According to nearly every item description, the "master" Drow armorers and weaponsmiths cleverly weave adamantite into their equipment.

So when fighting near "boreholes" where Drow apparently perform surface raids, wouldn't all of their equipment basically disintegrate? Leaving them weapon and armorless?

I highly doubt that every Drow Elf carries around one full set of Adamantite armor and equipment, and another one of normal steel (I don't care what your weight limit is, it is not conceivable due to the bulk to carry around that much!), and given the stories we read in books or on-line concerning them, can we honestly expect the blood-thirsty Drow to ask for a "time-out" while they switch to their other equipment???

I realize that BG characters, given a Girdle of Fire Giant Strength could carry 16 suits of Full-Plate if they wanted, and the inconsistency has occurred to me. I intend this question of paradox to apply to the actual world and stories that we read about.

this is simple to resolve. you have to underrstand, its not just a drow goes out for a stroll and decides to raid the surface on impulse, they are planned raids. so they take items that can stand the sun with them on a raid.

or perhaps their preistesses can cast a pell that can protect their equipment for a short time?

Very true, but then again, when you kill them, they drop elven chain. That might be the reason, I'm not sure. But very good point, i guess Black Isle just does it for the game.

they raid at NIGHT, leave before dawn

also, they have spells such as "anti-gravity" or "anti-magnetism" :D :D :D

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by DM of FAoIW:
they raid at NIGHT, leave before dawn

also, they have spells such as "anti-gravity" or "anti-magnetism" :D :D :D <hr></blockquote>

That's RIGHT ;) the stuff doesn't disintigrate because there's no sunlight. That's why they don't fight battles at the surface but only do raids. Hit and run before the sun comes up.

Simple, isn't it [img]smile.gif[/img]

Assuming you guys are right about night raids, you do fail to take one thing into account: the Drow's extremely war-like nature.

A race such as the Drow does not garner a reputation of fear without a reason, and hitting caravans at night really isn't going to do it.

Eventually, they will have to make WAR, and when that happens, their vaunted "clever craft" will serve to be their undoing.

You are very true. I guess black isle just does it. Hey, no game is perfect right. So, i guess they all mess up.

The entire Drow culture is not about war. It is about subterfuge, deception, and overwhelming force when nobody's looking.
The Drow houses do not make WAR upon one another. The make calculated RAIDS upon other houses and ensure that nobody remains alive to tell the tale. The send out RAIDING parties to patrol their borders and kill intruders. Most of the time, the Drow are the ones defending their realm from invasions of the surface elves. So they have a violent culture, but not a war-like one. The orcs are warlike, maybe some other minor races, but the Drow most definately prize stealth, deception and speed above taking and holding ground. They are raiders, pirates and bandits, never staying to do battle with stronger forces. There's your answer right there. What happens when they go to war and their weapons desintegrate? They dont! They run and hide, avoiding protracted engagements.

Lifetime is right

the entire drow culture is NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT about war, nope, not about war

it is about self indulgent, getting ahead at other's expanse, putting oneself above the rest

therefore, if war means great gain of power and abilities, then war is the best choice

on the other hand, if war means stupidly lose, then why war?


drow dont seek for blood, they seek for power

i've gotta agree with the otheres...

case in point: raid a svirfneblin patrol...they don't make all-out war on the svirfneblin, they just raid 'em.

well, in the books, when Drizzt left the underdark, his equipment and abilities were degenerated over time. it wasnt instantaneous. maybe it is something to do with those lines. who knows. did you know that you can export a character with drow equipment, import him back into the game later, (after the underdark) and you will still have the drow equipment, and it doesnt desintigrate!? at least it didnt for me, might be a bug, but a nice bug, lol.

its not a bug its just not calculated upon people doing this
BG disintegrates all adamentium items when you leave the underdark
it would be impossible for the game to constantly check if you have adamentium with you
It just the engine that you walk around instead of through

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Kaleban:
Assuming you guys are right about night raids, you do fail to take one thing into account: the Drow's extremely war-like nature.

A race such as the Drow does not garner a reputation of fear without a reason, and hitting caravans at night really isn't going to do it.

