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* BeautyIsNeverTarnished: Giving the setting, this is averted near constantly. Women get just as badly injured and dirty as their male counterparts.
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* BeautyIsNeverTarnished: Giving the setting, this is averted near constantly. Women get just as badly injured and dirty as their male counterparts.counterparts, and even Kyo'nne, they most stereotypically feminine of the main cast, [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=649 takes a full on punch to the face]] [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=709 and has a visible bruise for some time afterwards]]. And Kiel'ndia [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7377 probably has the worst of it]] where even after surviving [[spoiler:being poisoned]] she's clearly a mess and has to remove the clotted blood from her eye to open it.
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changing namespace stuff
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The webcomic was originally Kern drawing the events of the RP he and some friends played in the ''ForgottenRealms'' ''DungeonsAndDragons'' setting. However, by chapter 4 the comic diverged into both its own story as well as starting to implement new things in the setting. As the comic expanded on the original details and gradually built up its own setting, it was decided a RetCon was needed for the first three chapters.
This took place in two stages: A new first chapter and part of a second was made in parallel with the current chapter, up until chapter 12.
However, by that point the comic had diverged far enough from its own changed setting that a redraw and RetCon was needed for remainder of chapter 2 up until chapter 8.
This took place in two stages: A new first chapter and part of a second was made in parallel with the current chapter, up until chapter 12.
However, by that point the comic had diverged far enough from its own changed setting that a redraw and RetCon was needed for remainder of chapter 2 up until chapter 8.
to:
The webcomic was originally Kern drawing the events of the RP he and some friends played in the ''ForgottenRealms'' ''DungeonsAndDragons'' setting. However, by chapter 4 the comic diverged into both its own story as well as starting to implement new things in the setting. As the comic expanded on the original details and gradually built up its own setting, it was decided a RetCon {{Retcon}} was needed for the first three chapters.
This took place in two stages: A new first chapter and part of a second was made in parallel with the current chapter, up until chapter12.
12.
However, by that point the comic had diverged far enough from its own changed setting that a redraw andRetCon {{Retcon}} was needed for remainder of chapter 2 up until chapter 8.
This took place in two stages: A new first chapter and part of a second was made in parallel with the current chapter, up until chapter
However, by that point the comic had diverged far enough from its own changed setting that a redraw and
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** Faen. The [[FriendToAllLivingThings nicest person in the setting]]... and has the [[PersonOfMassDestruction highest body count of her generation]].
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** Faen. The [[FriendToAllLivingThings nicest person in the setting]]... and has the [[PersonOfMassDestruction highest body count of her generation]].
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** Chapter 27, Page 35, uttered by Kiel.
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** Chapter 27, Page 35, uttered by Kiel.
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** As point of fact, essentially every other chapter will cause the entire fandom to scream this. The forum posts for bascially the entirety of Chapter 33 are a particularly good example.
to:
** As point of fact, essentially every other chapter will cause the entire fandom to scream this. The forum posts for bascially the entirety of Chapter 33 are a particularly good example.
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* BlackMarketProduce: The trope is [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=839 lampshaded here]]. [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1294 Chocolate is considered a recreational drug.]] Drowolath cooking relies heavily on Soylent Green and mushroom beer. Elves who rely on such staples can be identified by their tongues, which have become permanently purple.
to:
* BlackMarketProduce: The trope is [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=839 lampshaded here]]. [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1294 Chocolate is considered a recreational drug.]] Drowolath cooking relies heavily on Soylent Green and mushroom beer. Elves who rely on such staples can be identified by their tongues, which have become permanently purple.
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* BloodBath: The human royal couple hunted Elves so they could bathe in their blood in a bid for immortality. Whether it actually worked is not stated, though.
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* BloodBath: The human royal couple hunted Elves so they could bathe in their blood in a bid for immortality. Whether it actually worked is not stated, though.
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* BreastPlate: Averted; female characters wear armor [[http://www.drowtales.com/worldsettingarchive.php?order=chapters&id=18 suited to a female physique]], but protective and actually useful in battle[[hottip:*:Note that the page linked here is relevant for the trope but no longer considered canon in the worldsetting. Parts of it made the crossover after the RetCon though]]. As a result, it's sometimes [[ViewerGenderConfusion hard to tell the gender]] of certain characters when they're in armor.
to:
* BreastPlate: Averted; female characters wear armor [[http://www.drowtales.com/worldsettingarchive.php?order=chapters&id=18 suited to a female physique]], but protective and actually useful in battle[[hottip:*:Note that the page linked here is relevant for the trope but no longer considered canon in the worldsetting. Parts of it made the crossover after the RetCon {{Retcon}} though]]. As a result, it's sometimes [[ViewerGenderConfusion hard to tell the gender]] of certain characters when they're in armor.
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* BroadStrokes: The approach to older information in side stories post RetCon. For instance, Chiri'nide's father is still a light elf and [[spoiler:Ariel is still the child of Mel and Zhor]] but specific events may have played out differently with the same results. The current version of chapter 1 is similar in that the basic series of events didn't change all that much while some events were expanded upon or omitted.
to:
* BroadStrokes: The approach to older information in side stories post RetCon.{{Retcon}}. For instance, Chiri'nide's father is still a light elf and [[spoiler:Ariel is still the child of Mel and Zhor]] but specific events may have played out differently with the same results. The current version of chapter 1 is similar in that the basic series of events didn't change all that much while some events were expanded upon or omitted.
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** [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=763 This page]] features over a dozen cameos from the roleplays, side comics, Daydream and comics done by other members of the staff.
** [[http://www.drowtales.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/kharla20091024x768.jpg Kharla'ggen]] can be seen holding a plushie of [[http://www.drowtales.com/~wiki/index.php/An%27jhali_Tei%27kaliath_(Ilhar) An'Jhali]], the Illharess of the Tei'kaliath clan from the visual roleplay, in several pieces of art.
** Characters from the Relic Hunters visual roleplay have also made cameos in the story proper as important characters in the Highland Raiders.
** [[http://www.drowtales.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/kharla20091024x768.jpg Kharla'ggen]] can be seen holding a plushie of [[http://www.drowtales.com/~wiki/index.php/An%27jhali_Tei%27kaliath_(Ilhar) An'Jhali]], the Illharess of the Tei'kaliath clan from the visual roleplay, in several pieces of art.
** Characters from the Relic Hunters visual roleplay have also made cameos in the story proper as important characters in the Highland Raiders.
to:
** [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=763 This page]] features over a dozen cameos from the roleplays, side comics, Daydream and comics done by other members of the staff.
staff.
** [[http://www.drowtales.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/kharla20091024x768.jpg Kharla'ggen]] can be seen holding a plushie of [[http://www.drowtales.com/~wiki/index.php/An%27jhali_Tei%27kaliath_(Ilhar) An'Jhali]], the Illharess of the Tei'kaliath clan from the visual roleplay, in several pieces ofart.
art.
** Characters from the Relic Hunters visual roleplay have also made cameos in the story proper as important characters in the Highland Raiders.
** [[http://www.drowtales.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/kharla20091024x768.jpg Kharla'ggen]] can be seen holding a plushie of [[http://www.drowtales.com/~wiki/index.php/An%27jhali_Tei%27kaliath_(Ilhar) An'Jhali]], the Illharess of the Tei'kaliath clan from the visual roleplay, in several pieces of
** Characters from the Relic Hunters visual roleplay have also made cameos in the story proper as important characters in the Highland Raiders.
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* DesignatedMonkey: Yafein, Syphile, maybe others
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* DesignatedMonkey: Yafein, Syphile, maybe others others
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** "Demons" in this setting are closer to this trope than TheLegionsOfHell.
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** "Demons" in this setting are closer to this trope than TheLegionsOfHell.
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* ElementalHair: There's a bit of this with the clan colors: Sarghress (red / shapeshifting (blood element)), Sharen (purple / summoning (supernatural element)), Beldrobbaen (black / flesh & darkness elements), Nal'Sarkoth (green / wood element), and so on.
to:
* ElementalHair: There's a bit of this with the clan colors: Sarghress (red / shapeshifting (blood element)), Sharen (purple / summoning (supernatural element)), Beldrobbaen (black / flesh & darkness elements), Nal'Sarkoth (green / wood element), and so on.
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** Fans have dubbed the [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?check=1&order=chapters&overview=1&chibi=1&cover=1&page=1&extra=1&id=521 dragon-like biogolem]] Mel gives Ariel "Squishy".
** The trifecta of Snadhya'rune, Sarv'swati and Zala'ess Vel'Sharen is also referred to as "The Gorgon Sisters" by some.
** The trifecta of Snadhya'rune, Sarv'swati and Zala'ess Vel'Sharen is also referred to as "The Gorgon Sisters" by some.
to:
** Fans have dubbed the [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?check=1&order=chapters&overview=1&chibi=1&cover=1&page=1&extra=1&id=521 dragon-like biogolem]] Mel gives Ariel "Squishy".
"Squishy".
** The trifecta of Snadhya'rune, Sarv'swati and Zala'ess Vel'Sharen is also referred to as "The Gorgon Sisters" by some.
** The trifecta of Snadhya'rune, Sarv'swati and Zala'ess Vel'Sharen is also referred to as "The Gorgon Sisters" by some.
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** In short, everybody versus everybody.
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** In short, everybody versus everybody.
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* GovernmentInExile: The clans of Chel'el'sussoloth started out as this, but it's persisted for a millennium, and the fact that they haven't adapted since then causes problems that become more and more evident as the series goes on and the office of the Val'Sharess is shown to be either indifferent or powerless.
to:
* GovernmentInExile: The clans of Chel'el'sussoloth started out as this, but it's persisted for a millennium, and the fact that they haven't adapted since then causes problems that become more and more evident as the series goes on and the office of the Val'Sharess is shown to be either indifferent or powerless.
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* GroinAttack: Played straight, subverted, averted AND a {{Nightmare Fuel}} edition! Depends when it occurred and to who. A female on female version has also been the cause of ''many'' plot developments on Quain'tana's side.
to:
* GroinAttack: Played straight, subverted, averted AND a {{Nightmare Fuel}} NightmareFuel edition! Depends when it occurred and to who. A female on female version has also been the cause of ''many'' plot developments on Quain'tana's side.
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* [[{{HeirClubForMen}} Heir Club For Women]]: A ''major'' motivation for Quain'tana.
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* [[{{HeirClubForMen}} [[HeirClubForMen Heir Club For Women]]: A ''major'' motivation for Quain'tana.
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* HitSoHardTheCalendarFeltIt: The current story takes place in the year 1098 of the Moonless Age. Not because the moon was destroyed 1100 years ago, but because the elves went into exile underground where they couldn't see the moon.
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* HitSoHardTheCalendarFeltIt: The current story takes place in the year 1098 of the Moonless Age. Not because the moon was destroyed 1100 years ago, but because the elves went into exile underground where they couldn't see the moon.
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* HumanoidAbomination: Kharla'ggen. According to Senekha, Kharla is no ordinary Tainted; she is a living vortex of demonic power. [[spoiler: The main plan of the Vloz'ress clan is to imprison a demon god inside Kharla by using the fragments of its old foe as bait -- one of those fragments being Discordia.]]
to:
* HumanoidAbomination: Kharla'ggen. According to Senekha, Kharla is no ordinary Tainted; she is a living vortex of demonic power. [[spoiler: The main plan of the Vloz'ress clan is to imprison a demon god inside Kharla by using the fragments of its old foe as bait -- one of those fragments being Discordia.]] ]]
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* IdiotBall: One is apparently handed to dwarves, who have terribly bad designs for man-portable cannon. They can't even handwave the over-the-shoulder cannon with AWizardDidIt, as the dwarves are explicitly lacking in magic. They also can't even manage to pull off their given role of tunnel skirmishers - their attack causes zero casualties and only minor damage.
to:
* IdiotBall: One is apparently handed to dwarves, who have terribly bad designs for man-portable cannon. They can't even handwave the over-the-shoulder cannon with AWizardDidIt, as the dwarves are explicitly lacking in magic. They also can't even manage to pull off their given role of tunnel skirmishers - their attack causes zero casualties and only minor damage.
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** [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Orcs]] and ''Humans'' are Goblins; Elves, Dragons, Nagas, and Driders are all Fae; Gnomes are "domesticated" Dwarves.
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** [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Orcs]] and ''Humans'' are Goblins; Elves, Dragons, Nagas, and Driders are all Fae; Gnomes are "domesticated" Dwarves.
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* ThePlan: The Nidraa'chal war turns out to have been [[spoiler:engineered by Snadhya'rune and two of her sisters]] as a cover for [[spoiler:their attempt to kill their mother Diva'ratrika]]. Since this this is a bunch of Drow, everyone is either running one of these, or an UnwittingPawn caught up in the Gambit of another.
to:
* ThePlan: The Nidraa'chal war turns out to have been [[spoiler:engineered by Snadhya'rune and two of her sisters]] as a cover for [[spoiler:their attempt to kill their mother Diva'ratrika]]. Since this this is a bunch of Drow, everyone is either running one of these, or an UnwittingPawn caught up in the Gambit of another.
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* PoliticallyActivePrincess: Most of the female cast counts, since their society is a {{Matriarchy}}, so it's expected. Zala'ess Vel'Sharen is probably the best example, since she's the politician among her three sisters.
** Because Queen Diva is quite reclusive, her daughters perform most of her duties. In fact, [[spoiler: the older sisters convinced Zala to help them wall in their mother in a secret coup.]]
** Because Queen Diva is quite reclusive, her daughters perform most of her duties. In fact, [[spoiler: the older sisters convinced Zala to help them wall in their mother in a secret coup.]]
to:
* PoliticallyActivePrincess: Most of the female cast counts, since their society is a {{Matriarchy}}, so it's expected. Zala'ess Vel'Sharen is probably the best example, since she's the politician among her three sisters.
sisters.
** Because Queen Diva is quite reclusive, her daughters perform most of her duties. In fact, [[spoiler: the older sisters convinced Zala to help them wall in their mother in a secret coup.]] ]]
** Because Queen Diva is quite reclusive, her daughters perform most of her duties. In fact, [[spoiler: the older sisters convinced Zala to help them wall in their mother in a secret coup.
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* RetCon: The whole business of remaking the first several chapters.
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* RetCon: {{Retcon}}: The whole business of remaking the first several chapters.
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* RuleThirtyFour: Some fans make it themselves, but a good deal comes from the writers themselves.
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* RuleThirtyFour: Some fans make it themselves, but a good deal comes from the writers themselves.
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* {{Shadow Archetype}}
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* {{Shadow Archetype}}ShadowArchetype
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* ShiningCity: Chel'el'sussoloth.
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* ShiningCity: Chel'el'sussoloth.
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** And the ''ConanTheBarbarian'' inspired clothing/armor/weapons. Quain'tana is more or less RobertEHoward's Conan the Cimmerian, if he were a drow female. Or like Temujin/Ghengis Khan.
to:
** And the ''ConanTheBarbarian'' inspired clothing/armor/weapons. Quain'tana is more or less RobertEHoward's Creator/RobertEHoward's Conan the Cimmerian, if he were a drow female. Or like Temujin/Ghengis Khan.
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* SpeechBubbles: Everyone has a unique balloon, with the exception of the occasional one-off character. Mostly this is done with color (both font and backdrop), but a few characters have different fonts as well.
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* SpeechBubbles: Everyone has a unique balloon, with the exception of the occasional one-off character. Mostly this is done with color (both font and backdrop), but a few characters have different fonts as well.
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* WhamEpisode: [[{{WhamEpisode/Drowtales}} Has its own page]].
to:
* WhamEpisode: [[{{WhamEpisode/Drowtales}} [[WhamEpisode/{{Drowtales}} Has its own page]].
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* BeautyIsNeverTarnished: Giving the setting, this is averted near constantly. Women get just as badly injured and dirty as their male counterparts.
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generic use gets generic trope
* ThePlan: The Nidraa'chal war turns out to have been [[spoiler:engineered by Snadhya'rune and two of her sisters]] as a cover for [[spoiler:their attempt to kill their mother Diva'ratrika]]. Since this this is a bunch of Drow, everyone is either running one of these, or an UnwittingPawn caught up in the Gambit of another.
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* XanatosGambit: The Nidraa'chal war turns out to have been [[spoiler:engineered by Snadhya'rune and two of her sisters]] as a cover for [[spoiler:their attempt to kill their mother Diva'ratrika]]. Since this this is a bunch of Drow, everyone is either running one of these, or an UnwittingPawn caught up in the Gambit of another.
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YMMV sinkhole
Changed line(s) 93 (click to see context) from:
* BloodSpatteredInnocents: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=343 Ariel]], after [[spoiler:killing Miir'kin]], though the "innocent" part is a YourMileageMayVary.
to:
* BloodSpatteredInnocents: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=343 Ariel]], after [[spoiler:killing Miir'kin]], though the "innocent" part is a YourMileageMayVary.Miir'kin]].
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Rape Is Love to Victim Falls For Rapist per the rape tropes Special Efforts thread
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* TragicDream: Rik, who sees Ariel as a way to have a family. Unfortunately [[RapeIsLove his methods]] [[IHaveYouNowMyPretty to obtain it]] come back to bite him in the ass ''big time''.
to:
* TragicDream: Rik, who sees Ariel as a way to have a family. Unfortunately [[RapeIsLove [[VictimFallsForRapist his methods]] [[IHaveYouNowMyPretty to obtain it]] come back to bite him in the ass ''big time''.
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Changed line(s) 54 (click to see context) from:
* ArtShift: When Phani'nath Vel'Sharen [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20090408c16p005.jpg describes the last Ill'haress' gathering]], the regular realistic style shifts to render the mighty powers of Chel'el'sussoloth as [[SuperDeformed chibis]]. Also, in Sil'lice's chapter, it begins in the comic's traditional style but changes to a more manga like style when Sil'lice begins telling her story to the twins.
to:
* ArtShift: When Phani'nath Vel'Sharen [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20090408c16p005.com/mainarchive/20090408c16p005.jpg describes the last Ill'haress' gathering]], the regular realistic style shifts to render the mighty powers of Chel'el'sussoloth as [[SuperDeformed chibis]]. Also, in Sil'lice's chapter, it begins in the comic's traditional style but changes to a more manga like style when Sil'lice begins telling her story to the twins.
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* AuthorAvatar: Not who you'd think. The character [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20050401c11p053.jpg Kwaii]] is a former avatar of the author, while [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20051117c12p012.jpg Desmonde]] is a DistaffCounterpart of his wife's character Kaito, who is her brother in canon. Neither of them get much screentime. The authors themselves (and various staff members) do show up in the chibi extras at the end of chapters and in the [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20070910c00chibi2.jpg artists' life]] pages.
to:
* AuthorAvatar: Not who you'd think. The character [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20050401c11p053.com/mainarchive/20050401c11p053.jpg Kwaii]] is a former avatar of the author, while [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20051117c12p012.com/mainarchive/20051117c12p012.jpg Desmonde]] is a DistaffCounterpart of his wife's character Kaito, who is her brother in canon. Neither of them get much screentime. The authors themselves (and various staff members) do show up in the chibi extras at the end of chapters and in the [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20070910c00chibi2.com/mainarchive/20070910c00chibi2.jpg artists' life]] pages.
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* BarrierWarrior: Potentially all fae, depending on their skill and strength in mana. [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20070731c0p018.jpg Seen in the last panel here]].
to:
* BarrierWarrior: Potentially all fae, depending on their skill and strength in mana. [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20070731c0p018.com/mainarchive/20070731c0p018.jpg Seen in the last panel here]].
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* TheCassandra: Both Chiri'nide and Shimi'lande possess clairvoyance, but they [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20080909c08chibi2.jpg don't always like it]] and can't always control it. In Chiri's case, her visions often end up causing more problems than they solve, and can be [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20090224c15p032.jpg really frickin scary]].
to:
* TheCassandra: Both Chiri'nide and Shimi'lande possess clairvoyance, but they [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20080909c08chibi2.com/mainarchive/20080909c08chibi2.jpg don't always like it]] and can't always control it. In Chiri's case, her visions often end up causing more problems than they solve, and can be [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20090224c15p032.com/mainarchive/20090224c15p032.jpg really frickin scary]].
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** Taio'shi and Cer'kal, two characters from [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7221 that year's winning contest story]], [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7748 appear in chapter 31]]. It's also implied that their story may be part of the main story's canon now, since the contest story showed that [[spoiler:Mikilu]] lived with Taio'shi, and that same character appeared [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7756 several pages after]] Taio'shi and Cer'kal, the implication being that [[spoiler:Mikilu had them plant the mana bomb that nearly blew up Snadhya's carriage]]
to:
** Taio'shi and Cer'kal, two characters from [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7221 that year's winning contest story]], [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7748 appear in chapter 31]]. It's also implied that their story may be part of the main story's canon now, since the contest story showed that [[spoiler:Mikilu]] lived with Taio'shi, and that same character appeared [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7756 several pages after]] Taio'shi and Cer'kal, the implication being that [[spoiler:Mikilu had them plant the mana bomb that nearly blew up Snadhya's carriage]]carriage]] which is later confirmed in the ''Battlefield Engineers'' canon sidestory, which also shows that [[spoiler:Cer'kal was badly burned in another attempt to kill Snadhya]].
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** Drow in this setting are still chaotic evil, at least by D&D definition, and definitely from the looks of it to the poor Humans and Goblinoids on the surface. The Author makes the Drow sympathetic and rational without necessarily making them good; they still keep slaves and have death matches with few qualms about murder. Most of this is justified in some way or another, like they don't have a lot of room down there so over population is a real fear, but it still meets the technical D&D definition like the original Drow and that's the source for a lot of their suffering. Just because they're [D&D] evil doesn't mean they don't have feelings and the fact their society is messed up in the way it is isn't exactly conductive to good feelings.
to:
** Drow And while drow in this setting are still chaotic evil, at least by may not be AlwaysChaoticEvil (which more aptly fits Demons in this setting) in the way traditional D&D definition, and definitely drow are, but they're still far from the looks paragons of it to the poor Humans and Goblinoids on the surface.virtue. The Author makes the Drow sympathetic and rational without necessarily making them good; they still keep slaves and have death matches with few qualms about murder. Most of this is justified in some way or another, like they don't have a lot of room or resources down there so over population is a overpopulation and starvation are very real fear, but it still meets the technical D&D definition like the original Drow possibilities, and that's the source for a lot of their suffering. Just just because they're [D&D] evil not "good" by modern human definitions doesn't mean they don't have feelings feelings, and the fact their society is messed up in the way it is isn't exactly conductive to good feelings.feelings, and after the timeskip it seems many commoners have begun to realize this.
Changed line(s) 152 (click to see context) from:
* CreepyChild: Kharla and, to a lesser extent, Naal. Even Ariel has her moments, and when [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20091104c01p030.jpg this page]] came online one forum goer responded with a picture of Samara from ''TheRing''.
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* CreepyChild: Kharla and, to a lesser extent, Naal. Even Ariel has her moments, and when [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20091104c01p030.com/mainarchive/20091104c01p030.jpg this page]] came online one forum goer responded with a picture of Samara from ''TheRing''.
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** And after the timeskip, Chry'stel's group in Nuqrah'shareh consists of members of the Sharen clan (herself and Nau'kheol) as well as members of the Jie'yen, Balvhakara and Duskians, though the last one is only tagging along and providing them cover and not an official member.
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* ImmigrantPatriotism: The Illhar'esses of the Jaal'Darya, Nal'Sarkoth and Illhar'dro clans are not natives of Chel (hailing from Damadi, Mimaneid and Val'Raveran respectively), but the three of them are collectively amongst the most outspoken at the Council in chapter 16.
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** Character specific examples can be found on the CharacterSheets but one memorable example is that of Jer'kol, a character who pre-timeskip pretended to be Ariel's father. His [[Captain Obvious true]] nature became much clearer later on when it turned out that [[spoiler: he was working for Syphile to kill Ariel]].
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** Character specific examples can be found on the CharacterSheets but one memorable example is that of Jer'kol, a character who pre-timeskip pretended to be Ariel's father. His [[Captain Obvious [[CaptainObvious true]] nature became much clearer later on when it turned out that [[spoiler: he was working for Syphile to kill Ariel]].
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* AndIMustScream: Kharla has a habit of turning people she doesn't like (and some she does like) into [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel living "dolls".]]
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* AndIMustScream: Kharla has a habit of turning people she doesn't like (and some she does like) into [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel living "dolls".]]
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* BodyHorror: Lots, like those who get taken by demons. But [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel the living dolls.]] Oh, something have mercy, those horrible dolls.
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* BodyHorror: Lots, like those who get taken by demons. But [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel the living dolls.]] dolls. Oh, something have mercy, those horrible dolls.
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* GroinAttack: Played straight, subverted, averted AND a {{High Octane Nightmare Fuel}} edition! Depends when it occurred and to who. A female on female version has also been the cause of ''many'' plot developments on Quain'tana's side.
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* GroinAttack: Played straight, subverted, averted AND a {{High Octane Nightmare {{Nightmare Fuel}} edition! Depends when it occurred and to who. A female on female version has also been the cause of ''many'' plot developments on Quain'tana's side.
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* WhyAmITicking: Naal'suul may count, by virtue of having been [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel unwillingly tainted so badly that she could die and turn into a demon at practically any moment]].
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* WhyAmITicking: Naal'suul may count, by virtue of having been [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel unwillingly tainted so badly that she could die and turn into a demon at practically any moment]].moment.
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**Drow in this setting are still chaotic evil, at least by D&D definition, and definitely from the looks of it to the poor Humans and Goblinoids on the surface. The Author makes the Drow sympathetic and rational without necessarily making them good; they still keep slaves and have death matches with few qualms about murder. Most of this is justified in some way or another, like they don't have a lot of room down there so over population is a real fear, but it still meets the technical D&D definition like the original Drow and that's the source for a lot of their suffering. Just because they're [D&D] evil doesn't mean they don't have feelings and the fact their society is messed up in the way it is isn't exactly conductive to good feelings.
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* HostileShowTakeover: As of April 2012, Kiel has taken over [[https://twitter.com/#!/Drowtales the Drowtales]] {{Twitter}} account. There are also a series of news posts with Kiel directly addressing the readers.
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* HostileShowTakeover: As of April 2012, Kiel has taken over [[https://twitter.com/#!/Drowtales the Drowtales]] {{Twitter}} account. She promptly demanded [[LovableSexManic a tribute of princes]] ([[BiTheWay but would also accept princesses]]). There are also a series of news posts with Kiel directly addressing the readers.
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* HotMom: There's Zala, [[spoiler: Mel]], and Quain as key examples. Due to Drow possesing what is basically eternal youth, pretty much any Drow mother applies here.
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* HostileShowTakeover: As of April 2012, Kiel has taken over [[https://twitter.com/#!/Drowtales the Drowtales]] {{Twitter}} account. There are also a series of news posts with Kiel directly addressing the readers.
* HotMom: There's Zala, [[spoiler: Mel]], and Quain as key examples. Due to Drowpossesing possessing what is basically eternal youth, pretty much any Drow mother applies here.
