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{{quote|''"This is their tale. The world as it was through their eyes"''}}
'''''[http://www.drowtales.com Drowtales: Moonless Age]''''' is a fantasy manga-style
The webcomic was originally Kern drawing the events of the RP he and some friends played in the ''[[Forgotten Realms]]'' ''[[Dungeons
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.
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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 [[Captain Obvious|the prologue]] while the (currently{{when}}) oldest published chapter being chapter 9.
''Drowtales'' is [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin]], 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 [[Planet of Hats|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.
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Notes about links:
# Links to the main story may be moved around whenever a chapter is redone or inserted. The simplest way to get a permanent link is to access a page through the archive drop-down menu and use the URL it gives you.
{{tropelist}}▼
▲{{tropelist}}
* [[Absolute Cleavage]]:
** Kharla's dress, but considering how [[Ax Crazy|absolutely batshit insane she is]] combined with the fact that she has the mentality of a child it may come off as [[Fan Disservice]] to some.
** {{spoiler|Kalki}} takes this a step further. Her [[Godiva Hair|hair]] covers more than that outfit.
** And [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826091200/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=6507 Discordia].
* [[Abusive Parents]]:
** 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 [[The Unfavorite|Syphile]], who has a trope of her own...
** There are also plenty of others, and a current thread in the forum is titled "[https://web.archive.org/web/20160826034740/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.
* [[Action Girl]]: Plenty of these, and culturally it's unusual for a female to ''not'' be an [[Action Girl]], since females are the dominant gender in both political and military matters.
* [[Aerith and Bob]]: 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 [[wikipedia: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 [[Everything's Better with Bob|Bob]]: Bob the undead chicken of [[Doomy Dooms of Doom|doom]].
* [[The Ageless]]: 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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826034601/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).
* [[Air Vent Passageway]]:
** Ragini.
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* [[Anyone Can Die]]: 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}}.
* [[Arachnid Appearance and Attire]]: Quite a few clans and individuals.
* [[Art Evolution]]: [https://web.archive.org/web/20131008172117/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 [[Charles Atlas Superpower]] applied to art.
* [[Artificial Limbs]]: 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.
* [[Art Shift]]: When Phani'nath Vel'Sharen [https://web.archive.org/web/20160319165717/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 [[Super-Deformed|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.
* [[Automatic Crossbows]]: 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.
* [[Author Avatar]]: Not who you'd think. The character [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826091130/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive/20050401c11p053.jpg Kwaii] is a former avatar of the author, while [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826091143/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive/20051117c12p012.jpg Desmonde] is a [[Distaff Counterpart]] 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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826091134/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive/20070910c00chibi2.jpg artists' life] pages.
* [[Authority Equals Asskicking]]: Numerous possible examples, but Quain'tana is probably the most obvious.
* [[Ax Crazy]]: 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''.
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* [[Barbarian Tribe]]: 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.
* [[Bare Your Midriff]]: Ash'waren especially. The fandom nearly exploded with [[Squee]] when both she and Quain'tana were in the same scene with bare midriffs.
* [[Barrier Warrior]]: Potentially all fae, depending on their skill and strength in mana. [https://web.archive.org/web/20111204082011/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20070731c0p018.jpg Seen in the last panel here].
* [[Bavarian Fire Drill]]: 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 [
* [[Beast Man]]: 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 "[https://web.archive.org/web/20160826091154/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.
* [[Because You Were Nice to Me]]: Mel and Lulianne, among others.
* [[Beware the Nice Ones]]:
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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.
* [[Black Comedy]]: 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.
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826091127/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=6511 This] is a good example in the main story.
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20160601154712/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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826091146/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=6766 at something like this], especially since that particular guy [[Asshole Victim|deserved it]].
* [[Black Magician Girl]]: Ariel.
* [[Black Market Produce]]: The trope is [https://web.archive.org/web/20120104025816/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=839 lampshaded here]. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120104025800/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.
* [[Black Speech]]: Drowish evidently sounds a bit like this, since at the very least "Eat cake" prompts [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826091207/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).
