History YMMV / Drowtales

* TooCoolToLive: Alas, poor [[spoiler:Sandaur]], WeHardlyKnewYe.

* UnintentionallySympathetic: Syphile, combined with MisaimedFandom.
* ValuesDissonance: It's a casual fact that slavery is common in the drow world, and along with owning slaves several characters are slaves themselves. This has occasionally lead to fighting in the roleplays when some people want to free the slaves and take a modern perspective.
** A [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=603 played for laughs]] example is found in drow fashion, where [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1370 Mel'arnach's dental floss]] doesn't garner much reaction, but [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=740 Nibai's]] is considered risque. The reason? Ni'bai shows her neck. Which actually makes [[FridgeBrilliance quite a bit of sense]] when you consider how warlike drow are and how the neck is a very vulnerable part of the body, and exposing it is asking for a knife to the jugular.

* EvilIsSexy: By virtue of [[GreyAndGreyMorality the world they live in]] a good amount of the cast arguably applies. Perhaps the best example is that of the Sharen Sisters, particularly Zala.

** Yafein has never been particularly popular, but his post-timeskip appearance and smug attitude cemented it for many people, especially his squick-tastic relationship with his slave, who's heavily implied to be a ReplacementGoldfish for his slave Maya, which adds an uncomfortable [[OedipusComplex Oedipal]] aspect since she was his ParentalSubstitute. Quite a few people laughed when, after his smug statement that the invaders wouldn't bother with him since he was a Sullisin'rune rather than an Illhar'dro, he was shown tied up with the rest of them.

* FunnyAneurysmMoment: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=10155 This]] chibi page, published as filler while the chapter was being put up, becomes a lot less funny since at the end of the chapter [[spoiler:Snadhya basically "voids the warranty" on Kalki by brutally killing her]].

* HarsherInHindsight: The entire series thus far is falling to this, due to recent revelations that [[spoiler: ''every'' tainted character except for a select few are ''doomed'' in 25-50 years.]]

* SuperpowerLottery: The fae, especially the drowolath/drowussu/vanir (light elves). Drowtales is not a setting that is aimed to be balanced in terms of power between factions and species. Period. The humanoid fae are not only dominant in terms of power compared to other species who can't use mana, they are also unbalanced (in terms of gaming) within their own species. It is mentioned in the [[http://www.drowtales.com/wordpress/?p=854 immortality podcast]] that very old dokkalfar or drow can reach a point where they are so powerful that they could wipe out a small army (drow size army, granted) of 'normal'/young (60-200 y.o.) fae. Waes'oloth, the Beldrobbaen Ill'haress is the example used. By that time their aura has grown so huge/dense that they need a whole clan or even city to sustain their bodies in a prime condition. This is why Diva's 'ordinary' mana blast blew a mutlistory building down. Within the city of Chel she had sufficient mana to fuel her attacks to nearly godlike power levels. This disparity in power, both in relation to other species and within their own species, is what makes the fae dominant. Only their comparative absence from the surface for a millenia has allowed the goblin races (halmes, kotorcs, ferals, naga) to become dominant there. A dominance that can be wiped away if the fae (drow or vanir in this case) makes a concentrated effort to do so. (Luckily for the goblins, so far they seem to prefer trade and limited raids.) It is not balanced, it is not fair and it might rub people the wrong way but it is the ''fait accompli'' in the Drowtales setting.
** This is why you're not allowed to play a too old character in the forum RPG.
** Or in other words, the fae are a bit like the Greek or Norse gods compared to the various goblin species, with all the {{Jerkass Gods}} tendencies that implies. It's suggested that the dark elves were so powerful that they're the ones responsible ''for cracking a moon open.''
** Why this might rub people the wrong way? Well, see the Goblin Kingdom? It was taken down by 4 children and a group of six Highland Raiders. It was [[WordOfGod explained that his occurred because they cut that plot rather short]] but still; a King and his castle taken down with ease by a somewhat competent child. A Kingdom that had ransacked and sacrificed light elves for who knows how many months.
*** Some FridgeBrilliance may come here when you realise that the Light Elves had restricted their use of mana over the centuries and this could be why they were able to be raided by halmes frequently in the first place. The Light Elves were also mentioned early in the Prologue to be masters of swordfighting so why several members were able to be kidnapped by the halmes might suggest that such skills were lost over time.
** The sheer power-level in of the drow eliminates any tension or sense of conflict in any chapter where drow are doing anything other than infighting. Exploring, caravan escort, invasion of a human kingdom - it becomes waiting to see how the drow can walk all over the problem of the week, rather than being an engaging and nail-biting conflict.

