| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Dantrag
Learned Scribe
USA
141 Posts |
 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".
|
" The truth comes out only in bold and underlined" |
|
|
The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
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 Faerūn as well. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
 |
|
|
Iliyan
Acolyte
Croatia
42 Posts |
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. |
|
|
|
Zeffaniah
Acolyte
30 Posts |
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. |
We should take care not to make the intellect our god; it has, of course, powerful muscles, but no personality. |
|
|
|
Iliyan
Acolyte
Croatia
42 Posts |
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. |
|
|
|
Asharak
Learned Scribe
France
270 Posts |
Posted - 23 Oct 2009 : 14:59:35
|
| There is also some lore in Races of Faerūn. |
"Soyez réalistes : demandez l'impossible"
Sorry for my English... it's not my native tongue. |
Edited by - Asharak on 23 Oct 2009 15:01:31 |
|
|
|
Zanan
Senior Scribe
Germany
942 Posts |
Posted - 24 Oct 2009 : 18:37:20
|
quote:
Originally posted by Asharak
There is also some lore in Races of Faerūn.
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. |
Cave quid dicis, quando et cui!
Gęš a wyrd swa hio scel!
In memory of Alura Durshavin.
Visit my "Homepage" to find A Guide to the Drow NPCs of Faerūn, Drow and non-Drow PrC and much more. |
Edited by - Zanan on 24 Oct 2009 18:39:36 |
|
|
|
Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
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. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
|
|
|
goatunit
Acolyte
USA
31 Posts |
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?" |
|
|
|
Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3247 Posts |
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
|
I actually DO know everything. I just have a very poor index of my knowledge.
Ashe's Character Sheet
Alphabetized Index of Realms NPCs |
|
|
|
Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36875 Posts |
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... |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
|
|
|
The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
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.
|
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
|
|
|
Zanan
Senior Scribe
Germany
942 Posts |
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 dökkįlfar*). ...
DWR, p. 337
*There were two versions of the "darker elves" in Norse mythology: svartįlfar (black elves) and dökkįlfar (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. |
Cave quid dicis, quando et cui!
Gęš a wyrd swa hio scel!
In memory of Alura Durshavin.
Visit my "Homepage" to find A Guide to the Drow NPCs of Faerūn, Drow and non-Drow PrC and much more. |
Edited by - Zanan on 25 Oct 2009 10:07:26 |
|
|
|
Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3290 Posts |
Posted - 25 Oct 2009 : 11:00:21
|
| Dark Warrior Rising is a very good read. So is Dark Vengance. |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
|
|
|
goatunit
Acolyte
USA
31 Posts |
Posted - 25 Oct 2009 : 19:56:23
|
| Yeah. I was trying to make a wise crack. I got schooled. Sorry. |
|
|
|
Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3247 Posts |
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. |
I actually DO know everything. I just have a very poor index of my knowledge.
Ashe's Character Sheet
Alphabetized Index of Realms NPCs |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Drow
