Half-Drow

*"He was a good slave, however, the resulting daughter proved a far greater investment than he."- Dirzanna Helvirae, drow matriarch, on where she acquired her most loyal assassin.*

*"On the surface we're free. Once you truly realize that, a little sunburn is a small price to pay."- Beldithas, half-drow adventurer, listening to the complaints of a duergar.*

*"I'm used to the looks and I've heard all the names. None of it bothers me any more."- Kyszenya, half-drow bard, cutting off a potential employer's questions before they are delivered.*

## Physical Description:

With skin of a dusky grey and eyes that are often red, the blood of the drow is obvious to anyone who looks upon these half-elves. Even those half-drow lucky enough to get the eyes of the human parent and thus avoid the fiendish red orbs that have caused so much terror over the many years, retain angular white brows and dusky pointed ears that cannot be mistaken. Half-Drow hair tends to be white or silver, like the drow parent, though some have human colors. Because of this, many dye their hair in an attempt to mimic a less distinctive shade. Most surface half-drow, of both sexes, cut their hair short in an attempt to distance themselves from their drow parents. Half-Drow clothing tends to be dark and practical, even travel garments are made from leather or hide as a half-drow is always ready to move on just in case the popular sentiment towards them changes.

## History:

The drow of The Hollow are one of the largest threats that Apia faces. Their great schemes against the surface world at the behest of their demonic mistress have led to the downfall of more than one kingdom and their agents are feared everywhere. Many humans are taken into The Hollow as slaves and most of those slaves end up in drow households. Being the rampant hedonists that they are, male and female drow alike tend to take advantage of these slaves and occasionally half-breed children are the result. Those few that aren't abandoned in The Hollow to die are raised among the drow as second class citizens, bitter and distrustful. Those few who make it to the surface are sullen and keep to themselves. However, if rumors of good-aligned drow in secret communities on the surface are to be believed, and those communities allow outsiders, there are likely half-drow born from loving unions who would lack all the baggage of the aforementioned half-drow. These young folks would be more akin to a typical half-elf, full of life and vigor, doing their part to adventure and unify the surface races.

## Geography:

Aside from The Hollow, half-drow can be found across Apia. They are usually loners or adventurers, lacking the towns and communities of typical half-elves.

## Personality:

Half-Drow are either stoic and reserved or angry and bitter. Fate has dealt them a rough hand. Abusive or dead parents, a society that treats them as scum, and a world that hates and fears them due to cosmic chance (and the heinous crimes of drow everywhere). These half-drow, in turn, hate most people back thus continuing the cycle. Half-Drow are pessimistic, quick to see the worst in life and the odds against them. Never fitting in anywhere, drifting from place to place, few set down roots of any kind. Those few half-drow who progress in drow society are far worse. They are haughty and scornful, full of anger and fanatical devotion to the spider queen's will, mostly in an attempt to deal with the "impurity" of their own blood, having long been taught what a shame their half-breed status is. These half-drow are usually villains with many beyond redemption. Those half-drow raised in loving, surface communities however tend to be far more optimistic and positive, reveling in the joys of life. Like half-elves, these half-drow explore music, art, poetry and magic, bringing joy to their small communities however they can. These spirited half-drow are typically eventually accepted by an even wider community and can break the cycle of anger and mistrust that keeps so many other half-drow separated from better futures.

## Society:

Half-Drow have no societies and they have no structures. Some are integrated into drow society and, for all intents and purposes, are drow. Others drift from town to town, never settling anywhere and never participating in any goal beyond survival. A rare few integrate into half-elf societies and become members of their towns. Those that do this, tend to take up roles as spellcasters or artists because their natural resemblance to their drow parent makes them poor diplomats. Those lucky ones born into loving communities tend not to leave them, either blissfully unaware or very much aware of their luck, to be part of a community that accepts them. While half-drow do breed true, like all half-elves, there are so few half-drow that building their own towns isn't practical or possible.

## Religion:

Those half-drow in drow society worship Lolth alone. Many outside her clutches praise Corellon Larethian, in the hopes that he'll see their true elven hearts. Many worship Asus, the god of redemption and those half-drow clerics and paladins of the Redeemed God are some of his staunchest followers. If the goddess Eilistraee does exist, she most likely counts some good half-drow among her numbers.

## Alignment:

Half-Drow can be of any alignment. Those in The Hollow tend towards neutral or chaotic evil. Most who make their way to the surface tend to be either neutral, or neutral good. They tend to be more focused on survival than morality.

## Relations:

Half-Drow have few friends and many enemies. The second their ashy grey skin and pointed ears are seen by a casual observer, a judgment is made. Those who most easily get alone with half-drow are similar half-breeds, such as half-orcs, goblins and dragons, as well as tieflings, all of whom have the similar experiences of being judged based on one parent. When a half-drow does befriend someone, that relationship is set for life and a half-drow will prove to be utterly reliable through thick and thin.

## Language:

Half-Drow speak both undercommon and common.

## Names:

Half-Drow can use human, elven or drow names depending on background.

## Adventurers:

Almost all half-drow are adventurers by default as it is borderline impossible for them to find a home elsewhere. These half-drow search Apia far and wide to find either enough wealth to buy their own happiness or earn enough respect to prove their good intentions. Those few who find adventuring parties willing to work alongside them can find a reliable ally willing to work hard and use his impressive skills for the good of the party.

## Traits:

Identical to half-elves in the players handbook with the following changes...

60ft Darkvision (replaces lowlight)

Languages Common and Undercommon (replaces common and elven)

Drow-blood. A half-drow is treated as a drow for the purposes of feats and spells (rather than an elf)