::Glossary::
1~ Biography
2~ Personal Notes
3~ Skills and Talents
4~ Possessions
5~ Encounters
1~ Biography
2~ Personal Notes
3~ Skills and Talents
4~ Possessions
5~ Encounters
Quote:
((The following information is quoted from the D&D sourcebook 'Drow of the Underdark'))
ALBINO DROW (SZARKAI)
The dark elves are bad enough, but some legends speak of
an even more sinister and deadly foe—drow who resemble
surface elves and can walk among them undetected. Called
szarkai (pronounced zahrk-eye), these enigmatic drow are
natural spies.
Szarkai (whose name means “ghost spiders”) are rare mutants
in the deep confi nes of drow cities who appear perfectly
natural in other surroundings—especially those on the surface.
Thus, albino drow receive intense training in espionage
almost from birth.
Ecology
These albinos appear only rarely, representing one-hundredth
of one percent of the drow population. Other drow hold them
in some awe, and the birth of one is considered a blessing to
the family. They are called “ghost spiders” to signify the boon
of Lolth.
Whether through inbreeding or the intentional dabbling
of the Spider Queen, szarkai tend to appear more frequently
among the noble houses than among the lower castes. Their
existence is hidden from all but the highest-ranking drow who
have a need to know. Szarkai are largely sequestered from drow
life, being are too valuable to risk losing to a casual murder
when out among the riffraff. Although they are physically
safer than other drow, their lot in life is no less harsh and corrupting.
Szarkai receive the personal attentions of the cruelest
priestesses and most Machiavellian of nobles.
Typical Physical Characteristics: Other drow often consider
szarkai to be a separate race, but the two kinds of elves
are genetically identical except for the szarkai’s pale skin and
red eyes. This popular opinion has some basis in fact, though:
Some szarkai have subtle deformities, such as hairlessness,
gnarled, clawlike hands, or small fangs.
Environment: Although szarkai are born and nurtured
in the underground cities of the drow, they can be found in
any setting as befits the nature of their missions. Often an
albino drow lives among surface elves or in cities where elves
are common.
Alignment: Like many of their kin, albino drow are often
neutral evil. Szarkai cultivate cold patience, and few drow are
as skilled at subtle and cruel intrigues.
Society
When szarkai have completed their training and have demonstrated
the necessary skills to carry out their missions, they are
deployed to the surface in deep cover assignments. There, they
ingratiate themselves with the surface folk when furthering
the agenda of their drow masters and of Lolth.
These agents provocateur are always long-term visionaries,
since their missions can last for lifetimes among the lesser races. Their assignments might be simple informationgathering
and relay, reconnaissance of the physical and
political landscape, forming a sleeper cell for some future
act of sabotage or violence, or quietly manipulating those
around them to turn potential allies against one another or
to keep surface communities small and weak. Rarely is one
of these agents dispatched to perform anything so pedestrian
as an assassination; the chance of discovery is too high, and
the removal of any specifi c individual among the surface
races too insignifi cant, to be of any real value to the drow.
Rather, these master spies weave webs of intrigue that are so
thinly stretched across such a span of time as to be virtually
invisible. Szarkai studiously avoid liches, since the undying
spellcasters are adept at piercing their disguises and guessing
their plots.
ALBINO DROW (SZARKAI)
The dark elves are bad enough, but some legends speak of
an even more sinister and deadly foe—drow who resemble
surface elves and can walk among them undetected. Called
szarkai (pronounced zahrk-eye), these enigmatic drow are
natural spies.
Szarkai (whose name means “ghost spiders”) are rare mutants
in the deep confi nes of drow cities who appear perfectly
natural in other surroundings—especially those on the surface.
Thus, albino drow receive intense training in espionage
almost from birth.
Ecology
These albinos appear only rarely, representing one-hundredth
of one percent of the drow population. Other drow hold them
in some awe, and the birth of one is considered a blessing to
the family. They are called “ghost spiders” to signify the boon
of Lolth.
Whether through inbreeding or the intentional dabbling
of the Spider Queen, szarkai tend to appear more frequently
among the noble houses than among the lower castes. Their
existence is hidden from all but the highest-ranking drow who
have a need to know. Szarkai are largely sequestered from drow
life, being are too valuable to risk losing to a casual murder
when out among the riffraff. Although they are physically
safer than other drow, their lot in life is no less harsh and corrupting.
Szarkai receive the personal attentions of the cruelest
priestesses and most Machiavellian of nobles.
Typical Physical Characteristics: Other drow often consider
szarkai to be a separate race, but the two kinds of elves
are genetically identical except for the szarkai’s pale skin and
red eyes. This popular opinion has some basis in fact, though:
Some szarkai have subtle deformities, such as hairlessness,
gnarled, clawlike hands, or small fangs.
Environment: Although szarkai are born and nurtured
in the underground cities of the drow, they can be found in
any setting as befits the nature of their missions. Often an
albino drow lives among surface elves or in cities where elves
are common.
Alignment: Like many of their kin, albino drow are often
neutral evil. Szarkai cultivate cold patience, and few drow are
as skilled at subtle and cruel intrigues.
Society
When szarkai have completed their training and have demonstrated
the necessary skills to carry out their missions, they are
deployed to the surface in deep cover assignments. There, they
ingratiate themselves with the surface folk when furthering
the agenda of their drow masters and of Lolth.
These agents provocateur are always long-term visionaries,
since their missions can last for lifetimes among the lesser races. Their assignments might be simple informationgathering
and relay, reconnaissance of the physical and
political landscape, forming a sleeper cell for some future
act of sabotage or violence, or quietly manipulating those
around them to turn potential allies against one another or
to keep surface communities small and weak. Rarely is one
of these agents dispatched to perform anything so pedestrian
as an assassination; the chance of discovery is too high, and
the removal of any specifi c individual among the surface
races too insignifi cant, to be of any real value to the drow.
Rather, these master spies weave webs of intrigue that are so
thinly stretched across such a span of time as to be virtually
invisible. Szarkai studiously avoid liches, since the undying
spellcasters are adept at piercing their disguises and guessing
their plots.
Other Drow Yousei Owns
Ilmxena BaenDuis Yallinda Scythra Mas Daun Barrith Divintra DoGhym Ujool Kyil Micarreth Barrith Ryn DoAfin Zerkxeiz Xexsis Szinaun Kenana Nuumia Vuzril Barrith Shyntral Valindia Xunner Drizdyn Ilmindia Barrith Riknolu Felyn'na Tsabaghar
Mist Form Companion: This small creature is made of pure mist. It is roughly four inches in length, though that can change at times in the presence of natural mist or steam. It is shaped like a small drow female, with a pair of wings and mouse ears and tail. It was a gift from Valin after she saw how fascinated Divintra was with her own mists. The creature is bonded to Divintra and rarely flutters too far away from him. It has a sense of sentiance to it and has a habit of mothering him. 