* UncannyValley: [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=8391 This]] naga lady, who looks normal from the front, but when she turns is revealed to have a flat face, like a snake.
** And Kyo'nne's biogolem, seen [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=8520 here]]. The proportions are off just enough to be unsettling, plus the eyes and lack of ears. The fact that they're a biogolem helps explain some of it, especially since WordOfGod is that biogolems have NoBiologicalSex, even though this one looks externally male (and given that it belongs to Kyo'nne, it may be designed that way on purpose).

* CrackPairing: Quite a few, among the weirdest are Kessen and Sang'oro, whose only interaction was fighting each other [[spoiler:and one is now dead]] and fanart has been drawn of Sarv'swati and Quain'tana making out in a prelude to "the most epic of [[FoeYay hatefucks]]."

* WhatAnIdiot:
** Six words: Syphile. Sneak attack. ''[[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=1010&overview=1&chibi=1&cover=1&extra=1&page=1&check=1 Doing it wrong]]''. Could also be interpreted as HonorBeforeReason if one is charitable.
** Ariel has her moments too. Upon being told that [[spoiler: Mel is her true mother (not Quain'tana)]], she responds, "[[spoiler: [[ComicallyMissingThePoint Mel is Quain'tana]]?]]". Kel'noz's subsequent FacePalm spoke for the fans.

* DarknessInducedAudienceApathy: While Drow society does operate on a different moral wavelength from humans, slavery is still tolerated by almost everyone, everyone is a huge racist (or speciesist more accurately), and -- if female -- a misandrist to boot with few exceptions, and their culture is plagued by violence and self-centered debauchery. Several readers have expressed the thought that most characters could die and they wouldn't be that bothered by it or that the setting's degenerate society could collapse and they wouldn't mind either in the sense that whatever replaces it can't be any worse.

** Kyo'nne jumped over it yelling "wahoo" when she, completely unprovoked, and without warning, [[spoiler: violated the rules of diplomacy and sacred rights of the messenger by having the airship she's riding turn and fire a broadside on the tower where Ariel is residing and ruling Matchike because Ariel wasn't foolish enough to walk into a Felde "gathering" a second time.]] To firmly cement Kyo's villainy at this point, Kyo isn't weeping, restrained, or held at sword point. With a completely neutral, if not bored, expression, she says "how stupid."

*** In Chapter 46, the [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=10028 execution of the squad]] left no more doubt about Snadhya's status as a monster. Her clear enjoyment of the squad's suffering really cemented it. And at the end of the same chapter, it made many readers agree that [[spoiler:Snadhy'rune has outdone even Quain'tana, who at least showed ''some'' emotion when she killed Syphile, on being an AbusiveParent by telling her own daughter she only saw her as a tool and then killing her in cold blood without any regrets]]

** Ariel Val'Sarghress has done some pretty awful things which may or may not set her over the MoralEventHorizon, but she's also had horrible stuff done to her.

** For Quain, we have [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=7838 this]], which has caused several readers to declare that not even death is a good enough punishment for her now. Even before that, the revelation that she [[spoiler:stole Ariel from Mel, and the heavy implication that she had Mel raped to try and concieve]] put her here.
** Fans are also now saying that, related to the above, Snadhya'rune may have landed herself here if she ''knew'' the above was going to happen but sent Mel back to the Sarghress anyway. Assuming you didn't already think she crossed it because of [[spoiler:her responsibility for the Nidraa'chal War]].
** Yet another moment for Snadhya'rune comes after what happened to [[spoiler:Shinae's baby]] since WordOfGod confirms that [[spoiler: it's the result of Snadhya's faulty seeds]]. She may not have done the deed directly, but [[spoiler: a child was still horribly mutated and died before it could even be born]] and worse, it's very heavily implied that it's not the first or last time it's happened. And worse, the main victims are [[spoiler:Snadhya's own family, and her plans boil down to wiping them all out]].
*** In Chapter 44, if you didn't already think Snadhya'rune was over it [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=9634 her smug expression]] as [[spoiler:Mel'arnach runs into her arms and instantly forgives her]] did this for a lot of people who were on the fence with the "is their relationship genuine?" question. As one forum goer commented, the correct reaction to hearing that [[spoiler:your girlfriend has been imprisoned for 15 years, had her arms broken and her children taken from her]] is ''not that''. Much worse is that Snadhya's expression suggests it all went according to plan, including the terrible things.
*** In Chapter 46, the [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=10028 execution of the squad]] left no more doubt about Snadhya's status as a monster. Her clear enjoyment of the squad's suffering really cemented it.
*** At the end of the above chapter, it made many readers agree that [[spoiler:Snadhy'rune has outdone even Quain'tana, who at least showed ''some'' emotion when she killed Syphile, on being an AbusiveParent by telling her own daughter she only saw her as a tool and then killing her in cold blood without any regrets]]

