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Thelonius
Senior Scribe
Spain
730 Posts |
 Posted - 14 Oct 2005 : 07:34:57
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I've decided to re-open this topic, cause I wanted to know the opinion of the scribes here about something related with the drow.
The race that I saw at the start as an interesting and misterious, as long as I am concerned right know, has become a race of .... fools. What exactly does Lloth expects of them? The continuous slaughter between them, the predictable chain of betrayals that leads with the death of one of them (if not all) the drow in the game. Baenre killing Auropo'l, is only a light example of what I mean, killing the male, killing the children, priestesses killing each other with pleasure and always thinking the best way to do it, the more flagrant and bloody the better. I may think that this allows the Spider Queen to choose the most worthy between them, but later she is the first who makes them die in some ways. That makes me think that their continous internal (and external, cause the drows aren't know by their social relationships), conflicts will not allow them to survive much longer, only drows as Drizzt, Jarlaxle, Liriel, and the followers of Verhaun and Eillistrae seem to be able to survive. So, in my opinion, the Spider Queen will be alone with no one to command. IMHO of course. What do you think? As long is a Have read the Legacy of the Drow and Daughter of the drow. Maybe in some of the books I haven't read this behaviour changes? |
"If you are to truly understand, then you will need the contrast, not adherence to a single ideal." - Kreia
"I THINK I JUST HAD ANOTHER NEAR-RINCEWIND EXPERIENCE"- Discworld's Death frustrated after Rincewind scapes his grasp... again.
"I am death, come for thee" - Nimbul, from Baldur's Gate I just before being badly spanked
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DDH_101
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1272 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2005 : 07:53:28
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| Dunno if anyone mentioned this, but Elaine Cunningham's short story in Best of the Realms I, The Blooding, describes about the ritual into adulthood that a noble drow goes through. I suggest it for more info on drow. |
"Trust in the shadows, for the bright way makes you an easy target." -Mask |
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Kaladorm
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1176 Posts |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2005 : 11:23:39
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| The one thing that helps the drow race is their high birth rate. So even though they're happily killing each other in Lolth's name, there's plenty more drow being born to take the place of the fallen. |
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Lord of Bones
Seeker
United Kingdom
78 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2005 : 12:41:06
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Drow society is somewhat primal (in Lolth dominated cities). It's survival of the fittest, and they venerate their women. The females will use as many males as they want to produce as many children as possible, and then the males will often be killed, or at least forgotten.
I'd be interested to see how a city mostly worshiping Ghaunadaur works. How the society differs, and what kinds of roles the priests play. |
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Thelonius
Senior Scribe
Spain
730 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2005 : 14:13:03
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
The one thing that helps the drow race is their high birth rate. So even though they're happily killing each other in Lolth's name, there's plenty more drow being born to take the place of the fallen.
Anyway you can't sustain a whole civilization in the fact you have children as rabbits. Specially if you despice the ones that made possible their born. And what objectives has the drow civilization? Living to conquer all Faerun? Difficult as they can't conquer even a city and specially survive in a place where their magic disappears and they get blinded. The whole world moves on the objectives, so, what is the drow objective? Destroy each other? That's the reason I find their civilization kinda of foolish, always saving the ones with vision that are ironically mostly male (Jarlaxle, Gomph, ...) and Liriel, I know. |
"If you are to truly understand, then you will need the contrast, not adherence to a single ideal." - Kreia
"I THINK I JUST HAD ANOTHER NEAR-RINCEWIND EXPERIENCE"- Discworld's Death frustrated after Rincewind scapes his grasp... again.
"I am death, come for thee" - Nimbul, from Baldur's Gate I just before being badly spanked
Sapientia sola libertas est |
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Crennen FaerieBane
Master of Realmslore
USA
1378 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2005 : 14:34:37
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
The one thing that helps the drow race is their high birth rate. So even though they're happily killing each other in Lolth's name, there's plenty more drow being born to take the place of the fallen.
And remember, a lot of the battles that go on between houses are done on the backs of slaves. Very rarely is it Elderboy v. Elderboy or a similar situation. The orcs, minotaurs, kobolds, etc. are the fodder for the Drow House wars. And remember, we are made to believe there is always backstabbing going on between the Drow houses, but if you look at it, most of the Drow actually survive. How long were Dinin and Nalfein in the house before Malice decided to have Drizzt? I mean, it's not like there were 10 sons before those three. And remember, backstabbing doesn't always lead to murder? Sometimes it's merely a station gainer.
C-Fb |
Still rockin' the Fey'ri style. |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4689 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2005 : 18:45:08
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General lore indicates that birth rate still exceeds death rate (not counting the destruction of one city), the number of Lolthians are increasing in numbers. It is survival of the fittest, Lolth's way. It is the only way the system can hold togrther. One does not apply RL realities to FR. Sometimes they or course are there to cover mant aspects of the Realms, but others are answered "Just because I say so".
In the past perhaps one half born reached age 20, not sure if lore has changed on child rearing customs. Those survivors know well not to trust others and are on their guard. The percentage of deaths drop and life expectancy greating increases.
Age age 0 life expectancy might be 15 years (the average span of life for all born that year).
Reaching age five one might expect to on aveage live to 16 (11 more years), hoverever if you make it to 20 you might expect 200 or more years.
The society is LE that maintains a control of the mostly CE Drow that allows enough to survive and be very deadly when facing most other races. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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Forge
Learned Scribe
USA
218 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2005 : 19:03:26
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Actually, if that child was a Noble, then YES a drow WOULD save them. If that child could survive to carry the accusation to the Matron Council then the Council would act against the attacking house and destroy it.
This occured in the Dark Elf Trilogy at one point.
Oh, and the plural of Drow is Drow, not Drows. Minor point. |
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Crennen FaerieBane
Master of Realmslore
USA
1378 Posts |
Posted - 15 Oct 2005 : 02:58:41
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Drows is a short cut for Drow Elves. :)
Well, I believe that the books and stuff lead us down a path where murder is super rampant - and I just don't think a society could maintain itself by always killing each other with no rest. Birth Rate exceeds death rate, which is a good thing (ask Italy).
C-Fb |
Still rockin' the Fey'ri style. |
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Drow society
Sorry!