Drow of Severall

[Sardinal]

Drow of Severall
A guidebook to modern Drow Society

According to Drow legend, while the three creator Gods joined their wills to make manifest the three worlds and all who dwell on them, it was Katdoral, alone, who created the Drow race. Deep within the forest on the southern end of West Elyra, the Lord of All Evil created the Father and Mother of the Drow race, and taught them the path to mastery of the world. In the years since that legendary beginning, the drow race has done much to make their creator proud. The forest they call home is far from tame, yet the drow have thrived underneath its hostile canopy.

This guide pertains to The Drow Nation, or Es'Draery Lar in the drow tongue, and to a lesser degree, to the drow now flocking to the Empire of Lark. Es'Draery Lar is the original home of the drow race, so it is reasonable to assume that drow that have migrated to other continents or to Katrel and Thaelus have cultures and governments influenced by those presented here. That does not, however, preclude the notion of drow societies that are completely different either.

The Three Pillars
All of drow society and culture rests on the immutable base of the Three Pillars. The three oldest, most sacred tenants of drow law, the Three Pillars of Faith, Race, and Family were set in place by Katdoral himself. These most inviolate of laws have been cherished and protected by every generation of Drow since, and adopted into the faiths of new drow gods as they have risen.

Faith:
The First Pillar is Faith. Faith is the cornerstone of drow society, the bedrock upon which all else is built. This Pillars power and reach is uncontestable within the drow forest and within the drow heart.

"As surely as power is your Path to Ascension, so too am I your Path to Power"
-Proverbs of The Dark Father

Faith is a daily, sometimes hourly, aspect of life for most drow. From birth, a drow child is deeply and ritually indoctrinated into the faith of his family. No drow house, however modest, is complete without an alter or effigy dedicated to one or more of the drow pantheon. Most drow pray to their chosen god or gods immediately upon waking, and just before reverie. Rare is the drow who contemplates beginning a new venture or pursuing a new opportunity without first seeking the wisdom of the church. There exists no aspect of drow culture that is not steeped in the Faiths of Katdoral, Koric, and Cyian, and to a lesser degree, Chal-Tsu.
While the Faiths are all pervasive, however, the dominance of a single ideology concerning those faiths is not. Drow are generally welcome to express their Faith in which ever method and through which ever rituals they choose. This has led to the existance of a number of different churches, each persuing their own purpose under the drow gods. In a race gifted with an almost supernatural ego, each firmly believes that it is the best possible expression of drow Faith, yet surprizingly few hostilities have ever broken out among them.

"Your Brothers and Sisters may differ in purpose, they may differ in expression, yet always they remain identicle in their Strength of Faith. Through the Dark Father, through the Vengeful Son, through the Sword of Tyranny, each walks a path separate yet adjacent to each other."
- Ovaandir Caersidyll, Vicar of Heartwood

The First Pillar's effect on drow government is probably its most potent aspect. The drow are ruled by a totalitarian theocracy. The Church's of the three gods of the drow pantheon rule almost every aspect of drow life and culture. It is their collective will that drives, controls, and protects the race.

Race
The second Pillar is Race and its meaning is simple. Drow First. Always Drow First.

"It is unreasonable to expect those of the lesser races to understand, which is why it is unneccesary to explain it to them. We shall dominate them, subjugate them, convert them, and when each has earned his Transcendant Rebirth, when all souls are Drow Souls, only then will they understand."
-Paelleon Doth'Dakar
High Prosletyzer of Cyian

Drow are always expected to act in the best interests of the Drow. They are to always act, in whatever circles they so move, in a manner that puts their race before any other. This mandate extends from the largest situations that affect the entire nation, down to the smallest of individual dealings. Drow are always expected to come out ahead of any other race, and severe shame is the lightest of the worries one who fails in that must face.
The drow are taught at a very young age that the Drow race is the pinnacle of sentient life. They stand above all other races, even above dragons and outsiders, and that all other races should strive to be as the drow. This conceit is so well ground in that most drow find the idea of equality with any other race repugnant. Truly, while certain other races do have power that must be respected, the only race that the drow show any sense kinship with are the Duergar.

Family
Family is the third and final Pillar. Drow families, called Houses, are the drow races basic organizing structure. In all matters that are not directly related to Faith or Race, Family takes precedent.

"As blood follows blood, down through the centuries, it is our Houses that chart the road towards individual power. The Church is for Katdoral's Glory, The Nation is for the Drow's Dominance. It is our Houses that move us towards the virtues of Personal Greatness ."
-St. Vrin of the Spiral Knife, 3a76y

In theory, the drow house is a familial structure designed to create a support aparatus for an individual drows path to personal growth and power. In practice, the Drow houses are gargantuan clan structures, dominated by the bloodlines with the most power, wealth, and church connections. Since the very beginning of the Drow Nation, their have been four Great Houses and in the millenia since, only one other has risen. Each great house has many smaller House Minors that branch off from it. The right to create a House Minor is granted only by the High Seat of a given house, or by the Vicar of Heartwood. The Houses, great and minor, are home to hundreds or thousands of drow bloodlines. They use their wealth and power to aid those who merit such in their path towards greatness. Though this normally means wealth and opportunity is funnelled towards the ruling bloodlines, no individual of ambition is ever without a means for advancement in a drow house, or church for that matter.

Culturally, the House name a Drow bears is a mark of pride, even for the most common among them. Every house has a rich and storied history, and few are the drow that exhibit jealousy of another house. Rank within their house is, of course, another matter entirely.

The structure of Drow society is such that it is understood that the Churches have dominance over the Pillars of Faith and Race, while the Houses have dominance over the Pillar of Family. However, as it is also the Chuch's perview to decide which Pillar a given circumstance falls under, there is no aspect truly independant of the Faiths.

Government and the Churches of Es'Draery Lar

As previously stated, the drow of Es'Draery Lar are ruled by a totalitarian theocracy formed of the churches of Katdoral, Koric, and Cyian. This theocracy has been in place since the very beginning of their race, making it the single longest running and most stable government in Severall's history. That isnt to say, however, that the government hasnt evolved over the intervening centuries. As the drow have grown in population and power, the churches have expanded and specialized to maintain their control. The result has been a rich and complex ruling structure, bound in tradition and faith yet fluid in its ability to transcent rigid fundamentalism.

The 10th Dominion
Almost all executive power within Es'Draery Lar is held by the council currently known as Es'lus Cyiona, or The 10th Dominion. The council is made up of the Vicar of Heartwood and the Archbishops of the nine largest and most powerful churches of The Drow Nation. The 10th dominion is a fluid name, as the number of churches involved in the council shifts slowly throughout the ages. As churches with differing ideologies or purposes rise and fall within drow culture, the number of churches powerful enough to warrant a seat on the council shifts as well. Nine Hundred years ago, the council was called Es'Ani Cyiona and held only six churches plus the Vicar. The rise of the newest drow God, Cyian Doth'Dakar, spawned new churches that quickly gained power and prestige, earning them seats on the council.

The Vicar of Heartwood
The 10th Dominion is led by the drow priest who holds the title of Naechor i'Aerdyllarn, or Vicar of Heartwood. Without any doubt, the Vicar is the single most powerful individual within Es'Draery Lar.

From the Holy City of Heartwood, within the ancient temple called Shadraera'vyr (Dark Heartsblood), the Vicar rules the drow of Severall. The power of this office is absolute, second only to the power of the three drow gods themselves. A decree from the Vicar is Law most Sacred, and disobedience is both Religious Blasphemy and Secular Treason.

The (Es) Naechor i'Aerdyllarn, often shortened in common parlance to simply Es'Naechor, is chosen for life. When the previous Naechor passes, the archbishops of the 10th Dominion enact a powerful ritual, something like a mass Commune spell. The ritual links the minds of the Archibishops with those of the gods of the drow pantheon, allowing them to ask a series of penetrating questions concerning the needs of the drow nation during the coming centuries and the traits the Gods would like to see in their next Naechor. This information then allows them to select the most viable candidates. This process can take several months of intense inquiry and debate, yet with their Pantheons guidance, the post is always filled with a drow of talent, intellect, and faith. Throughout the ages, this process, though cumbersome and time consuming, has never failed to produce a Naechor i'Aerdyllarn of purpose and distinction. The gods themselves serve as proof against corruption and politics during the selection process.

The Naechor is empowered to rule Es'Daery Lar as they see fit. Altering and erasing the Laws or edicts of previous Naechors is not uncommon, as each Naechor is measured against the times they live in, and not the history of the office. They are guided and constrained only by the edicts and teachings of the Gods they worship, and the intricacies created by the small differences between those Gods. Altering the core tenants of the faiths, like The Three Pillars, is beyond even this most auspicious office, yet instituting change in their interpretation and/or enforcement is not.

A distinct list of The Naechor's powers of State would be pointless, as they have virtually any power they feel they require. However, cheif among those powers that every Naechor claims are these two: Power of Unimpeachable Intent and Power of Required Obesience.

The Power of Unimpeachable Intent allows the Naechor to over rule any judgement of any House or Church within Es'Draery Lar, or truly involving drow anywhere. It is, ultimately, the Naechors right and power to judge the worth of any idea, event, or person in both deed and intent, and none can gainsay or counter their judgement.
The Power of Required Obsesience empowers the Naechor to determine needs of the Churches and the requirements necessary for gaining the Churches aid and succor. The most prominent use of this power is the setting of mandatory tithing rates from the Houses, as well as from adventurers and conquerers. The power also allows the Naechor to unilaterally alter the requirements for entry into any of the Churches or holy orders of the Drow Nation.

