Drowtales - World Setting - Races in The Drowtales Universe

Races in The Drowtales Universe

This section details the various intelligent races in the Drowtales universe. The word race is used quite liberally here. Both completely different species (for example faeries and orcs), as well as groups that are biologically identical, but have a radically different way of life or value system (like duergars and gnomes) are considered different races within this context. Think of it as a "catch all" term to describe distinctive groups, rather than a biological term.

Fae races

These races are practically immortal and all have the ability to manipulate mana and use magic to some extent.

Faeries

Little is known about them. Most mortals will never see a faery in their lifetime.

Light elves

Light-skinned elves living on the surface world.

Dark elves

Dark elves have a darker, more tanned skin tone than the light elves (hence the name), and colorful hair, ranging from cyan to green to blue or purple, and eye colors to match. They used to live on the surface world. After the War of the Moons, a massive magical war that decimated most of the surface, they migrated underground. However, their children, having been born underground, away from the light, all had black or gray skin and usually silvery-white hair and purple eyes. This new "race" became known as the drow. Because no new dark elves were born after the migration underground, their numbers have dwindled over the ages, and at the present time they are all but extinct. The few that remain are generally ancient and powerful though.

Drow

A collective term for the descendants of the dark elves that moved underground; several sub-races exist.

Drowolath

Also known as Black drow. They are the most numerous of the Drow races and the most archetypical. They have dark brown skin, silvery-white hair and commonly purple eyes, although blue and green are also possible.

Drowussu

Also known as Gray drow. They have gray skin, fair-colored hair, commonly golden-blonde, and pale-colored eyes, commonly blue or golden. They tend to stick together and rarely involve themselves in the chaotic politics of the drowolath clans. They are Vanir, Light Elves who inhabited the underworld.

Ver'Drowendar

Most commonly referred to simply as tainted. They are predominantly drowolath that have become tainted by demonic energy. Some clans deliberately taint their young because they consider a slight taint to work as a kind of vaccination that prevents a full-blown demonic possession. Other clans consider tainted to be evil, or at least a bad idea, since it tends to make Drow more aggressive, vicious, and generally not nice. After becoming tainted, the eyes of a drow take on a blood red color, making them easy to identify. Their aura also changes, so covering their eyes will not disguise their true nature.

Xuile'Solen

Also known as the sightless. They are drow who have no skill whatsoever in magic. Unlike the goblin or dwarven races who simply have no mana at all, the Xuile'Solen seem to instead have a negative mana aura of some sort. As a result they are not only unable to use magic, but "pure", mana based magic does not affect them at all. For example, a mana arrow would not harm them and a mana shield would not block them. This immunity does not extend to their equipment however, so a Xuile'Solen would have to strip naked to completely pass though a mana barrier, and a mana based attack spell could still knock them off their feet if it impacted their armor or clothing. They are also not immune to whatever physical effects might be mixed into a spell, so fire spells will burn them, ice spell freeze them and so on. The Xuile'Solen are outcasts and have learned to survive on their own in the harsh, pitch black, underworld. As a result, their physiology is quite different from most drow. They have no eyes, and instead "see" with their long tongue by "tasting" the air, much like a snake. Their teeth are sharp and jagged, and their fingers and toes pretty much just claws. Their numbers are small, and they are rarely seen in drow cities, except as mercenaries.

Dragons

In the Drowtales universe dragons are counted among the fae races, and like the other fae they possess a mana aura and the ability to perform magic. The most common kind of dragon seen in the Underworld are just giant dumb beasts though, usually used as mounts or war beasts by the most powerful clans. There are hints though that a civilization of intelligent, humanoid, dragons exist on the surface, or more specifically on Skyworld, the magical islands that float high above the surface of the planet. Half-dragons also exist like the Moonless Age character Riklaunym (Ariel's bodyguard (and part time lover), and former gladiator slave).

Goblin races

Considered by most Drow to be lesser races, they have short lifespans, reproduce like vermin and are generally violent and destructive.