Eventually, they will have to make WAR, and when that happens, their vaunted "clever craft" will serve to be their undoing.<hr></blockquote>

Warlike does not mean suicidal or stupid. Drow warfare is all about subtle commando-type attacks under cover of darkness where they can use their special abilities to the fullest. They've lived for millenia under the surface of the earth with no light of any kind, except for patches of faerie fire in their cities. They have excellent darkvision and are masters at fighting blind and using senses other than sight. They wouldn't throw all those advantages away to fight a surface war in the sunlight.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Did you know that you can export a character with drow equipment, import him back into the game later, (after the underdark) and you will still have the drow equipment, and it doesnt desintigrate!? at least it didnt for me, might be a bug, but a nice bug, lol.<hr></blockquote>

One would think in the ~10 years between Curse of the Azure Bonds, and Baldurs Gate II that someone could come up with a solution to this problem.

I just have a hard time believing then that the Drow have this feared and hated reputation throughout the Realms, if the extent of their combats is merely commando-style raids.

If that is the case then why does no one fear the Kobolds or Goblins who, except for abilities, do the exact same thing? An adventurer sees a Kobold party and thinks "easy exp", but switch that out for a Drow party, and the adventurer may think twice (not likely given the average wisdom it takes to take up adventuring, but you get the idea).

Now obviously, a Kobold is not nearly as powerful as a Drow warrior, but to a civilization on the surface, reputations of a species are based on what it encounters and rumours. If the only contact with the surface world and Drow are from occasional raids, I fail to see the logic in ascribing the Drow a reputation such as the one they have! Of course, if the raids are along the lines of Genghis Khan and are constant throughout history, then maybe, but no sentient being could possibly be stupid enough to allow a constant force of raiding and piracy to be within their midst (or below it) without taking some form of retribution!

It just seems rediculous to me. Rces on the surface of Faerun know that the Underdark houses all these baddies. Yet they allow it to continue an be a source of strife, piracy, etc., etc.? Something just doesn't seem right about that.

If they did have a war i suppose they'd all go out and hunt gorgons for their skin. It doesnt disintegrate if im correct. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

KaleBan

people fear what is NOT known. the secrecy and chaotic drow natural is indeed, a powerful combination. do not assume the people of the realm understand drow as we, the outside observer knew. Drow does wield arcane knowledge, command overwhelming magic, walk by the side of the most powerful lower plane denizens, but the most feared is their ruthless, self-indulgent, unpredictable natural.

do not assume you understand a drow's mind. that is all I can say

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Kaleban:
I just have a hard time believing then that the Drow have this feared and hated reputation throughout the Realms, if the extent of their combats is merely commando-style raids.

If that is the case then why does no one fear the Kobolds or Goblins who, except for abilities, do the exact same thing? An adventurer sees a Kobold party and thinks "easy exp", but switch that out for a Drow party, and the adventurer may think twice (not likely given the average wisdom it takes to take up adventuring, but you get the idea).

Now obviously, a Kobold is not nearly as powerful as a Drow warrior, but to a civilization on the surface, reputations of a species are based on what it encounters and rumours. If the only contact with the surface world and Drow are from occasional raids, I fail to see the logic in ascribing the Drow a reputation such as the one they have! Of course, if the raids are along the lines of Genghis Khan and are constant throughout history, then maybe, but no sentient being could possibly be stupid enough to allow a constant force of raiding and piracy to be within their midst (or below it) without taking some form of retribution!

It just seems rediculous to me. Rces on the surface of Faerun know that the Underdark houses all these baddies. Yet they allow it to continue an be a source of strife, piracy, etc., etc.? Something just doesn't seem right about that.<hr></blockquote>

Kaleban, I strongly recommend you read Salvatore's Drow Elf Trilogy (especially Homeland). If possible read the Legacy of the Drow quartet. It will answer all your questions about the drow. [img]smile.gif[/img]

This is an interesting topic. [img]smile.gif[/img] Realize that the races of Faerun are all fragmented and caught up in their own issues. They are not unified in any sense. The only kingdom that was somewhat unified was Cormyr and with Azoun's death and the attack of Nalavara the Red, the Devil Dragon, that kingdom is full of strife now.

The Dales are fragmented as they've always been, and drow are infiltrating Cormanthyr. Elminster keeps to Shadowdale more and more and meddles in the affairs of the world less and less.

