Underdark drow rankings

Hello all,

I wanted to discuss the drow ranking system currently in place. This also because i have been hearing some wierd titles i have never heard of before.
I played drow on a very lore accurate nwn 1 server where the following ranking was applied:

Tier 1: City Leaders

Ilharess (10)
Ulath Tallar ('8')
Ul'Faeruk/Faerz'un'arr (7)
Ul'Saruk/Saress (7)
Ul'Vegluk/Veldriss (7)
Yath Tallar (7++)

Tier 2: Academy Masters

Qu'el'Faeruk (6)
Qu'el'Saruk/Saress (6)
Qu'el'Vegluk/Veldriss (6)
Yathrin (6++)
Faern (6)
Sutrinos (6)
C'Rintri (Otherwise Unranked Noble) (6+)


Tier 3: Confirmed Ranks

M'elzar (5)
Draada (5)
Yath Abban (4++)

Tier 4: All Others

Zhuanin (3)
Sargtlin (3)
Temple Servant (Unconfirmed Yath Abban) (3+)
Ssins D'Aerth ("Entertainer") (2)
Shebali (Rogue/houseless Drow) (1)
Wanre/All others (0)

Number = Relative rank. Anything with the same number means it is generally at the same rank as anything else with that number, and anything with a higher number generally will outrank those below it. Deference would go to the higher position (as above arrow states) but Variations also apply due to below System (+/-). +/- = Adjust accordingly due to nobility; house, etc. A 5++ will deserve deference from a 5+ which will deserve the same from a 5. However, a 5++ will usually not outrank a 6; though nobility and temple status play a part... the Ul'Saress outranks a Yath Tallar; yet a Yath Tallar has temple status and so is accorded deference (7 opposed to a 7+) Tier Status is absolute No matter any other influences involved; the Tier status may be considered as equal to the Caste system of Medieval society. If you are in tier 3 and you greet someone in Tier two; Tier two Will Outrank You. Once more; A tier Two commoner greeting a Tier Three noble should show deference to nobility; but they still do outrank the noble... NOTE: Ranks that are automatically noble by virtue of the position they hold are marked with a * All others, noble status will play a part in position and deference as explained earlier.


Thoughts?

Ulathtallar is higher, they would be on equal if not higher ranking than the First Illharess of a city, they are at the head of the Church of lolth after all. yathtallar would also be higher easily than the ul'faruk and ul'saruk and can overrule the illharess when it comes to matters of faith.
Yathrins are higher than Quellar masters and yathabbans would be higher than draada's and M'elzar's.
Generally Yath holds greater power sooner than the other counterparts but thats because of how central the yath is to the drow society. Also bear in mind a jaluk of higher rank than a jalil must still show respect to the jalil.

Hence the ++ on all yath ranks they fall within the same tier but are still superior . And the illharess part depends on the ranking of the house.

Then I would shove yathabban from 4 to 5, I would still say the ulathtallar would be at the very top equal if not higher than illharess

No since the Ulath Tallar is also the member of a quellar and at the head of this is an illharess.
The illharessen of the ruling houses form a council that in turn decides over everything that happens in the city.
Note that the power of the illharess is also dependant on the power of her particular house. Hence most drow cities have a ranking system in place for the various houses. In Menzo there is a top 8 of houses i believe.

Ulathtallar is the head of the Yath of a city and expected to put the faith before any quellar affiliation they may hold.



Taken from Drow of the Underdark

Not having been able to play on the server yet, I do have a few remarks on the subject.

(1) The list referred to comes from Arelith, and the most important comments accompanying it

Quote :

Position = Descending order of rank. If a rank is listed above another rank; it always outranks the ones below it; at least in theory. A M'elzar always outranks a Yath Abban in theory... In practice other things must be considered... Is the M'elzar a commoner? Is the Yath Abban noble? etc etc etc. (just used as a general example) A Prime example of this below is The "Ul" ranks outrank a Yath Tallar, yet pissing off a Yath Tallar will most likely Draw the Full Evil of the temple upon you, so...

and especially

Quote :

Keep in mind all of this is still only Generalized Guideline; and the safest rule is to protect your behind and show respect to those who could mop the floor with you.

are missing.

It might hold between two individuals given a specific power constellation within a city, or it might not. What it most definitely is not, is a "Universal Law of who outranks whom". Drow are simply too chaotic for that. Rank, position, is mostly what Drow A is able to *enforce* upon Drow B, or what other Drow (C,D, and E) will enforce on B because B's lack of deference also threatens their own "station". Or it is brought about by circumstance: when Drow A needs something from Drow B, he (or she) will automatically take their relative balance of power into account when speaking. Not so far as to compromise the official ranking order *in public*, but Drow A will definitely adjust his/her tone of address in private.

Think e.g. of the Bregan D'aerthe in Menzobarranzan. Its leader, Jarlaxle, is a jaluk (male) and officially a shabali (houseless drow). However, he is probably finds favour with Lolth because he is so resourceful and ... chaotic. Even Matron Yvonnel Baenre treated him halfway civilly when she summoned him in private and allowed him to get away with a certain lippyness that would have cost any other male his life. So it's all according to the situation.

So relative station *always* requires some thought, and you cannot use a list like that to relieve you from the burden of thinking and adjusting your RP to circumstances and current power balance.

I think that that Gandruf comes closest with the citation underlining the chaotic nature of Drow commnunities, but I wonder about that bit of

Quote :

Ulathtallar is higher, [...]

since in practice almost any Matron Mother would be a Priestess, if not a High Priestess. And even a High Priestess would (as I see it) be polite to the Matron of her own House (or risk a fight to the death against heavy odds, unless she is actually ready to kill the Matron and take her place).

Of course, on any server you can elect to institute your own rules but I believe that the above is closer to canon.