* [[Blank White Eyes]]: The golem Vy'chriel, Laelle'aell and Faen (when using her powers) all have these.
* [[Blasting Time]]: When Mana Attacks are used.
* [[Blindfolded Vision]]: 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.
* [[Blood Bath]]: 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.
* [[Blood Spattered Innocents]]: [https://web.archive.org/web/20190711031214/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=343 Ariel], after {{spoiler|killing Miir'kin}}.
* [[Bloody Murder]]: faes with blood affinity can use their own blood as weapon. Probably the blood of others as well.
* [[Blue and Orange Morality]]: The drow themselves may appear this way to most of the readership.
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* [[Breaking the Fourth Wall]]:
** 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 [[Ax Crazy|the Vloz'ress]] [[Planet of Hats|clan]], so others dismiss her as psycho.
** Kiel'ndia breaks the fourth wall [https://web.archive.org/web/20111021022344/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7178 in a tragic way]. Beware, your screen might break.
* [[Break the Cutie]]: 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).
* [[Breast Plate]]: Averted; female characters wear armor [https://web.archive.org/web/20111108230329/http://www.drowtales.com/worldsettingarchive.php?order=chapters&id=18 suited to a female physique], but protective and actually useful in battle.<ref>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</ref> As a result, it's sometimes [[Viewer Gender Confusion|hard to tell the gender]] of certain characters when they're in armor.
* [[Breather Episode]]: After the [[Wham! Episode]] 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 [[Breather Episode]] before another Wham.
* [[Brick Joke]]: Back in Chapter 7, Chrys'tel was seen wearing [
* [[Broad Strokes]]: 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.
** 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 to make it internally consistent with later chapters (taking out Chrys'tel [[Calling Your Attack|calling her attack]], for instance). The art itself was unchanged minus the chapter cover.
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* [[But for Me It Was Tuesday]]: One part of the [[Deliberate Values Dissonance]] 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.
* [[But You Screw One Goat!]]: One of the reasons<ref>the other being that they're biologically incapable of reproducing with each other</ref> 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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085130/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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085137/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7402 with a pretty suspect relationship with his pet Noz].<ref>a type of orc</ref>
* [[Calling the Old Man Out|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 [[Crowning Moment of Awesome]], depending on your view of the character and what you think of the latest remake.
* [[Camp Gay]]: Sorane'Saniil.
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* [[Chekhov's Gun]]: 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 [[Chekhov's Gun]] 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|1=[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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20110920035125/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=195 chapter 2], has finally been revealed.
** Also, [
* [[Chekhov's Gunman]]: 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.
* [[Chewing the Scenery]]: Many important characters have at least one of these.
* [[The Cassandra]]: Both Chiri'nide and Shimi'lande possess clairvoyance, but they [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826091123/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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085021/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive/20090224c15p032.jpg really frickin scary].
* [[Chessmaster]]: ''Lots'' of characters count as this, to the point of a [[Gambit Pileup]].
* [[Chronic Backstabbing Disorder]]: 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.
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* [[The Clan]]: Nine major ones and countless smaller ones, and the driving conflicts in the series are clan-based.
* [[Clothing Switch]]
* [[The
* [[Color Coded for Your Convenience]]: Each major clan has a set of colours that represent them; see also "tainted" drow eyes vs. normal drow eyes.
* [[Continuity Cameo]]: Lots!
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085034/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.
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20120628080208/http://www.drowtales.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/kharla20091024x768.jpg Kharla'ggen] can be seen holding a plushie of [
** 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 [[Show Within a Show|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 [[Hope Spot]] at the end of Chapter 27}}.
** Dhal'zin of the ''Alstrat's Journal'' audiobook series [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826091033/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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085018/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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826084933/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7221 that year's winning contest story], [
* [[Continuity Snarl]]: Figuring out what is and isn't canon at this point is difficult, to say the least. [[Word of God]] has helped somewhat, but with almost 10 years of continuity and thousands of pages it gets difficult.
* [[Control Freak]]: This seems to run in the Sharen family, with Diva'ratrika, Snadhya'rune and Sarv'swati all showing signs at various times.