The Silver Marches are unified but they are far to the north and have orc and goblin hordes to contend with, in addition to the newly-reappeared Netherese Empire of Shadow.

Post Myth Drannor, the sun elves have Retreated to Evermeet and don't care about what happens in the rest of Faerun (not that they ever did). The only elven colony of any note in western Faerun is Evereska, and that kingdom has closed her borders to all but their own kind.

Other human kingdoms like Sembia and the other cities of the Inner Sea have more of a commercial bent and couldn't care less about a shadowy enemy far below the surface. They have more pressing concerns such as competing with other human kingdoms like Thay and Mulhorand.

The Sword Coast is a disparate group of cities that don't often get along (Baldur's Gate, Athkatla, Calimshan). Waterdeep stands by itself and doesn't care about what happens outside its borders.

Tethyr has been in the grip of a decades-long civil war and is in no position to enforce peace on itself, let alone its neighbours.

The great dwarven kingdoms of the past are no more.

It took Azoun, the greatest king Cormyr had ever known, to unify HALF of western Faerun to raise an army against the Tuigan barbarians, and even his coalition was fractious and disunited - and that was only because the barbarians were threatening western Faerun and everyone had a stake in them being defeated.

So to summarize - nobody will arrange an army to destroy the drow because a) not every surface kingdom is lawful good; b) they have more immediate concerns; or c) they are all fragmented and disunited, with differing goals and differing interests.

Hope this all helps. I strongly suggest you read the Drow Elf Trilogy if you find this stuff at all interesting. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 11-05-2001: Message edited by: Memnoch ]</p>

Below you'll find some interesting insights into drow culture. Have a look at the highlighted section in particular.

<font color="gray">
Drow elves

These dreaded, evil creatures were once part of the community of elves that still roam the world's forests. Now these dark elves inhabit black caves and winding tunnels under the earth, where they make dire plans against the races that still walk beneath the sun, on the surface of the green earth.

Drow have black skin and pale, usually white hair. They are shorter and more slender than humans, seldom reaching more than 5 feet in height. Male drow weigh between 80 and 110 pounds, and females between 95 and 120 pounds. Drow have finely chiseled features, and their fingers and toes are long and delicate. Like all elves, they have higher Dexterity and lower Constitution than men.

Drow clothing is usually black, functional, and often possesses special properties, although it does not radiate magic. For example, drow cloaks and boots act as if they are cloaks of and boots of elvenkind, except that the wearer is only 75% likely to remain undetected in shadows or to surprise enemies. The material used to make drow cloaks does not cut easily and is fire resistant, giving the cloaks a+6 bonus to saving throws vs. fire. These cloaks and boots fit and function only for those of elven size and build. Any attempt to alter a drow cloak has a 75% chance of unraveling the material, making it useless.

In the centuries they've spent underground, drow have learned the languages of many of the intelligent creatures of the underworld. Besides their own tongue, an exotic variant of elvish, drow speak both common and the subterranean trade language used by many races under the earth. They speak the languages of gnomes and other elves fluently.

Drow also have their own silent language composed of both signed hand movements and body language. These signs can convey information, but not subtle meaning or emotional content. If within 30 feet of another drow, they can also use complex facial expressions, body movements, and postures to convey meaning. Coupled with their hand signs, these expressions and gestures give the drow's silent language a potential for expression equal to most spoken languages.

Combat: The drow's world is one in which violent conflict is part of everyday life. It should not be surprising then, that most drow encountered, whether alone or in a group, are ready to fight. Drow encountered outside of a drow city are at least 2nd-level fighters. (See Society note below.)

Drow wear finely crafted, non-encumbering, black mesh armor. This extremely strong mail is made with a special alloy of steel containing adamantite. The special alloy, when worked by a drow armorer, yields mail that has the same properties of chain mail +1 to +5, although it does not radiate magic. Even the lowliest drow fighters have, in effect, chain mail +1, while higher level drow have more finely crafted, more powerful, mail. (The armor usually has a+1 for every four levels of experience of the drow wearing it.)

Dark elves also carry small shields (bucklers) fashioned of adamantite. Like drow armor, these special shields may be + 1,+2, or even+3, though only the most important drow fighters have+3 bucklers.

