Drow: Roles, Religion, Culture & Education

Gender roles and Religion

Most drow societies reflect the deity they revere.

Society that reveres Goddess Lloth- the Spider Queen

This drow society is matriarchal and militaristic, with strong religious foundations, ruled by the most powerful drow priestesses. Women hold all positions of power and responsibility in government, the military, and in the home. Female drow are favoured by society as clerics, because the Spider Queen favours clerics of her own gender.

Males, however, are treated as servants, and even the highest ranking male is still ranked lower than the lowest ranked female. Men’s duties are to fight and guard the land, and if they wish to gain a greater status and sense of power in drow society, they can become priests or wizards.

Society that reveres God Vhaeraun- the god of thievery

Worshippers of Vhaeraun, have a more balanced view of the sexes, seeking equality but requiring the downfall of Lolth's existing matriarchy.

Society that reveres the good drow Goddess Eilistraee

Like the Vhaeraunian drow, drow cultures tied to the goddess Eilistraee enjoy a gender-equal society, except without the taint of evil, vengeance, and conquest that the other drows carry with them. The priesthood of Eilistraee tries to divert the drow war on the surface into a mass conversion from the dark elves' dreadful ways.

But the majority follow Lolth's teachings, and the remainder of this report assumes a Lolthian city

Culture

Residency and Architecture

Residence/Role-playing sims

Those that worship Lloth reside in caves knows as the Underdark. Examples these SL role-playing sims include Thraldom and Aglarond.

Worshippers of Vhaeraun roam the surface. SL sims include Aglarond and Avilion.

Eilistraee followers usually hide within the cities of the Lloth. Second Life such roleplaying sims are Aglarond and Avilion.

Architecture

In Lloothian cities, as a result of their affinity for arachnids (spiders), many spiders and similar looking creatures dwell among drow communities, and can be seen in drow sculpture, art and fashion (realms). These cities often have spider webs decorating the walls, and tend to be dimly light, with an eerie atmosphere. Magic items emitting faerie fire adorn the more prosperous buildings, as well as most of the family estates

There are slaves that cultivate fungi, and academies that cater to wizards, bards, rogues, assassins, and experts of various fields . Poverty, oppression, and desperation are the rule in the heart of a drow city.

The First House, most dominant family, of the city, usually has insignia openly displayed by its members and servants. Whereas, the insignia, of the lesser House can been seen on their weaponry.

Education

Drows have their own language known as “Drow Speak”, and some have developed unique body language, which allows silent communication.

The dark elves are renowned for their skill as clerics, fighters, scoundrels, and wizards. Their society rewards skill at arms, divine power, and arcane might. Drow rangers are valuable, too, serving as scouts who can roam the tunnels of the Underdark, seeking out threats to the cities of the dark elves.