Editing Drow (section)

===''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 1st edition===
The drow were first mentioned in the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' game in the [[Editions of Dungeons & Dragons|1st Edition]] 1977 ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' ''[[Monster Manual]]'' under the "Elf" entry, where it is stated that "The 'Black Elves,' or drow, are only legend." No statistics are given for the drow in this book, apart from the statistics for normal elves. The drow are described as purportedly dwelling deep beneath the surface world, in strange subterranean realms. They are said to be evil, "as dark as faeries are bright", and pictured in tales as poor [[Fighter (Dungeons & Dragons)|fighters]] but strong [[Wizard (Dungeons & Dragons)|magic-users]].<ref>[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[Monster Manual]]'' (TSR, 1977).</ref> From 1978 to 1980, the ''[[Greyhawk]]'' adventure module series explored the drow in depth, including statblocks for drow and an introduction to their Underdark society.<ref name="G3" /><ref name=":14" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-24|title=Old D&D Campaigns That Deserve 5e Reprints|url=https://screenrant.com/old-dnd-campaigns-5e-update-reprint-rerelease-original/|access-date=2022-02-08|website=Screen Rant|language=en-US|archive-date=2022-02-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208012926/https://screenrant.com/old-dnd-campaigns-5e-update-reprint-rerelease-original/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The first hardcover ''D&D'' rulebook featuring statistical information on the drow was the original ''[[Fiend Folio#Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition|Fiend Folio]]'' (1981). Gygax wrote this entry, listed under "Elf, Drow", according to the book's credits section. The text is a slightly abridged version of the text originally found in modules G3 and D3. Likewise, Lolth's description from module D3 is reprinted in the ''Fiend Folio'' under the "Demon" heading.<ref>[[Don Turnbull (game designer)|Turnbull, Don]], ed. ''[[Fiend Folio#Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition|Fiend Folio]]'' ([[TSR, Inc.|TSR]], 1981)</ref>

The drow were first presented as a [[player character]] race in ''[[Unearthed Arcana]]'' (1985), also written by Gygax. Several elven sub-races are described in the book, including gray elves, wood elves, wild elves, and valley elves; the dark elves are described as the most divergent sub-race, and dark elf player characters are considered outcasts from their homeland, either by choice, differing from the standard chaotic evil alignment of the race, or having lost in some family-wide power struggle.<ref>[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[Unearthed Arcana]]'' (TSR, 1985)</ref>

==== ''Greyhawk'' module storyline ====
{{See also|Against the Giants|Descent into the Depths of the Earth|Queen of the Demonweb Pits}}
It is hinted in G1 ''Steading of the Hill Giant Chief'' (1978) that there is a "secret force, some motivational power behind this unusual banding of different races of giants." G2 ''The Glacial Rift of the Frost Giant Jarl'' (1978) mentions this guiding force again in its introduction. The third module in the series, G3 ''Hall of the Fire Giant King'' (1978) again mentions the party's need to find out whatever is behind the giants' alliance, and this time mentions the drow specifically by name. In the adventure, the [[player character]]s can discover the first hint of drow involvement in the fire giant king's council room, on a scroll which promises "powerful help from the Drow", signed by [[Eclavdra]]. Actual drow can be encountered starting on level #2 of the king's hall, beginning with a group of drow priests, and then other drow later.<ref name="G3">[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[Hall of the Fire Giant King]]'' (TSR, 1978)</ref><ref name=DME>{{cite book |first=David M. |last=Ewalt|author-link=David M. Ewalt |year=2013 |title=Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and the People Who Play It |publisher=Scribner |pages=143–144 |isbn=978-1-4516-4052-6}}</ref>

Having discovered that the drow instigated the alliance between the races of giants and its warfare against mankind, in ''D1 Descent into the Depths of the Earth'' (1978) the party follows the fleeing drow into the tunnels leading northwest and deep into the earth, to eliminate the threat they pose. Examining a golden spider pin found on one of the drow priestesses, the party can discover runes in the drow language reading "[[Lolth]], Death Queen Mother".<ref>[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[Descent into the Depths of the Earth]]'' (TSR, 1978)</ref> The party continues to pursue the drow in D2 ''Shrine of the Kuo-Toa'' (1978).<ref>[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[Shrine of the Kuo-Toa]]'' (TSR, 1978)</ref> In ''D3 Vault of the Drow'' (1978), the adventurers eventually make it to Erelhei-Cinlu, the vast subterranean city of the drow, which is thoroughly described in the module. An extensive overview of the drow power structure is given for the purpose of creating any number of mini-campaigns or adventures taking place inside the drow capital.<ref name=":2" /> The characters travel on to the Egg of Lolth, where they must enter the dungeon level and fight the demoness herself. The statistics and information for drow are reprinted from ''Hall of the Fire Giant King'' in the back of this module, along with statistics for Lolth herself.<ref name=":2">[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[Vault of the Drow]]'' (TSR, 1978)</ref>

The story concludes in module ''Q1 Queen of the Demonweb Pits'' (1980). The astral gate from ''D3'' leads to the [[Abyss (Dungeons & Dragons)|Abyssal]] realm of Lolth, goddess of the drow elves and Demon Queen of Spiders; Lolth is the architect of the sinister plot described in the two previous series of modules. At the very end of the module, the players face a final confrontation with Lolth, an exceptionally difficult challenge.<ref name=":14">[[David C. Sutherland|Sutherland III, David C]], and [[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[Queen of the Demonweb Pits]]'' (TSR, 1980)</ref> The G1-G3 modules were later published together in 1981 as a single combined module as ''G1-2-3 Against the Giants'',<ref>[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[Against the Giants]]'' (TSR, 1981)</ref> and the entire series of modules in which the drow originally appeared were later published together in ''[[Queen of the Spiders]]'' (1986).<ref name="Dark Warrior Rising">{{cite book|last=Greenwood|first=Ed|author-link=Ed Greenwood|title=Dark Warrior Rising: A Novel of Niflheim|publisher=Macmillan|year=2007|pages=[https://archive.org/details/darkwarriorrisin00gree/page/297 297]–298|chapter=Afterword|isbn=978-0-7653-1765-0|url=https://archive.org/details/darkwarriorrisin00gree|url-access=registration}}</ref><ref>[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[Queen of the Spiders]]'' (TSR, 1986)</ref><ref name=DME/>