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** And while drow in this setting may not be [[Exclusively Evil]] (which more aptly fits Demons in this setting) in the way traditional D&D drow are, but they're still far from paragons of 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 overpopulation and starvation are very real possibilities, and just because they're not "good" by modern human definitions 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, and after the timeskip it seems many commoners have begun to realize this.
* [[Crazy Cat Lady]]: Crazy Spider Lady: Mel with her pets.
* [[Creepy Child]]: Kharla and, to a lesser extent, Naal. Even Ariel has her moments, and when [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085103/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive/20091104c01p030.jpg this page] came online one forum goer responded with a picture of Samara from ''[[The Ring]]''.
* [[Curb Stomp Battle]]: 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.
* [[Curtains Match the Window]]: 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.
* [[Cute Monster Girl]]: ''All'' the main characters, including the males and, from the other characters' perspective, ''humans''.
* [[Dark-Skinned Redhead]]: Some Vloz'ress, though they actually use hair dye. See [https://web.archive.org/web/20150309185617/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive
* [[Deadly Decadent Court]]: 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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085045/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1164 the] [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826090932/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}}.
* [[Deadly Graduation]]: Quain'tana orders Ariel to either [[Sadistic Choice|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 [[Drop the Hammer|make it messy]]}}.
* [[Deadly Hug]]: Jer'kol attempts to smother Ariel with a hug but is stopped by Vaelia.
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* [[Deep-Cover Agent]]: {{spoiler|The surviving Nidraa'chal, who exist in ''every major clan'' and probably most minor ones}}
* [[Defeat Means Friendship]]: How Rosof joined Quain'tana's army. According to one of the creators, he's also [[Unrequited Love|in love with her]].
* [[Deflector Shield]]: The [https://web.archive.org/web/20111204100715/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20060208c12p022.JPG Sarghress] have developed this technique to compensate for being indvidually fairly weak [[Barrier Warrior|barrier warriors]]. Done with a more powerful individual [https://web.archive.org/web/20111204082418/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20060217c12p025.JPG here]. Although powerful, even she has to upgrade from [[Barrier Warrior|personal barrier]] to deflector shield with the help of the two mana specialists behind her (white cloaks) to deflect a cannon ball.
* [[Defrosting Ice Queen]]: Possibly Chrys'tel, and to a lesser extent Ariel and some others at points.
* [[Deliberate Values Dissonance]]: Sil'lice [https://web.archive.org/web/20111114001345/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20091002c19chibi.jpg illustrates] the values of different species, which explain why people who are [[Badass]], [[Ax Crazy]], [[Knight Templar|extremists]] or even [[Complete Monster|complete monsters]] in the eyes of some readers are portrayed sympathetically and/or positively. Leads to a lot of debate among the readers.
* [[Demonic Invaders]]: The cause of the dark elf exodus to the underworld, among other things. They are a major threat to any 'untainted' aura-bearing creature.
* [[Demonic Possession]]: Definitely one of the darkest examples, as once it happens, not only is it completely irreversible, but the possessed victim [[Killed Off for Real|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.
* [[Detached Sleeves]]: Fairly common in Drow fashion.
* [[Designated Monkey]]: Yafein, Syphile, maybe others
* [[Discontinuity Nod]]: In [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826090808/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.
* [[The Doll Episode]]: Any time Kharla shows up.
* [[Dope Slap]]: Kiel delivers one to Shinae [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085212/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1610 on behalf of Kyo].
* [[Double Agent]]: 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.
* [[Dramatic Irony]]: 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!}}
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* [[Dude Looks Like a Lady]]: 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.
* [[The Dung Ages]]: If you're a human or orc
* [[Dying as Yourself]]: The Kyorl'solenurn try to make this happen when someone is taken over by demon, as seen [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085053/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=641 here].
* [[Dysfunction Junction]]:
** Sarghress Clan, ahoy! Even Kel'noz, the most outwardly sane one, [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826091048/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 "[[Large Ham|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 [[Shadow Dictator]] for 16 years}}.
