Black Sand's Drow

Slaves and Technology
The Xandarian slave force is made up of 90 percent minotaurs. Specially bred by the Drow, Gul's make up the draftboat crews, standing armies, and scouting teams as well as supplying an unequaled labor force coupled with splendid gladiatorial combat for aged Gul's. Another 5% of the slave force is made up of other Drow taken or sold into slavery (all males). These are commonly from Dubloth (outcast) gangs who live or hangout outside the city (much frowned upon). The last 5% is made up of the few other races to survive long enough to make it to Gul. Mostly goblinkyn, giants, and Trolls.
The Xandarians don't barter much for outside slaves but are more than willing to sell born and bred minotaurs for the right price as personal slaves or gladiatorial warriors. <>
A few races are never taken as slaves but are instead killed on sight. These include the Thri-kreen (mantis warriors), jewe (sand gnomes), and the natural horrors of the dessert. Namely the sand mantas, sand kraken, ant lions, and worse.
Some few highly stationed Drow have taken Faelin and faelorn as familiars, once rare about Xandar, the above fairykyn are becoming more common over the years.

Level Of Technology
Xandar is suprisingly advanced considering the desolate area of it's location. But within this island of death the Drow have flourished. First amongst the Drow areas of knowledge are the flows and currents of Gul's ash cloud. Liftable sails, glider wings, windjammer sails and parachutes can all be found in use with Black Sands. Gul' generates two currents, Highlor and Behllore. Highlor or the top more powerful current out of Gul, creates waves of soot filled wind which can surge out to the surrounding mountains (the barren Peaks) and flow down and back toward Gul's base. Behllore is what the current is called after it rebounds back from the peaks.
Knowledge of how the lorr (winds) runs is a needed skill on or above the dessert. Noting lands marks and tell tale signs help skilled B.S.'ers travel the barren wastelands. (A commonly known fact is that all sand dunes face towards Gul because of Behllore's direction)
Within the city proper, guilds have transformed the edge around the volcanoes inner crust to hold makeshift blacksmith shops and smithy's. The metals forged in Gul-vell (belly of the beast/slave) are of the purest nature and tapping lush mines below the desserts surface has provided many rare metals and gems. Studded here and there along the sterileness are sage shops and magic houses concerned with imbuing crafted items with magic. And everywhere are the skull houses. Small shops housing female inquisitors (House Thralls) who over see the collection of sales and guild taxes amongst the forges.

Black Sands Desert, the Drow, and more.... The Black Sands dessert is an unforgiving terrain dominated by black sand generated by the volcano known as Mount Gul. Located at the dessert's very center, this landmark can be seen burning bright at night even from the fringes of the dessert. Easily several hundred miles across, the B.S. Dessert is a lonely and desolate place dominated by the Drow (pronounced like tow, Droe). Living exclusively within Gul's bussom, the drow dominate this barren terrain from a place of relitive safety. Making use of Minotaur slaves, the drow dominate the sands using large runnered vessels known as draft boats. From the skies ride drow in balsam crafted vehicles using stretched dragon hyde for wings. Individual drow often enjoy "shooting" (dropping down Gul's shaft with nothing but a dragon skin chute), Devil riding (Surf boards afixed with a movable sail) on the high heat dust devils common around Gul's base Other make use of personel sailing ships to take jaunts around the surrounding region. For a dessert, Black Sands is literally crawling with dangerous life. Between the black-shelled Thri-kreen to the wicked sand mantas that roam the sands Black Sands is a desolate, dangerous place to natives and foreigners alike. History of the Drow Black Sands was not always known as such. Many thousands of years ago it was a lush mountain ringed paradise! Said to be the most beautiful on the planet, this paradise was home to over 75% of the planets known Elves. Served by huge insects of amazing intelligence, the Elves had transformed the area as those who lived elsewhere, worked to transform the world. During that time a group arose who claimed it was the Elves destiny to live "beyond" the mountains, something they deserved as being the most advanced race. The group's leader called Xandaria, asked the Council for a vote to allow small enclaves to explore new areas for possible settlements. The High Council vetoed this and forbade any further broaches on the subject. Only by staying together would the paradise never end, and only together could they extend it's reaches. Unhappy with the veto, the Elven maiden Xandaria stormed out of the council chambers! And to the Council's surprise many left with her. Where the group went is unknown, but for over 75 years they wandered the lands. During that time, Xandaria and her followers (Xandars) had gained much in the pursuits of knowledge, magic and power. For the next quarter century the Xandars moved amongst the elves, regaining old ties and building new trusts. As the century turned, another High Council was called. Elves from all over the world had gathered to be a part of it, and once