Drow
Obsidian has confirmed that the drow subrace will be included in NWN2.
Like the other elves, drow (dark elves) are not native to Aber Toril, but came as immigrants some twenty five millennia ago. The Ssri-Tel-Quessir who were the ancestors of the drow formed part of the second wave of elven immigration, which signaled the end of the Time of the Dragons. The names and whereabouts of the original elven home worlds have long since been lost in the mists of time. Using portals the Dark elves passed through various realms of the Fey, but they mainly populated the tropical jungles of Southern Faerûn, in what is now the Shaar. The Dark Elves were a powerful race and quickly established large empires. The most famous (or infamous) of these was Ilythiir. We are told this mighty nation became increasingly ambitious and cruel, and mercilessly attacked the other nations of Southern Faerun with. These traits are said to have sparked off the first Crown War, but as in much of elven history nobody really knows the truth of the matter.
More than thirteen thousand years ago, the Crown Wars raged among the Fair Folk, and for three thousand years the elven nations of Aryvandaar, Miyeritar, Shantel Othreier, Keltormir, Ilythiir, and others battled one another in a series of five great conflicts. At the end of the fourth Crown War, circa -10,000 DR, the corrupt dark elven Ilythiiri and others were transformed by Corellon Larethian's magic into drow as directed through the Protector's priests and high mages, and banished to the lightless depths of the Underdark.
The first drow civilizations arose in the Underdark of southern Faerun circa -9600 DR. The first great kingdom of the drow was Telantiwar, with its capital in the great cavern of Bhaerynden, the conquered heart of the first great kingdom of the Stout Folk (dwarves), which was seized by the drow in -9000 DR. The drow fought among themselves, noble against noble, priest against priest, for rule of their new realm. This war ended amid great magical explosions that brought down the roof of Bhaerynden. The ceiling collapsed entirely, burying many drow and the shattered dwarven cities they have seized. The cavern, now open to the sky, became known as the Great Rift. Gold dwarf ancestors later resettled the chasm and surrounding caverns to form the Deep Realm.
In the following diaspora known as the Scattering, the surviving drow nobles and priests gathered what people, slaves, and equipment they could seize and fled into the wilds of the Underdark. Since that time, countless cities and smaller settlements have risen and fallen in an increasing radius around the territory held by the empire of Telantiwar.
Physically, drow are characterized by skin the color of obsidian, though there are extremely rare cases of albino drow, whose skin is bone white. Drow usually have white hair, with older members of the race having silver or other pale colors. Most drow have pale eyes, often light blue, yellow, or lavender. However, when a drow uses his/her Darkvision, their eyes typically glow red. Drow are shorter than other elves, and the females are taller than their male counterparts.
The drow are a largely chaotic and evil race, following after their goddess, Lolth. Drow society is female-dominated (except for those cities that worship Vhaeraun) and is composed of families, called houses, each ruled by a matron. Houses typically battle within the city, vying for power, though this battle is usually not open, as the drow pride themselves in cunning assassination and subversion. There is conflict within the house as well. The daughters of the matron are next in line to rule, and it is quite common for them to attempt to overthrow their matron mother to usurp her.
Ability adjustment
+2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, +2 Charisma, -2 Constitution
DnD 3.5 racial features
Level adjustment: +2
Size: Medium
Favored class: Wizard for Male, Cleric for female. A multiclass drow's wizard or cleric class (depending on gender) does not count when determining whether he takes a penalty for multiclassing.
Land speed: 30 feet
- Immunity to magic sleep effects, and a +2 racial saving throw bonus against enchantment spells or effects.
- +2 will save vs. spells and spell-like abilities.
- Darkvision 120 feet
- Spell resistance: 11 + class level.
- Weapon Proficiency: Drow receive the proficiency feats for the hand-crossbow, rapier and shortsword as bonus feats.
- +2 racial bonus on listen, search, and spot checks. An elf who merely passes within 5 feet of a secret or concealed door is entitled to a Search check to notice it as if she were actively looking for it.
- Darkness 1/day, fairy fire 1/day, dancing lights 1/day (caster level = character level)
- Light blindness: Abrupt exposure to bright light (like daylight or sunlight) blinds drow for 1 round. They remain dazzled if they remain in the affected area.
Languages
Automatic languages: Drowic, Elven, Undercommon, home region.
Bonus Languages: Abyssal, Common, Draconic, Drow sign language, Goblin, Illuskan.
NWN Comparison NWN did not include subraces, although Hordes of the Underdrak involved many drow, including the outcast worshipers of Eilistraee.
Pre-release notes
- NWN did not include languages, so it's possible that NWN2 might exclude languages for the same reasons.
- Obsidian described drow as follows:
Drow are also called dark elves, they descend from the ancient Illythiiri, cursed with dark skin for allowing themselves to be corrupted by the evil goddess Lolth. Most drow dwell deep in the Underdark, in great cities such as Menzoberranzan. Drow who inhabit the surface world often do so not by choice, but because they, or their sires, were cast out from drow society. Living underground has made the drow slight in stature, but for generations the drow have selectively bred themselves for increased reflexes, wits and personality. These traits they feel are vital to their survival in the Underdark.