Population: < 30.000 on surface, <1 million in caves

Status: Cast Down

Religion: The Infernal Crown

Origin: Native to Kairn, magical schiscm

Relations to Humans: Kill on sight/Hunts humans

Traits: Sneaky, distrustful, charming

Occupations: Assassins, brewers,

Prosperity: Poverty

Notes:

The Drow are an elven race, that ended up with drastically altered physiology as a result of a magical schism with the other elves, thousands of years ago. This change ended up making them highly sensitive to direct sunlight and as such led to their eventual migration to the great cave systems beneath Kairn. Over time, both due to the effects of the magical schism, the nature of their new underground cohabitants and the lack of interaction with other races, the Drow eventually developed into a drastically different culture from the elves aboveground and found themselves new allies and enemies in the darkness, while maintaining a strong dislike for their sunblessed cousins.

In the dark corridors of the underground, the Drow found themselves under the influence of demons and quickly became steady trade partners with these damned beings. Amongst the magic they learned was a great amount of dark manipulation, including the dark arts of blood magic and the mixing of man and beast. This gave the Drow a unique advantage over the other cohabitants of the underground and as they learned to master the unholy arts, they manage to accomplish several amazing feats. They brought up the fearsome race of half-drow/half-spider and created true masters of the fearsome dark spiders, a devouring swarm of spiders that can consume entire villages if left unattended. In addition, they reached great amount of magical progress, surpassing their previous gifts of the magical schism.

Drow society is a huge game of politics and is dominantly matriarchal. The matriarchal structure originated as a result of the magical schism, which left men highly likely to be consumed by the Dark Plague, a horrendous affliction which leads to madness and eventual explosion. As the hostile living environments necessitate the contribution of all members of society, the women quickly took charge and ended up using the men as a highly expendable resource, ensuring that very few ever get to the age where they can be afflicted. As such, men are often soldiers, scouts, sacrifices or anything else their poised and controlling leaders demand.

The resulting society is a hugely competitive game of houses in which various "Matriarchs", hugely powerful female mages that are the head of a Drow House, battle against each other in a constant web of intrigue, plotting, scheming and betrayal. The most powerful houses get to stay in the capital of the drow and benefit greatly from collaboration with demons and easy access to tributes and wealth. The lesser houses take their battles where they can, many of them establishing promising outposts in hopes of extending their influence, always looking for a way into the heart of the game. Outright conflict is dissuaded to prevent unecessary loss of resources, but many ploys are so dastardly that even the most conniving human noble would have their stomach twist at the mere thought.

Drow Society was not as malicious in the start of their new life. The influence of the demons required them to remain ever vigilant to protect against possession and betrayal and when The King cast down the drow, banishing them entirely from the overworld and starting a large scale attempt to exterminate them, the drow had to grow ever more evil and manipulative to survive. Eventually, only the harshest remained in control of the world and drows are now largely murderous and hostile to anyone not of their kin.