Drow Ascendancy

The **Drow Ascendancy** is the star empire that is centered in the Bad Lands of the Galaxy. The Drow are known as an aggressive and hostile race to those around it, seeing it as their divine right to take what they will. While the average drow is sociable enough, those who have risen in power, have embraced the darkness of their heritage, becoming Dark Lords and ruling their domains with an iron fist. The Drow are often at war with the Mindflayers, which prevents their attention from spreading far from the Bad Lands.

## Culture

The Drow's entire outlook is based on their accumulation of power. However, this rise to power must follow their duty, obedience, and loyalty to the Drow Ascendancy, as laid out in their religious texts by their Gods, collectively known as the Dark Shadow. As one rises in power and influence, those of lesser stature will always seek to overthrow them, while at the same time biding for favor and power of their own. This creates a harsh, and strong group of dark lords that have successfully battled against superior forces across the galaxy, even when their own power base is far smaller.

## Religion

The religion of the Drow, is focused around three Gods known collectively as the Dark Shadow. They are the Gods **Roa**, **Voraz**, and **Tolin**, and they represent the ideals of Duty, Loyalty, and Obedience. Each has a simple commandment to their followers.

* Roa: "Your duty is to your superior, unless they are weak! Then Your duty is to power, and to take it, by force if need. By becoming power itself, you fulfill your duty to your people, and to me."
* Voraz: "Loyalty above all! Loyalty to your ambitions, and those that can make your rise happen. By doing this, you keep loyalty to me."
* Tolin: "One must be obedient. Not only to those that have power over you, but to your own ambitions. Should you flag and fail to be obedient to those, then your fall will see you destroyed! By being strong, you are obedient to my command."

## The Dark Lords

When the Drow advance to a certain level of power, they can take the mantle of Dark Lord. This mantle denotes them as beings of influence and station, and it demands loyalty and obedience from their lessers. Dark Lords often take a title when they become a Dark Lord, such as Ardulace Dhalmass, Lady of Conquest. Each title taken has meaning to their style of leadership, or in their specialty. Such titles can include being the Lord/Lady of Suffering, Strife, Maladies, War, Death, and so on.

## Duality

The Drow, often derogatively referred to as Dark Elves or Evil Elves, due to their race's predilection to gravitate towards vices and taboos others would avoid. The truth is, the Drow are a race of duality, capable of great acts of evil and great acts of good. This is represented in their Crest, with the two stars of their home system showing their light and dark sides. Many Drow adventurers that leave their home space often go on to be great heroes across the cosmos, but it is often overshadowed by the actions of their empire.

## Territory and Holdings

The Drow Ascendancy is a small galactic power compared to others, even smaller still than the Elven Star Empire. The following is a list of holdings the Drow currently have:

* Milfreban - Home star system of the Drow Ascendancy.
* Vortari System - Former Faestrini holding that the Drow seized. Used as a shipping yards.
* Zalis Star Cluster - A collection of small systems the Drow use as staging points to launch raids against other powers.