#sourcebook stuff

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Illustration of the Drow Powers from Demihuman Deities.

Pictured: Ghaunadaur (tentacles in front), Kiaransalee, Lolth, Selvetarm, Vhaeraun.

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Some descriptions of the druid wildshape ability from The Rose of Sarifal Forgotten Realms novel that I thought could be relevant to Halsin:

“In Callidyrr, in her druidic studies and devotions she’d discovered her animal nature, had rejoiced in it for years, but at a cost. Two creatures in one body—how could she expect to feel unmixed emotions? One part hated what the other part loved.” (ch. 14)

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“THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT WAYS FOR A DRUID TO MOVE back and forth between her animal and human shapes, depending on her circumstances and her state of mind. These skills are studied as a science, but mastered as an art, and like all arts, this one grew out of an inner soil of fears, desires, and needs.” (ch. 18)

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“Later on, she learned to love the feeling [of wildshaping], too intense almost to bear . . . An abrupt shock, and she would change all at once, as if from the inside out . . . Sometimes she’d lose consciousness just for a moment.” (ch. 18)

Given this novel, there’s at least some officially published material that portrays wildshape as something more primal and not entirely within the druid’s control, which is akin to how Halsin describes his own experience with wildshape in BG3.

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here's the full passage from ch. 10 of Elminster in Myth Drannor regarding elf ears and palms being erogenous zones

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For drow who live hard, always tense and alert for attack, the ultimate sensuous pleasure in life is a warm bath (or a perfumed oil soak), followed by a "deepstroke" thorough body massage, typically on a contoured couch (often in a room where others are receiving the same ministrations, so that all present can argue, chat, or do business). A talented bodystroker (masseuse) is a highly-valued (and highly-paid) artisan of drow society. The most popular leisure spots in Menzoberranzan are the massage houses. Massage is a common outlet for the passions of drow of different Houses, for whom courtship is too dangerous. (Menzoberranzan boxed set, p. 16)

Very essential dnd lore.

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drow are so healthy and normal i love them

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Although a drow’s own name is of vital importance to her, parents are often relatively careless in assigning names to their offspring. Thus, many drow choose to take on a new name upon reaching adulthood. Each drow name consists of a prefix and one or more suffixes. If a suffix’s use differs based on the gender of the drow, the standard form is considered the feminine, and the masculine is given in parentheses.

Name table from Drow of the Underdark. Some overlap with the Dungeon magazine one that's popular but there's a few extras and the meanings are different. It's interesting to note that there's overlap with some of entries for elven names from Races of the Wild.

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The dark elves possess a variety of unique instruments, including the vazhan-do, a complex lute with sixty-four strings that can be plucked swiftly for a torrent of notes, or bent slowly, producing a ghostly wail; and the ezhirkiri, a wind instrument that transforms the air blowing through it into the sound of agonized, yet strangely melodic, shrieks. (Drow of the Underdark, p. 28)

some drow instrument lore for your bards & luthiers

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Misc. lore from The Drow of the Underdark (the AD&D one, not the similarly named 3.5E one):

Drow can get sunburns, unlike elves, and usually cover themselves head to toe if they're on the surface. Most also get very badly sunburnt their first time on the surface.

Drow have subtle, braille-like “secret signs” they use

After a decade on the surface, most drow become accustomed to light and are no longer sunlight sensitive

Regardless of time spent on the surface, wizards are immune to sunlight sensitivity bc they "traditionally study by candlelight"

Drow will use "light" as a curse word ("Ssussun pholor dos!" = "light upon you!" or "Ssussan!" = "light!")

Every noble House has at least 2 sculptors, plus "gemcutters and those who can work metal, cloth, and other materials into garments, furniture, and devices of rare beauty." They also like to use artwork as proof they're better/more cultured than everyone else lol

Artisans are even worse than nobles -- they're described as "more scheming, difficult, and paranoid than most drow" and have things like "hidden locks, passages, body weapons and items worked into clothing," making imprisoning them for any length of time impossible.

Drowcraft has a tradition of prosthetic limbs made from adamantine alloy (I am working on a more in-depth post for this because there's more info about it than just this sourcebook)