The Naechor, in addition to being supported by the Archbishops of the Nine Domains, has a large support staff to attend him. Chief among these staffers are his Liasons to the Great Houses, His Ministers of Treasury, Slavery, Arcanum, Interspecies Relations (Involving mostly duergar, dragons, devils, and ilithids), Prime Resource (Involving the security and maintanence of the wild areas of the Drow Forest to protect the Holy Gauntlet that hones and tempers the drow race) and the Ambassador to The Empire of Lark.

The current Naechor i'Aerdyllarn is Osaandir Indari Caersidyll (Cleric 10, Contemplative 8 of the Drow Pantheon [Pantheon Feat] with the domains of Darkness, Law, Drow, and Domination). Naechor Osaandir is the youngest drow to hold the Office of Naechor, only 376 at the time of his elevation. He is also the first Naechor to be raised from the newest of the Nine Domains, Astu 'iTinastra Jularthin (Church of the Trinity Triumphant). His elevation has been heralded across the Drow Nation as a call for increased unity between the churches and a more vigorous movement towards dominatiing the lesser races.

The Church Ascendant
The church from which a Naechor i'Aerdyllarn is chosen becomes the Impravae Astu, or Church Ascendant of the 10th Dominion, and leads the council of The Nine Domains (Es Hei Cyiator) in the absense of the Vicar (Including that time period between the death of one Vicar and the elevation of the next). The Archbishop of the Church Ascendant leads council meetings when the Vicar is not present and on all matters the Vicar decides is beneath his station. The Archbishop may call a meeting of the Nine Domains at any time.

Naturally, as people are drawn to power, the size of the Church Ascendant typically increases during their Naechors reign.

The Nine Domains
Es Hei Cyiator, or The Nine Domains, are the nine most powerful churches of the Drow Nation. Each Church has risen either as a particular ideology has gained prominence among the drow populous, or in response to a purpose that requires a specific church to oversee.
Each of the Nine Domains maintains a similar internal structure, differences between them stemming only from the necessary inclusion of ranks or powers specific to their ideals or purpose.

Each Church is headed by an Archbishop (Reinalt). The Archbishop sits on the council of the 10th Dominion, and is responsible for his Church to the Vicar of Heartwood. The Archbishop is free to design his own staff structure as needed, but each normally has a staff of hundreds, with a handful in specific titles of power and prestige.

Under the Archbishop are the Bishops (Inalti). Bishops traditionally govern the church affairs of a large area, an individual metropolis or large city, or a large areas that contains small cities and lesser communties.

Beneath the Bishops are the Archprelates (Refiori). Archprelates govern church affairs within an indiviual small city or large town, or areas containing several small towns and lesser communities.

The head of a specific temple that does not currently hold a larger title is called a Prelate (Fior). They are the equivalent of a High Preist in the churches of other races.
Inbetween these ranks are gradations of rank unique to each church, that are generally attained through personal power, wealth, or political influence.

The Nine Domains in Detail

1. The Church of the Trinity Triumphant (Astu i'Tinastra Jularthin)[Church Ascendant]

The Curch of the Trinity Triumphant, often called simply the Jularthins, is the newest of the Nine Domians. It is a church dedicated to an ideology of worhipping all members of the Drow Pantheon, through its own Heirarchy (Katdoral>Koric>Cyian). It preaches that unity of purpose and the trivialization of the minutia of differences that separate the other churches are the true path to Drow dominance of the Three Worlds.

Jularthins see the Ascension of more drow to Godhood as the penultimate goal of Drow society and would readily welcome the worship of new Drow gods into the practice of their Faith.

Requirements for Entry: Must possess the Heirarchy of Darkness Panteon Feat and must possess either the Law or Evil Domains.
Current Archbishop: Tien'viv Estari Aeradyll (Cleric 17 of the Drow Pantheon, with the Law and Drow domains)

2. The Church of Dark Revalations (Astu i'Shadra Aretia)

Called Aretians, the members of the Church of Dark Revalations carry the pride of belonging to the single oldest Church in Es'Draery Lar. This Church claims such ancient luminaries as St. Vrin of the Spiral Knife, Kaltorel Iraedoluthan, and even Koric himself when he was mortal.

Since their ancient beginnings, the Aretians have become more specialized. Today, they are an order of dark mysticism, probing the depths of Great Katdorals blackness for insight and portents, secrets of power and sacrifice, and all things occult and occluded. Masters of Divination and crafters of magic items and unique spells, this Church holds an intense attraction for adventurers and those seeking hidden wisdom.

Requirements for entry: Must worship Katdoral or possess the Heirarchy of Darkness feat. Must possess the Darkness domain.
Current Archbishop: Adrin Estari Iraedoluthan (Cleric 21 of Katdoral with the Darkness and Evil domains)

3. The Church of Perfection Inherent (Astu i'Kori Katdris)

The oldest church in the Drow Nation dedicated to Koric, the Kordites (common parlance shorthand) believe in the absolute perfection of the Drow race as the core tenant of their Faith. Firm believers in the power of the Second Pillar, the Kordites preach and pursue the interests of the Drow Race with the utmost zealotry.
The church tends to involve itself a great deal in the Drow Nations dealings with other races, always present to ensure the the Drow come out in a better position than they went in, and preferably leaving their counterparts with the unmistakable imp[ression of Drow superiority. Members of this curch are often called to serve as ambassadors and deligates.

Requirements: Must worhips Koric or possess the Heirachy of Darkness Feat Must possess the Drow Domain.
Current Archbishop: Belana Bari Dylla-Veluth (Cleric 12, Unholy Bastion 6 of Koric with the Drow and Retribution Domains

4.The Church of the Trinity Adherent (Astu i'Tinastra Redowin)

Considering itself the Church of Absolute Law, the Redowins are the largest of the Nine Domains and the first church to be created to fulfill a specific purpose rather than growing naturally from a particular ideal.

The Redowins are the Judicial branch of the Drow Nation. Every community larger than a town possess at least one Redowin Church, and those smaller recieve regular Redowin patrols.

The Redowins concern themselves only with the enforcement of Drow Law, and rendering Judgement upon cases brought before them. They maintain a large number of Knightly, Monsatic, and Arcane orders to help facilitate their multiple roles as police, judge, and executor of Drow justice.

The Redowin church possess the largest number of drow that are LN of all the Nine Domains.

Requirements: May worship any or possess the Heirarchy of Darkness feat. Must possess the Law domain.
Current Archbishop: Pavain Xorliss-Telan (Cleric 23 of Katdoral with the Law and Evil domains)

5. Church of Foes Yet Fallen (Astu i'Remu Du Extor)

One of the smallest of the Nine Domains, Extorers take Koric's title of The Vengeful Son to heart. They are the constant enemies of the foes of the Drow race, relentlessy persuing indiviuals that have caused an affront to either individual drow, or the race as a whole. Anything from fleeing murderers, to slave rebellions, to military incursions prompt a response from the Extorers. As their broad scope often overlaps with the purposes and ideals of the other curches, they are also often found working in conjunction with them.

The extorers maintain large Knightly orders, many specializing in tracking and infiltration to follow their vendetta's where ever tthey may lead.

Requirements: Must worship Korric of possess the Heirarchy of Darkness Feat. Must possess the Retribution or Destruction domains.
Current Archbishop: Detru Indari Iraeslithis (Cleric 17 of Koric with the Retribution and Destruction domains)

6. The Church of Tyranny Absolute (Astu i'Cydutar Omoni)

The Cydutari are the second youngest of the Nine Domains. They are a church of strict military style heirarchy who follow the dominating tenants of Cyian Doth'Dakar to the letter. Es'Draery'Lar's military stregnth has always been somewhat divided amongst the various Churches and Houses. In recent centuries, however, the Cydutari have begun consolidating the various militaries of the Nine Domains as well as developing a small but growing secular military that owes its allegiance only the the Vicar of Heatwood. Naturally, they see themselves as the perfect resource for managing this military.

The Cydutari have a few large churches in Metropoli and Large Cities, but most of their ranks prefer to remain in the army and naval bases they have been building around the borders and coasts of Es'Draery Lar, outside of traditional drow communities.

Requirements: Must worship Cyian or posess the Heirarchy of Darkness feat. Must posess the Tyranny or Domination domain.
Current Archbishop: Gailar Bari Xorliss-Telan (Cleric 17 of Cyian with the Domination and Law domians)

7. The Church of Transcendant Rebirth (Astu i'Indrathi Beriin)

The Beriin are the ultimate ministers of the faiths of Koric and Cyian to other races. Korics promise that all faithful of other races shall earn rebirth as drow to earn their place within the Drow Heaven is a powerful force among the slave races of Es'Draery Lar, as well as the other races of the Empire of Lark. The Beriin are the missionaries of this promise.

In practice, the Beriin church manages the slave population of the Drow Nation, and is often deeply involved in aiding the Houses in maintaining their slave populations as well. Slaves are ministered to from childhood to instill this sense of divine purpose. While the Beriins would never stoop to out right defending of a slave, they do frown apon the rampant abuse of faithful and loyal slaves, and may refuse aid to those that commit such.