again Xandaria made her plea. This time with a thousand strong following marching up behind her. And as well, many more amongst the population who had been converted over the last 25 years since her return. For the first (and last!) time in Elven recollection, the High Council voted unanimously, and Xandaria and her force were ordered exiled from the valley! "You had 75 years of being out there and yet you returned to live here! Your own actions condemn you! Begone Xandaria! Begone and happily take those who agree with your own demented plans!" Unfortunately, Xandaria refused to leave, and the Council turned their backs to her, refusing to hear any more. In her rage, Xandaria unleash a special magic she had gained. Calling out a name unheard of as of yet, Xandaria invoked a Summoning spell. For the first time in the planets history a Demon was born. In a pack she had made with a mysterious dark skinned, being known only as Lolth, Xandaria had gained the knowledge of other dimensions, other realities. Ones where beings of power could be controlled by those brave enough to try. The Demon Gel was born, and he was far beyond anything Xandaria could control! The demon tore asunder the Council members in two swipes of his mighty claws, then growing ever larger, ever hotter, Gel moved on to destroy the High Council meeting chambers. The grandest building ever created, the doomed building was large enough to accommodate every Elf alive. But before Gel's mighty blows the dome was broken, the walls broken! Scattered to the winds, the Elves abandoned the building, then the valley, leaving many beloved (and some say powerful) belongings behind. Over a quarter of the population strong, Xandaria's own forces retreated as far as the mountains and regrouped as Xandaria herself pled to Lolth for some guidance! Seeing her chance, Lolth appeared to Xandaria and a pact was made. How it was accomplished is unknown but Gel was subdued. The pact with Lolth had left Xandaria's hair a black onyx color, and turned her eyes red. As well her skin took on a wan whitish hue. Proclaiming themselves Drow (Xandaria's last name was DrowVell {drOeVell), the remaining forces pledged loyalty to her and the designs for a new city were drawn. For a week the Drow (as rhymes with toe, DrOw) celebrated, until Lolth returned. Ready to get her payment for saving the Drow, Lolth claimed the Valley as her own. Unable to even stammer a response Xandaria could only watch as the other Drow expressed their own outrage at the insult! Laughing cruelly, Lolth agreed to release the Drow from her debt, and withdraw her help! As she laughed the ground shook and a great cloud began to spread from the valleys center, the location of the High Council Chambers. Marching on the city the Drow arrived to find a volcano opening in their very midst's. Upward and outward it spread, as large as it grew, the black, light deflecting cloud grew even larger! In less than a day the city was destroyed, the volcano grown larger than most mountains by this time. The cloud of soot, ash, and dirt became a steady hellish hot wind. The near complete ring of mountains around the valley halt the cloud, tucking it down and back into the valley. The Drow realized the near complete loss of their home and again the mysterious dark skinned elf Lolth was called out to. As before she requested the Valley be hers to stop Gel's fury. This time the Drow could only relent. Lolth agreed but requested the allegiance of every drow present. Lolth must have kept her word as no trace of the Demon was found within the still very active volcano! Outraged at what their world had become, the Drow prayed for the first time. The Drow all got together and entreated Lolth to help them once again. The volcano stopped growing, but didn't get any smaller. And neither did the black winds stop. Under decree of Lolth, the Drow began a small settlement outside the volcano. For one month she requested they await her return, only then would their home be ready! And for one month, the Drow lived and flourished as best they could. The cloud above blocked out all but the brightest light, and the nasty sootish ash got into everything. Even the Drows silky skin was tinged black, becoming almost onyx as they lived in the harsh climate (Xandaria remained unaffected). But when the month drew to a close, the now black skinned Drow turned their attention once again to Mount Gel'. And as if on cue, the mighty wind stopped and everything became still. "From mine own bosom come the webs of your home, from your own mistakes comes the flames that heat it! To mine self be true or suffer the flames of your misdeeds!" And the Drow gave a collective shocking gasp as a spider of tremendous size and girth crawled out of the very opening of the volcano. Climbing down the volcano more details were discovered. The spider was only the body, as a voluptuous ebon skinned females torso sits atop it. Bare chested, she remains modest as spiders big as an elf's head, scurry randomly across her upper body. Lolth in all her wicked glory had returned! "Black as dusk you are, and black as this dusk you shall remain." At her words the winds once again begin. Black sooty winds carrying their black embrace all over the valley. The barely seen sun became invisible, as impossibly the volcano belches forth an even thicker cloud. "Go forth children of Lolth! Flourish my Drow!" Mounting the volcano, the