Drow Lore 🕷️ General Body Type and Build
🕷️Drow vary in shape and features, but most of them are noticeably shorter than other elves. They also tend to be slight of build – some appear lean and muscular, while some others look more slender, sometimes even to the point of gauntness in case of some individuals.
🕷️Despite their smaller stature and slight body frame, dark elves rarely look frail, fragile or harmless. They are naturally dexterous and usually also adequately strong for their size, although just like other elves, they typically have lower constitution than the average human. They move silently and gracefully, and their sense of balance, reflexes and coordination are also exceptional.
Quotes:
Description of Iljrene Ahbruyn: The temple’s battle-mistress was a tiny woman, slender as a wand, with narrow features and highly arched eyebrows. Her voice was high-pitched, almost squeaky – like a child’s. Her muscles, however, were whipcord strong, and her skill at arms was renowned. (…) With her elegant gowns and silvery ringlets, the delicate drow seemed the most unlikely of battlemasters. Yet with her first word she commanded the attention of every person in the room. (L. Smedman, Sacrifice of the Widow; E. Cunningham, Daughter of the Drow)
Description of Nimor Imphraezl, zekyl (half-shadow dragon drow): Nimor wore the shape of a slim, almost boyish dark elf, which was to say that he was short of stature and slender as a reed. The top of his head would barely reach the nose of a typical female, and any female with a little height to her would tower over him head and shoulders. Despite his graceful build, Nimor virtually radiated power. His small frame seemed to burst with a precise strength and lethal quickness far out of proportion to his body. (R. Baker, Condemnation)
Description of Matron Ghenni Tlabbar: Matron Ghenni is exceptionally tall for a drow. She is also extremely slender, and this has occasionally caused others to suspect that she is frail. In truth, her slender limbs are well-muscled. (E. Greenwood et al., Menzoberranzan, 2e AD&D)
🕷️Drow who have significantly more ample figures seem to be uncommon, and they are usually wealthy, powerful individuals who live a comfortable and relatively untroubled life.
Quotes:
Description of Matron Byrtyn Fey: Matron Byrtyn is an extremely attractive drow female with an unusually well-rounded figure. She wears garments that highlight her sensual appeal and favors robes and shawls of filmy gauze that do little to preserve her modesty. (…) Matron Byrtyn is famed throughout Menzoberranzan for her passionate affairs and ribald exploits. (…) This drow is motivated by hedonism as much as by the desire to better her family. (E. Greenwood et al., Menzoberranzan, 2e AD&D)
Description of Nauzhror Baenre: the door to the chapel creaked open, and a plump male dressed in elegant black robes entered. He resembled nothing so much as a housecat that had been fed too much, satisfied with his own superiority. (…) His familiar, a hairy spider as well fed as the wizard himself, perched on Nauzhror’s shoulder. He was accounted a Master of Sorcere, the only Baenre so recognized other than old Gromph himself, and was reputed to be an abjurer of some skill. (R. Baker, Condemnation)
Priestesses of House Srune'Lett: the priestesses of Srune'Lett tend to be short and stocky and they are often referred to as the „fat sisters” – though if the priestesses hear someone use the term, the phrase often becomes the last words of the incautious speaker. (E. Greenwood et al., Menzoberranzan, 2e AD&D)
For more of my drow lore ramblings, feel free to check my pinned post 🕷️