** To finally show how far she has fallen morally, Mel as a [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive/20191004c56p062_u0zUq36A9e.jpg Nids assassin]] kills her twin brother, Kel. However, she does spare her daughter, but if she ever finds out she was the one who did it then it would sever their relationship forever.

** Ariel has her moments too. Upon being told that [[spoiler: Mel is her true mother (not Quain'tana)]], she responds, "[[spoiler: [[CompletelyMissingThePoint Mel is Quain'tana]]?]]". Kel'noz's subsequent FacePalm spoke for the fans.

* CompleteMonster:
** [[TheChessmaster Snadhya'rune]] of the Sharen is steadily revealed as the closest thing the series has to a BigBad. Snadhya masterminds the rise of the Nidraa'chal, a terrorist faction that specifically makes a focus on targeting civilians, in order to throw the city of Chel into chaos. Snadhya also masterminds the murder of her mother in order to seize more power, using her daughter Kalki as the Nidraa'chal's proxy leader to keep herself out of the spotlight. Snadhya is also a sexual predator at Orthobbae, the school she runs and also where she recruited many of the Nidraa'chal's members by seduction, including her longtime lover Mel'arnach. Snadhya uses Mel as a tool and sends Mel back to her [[AbusiveParents controlling and brutal mother Quain'tana Val'Sarghress]],who breaks Mel's arms and holds her captive for 15 years. When Snadhya has several Sarghress captives, she toys with them before sadistically executing them to show off her new airship. Then when Kalki defies an order from Snadhya for the second time, Snadhya coldly informs her that she [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness has run out of chances]] and has her killed by her summons without any emotion whatsoever.
** [[TheChessmaster Sene'Kha Vloz'Vress]] was the Drow responsible for turning the Vloz'Vress from a quirky RagtagBandOfMisfits into a far more sinister organization via [[ManipulativeBastard manipulation of its super powerful]], but child-minded ruler Kharla. Sene'Kha uses Kharla to kill her opposition or [[AndIMustScream turn them into living dolls]] while using the Vloz'Vress as an expendable force. Sene'Kha even has them bind demons to themselves as practical suicide bombs and when finally captured, it is revealed she had planned to annihilate the vast majority of the City of Chel and rule over the remainder.

** Snadhya'rune is this as well. See also DracoInLeatherPants for one reason, and a major topic of debate is whether [[spoiler:she really loves Mel]] with both sides of the debate having long lists of why their theory is correct and the other side is full of it.

** To finally show how far she has fallen morally, Mel as a [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive/20191004c56p062_u0zUq36A9e.jpg Nids assassin]] kills her twin brother, Kel. However, she does spare her daughter, but if she ever finds out she was the one who did it then it would severe their relationship forever.

** To finally show how far she has fallen morally, Mel as a [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive/20191004c56p062_u0zUq36A9e.jpg Nids assassin]] kills her twin brother, Kel, and tries to [[OffingtheOffspring coldly murder Ariel]] as well, so that the Sarghress clan can finally perish. Cementing in many readers' eyes, that her hatred has made her become as [[AbusiveParents bad or even worse of a mother]] than Quain ever was.

** Even though Syphile is ''[[spoiler:dead]],'' bringing her up on the forum is a surefire way to start a flame war. It's also fairly common for people to compare new flame wars to the Great Syphile Flame War of '09, when this reached its peak during the chapter where [[spoiler:she dies]].
** Quain'tana Val'Sarghress. Like Syphile, since she's seen as either a CompleteMonster or a horrifically realistic depiction of her brand of conqueror.