Within the Empire of Lark, the Beriin have a great deal of power. The Church readily accepts clerics and mystics of races other than drow (though those beings may never hold positions of power within the church heirarchy, and are always of 1/2 rank less than a drow priest). These nondrow priests are never permited to minister to drow, but can minister to the slaves of drow households and act as missionaries to any other race.

Requirements: Must possess the Drow domain
Current Archbishop: Urean Indari Aeramilani (Cleric 15, Heirophant 3 of Koric with the Drow and Retribution domains)

8. Church of the Final Purpose (Astu i'es'Farish Katri)

The Church of the Final Purpose, or the Farishtani for short, pursue knowledge of other races, religions, cultures, and institutions in order to better faciliate their destruction or conversion. They are scholars and philosophers, unphased by the thought of immersing themselves within the institutions of lesser beings in order to assure eventual drow dominance.

The Farishtani receive substancial sums from the Drow Nation to further their studies and conduct field research. Many go so far as to transform themselves into other races to better immerse themselves in its mindset. They seek to understand in order to dominate. The Farishtani, due to the distasteful nature of their work, are one of the smallest of the Nine Domains, yet each of the other churches readily supports their work.

The Farishtani maintain large Knightly and Arcane Orders to further their research both in and out of the field.

The Church of the Final Purpose attracts the largest number of drow who are NE rather than LE.

Requirements: Any of the Pantheon, must possess either the Darkness, Destruction, or Domination domains.
Current Archbishop: Saelin Estari Alhargalost, Cleric 10, Loremaster 10 of Koric with the Destruction and Evil domains)

9. Church of the True Peoples (Astu i'es'Doral Koricara)

The Koricarans are a huge church, dedicated to ministering to the common drow and duergar without the need for specific ideology or purpose. They lend a ready ear and constant advice to the drow of Es'Draery Lar, The Empire of Lark, and the Duergar race. They can be found in every city, and almost every village and hamlet.
Koricarans are interested only in the continued faith of the masses, and generally direct those in need of more specific help towards the church that can help them best. In all other matters, they ply constant drow wisdom to the ears of the people with a calm dedication and unswerving loyalty the the existing power structures.

It is not uncommon for members of the other churches to look down on the Koricaran Church as lacking true focus, yet the Koricarans mostly ignore it. They heave the hearts and minds of the only two races that matter to Koric, the drow and the duegar, so elitist attitudes toward them are considered to be nothing more than envy.
The Church of the True Peoples is the Church most duergar priests belong to, though some of the others have begun making headway with the Dark Dwarf population.

Requirements: Any God. Any Domains.
Current Archbishop: Hespith Bari Vilenna-Telan (Cleric 19 of Katdoral with the Darkness and Evil domains)

[Sardinal]

Government and Church Scruture of the Drow Nation Continued

Church Knightly Orders ( Asti'Jishain)

All of the Nine Domains and several of the lesser churches of the Drow Nation maintain Knightly Orders to support and defend their work. These Knightly Orders vary and size and make up, though each does follow a simple generalized heirarchal structure to facilitate rank equivalencies within society.

The highest rank of each Knightly Order is Perceptor. The Perceptor of an Order of one of the Nine Domains(Dator're) hold rank within the over all Drow heirarchy equivalent to that of a Bishop. Perceptors of orders of the lesser churches (Dator) are the equal of a Prelate.

Under the Perceptor, each Order has three Knight Executives (Asti'Jishain Rodarni). These are: Knight Executive of Resource, Knight Executive of Operation, and Knight Executive of Membership. Their roles are self explanatory and their ranks are equivalent to an Archprelate if the knightly order is of one of the Nine Domains. If from one of the lesser churches, they hold the rank of a Priest capable of 4th Circle spells.

Most of the Orders of the Nine Domains are large enough to have Chapterhouses (Hadrinoth) in multiple cities and other locations. The Knight in charge of a specific chapterhouse hold the rank of Lord Knight (Kor Asti'Jishain) and carry the equivalent rank of Prelate. None of the Lesser churches have orders large enough to operate multiple chapterhouses.

Make-up:

Like the churches themselves, the rank of Church Knight (Asti'Jishain) and the Highest ranks of the Church Knightly Orders are reserved for those capable of channelling the power of the Divine. Warriors of Faith and Rangers are most common. Those of other classes that prestige into classes linked to the drow panteon are also acceptable, as well as a number of multiclass cleric/fighters and mystic/fighters. Rogues who walk the path of the Divine Seeker or simlar divinely inspired classes are also present.

When entering into a Church Knight Order, one begins at the rank of Man-at-Arms (Asti'woriin). Those who choose to not persue a path towards divine power, but whose faith demands service in such an order never leave this rank, though many orders are large enough to have gradations of the Asti'worrin rank.

Those that do persue a class with a divine connection are raised to the rank of Squire (Asti'Jishurn) after proving themselves and are apprenticed to an experienced Knight, preferably of the same or very similar class, who becomes responsible for the Squires further education. The squire is expected to serve his Knight with humility and grace while learning from him. When the Knight is satisfied that his Squire is prepared for Knighthood, he approaches either his Chapterhouse's Lord Knight or his Orders Perceptor to give the Squire a quest. Completion of this quest is required before Knighthood is earned.

Knights of the Church Orders carry the honorific Sir (Te) and hold a rank equivalent to a priest of 1/2 their level.

Monastic Orders

Many of the the Churches of the Drow Nation, both of the Nine Domains and the lesser churches, also have Monastic Orders. The generalized heirarchal structure of the Knightly order is normally used within these orders as well, but the lesser ranks are traditionally separated by decrees of Martial, Spiritual, and Philosophical Mastery, rather than questing and defending the churches.

Other than the highest ranks of the Monastic Orders, Rank within a Church Monastic Order carries no rank within the church or within drow secular society.

Arcane Orders

A small number of the Nine Domains also run Church Arcane Orders. Like the Knightly Orders, the Arcane Orders require that the upper echelons of its ranks be held by those that follow divinely inspired paths (Arcane Devotee, True Necromancer, Mystic Theurge, and multiclass arcane/divine casters are examples). These Orders traditionally hold no rank within the Church heirarchies, filling advisory roles instead.
Each Church Arcane Order generally creates it's own internal heirarchy based on its needs and purpose. Membership in such an order carries no ranks or honorifics, but such service is greatly respected by most drow.

Church Lands

The Drow Nation rests within one of the largest and most diverse forest/jungle habitats of the three worlds. One can find almost any type of wild grown landscape within its borders, from temparate arboreal forests in the north, to suptropical swamplands, to tropical rainforest and heavy jungle. Their is no shortage of developable land, yet Drow society exists today as it always has, in large, mostly isolated islands of civilization amidst extremely dangerous wildernesses. These wild lands are considered Holy to the drow, their testing grounds to prove their worth to the Gods, and they heartily resist attempts to tame that wilderness any more than their population requires.

That being said, the Drow Nation is an enormous place, and The Churches (and the Houses) have carved out large areas for their use.

The largest of these Church Lands is, of course, Heartwood. Holy City of the Drow Nation, Heatwood was the very first drow settlement in Severall's history. Once it stood as the home of all drow, and today it stands as the center of all drow faiths. The metropolis itself and an area with 135 miles in every direction is claimed by the 10th Dominion as Church Land.

Every church of the Es'Draery Lar has a temple within the city, and many have temples, retreats, monastaries and convents scattered throughout the region. It is from this central point that the power of the 10th Dominion radiates outward, controlling the entire Nation.

The God Lands

Three massive tracts of land ajoining the Holy Lands have also been cleared, called the God Lands. Each of the three tracts is dedicated to one of the three Gods of the Pantheon. Within those lands are the private homes of powerful priests and knights, retreats that the ancient members of the Churches and Orders can go into retirement in. These lands also hold the churches private slave camps and training centers, secret temples and libraries, and dozens of things hidden from the eyes of secular drow and lesser priests.

Travelling through the God Lands along the major riverways and the roads that follow them is permitted, as they lie along the paths that most drow would need to take to make a pilgrimage to the Holy City. Travelling away from the rivers and roads, deeper into the God Lands, however, is strictly forbidden to those not of the proper rank or bearing invitations from those that do.

The Church of Chal-Tsu

The Great Lord of Bones, The True Necromancer, The Pestilent God, Chal-Tsu and his Church have had a storied and turbulent history in Es'Draery Lar. In Ages past, Chal-Tsu was considered (and considered himself) a member of the Drow Pantheon. Raised to Godhood shortly after Koric himself and considered a brother to Koric as well as St. Vrin and Kaltorel, The Lord of Undeath and his church were an incredible power within the Drow Nation.

Over the eons, however, differences between both Chal-Tsu and Koric as well as between Chal-Tsu and Katdoral himself began to crop up, filtering down to their mortal followers as well. Questions of what rank sentient undead held within drow civilization and whether undead who were once drow were inately superior to those that were originally lesser races began permeating political discussions.

Confrontations over these questions and more rocked both the Heavens and Drow civilization. Finally, in event known as The First Great Schism, Chal-Tsu began persuing followers of all races, promising them equal footing within his Church and those lands his Church controlled. Chal-Tsu himself broke away from the Pantheon, forging a path all his own.

His Church within Es'Draery Lar sufferred incredibly during this period. While not cast out, The Naechor i'Aerdyllarn of the time, Haliphate Estari Alhara-Veluth, removed those churches following Chal-Tsu from the 6th Dominion, reducing them to the status of lesser churches. Thousands of Chal-Tsu's followers left the church, offended by their God's abandonment of the Three Pillars. Only House Shassa-Telan, Chal-Tsu's own house when he was mortal, kept to the Faith.