Most drow carry a long dagger and a short sword of adamantite alloy. These daggers and swords can have a+1 to + 3 bonus, and drow nobles may have daggers and swords of +4 bonus. Some drow (50%) also carry small crossbows that can be held in one hand and will shoot darts up to 60 yards. The darts only inflict 1-3 points of damage, but dark elves commonly coat them with poison that renders a victim unconscious, unless he rolls a successful saving throw vs. poison, with a -4 penalty. The effects last 2d4 hours.

A few drow carry adamantite maces (+ 1 to+5 bonus) instead of blades. Others carry small javelins coated with the same poison as the darts. They have a range of 90 yards with a short range bonus of+3, a +2 at medium, and a +1 at long.

Drow move silently and have superior infravision (120 feet). They also have the same intuitive sense about their underground world as dwarves do, and can detect secret doors with the same chance of success as other elves. A dark elf can only be surprised by an opponent on a roll of 1 on ldl0.

All dark elves receive training in magic, and are able to use the following spells once per day: dancing lights, faerie fire, and darkness. Drow above 4th level can use levitate, know alignment, and detect magic once per day. Drow priests can also use detect lie, clairvoyance, suggestion, and dispel magic once per day.

Perhaps it is the common use of magic in drow society that has given the dark elves their incredible resistance. Drow have a base resistance to magic of 50%, which increases by 2% for each level of experience. (Multi-classed drow gain the bonus from only the class in which they have the highest level.) All dark elves save vs. all forms of magical attack (including devices) with a+2 bonus. Thus, a 5th-level drow has a 60% base magic resistance and a +2 bonus to her saving throws vs. spells that get past her magic resistance.

Drow encountered in a group always have a leader of a higher level than the rest of the party. If 10 or more drow are encountered, a fighter/mage of at least 3rd level in each class is leading them. If 20 drow are encountered, then, in addition to the higher level fighter/mage, there is a fighter/priest of at least the 6th level in both classes. If there are more than 30, up to 50% are priests and the leader is at least a 7th-level fighter/8th-level priest, with a 5th-level fighter/4th-level mage for an assistant, in addition to the other high level leaders.

Dark elves do have one great weakness+bright light. Because the drow have lived so long in the earth, rarely venturing to the surface, they are no longer able to tolerate bright light of any kind. Drow within the radius of a light or continual light spell are 90% likely to be seen. In addition, they lose 2 points from their Dexterity and attack with a -2 penalty inside the area of these spells. Characters subject to spells cast by drow affected by a light or continual light spell add a +2 bonus to their saving throws. If drow are attacking a target that is in the area of effect of a light or continual light spell, they suffer an additional -1 penalty to their attack rolls, and targets of drow magical attacks save at an additional+1. These penalties are cumulative (i.e., if both the drow and their targets are in the area of effect of a light spell, the drow suffer a -3 penalty to their attack rolls and the targets gain a +3).

Because of the serious negative effects of strong light on the drow, they are 75% likely to leave an area of bright light, unless they are in battle. Light sources like torches, lanterns, magical weapons, or faerie fire spells, do not affect drow.
</font>
<font color="orange">
Habitat/society: Long ago, dark elves were part of the elven race that roamed the world's forests. Not long after they were created, though, the elves found themselves torn into rival factions - one following the tenets of evil (the treacherous Seldarine goddess Araushnee who later became Lolth), the other owning the ideals of good and following Corellon Larethian (or at least neutrality). A great civil war known as the Crown Wars between the elves followed and lasted three thousand years. The dark, selfish elves known as the Ilythiiri who followed the paths of evil and chaos were driven into the depths of the earth, into the bleak, lightless caverns and deep tunnels of the Underdark. These Ilythiiri became the drow.

The drow no longer wish to live upon the surface of the earth. In fact, few who live on the surface ever see a drow. But the dark elves resent the elves and faeries who drove them away, and scheme against those that dwell in the sunlight.

Drow live in magnificently dark, gloomy cities in the underworld that few humans or demihumans ever see. They construct their buildings entirely out of stone and minerals, carved into weird, fantastic shapes. Those few surface creatures that have seen a dark elf city (and returned to tell the tale) report that it is the stuff of which nightmares are made. Menzoberranzan in Faerun's Underdark is an example of one such city.