* HotMom: There's Zala, [[spoiler: Mel]], and Quain as key examples. Due to Drow
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* SchizoTech: Averted. The technology seen in the series (PoweredArmor, mana-powered rockets, flying platforms, automatic crossbows, golem and golem limbs, something WordOfGod has actually called [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=37 a drow iPod]] and [http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=4239 something that resembled an iPad]] even before they existed in the real world, holographic displays etc.) is actually fairly advanced due to mana, and most was developed during the Moons Age, but exactly how much a given city has depends on its culture and exposure to nether summoning, which can severely mess with golem tech especially. When a few people on the forum complained that a rock concert made no sense in a "medieval setting" the author drew [[http://forums.drowtales.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&p=711230#p711226 this]] in response.
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* SchizoTech: Averted. The technology seen in the series (PoweredArmor, mana-powered rockets, flying platforms, automatic crossbows, golem and golem limbs, something WordOfGod has actually called [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=37 a drow iPod]] and [http://www.[[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=4239 something that resembled an iPad]] even before they existed in the real world, holographic displays etc.) is actually fairly advanced due to mana, and most was developed during the Moons Age, but exactly how much a given city has depends on its culture and exposure to nether summoning, which can severely mess with golem tech especially. When a few people on the forum complained that a rock concert made no sense in a "medieval setting" the author drew [[http://forums.drowtales.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&p=711230#p711226 this]] in response.
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* SchizoTech: Averted. The technology seen in the series (PoweredArmor, mana-powered rockets, flying platforms, automatic crossbows, golem and golem limbs, something WordOfGod has actually called [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=37 a drow iPod]] and something that resembled an [=iPad=] even before they existed in the real world, holographic displays etc.) is actually fairly advanced due to mana, and most was developed during the Moons Age, but exactly how much a given city has depends on its culture and exposure to nether summoning, which can severely mess with golem tech especially. When a few people on the forum complained that a rock concert made no sense in a "medieval setting" the author drew [[http://forums.drowtales.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&p=711230#p711226 this]] in response.
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* SchizoTech: Averted. The technology seen in the series (PoweredArmor, mana-powered rockets, flying platforms, automatic crossbows, golem and golem limbs, something WordOfGod has actually called [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=37 a drow iPod]] and [http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=4239 something that resembled an [=iPad=] iPad]] even before they existed in the real world, holographic displays etc.) is actually fairly advanced due to mana, and most was developed during the Moons Age, but exactly how much a given city has depends on its culture and exposure to nether summoning, which can severely mess with golem tech especially. When a few people on the forum complained that a rock concert made no sense in a "medieval setting" the author drew [[http://forums.drowtales.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&p=711230#p711226 this]] in response.
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* SchizoTech: Averted. The technology seen in the series (PoweredArmor, mana-powered rockets, flying platforms, automatic crossbows, golem and golem limbs, something WordOfGod has actually called [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=37 a drow iPod]] and something that resembled an [=iPad=] even before they existed in the real world, holographic displays etc.) is actually fairly advanced due to mana, and most was developed during the Moons Age, but exactly how much a given city has depends on its culture and exposure to nether summoning, which can severely mess with golem tech especially.
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* SchizoTech: Averted. The technology seen in the series (PoweredArmor, mana-powered rockets, flying platforms, automatic crossbows, golem and golem limbs, something WordOfGod has actually called [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=37 a drow iPod]] and something that resembled an [=iPad=] even before they existed in the real world, holographic displays etc.) is actually fairly advanced due to mana, and most was developed during the Moons Age, but exactly how much a given city has depends on its culture and exposure to nether summoning, which can severely mess with golem tech especially. When a few people on the forum complained that a rock concert made no sense in a "medieval setting" the author drew [[http://forums.drowtales.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&p=711230#p711226 this]] in response.
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* SchizoTech: Averted. The technology seen in the series (PoweredArmor, mana-powered rockets, flying platforms, automatic crossbows, golem and golem limbs, something WordOfGod has actually called [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=37 a drow iPod]] and something that resembled an [=iPad=] even before they existed in the real world, holographic displays etc.) is actually fairly advanced due to mana, and most was developed during the Moons Age, but exactly how much a given city has depends on its culture and exposure to nether summoning, which can severely mess with golem tech especially.
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* NoPeriodsPeriod (fae do not get periods, which helps explain how even very old fae can still have children at upwards of 1,000, but female humans [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=6542 do]], unfortunately for Vaelia)
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* NoPeriodsPeriod (fae NoPeriodsPeriod: WordOfGod is taht fae do not get periods, which helps explain how even very old fae can still have children at upwards of 1,000, but female humans [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=6542 do]], unfortunately for Vaelia) Vaelia.
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* ImprobablyFemaleCast: While drow populations are about 50/50 as far as the gender ratio goes, most of the characters who are the focus of the story are female. Justified by drow society being matriarchal and women being the leaders.
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** Because Queen Diva is quite reclusive, her daughters perform most of her duties. In fact, [[spoiler: the older sisters convinced Zala to help them imprison their mother in a secret coup.]]
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** Because Queen Diva is quite reclusive, her daughters perform most of her duties. In fact, [[spoiler: the older sisters convinced Zala to help them imprison wall in their mother in a secret coup.]]
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* PoliticallyActivePrincess: Most of the female cast counts, since their society is a {{Matriarchy}}, so it's expected. Zala'ess Vel'Sharen is probably the best example, since she's the politician among her three sisters.
** Because Queen Diva is quite reclusive, her daughters perform most of her duties. In fact, [[spoiler: the older sisters convinced Zala to help them imprison their mother in a secret coup.]]
** Because Queen Diva is quite reclusive, her daughters perform most of her duties. In fact, [[spoiler: the older sisters convinced Zala to help them imprison their mother in a secret coup.]]
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* WhamEpisode: Chapter 25 is turning to a Wham ''Chapter''. The revelations so far:
** [[spoiler:Kalki is Snadhya'runes' daughter and [[HomosexualReproduction Mel'arnach is the "father"]]]].
** [[spoiler:[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Like the chapter title implies]], a ninth tower of the Orthorbbae exists, hidden from public view, as was hinted as far back as ''Chapter 2''.]]
** [[spoiler:Sha'sana has been alive for the past sixteen years]].
** [[spoiler:Snadhya'rune is the Ill'har of the Nidraa'chal Clan (although many fans had speculated this to be true before)]].
** [[spoiler:According to Sha'sana, at least, every tainted in Chel has a maximum of 50 years to live from the time they are tainted]].
** [[spoiler:There are Nidraa'chal in ''every'' major clan and a few minor ones, not just in the Sharen Clan. A Nidraa'chal that resides with the Illhar'dro is Shodun, the woman who killed Sil'lice's daughter Sae'ryne in a fairly nasty way using sound waves before decapitating her]].
*** The recent Chapter 33 was also another example of a [[WhamEpisode Wham]] for most of the readers.
** [[spoiler:Kalki is Snadhya'runes' daughter and [[HomosexualReproduction Mel'arnach is the "father"]]]].
** [[spoiler:[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Like the chapter title implies]], a ninth tower of the Orthorbbae exists, hidden from public view, as was hinted as far back as ''Chapter 2''.]]
** [[spoiler:Sha'sana has been alive for the past sixteen years]].
** [[spoiler:Snadhya'rune is the Ill'har of the Nidraa'chal Clan (although many fans had speculated this to be true before)]].
** [[spoiler:According to Sha'sana, at least, every tainted in Chel has a maximum of 50 years to live from the time they are tainted]].
** [[spoiler:There are Nidraa'chal in ''every'' major clan and a few minor ones, not just in the Sharen Clan. A Nidraa'chal that resides with the Illhar'dro is Shodun, the woman who killed Sil'lice's daughter Sae'ryne in a fairly nasty way using sound waves before decapitating her]].
*** The recent Chapter 33 was also another example of a [[WhamEpisode Wham]] for most of the readers.
to:
* WhamEpisode: Chapter 25 is turning to a Wham ''Chapter''. The revelations so far:
** [[spoiler:Kalki is Snadhya'runes' daughter and [[HomosexualReproduction Mel'arnach is the "father"]]]].
** [[spoiler:[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Like the chapter title implies]], a ninth tower of the Orthorbbae exists, hidden from public view, as was hinted as far back as ''Chapter 2''.]]
** [[spoiler:Sha'sana has been alive for the past sixteen years]].
** [[spoiler:Snadhya'rune is the Ill'har of the Nidraa'chal Clan (although many fans had speculated this to be true before)]].
** [[spoiler:According to Sha'sana, at least, every tainted in Chel has a maximum of 50 years to live from the time they are tainted]].
** [[spoiler:There are Nidraa'chal in ''every'' major clan and a few minor ones, not just in the Sharen Clan. A Nidraa'chal that resides with the Illhar'dro is Shodun, the woman who killed Sil'lice's daughter Sae'ryne in a fairly nasty way using sound waves before decapitating her]].
*** The recent Chapter 33 was also another example of a [[WhamEpisode Wham]] for most of the readers.[[{{WhamEpisode/Drowtales}} Has its own page]].
** [[spoiler:Kalki is Snadhya'runes' daughter and [[HomosexualReproduction Mel'arnach is the "father"]]]].
** [[spoiler:[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Like the chapter title implies]], a ninth tower of the Orthorbbae exists, hidden from public view, as was hinted as far back as ''Chapter 2''.]]
** [[spoiler:Sha'sana has been alive for the past sixteen years]].
** [[spoiler:Snadhya'rune is the Ill'har of the Nidraa'chal Clan (although many fans had speculated this to be true before)]].
** [[spoiler:According to Sha'sana, at least, every tainted in Chel has a maximum of 50 years to live from the time they are tainted]].
** [[spoiler:There are Nidraa'chal in ''every'' major clan and a few minor ones, not just in the Sharen Clan. A Nidraa'chal that resides with the Illhar'dro is Shodun, the woman who killed Sil'lice's daughter Sae'ryne in a fairly nasty way using sound waves before decapitating her]].
*** The recent Chapter 33 was also another example of a [[WhamEpisode Wham]] for most of the readers.
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* {{Engrish}}: Shows up in the chibi pages, along with accented grammar mistakes.
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** One Ill'hardro girl named Ishii who appears in Chapter 33 (second from the right on [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1695 this page]]) was quickly dubbed Hammer Pants by the fans, due to her pants reminding people of MCHammer's. Fans also noticed that she's sporting one glove like MichaelJackson.
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** One Ill'hardro Illhar'dro girl named Ishii who appears in Chapter 33 (second from the right on [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1695 php?sid=7945 this page]]) was quickly dubbed Hammer Pants by the fans, due to her pants reminding people of MCHammer's. Fans also noticed that she's sporting one glove like MichaelJackson.
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* SirSwearsalot: Several characters, but [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=8451 the Illhar'dro golem pilot]] deserves special mention for using the word fuck [[ClusterFBomb nine times]] on one page.
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** Chapter 9 was also given some minor updates for the 10 year anniversary, such as inserting some additional pages to expand on Chrys'tel and Shinae's first meeting and some minor dialog alterations. The art itself was unchanged.
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** Chapter 9 was also given some minor updates for the 10 year anniversary, such as inserting some additional pages to expand on Chrys'tel and Shinae's first meeting and some minor dialog alterations. alterations to make it internally consistent with later chapters (taking out Chrys'tel [[CallingYourAttack calling her attack]], for instance). The art itself was unchanged.unchanged minus the chapter cover.
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** Chapter 9 was also given some minor updates for the 10 year anniversary, such as inserting some additional pages to expand on Chrys'tel and Shinae's first meeting and some minor dialog alterations. The art itself was unchanged.
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# There is a check that redirects to the latest page when the link is not from inside the website or something. Copying and pasting the URL may help.
# Links to the main story may be moved around whenever a chapter is redone or inserted. It might be possible to create a permanent link using the date ordering option, but it's more complicated than it seems, especially for the redone chapters.
# Links to the main story may be moved around whenever a chapter is redone or inserted. It might be possible to create a permanent link using the date ordering option, but it's more complicated than it seems, especially for the redone chapters.
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[[quoteright:163:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/r_copy.gif]]
[[caption-width-right:163:Read this webcomic, or we'll [[BreakTheCutie break this kid!]] (And you [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds really, really]] don't want that to happen).]]
->''"This is their tale. The world as it was through their eyes"''
''[[http://www.drowtales.com Drowtales: Moonless Age]]'' is a fantasy manga-style webcomic that has been running since 2001. In the last few years the webcomic itself has undergone significant remakes and has increased its fan base exponentially.
The webcomic was originally Kern drawing the events of the RP he and some friends played in the ''ForgottenRealms'' ''DungeonsAndDragons'' setting. However, by chapter 4 the comic diverged into both its own story as well as starting to implement new things in the setting. As the comic expanded on the original details and gradually built up its own setting, it was decided a RetCon was needed for the first three chapters.
This took place in two stages: A new first chapter and part of a second was made in parallel with the current chapter, up until chapter 12.
However, by that point the comic had diverged far enough from its own changed setting that a redraw and RetCon was needed for remainder of chapter 2 up until chapter 8.
This, combined with the sheer number of pages (over 1400 in the main story alone) is part of the reason the world-setting is a bit of a ContinuitySnarl, especially for newer readers.
Nowadays, Drowtales has an original setting with some general similarities with its ''[=DnD=]'' origins, but with a distinct flavour of its own.
The story mainly follows Ariel in the first four or so chapters, but uses several viewpoint characters. This is a feature which becomes more prominent as the chapters progress, so now Ariel is ''a'' main character instead of ''the'' main character.
The chronologically first chapter is [[CaptainObvious the prologue]] while the (currently) oldest published chapter being chapter 9.
''Drowtales'' is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin, and the drow and their internal conflicts and lives are the main focus, particularly the nobles. However, it does not play any specific side or faction as good or evil, treating the drow (and other races) as individuals rather than a [[PlanetOfHats Species of Hats]]. In a sense, one of the main themes of the comic is: No one is evil in their own eyes, or at least think their actions are justified to reach their goal.
Notes about links:
# There is a check that redirects to the latest page when the link is not from inside the website or something. Copying and pasting the URL may help.
# Links to the main story may be moved around whenever a chapter is redone or inserted. It might be possible to create a permanent link using the date ordering option, but it's more complicated than it seems, especially for the redone chapters.
----
!!This comic provides examples of:
%%
%% Please put character-related trope on the character sheet and do not duplicate them here.
%%
* AbsoluteCleavage:
** Kharla's dress, but considering how [[AxCrazy absolutely batshit insane she is]] combined with the fact that she has the mentality of a child it may come off as FanDisservice to some.
** [[spoiler:Kalki]] takes this a step further. Her [[GodivaHair hair]] covers more than that outfit.
** And [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=6507 Discordia]].
* AbusiveParents:
** Hoooo boy, Quain'tana. Let's see, of her three adult children, one is dead and has been turned into a golem, Kel'noz is officially subservient to her but has his own agenda (and readily acknowledges that she was a really bad mother) and then there's Mel'arnach, who was not only disowned and imprisoned, but beaten (and implied, raped) by Quain'tana's men, [[spoiler:and then for her trouble had the child she wanted taken away from her]]. And then there's [[TheUnfavorite Syphile]], who has a trope of her own...
** There are also plenty of others, and a current thread in the forum is titled "[[http://forums.drowtales.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=12777 Worst parent in Chel]]" discussing this. The number of ''good'' parents (Shimi'lande, Kiel's mother Ven'ndia, Sarnel's caretaker Nei'kalsa if you're counting foster parents, and Waes'soloth spring to mind) can be counted on one hand...
** As well as Ash'waren, who is the neglectful type. After being told that her daughter Faen has returned traumatized, her reply was "Who?" And then after being reminded when Faen was born to help her remember, she merely comments on how Faen's father was a bad lay. This was fairly shocking to fans who had thought better of Ash'waren before this, leading at least one to comment that it seems that this is shaping up to be a general trait of Val mothers no matter who they are.
* ActionGirl: Plenty of these, and culturally it's unusual for a female to ''not'' be an ActionGirl, since females are the dominant gender in both political and military matters.
* AerithAndBob: Ariel versus -- just about everyone with their multi-apostrophed names. Some fans have pointed out a good deal of the names drow sport are names found ''somewhere'' on earth, often with an apostrophe. For instance, Sarv'swati is one letter off from [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saraswati Saraswati]], a Hindu Goddess, and many Kyorl'solenurn names have Japanese roots. Quain'tana is also the family name of an obscure writer. And amusingly, there is an actual [[EveryThingsBetterWithBob Bob]]: Bob the undead chicken of [[DoomyDoomsOfDoom doom]].
* TheAgeless: The fae races (drow, light elves, faeries) provided they live with enough other fae to generate a surplus of mana. Otherwise they will suffer from mana deprivation and will start to age much like humans do. This is what has happened to Rosof and Tralyn. If one goes back to a large enough group of fae again, before the aging has gone too long, the process can be halted. This is likely the case with Tralyn (not confirmed). For Rosof it was too late and he is slowly dying despite being among the people of his clan again. Also, plain statistics makes for fatal accidents killing people off sooner or later. The average lifespan of drow is around 200 years for a commoner/non-Val and around 1000 for Val matriarchs and [[spoiler: Dark Elves]].
** Subverted in [[http://drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?id=943 one of the audiobooks]]. It's stated that drow have a finite natural lifespan, though they're lucky to get within centuries of dying of old age (which for them could be circa 1000 years plus).
* AirVentPassageway:
** Ragini.
** Also [[SubvertedTrope subverted]]- [[spoiler:Diva'ratrika's]] too large to fit, and it's very likely that [[spoiler:her decision to possess Ragini]] was because she would eventually grow too large to go in and out.
* AlienCatnip: a side story and the coinciding news post suggested that chocolate is a potent drug to drow, who may have evolved from feline creatures. Evidently, students at the Orthorbbae abuse tablets of cocoa like some people abuse Ritalin in real life, and consuming too much at once will kill a drow. They're probably reacting to the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theobromine Theobromine]] in the chocolate, which can be poisonous to both animals and humans if enough is consumed. A page posted later in the main archive had [[spoiler:Mel'arnach and Snadhya'rune]] getting stoned off their arses on chocolate.
* AlternativeCalendar: As one would expect from a culture that places a great deal of importance on the moons, the drow use a moon calendar 13 months long, with 30 days each.
* AlwaysChaoticEvil: Averted, if not outright deconstructed. Even intelligent demons, who would normally be such, fall more under BlueAndOrangeMorality.
* AndIMustScream: Kharla has a habit of turning people she doesn't like (and some she does like) into [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel living "dolls".]]
* AnIcePerson: Sil'lice. Literally. From what we can tell she was never a very nice person, but [[spoiler:being set up by her sisters and exiled]] probably didn't help at all. A notable instance of using her ice abilities involves her freezing [[spoiler:"Vy'Chriel" Yaeminira]] to death. This caused her fingers to snap. "Nasty way to die" indeed.
* [[{{Anti-Human Alliance}} Anti-Halme Alliance]]: Not ''all'' halmes/humans, just the kingdom that captured Faen.
* AnythingThatMoves: Ash'waren, and much of the Sullisin'rune clan in general.
* AnyoneCanDie: Especially adorable animals. This works well to create dramatic tension, especially leading up to the timeskip chapters, since so far only Ariel, Faen, Kau and Shala were confirmed to have survived. This also meant that in chapter 32 fans were extremely worried about several characters, since it was quite possible they wouldn't survive. At the end of Chapter 32 the casualty count for that chapter was [[spoiler:zero, although Rek'maar did get his aura partially drained by Khaless wearing Lulianne's body]].
* ArachnidAppearanceAndAttire: Quite a few clans and individuals.
* ArtEvolution: [[http://www.drowtales.com/wordpress/?p=751 Phenomenal]]. That post, by the way, spares you from seeing the original artwork from the very, very, very beginning (for the good of humanity, it would seem; so you'll have to seek it out yourself if you're so inclined). This is, perhaps, the CharlesAtlasSuperpower applied to art.
* ArtificialLimbs: Nihi'liir Vel'Sharen ends up with one after [[spoiler:Faen injures her arm]] and they're fairly common among drow due to mana technology. Sang Niz'zre, one of Quain'tanta's devesses, lost all of her limbs due to be tortured by the Sharen and had them replaced by golem limbs.
* ArtShift: When Phani'nath Vel'Sharen [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20090408c16p005.jpg describes the last Ill'haress' gathering]], the regular realistic style shifts to render the mighty powers of Chel'el'sussoloth as [[SuperDeformed chibis]]. Also, in Sil'lice's chapter, it begins in the comic's traditional style but changes to a more manga like style when Sil'lice begins telling her story to the twins.
* AutomaticCrossbows: Averted in Chapter 18, where Syphile is shown having to load one. Played straight with the Fallen Legion's wrist-mounted crossbows, though possibly {{justified}} by {{golem}} mechanics.
* AuthorAvatar: Not who you'd think. The character [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20050401c11p053.jpg Kwaii]] is a former avatar of the author, while [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20051117c12p012.jpg Desmonde]] is a DistaffCounterpart of his wife's character Kaito, who is her brother in canon. Neither of them get much screentime. The authors themselves (and various staff members) do show up in the chibi extras at the end of chapters and in the [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20070910c00chibi2.jpg artists' life]] pages.
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Numerous possible examples, but Quain'tana is probably the most obvious.
* AxCrazy: The members of the Vloz'ress clan are either this or so desperate that they had to run to the pinnacle of insanity. The average life expectancy for the troops can be measured in ''weeks''.
* BSideComics: both subscription and as side stories, many by different artists.
* BadAss: Quain'tana fits this trope, as can a few others.
* BadassNormal: from the audience's point of view, Vaelia.
* [[BadassGrandpa Badass Grandma]] - Most of the Illharesses fit this trope. Quain'tana in particular, as she is centuries old and can still kick the asses of most of her subordinates. Many also count as {{Foxy Grandma}}s.
* BaitTheDog: A doozy of a one in the remake of Chapter 1. [[spoiler:Despite the ForegoneConclusion that Fuzzy dies by Syphile's hands, the fandom was still shocked when, after Ariel begs to be allowed to keep her new pet, Syphile apparently ''agrees'', leaving the room with only a sigh, not even chiding Ariel. Next page, cut to a week later to a suffering Fuzzy with the revelation that Syphile has locked Ariel and Fuzzy in for the ''whole week'' with inadequate food and, apparently, even no provision for the calls of nature. She kills Fuzzy two pages later by slamming his head against the wall.]]
* BarbarianTribe: The Sarghress clan more or less embodies this trope. The Black Sun is an even better example, since they're decentralized and subsist solely on raiding other settlements, and they're forbidden from gathering in large groups in Chel.
* BareYourMidriff: Ash'waren especially. The fandom nearly exploded with {{squee}} when both she and Quain'tana were in the same scene with bare midriffs.
* BarrierWarrior: Potentially all fae, depending on their skill and strength in mana. [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20070731c0p018.jpg Seen in the last panel here]].
* BavarianFireDrill: One city of light elves is so used to doing what they're told that an elf commands a group of assassins to stand down and they do what he says, even after he [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1528 lampshades the use of this trope]].
* BeastMan: What the humanoid fae sees the goblin races as due to not having an aura. In practice they are more like {{muggles}} without any technical advantages, though they have a better chance against nether beings since, lacking an aura, they can't be possessed, though they can still be injured physically. The Sarghress have taken advantage of this and formed a "[[http://www.drowtales.com/worldsettingarchive.php?sid=3196 War Meat]]" corps of non-fae whose express purpose is to go into nether infected areas and kill the nether summoners before the fae move in to finish the job.
* BecauseYouWereNiceToMe: Mel and Lulianne, among others.
* BewareTheNiceOnes:
** Faen. The [[FriendToAllLivingThings nicest person in the setting]]... and has the [[PersonOfMassDestruction highest body count of her generation]].
** Ariel is the butt of many jokes for having been educated in the male's school, but she's still [[BadAss Quintana's]] [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority recognized heir]]
* {{BFS}}: Koil'Dorath's weapon.
* BigBadassWolf: The Sarghress mount.
* TheBigGuy: Most in the Sarghress clan.
* {{Bishonen}}: Several, and Shan'naal was created specifically because the fans requested a cute guy character who ''wouldn't'' die.
* BigBad: For the fans, Snadhya'rune seems to be shaping up to this, judging by some of the most recent comics. In-story she just represents another faction.
* BigNo:
** Chapter 27, Page 35, uttered by Kiel.
** Also basically the entire fandom when they saw that page.
** As point of fact, essentially every other chapter will cause the entire fandom to scream this. The forum posts for bascially the entirety of Chapter 33 are a particularly good example.
* BlackComedy: A lot of the humor is of this variety. The chibi pages at the end of chapters are often like this and make light of events in the chapter by rendering them in chibi form.
** [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=6511 This]] is a good example in the main story.
** [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7673 Here's]] another example that takes the very seriously dysfunctional relationships between Quain and her children and treats it like this. Especially notable because the story proper ''never'' plays it for laughs.
** Also, almost anything involving Kharla's dolls will have a streak of this. Yes they're horrifying, but it's hard not to snicker [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=6766 at something like this]], especially since that particular guy [[AssholeVictim deserved it]].
* BlackMagicianGirl: Ariel.
* BlackMarketProduce: The trope is [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=839 lampshaded here]]. [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1294 Chocolate is considered a recreational drug.]] Drowolath cooking relies heavily on Soylent Green and mushroom beer. Elves who rely on such staples can be identified by their tongues, which have become permanently purple.
* BlackSpeech: Drowish evidently sounds a bit like this, since at the very least "Eat cake" prompts [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1143 this reaction]] from a human guard at the sight of Ariel (who, granted, looks like a monster at the time, which probably helps).
* BlankWhiteEyes: The golem Vy'chriel, Laelle'aell and Faen (when using her powers) all have these.
* BlastingTime: When Mana Attacks are used.
* BlindfoldedVision: Shan'naal when first introduced. He's only worn it once that way since, for a few pages when he needed it to help his eyes adjust after Ariel's traveling group first reached the overworld.
* BloodBath: The human royal couple hunted Elves so they could bathe in their blood in a bid for immortality. Whether it actually worked is not stated, though.
* BloodSpatteredInnocents: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=343 Ariel]], after [[spoiler:killing Miir'kin]], though the "innocent" part is a YourMileageMayVary.
* BloodyMurder: faes with blood affinity can use their own blood as weapon. Probably the blood of others as well.
* BlueAndOrangeMorality: The drow themselves may appear this way to most of the readership.
* BodyDouble: Chapter 30 reveals that [[spoiler:the Sharen sisters have employed one to take the place of Diva'ratrika during parades]]. Needless to say, [[spoiler:the ''real'' Diva was pretty shocked to hear that "she" was holding a parade through the middle of Chel]]!
* BodyguardBetrayal: Happens with Yaeminira and Vy'chriel, and [[spoiler:Rikshakar and Ariel]].
* BodyHorror: Lots, like those who get taken by demons. But [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel the living dolls.]] Oh, something have mercy, those horrible dolls.
* BoomerangBigot: Chiri'nide hates "impure" people while she herself is the daughter of a drowussu and a light elf, and later [[spoiler:we find out that Drowusuu are ''descended from light elves'', making the entire Kyorl'solenurn clan fall under this as well]].
* BottleFairy: Liriel. Her behaviour becomes a lot less funny when you learn that [[spoiler:her drinking is to suppress Diva'ratrika's voice in her head]].
* BreakingTheFourthWall:
** Kiel'ndia considers the readers as one would imaginary friends and frequently points to them (us) and talks to her "friends." Of course, she comes from [[AxCrazy the Vloz'ress]] [[PlanetOfHats clan]], so others dismiss her as psycho.
