Three thousand years ago, the scourge of the ancient red dragon Ruinaxis brought about upheaval and change to the land Sul-El.
Bonds were broken and new alliances were forged as no one was safe from her wrath and the assault of her minions.
Where once there were enemies – new friendships and allegiances were forged under the shadow of her wings.
Lands were sundered and cities were destroyed in her passing on the surface, but even the lands below – the Underdark were affected.
The once secretive, feared and disdained dark elves, the Drow, could not escape the unstoppable force that was Ruinaxis.
The Underdark, as dangerous as it is to the unprepared, became even more perilous.
Monstrosities in the deep that were usually kept at bay by the males and blessing of Lloth became more aggressive and dangerous.
The infighting between houses suddenly stopped.
What was the use strife between house to please the Spider Queen when survival against the onslaught of the denizens of the deep became a daily struggle.
The power of the priestesshood, who ruled the Drow in Lloth’s name, waned in the next hundred years as even their power was no match for the Ruinaxis controlled monstrosities of the deep.
No where was safe from the dragon’s influence.
The Drow began to lose hope and faith that Lloth could deliver them from the dangers below.
Then a new leader emerged.
Though he was a male and he had great arcane power.
Draxis D’Urix or as he become know – Draxis The Dark was a powerful transmuter.
He began, as most males in Drow society at the time, little more than a slave or servant, but his power was undeniable.
He led many of charge against the monsters of the deep and eventually gained so much influence that he was even more respected than the priestesshood itself, which at the time was impotent in the face of the forces below.
Draxis new that the Drow could not face the onslaught alone and left the Underdark to seek aid from above.
As a Drow, he was met with hatred and fear from the surface dwellers, but a powerful dwarven mage and friend of the Savior Yurel Ironstaff named Rulian the Grey saw his power and knew the Drow’s intent and heart.
Rulian convinced Draxis that Ruinaxis could be defeated with Draxis’s and the Drow’s aid.
Draxis made a deal. He would lead lend his power and the forces of the Drow against Ruinaxis in exchange for the Dwarves of Mountain Hold’s aid against the monsters in the Underdark.
The major houses of the Drow, depleted and desperate in the face of the horrors of the deep, needed little convincing from Draxis as he lead an army of dwarves into the Underdark.
The priestesshood of Lloth, already diminished by the fight and the dwindling faith of the Drow, had little choice but to concede their power to the will of the houses.
With the strength of the dwarves and power of the Draxis, they were able to defeat the monstrosities of the deep.
The threat of Ruinaxis’ force in the Underdark defeated, Draxis honored the deal and lead an army of Drow warriors and mages out of the dark and into the light to face Ruinaxis on the surface.
This was met with much fear on the surface – initially.
Thousands of dark elves spilled on to the surface along with a dwarven army to face the minions of Ruinaxis.
After their first major battle – the Battle of Burnhollow all doubt was gone.
The Drow were invested as much as all the other races of Sul-El.
After the defeat of Ruinaxis, many of the dark elves remained on the surface.
Once feared and considered inherently evil, they gained the respect and acceptance of the surface folk over the next hundred years or so after Ruinaxis’ defeat.
While not everywhere, a Drow is not an uncommon site in a major city or town in the modern day.
However, even though society in the Underdark has become more pluralistic, there are still fringe elements that still worship Lloth to this day.
There are rumors those elements are working with the Red Talons.
