Silkworm Drow (Moth Elves)

Yesterday we discussed revamping drow in your campaign by making them all good. Here's what one such tribe might look like...

While “silkworm drow” is a useful term for differentiating these elves from their wicked cousins, they themselves would not recognize the term. Hailing from a land that has never known Lolth’s touch, these elves never fell from grace or earned Corellon’s curse. They therefore never turned to evil, nor bear the mantle of “drow.” Instead, they refer to themselves as The People of the Evening Wing’s Embrace. The rare outsiders who have contact with them refer to them simply as “moth elves.”

The reason for this name is clear. The lives of silkworm drow are centered almost exclusively around their silkworms (and the silkmoths these caterpillars eventually become). Silkworm drow live atop mountain ranges and hillsides with heavy woods, ample precipitation, and numerous caves—the ideal habitats of their moth charges. Just as normal drow take inspiration from spiders, silkworm drow incorporate wings, fan-shaped antennae, and geometric patterns (representing woven threads) into their art, architecture, and craft goods. Wormsilk produces moth elf clothing, bedding, and fabric of all kinds. Tough wormsilk rope and hammocks are bartered with other forest races, while delicate wormsilk gowns (sold through many layers of intermediaries) are in demand at royal courts the world over.

The origin of the moth elves themselves is lost in time. Though essentially good-hearted, they are reserved in the extreme, rarely associating even with the most reclusive wood elves. Their nocturnal habits and dark skins (ranging from dusky gray to jet black) speak to long separation from others of their race, as does they archaic dialect of Elven they employ. They also exhibit enhanced magical abilities (as per the drow)—though whether these abilities were once possessed by all elves or developed over time specifically by the silkworm drow is a mystery.

Even their creation myths set them apart from other elves, hinting at a marriage between the moon and a moth figure. Or the two might be one and the same, as silkworm drow swears (“By the Moon Mother” and “By the Moth Mother”) seem to suggest.

One thing is certain: silkworm drow are capable fighters. Though they prefer to sit at their looms, the woods are full of threats. Ettercaps, goblins, and bugbears are common enemies, and aranea are dealt with with extreme caution. Moth elves also often find their skies assaulted by chimeras. A platoon of silkworm drow lancers urging their giant moths into dogfights with such aerial predators is a sight to behold.