** Kiel'ndia breaks the fourth wall [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7178 in a tragic way]]. Beware, your screen might break.
* BreakTheCutie: The world seems determined to do this to anyone's who even minorly sympathetic or kind, especially in the case of Faen. Ariel seems on the fast track to this if she's not already there. Kiel'ndia and Naal'suul are at first examples of pre-broken cuties, but [[spoiler:after Naal's abandonment, and then transformation]] Kiel becomes truly broken and crazy (-er than normal).
* BreastPlate: Averted; female characters wear armor [[http://www.drowtales.com/worldsettingarchive.php?order=chapters&id=18 suited to a female physique]], but protective and actually useful in battle[[hottip:*:Note that the page linked here is relevant for the trope but no longer considered canon in the worldsetting. Parts of it made the crossover after the RetCon though]]. As a result, it's sometimes [[ViewerGenderConfusion hard to tell the gender]] of certain characters when they're in armor.
* BreatherEpisode: After the WhamEpisode that was Chapter 25 came chapter 26, which follows Chrys'tel, Shinae, Naal and Kiel as they look at the Moons' End Festival and do things like watch puppet shows, though it still advances the plot and provides insight into the world setting. It's then followed by 27, where [[spoiler:Naal'suul meets her apparent end]] making it even more of a BreatherEpisode before another Wham.
* BrickJoke: Back in Chapter 7, Chrys'tel was seen wearing [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=4864 a set of black and red clothing]], and after she's captured [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=4996 Ariel takes them]] in Chapter 8 in order to impersonate Chrys'tel, though she never wound up using them. Then in Chapter 30, ''22 chapters later'', [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7625 they're worn by]] [[spoiler:Diva'ratrika, her ''grandmother'']], which later results in [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7775 a hilarious payoff]].
* BroadStrokes: The approach to older information in side stories post RetCon. For instance, Chiri'nide's father is still a light elf and [[spoiler:Ariel is still the child of Mel and Zhor]] but specific events may have played out differently with the same results. The current version of chapter 1 is similar in that the basic series of events didn't change all that much while some events were expanded upon or omitted.
* BrokenAngel: One of Ariel's shapeshifted forms resembles this.
* ButForMeItWasTuesday: One part of the DeliberateValuesDissonance between drow and humans is that drow think nothing of raiding surface settlements and taking back human slaves, and even Faen, one of the most morally good characters by human standards, doesn't bat an eye about buying a light elf slave at the market. Vaelia considers the raid on her home village as a defining moment of her life, but for the drow it's a drop in the bucket.
* ButYouScrewOneGoat: One of the reasons[[hottip:*:the other being that they're biologically incapable of reproducing with each other]] you won't see any fae/human hybrids in the Drowtales world. Drow consider having sex with goblins, including humans, to be roughly on par with a human having sex with a chimpanzee.
** When the Highland Raiders talk about one guy named [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=825 Val'Doom]] who kidnaps human women to mate with they flat out refer to him as having a bestiality fetish.
** There's also one guy [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7402 with a pretty suspect relationship with his pet Noz]][[hottip:*:a type of orc]].
* [[CallingTheOldManOut Calling The Old Woman Out]]: [[spoiler:Syphile]] finally tells her mother what a horrible parent she is, how she's ruined all the lives of her children, and tells her to 'do the only thing you know' [[spoiler:and kill her.]] Pretty much her one and only CrowningMomentOfAwesome, depending on your view of the character and what you think of the latest remake.
* CampGay: Sorane'Saniil.
* CanonImmigrant: Kyne, who is Sil'lice's granddaughter and a former Sharen golem pilot, started off in the "Space Age" story from the Daydream section of the site. There are also the numerous roleplay cameos, but they fall more under ContinuityCameo.
* CantArgueWithElves: Deconstructed, since the fae already messed up the world pretty bad and only rule with brute force, and aren't that much better than the "lesser" goblin races.
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: Sil'lice comes off as being somewhat more likable than her earlier appearances, and she implies that she was intentionally putting on an act for Chrys'tel.
* CapeWings: Ariel, with overtones of PrehensileHair.
* CatFolk: The Ferals.
* ChekhovsGun: Since the comic has run as long as it has there are ''loads'', some of which are only now firing after nearly ''ten years''. Going back through the archives to find them has more or less become an official fandom sport.
** [[spoiler:Squishy]], who's instrumental to helping [[spoiler:Ariel escape Rik]]. And now [[spoiler:Squishy]] turns out to have been even more of a ChekhovsGun since [[spoiler:Mel gave one of her eggs to a Jaal'darya friend in exchange for it, and that egg was later used to make Kalki]].
** With Chapter 25, [[spoiler:[[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1272 The Ninth Tower of Orthorbbae]]]], the existence of which was hinted at all the way back in [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=195 chapter 2]], has finally been revealed.
** Also, [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=814 remember this]] [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=815 door]] from the end of Chapter 2? [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7079 Chrys'tel did.]]
* ChekhovsGunman: The remake chapters show several characters in the background before they become significant, including younger versions of Chiri and Shan in chapter 3. [[spoiler:Liriel, aka Diva'ratrika]] is a big one as well that's only fired as of chapter 23.
* ChewingTheScenery: Many important characters have at least one of these.
* TheCassandra: Both Chiri'nide and Shimi'lande possess clairvoyance, but they [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20080909c08chibi2.jpg don't always like it]] and can't always control it. In Chiri's case, her visions often end up causing more problems than they solve, and can be [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20090224c15p032.jpg really frickin scary]].
* ChessMaster: ''Lots'' of characters count as this, to the point of a GambitPileup.
* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: The three Sharen sisters. After all the nasty things they've done to everyone around them -- [[spoiler: including a false coup d'état and killing their own mother]] -- it ''really'' isn't surprising that they've started to turn on each other.
* CityOfCanals: Nuqrah'shareh, and some parts of Chel, especially around the Jaal'darya fortress.
* TheClan: Nine major ones and countless smaller ones, and the driving conflicts in the series are clan-based.
* ClothingSwitch
* TheCloudcuckoolanderWasRight: No one (minus the readers) believed Kiel when she suggested that [[spoiler:some of Naal's personality may have survived her seed taking her over]] but then Chapter 32 showed that she was right.
* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: Each major clan has a set of colours that represent them; see also "tainted" drow eyes vs. normal drow eyes.
* ContinuityCameo: Lots!
** [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=763 This page]] features over a dozen cameos from the roleplays, side comics, Daydream and comics done by other members of the staff.
** [[http://www.drowtales.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/kharla20091024x768.jpg Kharla'ggen]] can be seen holding a plushie of [[http://www.drowtales.com/~wiki/index.php/An%27jhali_Tei%27kaliath_(Ilhar) An'Jhali]], the Illharess of the Tei'kaliath clan from the visual roleplay, in several pieces of art.
** Characters from the Relic Hunters visual roleplay have also made cameos in the story proper as important characters in the Highland Raiders.
** In one chapter a character gets a book about the [[ShowWithinAShow Vel'cahal]], which is the subject of a Daydream story that's presented as being historical fiction. Naal later buys a doll of the Vel'cahal [[spoiler:which gets featured in the HopeSpot at the end of Chapter 27]].
** Dhal'zin of the ''Alstrat's Journal'' audiobook series [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1086 appears]] in chapter 20 with her Stone Company, but interestingly, Fen, the main character of that series does not, instead it's his descendant [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1090 Kai]], but Dhal confuses the two (even though they do, in fact, look very different).
** Taio'shi and Cer'kal, two characters from [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7221 that year's winning contest story]], [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7748 appear in chapter 31]]. It's also implied that their story may be part of the main story's canon now, since the contest story showed that [[spoiler:Mikilu]] lived with Taio'shi, and that same character appeared [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7756 several pages after]] Taio'shi and Cer'kal, the implication being that [[spoiler:Mikilu had them plant the mana bomb that nearly blew up Snadhya's carriage]]
* ContinuitySnarl: Figuring out what is and isn't canon at this point is difficult, to say the least. WordOfGod has helped somewhat, but with almost 10 years of continuity and thousands of pages it gets difficult.
* ControlFreak: This seems to run in the Sharen family, with Diva'ratrika, Snadhya'rune and Sarv'swati all showing signs at various times.
* CostumePorn: Given that most characters are nobles there's a lot of this, and the Sharen probably have the most considering how much money and prestige they have.
* CountryMatters: Has come up twice in the story, interestingly, both occasions involve Mel, and she's actually the one who says it the second time. It apparently doesn't have the same terrible connotations to Americans ([[hottip:*:do note that the author is from Quebec, where while still a bad word it's not considered ''quite'' as bad as it is to Americans]]) as it does to drow due to their matriarchal society.
* CrapsackWorld: A few reasons, mainly due to demons and the elves themselves.
** The ever present threat of being possessed by demons, the possibility that tainting only guarantees said possession in the long run, and the rampant (and not entirely unjustified) genocidal dogma against said tainted hurls the setting into Crapsack territory.
** Also, the fact that most everyone is trying to kill most everyone else for many reasons beyond the tainting. Hopefully it wasn't normal in pre-industrial societies to tell ten-year-old children, "Don't kill a fellow student unless you can dispose of the body," and not be joking. The characters all justify their actions, and it is debatable if anyone in the setting is evil, but Chel is not a safe place to live for anyone. Even more so in post-timeskip chapters. And this is long after another war already rendered the surface unlivable for ages.
* CrazyCatLady: Crazy Spider Lady: Mel with her pets.
* CreepyChild: Kharla and, to a lesser extent, Naal. Even Ariel has her moments, and when [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20091104c01p030.jpg this page]] came online one forum goer responded with a picture of Samara from ''TheRing''.
* CurbStompBattle: A few times. [[spoiler:Rik vs. Discordia]] (though that one was rigged and later ''severely'' reversed) and [[spoiler:Sil'lice vs. Yaeminira/Vy'Chriel]]. And now we can add [[spoiler:Syphile vs. Quain'tana]] to the mix, making it the second such curbstomping in as many chapters. Drow in general seem prone to ending up in these since their system of honor dictates that they face challenges, even if that means going up against someone several times their age and experience who they have no chance of winning against.
* CurtainsMatchTheWindow: Some Vloz'ress, Diva'ratrika, Chiri'nide, Shimi'lande, Ariel, and Mel'arnach. Among first and second generation elves like Diva'ratrika this is natural, while in later generations it seems to be done deliberately using dyes and magic.
* CuteMonsterGirl: ''All'' the main characters, including the males and, from the other characters' perspective, ''humans''.
* DarkSkinnedRedhead: Some Vloz'ress, though they actually use hair dye. See [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20041024c11p010.jpg panel two]].
* DeadlyDecadentCourt: The case can be made for several of the ruling clans, but the human kingdom of Nagyescsed seems to be the best example, seeing as how the king was [[spoiler:collecting elves to kill so he could bathe in their blood]] and [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1164 the]] [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1167 suggestion]] that the kingdom just needed a decent push to fall over [[spoiler:as it did, courtsey of Ariel and company]].
* DeadlyGraduation: Quain'tana orders Ariel to either [[SadisticChoice kill a prisoner or duel a fellow clan member to the death]]. In the current version, [[spoiler:she decides to kill the prisoner, and Quain tells her to [[DropTheHammer make it messy]]]].
* DeadlyHug: Jer'kol attempts to smother Ariel with a hug but is stopped by Vaelia.
* DealWithTheDevil: This is effectively what willingly tainting yourself is, since it gives you extra strength but also turns you into a ticking timebomb. Sene'kha also offers this to Kiel, telling her that if she helps break her out of prison they'll not only TakeOverTheWorld, but possibly be able to keep Naal'suul alive. [[spoiler:Kiel refuses after Naal tells her it's impossible]].
* DeepCoverAgent: [[spoiler:The surviving Nidraa'chal, who exist in ''every major clan'' and probably most minor ones]]
* DefeatMeansFriendship: How Rosof joined Quain'tana's army. According to one of the creators, he's also [[UnrequitedLove in love with her]].
* DeflectorShield: The [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20060208c12p022.JPG Sarghress]] have developed this technique to compensate for being indvidually fairly weak [[BarrierWarrior barrier warriors]]. Done with a more powerful individual [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20060217c12p025.JPG here]]. Although powerful, even she has to upgrade from [[BarrierWarrior personal barrier]] to deflector shield with the help of the two mana specialists behind her (white cloaks) to deflect a cannon ball.
* DefrostingIceQueen: Possibly Chrys'tel, and to a lesser extent Ariel and some others at points.
* DeliberateValuesDissonance: Sil'lice [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20091002c19chibi.jpg illustrates]] the values of different species, which explain why people who are BadAss, AxCrazy, [[KnightTemplar extremists]] or even [[CompleteMonster complete monsters]] in the eyes of some readers are portrayed sympathetically and/or positively. Leads to a lot of debate among the readers.
* DemonicInvaders: The cause of the dark elf exodus to the underworld, among other things. They are a major threat to any 'untainted' aura-bearing creature.
* DemonicPossession: Definitely one of the darkest examples, as once it happens, not only is it completely irreversible, but the possessed victim [[KilledOffForReal literally ceases to exist in any way, shape or form]]. There is nothing left but the demon and the broken body of the victim it uses as its shell.
* DetachedSleeves: Fairly common in Drow fashion.
* DesignatedMonkey: Yafein, Syphile, maybe others
* DiscontinuityNod: In [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20081117c13p019.jpg post-remake page]], Ariel wonders aloud whether she should try to turn into a Drider (drow/spider hybrid) but after Kyo'nne mentions all the "icky legs" Ariel dismisses the idea. In the original, now non-canon chapters she morphed into a drider a fare bit, but now she explicitly doesn't' have enough mass to pull it off.
* TheDollEpisode: Any time Kharla shows up.
* DopeSlap: Kiel delivers one to Shinae [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1610 on behalf of Kyo]].
* DoubleAgent: Lulianne. Sort of. Lu is spying on Mel for Quain'tana, but is sympathetic towards Mel, withholding information from Quain. She also did not bring Mel back when she escaped. Good? Bad? She's a double agent, it depends on your perception.
* DramaticIrony: For most of the story the audience has known that [[spoiler:Ariel's mother is really Mel, not Quain, but Ariel herself still doesn't know]]. Additionally, any time the Sharen Sisters discuss [[spoiler:Diva'ratrika]] in public has shades of this due to the fact that [[spoiler:they know all too well that she's dead -- they were the ones who did it!]]
* [[DroppedABridgeOnHim Dropped A Bridge On Her]]: The nether summoner [[spoiler:Sene'kha]], when she was [[spoiler: stabbed by her sworn enemy, captured by another clan, imprisoned, turned over to her Sworn Enemies, then beheaded and finally ''set on fire'', '''''in that exact order'''''.]] And, depending on your view, [[spoiler:Rik'shakar]].
* DropTheCow: In the ''Daydream'' subscription section of the site, where the users put in options for how the story will progress, this often ends up happening, though the frequency seems to have decreased in later years. Most commonly it's because a story [[{{Rule34}} devolves into porn]] or just becomes incomprehensible and too silly, and the story is frequently put back on track in a humorous manner such as one character telling the story getting punched out by another or [[RageAgainstTheAuthor the characters themselves revolting]]. One especially memorable incident had a character that the readers had been tormenting go {{Rambo}} on them.
* DudeLooksLikeALady: Sorane'Saniil. In fact most of the males in Sorane'Saniil's ''entire clan''. Also, given that this world has a matriarchal society, where men tend to fulfill what we would perceive as feminine roles, there are many examples of this throughout all the drow clans.
* TheDungAges: If you're a human or orc
* DyingAsYourself: The Kyorl'solenurn try to make this happen when someone is taken over by demon, as seen [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=641 here]].
* DysfunctionJunction:
** Sarghress Clan, ahoy! Even Kel'noz, the most outwardly sane one, [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=6201 admits that he's not free of the crazy either]].
** The Sharen; but with them most of the worst stuff took place behind closed doors. Of what we know:
*** Diva'ratrika certainly lives up to the "[[LargeHam Diva]]" in her name, and while she started off very controlling, drew into seclusion little by little [[spoiler:to the point that her daughters have been able successfully pass her off as a ShadowDictator for 16 years]].
*** Snadhya'rune was apparently the favourite, but Mel'arnach implies that she didn't always get along with Diva'ratrika, and they certainly didn't get along after Snadhya purposely had herself tainted.
*** Sarv'swati is described as being "maniacal" in her control over her family.
*** Sil'lice has a habit of torturing people (tainted especially) and an obvious temper, but she's apparently good to her own children.
*** Nishi'kanta hasn't appeared much, but after becoming tainted during the war she went to live as a hermit [[spoiler:or at least that's the official story]]. Also, members of her bloodline have been seen [[spoiler:among the Vloz'ress]].
*** Zala'ess clearly has ambitions of becoming the leader of the Sharen, and when her sisters speak of her they often refer to her as "little" and treat her accordingly.
*** And of course [[spoiler:the fact that they ''killed'' their mother, had Nishi'kanta tainted and set up Sil'lice to take the fall for their war]] is the icing on the DysfunctionJunction cake.
* EarlyBirdCameo: Lulianne appears in the new version of chapter 1 to subdue Mel.
* EldritchAbomination:
** "Demons" in this setting are closer to this trope than TheLegionsOfHell.
** Fae also play this trope closely if you look at their biology, drow in particular: Deep within the earth, parts of them humans can't hope to see, able to ignore some of the basic assumptions of the universe simply by existing in their own cities, dragging humans down to the horrors that probably don't leave them sane...
* ElementalBaggage: Averted.
** Note that those that are proficient with fire magic can create blazes by creating a lighter spark with a device in their armour as seen [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=153 here]]
* ElementalHair: There's a bit of this with the clan colors: Sarghress (red / shapeshifting (blood element)), Sharen (purple / summoning (supernatural element)), Beldrobbaen (black / flesh & darkness elements), Nal'Sarkoth (green / wood element), and so on.
* ElementalEyeColours: Sil'lice Val'Sharen is both an Ice Sorceress and one of the few remaining untainted Nether Summoners.
-->You know, blood contains water. And water freezes so well.
** Nishi'kanta was also an example before she was tainted, since she had [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=4232 orange eyes]] and a fire affinity.
** The Val'Nal'sarkoth Clan also has this, since they tend to have [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=5778 green eyes]] and are some of the only people in the Underworld who have an affinity with wood.
* EloquentInMyNativeTongue: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=date&id=1307 Vaelia]].
* EmotionlessGirl: Naal, and to a much lesser extent Syphile and Ariel at points.
* EmpathicHealer: Faen. A good part of her clan is TheEmpath.
* EnsembleCast: Started off with focus on Ariel but the cast kept growing until there was 4-5 important story arcs running at the same time with equally important characters. Currently there was nearly a year where Ariel was never seen with more important plot lines hogging the pages. Not to mention all those layers of plots of even greater importance that live in the background and probably will burst into foreground in the future.
* EquivalentExchange: How magic works. Ariel can change her shape, but not her mass. This is one reason she doesn't turn into a drider post-retcon, since it requires more than she has.
* EvenTheGirlsWantHer: [[MemeticMutation Everyone is Quain'tana for Ash'waren]], and quite a few other examples.
* EveryoneIsBi: Purely hetero and homo people exist as minorities.
* EverythingsBetterWithPlushies
* EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses: Chrystel, and to a lesser extent, Ariel, Faen, Naal, Kiel, Chirinide, etc.
* EvilMatriarch: All of the Ill'haresses qualify to a certain extent, but the Sharen sisters much more so.
* [[TheEvilPrince The Evil Princesses]]: The three Sharen sisters.
* ExcuseMeComingThrough: Done subtly, see the trope page for example.
* ExplosiveBreeder: This is the main reason why the drowolath managed to become the dominant species in the underworld. Whilst its mentioned that drow and elves in general find it difficult to get pregnant (leading to low numbers overall despite a thousand year existence), it is also stated that the drowolath are somewhat more fertile than their drowussu cousins, hence why they were able to outbreed the latter and become the most populous underworld species.
* ExpressiveMask: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=740&overview=1&chibi=1&cover=1&extra=1&page=1&check=1 Qujia Vloz'ress]]... to the extreme!
* {{Expy}}: Quain'tana is pretty much drow version of Conan from ''ConanTheBarbarian''. Many fans proudly declare that Quain can beat up ChuckNorris.
* EyelessFace: The Xuile'solen sub-race.
* EyesOfGold: Kyorl'solenurn clan / Drowussu.
* FamilyRelationshipSwitcheroo: The truth behind [[spoiler:Ariel Val'Sarghress']] lineage is that [[spoiler:her mother is Mel'arnach and her father is Zhor, but Quain'tana, her grandmother, took her away from Mel to raise as her heir. This was ''not'' voluntary on Mel or Zhor's part.]]
* FanNickname: Several.
** Fans have dubbed the [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?check=1&order=chapters&overview=1&chibi=1&cover=1&page=1&extra=1&id=521 dragon-like biogolem]] Mel gives Ariel "Squishy".
** The trifecta of Snadhya'rune, Sarv'swati and Zala'ess Vel'Sharen is also referred to as "The Gorgon Sisters" by some.
** An incident in Chapter 15 ([[spoiler:Ariel being kidnapped by Rik and having to fight him off, only to have him die]]) has also been referred to as being "Rik-rolled" by several forum members. The authors were seemingly aware of this too, since the chibi comic at the end of that chapter [[spoiler:where Rick's reason or kidnapping Ariel]] was so they can form their own band. The band is called Rick-and-Roll, and their first song even includes the line "Never gonna give you up".
** Syphile gained the nickname "Sniffle" or "Sniffile" from both fans and detractors due to to the number of scenes where she utters some variation of the line "it's not fair". "[=SyFAIL=]" also seems to have become popular during the new Chapter 1, and even her distinctive high-collared cloak has gained a nickname, with some calling it the Failcloak since she seems to do something stupid nearly every time she appears in it, including [[spoiler:right before she dies]].
** One of Sil'lice's daughters has been nicknamed some variation of "Pissin'hermouth" after her declaration in chapter 17 that she'll "Pin [Zala'ess] to a freaking wall and piss in her mouth". Her actual name is Kadara, but Pissin'hermouth has stuck.
** Sha'sana quickly gained the nickname "Sasha" all the way back in the Prologue, [[spoiler:and when she appeared in Chapter 25 it resurfaced again]].
** "Team Purple" for the extended family of [[spoiler:Mel'arnach, Snadhya'rune, Kalki, Zhor and Ariel]] due to them all having the same hair (or in [[spoiler:Zhor's]] case, [[spoiler:fur]]) color. There was one Daydream wallpaper of them all together that spawned this nickname.
** Naal's pet spider, usually seen on her back, is affectionately nicknamed "Fuzz Fuzz" by fans, not to be confused with Fuzzy, and was [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1341 referred to]] by that name in one chibi page. [[spoiler:Ironically enough, Fuzz Fuzz and Fuzzy now appear to have met similar fates]]. It's also referred to as "Naal's baby" due to a scene in the main story where Kiel tells a woman with a pack lizard that it's Naal's big ugly baby when she objects to having a spider in her cart.
** One Ill'hardro girl named Ishii who appears in Chapter 33 (second from the right on [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1695 this page]]) was quickly dubbed Hammer Pants by the fans, due to her pants reminding people of MCHammer's. Fans also noticed that she's sporting one glove like MichaelJackson.
* FanService: There's a whole subsection of the site that's expressly devoted to this, and it skirts the border between [[TheissTitillationTheory extreme fanservice]] and outright porn.
* FantasticCasteSystem: On a general level, fae < than everyone else. On a specific level, drow and elves < dragons < faeries. Drow''olath'' (dark skinned drow) versus Drow''ussu'' (light skinned drow) on a fairly equal level, but both drow cultures < hybrid drowolath/drowussu.
* FantasticRacism: Drow tend to look down on nearly everyone else [[hottip:(note):Slightly less so for the Sarghress if you can fight. Depraved commoners. Also possibly the case for the Nal'sarkoth as they actively recruit non-drow races to build up their numbers]], most of the non-drow major characters find themselves enslaved at some point, 'tainted' drow vs. 'pure' drow, grey drow vs black drow, driders vs. drow in general, "blind" drow vs. "normal drow" etc.
** In short, everybody versus everybody.
* FantasyCounterpartCulture: Not all that obvious but the drow clans are comparable to actual ancient/medieval real life cultures; Sharen: Medieval Persian/Indian, Sarghress: early Roman/Mongol hybrid, Kyorl'Solenurn: Knights Templar/Feudal Japan hybrid, etc.
* FantasticSlur: "Drowhiir" is a slur for Drowussu. Light Elves are also sometimes called "White Worm"s.
** Drow also seem to use "motherkiller" in the same context as [[MotherFBomb another swear that begins with "mother"]].
*** 'Motherkiller' has mainly been used about Val nobles, but mainly directed to the Sharen, because [[spoiler: The three sisters killed their mother and apparently that's out of the bag]]
* FateWorseThanDeath: What Kharla'ggen does to people who "resist her, or catch her eye."
** Also arguably [[spoiler:Naal's demise]].
* FatherIDontWantToFight: Ariel, when told what she has to do to earn Quain'tana's approval, [[spoiler:and she does in fact decide to kill Miir'kin.]]
* FeelNoPain: Tainted drow have a reduced sense of pain, and in extreme cases they can't feel much at all.
** The Sharen clan heavily taints their males and has them wear sealing armor to prevent them from [[SealedEvilInACan losing control of their seed]] to act as EliteMooks
** Naal'suul, tainted to the core, feels pretty much nothing: once she tells her mother that she broke her finger and didn't feel it.
* FinishHim: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=4505 Done quite gruesomely with a mace]] to [[spoiler:Miir'kin]] by [[spoiler:Ariel, who was egged on by Quain'tana]]. The actual act is done with GoryDiscretionShot, but that [[TakeOurWordForIt arguably makes it worse]].
* FirstTimeInTheSun: Subverted for Ariel, who gets vertigo immediately.
* FishingForSole: Used [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1841 here]].
* FiveManBand: Chrys'tel (The Hero/Big Bad), Shinae (The Lancer/The Dragon), Kiel (The Big Guy/The Brute), Naal (The Smart Guy/Evil Genius), Kyo'nne (The Chick/Dark Chick)
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Look closely at [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7169 the cover of Chapter 28]], especially [[spoiler:the position of Kiel's hand on her stomach]]. Now recall that in that chapter [[spoiler:she nearly dies due to poisoned food]].
** Also, check behind Sate'ja's head on [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7676 the cover of chapter 31]]. It's [[spoiler:[[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=5877 Diva's tower in ruins]]]]. And why was Chrys'tel there? [[spoiler:To try and meet Diva'ratika]]. Guess what happens later in chapter 31.
** [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=6993 The story of the Vel'cahal]] that the kids see in Chapter 26 also serves this purpose, since it's essentially [[spoiler:what happens to Naal later on, with her keeping just enough of her consciousness to avoid eating Kiel]]. Just to drive the point home, [[spoiler:Naal]] even gets a doll of the Vel'cahal, which she keeps even after [[spoiler:her seed takes her over]].
