the faith of Kiaransalee has taken a foothold here as well. The city is built on the ruins of a kuo-toan town.

***Tlethtyrr***
Little known city where both Lolth and Vhaeraun are worshipped
***T'lindeth***
Located beneath the Gnollwatch Mountains, Dambrath. This city is a matriarchy, ruled by priestesses of Lolth. It is located beneath the Gnollwatch Moutains in the southern nation of Dambrath. The drow have lose relations and extensive trade with Dambrath, and much of the ruling population of Dambrath is part-drow. Female priestesses of Lolth dominate this city, and the other traditional drow gods and goddesses have almost no following in T'lindhet. Following the victory over Dambrath, some drow have become intrigued by the evil human goddess Loviatar. Few drow actually worship the Maiden of Pain, tending to invoke her name while inflicting torture on a terrified slave. A small shrine to Loviatar tended by half-drow priestesses is tolerated in the outskirts of T'lindhet.
A small settlement of Drider also exist near T'lindeth, known as the Forgotten Village. As almost 25% of the tested drow of this city fail their tests, the numbers of driders in this region has increased over the years and an alliance of the driders and nearby chitines may pose a serious thread to the drow city bereft of Lolth-given magic.

[nutranurse]

Your fixation with Drow is rather disturbing.

[SilentShadow]

the drow race is really close to our own race in real life, if you change houses to Companies/countries/etc. We're all here trying to outbest each other, some killing, plotting, spying, and what not. And yes I do love them sneaky gits, their my fav race in the whole world. But then again I had a similar fixation on Vampires and Lycanthropes a few years ago aswell.

I'm just a overall nut ball!!!

But me mom says I'm special!

[Skro]

I have a drow, when you log with him/her maybe we should survive together .

[SilentShadow]

first he needs to get approved, and heh depending on how you play your drow, i believe our drows should go along just great ^_^ in a drow way/or not.

[nutranurse]

Erm.... my skin may be dark, but I hardly think I am like a Drow. Or even our society. In fact, I think that our race/society is more close to the human race in the Forgotten Realm, as crazy as that may sound.

BTW: We are not an entirely evil race, despite what contemporary minds may believe.


BBTW: Go ahead and play with your little Drow, Rook will be waiting *insert evil laughter*

[SilentShadow]

well doh >_> i was simply stating they had many similarities, was just saying that drow society could be comparable to the darker side of our own society.

And heheh rook is it ^_^ you'll never know unti'll i feel is right to present myself to you. who knows perhaps you'll be astonished, and say: What the hell, i didn't see that coming... *insert mad clown laughter*

[SilentShadow]

Oh yeah and btw... where's my REP power? =P eheh joking... No really, where's my rep power >_< GIEF REP POWAH!!!

[Rhazeal]

The reputation power system is not very used. Sadly.

[SilentShadow]

well i use it, hell if it's there and you guys took the time to make it, why not use it.

[nutranurse]

Would you like us to use it, Rhazeal?

[SilentShadow]

well he did take the time and work to put it inplace, so my guess is, he does wants people to use it, so cmon GIEF ME REP!!! >_<

[Echelon13]

Spamming the forums will not assist your plight.