A question about lore

antonkyle

Simple really, Can a Drow and Elf mate within D&D lore?

As in and have a child or even twins. Particularly, twins where one takes on the Drow line and the other the Elf line?

angrysprite

Drow and Elves are both elves. Note: there is such a race as a Half-Orc, the other half (in Neverwinter, anyway) is Human. There also are Half-Elves, again, the other half being human. If a Human can mate with an Elf or an Orc and produce offspring, it stands to logical reason that Drow Elf and "regular" Elf can do the same. The real question is: Would they?

Here's what you have to decide: if it is 'scientifically' possible, you have to come-up with a logical and plausible reason why they would do this (by choice or otherwise). The answers to such questions are what make *great* stories.

beckylunatic

From stuff I've read hereabouts on these forums by people more familiar with D&D than I am, a dark-haired drow infant is actually showing that its bloodline is tainted by surface elven heritage. That would indicate they can produce viable offspring, with traits of either race manifesting as dominant or regressive.

It's a valid question because not all D&D races can interbreed.

Regarding the question of twins, a quick search indicates that drow produce them sometimes, and there was an entire 3.5e race of deep elves that were always born as twins (Dar'oka). Tolkien included the possibility of twin birth among his elves. Just first-page search results, hardly deep research.

From a genetic standpoint, if you can allow twins, presumably you can allow fraternal twins who could be very different in appearance.

I always appreciate someone who wants to make sure that the details of their story fit with the world in which they're setting it.

antonkyle

angrysprite wrote: »

Drow and Elves are both elves. Note: there is such a race as a Half-Orc, the other half (in Neverwinter, anyway) is Human. There also are Half-Elves, again, the other half being human. If a Human can mate with an Elf or an Orc and produce offspring, it stands to logical reason that Drow Elf and "regular" Elf can do the same. The real question is: Would they?

Here's what you have to decide: if it is 'scientifically' possible, you have to come-up with a logical and plausible reason why they would do this (by choice or otherwise). The answers to such questions are what make *great* stories.

It's because I could find no reference to a half elf/ half Drow that I ask. Just checking that I'm not making a fatal error before I go ahead and write it. I've found one now.

'Zhai was a half-drow, half-wood elf rogue during the Era of Upheaval, by the common definition individuals such as she are thought of as mixed race more often than as half-elf, due to drow being eladrin. However, supremacists tend to view such people as being corrupted in comparison to the standard strains of elf which are commonly documented and acknowledged.'

I was looking for the wrong thing. That actually works even better as it is and Eldrin who had the Twins, part of my on going campaign.

Thanks for the reply.

antonkyle

beckylunatic wrote: »

From stuff I've read hereabouts on these forums by people more familiar with D&D than I am, a dark-haired drow infant is actually showing that its bloodline is tainted by surface elven heritage. That would indicate they can produce viable offspring, with traits of either race manifesting as dominant or regressive.

It's a valid question because not all D&D races can interbreed.

Regarding the question of twins, a quick search indicates that drow produce them sometimes, and there was an entire 3.5e race of deep elves that were always born as twins (Dar'oka). Tolkien included the possibility of twin birth among his elves. Just first-page search results, hardly deep research.

From a genetic standpoint, if you can allow twins, presumably you can allow fraternal twins who could be very different in appearance.

I always appreciate someone who wants to make sure that the details of their story fit with the world in which they're setting it.

Thanks that really helps, I'll be sure to research Dar'oka, maybe that is something I can use.

beckylunatic

That's why I threw it in there. Interesting tidbits of lore like that can really give a story depth when incorporated well.

aarkangel

http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page

chaoscourtesan

Only my opinion, but an elf is an elf as far as pairing goes. As to the other thing.. in the service, there was actually a set of twins in my platoon, one black one white. From inter-racially married parents. They really did look a lot alike if you didn't consider pigment. The funny thing is, their last name. The Everly brothers! XD Cool dudes, they were. Neither one of them was evil or subterranian as far as I ever knew.