* ForegoneConclusion: Lots of readers knew from [[DramaticIrony concept arts that]] [[spoiler: Ariel will not accept Mel as her mother, instead the tension readers had during that scene was focused more on ''why'' Ariel rejected Mel]]
* FreeRangeChildren: It's hard to tell how widespread it is (especially since Quain'tana isn't exactly the paragon of good parenting), but drow parents seem to give their children a larger amount of freedom than modern day parents, even allowing them to go to the Surface without visible protest, which is always described as a dangerous and wild place. Since the drow world seems similar to pre-industrial or even feudal societies this is TruthInTelevision as far as early human societies go. Partly justified by the fact Drow elite mothers are more concerned about quality of heir than how many have to die. To quote ''Webcomic/OrderOfTheStick'', they don't care how many they have to kill they can make more in their tummy! And have centuries to do so. 'xcept for ONE drow mother...
* FreakyIsCool: Naal says this to Kiel [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1115 here.]]
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: These often crop up during crowd scenes, with a standout example on [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7823 this]] page, where Shinae's hissy fit causes a woman walking by to lose her grip on her food, so it splatters against the wall. Also check the name of the shop they're in front of, which shows up [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1780 again]] later and is implied to be the same one, or at least part of the same chain.
** There's also [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1815 this page]] where Melodia's apparently stolen something and is being chased by two drow, but most people were too distracted by [[spoiler:Faen's SelfHarm]] to notice.
** [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1451 This]] guy also nearly gets a [[GroinAttack knife in the groin]] when the hibachi chef at his table is so distracted by [[TakeOurWordForIt Baliir's face under his mask]] that she accidentally flings it his way. His female companion is also ''blushing''.
* FuroScene: Once in [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=540 Chapter 9]]and again in [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7056 Chapter 27]].
* FusionDance: [[spoiler:Ragini and Diva'ratrika]] in the backstory, who became [[spoiler:Liriel]].
* GambitPileup: What happens when you have 9 major clans and countless minor ones plotting against each other, on top of people ''within'' said clans plotting against each other, and then even within ''those'' groups people are plotting against each other. The [[http://wiki.drowtales.com/index.php/Clan_Relations clan relations]] chart is a relatively simple, condensed version of it.
** Within the Vloz'ress there seems to be a decent GambitPileup, with each Nether Summoner vying for influence within the clan and for control over Kharla'ggen. With [[spoiler:Sene'kha's death]] the floodgates seem to have been opened.
* GenderFlip: In universe, it's suggested that the story of the [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=6993 Vel'Cahal]] was originally about a male knight, but was later changed to be about a woman.
* GenkiGirl: Kyo'nne is the most obvious example.
* GetAHoldOfYourselfMan: Shinae not just slaps, but punches Kiel'ndia out of a hysterical fit [[spoiler: over the demonization of Naal'suul]].
* GirlsLove: Lots of [[LesYay implications]], and one explicit couple in [[spoiler:Mel'arnach and Snadhya'rune]].
* {{Glomp}}: As seen [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=617&overview=1&chibi=1&cover=1&page=1&check=1 here]] at the bottom
** And [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=714&overview=1&chibi=1&cover=1&page=1&check=1 here]] at the bottom, by name
* GlowingEyesOfDoom: Faen, when she intensively uses her empath powers, or during her episode of PowerIncontinence.
* GodivaHair: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=5897 Here]] on [[spoiler:Kalki]])
** [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7056 Later]] [[spoiler:Snadhya'rune and Mel]] get the same thing, which is hilariously appropriate considering that they're the above's [[spoiler:mothers (no, that's not a typo)]].
* {{Goth}}: Bel'drobbaen clan, call your office. [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=5300 here]].
* GovernmentInExile: The clans of Chel'el'sussoloth started out as this, but it's persisted for a millennium, and the fact that they haven't adapted since then causes problems that become more and more evident as the series goes on and the office of the Val'Sharess is shown to be either indifferent or powerless.
* GrandTheftMe: [[spoiler:Diva'ratrika on Ragini]], [[http://www.drowtales.com/longestwait.php?order=date&id=1 which has its own story]]. Interestingly, at first it was ''not'' canon, [[SureWhyNot until the author gave in and made it canon.]]
* GreyAndGrayMorality: The last narration box on [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20080827c08p047.jpg this]] page sums it up nicely: "There is no hero nor villain in these drow tales, only actors in history, wearing their masks and playing their roles."
* GroinAttack: Played straight, subverted, averted AND a {{High Octane Nightmare Fuel}} edition! Depends when it occurred and to who. A female on female version has also been the cause of ''many'' plot developments on Quain'tana's side.
* GrotesqueCute: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20060405c12p043.JPG Right here.]] With a lovely smile, to boot.
* HalfIdenticalTwins: Kau and Shala. The only visible differences between them are that one's eyes are a slightly different color and one has spikier hair.
* HamToHamCombat: Oh, where to start... let's just make a blanket statement that any time a serious fight starts it become this.
* HandBehindHead
* HarmlessFreezing: Though played straight in the {{chibi}} pages of the prologue, it was brutally subverted in [[AnIcePerson Sillice's]] battle with [[spoiler: Vy'chriel/Yaeminira]]. Not only did she freeze to death, her fingers actually snapped apart right before the end!
* [[{{HeirClubForMen}} Heir Club For Women]]: A ''major'' motivation for Quain'tana.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: Arguably Kuso and Bal'liir. The two of them individually are probably not strictly "heterosexual" given drow culture (see EveryoneIsBi above) but their relationship otherwise fits.
* HiddenElfVillage: The Jaal'darya clan are a variant on this, since no one knows precisely where their fortress is located. The Light Elves of Vahaheimr are an even better example, sequestering themselves in the mountains with little to no contact with the outside world, as well as an ''extremely'' xenophobic attitude.
* HitSoHardTheCalendarFeltIt: The current story takes place in the year 1098 of the Moonless Age. Not because the moon was destroyed 1100 years ago, but because the elves went into exile underground where they couldn't see the moon.
* HonorBeforeReason: Drow honor [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20091002c19chibi.jpg operates under this principle]]. They consider it more honorable to face challenges, especially great ones, even if they're fairly suicidal. See [[spoiler:Vy'chriel and Syphile]]'s attacks on people much stronger than them, for them it doesn't work out so well.
* HopeSpot:
** It's tiny, but at the end of the tragic chapter 27, [[spoiler:we see demon-Naal picking up a doll she bought at the market, and clutching it to her chest, implying that her mind is still there, somewhere. Confirmed in chapter 32, when she pushes Kiel away rather than eat her]].
** Chapter 32 also has one that helps soften the blow of an otherwise pretty bleak ending for Mel. [[spoiler:She's had her arms broken by Quain, her heart broken by Ariel rejecting her as being her real mother, and has agreed to give up at least one more child to Quain and be Quain's baby machine. However, the last page has [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7900 Ariel come up to Mel and hold her hand]], which hints that Ariel ''might'' have started to accept that Mel's her real mother]]. Apparently this ending was specifically added as something of a WriterRevolt by two members of the staff, who thought the extra page with the [[spoiler:hand holding]] should be added.
* HotMom: There's Zala, [[spoiler: Mel]], and Quain as key examples. Due to Drow possesing what is basically eternal youth, pretty much any Drow mother applies here.
* HumanoidAbomination: Kharla'ggen. According to Senekha, Kharla is no ordinary Tainted; she is a living vortex of demonic power. [[spoiler: The main plan of the Vloz'ress clan is to imprison a demon god inside Kharla by using the fragments of its old foe as bait -- one of those fragments being Discordia.]]
* HumanOutsideAlienInside: Fae (drow, light elves, drowussu, etc.) in Drowtales are more biologically different than their humanoid appearance would suggest. The key to this is mana; the energy they generate, absorb and manipulate. It is the source behind their comparative resistance to, and lack of, diseases (they are not completely immune though). It is also what keeps them young and in a healthy condition, provided there are enough of them to generate a surplus of mana. They still need to eat and drink, but less so than a human of comparative size would, and their bodies do not store fat the way a human body does. Their nature means that they also can "starve" even when they have plenty of food and drink -- if they are alone. If that happens they will start to suffer from mana deprivation and starts to age much like a human would.
* HumansAreMorons: Humans are considered to be a type of goblin. Though considered somewhat cunning individually, collectively humans are viewed as less intelligent than orcs, making it a variant of the ConservationOfNinjutsu.
* HumongousMecha: Giant war golems provide a close fantasy equivalent.
** Also played straight in the Space Age Daydream (though the giant war golems exist here, as well)
* {{Hypocrite}}: Possibly one of the main themes, considering how many characters are actually massive hypocrites.
** [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20060718c12p073.JPG Kyo'vaerde]]
* IdiotBall: One is apparently handed to dwarves, who have terribly bad designs for man-portable cannon. They can't even handwave the over-the-shoulder cannon with AWizardDidIt, as the dwarves are explicitly lacking in magic. They also can't even manage to pull off their given role of tunnel skirmishers - their attack causes zero casualties and only minor damage.
* IHaveYouNowMyPretty: Rikshakar tries this ''twice'' on Ariel, the first time being stopped by Vaelia, and the second time resorting to kidnapping her. He severely underestimates her the second time and [[spoiler:gets beaten up by her, only to become chow for the demon Discordia after she catches up with him. See KarmicDeath.]] Note that the first time didn't happen in the original version, which was squickier, but consensual.
* ImportantHaircut:
** Liriel just performed one of these [[spoiler:To mark the shift from the her own personality to that of Diva'ratrika Val'Sharess, who had moved her spirit into "Liriel"'s body several years before but had been held back by her [[BottleFairy heavy drinking]].]]
** Vaelia gets the "opposite" of one in that she has hair extensions put in to signify she is no longer a slave.
** Slaves are not allowed to have haircuts longer than their neck. Long hair signifies higher status, hence why Yaeminira grew out her hair when she officially "became" Vy'Chriel.
* ImAHumanitarian: Drow have no compunction over eating the flesh of humans and orcs, who they consider beasts, and even eat their own dead.
* InadequateInheritor: Quain'tana has gone through ''at least'' three heirs.
* InfantImmortality: Brutally averted on several occasions. Simply being a child is no guarantee for survival.
** [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1775 The latest subversion was an impoverished woman drowning her baby son to save him from starving to death.]]
* InstantFanclub: Meta-example: [[spoiler:Kalki]] gained this from the fans when she showed up topless but for GodivaHair in Chapter 17.
* InterspeciesRomance:
** One sidestory is about a drow named "[[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=5314 Val'Doomed]]" who kidnaps human women to try and breed with, but because this is impossible he just earns the derision of other drow. An aversion is [[spoiler:Mel'arnach and Zhor]] who initially appear to be this trope, but [[spoiler:Zhor is in fact a Dark Elf that was transformed into his current state]] so it's not really this trope.
** A minor but more straightforward example is the relationship between Dhal'zin and Kai of the Stone Company, which Ky'onne is the only one to notice.
* ItGetsEasier: Ariel experiences this, much to her horror, and the fact that [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=344 the only time to date Quain'tana shows her physical affection]] is right after her first kill is downright chilling.
* ItGotWorse: In Chapter 33, the city of Nuqrah'shareh is in the middle of a civil war caused by an influx of refugees from neighboring cities. And then [[spoiler:Balsii Val'Illhar'dro attempts a coup on her cousin, and though Nega'fanea survives]] the city has fallen even further into chaos by Chapter 34.
* ItRunsInTheFamily: Being somewhat naive seems to be a trait shared by both Ariel and [[spoiler: her actual mother Mel'arnach]].
* IWantGrandkids: Zala'ess, according to [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1761 this chibi page]]
* JediMindTrick: [[spoiler:This is how [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20090811c18p015.jpg Ash'waren]], who's really a dark elf, has been passing herself off as a drow for the better part of 1000 years]].
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Kiel'ndia, and a few others, including Kuso, who doesn't seem that bad despite his [[SirSwearsalot foul mouth]].
* JerkassHasAPoint: The Kyorl'solenurn are more or less the mascots of GoodIsNotNice, and yet when it comes to their extremism about the tainted they're surprisingly justified, especially with recent revelations.
* {{Kamehamehadoken}}: Magical version. Take an ordinary MagicMissile, add 1000 years of (mana/aura)growth and experience - [[http://www.drowtales.com/longestwaitarchive//20050719c1p023.JPG destruction ensues]]. Unfortunately, her targets dodged.
* KarmaHoudini: ''Quain'tana''. So far, and quite a few people wonder if she'll ever get her comeuppance.
* KarmicDeath: [[spoiler:Rikshakar.]]
* KickTheWrongDog: Ariel has one of these moments after she kills Maya, and it changes her path from a more AntiHero path.
* KidWithTheLeash: Kiel, after [[spoiler: Sene'Kha's death]] becomes one of these, holding [[spoiler: Kharla's]] leash as her [[spoiler: "big" sister. Mentally, she really is.]]
* TheKingdom: The mega city-state of Chel'el'Sussoloth. The total population and land area is typical for a [[TheKingdom Kingdom]] (a cave network ~50km in diameter with around 100,000 people) culturally it is arguably a [[TheFederation Federation]] with the clans serving as its 'states'.
* KnightsTemplar: The Kyorl'Solenurn clan is this trope personified.
* LadyLand: The Jaal'darya, who actually want to get rid of men, and probably others to lesser extents.
* LadyOfWar: Cool, elegant, ass-kicking Sil'lice personifies this, though she's not above [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1057 completely flipping her shit]] in the past.
* LargeHam: As can be inferred in the comic, Quain'tana speaks with a loud, bombastic voice reminiscent of Leonidas in ''[[ThreeHundred 300]]''. Zala'ess has a flair for the overly-dramatic herself.
** The scene in [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=453 Chapter 8 where Quain and Zala are verbally sparring]], and the duel in [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=757 Chapter 12 between Kyo'vaerde and Sene'kha]] are prime examples of Dueling Hams.
*** The duel between Kalki and Sil'lice is yet another example of HamToHamCombat.
** I'm going to go out there and say that nearly the entire Val'Kyorl'solenurn clan (and much of the Vel'Sharen) has a steady diet of the comic's scenery.
*** No kiddin'. Read The Longest Wait...[[IncrediblyLamePun the Val'sharess isn't called Diva'ratrika for nothing!]] Likewise with her daughters, especially Snadhya'rune.
* LateArrivalSpoiler: It becomes really, ''really'' hard to talk about many of the later events of the comic without giving away the following:
** [[spoiler:Diva'ratrika has been dead for 16 years]]
** [[spoiler:Diva has reincarnated (kinda) as Liriel]]
** [[spoiler:The Sharen sisters were behind the Nidraa'chal plot, which was a ruse to kill their mother]]
** [[spoiler:Ariel's mother is really Mel'arnach, not Quain'tana]]
** [[spoiler:Syphile dies by Quain'tana's hand after breaking Chrys'tel out of prison]]
* LawOfInverseFertility: Affects most female fae, since fae in general [[ImmortalProcreationClause have low birth rates]], but [[spoiler:Quain'tana's]] case is cause of much angst and many plot developments. This also means that Diva'ratrika, while over a thousand years old, has only had five (surviving) daughters and one son, Zala'ess has had many more and Sil'lice outright says that she's had to do a lot of screwing around to get that many, though many if not most of them seem to have the same father. And because drow have NoPeriodsPeriod it means that they never go through an equivalent of menopause, which explains how [[spoiler:Ash'waren]] can be as old as Diva'ratrika and still be producing children. [[spoiler:Mel'arnach]] also says that she was trying for several decades to get pregnant, though it may be due to [[spoiler:the father being Zhor]] than the usual problems fae face.
* LightIsNotGood: Both the Kyorl and the Light Elves [[spoiler:which makes sense considering they're related]].
* LineageComesFromTheFather: Inverted, drow only care about who someone's mother is. This is especially true with Vals, who can only pass on the Val title through the female line.
* LivingDollCollector: Kharla.
* LivingEmotionalCrutch: Faen to Ariel.
* LovableNerd: Yafein.
* MagicMissile: The easiest and most common attack for a fae to use. Can be dodged. [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20070731c0p018.jpg Seen in action here]], together with mana shields and ordinary crossbows.
* MamaBear: Zala'ess is implied to be this, and she wanted to kill her daughter Vy'chriel's protector twin Yaeminira after the latter murdered her real daughter, and only grudgingly allowed her to [[ReplacementSibling take her place]] at the urging of her own sister Sarv'swati. It's also been suggested that Zala'ess' main redeeming quality is her love for her children. Shimi'lande is also implied to be this for ''the entire Drowussu race'', seeing as she serves a sort of mother to all of them.
* MandatoryMotherhood: Played with in-story. Even though women are the dominant gender in drow society, having children is a way for them to build up their families and power, and the fact that Snadhya'rune, Diva'ratrika's heir, has no family of her own is seen as scandalous. However, [[spoiler:Snadhya does indeed have a daughter, she just had her conceived and carried outside of her womb, and it seems that Snadhya did indeed want children, just on her own terms.]]
* MaternallyChallenged: One interpretation of why Quain'tana has such a bad relationship with her children. As far as can be inferred she had no parents to speak of and was on the street from an early age, and the effect is pretty obvious on her children.
* MatronChaperone: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?id=307 Vaelia assigns herself the role of Duenna]], and played with in that Ariel herself isn't exactly receptive to Rik's advances either, and likely doesn't understand [[AttemptedRape what he's really trying to do]].
* MeaningfulBackgroundEvent: Repeatedly.
** On [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7983 this page]] and several subsequent ones from from chapter 34, [[spoiler:Shodun]] is out of focus in the background behind Balsii, only to [[spoiler:burst out of the background and kill Sandaur]].
** On [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1781 this page]] from chapter 35, in the background you can see the assault on First Landing Fortress, which is talked about later in the chapter. No one in the scene comments on it, suggesting that Chelians have become jaded to the constant conflict during the timeskip.
* MeaningfulName: WordOfGod says that Syphile's name comes from the word Syphilis, since her original character was in an RPG and the name was made up on the spot. If that doesn't tell you something about her and her luck I don't know what does.
** Most names in the setting have some sort of meaning and/or history behind them, [[http://www.drowtales.com/wordpress/?p=1797#comment-4782 while Kite tends to use a different method]].
** Character specific examples can be found on the CharacterSheets but one memorable example is that of Jer'kol, a character who pre-timeskip pretended to be Ariel's father. His [[Captain Obvious true]] nature became much clearer later on when it turned out that [[spoiler: he was working for Syphile to kill Ariel]].
* MegaNeko: The Sullissin'rune [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20061024c02p032.JPG cavalry mounts]]/clan animal.
* MenAreTheExpendableGender: For the most part most drow view their males as this at best.
* MirroredConfrontationShot: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?cid=12 The cover of chapter 12]]. The printed Prologue also has [[http://www.drowtales.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/drowtalesprologue_cover.jpg Sillice and her children on one side and Kalki and the Nidraa'chal on the other]].
* MismatchedEyes: The Val'Sullisin'rune family.
* MissionFromGod: The belief of the Kyorl'solenurn.
* MisunderstoodLonerWithAHeartOfGold: Mel'arnach.
* MixAndMatchMan: Rik.
* {{Mooning}}: During Phani'nath's description of the last Ill'haress gathering [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20090408c16p005.jpg Quain'tana does this]] to Sarv'swati. It's not entirely certain if this actually happened, but it would hardly be out of character.
* EstrogenBrigadeBait: Shan'aal, most obviously, and Tir'ade as well. Kor'maril is this both in the fandom and in canon, where in canon he's had at least one lover and [[spoiler:is the father of Sillice's twins]] and there's a Daydream story where he gets it on with both another woman and a literal DragonLady.
* MsFanservice: Although she ''is'' essential to the story, Mel'arnach is the frickin empress of fanservice in the comic. [[spoiler:Kalki]] may come in second depending on if she ever puts on a shirt. Ironically (or not) [[spoiler:they're mother and daughter, er, sort of]].
* MulticoloredHair: Since all drow have white hair, dyeing it, often but not always in the clan colors, is common.
* MultinationalTeam: The comic's staff come from 13 different countries. In-story, the group on the surface contains characters from 3 different major clans (4 if [[spoiler:you count Liriel/Diva as a Sharen]]), a human and a feral.
* MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch
* MysteriousParent: [[spoiler:Mel'arnach turns out to be Kalki's "father" with Snadhya'rune as the mother.]] Possible thanks to the Jaal'darya clan's OrganicTechnology / BioAugmentation.
* NailedToTheWagon: Liriel.
* NeglectfulPrecursors: The Dark and Light Elves are pretty much the ones responsible for turning the surface into the hell hole it is now, and by extension are responsible for the birth of the drow, and the case can even be made for AbusivePrecursors considering that at least some of them were said to have opened nether gates ''on purpose''.
* NightmareSequence: A couple of these, one for Ariel, a several for Chiri, and one for Kiel. All of them are horrifying.
* {{Ninja}}: The Fallen Legion, particularly the possessed Lael'aell and in Chapter 34 the Jie'yen clan of Nuqrah'shareh.
* NominalImportance: Kiel lampshades it in [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1330 this strip]].
* NonStandardCharacterDesign: The artwork for the comic is to a very high standard and usually has a regular design aesthetic which was why it was all the more jarring to see [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20111115c34p003.jpg this character]](called Wordweaver Frehling) talking to Chry'stel Vel'Sharen in Chapter 34. He looked a lot more like he should be in a Disney film than in an {{Animesque}} webcomic.
* NoPeriodsPeriod (fae do not get periods, which helps explain how even very old fae can still have children at upwards of 1,000, but female humans [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=6542 do]], unfortunately for Vaelia)
* NotQuiteDead: As one forum poster put it, it seems that Dark Elves have the tenacity of cockroaches since within a few chapters, 3 of them, [[spoiler:Diva'ratrika through a FusionDance, Ash'waren through a JediMindTrick, and whatever Sha'sana did]], have been shown to have survived. It also lead one poster to proclaim that [[spoiler:Snadhya'rune]] is really bad at killing people.
* NotSoDifferent: Despite being a SuperiorSpecies the drow in particular are not actually that different from the goblin races. Just take a look at how the drow consider the goblin races. Now take a closer look at the drow. Ironic that the ones who consider halmes akin to locusts almost destroyed their own planet for mana-based life a millenia ago, isn't it?\\
\\
Later on, when Chiri'nide and Shan'aal visit the elves of Vanaheimr, [[spoiler:the way the Light Elves try to kill them and succeed in killing the refugees they brought causes Chiri to reference the drowussu's own views about "racial purity" and begin to question them]].
* ObfuscatingInsanity: Mel'arnach, Ash'waren.
* ObfuscatingStupidity: Liriel, though that might just be the beer.
* OhCrap: A few memorable instances detailed on the main page, and the entire fanbase collectively had this expression through most of [[WhamEpisode Chapter 25]].
* OnlySixFaces: Played with, since the very early chapters suffered from this, but as the art style has evolved it's become less and less so, since characters are now pretty distinguishable in their facial features. OnlySixFaces is also plays a role in drow culture as a whole, since most drow have white hair and similarly shaded skin they will often dye it or add accessories to distinguish themselves.
* OurMonstersAreDifferent: ... or, to be more precise, Our Drow Are Different.
** OurElvesAreBetter: Not ''nicer'' mind you, or cooler, and certainly not more "right". Basically, they are are tougher and carry a bigger stick than everybody else.
** OurFairiesAreDifferent
** [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Orcs]] and ''Humans'' are Goblins; Elves, Dragons, Nagas, and Driders are all Fae; Gnomes are "domesticated" Dwarves.
* OurNudityIsDifferent: Drow in Chel'el'sussoloth usually wear high collars, because the (lower) neck is [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20040804c10chibi.JPG considered a naughty part]]. That isn't the case with all drow nations though, nor has it always been the case in Chel. Similar to how it's normal IRL to go topless on the beach in some countries and scandalous in others.
* PeopleJars: [[spoiler:Sharess' body turns out to be kept in one]]
* PetTheDog: "Bad" or at the very least not very nice characters will often get moments like this to add to the GreyAndGrayMorality.
** Zala'ess seems to genuinely love her children, and Sil'lice, who before was shown taking joy in torturing tainted gained major PetTheDog points when she was revealed to have [[spoiler:[[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1246 little twins]] who sent the {{Squee}} alarm up to 11]]. Quain'tana's relationship with Ash'waren is also something of a PetTheDog in regards to showing that the usually gruff and {{badass}} Ill'haress has a soft side.
** A subtle one occurred in chapter 22, when the human queen [[spoiler:who had been participating in ritual sacrifice and blood bathing]] was shown [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1363 teary eyed with someone who is presumably her child]]. People who had been calling for her head a few pages earlier suddenly felt sorry for her.
** Once Ariel returned from the surface, Quain'tana questioned her of her adventures on the surface, before telling her that "You make me... proud." Considering this is [[WellDoneSonGuy Quain]] saying this, it definitely counts.
* PimpedOutDress: Several characters, though special mentions goes to Shimi'lande's formal dress, Diva'ratrika's parade dress and pretty much all of Snadhya'rune's dresses.
* PlayAlongPrisoner: Mel'arnach is a long term version of this along with ObfuscatingInsanity.
* PottyFailure: Implied to have [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7872 happened to Chrys'tel]] (look near her feet), since she did mention earlier that she had to pee, and [[spoiler:being trapped in an iron maiden for an entire day by your sadistic cousin]] doesn't offer many potty breaks.
* PowerIncontinence: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?id=441 Faen]].
* PragmaticVillainy: A case can be made for this if [[http://www.drowtales.com/longestwait.php?order=date&id=11 this page is any indication]]
* PrettyInMink: Snadhya'runes hardly goes anywhere without her enormous fur coat.
* PrinciplesZealot: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?id=532 Chiri]] mixes this with FantasticRacism.
* PsychoForHire: Sene'kha and Ky'ovaerde... and to a lesser extent, Laele'aell, though in her case it's more that she doesn't really have a soul any more.
* PsychopathicManchild: Kharla'ggen. Her origin story seems to indicate that if just left alone she'd be fine (if badly tainted), but Sene'kha, the above PsychoForHire, pushed her even further into insanity. Discordia is also showing signs of this, especially in her childlike behavior after she [[spoiler:kills Rik]].
* PunctuationShaker: Pretty much all the Drow names. The apostrophe is also a sign of nobility in some families, hence why Sil'lice is referred to as Sillice by the other Sharen after her exile.
* PunyEarthlings: The story arc from chapters 20 to 22 has Ariel, her friends and a group of Highland Raiders storm a human city and kill the king with comparatively little effort. Whether or not this was [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot bad writing]] or indicative of the power levels of the species involved (see GameBreaker above) is best left to the forums. WordOfGod was that the story arc was intended to be longer and include the Hermiones, another group of humans, but had to be cut down for the sake of time.
* PutOffTheirFood: In chapter 14, when the group of protagonists sits down for dinner, the drow Kyo'nne tells the human Vaelia that the preserved meat they're eating is human meat. She was just joking — but since they don't actually know what kind of meat it is, and since drow do eat human meat, Vaelia decides to play it safe and have bread instead.
* PVPBalanced: The old-old start of the comic when it was based on DungeonsAndDragons sessions. Deliberately [[GameBreaker averted hard]] in favour of story over balance in the current main comic and something new readers should keep in mind/be aware of.
* RapePillageAndBurn: S.O.P. for the Sarghress, especially the Highland Raiders. Lampshaded in [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=361 one chibi page]].
* RapidFireFisticuffs: Sil'lice's daughter Kadara [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20090907c19p013.jpg is particularly adept at this.]]