This delicate situation persisted for centuries, until Chal-Tsu named a Half-Drow woman, Kari Shassa-Telan, called Kari The Abomination by most drow, his Chosen on Severall, making her the titular head of his Church the three worlds over. Even significant portions of House Shassa-Telan were appalled that a Half-Breed female should be so elevated. This event precipitated The Second Great Schism.

During this period, House Shassa-Telan split down the middle, with half staying loyal to their God, and the other half abandoning Him. The Drow Nation delcared Chal-Tsu's worship to be Anathema within its borders, and war was waged against those still loyal to his Church. Many fled to the Empire of Lark, but many more died at the hands of their enraged drow cousins. By the time the events of The Second Great Schism were over, not a single open worshipper of Chal-Tsu existed within Es'Draery Lar.

All things change in time, however, and today, almost 1500 years later, The Church of the First Lich is slowly making a comeback in the Drow Nation.
Spurred on by House Doth'Dakar's stunning rise to power and take over of the Empire of Lark, The Houses of Es'Draery Lar now jockey for power and position within the Empire, whose single largest and most powerful faith is that of Chal-Tsu. The power of House Doth'Dakar within the Empire is deeply entwined with that of Kari Shassa-Telan and her church, prompting many to seek peaceful resolutions to their differences.

Naechor Ovaandir is also a believer in reunification with the Church of Chal-Tsu. The Vicar, over many conversations with Kas'ryn Doth'Dakar (The Emperor of Lark) has come around to the idea that reunion on the mortal plane may give cause to their Gods to set aside differences and bring Chal-Tsu back into the fold.
This idea is not without its dangers, though. A fact he keeps foremost in his mind. The Church of Chal-Tsu has once again been granted the status of a lesser church within Es'Draery Lar. House Shassa-Telan's long ostracized imperial branch has been welcomed back into drow civilization as well, though debate rages on whether they should be asked (or forced) to change their name. House Shassa-Telan's Drow Loyalist branches are adamant that the followers of Kari shall not be welcomed back into the family.

Chal-Tsu's official Church within the homeland is now called Astu i'Elbrathi'Upash, or The Church of Eternity Rekindled. It has been ordered to arange itself as all drow Churches do, and its current Archbishop, Veshiva Estari Shassa-Telan, has been granted an honorary advisory position within the 10th Dominion. He may be present for meetings, answer questions asked of him, and ask questions himself, but has no power within the council. It is understood that Archbishop Veshiva does answer to Kari, yet Kari herself is still barred from entering The Drow Nation.

The Churhc of Eternity Rekindled currently has one Knighthood and one Arcane Order associated with them.

The Church of Chal-Tsu must also submit to the scrutiny of a new sub-set of advisors and investigators whose job it is to help reintegrate the church and maintain a watchful eye for insurrection or subversion of the Three Pillars. Called the Draer'Insei, they are a new subspecies of the drow race that has risen in recent centuries. Almost identicle to normal drow in most respects, the Draer'Insei live on Negative Energy, rather than Positive Energy. This makes them uniquely suited to the task they have been given. Insei advisors to the Church of Chal-Tsu carry a staff topped with a crystal orb in which constantly buzz a number of positive energy insects. These insects were responsible for the destruction of Chal-Tsu first Necropolis and the Insei carry them as a reminder of their power over the church.

[Sardinal]

The Drow Houses

The Drow race is organized into massive Houses (Denuva), great familial organizations who can trace their ancestories back to the children of The Mother and Father of the drow race. The Houses are separated into two categories: The Great Houses and The House Minors.

There are five Great Houses, four of which harken back to the first families of the drow race. The fifth is a recently created House, whose staggeringly fast rise to power enabled them to be the first house to ever be raised to the station of Great House.

The Great Houses are the true power among the secular population of drow society. These mammoth institutions are wealthy beyond belief, and jealously guard what power the Churches grant them.

House Minors are started when a drow of a house has distinquished himself with superb service to their House or The Drow Nation. In rare cases, that service is rewarded with the opportunity to start their own House Minor, allied to the House from which them originally came. Only the High Seat of a Great House or The Vicar of Heartwood may grant this rarest of boons.

The High Seat of a House Minor may run his house however he pleases, but is forever one step below the High Seat of the Great House his family is allied to. The Great Houses may, in times of need, call upon the resources and manpower of their allied House Minors, and brook no hesitation or disloyalty from them.

The Houses, both Great and Minor have thousands of drow bloodlines within them, and tens of thousand to millions of drow members.

The 10th Dominion requires that all of the Houses maintain numerous methods for the drow within them to better themselves and persue their ambitions. While it is a certainty that the very best opportunities almost always end up in the hands of the wealthy and powerful, no house allows those with drive and determination to stagnate, at least not knowingly. Every house maintains numerous general schools for drow youths. Colleges of Nature, the Arcane, and Psionics are also very common. The houses also sponser a large number of mentorship programs in various skills and arts. Scribes, craftpersons, teachers, smiths of all specialties, artisans, and musicians are paid handsomely to apprentice those with notable talent, though the apprentices direct family is expected to pay their share as well.

House Culture

Any instruction in the nature of drow houses must first begin with the cultural striations of power with in them. All drow born into a house come from one of three striations: The Estari, The Indari, and The Bari. These titles are part of the drows name, coming inbetween their given name and house name.
It is also worth noting here that by-and-large, the churches ignore this system of striations. Rank within a house has no bearing on station within any of the church organizations. Houses also tend to ignore the striations of other houses, assuming that any drow bearing a house name is worthy of their time. These striations exist only to create social status within a house.

The Estari are the ruling caste of the Houses. Estari translates literally to "Power of", so, for example, Kas'ryn Estari Doth'Dakar literally means Kas'ryn Power of House Doth'Dakar. The Estari are all members of the bloodline of the High Seat of the House. The Estari title extends from the High Seat in multiple directions. All drow directly related to the High Seat up to four generations above, seven generations below and horizontally from each generation (Brothers, sisters, neices/nephews, Uncles/Aunts and cousins out to two steps removed) are members of the Estari. Members of the Estari caste are generally afforded a great deal of respect both within and without their house, as proximity to a High Seat is in-an-of itself a form of power. These drow also tend to have more avenues towards growth and personal advancement due to having more access to the families wealth and political connections.

The Estari traditionally hold other secular titles within the house, that will be discussed later in this document.

The Estari cast has no stipulations on when they must use their middle name.

The second level of rank with a House is the Indari. Indari translates to "Honored of". There are two methods of becoming Indari. The first is direct relation to the High Seat of the House, but far enough removed in relation to the High Seat to not be Estari. In addition, service to the house can be rewarded by elavation from the third caste to the Indari.

Like the Estari, the Indari strata tend to have access to slightly better education and means of advancement. Indari also can hold secular titles within the House structure, as needed and determined by the High Seat.

The Indari caste has no stipulations on when they must use their middle name.

The third strata is the Bari, which translates to "Born of". The Bari are the lowest of the three strata, yet this should not be taken to imply that they are looked down on in any way. All drow are House Drow, and Drow is another word for perfection. This merely denotes proximity to the ruling bloodline of the house. Inevitably, it does mean that these drow, who do make up the strong majority of the drow population, do not heave ready access to the wealth and connections of the house. Bari bloodlines are by no means lazy, however. Many famous bloodlines of the Bari caste hold wealth and connections of their own and plenty of avenues of advancement exist within drow society for drow of any house rank.

Bari seldom hold secular ranking positions, but it is not completely unheard of.

The Bari casts only stipulation is that if they choose to use their house name they must also include their middle name.

Fourth Names:

Many drow bloodlines possess legendary histories or direct linkages to famous Drow heros. In recent centuries, the practice of the "Fourth Name" or "Bloodline Name" has grown popular. The name is inserted just after their given name, before their middle name. For example, a bloodline that can track its anscestory directly to St. Vrin could use the fourth name VyrVrin or "Blood of Vrin" as in Drea VyrVrin Bari Shassa-Telan.

The practice is becoming more and more common, even members of certain Indari and Estari bloodlines have begun using fourth names.

The official (and enforced by the Church of the Trinity Adherent) stance of the churches is that this practice is useful and largely harmless, yet the burden of proof lies with those claiming the name. Sullying the name of famous drow by lying about a relation to them is a criminal act.

House Structure:
The Houses all follow a similar structure that has served the houses well for centuries. As the House have grown larger, more and more ranks have become required to manage the houses buisness.

The High Seat

The head of any given Drow House is known as the High Seat (Saer'ri). They are the ultimate Lord of the house, whose will is to obeyed over any other not of the Church. The High Seat is a hereditary posistion, passed from one member of a bloodline to another, but the High Seat is free to choose who among his immediate relations is his heir. It need not be a child, but could move to any member of his bloodline close enough to be of the Estari Caste. This allows a High Seat to ensure that his power passess to one he believes is most likely to use it as he believes they should. The Vicar of Heartwood can over rule this choice, however.
The High Seats rule large portions of land controlled by their house. Unless under direct orders from the Churches, High Seats are free to use that land as they choose. They are also free to name anyone to positions of secular rank. Their Power is as near to absolute as the Churches allow them to be, and the High Seats are generally always hungry for more.

