drow1

Station: From what I have read your position in society is the most important factor to the drow, even when looked at in their religion. A drow has no future if he doesn't have a position. Though position is the most important thing it is also is the most dangerous. Those with the most power have to look behind their back the most. Power to the top is usaully succeeded by sticking a knife through your foes back. Those that accomplish the feat of destroying the one higher than them is applauded. They win as long as they are not caught, and in most cases if someone sees they hardly care. There is no such thing as investigations in drow society if the perpatrtor succeeds then he gets his way.

Rank: No matter what, if your a male you'll always seem to be at the bottom of the pyramid. There are houses in which families go in rank in and each one is governed by a Matron Mother. The Matron mother is basically the mother of the house and rank is as this.
Matron Mother>1st daughter>2nd daughter>1st son (elder boy)> second son> weapons master> male patron> soilders> slaves.
All important females strain to become a priestess of Lloth and can surpass their own sister or Matron if they gain a higher favor of Lloth. Houses all have a certain number in the hiearchy. First ruling house of Beanre, second ruling house of...forgot etc. The first eight houses make up the ruling council. They are they ones who make the most decisons for Menzoberranzan.

Drow Justice: That isn't really much. Its a very bad justice system. If and only if a house is fallen out of Lloth's favor can they can be attacked. If they attack and fail or even succeed they will most likely fall out of Lloth's favor. So the drow endlessly praise their goddess to keep her pleased. The only real justice a drow has is the right to accuse another house of trying to destroy them. The house that failed to destroy them would be punished, ever are the ways of Lloth. The students of the schools Socere, Melee-Magthere, and Arach-Tinilith would come down and kill the failed house making sure the whole family is annilihated (while the whole city watches). That is the way of the drow everythings for the taking as long as you don't get caught.

Life of the Male: A male is glowered apon even at birth. If they are lucky they are born into one of the noble families. It secures them a higher rank and unless they are the third born then they would be sacraficed to Lloth. A male is usaully brought up by one of his sisters because the Matrons usually want nothing to do with them. They are continully battered and told that they are inferior and are never to be allowed to look into a females eye's. At the age of 5 they can finally own up to their rank and their Matron decides to either let them go to the school of Socere (wizardry school of magic) or Melee (fighters school). At that age they may begin to look the females in the eyes

Life of a Female: When a female is born to a noble family she automatically is to become a priestess (if not a high ranking soilder). They are trained as soon as they can hold a weapon to fight and are physically superior to the male also. They are practically brain washed by glorifications of Lloth and when they grow older they become religious zealouts. They are obsessed with the word of Lloth and nothing else matters they justify all their crimes in her name. If a female wishes to mate (can't really say make love) to a male he must accept or he might be severly punished. They weild very powerful dark magic and are eerily beautiful.

Menzoberranzan: This is the largest city of drow. To humans eye's it can't be seen, just the infinite dark that seems to swallow one whole. Most of the buildings are outlined in magic faerie fire appearing in many beautiful colors. A very breathtaking veiw of purple, blue, and red hues can be seen by the drow. There are some candles that burn in windows and that is a necessity of wizards to cast spells while reading scrolls. In the middle of the drow city is a large pillar called Narbondel which keeps track of the time and seasons on the surface. Starting with a light at the top to the ceiling then slowly fading down while changing colors. When it reaches the bottom the head wizard of Socere will cast a spell for it to do so again. Since it is underground large cones of stone come up from the floor and down from the ceilings, stalagmites or stalagtites.

Dress: Commoners don't were anything peticularly striking, but most nobles and families wear magical capes called pwifwi that mark the family emblem while priestessess wear dark long sacred robes.

Other facts: The drow keeps slaves like Goblins, bugbears, kobolds, and just about anything else stupid enough to get caught by them. The female priestesses weild weapons like whips with the many heads of snakes that are alive. They ride lizards on horseback and use special saddles for they are capable of walkng upside down on walls or ceilings. Even though they are lizards they are very agile and quick.
Innate abilities: infravision, sense magic, faerie fire, levitate, darkness