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** 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...
* [[Elemental Baggage]]: 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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826090909/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=153 here]
* [[Elemental Hair]]: 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.
* [[Elemental Eye Colours]]: Sil'lice Val'Sharen is both an Ice Sorceress and one of the few remaining untainted Nether Summoners.
{{quote|You know, blood contains water. And water freezes so well.}}
** Nishi'kanta was also an example before she was tainted, since she had [
** The Val'Nal'sarkoth Clan also has this, since they tend to have [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085126/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.
* [[Eloquent in My Native Tongue]]: [https://web.archive.org/web/20110920043944/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=date&id=1307 Vaelia].
* [[Emotionless Girl]]: Naal, and to a much lesser extent Syphile and Ariel at points.
* [[Empathic Healer]]: Faen. A good part of her clan is [[The Empath]].
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* [[Excuse Me, Coming Through]]: Done subtly, see the trope page for example.
* [[Explosive Breeder]]: 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.
* [[Expressive Mask]]: [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826091120/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 ''[[Conan the Barbarian]]''. Many fans proudly declare that Quain can beat up [[Chuck Norris]].
* [[Eyeless Face]]: The Xuile'solen sub-race.
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* [[Family Relationship Switcheroo]]: 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.}}
* [[Fan Nickname]]: Several.
** Fans have dubbed the [https://web.archive.org/web/20111113161745/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?
** 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".
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** 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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826090919/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 Illhar'dro girl named Ishii who appears in Chapter 33 (second from the right on [
* [[Fan Service]]: There's a whole subsection of the site that's expressly devoted to this, and it skirts the border between [[Theiss Titillation Theory|extreme fanservice]] and outright porn.
* [[Fantastic Caste System]]: 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.
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** The Sharen clan heavily taints their males and has them wear sealing armor to prevent them from [[Sealed Evil in a Can|losing control of their seed]] to act as [[Elite Mooks]]
** 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.
* [[Finish Him!]]: [
* [[First Time in the Sun]]: Subverted for Ariel, who gets vertigo immediately.
* [[Fishing for Sole]]: Used [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826090958/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1841 here].
* [[Five-Man Band]]: 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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20131008103443/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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20131008110637/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7676 the cover of chapter 31]. It's {{spoiler|1=[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.
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826090940/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}}.
* [[Foregone Conclusion]]: Lots of readers knew from [[Dramatic Irony|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}}
* [[Free-Range Children]]: 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 [[Truth in Television]] 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 ''[[The Order of the Stick|Order of the Stick]]'', 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...
* [[Freaky Is Cool]]: Naal says this to Kiel [https://web.archive.org/web/20110920091001/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1115 here.]
* [[Funny Background Event]]: These often crop up during crowd scenes, with a standout example on [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826091001/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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826091012/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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826090947/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 [[Self
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20110827152947/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1451 This] guy also nearly gets a [[Groin Attack|knife in the groin]] when the hibachi chef at his table is so distracted by [[Take Our Word for It|Baliir's face under his mask]] that she accidentally flings it his way. His female companion is also ''blushing''.
* [[Furo Scene]]: Once in [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085026/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=540 Chapter 9] and again in [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085231/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7056 Chapter 27].
* [[Fusion Dance]]: {{spoiler|Ragini and Diva'ratrika}} in the backstory, who became {{spoiler|Liriel}}.
* [[Gambit Pileup]]: 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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20131103013251/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 [[Gambit Pileup]], 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.
* [[Gender Flip]]: In universe, it's suggested that the story of the [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826090940/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.
* [[Genki Girl]]: Kyo'nne is the most obvious example.
* [[Get a Hold of Yourself, Man!]]: Shinae not just slaps, but punches Kiel'ndia out of a hysterical fit {{spoiler|over the demonization of Naal'suul}}.
* [[Girls Love]]: Lots of [[Les Yay|implications]], and one explicit couple in {{spoiler|Mel'arnach and Snadhya'rune}}.