High Seat Disteritus

With the take over of the Empire of Lark by House Doth'Dakar complete, most of the drow houses now yearn for land and position within the Empire. The distance between the Drow Homeland and the Empire, however, makes running a House in both efficiently difficult. To facilitate a smother operation, the High Seat of the House designates a High Seat Disteritus (Saer'ri Disteritus) to run the affairs of the House within the Empire. The High Seat Disteritus's power exists only within the borders of the Empire, but within those borders he or she is second only to the High Seat himself.

The High Seat Disteritus often duplicates an entire House Staff Disteritus to help him run the house in the Empire.

House Doth'Dakar and its two House Minors (House Del'Thiir and House Doth'Doluthan) work in the reverse. Their Houses are all primarily based within the Empire and send their Disteritus to Es'Draery Lar

House Staff
The High Seat has a large contingent of staff to aid him in the running of the Houses affairs. Most of these staffers have staff of their own as well.

The House Bishop

The House Bishop (Denunalti) is the second most powerful figure in a Drow House. When a High Seat first attains his position, he chooses a which of the Nine Domains he wishes his House Bishop to be from. Whenever possible, that role is than filled by a member of that church who is also from his House. The 10th Dominion may over rule any choice, but must provide sound reasoning for doing so. The Vicar of Heartwood may over rule this choice without explanation.
The House Bishop acts as a constant intermediary between the House and the 10th Dominion, and is expected to balance his loyalties between the two carefully. House Bishops carry a rank 1/2 step above that of normal Bishops.

Under the House Bishop are the eight House Prelates, one from each of the other Eight Domains. They report both to the House Bishop and to their own churches, which can be a difficult position, but one that affords them great respect if they handle it well.

The House Seneschal

The third highest ranking member of a House is its Seneschal (Zitria or Denuva Zitria). The Seneschal is responsible for making sure the day to day operations of a house keep moving smoothly. All other members of the House Staff (except the House Bishop) report directly to the Seneschal, who only brings those items that he cant handle to the attention of the High Seat
.
The Seneschal is a position of utmost trust. Seneschals generally have access to almost all of a Houses secrets and resources.
The Seneschal names a House Treasurer(Liquid Assets), a House Antiquitor (Relics, Art, and House Histories), and a House Enumerator (Resources and Land assets) to aid him in his work.

Master of Slaves

The House Master of Slaves (Hedru i'Chatre) concerns himself with the acquicision, training, breeding, and punishment of a Houses slave stables. This is a massive job, as a House often possess tens of thousands of slaves across its entire holdings.

Every House has areas of its land dedicated to slave camps, many more like large slave towns. It is the Master Of Slaves duty to make sure each of these camps runs smoothly and efficiently in order to provide a constant flow of well trained and behaved chattel to serve the Houses needs.

The Master of Slaves names his own staff, traditionally, which consists of the Master of Broods (Hedru i'Budu), The Master of Agriculture (Hedru i'Reshito), and the Master of Training and Ettiquete (Hedru i'Hestia), as well as many Overseers (Sedi'my) and BreedMasters (Budarhedri). Some, in areas where such is profitable, have a Master Of Mines( Hedru i'Freniar).

Lord Knight of the House

Every house has its own Knightly Orders. These knighthoods exist to defend and protect the Houses holdings and interests, as well as leading the houses military or militia when necessary. Though most enforcement of drow law is handled by the Church of the Trinity Adherent, many houses use their Knightly Orders for this purpose as well.

Regardless of the number of Knighthoods a house creates, it has only a single Lord Knight of the House (Kor'Jishain i'Denova) that organizes them all. Under the Lord Knight, each individual Knightly Order has is headed by a House Perceptor (Denova'Dator).
House Knighthoods tend to follow the same path of progression as the Churches do. House Knights (Denu'Jishain) also carry the honorific Sir (Te) and are normally, but not always, elevated to the rank of Indari if they are not of that rank already.

House Knights can be of almost any class, though fighter, knight, and ranger are most common. Those that persue classes with an innate link to the divine tend to gravitate towards the church knighthoods, but it is not completely unheard of for them to enter a House Knighthoods. There are a few examples of individuals who belong to both a House and Church knighthood, but they are very rare.

House Archmagus
Arcane magic and Psionics are the single area in which the Houses tend to be more powerful than the churches. Every house runs multiple Arcane Orders and Psionic Guilds to augment its power. Each High Seat has a House Archmagus (Denova 'Renagiith) that oversees and manages these orders.
Each individual order organizes itself towards its own needs, but the House Archmagus can overrule any leaders they create. The orders generally each have one or two aeras of magic that it is responsible to the House for, but each is also generally given leave to persue research and magics of its own devising as well.
The power an Archmagus wields within his House varies from House to House, generally dependant on his personal relationship with the High Seat. Several Houses rank their Archmagus with the House Seneschal, and House Shassa-Telan traditionally ranks their Archmagus with the House Bishop. Regardless of their official rank within the house, an Archmagus's access to an incredible array of Arcane and Psionic magics makes them forever a force to be reckoned with by any other member of the Houses power structure.

[Sardinal]

The Drow Houses Cont.

Secular Ranks

The Houses, both Great and Minor, control vast amounts of land all of which is their responsibility to manage and control. To this end, the High Seats can bequeath a number of secular titles to those they deam worthy. These titles come with varying amounts of land, power, and responsibility.

These titles can be either Termed For Life or Hereditary, but once a title becomes hereditary, only the 10th Dominion (Or the Vicar of Heartwood alone) can remove that bloodline from power. For this reason, only the greatest of services to a House are normally rewarded with hereditary titles.

Those holding these titles have the responsiblity of making the lands and people in their holdings productive, maintaining Law and Order in conjunction with the churches, and identifying drow of surpassing talent and skill and aiding them in their rise to personal power and glory in the names of Katdoral, Koric, and Cyian.

Any of these titles have the authority to establish a small temporary tax on their holdings in times of need, but must have sound reasoning for doing so. This reasoning must be defended to both their High Seat and the Churches.

Duke/Duchess (Estrudar/Estruda): This highest of secular titles, Dukes generally recieve very generous land grants, often with a number of settlements within them. Dukes themselves can grant the title of Marquis/Marquessa (Rudari/Rudara) as the Lords of smaller subsets of their Duchy.

Baron/Baroness (Riad/Riada): The second highest, Barons recieve large land grants as well, normally with a settlement or three within them. Barons can grant the title of Earl (Ir'riu/Ir'ria) as the Lords of smaller subsets of their Barony.

Count/Countess (Hilad/Hilada): The third highest, Counts recieve moderate sized land grants, sometimes with a settlement or two, often without.

Magistrate (Edile): Magistrates are like mayors in drow society. They manage small towns and below, or individual districts of larger settlements.

Magnate (Ardile): Magnates are individuals with the power to buy and sell goods the house produces. While most large scale commerce is handled by the House Seneschal and his staff, Magnates handle smaller trade. Trade between different settlements, and lands within the house, as well as some small amount of the interhouse trade passes through the Magnates. They tend to work closely with the Magistrate of their area.

Landholder/Landowner (Orsharda/Orshodile): Any High Seat and any of those that hold land and title under them may lease or sell small portions of the land they control to other drow. Though that land is still controlled by the Lord/House, the leaseholder or landowner is generally free to use it as they wish. The size of the leased or sold land can be of a vareity of sizes but is seldom ever larger than one square mile.

The Houses in Name:

House Alhara-Veluth (Oak Runner): One of the Original four houses, House Alhara-Veluth was founded in the first age of Severall. The Houses lands are situated in the north of Es'Draery Lar, along the Shadowlight Run. House Alhara-Veluth and its House Minors are heavily invested in agriculture, producing a great deal of Es'Draery Lars grain, rice, and livestock.
Current High Seat: Felrik Estari Alhara-Veluth (Bard 12, Fighter 7)

House Dylla-Veluth (Wood Runner): Founded in 3a765y by Regina Alhara-Veluth. Its lands lay around the enourmous Lake Drysi and amongst its varied other enterprizes, it is a major exporter of fresh water fish.
Current High Seat: Hadril Estari Dylla-Veluth (Druid 16)

House Alharagalost (Oakguard): Founded in 3a334y by Karik Alhara-Veluth. Alharagalost lands hold Lake Restruri as well as large stands of Darkwood.
Current High Seat: Parvati Estari Alharagalost (Fighter 6, Wizard 5, Spellsword 5)

House Alharan-Telan (Oaken Branch): Founded in 3a966y by Deidrik Alhara-Veluth.
Current High Seat: Oli Estari Alharan-Telan (Evoker 19)

House Ulantha-Veluth (Leaf Runner): Founded in 4a121y by Ardrik Alhara-Veluth.
Current High Seat: Redenresh Estari Ulantha Veluth (Ranger 18 of Katdoral)

House Velutha-Lae (Windrunner): Founded in 4a334 by Irashta Alhara-Veluth.
Current High Seat: Quentara Estari Velutha-Lae (Sor 14, Arch 3)
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House Aeradyll (Heartwood) Founded in the First age, Aeradyll is one of the original four Great Houses and the House to which Koric himself was born. House Aeradyll was the founding house of the city of Heartwood, that stands today as the Holy City of the Drow Nation. Today, it and its House Minors occupy the Lands of the Thousand Lakes.
Current High Seat: Vilarya Estari Aeradyll (Wizard 15, Arch 5)

