| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Dantrag |
Posted - 22 Oct 2009 : 23:16:45
Is there any actual lengthy written history of the drow? I am just curious because i think it would be a great story if heard in full. I would like to hear about their stay on the surface and the wars and things of that nature that they were a part of. I have never actually given thought to this and i am now wondering why someone hasn't written a complete "History of The Dark Elves". |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Ashe Ravenheart |
Posted - 26 Oct 2009 : 01:59:28
quote:
Originally posted by goatunit
Yeah. I was trying to make a wise crack. I got schooled. Sorry.
There's nothing wrong with making wise-cracks, but be sure to let everyone KNOW it's a wise-crack. Adding a j/k,  or  let's us know that you're just kidding and not taking a pot-shot at someone we hold in high regard. |
| goatunit |
Posted - 25 Oct 2009 : 19:56:23
Yeah. I was trying to make a wise crack. I got schooled. Sorry. |
| Brimstone |
Posted - 25 Oct 2009 : 11:00:21
Dark Warrior Rising is a very good read. So is Dark Vengance. |
| Zanan |
Posted - 25 Oct 2009 : 10:04:19
Matter of fact, Ed Greenwood gives a detailed run-down of the dark elves and drow of D&D in his novel Dark Warrior Rising, a run-down which is far too long to post on here. Essentially it goes back to Norse/Germanic and Celtic myths (name- and theme-wise, that is), the more important bit is:
quote:
Mr. Gygax almost certainly took the name "drow" (rhymes with "cow" and not "show") from the evil drow (dark elves) of the Shetland Isles (related to the "trow" of the Orkney Islands; both are likely local versions of the Norse dökkálfar*). ...
DWR, p. 337
*There were two versions of the "darker elves" in Norse mythology: svartálfar (black elves) and dökkálfar (dark elves). The (Norse) mythical realm of the black elves was actually used in FR D&D terminology as well, i.e. Svartalfheim. It should be noted that the creatures itself were not exactly cast into stone with regards to looks and behaviour. They were seen as dark skinned as well as living deep in the earth though. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 25 Oct 2009 : 04:08:38
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Hoondatha
It depends on what your definition of "up" is. The website is still there, however accessing it doesn't give any information. You just get stuck on a blank screen that says "History of the Old Empires" or whatever.
It loaded just fine for me...
Indeed. It might be a browser issue. It loaded up okay for me via Firefox, but SageBrowser encountered some difficulties, similar to what Hoondatha described above.
|
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 25 Oct 2009 : 03:26:04
quote:
Originally posted by Hoondatha
It depends on what your definition of "up" is. The website is still there, however accessing it doesn't give any information. You just get stuck on a blank screen that says "History of the Old Empires" or whatever.
It loaded just fine for me... |
| Ashe Ravenheart |
Posted - 25 Oct 2009 : 01:40:38
quote:
Originally posted by goatunit
Is it obvious to anyone else that when Gygax was trying to come up with a name for the evil elf race that he'd just created, he basically went...
"Hmmm... what's a word that I can turn backwards that'll sound all fantasy-ish. But what word to use?"
Please do a bit of research prior to posting (even if it IS Wiki-research):
Drow - D&D and the Trow
|
| goatunit |
Posted - 25 Oct 2009 : 00:47:39
Is it obvious to anyone else that when Gygax was trying to come up with a name for the evil elf race that he'd just created, he basically went...
"Hmmm... what's a word that I can turn backwards that'll sound all fantasy-ish. But what word to use?" |
| Hoondatha |
Posted - 24 Oct 2009 : 23:22:27
It depends on what your definition of "up" is. The website is still there, however accessing it doesn't give any information. You just get stuck on a blank screen that says "History of the Old Empires" or whatever. |
| Zanan |
Posted - 24 Oct 2009 : 18:37:20
quote:
Originally posted by Asharak
There is also some lore in Races of Faerűn.
Ware that though, as the info therein is garbled and not 100% correct. If you look for solid stuff, get your hand on the free PDF Cormanthyr - Empire of Elves ...
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/downloads
... Demihuman Deities and The Grand History of the Realms. The latter would need to be updated by the War of the Spider Queen and Lady Penitent novel series though. Underdark (the 3.5E FR book!) also has some relevant info, though nothing that bridges the divide from 3,5E times and the 4E FRCG. Brian "TGHotR" James actually had a "History of the Underdark" up and running, though I don't know whether that is still up. |
| Asharak |
Posted - 23 Oct 2009 : 14:59:35
There is also some lore in Races of Faerűn. |
| Iliyan |
Posted - 23 Oct 2009 : 11:51:27
Well, Evermeet the Island of Elves is a very good novel I quite enjoyed by Elaine Cunningham. It is written from the perspective of Danilo Thann, a nephew(?) of Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun. Quite a vivid novel, and a good read! I enjoyed that.
Next up we have a old source book which you can download on the Wizards site http://www.wizards.com/dnd/files/2/fr_downloads/tsr1165.zip Cormantyr, Empire of the Elves. Not really that much related to Drow or Dark Elves, but it is a very good read on Elves in general.
Now I'll recommend you get a copy of Grand History of the Realms This book has a epic timeline of the entire Forgotten Realms history, and quite a few descriptions.
Specific lore on Dark Elves, and how they became drow is quite nicely compiled here http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Dark_elves Furthermore you can get sources for all that is written there. Naturally it is a Wiki, so take everything written there with a grain of salt.
I suppose I should add the "Last Mythal" trilogy here just for good measure, however I haven't read those yet. |
| Zeffaniah |
Posted - 23 Oct 2009 : 09:34:41
quote:
Originally posted by Iliyan
And don't forget Dark Elves =/= Drow. It should be pretty easy to figure out at which point the switch occurred, during the Crown Wars. Have fun reading! That's the most interesting part of FR lore in my opinion.
I would like to read some about this Iliyan, is there any books that you can recommend me to read?
I've only read the Drizzt books, although I know they were fleeing underground after some incidents with the elves that they used to live side by side with (In Cormanthor?)
Lol, can't even remember that.
Is it the books about the Crown Wars with King Azoun in them? Don't remember their names nor the writer who wrote them.
Have a nice day. |
| Iliyan |
Posted - 23 Oct 2009 : 07:39:18
And don't forget Dark Elves =/= Drow. It should be pretty easy to figure out at which point the switch occurred, during the Crown Wars. Have fun reading! That's the most interesting part of FR lore in my opinion. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 23 Oct 2009 : 00:47:29
I'd say the various entries in Grand History of the Realms that deal with the historical elements of drow civilisation are about as close as we've come to any particular detailing of drow history. Also, the 'Drow Pantheon' write-up in Demihuman Deities elaborates, somewhat, on the historic drow. And, the lore about the Crown Wars in Lost Empires of Faerűn as well. |
