Editing Drow (section)

=== Society ===
Lolth based drow society is primarily [[matriarchy|matriarchal]], with priestesses of their evil spider goddess Lolth in the highest seats of power.<ref name="Dark Warrior Rising" /> This society is based upon violence, murder, cunning, and the philosophy that only the strong survive. Hence, most drow plot endlessly to murder or otherwise incapacitate their rivals and enemy drow using deceit and betrayal. Drow, particularly in higher positions, are constantly wary of assassins and the like. One of the quirks of this constant infighting is the relatively short lifespan of the average drow. While being just as long lived as their surface cousins, living as long as a thousand years, elderly drow are rarely encountered. Consequently, they are the only race of elves that matches the fertility of 'lesser' races, such as humans. Their society, as a whole, is seemingly nonviable. The only reason they do not murder themselves to extinction is by the will of Lolth, working primarily through her clergy. Lolth does not tolerate any drow that threaten to bring down her society, and the clergy make certain that perpetrators cease their destructive actions by either threatening or killing them. Matron mothers lead the various noble houses and act as "high priestesses of Lolth".<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|date=2020-04-19|title=Dungeons & Dragons: These Are The Fiercest Underdark Monsters in 5e|url=https://www.cbr.com/dungons-dragons-underdark-monsters-5e/|access-date=2022-02-08|website=CBR|language=en-US|archive-date=2022-02-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208003050/https://www.cbr.com/dungons-dragons-underdark-monsters-5e/|url-status=live}}</ref> Matthew Beilman, for [[Comic Book Resources|''CBR'']], highlighted that Lolth based "drow society is a lethal cloak-and-dagger affair—like a constant ''[[Game of Thrones]]'' but if every character were playing by Lannister/Bolton rules. That is to say, playing dirty and playing to ''win''".<ref name=":10" />

There are exceptions to the rule, of course. Some communities of drow worship other gods (like Vhaeraun or Eilistraee), and thus, their hierarchy changes, reverses the roles of males and females, or (such as in the case of Eilastree) even approaching something like a workable, progressive society. Drow societies can also vary vastly depending on the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' campaign setting.