Drow society is fragmented into many opposing noble houses and merchant families, all scrambling for power. In fact, all drow carry brooches inscribed with the symbol of the merchant or noble group they are allied with, though they hide these and do not show them often. The drow believe that the strongest should rule; their rigid class system, with a long and complicated list of titles and prerogatives, is based on the idea.

They worship a dark goddess, called Lolth by some, and her priestesses hold very high places in society. Since most drow priests are female, women tend to fill nearly all positions of great importance.

Drow fighters go through rigorous training while they are young. Those who fail the required tests are killed at the program's conclusion. That is why dark elf fighters of less than 2nd level are rarely seen outside a drow city.

Drow often use giant lizards as pack animals, and frequently take bugbears or troglodytes as servants. Drow cities are havens for evil beings, including mind flayers, and drow are allied with many of the underworld's evil inhabitants. On the other hand, they are constantly at war with many of their neighbors beneath the earth, including dwarves or dark gnomes (svirfneblin) who settle to close to a drow city. Dark elves frequently keep slaves of all types, including past allies who have failed to live up to drow expectations.
</font>
<font color="gray">
Ecology: The drow produce unusual weapons and clothing with quasi-magical properties. Some scribes and researchers suggest that it is the strange radiation around drow cities that make drow crafts special. Others theorize that fine workmanship gives their wonderfully strong metals and superior cloth its unique attributes. Whatever the reason, it's clear that the drow have discovered some way to make their clothing and weapons without the use of magic.

Direct sunlight utterly destroys drow cloth, boots, weapons, and armor. When any item produced by them is exposed to the light of the sun, irreversible decay begins. Within 2d6 days, the items lose their magical properties and rot, becoming totally worthless. Drow artifacts, protected from sunlight, retain their special properties for ld20+30 days before becoming normal items. If a drow item is protected from direct sunlight and exposed to the radiations of the drow underworld for one week out of every four, it will retain its properties indefinitely.

Drow sleep poison, used on their darts and javelins, is highly prized by traders on the surface. However, this poison loses its potency instantly when exposed to sunlight, and remains effective for only 60 days after it is exposed to air. Drow poison remains potent for a year if kept in an unopened packet.

Driders
These strange creatures have the head and torso of a drow and the legs and lower body of a giant spider. Driders are created by the drow's dark goddess. When a dark elf of above-average ability reaches 6th level, the goddess may put him or her through a special test. Failures become driders.

Driders are able to cast all spells a normal drow can use once per day. They also retain any magical or clerical skills they had before transformation. A majority of driders (60%) were priests of 6th or 7th level before they were changed, all other driders were mages of 6th, 7th, or 8th level.

Driders always fight as 7 Hit Die monsters. They often use swords or axes, though many carry bows. Driders can bite for ld4 points of damage, and those bitten must save vs. poison with a -2 penalty or be paralyzed for 1-2 turns.

Because they have failed their goddess's test, driders are outcasts from their own communities. Driders are usually found alone or with 2d6 huge spiders (10% chance), rather than with drow or other driders. They are violent, aggressive creatures that favor blood over all types of food. They stalk their victims tirelessly, waiting for the right chance to strike.
</font>

Seriously man, where do you get these things!?
BTW thanks! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Must be off of an online Monstrous Manual (with special emphasis on "Monstrous"... yeesh!).

Anyways, that was a lot of insight, I may just have to pick up Salvatore's books...

I suppose the number one thing you put down that stuck in my brain was the "The drow no longer wish to live upon the surface of the earth. In fact, few who live on the surface ever see a drow. But the dark elves resent the elves and faeries who drove them away, and scheme against those that dwell in the sunlight." quote.

Its all about cold, sweet, and slow revenge against their perceived oppressors.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Kaleban:
Must be off of an online Monstrous Manual (with special emphasis on "Monstrous"... yeesh!).
<hr></blockquote>

Anything that I quote in color means that I've quoted it and it's not in my own words (and in some cases added my own comments). In this case yes, it is an .rtf version of the 2nd Ed Monstrous Manual. Huge mofo. ;)

Really...I might have a look at that.. ;)

when drow attack they attack at night, and then that saves their armor and such, as after they attack they usually go immediately back to the underdark

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by DM of FAoIW:
The secrecy and chaotic drow natural is indeed, a powerful combination..<hr></blockquote>

I do believe Drow are Neutral Evil, as they do manage to maintain a society and a somewhat balanced government. Chaotic Evil beings, I feel, are incapable of civilization, if not at all incapable of emotions other than those of greed, hatred, revenge, or plain EVILness.