Drow did indeed flourish. Inside the volcano were spun multilevels of webs. As thick as streets, the webs shone silverlike against the boiling, rolling, white hot surface that sat far, far below. The Drow would live in the Lolth created areas (hives), safe far above the active volcano below. Spun as the very top level of the webs was the Elven High Council chambers. Complete and repaired (though highly modified!), it shone like a diamond in a crown. The Drow happily moved into their new homes, and a city was created. Xandar was so named in Xandaria's honor, and for a hundred years the Drow established themselves. A ruling council was set up, and Hive mother's appointed. Xandaria (the First) became the Ruling mother, and spent the last of her days working to bring everything together as Lolth had decreed. As families were assigned infighting began. Over hive size, placing amongst the areas 88 webs, many things drove family against family. As the first High Council was called, a Drow mother beget the cities first child. Unlike it's onyx skinned mother, the young girl was born in Xandaria's image. White skinned with shocking black hair, the young child was almost killed before Xandaria called the meeting to order. But she was not alone in wishing to witness the new child. In the air over the dome Lolth appeared yet again! "In this looking back, you look to me. Let the Xandar ever rule her peoples, and let every family looked to her as they would me." And the young throwback was taken to live With Xandaria in secret. For the next hundred years, Xandaria was secretive and hermitic. Only seen again as the century drew to a close and the next High Council was called. As the over 8000 thousand remaining Drow filed into the First Hive's Council chambers, Xandaria proclaimed the young albino was "Her" daughter. "She is to be known as my daughter, the daughter of Xandaria DrowVell! And she shall forth be named Xandaria unto mine image and as Lolth has decreed! Every generation or two another in mine image will be born. In me you will see, and to me you will act." Proclaiming this, Xandaria presented her daughter to them all and ran shrieking from the room. Out onto the webs she was seen to run, at last casting herself into the winds. Gel's black violent winds rip her body up into the air and The First Mother was never seen again. Rumors to this day exist of those traveling across the Black Sands who claim to have seen the first mother, or at least a white skinned Drow. Some claim it is a good omen, others say she is viscous and kills those who have seen her. Xandaria (The 2nd)
			Xandar: City of the Drow On the planet Daedacus, the Black Sands dessert is home to the majority of the planets Dark Elves. Living within the volcano city of Xandar has changed Daedacus's version of the Drow to a great extent. The city is led by the current ruling Xandaria. Picked out once every 1000 years, the Xandaria is a genetic throwback to the Drows early years. Born of ivory skin and ebon hair, the female known as Xandaria is taken from her family and trained (by Yochuls it is said) for 100 years to become Xandaria (both a title and a name.). The only defect allowed to live, there have never been more than two Xandaria's at a time, the current and the Xandaria in training (though for 1500 years twin sisters held the throne). Living in a home constructed atop the volcanoes cone level, she is served by the cities top 88 houses and personally supported by the top eight. Matron Hive mothers lead the cities major houses while Lesser Matrons guide both the cities trade and guild groups living off of the good graces of the higher established houses and matrons. The city itself is a wonder to behold. Made up of unbreakable Lolth woven webs, the entire city encompasses more than 88 major layers of webbing. Strands of the webbing thicker than roads cross across the volcano allowing safe access through and around the city. Large thick bundles come together forming the Hives where each family lives. Such hives are more than large enough accommodate each family safely, as well as providing enough access for that Hive to thrive. Highways formed in the webs lead to large empty Hives used as meeting areas and markets. Each layer of webbing (100 in all, though only 80 major levels exist, as well as eight levels that exist only as highways between other major levels. The last twelve minor layers are anchor layers that keep the city firmly attached to the volcano. These 12 layers are just as thick as the major levels, but unlike them, these areas are not hollow. The road thick webs act as anchoring cables, and are reportedly indestructible. Drow artisans have worked out several spells able to alter the Lolth created webs, but only those of the Hollow 88 levels. With these certain families have expanded their Hives and roads to areas around them. The new additions are made up of webbing exactly like those Lolth created, and exactly resemble them in appearance. Hives compete for supremacy amongst the ranking, with the top eight Hives reporting directly to Xandaria herself. It is her favor that each house hopes to curry. Even though the current Xandaria can be drawn from any house, no favor will she show to her old Hive. The 100 years spent in exile wipe away such feelings, instilling the tenancies decreed by Lolth. So each family must continually jockey for position as Xandaria's come and go.