* RapunzelHair: Name nearly any female character... although it is justified due to drow culture, as short hair is reserved for slaves. The one exception to the "long hair = noble" rule seem to be the Sharen protector twins like Shinae and Yaeminira, but that's because they exist in a weird state of both being and not being a noble, and unlike those two Khaless does have long hair and seems to be essentially an equal to Snadhya'rune.
* ReallyGetsAround: Zala'ess and Ash'waren are heavily implied to be this for [[EveryoneIsBi both genders]], considering how many children they have. This was joked about in a podcast, which suggested that the two of them go out together cruising for guys.
* ARealManIsAKiller: Brutally displayed [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=359 here]].
* RedEyesTakeWarning: The 'Tainted', AKA Ver'drowendar. Red eyes in Chel basically means that the person with them is a ticking timebomb that could, at any moment, turn into a nigh unstoppable engine of destruction in the form of a demon.
* RelationshipReveal: [[spoiler:Mel'arnach and Snadhya'rune]] had been teased at before, but chapter 17 [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=979 confirmed it]], and since then it's gone beyond that [[spoiler:with the revelation that Snadhya used Mel's genetic material to make Kalki]].
* ReligionOfEvil: Played with. Nether cults like the one the Vloz'ress used to be are portrayed this way by the Kyorl, but at least under Kiel's mother they weren't exactly "evil" and had some noble intentions. Once Senek'ha took over, on the other hand...
* TheRemnant: The Dutan'vir clan fell during the Nidraa'chal War, and the survivors mostly wound up slaves or joined the Kyorl or the Sarghress. The have a decent presence within the Maeyukir House of the Sarghress, and Lulianne shows that there are a few who hope to resurrect the clan some day.
* RetCon: The whole business of remaking the first several chapters.
* RichBitch: Chrys'tel, though her sister Yami'ni seems to top her in just about every way.
* RichInDollarsPoorInSense: Ariel chief among them, but also some nobles. They tend to be the exception rather than the rule however.
* RoyallyScrewedUp: Just about every noble family, but the Sharen are the most obvious.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Those heiresses don't just sit pretty. Orthorbbae prepares them for combat.
* RuleThirtyFour: Some fans make it themselves, but a good deal comes from the writers themselves.
* RunningGag: Ariel's love of cats, and her dislike of maths. Shimi'lande also has a running gag of needing chocolate to keep herself from going insane from keeping all the fanatical Kyorls in line, which occasionally leads to references like '''NO CHOCOLATE?! ''CRUSADE!'''''
* SatisfiedStreetRat: Quain'tana's early history. Also deconstructed, since it left her as a horrible parent.
* SecretLegacy: [[spoiler:Ariel's]] true heritage. And [[spoiler:Kalki]] on both sides, though she knows it.
* SeenItAll: [[spoiler:Sha'sana]] knows critical information that could prevent Chel from going through hell all over again, but she does nothing because [[SomebodyElsesProblem she no longer gives a damn]] about Chel or its problems.
* [[SelfMadeMan Self Made Woman]]: Quain'tana.
* SelfMadeOrphan: [[spoiler:the three Sharen sisters send mommy dearest to her room ''permanently'' so they can rule Chel'el'Sussoloth in a demonic triumvirate.]]
* {{Shadow Archetype}}
* ShadowDictator: No one has seen Val'Sharess Diva'ratrika for 16 years [[spoiler:because she's dead, killed by her own daughters, though Ragini/Liriel, her servant/reincarnation/merger/FusionDance/whatever, is still running around]].
* ShaggyDogStory: Chiri'nide and Shan'naal [[spoiler:bring back Light Elf prisoners from Nagyesced to Vanaheimr, but the prisoners are killed that very night and Chiri and Shan nearly so themselves]].
* ShapeShifterBaggage: Averted post-retcon.
* ShiningCity: Chel'el'sussoloth.
* ShoutOut: The Sarghress clan symbol has an uncanny resemblance to Guts' brand in {{Berserk}}, and WordOfGod is that the anime series [[http://www.drowtales.com/wordpress/?p=3679 was very influential on him]].
** And Kyo'nne's [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=855 Xellos impression.]]
** And the ''ConanTheBarbarian'' inspired clothing/armor/weapons. Quain'tana is more or less RobertEHoward's Conan the Cimmerian, if he were a drow female. Or like Temujin/Ghengis Khan.
** [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1364 The summon near the ceiling]] looks like PacMan.
** Kharla'ggen's hair makes her resemble [[TenchiMuyo Washu]], especially since the demon Sene'kha plans to use Kharla to summon looks like [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=5263 a crab]], which is Washu's symbol.
*** And speaking of Washu, [[spoiler:Diva]] is quite similar to the original version of Washu from the OVA, in that she's really [[spoiler:a lot more powerful than she looks, is hiding in plain sight and in a much younger body]].
** Chrys'tel tells Kiel that [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7175 a Vel'Sharen repays her debts]], which recalls Tyrion Lannister and the (unofficial) Lannister family motto from ''ASongOfIceAndFire''. Probably intentional given that the author is known to be a fan of the series.
* SinisterScythe: Sene'kha's weapon. It's stated that Vloz'ress nether summoners often pick a large weapon for appearance rather than practicality.
* SituationalSexuality: Heavy implied to occur at Orthorbbae in the main comic and outright stated in Daydream, due to the gender-segregated sections of the school. Less of a case of this than usual since drow have an EveryoneIsBi society anyway, so it's not as big a deal.
* SkeletonGovernment: Averted. Chel'el'Sussoloth's political scene is a major driving force behind the events of the story.
* SpannerInTheWorks: The plan of [[spoiler:Snadhya'rune, Sarv'swati and Zala'ess]] to cover up [[spoiler:that they killed their mother]] was going off without a hitch until [[spoiler:Chrys'tel]] discovered the truth. Ironically, she saw it at the same time [[spoiler:Sil'lice]] told one of their mooks that she had seen it too.
** And [[spoiler:Liriel/Diva's return]] isn't so much a spanner as an i-beam.
* SpeechBubbles: Everyone has a unique balloon, with the exception of the occasional one-off character. Mostly this is done with color (both font and backdrop), but a few characters have different fonts as well.
* SplitPersonalityTakeover: [[spoiler:Liriel]] has completely become [[spoiler:Diva'ratrika]] as of Chapter 22.
* SproutingEars: Ariel sprouts cat ears at a humorous moment in the comic. Since she can shapeshift this appears to have actually happened instead of just being a visual metaphor.
* StarCrossedLovers: [[spoiler:Mel'arnach]] believes [[spoiler:her and Snadhya'rune]] to be this, the truth might be more complicated... This seems to be how Kyo'nne thinks of herself and Shan'naal as well, though with her it's played for comedy.
* TheStoic: Naal'suul, Koil'dorath, hell, many Sarghress.
* StupidEvil: Humanity's hat in this comic, in much the same way as the drow from Dungeons and Dragons.
* {{Stripperiffic}}: Mel'Arnach's dental floss, more so in the previous versions. With the first episode being retconned for the second time, her outfit is now just a step away from a long pants/pink sweather combo, albeit with transparent fabric over much of it and a ThongOfShielding.
* SuperDeformed: Besides mini chibi-pages at the end of chapters characters will occasionally shift into this at humorous moments.
* SuperHumanTrafficking: A halme (human) royal family did this to drow and elves seeking immortality.
* SweetPollyOliver: Ariel goes to the male section of the WizardingSchool to avoid being trapped under the thumb of [[MagnificentBastard the headmistress]], subverted in that she's found out almost ''instantly'' and only has her secret kept because no students are allowed to leave and spread the word, and once she is found out she has to leave. This also earns her the nickname of "The Sarghress Transvestite" among some of the other drow.
** Kel'noz and Mel'narach both did this, but not in {{Canon}}. Which was the subject of a side story and a [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1292 later]] MythologyGag.
* SympatheticMurderBackstory: Ariel is [[spoiler:ordered to kill Mir'kin Vel'Vloz'ress, and then kills Yafein Val'Sullisin'rune's slave Maya in a fit of rage after he pushed her BerserkButton.]] It's clearly hinted that the resulting MyGodWhatHaveIDone moment resulted in PTSD. It's particularly disturbing when you remember that due to her species' slow aging process, she was physically still a small child at the time.
* TangledFamilyTree: The [[spoiler:Vel'Sharen and Val'Sarghress family tree]] is turning into this with recent revelations about [[spoiler:Kalki]], and to give you an idea of how convoluted it is, [[spoiler:Ariel's step-grandmother is actually ''Diva'ratrika'']]. One forum member [[http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/9600/sharensarghressfamilytr.png attempted to draw up said tree]] (warning for '''crazy spoilers''' and very big image file), and as crazy as ''that'' is it's not even everyone!
* TemptingFate: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20060503c12p050.JPG Rik]]
** [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1142 She's Just Askin' For it...]]
** And again, via Chrys'tel: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1332 "No summon can talk."]] [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1387 Eyup]].
* TheUnfavourite: Syphile is this trope in drow form.
* ThoseTwoGuys: Kuso and Baliir, pair of Vloz'ress soldiers, a regular trooper and a Berserker. The trooper seems like a rather chatty and good natured fellow, while his friend is a GentleGiant... except when he fights. He's shown fighting once in the main story and once in a guest side story. He [[CurbStompBattle curbstomps]] his enemies both times. Would be ThoseTwoBadGuys except they act more like {{Punch Clock Villain}}s, if that.
* {{Timeskip}}: Several instances:
** The first occurred in chapter 1, where there was a 10 year jump.
** The next happened during Chapter 2, where there was a 4 or 5 year jump.
** And now the most significant storywise, between Chapter 32 and 33 there is a 15 year jump.
* TomatoSurprise: [[spoiler:Many, if not most, of Orthorbbae's female staff are actually summons, their bodies are hidden in a morgue beneath the school]]
* TooDumbToLive: [[spoiler:Yaeminira]] who is sent on a blatantly obvious suicide mission by a mother she knows hates her. She compounds this by going alone (well, with the golem) through the front gate and challenging one of the most ancient and powerful drow known to a duel which ends in a [[spoiler: CurbStompBattle]] Best part? Sil'lice gives her a thorough explanation, and offers to let her [[HeelFaceTurn switch sides]] which she doesn't appear to even seriously consider.
** A chapter later [[spoiler:Syphile]] arguably crosses into this. One image a forum member posted [[http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/AthenAltena/sneakattack.jpg sums it up]].
** One of Larvova's scourges [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=6760 finds out the hard way]] not to threaten Kiel when Kharla is around.
* TortureTechnician: Sil'lice is a pro.
* ToughLove: Part of standard parenting for most Drowolath noble families, but special mention goes to Quaintana whose methods of parenting left all but one of her children [[spoiler: and said sole child later fell to demons]] outright hating her, feeling neutral towards her and a JerkAss /==/ JerkAssWoobie respectively.
* TragicDream: Rik, who sees Ariel as a way to have a family. Unfortunately [[RapeIsLove his methods]] [[IHaveYouNowMyPretty to obtain it]] come back to bite him in the ass ''big time''.
* TrueCompanions: The Highland Raiders!
* {{Unicorn}}: the Holy Lance Mounts, aka Dawmeres, which are actually more similar to goats than to modern horses.
* UnusualEars: Obviously.
* TheUriahGambit: [[spoiler:Zala'ess]] does this to [[spoiler:Vy'chriel/Yaeminira]], and seems relieved to know the outcome was a success.
* UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans: Multiple characters have their own vision of how they want to shape Chel, and frankly don't care about the sacrifices that have to be made in order to do it.
** [[spoiler:Snadhya'runes has tainted almost everyone with a deliberately flawed form of tainting that will kill anyone afflicted with it in 25-50 years, while keeping the safe and pure version only for herself and her followers.]] All she needs to do is wait until Chel self-destructs, and take over what is left.
** [[spoiler:Sha'sana]], for one, is dedicating her life to [[spoiler:bringing back Sharess so she can unite the clans]] and doesn't care that Chel goes to hell in the meantime.
* VaporWear: There have been [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20080908c08chibi1.jpg several]] (the previous one just one of many) things that references drow nobility in particular not wearing underwear. For an actual confirmed case, Mel'arnach has a semi-transparent dress that [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20080810c08p035.jpg clearly has nothing under it]].
** The character [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7978 Shen'fya]] also caused a minor stir with her outfit, much of which has transparent fabric, and it takes [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=8067 what would be an upskirt shot]] to realize that she's actually wearing [[NudeColoredClothes leggings that are almost the same shade as her skin]].
* VillainousValour: Althought not villains per se, the dvergar who choose to fight the drow rather than trade with them shows this. Even after being reduced to a remnant by the desperate, fleeing dokkalfar (and later outright invading drow) and having no mana, they still are a real danger to drow trade caravans and even manage to get in a few good blows against the [[{{Ranger}} highland raiders]]. Keep in mind that the last is a bit like somali pirates attacking a US battleship.
* VomitIndiscretionShot: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1433 Poor Kiel]]... It seems that vomitting is a side effect of Kharla's dollification process too, since Kiel's mother [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=622 also threw up]] as her body started to change.
* UrbanWarfare: The Nidraa'chal War was a particularly horrific conflict because it took place within the city of Chel itself, resulting in massive civilian casualties. Worse, the nether summoners actually used civilians as weapons by turning them into demons.
* [[WarriorPrince Warrior Princess]]: Ariel, Sil'lice, Chiri... must I list them all?
* WebcomicTime: From [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=242&overview=1&chibi=1&cover=1&extra=1&page=1&check=1 Chapter 3, Page 14]] to (as of writing this) Chapter 28 takes place over only a few months of comic time, from the end of the school year to the Moon's End Festival. Faen's fleeing was originally drawn in 2003, which means it took 7 years "real time" for Ariel to rescue Faen. Talk about "The Longest Wait!"
* WeHaveWaysOfMakingYouTalk: Torture is run-of-the-mill in drow society, and due to mana they get creative with it.
* WellDoneSonGuy: From daughters to mothers, especially Vy'chriel Vel'Sharen, though she has a slightly more complicated version since she's not the real daughter, she was the real daughter's ''protector'' and killed her, taking her place, and Zala'ess is understandably not too thrilled with the situation.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: Slightly reversed.The setting of Drowtales has many Drow clans in the running, however the clan of [[ChurchMilitant armor plated, demonhunting zealots]] whose daily routine requires [[KillItWithFire purging the tainted ones]] whenever possible would generally be considered the mascot of this trope. And just to show how gray the morality in the world is, in many ways they're ''right''.
** Funnily enough, their arch-enemy clan of Vloz'ress used to be it too[[spoiler: before Kiel took over and ended that plan]]. Their goal was to end all wars in the world by turning everyone into mind-controlled puppets...
** In Chapter 16, [[spoiler: the Val'Jaal'Darya Clan Ill'haress, Asira'malika, related a story of a frontier settlement that eventually succumbed to the ravages of war, natural disasters, and the like. Using this story, she justifies her clan's intent to destroy potential threats to Chel'el'sussoloth before they have an opportunity to present themselves.]])
** Also, Sene'kha planned to [[spoiler: kill off all the nobles (with Kharla acting as prison for a demon god) to end the clan system]].
* WhamEpisode: Chapter 25 is turning to a Wham ''Chapter''. The revelations so far:
** [[spoiler:Kalki is Snadhya'runes' daughter and [[HomosexualReproduction Mel'arnach is the "father"]]]].
** [[spoiler:[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Like the chapter title implies]], a ninth tower of the Orthorbbae exists, hidden from public view, as was hinted as far back as ''Chapter 2''.]]
** [[spoiler:Sha'sana has been alive for the past sixteen years]].
** [[spoiler:Snadhya'rune is the Ill'har of the Nidraa'chal Clan (although many fans had speculated this to be true before)]].
** [[spoiler:According to Sha'sana, at least, every tainted in Chel has a maximum of 50 years to live from the time they are tainted]].
** [[spoiler:There are Nidraa'chal in ''every'' major clan and a few minor ones, not just in the Sharen Clan. A Nidraa'chal that resides with the Illhar'dro is Shodun, the woman who killed Sil'lice's daughter Sae'ryne in a fairly nasty way using sound waves before decapitating her]].
*** The recent Chapter 33 was also another example of a [[WhamEpisode Wham]] for most of the readers.
* WhipSword: Zala'ess's weapon, which she hasn't yet used but has been seen on panel.
* WhiteHairedPrettyGirl: Played straight with the Drowolath and most other Fae races native to the Underworld.
* WhiteHairedPrettyBoy: Also played straight, to an extent.
* WhoWantsToLiveForever: Due to a high mortality rate most drow don't live long enough to experience this, but very old drow and dark elves often fall into this as they get older and older, in part due to the massive amounts of mana their bodies require to stay young, essentially confining them to large cities. Some dark elves underground committed suicide out of despair at the knowledge that they'd probably never see the surface again.
* WhosYourDaddy: After [[spoiler:Sillice's]] twins were introduced, the first question many people had was who their father was. A Daydream story eventually revealed that it's [[spoiler:Kor'maril]]. The twins however know who it is, so this was more for the fans.
** Snadhya'rune just mentioned that the father of [[spoiler:her daughter Kalki]] was a Sarghress. It's even worse than many speculated. [[spoiler:It's '''Mel''']].
* WhyAmITicking: Naal'suul may count, by virtue of having been [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel unwillingly tainted so badly that she could die and turn into a demon at practically any moment]].
** [[spoiler:Chapter 25 revealed that ''nearly every tainted in the setting'' has only around 25 to 50 years to live, meaning that a significant portion of Chel is a ticking time bomb.]]
* WithMyHandsTied: Vaelia [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=334 protecting Ariel]] long enough for help to come. Right after being bought. Ariel grants her freedom immediately afterwards.
* WizardingSchool: Orthorbbae
* TheWomenAreSafeWithUs: Averted [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=6549 by Vaelia's explanation]], and if Mel'arnach's backstory is any indication the Sarghress troops are not above raping their own people. Unfortunately TruthInTelevision for many armies.
* WomanInWhite: Mel often appears like this due to her choice of clothing.
* WorldOfActionGirls: Yup.
* WorldOfBuxom: Save for a few characters, the majority of drow females sport breasts larger than a C-cup.
* WriterRevolt: The end of the sidestory ''Longest Wait'', was apparently one of these, since it was not originally planned for [[spoiler:Diva'ratrika to fuse with Ragini and escape]] but the artist of that story wanted it to end differently than was planned [[SureWhyNot and the new ending was eventually accepted into the canon]].
* XanatosGambit: The Nidraa'chal war turns out to have been [[spoiler:engineered by Snadhya'rune and two of her sisters]] as a cover for [[spoiler:their attempt to kill their mother Diva'ratrika]]. Since this this is a bunch of Drow, everyone is either running one of these, or an UnwittingPawn caught up in the Gambit of another.
* YouBastard: Kiel invokes this in chapter 28, and even ''throws a belt at the audience'' during her emotional breakdown. Ouch.
* YouNoTakeCandle: Vaelia, though it's because she doesn't know the drow language, and it has been gradually improving.
* YourNormalIsOurTaboo: Bisexuality and multiple partners is the norm for Drows, while pure heterosexuals like Zala'ess and her hubby Sabrror, and pure homosexuals like Snadhya'rune and Mel'arnach are considered unusual. Cannibalism is also acceptable. With so few resources, Drow eating Drow is the norm amongst the lower class. It may have disappeared from the background materials, but a running theme in Drowtales is that a bare neck is considered a form of nudity in Chel'el'sussoloth.
* YourSoulIsMine: The fate of anyone killed by Snadhya'rune (or any other summoner); she can then summon their soul to do her bidding.
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[[caption-width-right:163:Read this webcomic, or we'll [[BreakTheCutie break this kid!]] (And you [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds really, really]] don't want that to happen).]]
->''"This is their tale. The world as it was through their eyes"''
''[[http://www.drowtales.com Drowtales: Moonless Age]]'' is a fantasy manga-style webcomic that has been running since 2001. In the last few years the webcomic itself has undergone significant remakes and has increased its fan base exponentially.
The webcomic was originally Kern drawing the events of the RP he and some friends played in the ''ForgottenRealms'' ''DungeonsAndDragons'' setting. However, by chapter 4 the comic diverged into both its own story as well as starting to implement new things in the setting. As the comic expanded on the original details and gradually built up its own setting, it was decided a RetCon was needed for the first three chapters.
This took place in two stages: A new first chapter and part of a second was made in parallel with the current chapter, up until chapter 12.
However, by that point the comic had diverged far enough from its own changed setting that a redraw and RetCon was needed for remainder of chapter 2 up until chapter 8.
This, combined with the sheer number of pages (over 1400 in the main story alone) is part of the reason the world-setting is a bit of a ContinuitySnarl, especially for newer readers.
Nowadays, Drowtales has an original setting with some general similarities with its ''[=DnD=]'' origins, but with a distinct flavour of its own.
The story mainly follows Ariel in the first four or so chapters, but uses several viewpoint characters. This is a feature which becomes more prominent as the chapters progress, so now Ariel is ''a'' main character instead of ''the'' main character.
The chronologically first chapter is [[CaptainObvious the prologue]] while the (currently) oldest published chapter being chapter 9.
''Drowtales'' is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin, and the drow and their internal conflicts and lives are the main focus, particularly the nobles. However, it does not play any specific side or faction as good or evil, treating the drow (and other races) as individuals rather than a [[PlanetOfHats Species of Hats]]. In a sense, one of the main themes of the comic is: No one is evil in their own eyes, or at least think their actions are justified to reach their goal.
Notes about links:
# There is a check that redirects to the latest page when the link is not from inside the website or something. Copying and pasting the URL may help.
# Links to the main story may be moved around whenever a chapter is redone or inserted. It might be possible to create a permanent link using the date ordering option, but it's more complicated than it seems, especially for the redone chapters.
----
!!This comic provides examples of:
%%
%% Please put character-related trope on the character sheet and do not duplicate them here.
%%
* AbsoluteCleavage:
** Kharla's dress, but considering how [[AxCrazy absolutely batshit insane she is]] combined with the fact that she has the mentality of a child it may come off as FanDisservice to some.
** [[spoiler:Kalki]] takes this a step further. Her [[GodivaHair hair]] covers more than that outfit.
** And [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=6507 Discordia]].
* AbusiveParents:
** Hoooo boy, Quain'tana. Let's see, of her three adult children, one is dead and has been turned into a golem, Kel'noz is officially subservient to her but has his own agenda (and readily acknowledges that she was a really bad mother) and then there's Mel'arnach, who was not only disowned and imprisoned, but beaten (and implied, raped) by Quain'tana's men, [[spoiler:and then for her trouble had the child she wanted taken away from her]]. And then there's [[TheUnfavorite Syphile]], who has a trope of her own...
** There are also plenty of others, and a current thread in the forum is titled "[[http://forums.drowtales.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=12777 Worst parent in Chel]]" discussing this. The number of ''good'' parents (Shimi'lande, Kiel's mother Ven'ndia, Sarnel's caretaker Nei'kalsa if you're counting foster parents, and Waes'soloth spring to mind) can be counted on one hand...
** As well as Ash'waren, who is the neglectful type. After being told that her daughter Faen has returned traumatized, her reply was "Who?" And then after being reminded when Faen was born to help her remember, she merely comments on how Faen's father was a bad lay. This was fairly shocking to fans who had thought better of Ash'waren before this, leading at least one to comment that it seems that this is shaping up to be a general trait of Val mothers no matter who they are.
* ActionGirl: Plenty of these, and culturally it's unusual for a female to ''not'' be an ActionGirl, since females are the dominant gender in both political and military matters.
* AerithAndBob: Ariel versus -- just about everyone with their multi-apostrophed names. Some fans have pointed out a good deal of the names drow sport are names found ''somewhere'' on earth, often with an apostrophe. For instance, Sarv'swati is one letter off from [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saraswati Saraswati]], a Hindu Goddess, and many Kyorl'solenurn names have Japanese roots. Quain'tana is also the family name of an obscure writer. And amusingly, there is an actual [[EveryThingsBetterWithBob Bob]]: Bob the undead chicken of [[DoomyDoomsOfDoom doom]].
* TheAgeless: The fae races (drow, light elves, faeries) provided they live with enough other fae to generate a surplus of mana. Otherwise they will suffer from mana deprivation and will start to age much like humans do. This is what has happened to Rosof and Tralyn. If one goes back to a large enough group of fae again, before the aging has gone too long, the process can be halted. This is likely the case with Tralyn (not confirmed). For Rosof it was too late and he is slowly dying despite being among the people of his clan again. Also, plain statistics makes for fatal accidents killing people off sooner or later. The average lifespan of drow is around 200 years for a commoner/non-Val and around 1000 for Val matriarchs and [[spoiler: Dark Elves]].
** Subverted in [[http://drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?id=943 one of the audiobooks]]. It's stated that drow have a finite natural lifespan, though they're lucky to get within centuries of dying of old age (which for them could be circa 1000 years plus).
* AirVentPassageway:
** Ragini.
** Also [[SubvertedTrope subverted]]- [[spoiler:Diva'ratrika's]] too large to fit, and it's very likely that [[spoiler:her decision to possess Ragini]] was because she would eventually grow too large to go in and out.
* AlienCatnip: a side story and the coinciding news post suggested that chocolate is a potent drug to drow, who may have evolved from feline creatures. Evidently, students at the Orthorbbae abuse tablets of cocoa like some people abuse Ritalin in real life, and consuming too much at once will kill a drow. They're probably reacting to the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theobromine Theobromine]] in the chocolate, which can be poisonous to both animals and humans if enough is consumed. A page posted later in the main archive had [[spoiler:Mel'arnach and Snadhya'rune]] getting stoned off their arses on chocolate.
* AlternativeCalendar: As one would expect from a culture that places a great deal of importance on the moons, the drow use a moon calendar 13 months long, with 30 days each.
* AlwaysChaoticEvil: Averted, if not outright deconstructed. Even intelligent demons, who would normally be such, fall more under BlueAndOrangeMorality.
* AndIMustScream: Kharla has a habit of turning people she doesn't like (and some she does like) into [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel living "dolls".]]
* AnIcePerson: Sil'lice. Literally. From what we can tell she was never a very nice person, but [[spoiler:being set up by her sisters and exiled]] probably didn't help at all. A notable instance of using her ice abilities involves her freezing [[spoiler:"Vy'Chriel" Yaeminira]] to death. This caused her fingers to snap. "Nasty way to die" indeed.
* [[{{Anti-Human Alliance}} Anti-Halme Alliance]]: Not ''all'' halmes/humans, just the kingdom that captured Faen.
* AnythingThatMoves: Ash'waren, and much of the Sullisin'rune clan in general.
* AnyoneCanDie: Especially adorable animals. This works well to create dramatic tension, especially leading up to the timeskip chapters, since so far only Ariel, Faen, Kau and Shala were confirmed to have survived. This also meant that in chapter 32 fans were extremely worried about several characters, since it was quite possible they wouldn't survive. At the end of Chapter 32 the casualty count for that chapter was [[spoiler:zero, although Rek'maar did get his aura partially drained by Khaless wearing Lulianne's body]].
* ArachnidAppearanceAndAttire: Quite a few clans and individuals.
* ArtEvolution: [[http://www.drowtales.com/wordpress/?p=751 Phenomenal]]. That post, by the way, spares you from seeing the original artwork from the very, very, very beginning (for the good of humanity, it would seem; so you'll have to seek it out yourself if you're so inclined). This is, perhaps, the CharlesAtlasSuperpower applied to art.
