I’m personaly a fan of the Drow, the original concept of dark elves in D&D (and I think the first “dark elves” at all ^^). In each Campain-World of D&D they have a different background, so I choose that of the Forgotten Realm, the most popular World of D&D. The Drow were once surface dwellers like the other elves, but there was a schism when Arauschnee, the godess of the dark elves and lover of Corellon Larecian (the main god of elves) betrayed the good pantheon. Afterwards, when defeated, she was exiled to the Abyss (the chaotic Hell) and became Lolth, the Spider Queen.
The Drow live in underground cities since then, are great fans of slavery and violence and have a deep chaotic nature, which is shown in every aspect of their live. As elves, they are decadent and see themself as an superior race, which they somehow are, cuz their harsh lifes and habbits lead to natural selection.
They live under matriarchic theorcratic rulership and organized in houses, but this houses are in compettiton to each other in the strugle to rule (in each city). So there are many intrugues and murders. Clerics of Lolth are to be women, so men are most times on the arcane way, are warriors or serve one of the lesser gods of the drow (which all serve Lolth of cause). In Families each 3rd son is to be sacrificed to Lolth when he reaches a set age, but he is allowed to end the life of one of his older brothers to become the second son. Those sons become driders (something like “spider centaures”). This fate is also used for other weak drow. On this way they keep the strong and get rid of the trash in their rows.
Some drow exile from the cruel society and go in believe of Elistraee, the godess of good drow (yes, somehow dumb ^^) and fight the evils of this world, most known Drizzt Do’Urden. But I don’t like those childish cowards ^^
Drow have coal grey or black skin, have normaly red eyes (which can be burple or bluish) and have white or pale golden/yellow hair. They have a high priority for style and art, which is also shown in their cloth and accessoires. Spiders are often weared as simbols of faith to Lolth. Of cause they cannot grow beards, but males are sometimes binding their hair infront of their ears to queues.
