The Tome Of Drow Lore.pdf - RoseRed

22
The drow regard raiding as being every bit as important and
legitimate a part of commerce as is trading. If something
is easily taken, the thinking goes, why pay for it when it
can simply be seized? This is particularly the case when
it comes to dealing with other races. The drow consider
themselves masters of the Underdeep, powerful and strong,
and they see no reason not to simply take what they need
from the weak.
Obviously, the implications of this viewpoint are not lost
on the other races who make their homes in the Underdeep
and trading caravans approaching any areas claimed by
drow, or where drow raiding has occurred in the past,
travel under extremely heavy guard. Though arrogant and
condescending towards other races, the drow are not fools.
If seizing the contents of some gnomish caravan is going to
cost them heavily, they will trade instead.
As stated, some drow cities have the good fortune to have
abundant, universally-prized trade goods literally at their
doorstep, gems and precious metals that can be mined out
of the rock by small armies of slaves. Those drow cities
that have no such resources still must engage in trade and
commerce, not only to grow in power and dominance but
simply to survive. What exactly is offered in trade varies
from city to city, of course, depending on the resources
available as well as the talents and skills of the drow who
live there. However, the most common exports include
various kinds of minor magic (the drow would never share
something truly impressive with another race), finelycrafted
weapons, slaves and sundry mundane but high
quality goods like pottery or glass. The fabrics made by
the drow are also in high demand as trade goods, from the
strong and colourful na’orsuin to the light and pale spider
silk fabrics spun in cities where worship of the Dark Mother
is strong.
Not all drow cities generate their income in so benign a
way, however. Drow that live near a weak city of another
race rarely bother trading with their neighbours, preferring
instead to extract money, slaves, goods or whatever else they
desire as payment for protection. This is not protection by
the drow against a third party, but rather is protection from
the drow themselves.
Education
As with most civilised races living above or below the
surface of the world, the level of education a drow receives
is commensurate with his station in life. Those drow born
to wealth and privilege can expect an education provided by
the finest tutors available in the city, including instruction
in the arcane arts, if he shows exceptional promise in that
regard. Even after the time the child has been forced to