* ArtificialLimbs: Nihi'liir Vel'Sharen ends up with one after [[spoiler:Faen injures her arm]] and they're fairly common among drow due to mana technology. Sang Niz'zre, one of Quain'tanta's devesses, lost all of her limbs due to be tortured by the Sharen and had them replaced by golem limbs.
* ArtShift: When Phani'nath Vel'Sharen [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20090408c16p005.jpg describes the last Ill'haress' gathering]], the regular realistic style shifts to render the mighty powers of Chel'el'sussoloth as [[SuperDeformed chibis]]. Also, in Sil'lice's chapter, it begins in the comic's traditional style but changes to a more manga like style when Sil'lice begins telling her story to the twins.
* AutomaticCrossbows: Averted in Chapter 18, where Syphile is shown having to load one. Played straight with the Fallen Legion's wrist-mounted crossbows, though possibly {{justified}} by {{golem}} mechanics.
* AuthorAvatar: Not who you'd think. The character [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20050401c11p053.jpg Kwaii]] is a former avatar of the author, while [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20051117c12p012.jpg Desmonde]] is a DistaffCounterpart of his wife's character Kaito, who is her brother in canon. Neither of them get much screentime. The authors themselves (and various staff members) do show up in the chibi extras at the end of chapters and in the [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20070910c00chibi2.jpg artists' life]] pages.
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Numerous possible examples, but Quain'tana is probably the most obvious.
* AxCrazy: The members of the Vloz'ress clan are either this or so desperate that they had to run to the pinnacle of insanity. The average life expectancy for the troops can be measured in ''weeks''.
* BSideComics: both subscription and as side stories, many by different artists.
* BadAss: Quain'tana fits this trope, as can a few others.
* BadassNormal: from the audience's point of view, Vaelia.
* [[BadassGrandpa Badass Grandma]] - Most of the Illharesses fit this trope. Quain'tana in particular, as she is centuries old and can still kick the asses of most of her subordinates. Many also count as {{Foxy Grandma}}s.
* BaitTheDog: A doozy of a one in the remake of Chapter 1. [[spoiler:Despite the ForegoneConclusion that Fuzzy dies by Syphile's hands, the fandom was still shocked when, after Ariel begs to be allowed to keep her new pet, Syphile apparently ''agrees'', leaving the room with only a sigh, not even chiding Ariel. Next page, cut to a week later to a suffering Fuzzy with the revelation that Syphile has locked Ariel and Fuzzy in for the ''whole week'' with inadequate food and, apparently, even no provision for the calls of nature. She kills Fuzzy two pages later by slamming his head against the wall.]]
* BarbarianTribe: The Sarghress clan more or less embodies this trope. The Black Sun is an even better example, since they're decentralized and subsist solely on raiding other settlements, and they're forbidden from gathering in large groups in Chel.
* BareYourMidriff: Ash'waren especially. The fandom nearly exploded with {{squee}} when both she and Quain'tana were in the same scene with bare midriffs.
* BarrierWarrior: Potentially all fae, depending on their skill and strength in mana. [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20070731c0p018.jpg Seen in the last panel here]].
* BavarianFireDrill: One city of light elves is so used to doing what they're told that an elf commands a group of assassins to stand down and they do what he says, even after he [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1528 lampshades the use of this trope]].
* BeastMan: What the humanoid fae sees the goblin races as due to not having an aura. In practice they are more like {{muggles}} without any technical advantages, though they have a better chance against nether beings since, lacking an aura, they can't be possessed, though they can still be injured physically. The Sarghress have taken advantage of this and formed a "[[http://www.drowtales.com/worldsettingarchive.php?sid=3196 War Meat]]" corps of non-fae whose express purpose is to go into nether infected areas and kill the nether summoners before the fae move in to finish the job.
* BecauseYouWereNiceToMe: Mel and Lulianne, among others.
* BewareTheNiceOnes:
** Faen. The [[FriendToAllLivingThings nicest person in the setting]]... and has the [[PersonOfMassDestruction highest body count of her generation]].
** Ariel is the butt of many jokes for having been educated in the male's school, but she's still [[BadAss Quintana's]] [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority recognized heir]]
* {{BFS}}: Koil'Dorath's weapon.
* BigBadassWolf: The Sarghress mount.
* TheBigGuy: Most in the Sarghress clan.
* {{Bishonen}}: Several, and Shan'naal was created specifically because the fans requested a cute guy character who ''wouldn't'' die.
* BigBad: For the fans, Snadhya'rune seems to be shaping up to this, judging by some of the most recent comics. In-story she just represents another faction.
* BigNo:
** Chapter 27, Page 35, uttered by Kiel.
** Also basically the entire fandom when they saw that page.
** As point of fact, essentially every other chapter will cause the entire fandom to scream this. The forum posts for bascially the entirety of Chapter 33 are a particularly good example.
* BlackComedy: A lot of the humor is of this variety. The chibi pages at the end of chapters are often like this and make light of events in the chapter by rendering them in chibi form.
** [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=6511 This]] is a good example in the main story.
** [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7673 Here's]] another example that takes the very seriously dysfunctional relationships between Quain and her children and treats it like this. Especially notable because the story proper ''never'' plays it for laughs.
** Also, almost anything involving Kharla's dolls will have a streak of this. Yes they're horrifying, but it's hard not to snicker [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=6766 at something like this]], especially since that particular guy [[AssholeVictim deserved it]].
* BlackMagicianGirl: Ariel.
* BlackMarketProduce: The trope is [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=839 lampshaded here]]. [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1294 Chocolate is considered a recreational drug.]] Drowolath cooking relies heavily on Soylent Green and mushroom beer. Elves who rely on such staples can be identified by their tongues, which have become permanently purple.
* BlackSpeech: Drowish evidently sounds a bit like this, since at the very least "Eat cake" prompts [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1143 this reaction]] from a human guard at the sight of Ariel (who, granted, looks like a monster at the time, which probably helps).
* BlankWhiteEyes: The golem Vy'chriel, Laelle'aell and Faen (when using her powers) all have these.
* BlastingTime: When Mana Attacks are used.
* BlindfoldedVision: Shan'naal when first introduced. He's only worn it once that way since, for a few pages when he needed it to help his eyes adjust after Ariel's traveling group first reached the overworld.
* BloodBath: The human royal couple hunted Elves so they could bathe in their blood in a bid for immortality. Whether it actually worked is not stated, though.
* BloodSpatteredInnocents: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=343 Ariel]], after [[spoiler:killing Miir'kin]], though the "innocent" part is a YourMileageMayVary.
* BloodyMurder: faes with blood affinity can use their own blood as weapon. Probably the blood of others as well.
* BlueAndOrangeMorality: The drow themselves may appear this way to most of the readership.
* BodyDouble: Chapter 30 reveals that [[spoiler:the Sharen sisters have employed one to take the place of Diva'ratrika during parades]]. Needless to say, [[spoiler:the ''real'' Diva was pretty shocked to hear that "she" was holding a parade through the middle of Chel]]!
* BodyguardBetrayal: Happens with Yaeminira and Vy'chriel, and [[spoiler:Rikshakar and Ariel]].
* BodyHorror: Lots, like those who get taken by demons. But [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel the living dolls.]] Oh, something have mercy, those horrible dolls.
* BoomerangBigot: Chiri'nide hates "impure" people while she herself is the daughter of a drowussu and a light elf, and later [[spoiler:we find out that Drowusuu are ''descended from light elves'', making the entire Kyorl'solenurn clan fall under this as well]].
* BottleFairy: Liriel. Her behaviour becomes a lot less funny when you learn that [[spoiler:her drinking is to suppress Diva'ratrika's voice in her head]].
* BreakingTheFourthWall:
** Kiel'ndia considers the readers as one would imaginary friends and frequently points to them (us) and talks to her "friends." Of course, she comes from [[AxCrazy the Vloz'ress]] [[PlanetOfHats clan]], so others dismiss her as psycho.
** Kiel'ndia breaks the fourth wall [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7178 in a tragic way]]. Beware, your screen might break.
* BreakTheCutie: The world seems determined to do this to anyone's who even minorly sympathetic or kind, especially in the case of Faen. Ariel seems on the fast track to this if she's not already there. Kiel'ndia and Naal'suul are at first examples of pre-broken cuties, but [[spoiler:after Naal's abandonment, and then transformation]] Kiel becomes truly broken and crazy (-er than normal).
* BreastPlate: Averted; female characters wear armor [[http://www.drowtales.com/worldsettingarchive.php?order=chapters&id=18 suited to a female physique]], but protective and actually useful in battle[[hottip:*:Note that the page linked here is relevant for the trope but no longer considered canon in the worldsetting. Parts of it made the crossover after the RetCon though]]. As a result, it's sometimes [[ViewerGenderConfusion hard to tell the gender]] of certain characters when they're in armor.
* BreatherEpisode: After the WhamEpisode that was Chapter 25 came chapter 26, which follows Chrys'tel, Shinae, Naal and Kiel as they look at the Moons' End Festival and do things like watch puppet shows, though it still advances the plot and provides insight into the world setting. It's then followed by 27, where [[spoiler:Naal'suul meets her apparent end]] making it even more of a BreatherEpisode before another Wham.
* BrickJoke: Back in Chapter 7, Chrys'tel was seen wearing [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=4864 a set of black and red clothing]], and after she's captured [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=4996 Ariel takes them]] in Chapter 8 in order to impersonate Chrys'tel, though she never wound up using them. Then in Chapter 30, ''22 chapters later'', [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7625 they're worn by]] [[spoiler:Diva'ratrika, her ''grandmother'']], which later results in [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7775 a hilarious payoff]].
* BroadStrokes: The approach to older information in side stories post RetCon. For instance, Chiri'nide's father is still a light elf and [[spoiler:Ariel is still the child of Mel and Zhor]] but specific events may have played out differently with the same results. The current version of chapter 1 is similar in that the basic series of events didn't change all that much while some events were expanded upon or omitted.
* BrokenAngel: One of Ariel's shapeshifted forms resembles this.
* ButForMeItWasTuesday: One part of the DeliberateValuesDissonance between drow and humans is that drow think nothing of raiding surface settlements and taking back human slaves, and even Faen, one of the most morally good characters by human standards, doesn't bat an eye about buying a light elf slave at the market. Vaelia considers the raid on her home village as a defining moment of her life, but for the drow it's a drop in the bucket.
* ButYouScrewOneGoat: One of the reasons[[hottip:*:the other being that they're biologically incapable of reproducing with each other]] you won't see any fae/human hybrids in the Drowtales world. Drow consider having sex with goblins, including humans, to be roughly on par with a human having sex with a chimpanzee.
** When the Highland Raiders talk about one guy named [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=825 Val'Doom]] who kidnaps human women to mate with they flat out refer to him as having a bestiality fetish.
** There's also one guy [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7402 with a pretty suspect relationship with his pet Noz]][[hottip:*:a type of orc]].
* [[CallingTheOldManOut Calling The Old Woman Out]]: [[spoiler:Syphile]] finally tells her mother what a horrible parent she is, how she's ruined all the lives of her children, and tells her to 'do the only thing you know' [[spoiler:and kill her.]] Pretty much her one and only CrowningMomentOfAwesome, depending on your view of the character and what you think of the latest remake.
* CampGay: Sorane'Saniil.
* CanonImmigrant: Kyne, who is Sil'lice's granddaughter and a former Sharen golem pilot, started off in the "Space Age" story from the Daydream section of the site. There are also the numerous roleplay cameos, but they fall more under ContinuityCameo.
* CantArgueWithElves: Deconstructed, since the fae already messed up the world pretty bad and only rule with brute force, and aren't that much better than the "lesser" goblin races.
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: Sil'lice comes off as being somewhat more likable than her earlier appearances, and she implies that she was intentionally putting on an act for Chrys'tel.
* CapeWings: Ariel, with overtones of PrehensileHair.
* CatFolk: The Ferals.
* ChekhovsGun: Since the comic has run as long as it has there are ''loads'', some of which are only now firing after nearly ''ten years''. Going back through the archives to find them has more or less become an official fandom sport.
** [[spoiler:Squishy]], who's instrumental to helping [[spoiler:Ariel escape Rik]]. And now [[spoiler:Squishy]] turns out to have been even more of a ChekhovsGun since [[spoiler:Mel gave one of her eggs to a Jaal'darya friend in exchange for it, and that egg was later used to make Kalki]].
** With Chapter 25, [[spoiler:[[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1272 The Ninth Tower of Orthorbbae]]]], the existence of which was hinted at all the way back in [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=195 chapter 2]], has finally been revealed.
** Also, [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=814 remember this]] [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=815 door]] from the end of Chapter 2? [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7079 Chrys'tel did.]]
* ChekhovsGunman: The remake chapters show several characters in the background before they become significant, including younger versions of Chiri and Shan in chapter 3. [[spoiler:Liriel, aka Diva'ratrika]] is a big one as well that's only fired as of chapter 23.
* ChewingTheScenery: Many important characters have at least one of these.
* TheCassandra: Both Chiri'nide and Shimi'lande possess clairvoyance, but they [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20080909c08chibi2.jpg don't always like it]] and can't always control it. In Chiri's case, her visions often end up causing more problems than they solve, and can be [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20090224c15p032.jpg really frickin scary]].
* ChessMaster: ''Lots'' of characters count as this, to the point of a GambitPileup.
* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: The three Sharen sisters. After all the nasty things they've done to everyone around them -- [[spoiler: including a false coup d'état and killing their own mother]] -- it ''really'' isn't surprising that they've started to turn on each other.
* CityOfCanals: Nuqrah'shareh, and some parts of Chel, especially around the Jaal'darya fortress.
* TheClan: Nine major ones and countless smaller ones, and the driving conflicts in the series are clan-based.
* ClothingSwitch
* TheCloudcuckoolanderWasRight: No one (minus the readers) believed Kiel when she suggested that [[spoiler:some of Naal's personality may have survived her seed taking her over]] but then Chapter 32 showed that she was right.
* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: Each major clan has a set of colours that represent them; see also "tainted" drow eyes vs. normal drow eyes.
* ContinuityCameo: Lots!
** [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=763 This page]] features over a dozen cameos from the roleplays, side comics, Daydream and comics done by other members of the staff.
** [[http://www.drowtales.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/kharla20091024x768.jpg Kharla'ggen]] can be seen holding a plushie of [[http://www.drowtales.com/~wiki/index.php/An%27jhali_Tei%27kaliath_(Ilhar) An'Jhali]], the Illharess of the Tei'kaliath clan from the visual roleplay, in several pieces of art.
** Characters from the Relic Hunters visual roleplay have also made cameos in the story proper as important characters in the Highland Raiders.
** In one chapter a character gets a book about the [[ShowWithinAShow Vel'cahal]], which is the subject of a Daydream story that's presented as being historical fiction. Naal later buys a doll of the Vel'cahal [[spoiler:which gets featured in the HopeSpot at the end of Chapter 27]].
** Dhal'zin of the ''Alstrat's Journal'' audiobook series [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1086 appears]] in chapter 20 with her Stone Company, but interestingly, Fen, the main character of that series does not, instead it's his descendant [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1090 Kai]], but Dhal confuses the two (even though they do, in fact, look very different).
** Taio'shi and Cer'kal, two characters from [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7221 that year's winning contest story]], [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7748 appear in chapter 31]]. It's also implied that their story may be part of the main story's canon now, since the contest story showed that [[spoiler:Mikilu]] lived with Taio'shi, and that same character appeared [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7756 several pages after]] Taio'shi and Cer'kal, the implication being that [[spoiler:Mikilu had them plant the mana bomb that nearly blew up Snadhya's carriage]]
* ContinuitySnarl: Figuring out what is and isn't canon at this point is difficult, to say the least. WordOfGod has helped somewhat, but with almost 10 years of continuity and thousands of pages it gets difficult.
* ControlFreak: This seems to run in the Sharen family, with Diva'ratrika, Snadhya'rune and Sarv'swati all showing signs at various times.
* CostumePorn: Given that most characters are nobles there's a lot of this, and the Sharen probably have the most considering how much money and prestige they have.
* CountryMatters: Has come up twice in the story, interestingly, both occasions involve Mel, and she's actually the one who says it the second time. It apparently doesn't have the same terrible connotations to Americans ([[hottip:*:do note that the author is from Quebec, where while still a bad word it's not considered ''quite'' as bad as it is to Americans]]) as it does to drow due to their matriarchal society.
* CrapsackWorld: A few reasons, mainly due to demons and the elves themselves.
** The ever present threat of being possessed by demons, the possibility that tainting only guarantees said possession in the long run, and the rampant (and not entirely unjustified) genocidal dogma against said tainted hurls the setting into Crapsack territory.
** Also, the fact that most everyone is trying to kill most everyone else for many reasons beyond the tainting. Hopefully it wasn't normal in pre-industrial societies to tell ten-year-old children, "Don't kill a fellow student unless you can dispose of the body," and not be joking. The characters all justify their actions, and it is debatable if anyone in the setting is evil, but Chel is not a safe place to live for anyone. Even more so in post-timeskip chapters. And this is long after another war already rendered the surface unlivable for ages.
* CrazyCatLady: Crazy Spider Lady: Mel with her pets.
* CreepyChild: Kharla and, to a lesser extent, Naal. Even Ariel has her moments, and when [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20091104c01p030.jpg this page]] came online one forum goer responded with a picture of Samara from ''TheRing''.
* CurbStompBattle: A few times. [[spoiler:Rik vs. Discordia]] (though that one was rigged and later ''severely'' reversed) and [[spoiler:Sil'lice vs. Yaeminira/Vy'Chriel]]. And now we can add [[spoiler:Syphile vs. Quain'tana]] to the mix, making it the second such curbstomping in as many chapters. Drow in general seem prone to ending up in these since their system of honor dictates that they face challenges, even if that means going up against someone several times their age and experience who they have no chance of winning against.
* CurtainsMatchTheWindow: Some Vloz'ress, Diva'ratrika, Chiri'nide, Shimi'lande, Ariel, and Mel'arnach. Among first and second generation elves like Diva'ratrika this is natural, while in later generations it seems to be done deliberately using dyes and magic.
* CuteMonsterGirl: ''All'' the main characters, including the males and, from the other characters' perspective, ''humans''.
* DarkSkinnedRedhead: Some Vloz'ress, though they actually use hair dye. See [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20041024c11p010.jpg panel two]].
* DeadlyDecadentCourt: The case can be made for several of the ruling clans, but the human kingdom of Nagyescsed seems to be the best example, seeing as how the king was [[spoiler:collecting elves to kill so he could bathe in their blood]] and [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1164 the]] [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1167 suggestion]] that the kingdom just needed a decent push to fall over [[spoiler:as it did, courtsey of Ariel and company]].
* DeadlyGraduation: Quain'tana orders Ariel to either [[SadisticChoice kill a prisoner or duel a fellow clan member to the death]]. In the current version, [[spoiler:she decides to kill the prisoner, and Quain tells her to [[DropTheHammer make it messy]]]].
* DeadlyHug: Jer'kol attempts to smother Ariel with a hug but is stopped by Vaelia.
* DealWithTheDevil: This is effectively what willingly tainting yourself is, since it gives you extra strength but also turns you into a ticking timebomb. Sene'kha also offers this to Kiel, telling her that if she helps break her out of prison they'll not only TakeOverTheWorld, but possibly be able to keep Naal'suul alive. [[spoiler:Kiel refuses after Naal tells her it's impossible]].
* DeepCoverAgent: [[spoiler:The surviving Nidraa'chal, who exist in ''every major clan'' and probably most minor ones]]
* DefeatMeansFriendship: How Rosof joined Quain'tana's army. According to one of the creators, he's also [[UnrequitedLove in love with her]].
* DeflectorShield: The [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20060208c12p022.JPG Sarghress]] have developed this technique to compensate for being indvidually fairly weak [[BarrierWarrior barrier warriors]]. Done with a more powerful individual [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20060217c12p025.JPG here]]. Although powerful, even she has to upgrade from [[BarrierWarrior personal barrier]] to deflector shield with the help of the two mana specialists behind her (white cloaks) to deflect a cannon ball.
* DefrostingIceQueen: Possibly Chrys'tel, and to a lesser extent Ariel and some others at points.
* DeliberateValuesDissonance: Sil'lice [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20091002c19chibi.jpg illustrates]] the values of different species, which explain why people who are BadAss, AxCrazy, [[KnightTemplar extremists]] or even [[CompleteMonster complete monsters]] in the eyes of some readers are portrayed sympathetically and/or positively. Leads to a lot of debate among the readers.
* DemonicInvaders: The cause of the dark elf exodus to the underworld, among other things. They are a major threat to any 'untainted' aura-bearing creature.
* DemonicPossession: Definitely one of the darkest examples, as once it happens, not only is it completely irreversible, but the possessed victim [[KilledOffForReal literally ceases to exist in any way, shape or form]]. There is nothing left but the demon and the broken body of the victim it uses as its shell.
* DetachedSleeves: Fairly common in Drow fashion.
* DesignatedMonkey: Yafein, Syphile, maybe others
* DiscontinuityNod: In [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20081117c13p019.jpg post-remake page]], Ariel wonders aloud whether she should try to turn into a Drider (drow/spider hybrid) but after Kyo'nne mentions all the "icky legs" Ariel dismisses the idea. In the original, now non-canon chapters she morphed into a drider a fare bit, but now she explicitly doesn't' have enough mass to pull it off.
* TheDollEpisode: Any time Kharla shows up.
* DopeSlap: Kiel delivers one to Shinae [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1610 on behalf of Kyo]].
* DoubleAgent: Lulianne. Sort of. Lu is spying on Mel for Quain'tana, but is sympathetic towards Mel, withholding information from Quain. She also did not bring Mel back when she escaped. Good? Bad? She's a double agent, it depends on your perception.
* DramaticIrony: For most of the story the audience has known that [[spoiler:Ariel's mother is really Mel, not Quain, but Ariel herself still doesn't know]]. Additionally, any time the Sharen Sisters discuss [[spoiler:Diva'ratrika]] in public has shades of this due to the fact that [[spoiler:they know all too well that she's dead -- they were the ones who did it!]]
* [[DroppedABridgeOnHim Dropped A Bridge On Her]]: The nether summoner [[spoiler:Sene'kha]], when she was [[spoiler: stabbed by her sworn enemy, captured by another clan, imprisoned, turned over to her Sworn Enemies, then beheaded and finally ''set on fire'', '''''in that exact order'''''.]] And, depending on your view, [[spoiler:Rik'shakar]].
* DropTheCow: In the ''Daydream'' subscription section of the site, where the users put in options for how the story will progress, this often ends up happening, though the frequency seems to have decreased in later years. Most commonly it's because a story [[{{Rule34}} devolves into porn]] or just becomes incomprehensible and too silly, and the story is frequently put back on track in a humorous manner such as one character telling the story getting punched out by another or [[RageAgainstTheAuthor the characters themselves revolting]]. One especially memorable incident had a character that the readers had been tormenting go {{Rambo}} on them.
* DudeLooksLikeALady: Sorane'Saniil. In fact most of the males in Sorane'Saniil's ''entire clan''. Also, given that this world has a matriarchal society, where men tend to fulfill what we would perceive as feminine roles, there are many examples of this throughout all the drow clans.
* TheDungAges: If you're a human or orc
* DyingAsYourself: The Kyorl'solenurn try to make this happen when someone is taken over by demon, as seen [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=641 here]].
* DysfunctionJunction:
** Sarghress Clan, ahoy! Even Kel'noz, the most outwardly sane one, [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=6201 admits that he's not free of the crazy either]].
** The Sharen; but with them most of the worst stuff took place behind closed doors. Of what we know:
*** Diva'ratrika certainly lives up to the "[[LargeHam Diva]]" in her name, and while she started off very controlling, drew into seclusion little by little [[spoiler:to the point that her daughters have been able successfully pass her off as a ShadowDictator for 16 years]].
*** Snadhya'rune was apparently the favourite, but Mel'arnach implies that she didn't always get along with Diva'ratrika, and they certainly didn't get along after Snadhya purposely had herself tainted.
*** Sarv'swati is described as being "maniacal" in her control over her family.
*** Sil'lice has a habit of torturing people (tainted especially) and an obvious temper, but she's apparently good to her own children.
*** Nishi'kanta hasn't appeared much, but after becoming tainted during the war she went to live as a hermit [[spoiler:or at least that's the official story]]. Also, members of her bloodline have been seen [[spoiler:among the Vloz'ress]].
*** Zala'ess clearly has ambitions of becoming the leader of the Sharen, and when her sisters speak of her they often refer to her as "little" and treat her accordingly.
*** And of course [[spoiler:the fact that they ''killed'' their mother, had Nishi'kanta tainted and set up Sil'lice to take the fall for their war]] is the icing on the DysfunctionJunction cake.
* EarlyBirdCameo: Lulianne appears in the new version of chapter 1 to subdue Mel.
* EldritchAbomination:
** "Demons" in this setting are closer to this trope than TheLegionsOfHell.
** Fae also play this trope closely if you look at their biology, drow in particular: Deep within the earth, parts of them humans can't hope to see, able to ignore some of the basic assumptions of the universe simply by existing in their own cities, dragging humans down to the horrors that probably don't leave them sane...
* ElementalBaggage: Averted.
** Note that those that are proficient with fire magic can create blazes by creating a lighter spark with a device in their armour as seen [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=153 here]]
* ElementalHair: There's a bit of this with the clan colors: Sarghress (red / shapeshifting (blood element)), Sharen (purple / summoning (supernatural element)), Beldrobbaen (black / flesh & darkness elements), Nal'Sarkoth (green / wood element), and so on.
* ElementalEyeColours: Sil'lice Val'Sharen is both an Ice Sorceress and one of the few remaining untainted Nether Summoners.
-->You know, blood contains water. And water freezes so well.
** Nishi'kanta was also an example before she was tainted, since she had [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=4232 orange eyes]] and a fire affinity.
** The Val'Nal'sarkoth Clan also has this, since they tend to have [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=5778 green eyes]] and are some of the only people in the Underworld who have an affinity with wood.
* EloquentInMyNativeTongue: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=date&id=1307 Vaelia]].
* EmotionlessGirl: Naal, and to a much lesser extent Syphile and Ariel at points.
* EmpathicHealer: Faen. A good part of her clan is TheEmpath.
* EnsembleCast: Started off with focus on Ariel but the cast kept growing until there was 4-5 important story arcs running at the same time with equally important characters. Currently there was nearly a year where Ariel was never seen with more important plot lines hogging the pages. Not to mention all those layers of plots of even greater importance that live in the background and probably will burst into foreground in the future.
* EquivalentExchange: How magic works. Ariel can change her shape, but not her mass. This is one reason she doesn't turn into a drider post-retcon, since it requires more than she has.
* EvenTheGirlsWantHer: [[MemeticMutation Everyone is Quain'tana for Ash'waren]], and quite a few other examples.
* EveryoneIsBi: Purely hetero and homo people exist as minorities.
* EverythingsBetterWithPlushies
* EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses: Chrystel, and to a lesser extent, Ariel, Faen, Naal, Kiel, Chirinide, etc.
* EvilMatriarch: All of the Ill'haresses qualify to a certain extent, but the Sharen sisters much more so.
* [[TheEvilPrince The Evil Princesses]]: The three Sharen sisters.
