Dark elves, also known as drow, are the most divergent of the elves sub-races. Their from similar to that of other elves, but their skin color is the inky black of a moonless night and their hair is normally pure white or silver. Dark elves do not gain the combat bonuses of the surface elves with regard to sword and bow, but may fight with two weapons without penalty, provided each weapon may be easily weilded in one hand. They cannot use a sheild when performing this type of combat, but may use a spiked buckler as one of their two weapons.

Drow can speak the common tongue, the language of "undercommon" (a trade language of those who dwell beneath the earth), plus the elvish and gnomish languags, as well as other languages up to limit prescribed by intelligence score. In addition, all dark elves speak the silent tongue of the subterranean dwellers, a language of complex hand signals and gestures, combine with facial expresions and body language. The range of communication isn this silent tongue is only 30', but it is as informative as any other language within that range. ONly the drow may fully master this tongue, though other races may be taught its basic signs and symbols.

Dark elves have infravision out to a 12" range. The base movment rate of female drow is 15", while that of a male drow is 12". Drow have the ability to detect secret and concealed doors just as other elves can, and they can also detect new consttruction, stonework trasps, sliding walls, and depth underground as do dwarves. Dark elves can move silently in the same manner as other elves, under the same conditions, and are surpirsed only on a 1 in 8 chance. All dark elves have the innate ability to use the following magic spells oncer per day: dancing lights, faerie fire, and darkness 5' radius. Upon attaining 4th level in any class, dark elves gain the ability to cast detect magic, know alignment, and levitate, aso once per day. Females of 4th level or higher also can use clairvoyance, detect lie (or its reverse), suggestion, and dispel magic, each once per day.

Daylight and continual light spells affect Drow in a negative fashion. They suffer the following penalties: dexterity is effectively reduced by -2 for the duration of the exposure (with all penalties to armor class, theiveing abilities, etc, applicable) all thier attacks are made at -2 to hit, and any opponents saving throws versus drows are made at +2. If the drow is located in darkness or deep shadow but is attacking creatures illuminated by a light soource, surprise ability and dexterity are nomal, but the character's attacks are at -1 to hit and opponents, saving thows versus any such attacks are at +1. The relatively dim light given off by such source as torches, lanterns, magic weaons, light spells, and faeire fire spells does not adversel affect drow elves.

Racial Ability Adjustments:

+1 Dexterity

-1 Constitution

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