Drow

Descended from the original dark-skinned elven subrace called the Illythiiri, the drow were cursed into their present appearance by the good elve deities for following the goddess Lolth down the path to evil and corruption. Also called dark elves, the drow have black skin that resembles polished obsidian and stark white or pale yellow hair. They commonly have very pale eyes (so pale as to be often mistaken for white) in shades of pale lilac, silver, pink, and blue. They also tend to be smaller and thinner than most elves. Most drow on the surface are evil and worship Vhaeraun, but some outcasts and renegades have a more neutral attitude.

Drow have a unique sign language, Drow Silent Language, that allows them to communicate silently with hand gestures at distances of up to 120 feet as long as they can see each other. Drow Silent Language is a bonus language for drow, and it counts as a normal language for others, who have to spend skill points to learn it. It has no alphabet or written form.

Regions

Menzoberranzan, home city of the famed exile Drizzt Do’Urden, is the most famous drow realm.

Racial Traits

  • +2 Dexterity, –2 Constitution. The drow have ruthlessly selected for agility at the expense of hardiness over countless generations.
  • Medium: As Medium creatures, elves have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
  • Elf base land speed is 30 feet.
  • Immunity to magic sleep effects, and a +2 racial saving throw bonus against enchantment spells or effects.
  • Darkvision: Drow can see in the dark up to 60 feet. Darkvision is black and white only, but it is otherwise like normal sight, and drow can function just fine with no light at all.
  • Weapon Proficiency: Drow are automatically proficient with the hand crossbow, rapier, and short sword.
  • +2 racial bonus on Will saves against spells and spell-like effects.
  • +2 racial bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks. An elf that merely passes within 5 feet of a secret or concealed door is entitled to a Search check to notice it as if she were actively looking for it.
  • Spell-Like Abilities: A drow with a Charisma score of at least 10 has the following spell-like abilities: 1/day—dancing lights, daze, touch of fatigue. Caster level equals the drow’s class levels.
  • Light Blindness: Abrupt exposure to bright light (such as sunlight or a daylight spell) blinds drow for 1 round. On subsequent rounds, they are dazzled as long as they remain in the affected area.
  • Favored Class: Wizard (male) or cleric (female).

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