* ExcuseMeComingThrough: Done subtly, see the trope page for example.
* ExplosiveBreeder: This is the main reason why the drowolath managed to become the dominant species in the underworld. Whilst its mentioned that drow and elves in general find it difficult to get pregnant (leading to low numbers overall despite a thousand year existence), it is also stated that the drowolath are somewhat more fertile than their drowussu cousins, hence why they were able to outbreed the latter and become the most populous underworld species.
* ExpressiveMask: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=740&overview=1&chibi=1&cover=1&extra=1&page=1&check=1 Qujia Vloz'ress]]... to the extreme!
* {{Expy}}: Quain'tana is pretty much drow version of Conan from ''ConanTheBarbarian''. Many fans proudly declare that Quain can beat up ChuckNorris.
* EyelessFace: The Xuile'solen sub-race.
* EyesOfGold: Kyorl'solenurn clan / Drowussu.
* FamilyRelationshipSwitcheroo: The truth behind [[spoiler:Ariel Val'Sarghress']] lineage is that [[spoiler:her mother is Mel'arnach and her father is Zhor, but Quain'tana, her grandmother, took her away from Mel to raise as her heir. This was ''not'' voluntary on Mel or Zhor's part.]]
* FanNickname: Several.
** Fans have dubbed the [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?check=1&order=chapters&overview=1&chibi=1&cover=1&page=1&extra=1&id=521 dragon-like biogolem]] Mel gives Ariel "Squishy".
** The trifecta of Snadhya'rune, Sarv'swati and Zala'ess Vel'Sharen is also referred to as "The Gorgon Sisters" by some.
** An incident in Chapter 15 ([[spoiler:Ariel being kidnapped by Rik and having to fight him off, only to have him die]]) has also been referred to as being "Rik-rolled" by several forum members. The authors were seemingly aware of this too, since the chibi comic at the end of that chapter [[spoiler:where Rick's reason or kidnapping Ariel]] was so they can form their own band. The band is called Rick-and-Roll, and their first song even includes the line "Never gonna give you up".
** Syphile gained the nickname "Sniffle" or "Sniffile" from both fans and detractors due to to the number of scenes where she utters some variation of the line "it's not fair". "[=SyFAIL=]" also seems to have become popular during the new Chapter 1, and even her distinctive high-collared cloak has gained a nickname, with some calling it the Failcloak since she seems to do something stupid nearly every time she appears in it, including [[spoiler:right before she dies]].
** One of Sil'lice's daughters has been nicknamed some variation of "Pissin'hermouth" after her declaration in chapter 17 that she'll "Pin [Zala'ess] to a freaking wall and piss in her mouth". Her actual name is Kadara, but Pissin'hermouth has stuck.
** Sha'sana quickly gained the nickname "Sasha" all the way back in the Prologue, [[spoiler:and when she appeared in Chapter 25 it resurfaced again]].
** "Team Purple" for the extended family of [[spoiler:Mel'arnach, Snadhya'rune, Kalki, Zhor and Ariel]] due to them all having the same hair (or in [[spoiler:Zhor's]] case, [[spoiler:fur]]) color. There was one Daydream wallpaper of them all together that spawned this nickname.
** Naal's pet spider, usually seen on her back, is affectionately nicknamed "Fuzz Fuzz" by fans, not to be confused with Fuzzy, and was [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1341 referred to]] by that name in one chibi page. [[spoiler:Ironically enough, Fuzz Fuzz and Fuzzy now appear to have met similar fates]]. It's also referred to as "Naal's baby" due to a scene in the main story where Kiel tells a woman with a pack lizard that it's Naal's big ugly baby when she objects to having a spider in her cart.
** One Ill'hardro girl named Ishii who appears in Chapter 33 (second from the right on [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1695 this page]]) was quickly dubbed Hammer Pants by the fans, due to her pants reminding people of MCHammer's. Fans also noticed that she's sporting one glove like MichaelJackson.
* FanService: There's a whole subsection of the site that's expressly devoted to this, and it skirts the border between [[TheissTitillationTheory extreme fanservice]] and outright porn.
* FantasticCasteSystem: On a general level, fae < than everyone else. On a specific level, drow and elves < dragons < faeries. Drow''olath'' (dark skinned drow) versus Drow''ussu'' (light skinned drow) on a fairly equal level, but both drow cultures < hybrid drowolath/drowussu.
* FantasticRacism: Drow tend to look down on nearly everyone else [[hottip:(note):Slightly less so for the Sarghress if you can fight. Depraved commoners. Also possibly the case for the Nal'sarkoth as they actively recruit non-drow races to build up their numbers]], most of the non-drow major characters find themselves enslaved at some point, 'tainted' drow vs. 'pure' drow, grey drow vs black drow, driders vs. drow in general, "blind" drow vs. "normal drow" etc.
** In short, everybody versus everybody.
* FantasyCounterpartCulture: Not all that obvious but the drow clans are comparable to actual ancient/medieval real life cultures; Sharen: Medieval Persian/Indian, Sarghress: early Roman/Mongol hybrid, Kyorl'Solenurn: Knights Templar/Feudal Japan hybrid, etc.
* FantasticSlur: "Drowhiir" is a slur for Drowussu. Light Elves are also sometimes called "White Worm"s.
** Drow also seem to use "motherkiller" in the same context as [[MotherFBomb another swear that begins with "mother"]].
*** 'Motherkiller' has mainly been used about Val nobles, but mainly directed to the Sharen, because [[spoiler: The three sisters killed their mother and apparently that's out of the bag]]
* FateWorseThanDeath: What Kharla'ggen does to people who "resist her, or catch her eye."
** Also arguably [[spoiler:Naal's demise]].
* FatherIDontWantToFight: Ariel, when told what she has to do to earn Quain'tana's approval, [[spoiler:and she does in fact decide to kill Miir'kin.]]
* FeelNoPain: Tainted drow have a reduced sense of pain, and in extreme cases they can't feel much at all.
** The Sharen clan heavily taints their males and has them wear sealing armor to prevent them from [[SealedEvilInACan losing control of their seed]] to act as EliteMooks
** Naal'suul, tainted to the core, feels pretty much nothing: once she tells her mother that she broke her finger and didn't feel it.
* FinishHim: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=4505 Done quite gruesomely with a mace]] to [[spoiler:Miir'kin]] by [[spoiler:Ariel, who was egged on by Quain'tana]]. The actual act is done with GoryDiscretionShot, but that [[TakeOurWordForIt arguably makes it worse]].
* FirstTimeInTheSun: Subverted for Ariel, who gets vertigo immediately.
* FishingForSole: Used [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1841 here]].
* FiveManBand: Chrys'tel (The Hero/Big Bad), Shinae (The Lancer/The Dragon), Kiel (The Big Guy/The Brute), Naal (The Smart Guy/Evil Genius), Kyo'nne (The Chick/Dark Chick)
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Look closely at [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7169 the cover of Chapter 28]], especially [[spoiler:the position of Kiel's hand on her stomach]]. Now recall that in that chapter [[spoiler:she nearly dies due to poisoned food]].
** Also, check behind Sate'ja's head on [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7676 the cover of chapter 31]]. It's [[spoiler:[[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=5877 Diva's tower in ruins]]]]. And why was Chrys'tel there? [[spoiler:To try and meet Diva'ratika]]. Guess what happens later in chapter 31.
** [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=6993 The story of the Vel'cahal]] that the kids see in Chapter 26 also serves this purpose, since it's essentially [[spoiler:what happens to Naal later on, with her keeping just enough of her consciousness to avoid eating Kiel]]. Just to drive the point home, [[spoiler:Naal]] even gets a doll of the Vel'cahal, which she keeps even after [[spoiler:her seed takes her over]].
* ForegoneConclusion: Lots of readers knew from [[DramaticIrony concept arts that]] [[spoiler: Ariel will not accept Mel as her mother, instead the tension readers had during that scene was focused more on ''why'' Ariel rejected Mel]]
* FreeRangeChildren: It's hard to tell how widespread it is (especially since Quain'tana isn't exactly the paragon of good parenting), but drow parents seem to give their children a larger amount of freedom than modern day parents, even allowing them to go to the Surface without visible protest, which is always described as a dangerous and wild place. Since the drow world seems similar to pre-industrial or even feudal societies this is TruthInTelevision as far as early human societies go. Partly justified by the fact Drow elite mothers are more concerned about quality of heir than how many have to die. To quote ''Webcomic/OrderOfTheStick'', they don't care how many they have to kill they can make more in their tummy! And have centuries to do so. 'xcept for ONE drow mother...
* FreakyIsCool: Naal says this to Kiel [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1115 here.]]
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: These often crop up during crowd scenes, with a standout example on [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7823 this]] page, where Shinae's hissy fit causes a woman walking by to lose her grip on her food, so it splatters against the wall. Also check the name of the shop they're in front of, which shows up [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1780 again]] later and is implied to be the same one, or at least part of the same chain.
** There's also [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1815 this page]] where Melodia's apparently stolen something and is being chased by two drow, but most people were too distracted by [[spoiler:Faen's SelfHarm]] to notice.
** [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1451 This]] guy also nearly gets a [[GroinAttack knife in the groin]] when the hibachi chef at his table is so distracted by [[TakeOurWordForIt Baliir's face under his mask]] that she accidentally flings it his way. His female companion is also ''blushing''.
* FuroScene: Once in [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=540 Chapter 9]]and again in [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7056 Chapter 27]].
* FusionDance: [[spoiler:Ragini and Diva'ratrika]] in the backstory, who became [[spoiler:Liriel]].
* GambitPileup: What happens when you have 9 major clans and countless minor ones plotting against each other, on top of people ''within'' said clans plotting against each other, and then even within ''those'' groups people are plotting against each other. The [[http://wiki.drowtales.com/index.php/Clan_Relations clan relations]] chart is a relatively simple, condensed version of it.
** Within the Vloz'ress there seems to be a decent GambitPileup, with each Nether Summoner vying for influence within the clan and for control over Kharla'ggen. With [[spoiler:Sene'kha's death]] the floodgates seem to have been opened.
* GenderFlip: In universe, it's suggested that the story of the [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=6993 Vel'Cahal]] was originally about a male knight, but was later changed to be about a woman.
* GenkiGirl: Kyo'nne is the most obvious example.
* GetAHoldOfYourselfMan: Shinae not just slaps, but punches Kiel'ndia out of a hysterical fit [[spoiler: over the demonization of Naal'suul]].
* GirlsLove: Lots of [[LesYay implications]], and one explicit couple in [[spoiler:Mel'arnach and Snadhya'rune]].
* {{Glomp}}: As seen [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=617&overview=1&chibi=1&cover=1&page=1&check=1 here]] at the bottom
** And [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=714&overview=1&chibi=1&cover=1&page=1&check=1 here]] at the bottom, by name
* GlowingEyesOfDoom: Faen, when she intensively uses her empath powers, or during her episode of PowerIncontinence.
* GodivaHair: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=5897 Here]] on [[spoiler:Kalki]])
** [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7056 Later]] [[spoiler:Snadhya'rune and Mel]] get the same thing, which is hilariously appropriate considering that they're the above's [[spoiler:mothers (no, that's not a typo)]].
* {{Goth}}: Bel'drobbaen clan, call your office. [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=5300 here]].
* GovernmentInExile: The clans of Chel'el'sussoloth started out as this, but it's persisted for a millennium, and the fact that they haven't adapted since then causes problems that become more and more evident as the series goes on and the office of the Val'Sharess is shown to be either indifferent or powerless.
* GrandTheftMe: [[spoiler:Diva'ratrika on Ragini]], [[http://www.drowtales.com/longestwait.php?order=date&id=1 which has its own story]]. Interestingly, at first it was ''not'' canon, [[SureWhyNot until the author gave in and made it canon.]]
* GreyAndGrayMorality: The last narration box on [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20080827c08p047.jpg this]] page sums it up nicely: "There is no hero nor villain in these drow tales, only actors in history, wearing their masks and playing their roles."
* GroinAttack: Played straight, subverted, averted AND a {{High Octane Nightmare Fuel}} edition! Depends when it occurred and to who. A female on female version has also been the cause of ''many'' plot developments on Quain'tana's side.
* GrotesqueCute: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20060405c12p043.JPG Right here.]] With a lovely smile, to boot.
* HalfIdenticalTwins: Kau and Shala. The only visible differences between them are that one's eyes are a slightly different color and one has spikier hair.
* HamToHamCombat: Oh, where to start... let's just make a blanket statement that any time a serious fight starts it become this.
* HandBehindHead
* HarmlessFreezing: Though played straight in the {{chibi}} pages of the prologue, it was brutally subverted in [[AnIcePerson Sillice's]] battle with [[spoiler: Vy'chriel/Yaeminira]]. Not only did she freeze to death, her fingers actually snapped apart right before the end!
* [[{{HeirClubForMen}} Heir Club For Women]]: A ''major'' motivation for Quain'tana.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: Arguably Kuso and Bal'liir. The two of them individually are probably not strictly "heterosexual" given drow culture (see EveryoneIsBi above) but their relationship otherwise fits.
* HiddenElfVillage: The Jaal'darya clan are a variant on this, since no one knows precisely where their fortress is located. The Light Elves of Vahaheimr are an even better example, sequestering themselves in the mountains with little to no contact with the outside world, as well as an ''extremely'' xenophobic attitude.
* HitSoHardTheCalendarFeltIt: The current story takes place in the year 1098 of the Moonless Age. Not because the moon was destroyed 1100 years ago, but because the elves went into exile underground where they couldn't see the moon.
* HonorBeforeReason: Drow honor [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20091002c19chibi.jpg operates under this principle]]. They consider it more honorable to face challenges, especially great ones, even if they're fairly suicidal. See [[spoiler:Vy'chriel and Syphile]]'s attacks on people much stronger than them, for them it doesn't work out so well.
* HopeSpot:
** It's tiny, but at the end of the tragic chapter 27, [[spoiler:we see demon-Naal picking up a doll she bought at the market, and clutching it to her chest, implying that her mind is still there, somewhere. Confirmed in chapter 32, when she pushes Kiel away rather than eat her]].
** Chapter 32 also has one that helps soften the blow of an otherwise pretty bleak ending for Mel. [[spoiler:She's had her arms broken by Quain, her heart broken by Ariel rejecting her as being her real mother, and has agreed to give up at least one more child to Quain and be Quain's baby machine. However, the last page has [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7900 Ariel come up to Mel and hold her hand]], which hints that Ariel ''might'' have started to accept that Mel's her real mother]]. Apparently this ending was specifically added as something of a WriterRevolt by two members of the staff, who thought the extra page with the [[spoiler:hand holding]] should be added.
* HotMom: There's Zala, [[spoiler: Mel]], and Quain as key examples. Due to Drow possesing what is basically eternal youth, pretty much any Drow mother applies here.
* HumanoidAbomination: Kharla'ggen. According to Senekha, Kharla is no ordinary Tainted; she is a living vortex of demonic power. [[spoiler: The main plan of the Vloz'ress clan is to imprison a demon god inside Kharla by using the fragments of its old foe as bait -- one of those fragments being Discordia.]]
* HumanOutsideAlienInside: Fae (drow, light elves, drowussu, etc.) in Drowtales are more biologically different than their humanoid appearance would suggest. The key to this is mana; the energy they generate, absorb and manipulate. It is the source behind their comparative resistance to, and lack of, diseases (they are not completely immune though). It is also what keeps them young and in a healthy condition, provided there are enough of them to generate a surplus of mana. They still need to eat and drink, but less so than a human of comparative size would, and their bodies do not store fat the way a human body does. Their nature means that they also can "starve" even when they have plenty of food and drink -- if they are alone. If that happens they will start to suffer from mana deprivation and starts to age much like a human would.
* HumansAreMorons: Humans are considered to be a type of goblin. Though considered somewhat cunning individually, collectively humans are viewed as less intelligent than orcs, making it a variant of the ConservationOfNinjutsu.
* HumongousMecha: Giant war golems provide a close fantasy equivalent.
** Also played straight in the Space Age Daydream (though the giant war golems exist here, as well)
* {{Hypocrite}}: Possibly one of the main themes, considering how many characters are actually massive hypocrites.
** [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20060718c12p073.JPG Kyo'vaerde]]
* IdiotBall: One is apparently handed to dwarves, who have terribly bad designs for man-portable cannon. They can't even handwave the over-the-shoulder cannon with AWizardDidIt, as the dwarves are explicitly lacking in magic. They also can't even manage to pull off their given role of tunnel skirmishers - their attack causes zero casualties and only minor damage.
* IHaveYouNowMyPretty: Rikshakar tries this ''twice'' on Ariel, the first time being stopped by Vaelia, and the second time resorting to kidnapping her. He severely underestimates her the second time and [[spoiler:gets beaten up by her, only to become chow for the demon Discordia after she catches up with him. See KarmicDeath.]] Note that the first time didn't happen in the original version, which was squickier, but consensual.
* ImportantHaircut:
** Liriel just performed one of these [[spoiler:To mark the shift from the her own personality to that of Diva'ratrika Val'Sharess, who had moved her spirit into "Liriel"'s body several years before but had been held back by her [[BottleFairy heavy drinking]].]]
** Vaelia gets the "opposite" of one in that she has hair extensions put in to signify she is no longer a slave.
** Slaves are not allowed to have haircuts longer than their neck. Long hair signifies higher status, hence why Yaeminira grew out her hair when she officially "became" Vy'Chriel.
* ImAHumanitarian: Drow have no compunction over eating the flesh of humans and orcs, who they consider beasts, and even eat their own dead.
* InadequateInheritor: Quain'tana has gone through ''at least'' three heirs.
* InfantImmortality: Brutally averted on several occasions. Simply being a child is no guarantee for survival.
** [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1775 The latest subversion was an impoverished woman drowning her baby son to save him from starving to death.]]
* InstantFanclub: Meta-example: [[spoiler:Kalki]] gained this from the fans when she showed up topless but for GodivaHair in Chapter 17.
* InterspeciesRomance:
** One sidestory is about a drow named "[[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=5314 Val'Doomed]]" who kidnaps human women to try and breed with, but because this is impossible he just earns the derision of other drow. An aversion is [[spoiler:Mel'arnach and Zhor]] who initially appear to be this trope, but [[spoiler:Zhor is in fact a Dark Elf that was transformed into his current state]] so it's not really this trope.
** A minor but more straightforward example is the relationship between Dhal'zin and Kai of the Stone Company, which Ky'onne is the only one to notice.
* ItGetsEasier: Ariel experiences this, much to her horror, and the fact that [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=344 the only time to date Quain'tana shows her physical affection]] is right after her first kill is downright chilling.
* ItGotWorse: In Chapter 33, the city of Nuqrah'shareh is in the middle of a civil war caused by an influx of refugees from neighboring cities. And then [[spoiler:Balsii Val'Illhar'dro attempts a coup on her cousin, and though Nega'fanea survives]] the city has fallen even further into chaos by Chapter 34.
* ItRunsInTheFamily: Being somewhat naive seems to be a trait shared by both Ariel and [[spoiler: her actual mother Mel'arnach]].
* IWantGrandkids: Zala'ess, according to [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1761 this chibi page]]
* JediMindTrick: [[spoiler:This is how [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20090811c18p015.jpg Ash'waren]], who's really a dark elf, has been passing herself off as a drow for the better part of 1000 years]].
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Kiel'ndia, and a few others, including Kuso, who doesn't seem that bad despite his [[SirSwearsalot foul mouth]].
* JerkassHasAPoint: The Kyorl'solenurn are more or less the mascots of GoodIsNotNice, and yet when it comes to their extremism about the tainted they're surprisingly justified, especially with recent revelations.
* {{Kamehamehadoken}}: Magical version. Take an ordinary MagicMissile, add 1000 years of (mana/aura)growth and experience - [[http://www.drowtales.com/longestwaitarchive//20050719c1p023.JPG destruction ensues]]. Unfortunately, her targets dodged.
* KarmaHoudini: ''Quain'tana''. So far, and quite a few people wonder if she'll ever get her comeuppance.
* KarmicDeath: [[spoiler:Rikshakar.]]
* KickTheWrongDog: Ariel has one of these moments after she kills Maya, and it changes her path from a more AntiHero path.
* KidWithTheLeash: Kiel, after [[spoiler: Sene'Kha's death]] becomes one of these, holding [[spoiler: Kharla's]] leash as her [[spoiler: "big" sister. Mentally, she really is.]]
* TheKingdom: The mega city-state of Chel'el'Sussoloth. The total population and land area is typical for a [[TheKingdom Kingdom]] (a cave network ~50km in diameter with around 100,000 people) culturally it is arguably a [[TheFederation Federation]] with the clans serving as its 'states'.
* KnightsTemplar: The Kyorl'Solenurn clan is this trope personified.
* LadyLand: The Jaal'darya, who actually want to get rid of men, and probably others to lesser extents.
* LadyOfWar: Cool, elegant, ass-kicking Sil'lice personifies this, though she's not above [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1057 completely flipping her shit]] in the past.
* LargeHam: As can be inferred in the comic, Quain'tana speaks with a loud, bombastic voice reminiscent of Leonidas in ''[[ThreeHundred 300]]''. Zala'ess has a flair for the overly-dramatic herself.
** The scene in [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=453 Chapter 8 where Quain and Zala are verbally sparring]], and the duel in [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=757 Chapter 12 between Kyo'vaerde and Sene'kha]] are prime examples of Dueling Hams.
*** The duel between Kalki and Sil'lice is yet another example of HamToHamCombat.
** I'm going to go out there and say that nearly the entire Val'Kyorl'solenurn clan (and much of the Vel'Sharen) has a steady diet of the comic's scenery.
*** No kiddin'. Read The Longest Wait...[[IncrediblyLamePun the Val'sharess isn't called Diva'ratrika for nothing!]] Likewise with her daughters, especially Snadhya'rune.
* LateArrivalSpoiler: It becomes really, ''really'' hard to talk about many of the later events of the comic without giving away the following:
** [[spoiler:Diva'ratrika has been dead for 16 years]]
** [[spoiler:Diva has reincarnated (kinda) as Liriel]]
** [[spoiler:The Sharen sisters were behind the Nidraa'chal plot, which was a ruse to kill their mother]]
** [[spoiler:Ariel's mother is really Mel'arnach, not Quain'tana]]
** [[spoiler:Syphile dies by Quain'tana's hand after breaking Chrys'tel out of prison]]
* LawOfInverseFertility: Affects most female fae, since fae in general [[ImmortalProcreationClause have low birth rates]], but [[spoiler:Quain'tana's]] case is cause of much angst and many plot developments. This also means that Diva'ratrika, while over a thousand years old, has only had five (surviving) daughters and one son, Zala'ess has had many more and Sil'lice outright says that she's had to do a lot of screwing around to get that many, though many if not most of them seem to have the same father. And because drow have NoPeriodsPeriod it means that they never go through an equivalent of menopause, which explains how [[spoiler:Ash'waren]] can be as old as Diva'ratrika and still be producing children. [[spoiler:Mel'arnach]] also says that she was trying for several decades to get pregnant, though it may be due to [[spoiler:the father being Zhor]] than the usual problems fae face.
* LightIsNotGood: Both the Kyorl and the Light Elves [[spoiler:which makes sense considering they're related]].
* LineageComesFromTheFather: Inverted, drow only care about who someone's mother is. This is especially true with Vals, who can only pass on the Val title through the female line.
* LivingDollCollector: Kharla.
* LivingEmotionalCrutch: Faen to Ariel.
* LovableNerd: Yafein.
* MagicMissile: The easiest and most common attack for a fae to use. Can be dodged. [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20070731c0p018.jpg Seen in action here]], together with mana shields and ordinary crossbows.
* MamaBear: Zala'ess is implied to be this, and she wanted to kill her daughter Vy'chriel's protector twin Yaeminira after the latter murdered her real daughter, and only grudgingly allowed her to [[ReplacementSibling take her place]] at the urging of her own sister Sarv'swati. It's also been suggested that Zala'ess' main redeeming quality is her love for her children. Shimi'lande is also implied to be this for ''the entire Drowussu race'', seeing as she serves a sort of mother to all of them.
* MandatoryMotherhood: Played with in-story. Even though women are the dominant gender in drow society, having children is a way for them to build up their families and power, and the fact that Snadhya'rune, Diva'ratrika's heir, has no family of her own is seen as scandalous. However, [[spoiler:Snadhya does indeed have a daughter, she just had her conceived and carried outside of her womb, and it seems that Snadhya did indeed want children, just on her own terms.]]
* MaternallyChallenged: One interpretation of why Quain'tana has such a bad relationship with her children. As far as can be inferred she had no parents to speak of and was on the street from an early age, and the effect is pretty obvious on her children.
* MatronChaperone: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?id=307 Vaelia assigns herself the role of Duenna]], and played with in that Ariel herself isn't exactly receptive to Rik's advances either, and likely doesn't understand [[AttemptedRape what he's really trying to do]].
* MeaningfulBackgroundEvent: Repeatedly.
** On [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7983 this page]] and several subsequent ones from from chapter 34, [[spoiler:Shodun]] is out of focus in the background behind Balsii, only to [[spoiler:burst out of the background and kill Sandaur]].
** On [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1781 this page]] from chapter 35, in the background you can see the assault on First Landing Fortress, which is talked about later in the chapter. No one in the scene comments on it, suggesting that Chelians have become jaded to the constant conflict during the timeskip.
* MeaningfulName: WordOfGod says that Syphile's name comes from the word Syphilis, since her original character was in an RPG and the name was made up on the spot. If that doesn't tell you something about her and her luck I don't know what does.
** Most names in the setting have some sort of meaning and/or history behind them, [[http://www.drowtales.com/wordpress/?p=1797#comment-4782 while Kite tends to use a different method]].
** Character specific examples can be found on the CharacterSheets but one memorable example is that of Jer'kol, a character who pre-timeskip pretended to be Ariel's father. His [[Captain Obvious true]] nature became much clearer later on when it turned out that [[spoiler: he was working for Syphile to kill Ariel]].
* MegaNeko: The Sullissin'rune [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20061024c02p032.JPG cavalry mounts]]/clan animal.
* MenAreTheExpendableGender: For the most part most drow view their males as this at best.
* MirroredConfrontationShot: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?cid=12 The cover of chapter 12]]. The printed Prologue also has [[http://www.drowtales.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/drowtalesprologue_cover.jpg Sillice and her children on one side and Kalki and the Nidraa'chal on the other]].
* MismatchedEyes: The Val'Sullisin'rune family.
* MissionFromGod: The belief of the Kyorl'solenurn.
* MisunderstoodLonerWithAHeartOfGold: Mel'arnach.
* MixAndMatchMan: Rik.
* {{Mooning}}: During Phani'nath's description of the last Ill'haress gathering [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20090408c16p005.jpg Quain'tana does this]] to Sarv'swati. It's not entirely certain if this actually happened, but it would hardly be out of character.
* EstrogenBrigadeBait: Shan'aal, most obviously, and Tir'ade as well. Kor'maril is this both in the fandom and in canon, where in canon he's had at least one lover and [[spoiler:is the father of Sillice's twins]] and there's a Daydream story where he gets it on with both another woman and a literal DragonLady.
* MsFanservice: Although she ''is'' essential to the story, Mel'arnach is the frickin empress of fanservice in the comic. [[spoiler:Kalki]] may come in second depending on if she ever puts on a shirt. Ironically (or not) [[spoiler:they're mother and daughter, er, sort of]].