[ 11-05-2001: Message edited by: Nanobyte ]</p>

read the definition of "chaotic evil"

drow IS chaotic evil or chaotic good

Actually I believe the Drow are Lawful Evil. Chaotic Evil is for characters with no respect for authority or just plain madmen. The Drow DO have a social ladder and ranking/class system, and they do pay respect to higher ranks, such as Priestesses and Matrons. They follow the "rules" of the Underdark and of Drow society as far as they know they'll be caught, but break the rules only when they know they can get away with it. They're pretty much like humans in a way. An Anarchistic, every-man-for-himself, yet highly ordered System.

read definition, as I said

chaotic evil is not mad man. mad has nothing to do in this case. chaotic evil means self indulgent, getting ahead at everyone else's expanse, getting ahead, getting ahead, getting ahead...

Being Chaotic has everything to do with individualism. Chaotic persons like to do things themselves, and in the case of evil persons... for themselves. Yes, it's a bit of a selfish alignment. A chaotic person is always willing to "go against the odds" or "break a few rules" to get what they think needs to be done, done. Good or Evil... a chaotic person has very little respect for laws or organization. So, when you hear of a large group of drow attacking an elven town, I would tend to think that most of those individuals would either be Lawful or Neutral rather than Chaotic, for it's not easy for a Chaotic individual to follow orders, or work well in a team. It CAN be done, but it's not easy, and basically goes against that persons inner self.

So Sayeth the GOD of WAR!

chaotic evil doesnt mean stupid evil

you are saying chaotic evil people cannot work together, I say that is wrong.

because chaotic evils do work together if there is a common gain. and that is the case when a large groups of drow do raids. their war, however, often fail at the end because INDIVIDUAL's gain outweight the gains of the group, and a drow, doesn't sacrifice. that is how the whole loses

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Lifetime:
Actually I believe the Drow are Lawful Evil. Chaotic Evil is for characters with no respect for authority or just plain madmen. The Drow DO have a social ladder and ranking/class system, and they do pay respect to higher ranks, such as Priestesses and Matrons. They follow the "rules" of the Underdark and of Drow society as far as they know they'll be caught, but break the rules only when they know they can get away with it. They're pretty much like humans in a way. An Anarchistic, every-man-for-himself, yet highly ordered System.<hr></blockquote>

IMHO, you may be getting confused between being chaotic evil and being psychotic, Lifetime. ;) The drow do NOT respect any laws save those that benefit them (read Homeland for a perfect example of drow law). Their society is not regimented by any structure - rather, it is regimented by the rule of the strongest. The law of power always prevails, and they have no qualms whatsoever about breaking the law when it suits their purposes. A drow may kill another drow on the streets of Menzoberranzan and if successful nobody will bat an eyelid. In a lawful evil kingdom the murderer would be tried, found guilty and tortured to death. The workings of Menzoberranzan typify this type of society - it is held together by those that have power and they use this power to force or manipulate others into doing their will.

The Salvatore book Siege of Darkness *minor spoilers coming* is another fine book that typifies the chaos that the drow live under. When Matron Baenre organizes the drow army to conquer Mithril Hall, she holds this army together by sheer force of will, power and the threat of Lolth's vengeance. It is FEAR of Baenre and FEAR of being overlooked in favours that drive the drow to unite - even so, despite the fact that their army was much larger and more formidable than that of the dwarves and barbarians, they failed because none of the soldiers/commanders from rival houses trusted each other and the army disintegrated upon Baenre's death. This is also why the drow have never been able to hold an army together long enough to conquer the surface (not that they want to anyway).

Here are some definitions (for those who don't know):

<font color="silver">
Lawful Evil: These characters believe in using society and its laws to benefit themselves. Structure and organization elevate those who deserve to rule as well as provide a clearly defined hierarchy between master and servant. To this end, lawful evil characters support laws and societies that protect their own concerns. If someone is hurt or suffers because of a law that benefits lawful evil characters, too bad. Lawful evil characters obey laws out of fear of punishment. Because they may be forced to honor an unfavorable contract or oath they have made, lawful evil characters are usually very careful about giving their word. Once given, they break their word only if they can find a way to do it legally, within the laws of the society.

