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The Tome Of Drow Lore.pdf - RoseRed

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Kanahraun know to leave the mate alone unless they wish<br />

a fight.<br />

Among the ruling class of the Kanahraun, the situation is<br />

much the same, but is handled more subtly. Members of<br />

the ruling class can, of course, choose any mate they desire,<br />

even one marked by a warrior of the lower class.<br />

No matter which class she belongs to, a pregnant female<br />

is treated with deference in Kanahraun society. From the<br />

time her pregnancy becomes known until the time the child<br />

is weaned, all the new mother’s needs are seen to by the<br />

ruling class.<br />

Most Kanahraun have no real skill in the healing arts, but<br />

the ruling class stands as a stark exception. Well-acquainted<br />

with everything from healing herbs to curative magics, the<br />

ruling class oversees the health of the whole tribe. <strong>The</strong><br />

level of care given is generally commensurate with<br />

the drow’s useful to society and to the ruling class,<br />

which provides the lower class an excellent incentive<br />

to obey their leaders.<br />

Death usually comes early to the Kanahraun; the<br />

violent and cruel life they lead in the Underdeep<br />

makes a death of old age and infirmity nearly<br />

impossible. <strong>The</strong> Kanahraun are glad of that, for<br />

of the very few things that frighten them, death of<br />

old age, doddering and weak, is perhaps the most<br />

terrible to their minds.<br />

When death comes to a member of the lower class,<br />

the body of the Kanahraun is cooked and consumed<br />

by the remainder of the tribe. <strong>The</strong> corpses of the<br />

ruling class are consumed only by other members<br />

of the class, when indeed the Kanahraun is actually<br />

dead. It is not uncommon for members of the ruling<br />

class to preserve themselves long after the spark of<br />

life has gone out by transforming themselves into<br />

undead, with liches and vampires being the most<br />

common forms.<br />

Clothing<br />

<strong>The</strong> Kanahraun do not wear fabrics of any kind.<br />

Rather, they prefer to craft their clothing from the<br />

flayed and tanned skins of their victims. Ideally, the<br />

skin will retain as many of the features of its original<br />

owner as possible, so that an observer can easily see<br />

which part of the victim’s anatomy is what in the<br />

new clothing.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y do not wear the skins of animals, except<br />

for their boots. <strong>The</strong> skins of most sentient races<br />

are too fragile to function effectively as footwear.<br />

Additionally, Kanahraun venturing into an area of the<br />

Underdeep which is either exceedingly hot or exceedingly<br />

cold will wear the skins of beasts as protection.<br />

Combat<br />

<strong>The</strong> Kanahraun are a true horror in combat. <strong>The</strong>y are<br />

merciless opponents, bloody barbarians skilled in battle and<br />

tactics and seemingly without fear. Groups of Kanahraun<br />

are rarely encountered without at least one member of the<br />

ruling class in attendance, supplementing the terror of the<br />

barbarous attack with dark, necromantic magics.<br />

An attack by the Kanahraun is enough to incite panic<br />

and terror in most races, who know all too well what will<br />

happen to them if the Kanahraun are victorious. <strong>The</strong> feral<br />

drow are well aware of the panic their appearance causes,<br />

and gladly use it to their advantage.<br />

103

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