* [[Glomp]]: As seen [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826090855/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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826090823/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
* [[Glowing Eyes of Doom]]: Faen, when she intensively uses her empath powers, or during her episode of [[Power Incontinence]].
* [[Godiva Hair]]: [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085244/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=5897 Here] on {{spoiler|Kalki}})
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085231/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. [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085123/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=5300 here].
* [[Government in Exile]]: 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.
* [[Grand Theft Me]]: {{spoiler|Diva'ratrika on Ragini}}, [https://web.archive.org/web/20110711002344/http://www.drowtales.com/longestwait.php?order=date&id=1 which has its own story]. Interestingly, at first it was ''not'' canon, [[Sure Why Not|until the author gave in and made it canon.]]
* [[Grey and Gray Morality]]: The last narration box on [https://web.archive.org/web/20160518025326/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive
* [[Groin Attack]]: 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.
* [[Grotesque Cute]]: [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826090827/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20060405c12p043.JPG Right here.] With a lovely smile, to boot.
* [[Half-Identical Twins]]: Kau and Shala. The only visible differences between them are that one's eyes are a slightly different color and one has spikier hair.
* [[Ham-to-Ham Combat]]: Oh, where to start... let's just make a blanket statement that any time a serious fight starts it become this.
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* [[Hidden Elf Village]]: 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.
* [[Hit So Hard the Calendar Felt It]]: 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.
* [[Honor Before Reason]]: Drow honor [https://web.archive.org/web/20111114001345/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.
* [[Hope Spot]]:
** 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}}.
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** 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.
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826090758/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20060718c12p073.JPG Kyo'vaerde]
* [[Idiot Ball]]: 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 [[A Wizard Did It]], 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.
* [[I Have You Now, My Pretty]]: 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 [[Karmic Death]].}} Note that the first time didn't happen in the original version, which was squickier, but consensual.
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** 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.
* [[Immigrant Patriotism]]: 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.
* [[
* [[I'm a Humanitarian]]: Drow have no compunction over eating the flesh of humans and orcs, who they consider beasts, and even eat their own dead.
* [[Inadequate Inheritor]]: Quain'tana has gone through ''at least'' three heirs.
* [[Infant Immortality]]: Brutally averted on several occasions. Simply being a child is no guarantee for survival.
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826091113/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.]
* [[Instant Fanclub]]: Meta-example: {{spoiler|Kalki}} gained this from the fans when she showed up topless but for [[Godiva Hair]] in Chapter 17.
* [[Interspecies Romance]]:
** One sidestory is about a drow named "[https://web.archive.org/web/20150406194140/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.
* [[It Gets Easier]]: Ariel experiences this, much to her horror, and the fact that [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826090915/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.
* [[It Got Worse]]: 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.
* [[It Runs in The Family]]: Being somewhat naive seems to be a trait shared by both Ariel and {{spoiler|her actual mother Mel'arnach}}.
* [[I Want Grandkids]]: Zala'ess, according to [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085147/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1761 this chibi page]
* [[Jedi Mind Trick]]: {{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}}.
* [[Jerk with a Heart of Gold]]: Kiel'ndia, and a few others, including Kuso, who doesn't seem that bad despite his [[Sir Swearsalot|foul mouth]].
* [[Jerkass Has a Point]]: The Kyorl'solenurn are more or less the mascots of [[Good Is Not Nice]], and yet when it comes to their extremism about the tainted they're surprisingly justified, especially with recent revelations.
* [[Kamehame Hadoken]]: Magical version. Take an ordinary [[Magic Missile]], add 1000 years of (mana/aura)growth and experience - [https://web.archive.org/web/20120913014826/http://www.drowtales.com/longestwaitarchive//20050719c1p023.JPG destruction ensues]. Unfortunately, her targets dodged.
* [[Karma Houdini]]: ''Quain'tana''. So far, and quite a few people wonder if she'll ever get her comeuppance.
* [[Karmic Death]]: {{spoiler|Rikshakar.}}
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* [[Knights Templar]]: The Kyorl'Solenurn clan is this trope personified.
* [[Lady Land]]: The Jaal'darya, who actually want to get rid of men, and probably others to lesser extents.