House Aera i'Insei (Heart of Anihilation) [Draer'Insei] Founded 200 years ago, House Aera'Insei is the house of the Draer'Insei.
Current High Seat: Tal're Estari Aera'Insei (Wizard 3, Sorc 4, UM 7)

House Aerashalhalla (Heartholt) Founded in 3a211y by Polic Aeradyll
Current High Seat: Nestime Estari Aerashalhalla (Rogue 8, Fighter 11)

House Caersidyll (Deepwood): Founded in 3a444y by Gaera Aeradyll.
Current High Seat: Ulara Estari Caersidyll (Bard 18)

House Aeramilani (Mithrilheart): Founded in 3a974y by Manhei Aeradyll
Current High Seat: Iralla Estari Aeramilani (Ranger 12, Wiz 7)

House Neru'Aera (Night Heart): Founded in 4a339y by Hadrin Aeradyll.
Current High Seat: Saresh Estari Neru'Aera (Monk 21)
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House Shassa-Telan (Still Branch) Founded in the first Age, House Shassa-Telan has had a more troubled history than the other Great Houses. The House of Chal-Tsu and his first Chosen, Darcinel, House Shassa-Telan has been rent twice by civil war in the Drow Nation over his Faith. Today the house and its House Minors dwell on the south-eastern shores of West Elyra. Of the four Original Great Houses, Shassa-Telan is the smallest.
Current High Seat: Brenathian Estari Shassa-Telan (Enchanter 18)

House Vilenna-Telan (Silent Branch): Founded in 3a119y by Magni Shassa-Telan
Current High Seat: Redu Estari Vilenna-Telan (Necro 7, Pale Master 10)

House Shassa-Orliss (Still Spell): Founded in 3a489y by Jesryn Shassa-Telan
Current High Seat: Vara Estari Shassa-Orliss (Wizard 19)

House Xorlis-Telan(Fallen Branch): Founded in 3a921y by Seru Shassa-Telan
Current High Seat: Lexrik Estari Xorlis-Telan (Monk 10, Sor 8)

House Viana-Taela (Vengeful Tree): Founded in 4a345y by Zestir Shassa-Telan
Current High Seat: Exesh Estari Viana-Taela (Ranger 21 of Koric)

House Finara-Telan (Pine Branch): Founded in 4a971y by Kiljara Shaasa-Telan
Current HIgh Seat: Lithill Estari Finara-Telan (Fighter 11, Wiz 10)
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House Iraedoluthan (Firebrand): Like the other original Great Houses, Iraedoluthan was founded during the first age by the children of the Mother and Father of the drow race. The House has always been the most militant of the Great Houses. It and its House Minors now occupy the lands around the Blackwater River.
Current High Seat: Chandraek Estari Iraedoluthan (Wiz 17, Arch 4)

House Iraeslithis (Fireblade): Founded in 3a228y by Olliard Iraedoluthan
Current High Seat: Sentri Estari Iraeslithis (Fighter 19)

House Iraena-Vediin (Flame Touch): Founded in 3a568y by Bendro Iraedoluthan
Current High Seat: Daest Estari Iraena-Vediin (Fighter 6, Sor 12)

House Milanidoluthan (Mithrilbrand): Founded in 3a997y by Karik Iraedoluthan
Current High Seat: Quaran Estari Milanidoluthan (Ranger 19 of Katdoral)

House Korudoluthan (Steelbrand): Founded in 4a65y by Waresh Iraedoluthan
Current HIgh Seat: Kaltari Estari Korudoluthan (Fighter 6, Wiz 3, Spellsword 10)

House Savridoluthan (Frostbrand): Founded in 4a411y by Galliard Iraedoluthan
Current High Seat: Povard Estari Savridoluthan (Druid 18)

House Nerudoluthan (Nightbrand): Founded in 4a691y by Kurin Iraedoluthan
Current High Seat: Kuriis Estari Nerudoluthan (Fighter 11, Bard 8)
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House Doth'Dakar (Rifthold): The newest Great House, House Doth'Dakar was founded by the brothers Cyian and Kas'ryn in the Empire of Lark. The Houses rise from obscurity to being the first house to be granted the status of Great House was meteoric, culminating in Cyian's Ascension to Godhood and Kas'ryn assuming the throne of the the Empire of Lark. Today, House Doth'Dakar and its House Minors are the only drow house to be based within the Empire, with their Disteritus running operations in Es'Draery Lar.
Current High Seat: Kas'ryn Doth'Dakar (Wizard 24, Arch 5)
Current Disteritus: Jerrod Doth'Dakar (Wizard 13, Arch 5)

House Doth'doluthan (Riftbrand): Originally house Argent'doluthan, this House moved to the Empire of Lark and eventually allied to Doth'Dakar and renamed itself Doth'doluthan.
Current High Seat: Raedara Estari Doth'doluthan (Bard 19)
Current Disteritus: Neshu Estari Doth'doluthan (Rogue 11, Wiz 6)

House Del'Thiir (Elven for Starforge) House Pirae'Drekir in Drow: Founded in ___? by Zaithan Del'Thiir.
Current High Seat: Zaithan Del'Thiir
Current Disteritus: Jainrii Estari Pi'Drekir (Psion 8, Metamind 10)

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*House Entiri-Telan (Ancient Branch) House Minor not associated with any Great House. House Entiri-Telan are a branch of the old Chal-Tsu worshipping house Shassa-Telan that survied within the Empire of Lark.
Current High Seat: Alharan Entiri-Telan (Cleric 21 of Chal-Tsu with the Undeath and Pestilence domians)
Current Disteritus: None

The Endless Watch and the Eternal Contest

As previously stated, drow society exists in large, country like, islands of civilization run by the Houses, surrounded by a hostile and deadly sea of forests, swamps, and jungles. According to the most ancient of Drow legends, this overgrown gargantuan land was created by Katdoral to test their race. It's wild and violent denizens placed there specifically to force the drow to constantly prove themselves againt them. And so the drow do so, as they have done throughout the ages.
This testing takes the form of The Endless Watch (Es'Tergrish Adholt), often simply called The Patrols (Es'Adheeri). Drow on The Patrols form small teams, typically of 4 to 8 drow, and set out into the wild to test themselves against the Forest and become stronger doing so. All drow must participate in the Endless Watch from the age of 120 to the age of 150.

The Endless Watch is very organized. Each House and each of the Churches run their own patrol system. Among the Houses, it is the Seneschals duty to manage this operation (Or whomever he chooses to delegate it to). Among the Churches, the Bishops run this, though they tend to delegate this work to their staff. As healers are often a needed addition to such groups, clerics and mystics are free to join teams run by their House or their Church as they so choose, though never both at the same time.

The Endless Watch takes three forms, The Border Watch, The Near Watch, and the Deep Watch.

The strong majority of drow choose to take their thirty years of service in the Border Watch. While on Border Watch, these drow teams walk the lands of their House or Church, searching out those wild and dangerous aspects of the forest that have crept in. They are a constant watch against the many perils that infest their dangerous homeland taking hold within those islands of civilization claimed by the drow. Little fame or glory is gained from tours on the Border Watch, yet the task and all those that undertake it are neccesary, as the forest never rests and often claims those that mistakenly believe it does.

The Near Watch is a bit more daring and dangerous. Those that choose to discharge their service to the drow people in the Near Watch undertake patrols just outside the borders of their House or Church's lands. They generally move from the border out to a distance of 30 miles and back again. Their purpose is to seek out and destroy threats that have moved close to drow civilization. The Near Watch regularly encounters an enormous variety of creatures and plants native to the forest, as well as numerous sentient tribal races that occasionally attempt to encroach upon drow civiliation. Though rare, it is not unheard of for a Near Watch team to return with news of massing orcs or lizardfolk that their House or Church must then mobilize against.

The Deep Watch attracts only the most daring and ambitious of drow society. Those that choose to serve in the Deep Watch form close knit teams who journey deep into the forest, seeking the challenges created by Katdoral for them. Members of the Deep Watch are well respected and stories of their exploits earn them a great deal of both fame and glory. In addition to the power and prestige they gain by truly testing themselves against the Drow Forest, the men and women of the Deep Watch also get to participate in drow societies most ancient and beloved sport, Es'Elbrath Cashee (The Eternal Contest).

The Eternal Contest is a never ending competition between the teams of the Deep Watch. Each House and Church generally has a small handful of such teams, of varying power levels, each of which competes with the others to earn the right to compete against those of other houses and churches. This competition is fierce as these teams are comprised of some of the most ambitious, courageous, and talented members of drow society. Teams accrue two types of points and earn ranks called "Teleskiira". Both the points and the ranks are doled out by the High Seats and Bishops of the Churches, with the exceptions of the very highest ranks.

The first type of points that are earned are Patrol Points, often called Kill Points, though they can be awarded for more than simply killing monsters. These points are earned while on the Deep Watch. Each Encounter is awarded a set of points based on what was encounters and how it was handled. Each Deep Watch team must have at least one member as a chronicler, who journals each nights events in the utmost detail. The journals are read by Judges upon the Watches return and scored accordingly. While this system may seem arbitrary on the outside, over the eons a very ridig system of scoring has developed and judges are chosen specifically for their adherance to it. As the Endless Watch and the Eternal Contest are considered an article of Faith set down by Katdoral himself, discovery that a team has artificially inflated its exploits within a journal is punishable by dishonorable death
.
The second type of points that can be earned are Superiority Points, or more commonly called competition points. These are earned in organized fights between Deep Watch teams for the entertainment of the masses. Each Church and House maintains a large arena for such ordeals. Most of them see weekly, sometimes daily use. Teams of the Near Watch often challenge each other to such fights as well, in fact far more often than Deep Watch teams do. These Near Watch teams have members that are hoping to attract the attention of Deep Watch teams looking for new recruits. Only fights between the teams of the Deep Watch are truly considered to be part of the Eternal Contest, yet the Near Watches more numerous fights keep the arenas filled. Deep Watch teams can challenge each other at any time.

