Chapter One: Greetings & Introductions
1.1
Culture:
Many Drow societies welcome mutually profitable or pleasurable dealing with other races. However, the Drow are often proud and arrogant. They are quick to take offense to insults and to strike down those they consider enemies. You have been warned . . .
Vocabulary - Phrases of Greeting
Vendui' - I/We greet you (hello)
Alure' - I/We leave you (good bye)
Al thalraus - Well met
Activity 1A
What would you say in each of the following situations?
1. You have just met a Drow from another city
2. You encounter a family member
3. You have ended a conversation with a fellow merchant
4. A demon introduces himself to you in the Drow tongue
5. You would like to start up a conversation with a good-looking stranger
6. You are about to leave your teacher and return home
Answers
Vocabulary - Phrases of Introduction
Vel'bol zhah dossta ess? What is your name?
Ussta ess zhah... - My name is...
Ukt ess zhah... - His name is...
Ilta ess zhah... - Her name is...
Vel'bol qu'ellar phuul dos? - What House are you from?
Usstan uil... - I am...
Nindol zhah... - This is...
Nind phuul... - They are...
Activity 1B
Introduce each of the following people.
1. Yourself
2. Your friend Anginidia (female)
3. Your friend Meryl (male)
4. Your allies Rizgloth (male) and Xunafae (female)
Answers
Vocabulary - Me, You, He, She, It, Them, and Us
*Usstan - I
Ussa - Me
Ussta - My
Usst - Mine
*Uk - He
Ukt - His
Ukta - Him
*Il - She
Ilt - Hers
Ilta - Her
*Ol - It
Olt - Its
*Dos - You
Dosst - Yours
Dossta - Your
*Nind - They
Nina - Them
Nint - Theirs
Ninta - Their
*Udos - We
Udossa - Us
Udosst - Ours
Udossta - Our
* Learn these words before moving on to conjugating verbs in the upcoming grammer sections
Vocabulary - Misc.
Lil - The
Natha - A (often omitted)
Lueth - And
Xas - Yes
Nau - No
Activity 1C
Translate the following phrases.
1. Nindol zhah usst.
2. Il zhah Inylene.
3. Xas, usstan uil Rhylor.
4. Dossta ess zhah Baenolu?
Answers
1.2
Grammer - Verb "to be"
I am - Usstan uil
You are - Dos phuul
He is - Uk zhah
She is - Il zhah
It is - Ol zhah
We are - Udos phuul
They are - Nind phuul
Culture:
The typical Drow city is composed of Houses, both noble and common. The top eight noble Houses form the ruling council, the leaders of the city. On a more local level, a Matron Mother leads each individual House. Houses often rise to the top through intrigue, backstabbing, and warfare and ultimately, those who are in the best favor of their goddess Lloth survive to take the lead.
Notable exceptions include cities such as Sshamath, which are ruled by an arcane conclave rather than Houses controlled by the priestesshood, as well as the few cities that choose to devote themselves other deities, such as the good-aligned surface-dwelling followers of Eilistraee, the Dark Maiden.
Vocabulary - Titles
Ilharess - Matron
Ilharn - Patron
Jabbuk - Master (male in charge of some task or office)
Jabbress - Mistress (female in charge of some task or office)
Malla - Honored (a term of respect that preceeds a title)
C'rintri - Noble Drow (a Drow belonging to a noble house)
Shebali - Rogue, non-noble Drow
Valsharess - Queen
Valuk - King
Yathrin - Priestess (of Lloth)
Yathtallar - High Priestess (of Lloth)
Sargtlin - Drow warrior
Vocabulary - Relationships
Dalharuk - Son
Dalharil - Daughter
Dalninuk - Brother
Dalninil - Sister
Abbil - Friend
Abban - Ally
Ogglin - Enemy/Rival
Activity 1D
Translate the following into Drow.
1. She is my daughter, a high priestess of Lloth.
2. He is your enemy.
3. What House are you from, noble Drow?
4. This drow warrior is my ally.
5. I greet you, honored Matron.
6. Your friend is a rogue!
Answers
1.3
Grammer - Pluralization
Withstanding irregular forms, a plural is completed by "en" if the word ends in a consonant or "n" if it ends in a vowel.
Examples:
Singular - Jabbress (Mistress)
Plural - Jabbressen (Mistresses)
Singular - C'rintri (Drow noble)
Plural - C'rintrin (Drow nobles)
Activity 1E
Fill in the blanks in the chart below:
Vocabulary - Races
Ilythiiri - Dark Elf (although using "Drow" is acceptable) (Plural - Ilythiirin)
Rivvil - Human (Plural - Rivvin)
Darthiir - Elf (Plural - Darthiir)
Tu'rilthiir - Half-elf (Plural - Tu'rilthiir)
Hargluk - Dwarf (Plural - Harglukkin)
Duergar - Deep Dwarf (Plural - Duergar)
Gol - Goblin (Plural - Goln)
Haszak - Illithid (Plural - Haszakkin)
Sakphul - Halfling (Plural - Sakphul)
Yingil - Gnome (Plural - Yingilin)
Tagnik'zur - Dragon (Plural - Tagnik'zur)
Activity 1F
Match the pictures with their Drow names.
1.4
Culture:
In Drow society, females have authority over the males. The priestesses of Lloth are of especially high rank. There are no priests of Lloth because no male would ever be allowed to hold such an important position in society.
Vocabulary - Basic Theology
Quar'valsharn - God
Quarval-sharess - Goddess (Lloth)
Quar'valsharess - Goddess (Generic)
Lloth tlu malla! - Lloth be praised!
Yochlol - Handmaiden of Lloth
Myrlochar - Soul Spider (minion of Lloth)
Yath - Temple
Elamsh - Will of Lloth
Orlenggin - Sacrificial alter
Orvelve - Sacrificial spider dagger
Orbb - Spider
A Typical Temple (Yath):
Activity 1G
Determine the plural forms of the following words and determine their English meanings.
1. Quar'valsharess
2. Myrlochar
3. Yochlol
4. Orlenggin
5. Orvelve
6. Yathtallar
Answers
Culture:
The Drow Deities:
Eilistraee: (CG)
The "Dark Maiden" or the "Lady of the Dance," goddess of good Drow and enemy of Lloth, commonly worshipped on the surface
Ghaunadaur: (CE)
"That Which Lurks" or the "Elder Eye," god of the creatures that dwell in the Underdark
Kiaransalee: (CE)
The "Lady of the Dead" or the "Vengeful Banshee," goddess of revenge and retribution and overlord of the undead, rival to all other Drow deities, especially Lloth
Lloth: (CE)
The "Queen of Spiders," chief goddess in the Drow pantheon
Selvetarm: (CE)
"Champion of Lloth," god of Drow warriors
Vhaeraun: (CE)
"Masked God of the Night," god of thievery, commonly worshipped on the surface
Typical members of the different priesthoods:
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