What is a Drow or Dark Elf?

Dark Elves, also called drow or night Elves, are the most sinister and evil of the Elven race, as if this sub-race seems to balance the tranquility and goodness of their cousins with unrepentant maliciousness and evil. Drow have black skin that resembles nothing much as polished obsidian, and eyes and hair of stark white. The varation of the other Elven sub-races is missing here. Most of this fell race have been driven under, and are shunned by the other Elven sub-races.

The Elves call their own race Tel'Quessir, which translates as "the People." Strangers, in particular non-Elven strangers, are generally placed under the category "N'Tel'Quess," or "Not-People."Most Elves treat the not-people with respect and politeness, as a host would a stumbling child, though the drow fiercely enslave any who are not of their race, and consider the other Elven subraces "N'Tel'Quess."

The Elves are generally ruled by noble houses, which have held control of their nations for generations (and given the nature and long life of Elves, the rule of a wise king may exceed the history of a human nation). The Elven rule is autocratic and absolute, and it is the theology and philosophy of these elves which prevent abuse of such complete power. The monarchs of the Elven Court make pronouncements rarely, preferring to remain outside the normal course of their subjects' lives. Once such a decision is made, whether to declare war or retreat to Evermeet, it is followed by the bulk of the population.

The oddest phenomenon of Elvish life (to human observers) is the Retreat, which is viewed as a lemming-like drive to sail beyond the sea, In the case of the Elves of the Forgotten Realms, the reason is not some biological drive, but rather the decision of the leaders of the Elven nations to withdraw to less hostile lands. Such a decision is made after years (mankind generations) of thought and meditation, and once made, is irrevocable. In the case of the recently-voided Elven Court, the decision to retreat was made some 500 years after deliberation began, so that while for humans the dissappearance of the Elven Court is regarded as a sudden vacuum in the heart of the Realms, for the Elven Court itself was as inevitable (and as important) as a merchant moving his shop further down the street to increase the distance from competitor.

The Elves in retreat always make for Evermeet, and there whatever nobles led the retreat swear their fealty to Queen Amlaruil, who is that domain's monarch. Long ago the Elven nation of Evermeet made the decision to fight those men who came to her shores, and as a result is both the strongest power of the sea, and haven of the other Elves in retreat.

Those Elves on the Sword Coast and with easy access to the sea make the passage to Evermeet made by boat, protected by the Navy of the Queen. How those further inland cross is not known, for none see their passage out of the world of men. The everyday Elven folk know not the method, for after they retired one evening, their leaders and mages worked great spells or appeased the gods, for they awoke in their new homes.

The former Elven nations of the Realms include Illefarn, where Water deep now rises from the seacoast; Askaver, which is now called the Wood of the Sharp Teeth; and the Elven Court, which once ruled Cormanthyr, the forest country that ran from Cormyr to the Moonsea. Current Elven nations include Evermeet in its seaward seclusion and Evereska, which has just set up a colony in Greycloak Hills. In addition, there are scattered groups of Elves found throughout the realms, including wild Elves, groups without noble rulers, the dark Elves, those who have found Evermeet not to their tastes and departed, and adventurers.