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Lemernis
Senior Scribe
378 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Aug 2004 : 01:38:14
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What are your thoughts on how citizens in the city of Baldur's Gate, and in the town of Beregost, respectively, would respond to drow attempting to live amongst them, on the surface, in the year 1372 DR? For the sake of argument, let's divide our drow into evil-to-the-core, card-carrying, Lloth-worshipping drow, on the one hand, and the rare good-aligned drow on the other. This is an old bone of contention amongst many of the people I play with. I'm interested in canon material that supports whichever viewpoint. Thanking you in advance.
By the way, I apologize if this is a worn out issue on this forum. I know that it has been driven into the ground on the forums in the community where I play.  I raise it in this forum, though, because I'm curious as to whether the canon literature sheds light on the matter.
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Edited by - Lemernis on 28 Aug 2004 14:06:35
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Sourcemaster2
Senior Scribe
USA
361 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2004 : 02:58:22
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| Baldur's Gate is a trade city, and known for its tolerance, but drow simply aren't accepted in civilized society. They would be even less so in Beregost, I suspect. Even in Silverymoon, the most accepting city there is, Alustriel could not immediately allow a drow to enter, despite the city's reputation for acknowledging an individual's value over their heritage. The number of good-aligned drow is simply too small in comparison to the evil for dark elves to be trusted. Most people have never even heard of such, but tales of the heartless, malicious quasi-rulers of the Underdark are common almost everywhere. Sorry, but drow on the surface either keep together apart from other races, die, or have to claw their way to gain the least acceptance. |
But what have all the passing years/Done, but breed new angers, fears?/Show me now an equal worth/To innocence I earned at birth. |
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Lemernis
Senior Scribe
378 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2004 : 04:10:46
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Some canon references I have found with respect to racial tolerance in the region are:
Re: Baldur's Gate
quote:
This important independent city is renowned as one of the most tolerant but quietly well-policed places in the western Realms. (Volo's Guide to the Sword Coast)
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Baldur’s Gate is a tolerant but well-policed city of merchants, and quiet business as usual is the general order of each day. (Volo's Guide to Baldur's Gate)
And of the general Western Heartlands mindset:
quote:
These "Westies" are generally friendly and open, at least initially. Enough people of enough different attitudes and alignments come through that open conflict at the drop or a hat for monarch, god, or alignment would result in even more war than the land has already seen. Individuals are given a chance to prove themselves by their own abilities--then they can be killed in petty arguments. (A Grand Tour of the Realms)
Here are my thoughts:
I would think that the tolerance mentioned above applies to non-monster races.
Drow are a monster race. The common reaction would be that that upon sighting one, a member of the community would be alarmed. He may not risk a direct confrontation. But it is likely that he would quickly summon the guard and any able bodied person to respond to the threat.
For a drow to live above the surface as either an outcast, or specifically a follower of Eilistrae, the player's expectation should be that this amounts to a suicidal act, essentially.
If discovered, drow should not expect treatment to be 'fair'. This is a frontier region with no real notions of 'human rights' or 'civil rights' as we appreciate them in real life. As far as I know, there isn't even a prevailing notion in Faerûn that there is anything inherently immoral about bigotry.
In this fantasy setting drow are in fact evil, and as such the reaction of fear and hatred toward the rare good-aligned drow is warranted, and not quite equivalent to bigotry as we know it in real life. I use 'bigotry' for lack of a better term. |
Edited by - Lemernis on 28 Aug 2004 04:23:23 |
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Lemernis
Senior Scribe
378 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2004 : 17:28:06
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| A corollary to the basic question above: are there canon sources that give locations of followers of Eilistraee? If so, are any of these surface drow communities found within several hundred miles of the Baldur's Gate or Beregost area? |
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Maglubiyet
Acolyte
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2004 : 15:59:48
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quote:
Originally posted by Lemernis
A corollary to the basic question above: are there canon sources that give locations of followers of Eilistraee? If so, are any of these surface drow communities found within several hundred miles of the Baldur's Gate or Beregost area?
In the WotSQ series, the Eilistraee followers that Halisstra hooks up with are located in Cormanthor. Pretty far from the Sword Coast.
I believe that Liriel Baenre, in the Starlight and Shadows series, makes contact with Eilistraee worshipers somewhere within a few days march of Waterdeep.
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SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2004 : 16:34:53
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quote:
Originally posted by Lemernis
A corollary to the basic question above: are there canon sources that give locations of followers of Eilistraee? If so, are any of these surface drow communities found within several hundred miles of the Baldur's Gate or Beregost area?
If I recall correctly, Demihuman Deities lists the Misty Forest as a location for Eilistraee shrines. |
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cpthero2
Great Reader
USA
2286 Posts |
Posted - 01 Oct 2018 : 17:04:53
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Senior Scribe Lemernis,
I would say this would be a not happening moment. The Drow are reviled for very good reasons. Racism, in a medieval, and randomly educated world, is a very real thing. They would be killed on site, regardless.
Best regards,
quote:
Originally posted by Lemernis
What are your thoughts on how citizens in the city of Baldur's Gate, and in the town of Beregost, respectively, would respond to drow attempting to live amongst them, on the surface, in the year 1372 DR? For the sake of argument, let's divide our drow into evil-to-the-core, card-carrying, Lloth-worshipping drow, on the one hand, and the rare good-aligned drow on the other. This is an old bone of contention amongst many of the people I play with. I'm interested in canon material that supports whichever viewpoint. Thanking you in advance.
By the way, I apologize if this is a worn out issue on this forum. I know that it has been driven into the ground on the forums in the community where I play. I raise it in this forum, though, because I'm curious as to whether the canon literature sheds light on the matter.
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Higher Atlar
Spirit Soaring |
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attitudes towards drow in Baldur's Gate & Beregost