* MulticoloredHair: Since all drow have white hair, dyeing it, often but not always in the clan colors, is common.
* MultinationalTeam: The comic's staff come from 13 different countries. In-story, the group on the surface contains characters from 3 different major clans (4 if [[spoiler:you count Liriel/Diva as a Sharen]]), a human and a feral.
* MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch
* MysteriousParent: [[spoiler:Mel'arnach turns out to be Kalki's "father" with Snadhya'rune as the mother.]] Possible thanks to the Jaal'darya clan's OrganicTechnology / BioAugmentation.
* NailedToTheWagon: Liriel.
* NeglectfulPrecursors: The Dark and Light Elves are pretty much the ones responsible for turning the surface into the hell hole it is now, and by extension are responsible for the birth of the drow, and the case can even be made for AbusivePrecursors considering that at least some of them were said to have opened nether gates ''on purpose''.
* NightmareSequence: A couple of these, one for Ariel, a several for Chiri, and one for Kiel. All of them are horrifying.
* {{Ninja}}: The Fallen Legion, particularly the possessed Lael'aell and in Chapter 34 the Jie'yen clan of Nuqrah'shareh.
* NominalImportance: Kiel lampshades it in [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1330 this strip]].
* NonStandardCharacterDesign: The artwork for the comic is to a very high standard and usually has a regular design aesthetic which was why it was all the more jarring to see [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20111115c34p003.jpg this character]](called Wordweaver Frehling) talking to Chry'stel Vel'Sharen in Chapter 34. He looked a lot more like he should be in a Disney film than in an {{Animesque}} webcomic.
* NoPeriodsPeriod (fae do not get periods, which helps explain how even very old fae can still have children at upwards of 1,000, but female humans [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=6542 do]], unfortunately for Vaelia)
* NotQuiteDead: As one forum poster put it, it seems that Dark Elves have the tenacity of cockroaches since within a few chapters, 3 of them, [[spoiler:Diva'ratrika through a FusionDance, Ash'waren through a JediMindTrick, and whatever Sha'sana did]], have been shown to have survived. It also lead one poster to proclaim that [[spoiler:Snadhya'rune]] is really bad at killing people.
* NotSoDifferent: Despite being a SuperiorSpecies the drow in particular are not actually that different from the goblin races. Just take a look at how the drow consider the goblin races. Now take a closer look at the drow. Ironic that the ones who consider halmes akin to locusts almost destroyed their own planet for mana-based life a millenia ago, isn't it?\\
\\
Later on, when Chiri'nide and Shan'aal visit the elves of Vanaheimr, [[spoiler:the way the Light Elves try to kill them and succeed in killing the refugees they brought causes Chiri to reference the drowussu's own views about "racial purity" and begin to question them]].
* ObfuscatingInsanity: Mel'arnach, Ash'waren.
* ObfuscatingStupidity: Liriel, though that might just be the beer.
* OhCrap: A few memorable instances detailed on the main page, and the entire fanbase collectively had this expression through most of [[WhamEpisode Chapter 25]].
* OnlySixFaces: Played with, since the very early chapters suffered from this, but as the art style has evolved it's become less and less so, since characters are now pretty distinguishable in their facial features. OnlySixFaces is also plays a role in drow culture as a whole, since most drow have white hair and similarly shaded skin they will often dye it or add accessories to distinguish themselves.
* OurMonstersAreDifferent: ... or, to be more precise, Our Drow Are Different.
** OurElvesAreBetter: Not ''nicer'' mind you, or cooler, and certainly not more "right". Basically, they are are tougher and carry a bigger stick than everybody else.
** OurFairiesAreDifferent
** [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Orcs]] and ''Humans'' are Goblins; Elves, Dragons, Nagas, and Driders are all Fae; Gnomes are "domesticated" Dwarves.
* OurNudityIsDifferent: Drow in Chel'el'sussoloth usually wear high collars, because the (lower) neck is [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20040804c10chibi.JPG considered a naughty part]]. That isn't the case with all drow nations though, nor has it always been the case in Chel. Similar to how it's normal IRL to go topless on the beach in some countries and scandalous in others.
* PeopleJars: [[spoiler:Sharess' body turns out to be kept in one]]
* PetTheDog: "Bad" or at the very least not very nice characters will often get moments like this to add to the GreyAndGrayMorality.
** Zala'ess seems to genuinely love her children, and Sil'lice, who before was shown taking joy in torturing tainted gained major PetTheDog points when she was revealed to have [[spoiler:[[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1246 little twins]] who sent the {{Squee}} alarm up to 11]]. Quain'tana's relationship with Ash'waren is also something of a PetTheDog in regards to showing that the usually gruff and {{badass}} Ill'haress has a soft side.
** A subtle one occurred in chapter 22, when the human queen [[spoiler:who had been participating in ritual sacrifice and blood bathing]] was shown [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1363 teary eyed with someone who is presumably her child]]. People who had been calling for her head a few pages earlier suddenly felt sorry for her.
** Once Ariel returned from the surface, Quain'tana questioned her of her adventures on the surface, before telling her that "You make me... proud." Considering this is [[WellDoneSonGuy Quain]] saying this, it definitely counts.
* PimpedOutDress: Several characters, though special mentions goes to Shimi'lande's formal dress, Diva'ratrika's parade dress and pretty much all of Snadhya'rune's dresses.
* PlayAlongPrisoner: Mel'arnach is a long term version of this along with ObfuscatingInsanity.
* PottyFailure: Implied to have [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7872 happened to Chrys'tel]] (look near her feet), since she did mention earlier that she had to pee, and [[spoiler:being trapped in an iron maiden for an entire day by your sadistic cousin]] doesn't offer many potty breaks.
* PowerIncontinence: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?id=441 Faen]].
* PragmaticVillainy: A case can be made for this if [[http://www.drowtales.com/longestwait.php?order=date&id=11 this page is any indication]]
* PrettyInMink: Snadhya'runes hardly goes anywhere without her enormous fur coat.
* PrinciplesZealot: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?id=532 Chiri]] mixes this with FantasticRacism.
* PsychoForHire: Sene'kha and Ky'ovaerde... and to a lesser extent, Laele'aell, though in her case it's more that she doesn't really have a soul any more.
* PsychopathicManchild: Kharla'ggen. Her origin story seems to indicate that if just left alone she'd be fine (if badly tainted), but Sene'kha, the above PsychoForHire, pushed her even further into insanity. Discordia is also showing signs of this, especially in her childlike behavior after she [[spoiler:kills Rik]].
* PunctuationShaker: Pretty much all the Drow names. The apostrophe is also a sign of nobility in some families, hence why Sil'lice is referred to as Sillice by the other Sharen after her exile.
* PunyEarthlings: The story arc from chapters 20 to 22 has Ariel, her friends and a group of Highland Raiders storm a human city and kill the king with comparatively little effort. Whether or not this was [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot bad writing]] or indicative of the power levels of the species involved (see GameBreaker above) is best left to the forums. WordOfGod was that the story arc was intended to be longer and include the Hermiones, another group of humans, but had to be cut down for the sake of time.
* PutOffTheirFood: In chapter 14, when the group of protagonists sits down for dinner, the drow Kyo'nne tells the human Vaelia that the preserved meat they're eating is human meat. She was just joking — but since they don't actually know what kind of meat it is, and since drow do eat human meat, Vaelia decides to play it safe and have bread instead.
* PVPBalanced: The old-old start of the comic when it was based on DungeonsAndDragons sessions. Deliberately [[GameBreaker averted hard]] in favour of story over balance in the current main comic and something new readers should keep in mind/be aware of.
* RapePillageAndBurn: S.O.P. for the Sarghress, especially the Highland Raiders. Lampshaded in [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=361 one chibi page]].
* RapidFireFisticuffs: Sil'lice's daughter Kadara [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20090907c19p013.jpg is particularly adept at this.]]
* RapunzelHair: Name nearly any female character... although it is justified due to drow culture, as short hair is reserved for slaves. The one exception to the "long hair = noble" rule seem to be the Sharen protector twins like Shinae and Yaeminira, but that's because they exist in a weird state of both being and not being a noble, and unlike those two Khaless does have long hair and seems to be essentially an equal to Snadhya'rune.
* ReallyGetsAround: Zala'ess and Ash'waren are heavily implied to be this for [[EveryoneIsBi both genders]], considering how many children they have. This was joked about in a podcast, which suggested that the two of them go out together cruising for guys.
* ARealManIsAKiller: Brutally displayed [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=359 here]].
* RedEyesTakeWarning: The 'Tainted', AKA Ver'drowendar. Red eyes in Chel basically means that the person with them is a ticking timebomb that could, at any moment, turn into a nigh unstoppable engine of destruction in the form of a demon.
* RelationshipReveal: [[spoiler:Mel'arnach and Snadhya'rune]] had been teased at before, but chapter 17 [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=979 confirmed it]], and since then it's gone beyond that [[spoiler:with the revelation that Snadhya used Mel's genetic material to make Kalki]].
* ReligionOfEvil: Played with. Nether cults like the one the Vloz'ress used to be are portrayed this way by the Kyorl, but at least under Kiel's mother they weren't exactly "evil" and had some noble intentions. Once Senek'ha took over, on the other hand...
* TheRemnant: The Dutan'vir clan fell during the Nidraa'chal War, and the survivors mostly wound up slaves or joined the Kyorl or the Sarghress. The have a decent presence within the Maeyukir House of the Sarghress, and Lulianne shows that there are a few who hope to resurrect the clan some day.
* RetCon: The whole business of remaking the first several chapters.
* RichBitch: Chrys'tel, though her sister Yami'ni seems to top her in just about every way.
* RichInDollarsPoorInSense: Ariel chief among them, but also some nobles. They tend to be the exception rather than the rule however.
* RoyallyScrewedUp: Just about every noble family, but the Sharen are the most obvious.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Those heiresses don't just sit pretty. Orthorbbae prepares them for combat.
* RuleThirtyFour: Some fans make it themselves, but a good deal comes from the writers themselves.
* RunningGag: Ariel's love of cats, and her dislike of maths. Shimi'lande also has a running gag of needing chocolate to keep herself from going insane from keeping all the fanatical Kyorls in line, which occasionally leads to references like '''NO CHOCOLATE?! ''CRUSADE!'''''
* SatisfiedStreetRat: Quain'tana's early history. Also deconstructed, since it left her as a horrible parent.
* SecretLegacy: [[spoiler:Ariel's]] true heritage. And [[spoiler:Kalki]] on both sides, though she knows it.
* SeenItAll: [[spoiler:Sha'sana]] knows critical information that could prevent Chel from going through hell all over again, but she does nothing because [[SomebodyElsesProblem she no longer gives a damn]] about Chel or its problems.
* [[SelfMadeMan Self Made Woman]]: Quain'tana.
* SelfMadeOrphan: [[spoiler:the three Sharen sisters send mommy dearest to her room ''permanently'' so they can rule Chel'el'Sussoloth in a demonic triumvirate.]]
* {{Shadow Archetype}}
* ShadowDictator: No one has seen Val'Sharess Diva'ratrika for 16 years [[spoiler:because she's dead, killed by her own daughters, though Ragini/Liriel, her servant/reincarnation/merger/FusionDance/whatever, is still running around]].
* ShaggyDogStory: Chiri'nide and Shan'naal [[spoiler:bring back Light Elf prisoners from Nagyesced to Vanaheimr, but the prisoners are killed that very night and Chiri and Shan nearly so themselves]].
* ShapeShifterBaggage: Averted post-retcon.
* ShiningCity: Chel'el'sussoloth.
* ShoutOut: The Sarghress clan symbol has an uncanny resemblance to Guts' brand in {{Berserk}}, and WordOfGod is that the anime series [[http://www.drowtales.com/wordpress/?p=3679 was very influential on him]].
** And Kyo'nne's [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=855 Xellos impression.]]
** And the ''ConanTheBarbarian'' inspired clothing/armor/weapons. Quain'tana is more or less RobertEHoward's Conan the Cimmerian, if he were a drow female. Or like Temujin/Ghengis Khan.
** [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1364 The summon near the ceiling]] looks like PacMan.
** Kharla'ggen's hair makes her resemble [[TenchiMuyo Washu]], especially since the demon Sene'kha plans to use Kharla to summon looks like [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=5263 a crab]], which is Washu's symbol.
*** And speaking of Washu, [[spoiler:Diva]] is quite similar to the original version of Washu from the OVA, in that she's really [[spoiler:a lot more powerful than she looks, is hiding in plain sight and in a much younger body]].
** Chrys'tel tells Kiel that [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7175 a Vel'Sharen repays her debts]], which recalls Tyrion Lannister and the (unofficial) Lannister family motto from ''ASongOfIceAndFire''. Probably intentional given that the author is known to be a fan of the series.
* SinisterScythe: Sene'kha's weapon. It's stated that Vloz'ress nether summoners often pick a large weapon for appearance rather than practicality.
* SituationalSexuality: Heavy implied to occur at Orthorbbae in the main comic and outright stated in Daydream, due to the gender-segregated sections of the school. Less of a case of this than usual since drow have an EveryoneIsBi society anyway, so it's not as big a deal.
* SkeletonGovernment: Averted. Chel'el'Sussoloth's political scene is a major driving force behind the events of the story.
* SpannerInTheWorks: The plan of [[spoiler:Snadhya'rune, Sarv'swati and Zala'ess]] to cover up [[spoiler:that they killed their mother]] was going off without a hitch until [[spoiler:Chrys'tel]] discovered the truth. Ironically, she saw it at the same time [[spoiler:Sil'lice]] told one of their mooks that she had seen it too.
** And [[spoiler:Liriel/Diva's return]] isn't so much a spanner as an i-beam.
* SpeechBubbles: Everyone has a unique balloon, with the exception of the occasional one-off character. Mostly this is done with color (both font and backdrop), but a few characters have different fonts as well.
* SplitPersonalityTakeover: [[spoiler:Liriel]] has completely become [[spoiler:Diva'ratrika]] as of Chapter 22.
* SproutingEars: Ariel sprouts cat ears at a humorous moment in the comic. Since she can shapeshift this appears to have actually happened instead of just being a visual metaphor.
* StarCrossedLovers: [[spoiler:Mel'arnach]] believes [[spoiler:her and Snadhya'rune]] to be this, the truth might be more complicated... This seems to be how Kyo'nne thinks of herself and Shan'naal as well, though with her it's played for comedy.
* TheStoic: Naal'suul, Koil'dorath, hell, many Sarghress.
* StupidEvil: Humanity's hat in this comic, in much the same way as the drow from Dungeons and Dragons.
* {{Stripperiffic}}: Mel'Arnach's dental floss, more so in the previous versions. With the first episode being retconned for the second time, her outfit is now just a step away from a long pants/pink sweather combo, albeit with transparent fabric over much of it and a ThongOfShielding.
* SuperDeformed: Besides mini chibi-pages at the end of chapters characters will occasionally shift into this at humorous moments.
* SuperHumanTrafficking: A halme (human) royal family did this to drow and elves seeking immortality.
* SweetPollyOliver: Ariel goes to the male section of the WizardingSchool to avoid being trapped under the thumb of [[MagnificentBastard the headmistress]], subverted in that she's found out almost ''instantly'' and only has her secret kept because no students are allowed to leave and spread the word, and once she is found out she has to leave. This also earns her the nickname of "The Sarghress Transvestite" among some of the other drow.
** Kel'noz and Mel'narach both did this, but not in {{Canon}}. Which was the subject of a side story and a [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1292 later]] MythologyGag.
* SympatheticMurderBackstory: Ariel is [[spoiler:ordered to kill Mir'kin Vel'Vloz'ress, and then kills Yafein Val'Sullisin'rune's slave Maya in a fit of rage after he pushed her BerserkButton.]] It's clearly hinted that the resulting MyGodWhatHaveIDone moment resulted in PTSD. It's particularly disturbing when you remember that due to her species' slow aging process, she was physically still a small child at the time.
* TangledFamilyTree: The [[spoiler:Vel'Sharen and Val'Sarghress family tree]] is turning into this with recent revelations about [[spoiler:Kalki]], and to give you an idea of how convoluted it is, [[spoiler:Ariel's step-grandmother is actually ''Diva'ratrika'']]. One forum member [[http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/9600/sharensarghressfamilytr.png attempted to draw up said tree]] (warning for '''crazy spoilers''' and very big image file), and as crazy as ''that'' is it's not even everyone!
* TemptingFate: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20060503c12p050.JPG Rik]]
** [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1142 She's Just Askin' For it...]]
** And again, via Chrys'tel: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1332 "No summon can talk."]] [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1387 Eyup]].
* TheUnfavourite: Syphile is this trope in drow form.
* ThoseTwoGuys: Kuso and Baliir, pair of Vloz'ress soldiers, a regular trooper and a Berserker. The trooper seems like a rather chatty and good natured fellow, while his friend is a GentleGiant... except when he fights. He's shown fighting once in the main story and once in a guest side story. He [[CurbStompBattle curbstomps]] his enemies both times. Would be ThoseTwoBadGuys except they act more like {{Punch Clock Villain}}s, if that.
* {{Timeskip}}: Several instances:
** The first occurred in chapter 1, where there was a 10 year jump.
** The next happened during Chapter 2, where there was a 4 or 5 year jump.
** And now the most significant storywise, between Chapter 32 and 33 there is a 15 year jump.
* TomatoSurprise: [[spoiler:Many, if not most, of Orthorbbae's female staff are actually summons, their bodies are hidden in a morgue beneath the school]]
* TooDumbToLive: [[spoiler:Yaeminira]] who is sent on a blatantly obvious suicide mission by a mother she knows hates her. She compounds this by going alone (well, with the golem) through the front gate and challenging one of the most ancient and powerful drow known to a duel which ends in a [[spoiler: CurbStompBattle]] Best part? Sil'lice gives her a thorough explanation, and offers to let her [[HeelFaceTurn switch sides]] which she doesn't appear to even seriously consider.
** A chapter later [[spoiler:Syphile]] arguably crosses into this. One image a forum member posted [[http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/AthenAltena/sneakattack.jpg sums it up]].
** One of Larvova's scourges [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=6760 finds out the hard way]] not to threaten Kiel when Kharla is around.
* TortureTechnician: Sil'lice is a pro.
* ToughLove: Part of standard parenting for most Drowolath noble families, but special mention goes to Quaintana whose methods of parenting left all but one of her children [[spoiler: and said sole child later fell to demons]] outright hating her, feeling neutral towards her and a JerkAss /==/ JerkAssWoobie respectively.
* TragicDream: Rik, who sees Ariel as a way to have a family. Unfortunately [[RapeIsLove his methods]] [[IHaveYouNowMyPretty to obtain it]] come back to bite him in the ass ''big time''.
* TrueCompanions: The Highland Raiders!
* {{Unicorn}}: the Holy Lance Mounts, aka Dawmeres, which are actually more similar to goats than to modern horses.
* UnusualEars: Obviously.
* TheUriahGambit: [[spoiler:Zala'ess]] does this to [[spoiler:Vy'chriel/Yaeminira]], and seems relieved to know the outcome was a success.
* UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans: Multiple characters have their own vision of how they want to shape Chel, and frankly don't care about the sacrifices that have to be made in order to do it.
** [[spoiler:Snadhya'runes has tainted almost everyone with a deliberately flawed form of tainting that will kill anyone afflicted with it in 25-50 years, while keeping the safe and pure version only for herself and her followers.]] All she needs to do is wait until Chel self-destructs, and take over what is left.
** [[spoiler:Sha'sana]], for one, is dedicating her life to [[spoiler:bringing back Sharess so she can unite the clans]] and doesn't care that Chel goes to hell in the meantime.
* VaporWear: There have been [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20080908c08chibi1.jpg several]] (the previous one just one of many) things that references drow nobility in particular not wearing underwear. For an actual confirmed case, Mel'arnach has a semi-transparent dress that [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20080810c08p035.jpg clearly has nothing under it]].
** The character [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7978 Shen'fya]] also caused a minor stir with her outfit, much of which has transparent fabric, and it takes [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=8067 what would be an upskirt shot]] to realize that she's actually wearing [[NudeColoredClothes leggings that are almost the same shade as her skin]].
* VillainousValour: Althought not villains per se, the dvergar who choose to fight the drow rather than trade with them shows this. Even after being reduced to a remnant by the desperate, fleeing dokkalfar (and later outright invading drow) and having no mana, they still are a real danger to drow trade caravans and even manage to get in a few good blows against the [[{{Ranger}} highland raiders]]. Keep in mind that the last is a bit like somali pirates attacking a US battleship.
* VomitIndiscretionShot: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1433 Poor Kiel]]... It seems that vomitting is a side effect of Kharla's dollification process too, since Kiel's mother [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=622 also threw up]] as her body started to change.
* UrbanWarfare: The Nidraa'chal War was a particularly horrific conflict because it took place within the city of Chel itself, resulting in massive civilian casualties. Worse, the nether summoners actually used civilians as weapons by turning them into demons.
* [[WarriorPrince Warrior Princess]]: Ariel, Sil'lice, Chiri... must I list them all?
* WebcomicTime: From [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=242&overview=1&chibi=1&cover=1&extra=1&page=1&check=1 Chapter 3, Page 14]] to (as of writing this) Chapter 28 takes place over only a few months of comic time, from the end of the school year to the Moon's End Festival. Faen's fleeing was originally drawn in 2003, which means it took 7 years "real time" for Ariel to rescue Faen. Talk about "The Longest Wait!"
* WeHaveWaysOfMakingYouTalk: Torture is run-of-the-mill in drow society, and due to mana they get creative with it.
* WellDoneSonGuy: From daughters to mothers, especially Vy'chriel Vel'Sharen, though she has a slightly more complicated version since she's not the real daughter, she was the real daughter's ''protector'' and killed her, taking her place, and Zala'ess is understandably not too thrilled with the situation.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: Slightly reversed.The setting of Drowtales has many Drow clans in the running, however the clan of [[ChurchMilitant armor plated, demonhunting zealots]] whose daily routine requires [[KillItWithFire purging the tainted ones]] whenever possible would generally be considered the mascot of this trope. And just to show how gray the morality in the world is, in many ways they're ''right''.
** Funnily enough, their arch-enemy clan of Vloz'ress used to be it too[[spoiler: before Kiel took over and ended that plan]]. Their goal was to end all wars in the world by turning everyone into mind-controlled puppets...
** In Chapter 16, [[spoiler: the Val'Jaal'Darya Clan Ill'haress, Asira'malika, related a story of a frontier settlement that eventually succumbed to the ravages of war, natural disasters, and the like. Using this story, she justifies her clan's intent to destroy potential threats to Chel'el'sussoloth before they have an opportunity to present themselves.]])
** Also, Sene'kha planned to [[spoiler: kill off all the nobles (with Kharla acting as prison for a demon god) to end the clan system]].
* WhamEpisode: Chapter 25 is turning to a Wham ''Chapter''. The revelations so far:
** [[spoiler:Kalki is Snadhya'runes' daughter and [[HomosexualReproduction Mel'arnach is the "father"]]]].
** [[spoiler:[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Like the chapter title implies]], a ninth tower of the Orthorbbae exists, hidden from public view, as was hinted as far back as ''Chapter 2''.]]
** [[spoiler:Sha'sana has been alive for the past sixteen years]].
** [[spoiler:Snadhya'rune is the Ill'har of the Nidraa'chal Clan (although many fans had speculated this to be true before)]].
** [[spoiler:According to Sha'sana, at least, every tainted in Chel has a maximum of 50 years to live from the time they are tainted]].
** [[spoiler:There are Nidraa'chal in ''every'' major clan and a few minor ones, not just in the Sharen Clan. A Nidraa'chal that resides with the Illhar'dro is Shodun, the woman who killed Sil'lice's daughter Sae'ryne in a fairly nasty way using sound waves before decapitating her]].
*** The recent Chapter 33 was also another example of a [[WhamEpisode Wham]] for most of the readers.
* WhipSword: Zala'ess's weapon, which she hasn't yet used but has been seen on panel.
* WhiteHairedPrettyGirl: Played straight with the Drowolath and most other Fae races native to the Underworld.
* WhiteHairedPrettyBoy: Also played straight, to an extent.
* WhoWantsToLiveForever: Due to a high mortality rate most drow don't live long enough to experience this, but very old drow and dark elves often fall into this as they get older and older, in part due to the massive amounts of mana their bodies require to stay young, essentially confining them to large cities. Some dark elves underground committed suicide out of despair at the knowledge that they'd probably never see the surface again.
* WhosYourDaddy: After [[spoiler:Sillice's]] twins were introduced, the first question many people had was who their father was. A Daydream story eventually revealed that it's [[spoiler:Kor'maril]]. The twins however know who it is, so this was more for the fans.
** Snadhya'rune just mentioned that the father of [[spoiler:her daughter Kalki]] was a Sarghress. It's even worse than many speculated. [[spoiler:It's '''Mel''']].
* WhyAmITicking: Naal'suul may count, by virtue of having been [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel unwillingly tainted so badly that she could die and turn into a demon at practically any moment]].
** [[spoiler:Chapter 25 revealed that ''nearly every tainted in the setting'' has only around 25 to 50 years to live, meaning that a significant portion of Chel is a ticking time bomb.]]
* WithMyHandsTied: Vaelia [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=334 protecting Ariel]] long enough for help to come. Right after being bought. Ariel grants her freedom immediately afterwards.
* WizardingSchool: Orthorbbae
* TheWomenAreSafeWithUs: Averted [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=6549 by Vaelia's explanation]], and if Mel'arnach's backstory is any indication the Sarghress troops are not above raping their own people. Unfortunately TruthInTelevision for many armies.
* WomanInWhite: Mel often appears like this due to her choice of clothing.
* WorldOfActionGirls: Yup.
* WorldOfBuxom: Save for a few characters, the majority of drow females sport breasts larger than a C-cup.
* WriterRevolt: The end of the sidestory ''Longest Wait'', was apparently one of these, since it was not originally planned for [[spoiler:Diva'ratrika to fuse with Ragini and escape]] but the artist of that story wanted it to end differently than was planned [[SureWhyNot and the new ending was eventually accepted into the canon]].
* XanatosGambit: The Nidraa'chal war turns out to have been [[spoiler:engineered by Snadhya'rune and two of her sisters]] as a cover for [[spoiler:their attempt to kill their mother Diva'ratrika]]. Since this this is a bunch of Drow, everyone is either running one of these, or an UnwittingPawn caught up in the Gambit of another.
* YouBastard: Kiel invokes this in chapter 28, and even ''throws a belt at the audience'' during her emotional breakdown. Ouch.
* YouNoTakeCandle: Vaelia, though it's because she doesn't know the drow language, and it has been gradually improving.
* YourNormalIsOurTaboo: Bisexuality and multiple partners is the norm for Drows, while pure heterosexuals like Zala'ess and her hubby Sabrror, and pure homosexuals like Snadhya'rune and Mel'arnach are considered unusual. Cannibalism is also acceptable. With so few resources, Drow eating Drow is the norm amongst the lower class. It may have disappeared from the background materials, but a running theme in Drowtales is that a bare neck is considered a form of nudity in Chel'el'sussoloth.
* YourSoulIsMine: The fate of anyone killed by Snadhya'rune (or any other summoner); she can then summon their soul to do her bidding.
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