* [[Lady of War]]: Cool, elegant, ass-kicking Sil'lice personifies this, though she's not above [https://web.archive.org/web/20110920050625/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1057 completely flipping her shit] in the past.
* [[Large Ham]]: As can be inferred in the comic, Quain'tana speaks with a loud, bombastic voice reminiscent of Leonidas in ''[[300]]''. Zala'ess has a flair for the overly-dramatic herself.
** The scene in [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085030/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=453 Chapter 8 where Quain and Zala are verbally sparring], and the duel in [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085038/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 [[Ham-to-Ham Combat]].
** 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.
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* [[Living Emotional Crutch]]: Faen to Ariel.
* [[Lovable Nerd]]: Yafein.
* [[Magic Missile]]: The easiest and most common attack for a fae to use. Can be dodged. [https://web.archive.org/web/20111204082011/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20070731c0p018.jpg Seen in action here], together with mana shields and ordinary crossbows.
* [[Mama Bear]]: 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 [[Replacement Sibling|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.
* [[Mandatory Motherhood]]: 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.}}
* [[Maternally Challenged]]: 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.
* [[Matron Chaperone]]: [
* [[Meaningful Background Event]]: Repeatedly.
** On [
** On [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085111/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.
* [[Meaningful Name]]: [[Word of God]] 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, [https://web.archive.org/web/20131008174657/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 [[Character Sheets]] 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}}.
* [[Mega Neko]]: The Sullissin'rune [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085235/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20061024c02p032.JPG cavalry mounts]/clan animal.
* [[Men Are the Expendable Gender]]: For the most part most drow view their males as this at best.
* [[Mirrored Confrontation Shot]]: [https://web.archive.org/web/20131008104053/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?cid=12 The cover of chapter 12]. The printed Prologue also has [https://web.archive.org/web/20120628150030/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].
* [[Mismatched Eyes]]: The Val'Sullisin'rune family.
* [[Mission
* [[Misunderstood Loner with a Heart of Gold]]: Mel'arnach.
* [[Mix-and-Match Man]]: Rik.
* [[Mooning]]: During Phani'nath's description of the last Ill'haress gathering [https://web.archive.org/web/20160319165717/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive
* [[Estrogen Brigade Bait]]: 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 [[Dragon Lady]].
* [[Ms. Fanservice]]: 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}}.
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* [[Nightmare Sequence]]: 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.
* [[Nominal Importance]]: Kiel lampshades it in [https://web.archive.org/web/20110920040056/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1330 this strip].
* [[Non-Standard Character Design]]: 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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826091040/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.
* [[No Periods, Period]]: [[Word of God]] 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 [
* [[Not Quite Dead]]: 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 [[Fusion Dance]], Ash'waren through a [[Jedi Mind Trick]], 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.
* [[Not So Different]]: Despite being a [[Superior Species]] 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?
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** [[Our Fairies Are Different]]
** [[Our Orcs Are Different|Orcs]] and ''Humans'' are Goblins; Elves, Dragons, Nagas, and Driders are all Fae; Gnomes are "domesticated" Dwarves.
* [[Our Nudity Is Different]]: Drow in Chel'el'sussoloth usually wear high collars, because the (lower) neck is [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085151/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.
* [[People Jars]]: {{spoiler|Sharess' body turns out to be kept in one}}
* [[Pet the Dog]]: "Bad" or at the very least not very nice characters will often get moments like this to add to the [[Grey and Gray Morality]].
** Zala'ess seems to genuinely love her children, and Sil'lice, who before was shown taking joy in torturing tainted gained major [[Pet the Dog]] points when she was revealed to have {{spoiler|1=[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 [[Pet the Dog]] 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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826090816/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 [["Well Done, Son" Guy|Quain]] saying this, it definitely counts.
* [[Pimped-Out Dress]]: 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.
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* [[Politically-Active Princess]]: 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.}}
* [[Potty Failure]]: Implied to have [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826090943/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.
* [[Power Incontinence]]: [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085201/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?id=441 Faen].
