Playing any UD race

Things to remember

Rule number one is Roleplay. If you are a monster, you are expected to roleplay a monster. Not a cutesy, friendly pet. A monster.

From DM Watchtower:

"UD players on the surface - The first rule of the server dictates that you roleplay at all times. If you want to play a kobold, you're expected to act like a monster, not a reasonable, pragmatic halfling with scales.

Surfacers - RP monsters as monsters (within reason and while maintain the Be nice rule) and report slip ups."

"I will happily squash any friendly monsters I see. If you begin in the Underdark as a part of a society that hates and fears everything sunlight touches, it would be a long, strained, unlikely road to take in order to be friendly. I will expect every monster I see to act like what they are... Ugly, angry, bitter creatures born and raised to hate the surface. That's how Arelith monsters start, that's how I expect them to react."

Cordor is Mordor for you

Prancing about too close to a city full of people who hate you is suicidal, and the DMs will be happy to prove that point. This is valid for all surface settlements.

From DM Watchtower:

"Oh, and it doesn't matter if you're invisible or disguised - a monster who was raised in the Underdark, a place where surfacers are both feared and reviled, would not take the risk of entering a settlement full of folks who want him dead, regardless of the protections he's put up for himself. Unless both your Intelligence and Wisdom score rate below 4 or 5, your character would know better."

Inspecting can recognize your race

Even when you are covered in cloths from head to toe and quiet, Inspecting is valid and legal way to recognize your race. It could be the way you behave, the way you smell, your accent, your clothing and many other things.

-disguise is the way to make your race or identity hidden. Only that way you can claim your Drow to be an Elf and get away with it.

Kill on Sight (KOS)

Kill on sight is not a server rule. In fact, the mere idea of it is against the rules since all PvP has to be interactively roleplayed. "Kill on sight" is an IC concept, and it has to be roleplayed as such whilst retaining the courtesy of allowing the courtesy of a possible escape out of the situation and scenario that may be presented.

From Jjjerm

(Server policy confirmed and enforced by DMs.)

Monster races

Here's the thing: when you play a monster race, expect to be treated as a monster race. Every civilized town for RP purposes can be considered to have a number of residents. If you got an ooc warning about hanging around a populated surface town if you are an underdarker, thank your lucky stars because the IC interaction would be: "look, a monster, everyone kill it." and then having the entire local militia attack until you all died. In fact, if you're playing a monster race, we're permitting it based on the understanding that you will react in just this way...avoiding towns upon fear of death.

Goblins, Kobolds, Drow, Orogs, etc, are considered a "Monster Race". Part of the RP of being allowed (note the very careful phrasing) to continue to play a monster race is rping as if you are a monster, an unwelcome member in traditional surface society. If you can't do that, there's absolutely no rule that says I can't delete your character for bastardizing the role play of the entire server. In fact, ask around, I will do it without hesitation or remorse if I feel as if in any way your rp is corrupting the vision of RP for the server.

Bottom line is, it's ok to agree to disagree on the principle, just so there is an understanding that if/when we catch it, the consequences will be severe. Up to and including permanent removal of the character and/or player permanently, in extreme or repetitive instances.

Jjjerm

The Definitive Drow Policy, and why

"The drow are hostile, a feared and deadly opponent...feared even more so than many other hostile opponents, because a dragon will only eat you, but a Drow might let you live...but in a way that death would be preferable. [...] I don't want you to be a wanker about it OOC, certainly, but IN CHARACTER, you have typically got to react to drow as you would an extremely dangerous hostile enemy (they are). [...] In Faerun, mothers scare their children into obedience with admonitions of "if you don't eat your vegetables, the Drow will take you away in the night!" and other such pleasantries." -Jjjerm

• Surface/Underdark relations need not necessarily be hostile, however trust should not be implicit or even assumed.
• Drow should not be kind, gentle, forgiving, or sympathetic. The Underdark is a dangerous place where survival is extremely difficult, and those Drow who put others before themselves rarely reach adulthood.
• Drow are free to visit and raid the Surface, so long as incursions are roleplayed and natural weaknesses are not ignored for convenience. (e.g. Light aversion, unfamiliarity with open space, etc...)

"We moved away from the all-Drow-RP-must-be-hostile stance about a year ago, when Andunor was released. Now we simply require it to be realistic - so no jumping in and trusting a Drow to have your back, for example, but co-operation to mutual gain is allowed if handled well. Way back in the day there was a Drow 2nd in command of the Banites, for example, and that sort of thing is fitting. So I'm OK with [Surfacers and Underdarkers] reaching an arrangement, so long as it's not cuddly." -Mithreas

"Is this interfering with the individuals right to choose their own role play? Yes. Do I care? No. Reason? Because I am concerned with server quality more than individual rights. You may define any of my actions, and judge them, by the simple standards of "is this action being beneficial or detrimental to the server overall?". Or, as Spock said, "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few"." -Jjjerm

Tips for Drow

As Drow believe, the strong and cunning survive, and the weak are culled. Also, understand, the appearances of polite civilization are maintained to a degree, these are the internal thoughts motivating Drow. Well, female clerics, specifically in the above example guidelines.

Here's my best sum up of Drow life, a few facts to remember. HONESTLY, if you get these down, the little glitches in understanding the current player enforced and devised ranking system won't generally phase you. It's far more important to follow the intent than the letter of the law, most times.

1. As a low level drow, assume that any female that didn't arrive after you is your superior until you know differently. Every male is your servant, UNLESS he is claimed by a higher ranking female or has some type of political pull. Sometimes good to find out in advance, you don't want to make enemies aware of you until you can assume your rightful place (see point 2).

2. Every female that is your superior is standing in your rightful place, and is unfairly flaunting her wealth and power at you. She's probably doing it out of spite, you should kill her if you can get away with it. You are better than them all, but you cannot act obviously or without cunning subtlety or the Houses will tear your heart out on Lloth's altar.

3. Your friends are expendable tools for your own elevation to power. Your enemies even more so.

4. Lloth favors you, you are Her most loyal servant. All others are only pretending to gain power. One of the many paths to power is to root out these heretics, and take their stuff, in the name of Lloth. Make sure that you can't be associated with their downfall, unless it increases your position of power.

5. Stupid drow have short life spans. Be cunning, be subtle, and even though you may direct the knife that stabs in darkness, if there is a risk involved make sure that it is found in another's hand if it all goes sour. Every one of those scheming hussies who unfairly holds position/rank over you is constantly plotting your downfall, you're pretty sure of it.

Oh, and also #6, and the most important: Don't show your Drow face on the surface and not expect issues. Daylight is anathema, and as far as going into a surfacer town....just don't.

Jjjerm