** Yet another BaseBreaker; when Wafay turned up, the subject of drowning babies came up in the forums, thus her popularity with the fans is based on whether they're for or against on the topic.

** Diva'ratrika is another major base breaker. Was she a character who had to do bad things to keep her empire stable or was she a bad ruler with an inflated sense of self importance which led to Chel's current state and [[spoiler: her own eventual downfall at the hands of her daughters]]? Her actions towards the defeated in the Sharen/Sullisin'rune War? A necessary step to keep the peace, or is Ash'waren justified in wanting revenge? If the shoe were on the other foot, who is to say that the Sullisin'rune would not have done the same (or worse) to the Sharen?

** Kiel herself has become a bit of a base breaker since becoming the official comic mascot, with many finding her antics annoying and childish, labelling her a SpotlightStealingSquad, and others finding her zaniness a welcome distraction from the oftentimes depressing war setting.
** Mel too has become a base breaker, especially with her behaviour in Chapter 44 and Chapter 46. Some say she is justified because of the abuse she suffered at the hands of Quain'tana while others feel she has gone full circle and became a hypocrite and is no better than Quain. How she reacted to the brutal execution of the Sarghress squad in Chapter 46 turned off a lot of people who formerly sympathised with her. But it seems the hate died down when her conversation with Zhor showed just how Snadhya broke her and that Snadhya was doing it for quite a long time. One key point was how Zhor compared the clothing Snadhya gave Mel to that of Kalki's pets, and Mel couldn't really come up with a rebuttal.
** Ariel, herself, as of the latest chapters. Many forumites are getting ready to throw her onto the scrappy pile, not just because she fails to know things that only those with knowledge beyond the fourth wall would [[spoiler: like Vene's death]], but because they believe she's not growing as a character, at all, and lets herself get smacked around too much. Others are annoyed that she's survived too often purely by what they percieve as plot armor, and want her beat up ''even more''. Some want to see her completely snap and go OmnicidalManiac, or close to it, abusing her shapeshifter powers to become a literal monster. Many even wonder why she "takes so long" to retaliate and is hestitant to kill her foes, even when taking into account that while the audience is enduring the story over several days or weeks, for her, it's been ''hours'', tops. Those who remember that she's still young, inexperienced, and that the closest thing she's had to a "proper" education, is getting hunted like wild game down the corridors of Orthobbae for sport, and that every one of her kills, justified or no, has been horrifically traumatizing, '''for her''' is becoming an ever decreasing number.

* PacingProblems: Drowtales is generally focused on story and characters more than action. However, people being people, the choices of the creative team in how to tell the story fairly regularly end up in TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot, SlowPacedBeginning, OffscreenMomentOfAwesome, BattleDiscretionShot, a kind of RelaxOVision, TheyPlottedAPerfectlyGoodWaste, or TakeOurWordForIt. Or SugarWiki/GushingAboutWritingYouLike. The creative team has acknowledged some of these problems, have been attempting to fix some of them with newer chapters and it seems that it's working.

* TheScrappy: Several.

* CrowningMomentOfFunny: [[{{Funny/Drowtales}} Many]], and the chibi pages in particular tend to be full of them.
* CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming: Courtesy of Ariel and Faen, Mel, and Vaelia, also Kiel and Naal. Any moment where two characters are shown to truly care for one another.

** [[TheChessmaster Snadhya'rune]] of the Sharen is steadily revealed as the closest thing the series has to a BigBad. Snadhya masterminds the rise of the Nidraa'chal, a terrorist faction that specifically makes a focus on targeting civilians, in order to throw the city of Chel into chaos. Snadhya also masterminds the murder of her mother in order to seize more power, using her daughter Kalki as the Nidraa'chal's proxy leader to keep herself out of the spotlight. Snadhya is also a sexual predator at Orthobbae, the school she runs and also where she recruited many of the Nidraa'chal's members by seduction, including her longtime lover Mel'arnach. Snadhya uses Mel as a tool and sends Mel back to her [[AbusiveParents controlling and brutal mother Quain'tana Val'Sarghress ]],who breaks Mel's arms and holds her captive for 15 years. When Snadhya has several Sarghress captives, she toys with them before {{sadist}}ically executing them to show off her new airship. Then when Kalki defies an order from Snadhya for the second time, Snadhya coldly informs her that she [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness has run out of chances]] and has her killed by her summons without any emotion whatsoever.