CrossHair			History of the Drow! ). Because of their proximity to Gul, and the many long generations born within it's shell, B.S. Drow have developed different innate abilities. Enhanced Vision: B.S.Drow have a special inner eyelid which allows them to filter out dust, smoke and ash from the air. This inner lid allows them to see clearly (normal sight only) up to 120' in even the densest conditions and protects them from the harmfull stinging effects as well. Resistance to Heat: Many thousands of years amongst the heat has immuned the drow to the immense heat amongst them at all times. This affects non-magical heat only but drow save at +2 to savings throws dealing with heat and fire and subtract -1 point of damage per die. Levitation: While the B.S.Drow have also developed levitation, it is more used in Xandar than in most Drow cities. Drow may levitate a max of 1 round per level per 24 hours. Higher leveled, more skilled drow almost exclusively use this as a form of transportation amongst the city's top houses and shops, and of course the Temple. Create Darkness: Like other drow, the Xandarians have the innate ability to envoke this effect.
			Slaves and Technology The Xandarian slave force is made up of 90 percent minotaurs. Specially bred by the Drow, Gul's make up the draftboat crews, standing armies, and scouting teams as well as supplying an unequaled labor force coupled with splendid gladiatorial combat for aged Gul's. Another 5% of the slave force is made up of other Drow taken or sold into slavery (all males). These are commonly from Dubloth (outcast) gangs who live or hangout outside the city (much frowned upon). The last 5% is made up of the few other races to survive long enough to make it to Gul. Mostly goblinkyn, giants, and Trolls. The Xandarians don't barter much for outside slaves but are more than willing to sell born and bred minotaurs for the right price as personal slaves or gladiatorial warriors. <> A few races are never taken as slaves but are instead killed on sight. These include the Thri-kreen (mantis warriors), jewe (sand gnomes), and the natural horrors of the dessert. Namely the sand mantas, sand kraken, ant lions, and worse. Some few highly stationed Drow have taken Faelin and faelorn as familiars, once rare about Xandar, the above fairykyn are becoming more common over the years. Level Of Technology Xandar is suprisingly advanced considering the desolate area of it's location. But within this island of death the Drow have flourished. First amongst the Drow areas of knowledge are the flows and currents of Gul's ash cloud. Liftable sails, glider wings, windjammer sails and parachutes can all be found in use with Black Sands. Gul' generates two currents, Highlor and Behllore. Highlor or the top more powerful current out of Gul, creates waves of soot filled wind which can surge out to the surrounding mountains (the barren Peaks) and flow down and back toward Gul's base. Behllore is what the current is called after it rebounds back from the peaks. Knowledge of how the lorr (winds) runs is a needed skill on or above the dessert. Noting lands marks and tell tale signs help skilled B.S.'ers travel the barren wastelands. (A commonly known fact is that all sand dunes face towards Gul because of Behllore's direction) Within the city proper, guilds have transformed the edge around the volcanoes inner crust to hold makeshift blacksmith shops and smithy's. The metals forged in Gul-vell (belly of the beast/slave) are of the purest nature and tapping lush mines below the desserts surface has provided many rare metals and gems. Studded here and there along the sterileness are sage shops and magic houses concerned with imbuing crafted items with magic. And everywhere are the skull houses. Small shops housing female inquisitors (House Thralls) who over see the collection of sales and guild taxes amongst the forges.