The ranking system, called Teleskiiras, is moved through by the accumulation of both forms of points. No team can achieve the highest ranks by eschewing the arena or seeking safe patrols. Ranks are displayed through an ornate magical necklace, also called a Teleskiira. These teleskira become sucessively more powerful as one moves up through the ranks.

The first three teleskiiras are called The Silver Teleskiiras.

1st Teleskiira: Silver Pendant in the shape of a bastard sword, set with onyx.
Grants +1 Deflection AC and +1 Resistance to Saves.

2nd Teleskiira: Silver Pendant in the shape of spiked gauntlet, set with jade.
Grants +2 Deflection AC and +2 Resistance to Saves.

3rd Teleskiira: Silver Pendant in the shape of a spider, set with topaz.
as above Plus "Levitate" 1x/day at 20th caster level.

The next three teleskiiras are The Gold Teleskiiras.

4th Teleskiira: Gold Pendant in the shape of a spiked gauntlet holding a bastard sword by the middle of the blade, both set with Sapphire.
as above +2 Natural Armor

5th Teleskiira: As above but set with Emerald.
As above Plus "Cure Serious Wounds" 1xday (3d8+15)

6th Teleskiira: As above but set with Amethyst
As above but bonuses increase to +3

The next and last three are called the Platinum Teleskiira and are very rare.

7th Teleskiira: This is the House / Church Champion Teleskiira. A given house or churches teams must compete against each other to earn the right to be named that house or churches champions. The House Bishop awards that team with this rank.

This teleskiira is a platinum pendant in the shape of a spiked gauntlet holding a bastard sword by the middle of its blade, with a large spider perched on the back of the fist. The pendant is set with Ruby and Obsidian.
grants +3 deflection and natural armor bonuse to AC, a +3 Resistance bonus to saves, Levitate and Cure Serious Wounds each 1xday and a +2 enchancement bonus to a single ability score of the wearers choice.

8th Teleskiira: Every ten years, the champion teams of all the houses and churches begin a set of teired tournaments to find the four highest ranked teams. At the end of this intense competition, The Archbishops of the Nine Domains award the four victorious teams with the 8th Teleskiira.

As above but set with Onyx and Diamond.
as above but bonuses increase to +4, including the Enchancement bonus to the ability score and the Levitate and Cure Serious Wounds increasing to 2x/day.

9th Teleskiira: Once the four victors are selected, They are brought together to fight in a single grand melee, each team for itself against all three others. This grand fight is the most popular sporting event in E'Draery Lar. These battles have been known to go on for hours, with combatant teams strategically reserving magic to outlast their opponents.

Which ever team has members as the last men standing are the victors, earning the 9th Teleskiira, awarded by the Vicar of Heartwood himself.
as above but set with Black Pearl and Purple Sapphire

As above but bonuses increase to +5, enchancement bonus to ability score to +6 and the Levitate and Cure Serious Wounds to 3x/day.
As the glordy and prestige earned from the Deep Watch and the Eternal Contest are great, most members choose to serve long past their normal 30 years of service. Many teams have competed for the last three ranks multiple times and it is not unheard of for the Champions of the 9th Teleskiira to win that competition a second or even third or fourth time in a row.

Regardless of when a drow decides to leave the Deep Watch, he or she carries the highest Teleskiira they earned for the rest of their life.

[Sardinal]

Other Powers

Shadrish Tur'Varain (Dark's Will Inviolate)

The unparalleled power of the Vicar of Heartwood, the ruling might of the Nine Domains, the secular domination of the High Seats all backed by the titanic might of the Church of the Trinity Adherent's ever present police force all come together to create a highly structured society with little room for lawlessness or blasphemy. Yet, throughout the ages, rumors have always persisted of another institution. A hidden society of watchdogs, always on the lookout for the elements of chaos and good.

No one knows a member of this society. They know "a friend of a cousin's great aunt" or some other such third hand acquaintance that "Might be" a member of such a shadowy cult. Many drow snicker at the very thought of such an organization. After all, they say, how could such a thing remain hidden for so long. Yet the rumors never seem to go away for long.

Despite all the rumors and whispered conversations, the strong majority of drow would be shocked to discover the the rumors are true. The Shadrish Tur'Varain not only exists, but has existed hidden deep within drow society since they days Koric walked Severall as a mortal.

The Shadrish Tur'Varain was organized by the Deep Patrol known as Katdoral's Will, made up of five of the most famous drow in Severall history: Koric Estari Aeradyll, Vrin Estari Alhura-Veluth, Kaltorel Estari Iraedoluthan, Chal-Tsu Estari Shassa-Telan, and Darcinihil Estari Shassa-Telan. Much of modern drow society was shaped by the exploits, power, and intentions of these five drow. Their most secret initiative, however, was the Shadrish Tur'Varain. This orgainization was formed in secret to seek and destroy heresy and blasphemy against Katdoral where so ever it sprung up.

From that point on the Tur'Varain have infiltrated every level and orgainization of drow society. They can be anywhere, of any station. They are among the most talented spies and assassins in the three worlds and no one knows they exist.

When an invividual joins the Tur'Varain, they give up their House, and accept all of drow society as their family. They are indoctrinated into the belief that they are that families last guardian against infestation and invasion from the other faiths of the three worlds. When such heretics and blasphemers are found, they are dispatched swiftly, silently, and even their remains are never seen again.

The Ghost of the Drow'Wood
If rumors of the Shardrish Tur'Varain are enough to keep young drow whispering and gossiping, then it is the tales of the Zhaeriish i'es'Draer'dyll that scare them out of their reverie.

The mysterious being called the Ghost of the Drow Wood is said to be the terrible leader of the Shadrish Tur'Varain. The stories of this being run the gamut of classic horror tales, an ancient monster that feeds on the souls of drow children and rends the minds of the unfaithful. He is the bogeyman of a land surrounded on all sides by monsters and death. Yet as with the Tur'Varain, the truth is even more terrifying.

The Ghost of the Drow'Wood is none other than Kaltorel Estari Iraedoluthan, himself. Eons ago he was made a vampire by Chal-Tsu (The first vampire in Severall history, though none know it), and has spent the ages ever since leading the Shadrish Tur'Varain in their work to cull the weak, heretical, and blasphemous from drow society. Only a small number of beings know that Kaltorel still walks the world, and most are members of his orgainization. A handful, though, are not.

On the night of a new Vicar of Heartwoods ascension to the post, around dawn, just as the new Vicar is preparing to retire, he recieves a surprize visit from Kaltorel. This conversation generally only lasts a quater hour. Kaltorel introduces himself, informs the new Vicar of the Turn'Varains existance and purpose, and explains their methodologies in only the most broad terms. The new Vicar is then permitted to ask a few questions before Kaltorel vanishes back into his work, leaving the newly crowned Vicar stunned with the realization that even he is being watched.

With the sudden rise in power of the drow houses within the Empire of Lark, Kaltorel has been expanding his organizations reach to cover that area as well. He has had a similar conversation with the Emporer.
Kaltorel Iraedoluthan (male, drow, Vampire 8, Cleric 5, Monk 5, Profane Fist 22, Master Vampire 3)

The Telvuran Da'Chorni (The Growers of Guardians)

Long ago, in the first age of Severall, a group of drow calling themselves Aeradyll founded a small settelment and called it Heartwood. Realizing the need for common protection in the dangerous forest they wandered, the Mother and Father brought the rest of their children their and beseeched their Dark God for a way to shield themselves from the dangers of forest. That night massive trees sprung from the ground, forming an immense wall all around the settlement. These were first of the Da'Chorna Taeli, or Holy Guardian Trees.

The Da'Chorna Taeli, often simply called the Da'Chorni (Holy Guardians) are huge magical trees that protect drow cities. They are traditionally arranged in three concrentric rings. Each tree is capale of a small variety of Force based magical effects and has blindsight out to 120 feet. Exact stats for the Da'Chorni will be posted in the monsters section.

The Telvuran Da'Chorni are a Druidic Order devoted to the maintanance and growing of these powerful trees. They are the only drow allowed to work with the trees in any capacity. The secrets of Da'Chorna trees and the wood that comes from them have never been revealed to those outside the order, though items made from that wood are sometimes given out as rewards and gifts for great service by the Telvuran.

Entering The Telvuran Da'Chorni means leaving your House, and most of drow society itself, behind for good. The Order exists only to protect and manage the trees. Giving ones life to the Order is considered a great honor in drow society.

Currently, every drow metropolis and large city is guarded by the trees, and holds a Chapterhouse of the Telvuran Da'Chorni. Most settlements smaller than that do not, however.

Anyone caught harming a Da'Chorna Tree or havesting the wood from one that has fallen from age or battle is handed over to the Telvuran Da'Chorni to be executed in a secret ritual that rumors say may be the most painful and brutal death imaginable.