* [[Pragmatic Villainy]]: A case can be made for this if [https://web.archive.org/web/20160603215840/http://www.drowtales.com/longestwait.php?order=date&id=11 this page is any indication]
* [[Pretty in Mink]]: Snadhya'runes hardly goes anywhere without her enormous fur coat.
* [[Principles Zealot]]: [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085056/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?id=532 Chiri] mixes this with [[Fantastic Racism]].
* [[Psycho for Hire]]: 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.
* [[Psychopathic Manchild]]: 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 [[Psycho for Hire]], pushed her even further into insanity. Discordia is also showing signs of this, especially in her childlike behavior after she {{spoiler|kills Rik}}.
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* [[Puny Earthlings]]: 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 [[They Wasted a Perfectly Good Plot|bad writing]] or indicative of the power levels of the species involved (see [[Game Breaker]] above) is best left to the forums. [[Word of God]] 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.
* [[Put Off Their Food]]: 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.
* [[PVP-Balanced]]: The old-old start of the comic when it was based on [[Dungeons
* [[Rape, Pillage and Burn]]: S.O.P. for the Sarghress, especially the Highland Raiders. Lampshaded in [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085003/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=361 one chibi page].
* [[Rapid-Fire Fisticuffs]]: Sil'lice's daughter Kadara [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826090936/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20090907c19p013.jpg is particularly adept at this.]
* [[Rapunzel Hair]]: 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.
* [[Really Gets Around]]: Zala'ess and Ash'waren are heavily implied to be this for [[Everyone Is Bi|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.
* [[A Real Man Is a Killer]]: Brutally displayed [https://web.archive.org/web/20120104033810/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=359 here].
* [[Red Eyes, Take Warning]]: 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.
* [[Relationship Reveal]]: {{spoiler|Mel'arnach and Snadhya'rune}} had been teased at before, but chapter 17 [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826090848/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}}.
* [[Religion of Evil]]: 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...
* [[The Remnant]]: 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.
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* [[Rich Bitch]]: Chrys'tel, though her sister Yami'ni seems to top her in just about every way.
* [[Rich in Dollars, Poor In Sense]]: Ariel chief among them, but also some nobles. They tend to be the exception rather than the rule however.
* [[Rite of Passage]]: The Sarghress clan has a Blood Rite which is probably based on ''The Blooding.''
* [[Royally Screwed-Up]]: Just about every noble family, but the Sharen are the most obvious.
* [[Royals Who Actually Do Something]]: Those heiresses don't just sit pretty. Orthorbbae prepares them for combat.
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* [[Running Gag]]: 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!'''''
* [[Satisfied Street Rat]]: Quain'tana's early history. Also deconstructed, since it left her as a horrible parent.
* [[Schizo-Tech]]: Averted. The technology seen in the series ([[Powered Armor]], mana-powered rockets, flying platforms, automatic crossbows, golem and golem limbs, something [[Word of God]] has actually called [
* [[Secret Legacy]]: {{spoiler|Ariel's}} true heritage. And {{spoiler|Kalki}} on both sides, though she knows it.
* [[Seen It All]]: {{spoiler|Sha'sana}} knows critical information that could prevent Chel from going through hell all over again, but she does nothing because [[Somebody Else's Problem|she no longer gives a damn]] about Chel or its problems.
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* [[Shapeshifter Baggage]]: Averted post-retcon.
* [[Shining City]]: Chel'el'sussoloth.
* [[Shout-Out]]: The Sarghress clan symbol has an uncanny resemblance to Guts' brand in [[Berserk]], and [[Word of God]] is that the anime series [https://web.archive.org/web/20131008172353/http://www.drowtales.com/wordpress/?p=3679 was very influential on him].
** And Kyo'nne's [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826090812/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=855 Xellos impression.]
** And the ''[[Conan the Barbarian]]'' inspired clothing/armor/weapons. Quain'tana is more or less [[Robert E. Howard]]'s Conan the Cimmerian, if he were a drow female. Or like Temujin/Ghengis Khan.