Chaotic Evil: These characters are the bane of all that is good and organized. Chaotic evil characters are motivated by the desire for personal gain and pleasure. They see absolutely nothing wrong with taking whatever they want by whatever means possible. Laws and governments are the tools of weaklings unable to fend for themselves. The strong have the right to take what they want, and the weak are there to be exploited. When chaotic evil characters band together, they are not motivated by a desire to cooperate, but rather to oppose powerful enemies. Such a group can be held together only by a strong leader capable of bullying his underlings into obedience. Since leadership is based on raw power, a leader is likely to be replaced at the first sign of weakness by anyone who can take his position away from him by any method.
</font>
Here are the definitions for area alignments, for those of you interested.

<font color="red">
Using a general alignment for an area allows a quick assessment of the kind of treatment player characters can expect there. The following gives ideas for each alignment.

Lawful good: the people are generally honest, law-abiding, and helpful. They mean well (at least most of them do). They respect the law. As a rule, people don't walk around wearing armor and carrying weapons. Those who do are viewed with suspicion or as trouble-makers. Some societies tend to dislike adventurers, since they often bring trouble. Eg. Cormyr.

Lawful Neutral: The people are not only law-abiding, they are passionate creators of arcane bureaucracies. The tendency to organize and regulate everything easily gets out of control.

In large empires there are ministries, councils, commissions, departments, offices, and cabinets for everything. If the region attracts a lot of adventurers, there are special ministries, with their own special taxes and licenses, to deal with the problem. The people are not tremendously concerned with the effectiveness of the government, so long as it functions. Eg. Sembia.

Lawful Evil: The government is marked by its severe laws, involving harsh punishments regardless of guilt or innocence. Laws are not intended to preserve justice so much as to maintain the status quo. Social class is crucial. Bribery and corruption are often ways of life. Adventurers, since they are outsiders who may be foreign agents, are viewed with great suspicion. Lawful evil kingdoms often find themselves quashing rebellions of oppressed peasants clamoring for humane treatment. Eg. Zhentil Keep, Thay.

Neutral evil, neutral good, and true neutral: Areas dominated by these three alignments tend to adopt whatever government seems most expedient at the moment. A particular form of government lasts as long as the ruler or dynasty in power can maintain it. The people cooperate when it suits them--or, in the case of true neutrals, when the balance of forces must be preserved.
Such neutral territories often act as buffer states between lands of extreme alignment difference (for example, between a lawful good barony and a vile chaotic evil principality). They shift allegiance artfully to preserve their borders against the advances of both sides in a conflict.
Neutral evil countries tend to be benign (but not pleasant) dictatorships while neutral good countries are generally "enlightened" dictatorships. Transfers of power are usually marked by shifts in government, though these are often bloodless coups. There is a certain apathy about politics and government. Adventurers are treated the same as everyone else.

Chaotic Good: The people mean well and try to do right, but are hampered by a natural dislike of big government. Although there may be a single ruler, most communities are allowed to manage themselves, so long as their taxes are paid and they obey a few broad edicts. Such areas tend to have weak law enforcement organizations. A local sheriff, baron, or council may hire adventurers to fill the gap. Communities often take the law into their own hands when it seems necessary. Lands on the fringes of vast empires far from the capital tend to have this type of alignment. Eg. The Dales.

Chaotic Neutral: There is no government. Anarchy is the rule. A stranger to such a town may feel as if he has ridden into a town of madmen. Eg. Vaasa.

Chaotic Evil: The people are ruled by, and live in fear of, those more powerful than themselves. Local government usually amounts to a series of strongarm bosses who obey the central government out of fear. People look for ways to gain power or keep the power they've got. Assassination is an accepted method of advancement, along with coups, conspiracies, and purges. Adventurers are often used as pawns in political power games, only to be eliminated when the adventurers themselves become a threat. Rg. Menzoberranzan.

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[ 11-06-2001: Message edited by: Memnoch ]

[ 11-06-2001: Message edited by: Memnoch ]</p>

nice job, you are like an online encyclopedia now, genie