[Sardinal]

Drow Statistics:

Drow have the standard traits liste in the MM except as follows

Favored Class:  Male, Wizard or Cleric
                       Female, Fighter

Drow Varients

The Half-Drow

With in Es'Draery Lar, half-drow (being half human, half drow) are considered vile abominations. The only redeeming quality of a human is its capacity to make a decent slave. Corrupting drow perfection with the weak, vermin like blood of humans is considered disgusting. Half-Drow babies are sacrificed to Koric just after birth. They are annointed in sacred oils and drow breast milk in a ritual designed to beseech Koric to take the poor abomination and remove its human aspect, allowing it to be reborn as a true drow.
Not Eligible for Heir to Perfection Feats

The Hell Touched.

Drow half-fiends and drow teifling bloodlines are well respected within the Drow Nation. Most houses boast at least one bloodline that has mingled with the infirnal powers of the Nine Hells, many have several. These beings are considered to be pure drow, no social stigma is attached to this at all.

Half-fiend drow and drow teiflings are known as Vil'Draer.

Not eligible for Heir to Perfection Feats

Dragon born

Drow in whom flows the blood of dragons are also very well respected within Es'Draery Lar. A number of bloodlines from various Houses boast a draconic anscestor or two, and matings between drow and dragons still occasionally happen. The Half-dragons, dragonblooded, and sorcerers that emerge from such unions are all considered extensions of the drow race.

Half-dragon drow and the Dragons blooded are known as Ska'Draer.

Not eligible for Heir to Perfection Feats

Genasi

Though considerably more rare, the union of drow and one of the natural elemental forces does happen. The results of such a union, whether it be magical or sexual in nature, can often create genetic anomolies that can show up for generations. As with the above unions, those born of the elements are drow first, anything else second.
Drow Genasi have different base stats than Genasi born of other races, as follows.

No Drow Gensai are eligible for Heir to Perfection Feats.

Drow Air Genasi (Evra'Ly Draer)
as Drow except as follows. -2 Wis (This replaces the standard -2 Con)
Breathless: Air Genasi do not breathe are are immune to drowning, suffocation, and effects that require inhalation. (This replaces the standard drow +2 bonus on Will saves vs spells and spell-like abilities)
Levitate and Whispering Wind 1xday (This replaces Darkness, Faerie Fire, and Dancing Lights 1xday)

Drow Earth Genasi (Evra'Dan Draer)
as Drow except as follows +2 Str and -2 Wis (This replaces the +2 Int and -2 Con of normal drow)
Temorsense 30' (This replaces the standard drow +2 bonus on Will saves vs spells and spell-like abilities.)
Stability: Gains a + 4 bonus vs bullrush, trip, grapple, and overrun. (This replaces the drows spell like abilities)

Drow Fire Genasi (Evra'Irae Draer)
as drow except as follows: Drow Fire Genasi lose their drow +2 to Int and lose the drow -2 to Con.
Fire resistance: 11 + Hit Die (This replaces the standard drow spell resistance and the standard drow light blindness)
Control Flames (Sup): Drow Fire Genasi can manipulate any nonmagical fires within 10 ft per hit die of themselves. They can cause the fire to diminish or increase the light it radiates from that of a dim coal to broad daylight. They can also extinguish such fires. This manipulation does not change the amount of heat or damage the fire puts out, nor the fuel it consumes (Unless they extinguish it completely) The amount of fire they can manipulate at once is equal to about 1 five foot square worth /3 Hit Die.  As the Genasi becomes more powerful, his control of flame increases.  At 5th level they can alter the color of the flames.  At 10th level they can make the flames take on rough shapes. (This replaces the standard drow +2 to Will Saves vs Spells and Spell-like abilities and Darkness 1xday)
Flare and Lesser Orb of Fire 1x/day (This replaces the standard drow dancing lights and Faerie Fire 1xday)

Drow Water Genasi (Evra'Yua Draer)
as drow except as follows: Drow Water Genasi lose their drow +2 to Cha and the Drow - 2 to Con)
Water Breathing (Ex) Replaces the drow +2 to Will saves vs spells and spell-like abilities)
Water Mastery: Drow Water Genasi have a natural swim speed of 30' and gain a +1 to attack rolls and damage rolls as long as both they and their opponent are in at least one foot of water. This bonus increase by +1 for every 5 Hit Die. (This replaces the standard drow spell like abilites)

The Draer'Insei

In ages past, the drow worshippers of Chal-Tsu constucted a mighty Necropolis in the drow forest, the legendary Cha'Darcinthus. So much negative energy existed in this place that occasionally a drow infant was born that was shockingly different, its lifeforce was sustained by Negative Energy instead of Positive Energy. Called the Graveborn, this strange genetic anomoly has shown itself within a number of drow bloodlines ever since.

In recent years, however, a similar, yet entirely new phenomenon has occured. Using the Graveborn as a template, the Drow God Koric has created an entirely new drow subspecies. These beings are called the Draer'Insei (Annihilation Drow). Currently, eight distinct Draer'Insei bloodlines exist. They have come together to form a new House Minor (House Aera i'Insei) under House Aeradyll.

The Draer'Insei cannot cross breed with normal drow, something in their make up that allows them to always breed true the Negative Energy aspect of their existance is completely incompatible with normal drow physiology. Whether this new subspecies can produce offspring with outsiders remains to be seen.

Draer'Insei stats
as normal drow except as follows.
+2 Wis (This replaces the standard drow + 2 Dex)
Negative Energy Life: In all respects, the Draer'Insei treat positive energy as negative and negative energy as postive. They are healed by inflict spells and harmed by cure spells. It is possible that one could even create positive energy versions of Enervation to give a Draer'Insei "positive Levels".
Disrupt Undead 1xday (This replaces the standard drow Dancing Lights 1x/day)
The Draer'Insei are not eligible for Heir to Perfect Feats.


Allies and Relationships.
Allies
The drow, as a race, have few others that could be considered allies. Their natural ego and religious belief in their own innate superiority makes equitable relations with other races difficult at best. That being said, There are some small number of races that get along well with the Drow.

The Duergar

The Duergar are really the only race that the drow have a true sense of kinship and friendship with. The Dark Dwarves were made by the Drow God Koric himself to be the drow races right hand in the domination of the three worlds. The Drow, for the most part, see the Duergar much like a younger sibling, the hideous and banal existance of the dwarf made dark and perfect through Koric's power. The Duergar, for their part, see the drow as their Great Creators chosen people. The thought of acting against the drow would occur in Duergar society with about as much frequency as thoughts of suicide, and generally with similar results.
Duergar living in cities underneath Es'Draery Lar are the only other race permitted to join in the Endless Watch and the Eternal Contest.
Though their societies and cultures are extrodinarily different, the two races end up complimenting eachother nicely.

Relationships

The drow are taught from birth to respect power and those that use it well. This translates into an innate respect for those races that display a natural ability to become powerful. Dragons, Lawful Outsiders (nongood), Evil Outsiders (nonchaotic), Mindflayers, and Beholders are all sometime allies of drow. These relationships are almost always on individual or familial bases rather than racial ones, but all are common enough sights in Drow cities that they elicit little too no comment.
The drow have no real allies among the humans (the drow word for "Human" is the same as the drow word for "Vermin"), dwarves, and elves, as each is considered a lesser race, really suitable only for slavery.

Drow Hand Cant

Drow Hand Cant is a complex gestural language understood by all drow. Orignally developed by the famous Deep Watch team Katdoral's Will in order to speak with their mute member, Darcinihil, the language is now taught to drow children at the same time they study their spoken tongue.

Drow Hand Cant has three forms: Simple Cant, Speed Cant, and High Cant.

Simple Cant consists of a single hand gesture for each letter of the drow alphabet, one for each number, and one each for the mathmatical symbols +, -, =, *, and /. This allows for easy communication of simple words and math, though attempting whole sentences in this form is time consuming.

Speed Cant is a military command style language. Each gesture equates to a specific tactic, action, or deployment. Their are about 500 distinct gestures in Speed Cant and it is often used in conjuntion with Simple Cant. This form is primarily taught and used during a drows tenure in the Endless Watch and in the various Knightly Orders.

High Cant is the true language of Drow Hand Cant. It is as rich, complex, and nuanced as any spoken or written language. Over the ages, each of the Houses and Churches of Es'Draery Lar have drifted into their own dialect of High Cant. These differences are slight, a small differance in the angle a hand is held, or a slightly shallower curl of a finger, yet they are noticable. To be clear, these are not different languages, more like the same language spoken with slightly different accents.

All drow and drow subspecies start with Drow Hand Cant as a bonus language (except Half-Drow).

Non Drow can learn Drow Hand Cant only if they have a drow willing to teach them. Teaching a nondrow the secrets of Hand Cant is an offense punishable by death. Drow Hand Cant is complex, requiring the expenditure of twice the normal skill points to learn it (4 for everyone, 2 for Bards and those with the Natural Linguist Feat).

Optionally, drow and non drow alike can spend a single extra skill point to gain a mastery of Drow Hand Cant so precise that they can instantly recognize the house and/or church a drow is from by the dialect of Hand Cant they use.

This level of Mastery also grants a +2 synergy bonus on disguise checks made to imitate a drow.

[Koric]

Updated PF2e player creation info for Drow and Duergar.

docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FhKt8fNRaSYS2TCW6zN6JZhmlp4ywPT0iNGkYrZuuts/edit?usp=sharing