Humans

Humans in the Drowtales universe are pretty much the same as humans in the real world, except that we see them from the perspective of the practically immortal Drow race. They are considered violent and destructive, but still the smartest of the Goblin races, preferring to settle in one location and build cities and empires. It is also noted that the intelligence of the humans tend to be proportionally lower depending on the size of the group they operate in.

Orcs

Orcs on the surface generally operate in nomadic tribes. Generally less intelligent and physically stronger than humans, they are considered little more than dogs on two legs, but the Drow value the loyalty they show to their masters, and often use them as guards and cannon fodder in their armies.

Driders

Driders are drow-spider hybrids, originally created through magical means. Several sub-types exist. Mostly all driders are female, and are very skilled with magic. Driders also have fangs and have a very deadly poisonous bite that can kill or stun a prey. Most driders feed on the blood of other creatures or other drider to stay alive. If a drider gives birth, it will lay up to 2000 eggs in a thick layer of webbing. The eggs will hatch about 3 days from when they were laid.after their birth, driders scatter out in search of nurishment. Most driders will drink the blood of any creature that fall victim to them. Some grow up sane and live peacefully in forest regions. Most grow up insane and develop a hatred for all things.

Waelinider

A newly created drider. During the Dark elf migration into the underworld driders were the result of mortally wounded soldiers being merged with spiders, both to keep them alive and to create a fierce warrior race. Originally they commanded much respect, but as the Drow's hold on the underworld solidified they became shunned by Drow society at large, and became known as the cursed. Few of them survive, and 99% of them eventually go mad.

Streekaider

They are wild driders, Waeliniders who have gone mad. They are little more than rabid monsters, and have a special hatred for the Drow who created and cast them out. They are considered to be some of the most dangerous monsters in the underworld.

Ne'Kalsaider

These are "natural" driders, the offspring of two sane Waeliniders (or on rare occasions the offspring of a drow and an intelligent giant spider or a drider). Unlike the Waelinider they are typically mentally stable and civilized. They have formed a community known as the Hive.

Dwarven races

Duergars

At the time of the dark elven migration into the underworld the duergars were the most common intelligent race to inhabit the underworld. Their skin and hair color is similar to that of the drow, although black hair is also common in addition to white. Strong but non-aggressive by nature, they soon became hunted as slaves. Resistance was brutally crushed. Only a few free duergar nations still exist, and they generally live as nomads to avoid slave traders. They have little love for the drow empire and will often use guerilla tactics to fight drow interests whenever they can, usually preying on travellers and caravans.

Gnomes

Also known as yingil among the drow. Gnomes are duergars who have been assimilated into drow society, originally as slaves, though many are now free. They have adopted drow customs and fashion, and dress in drow clothes. Male yingil are also almost always clean shaven in contrast to "wild" duergars who favour long beards.

Nagas

Naga are not very well known within the setting of Drowtales. Within this world setting the Naga slither upright, with a fully human torso and a very long tail to support them and move.

Ferals

Ferals are humanoid felines, or "cat people". They mature much slower than most of the other races, but with time they can be trained to speak and perform simple tasks. Not much more has been revealed about them. In chapter 11 Ariel bought a young Feral pet/slave whom she named Melodia.

Awares

Awares are giant sapient spiders. The big vertical eye in the center of their head is the symbol of the Val'Kyorl'solenurn clan, and they are an integral part of their religion. The Awares (or Holy ones as the Val'Kyorl'solenurn call them) they believe to be emissaries of Sharess, and they serve as spiritual advisors to the Val'Kyorl'solenurn. They are rumored to have originally been dark elves who have been transformed. Zhor, Ariel's real father, is such a creature.

Chibi

Chibis are a "species" included in the gag comics and various submitted fan comics. They are very hyper, playful, mischievous, and otherwise comical in nature (two of the gag comics explain their nature and how to keep them as pets). They are not a part of the "main" comic and only exist as comic relief.