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085000/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1364 The summon near the ceiling] looks like [[Pac-Man]].
** Kharla'ggen's hair makes her resemble [[Tenchi Muyo!|Washu]], especially since the demon Sene'kha plans to use Kharla to summon looks like [https://web.archive.org/web/20100116081135/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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20160324073916/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 ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]''. Probably intentional given that the author is known to be a fan of the series.
* [[Sinister Scythe]]: Sene'kha's weapon. It's stated that Vloz'ress nether summoners often pick a large weapon for appearance rather than practicality.
* [[Sir Swearsalot]]: Several characters, but [
* [[Situational Sexuality]]: 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 [[Everyone Is Bi]] society anyway, so it's not as big a deal.
* [[Skeleton Government]]: Averted. Chel'el'Sussoloth's political scene is a major driving force behind the events of the story.
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* [[Super Human Trafficking]]: A halme (human) royal family did this to drow and elves seeking immortality.
* [[Sweet Polly Oliver]]: Ariel goes to the male section of the [[Wizarding School]] to avoid being trapped under the thumb of [[Magnificent Bastard|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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826090805/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1292 later] [[Mythology Gag]].
* [[Sympathetic Murder Backstory]]: 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 [[Berserk Button]].}} It's clearly hinted that the resulting [[My God, What Have I Done?]] 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.
* [[Tangled Family Tree]]: 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!
* [[Tempting Fate]]: [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826091026/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20060503c12p050.JPG Rik]
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826084936/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1142 She's Just Askin' For it...]
** And again, via Chrys'tel: [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085014/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1332 "No summon can talk."] [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826091055/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1387 Eyup].
* [[The Unfavourite]]: Syphile is this trope in drow form.
* [[Those Two Guys]]: 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 [[Gentle Giant]]... except when he fights. He's shown fighting once in the main story and once in a guest side story. He [[Curb Stomp Battle|curbstomps]] his enemies both times. Would be [[Those Two Bad Guys]] except they act more like [[Punch Clock Villain]]s, if that.
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* [[Too Dumb to Live]]: {{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|[[Curb Stomp Battle]]}} Best part? Sil'lice gives her a thorough explanation, and offers to let her [[Heel Face Turn|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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20111114044521/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=6760 finds out the hard way] not to threaten Kiel when Kharla is around.
* [[Torture Technician]]: Sil'lice is a pro.
* [[Tough Love]]: 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]] /==/ [[Jerkass Woobie]] respectively.
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** {{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.
* [[Vapor Wear]]: There have been [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085223/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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085154/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20080810c08p035.jpg clearly has nothing under it].
** The character [
* [[Villainous Valour]]: 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.
* [[Vomit Indiscretion Shot]]: [https://web.archive.org/web/20110920091701/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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826091005/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=622 also threw up] as her body started to change.
* [[Urban Warfare]]: 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.
* [[Warrior Prince]]ss: Ariel, Sil'lice, Chiri... must I list them all?
* [[Webcomic Time]]: From [https://web.archive.org/web/20111106104401/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!"
* [[We Have Ways of Making You Talk]]: Torture is run-of-the-mill in drow society, and due to mana they get creative with it.
* [["Well Done, Son" Guy]]: 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.
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** 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}}.
* [[Wham! Episode]]: [[Wham! Episode/Web Comics/Drowtales|Has its own page]].
* [[Whip Sword]]: Zala'ess's weapon, which she hasn't yet used but has been seen on panel.
* [[White-Haired Pretty Girl]]: Played straight with the Drowolath and most other Fae races native to the Underworld.
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* [[Why Am I Ticking?]]: Naal'suul may count, by virtue of having been 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.}}
* [[With My Hands Tied]]: Vaelia [https://web.archive.org/web/20160826090841/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.
* [[Wizarding School]]: Orthorbbae
* [[The Women Are Safe with Us]]: Averted [
* [[Woman in White]]: Mel often appears like this due to her choice of clothing.
* [[World of Action Girls]]: Yup.
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[[Category:Webcomics Long Runners]]
[[Category:Fantasy Webcomics]]
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