Ancient Drow Philosophy

The Ancient Drow based their philosophy on the profound belief that all existence follows a hidden hierarchy. This revelation came when the now forgotten deity Bephial shared it with some of his followers who had bathed in the blood of a family of Elves that they had exsanguinated in his name. This event was one of the defining ones that would lead the Ancient Drow to adopt new religions and traditions which would eventually get them banished to the Depths.  

Cosmological Hierarchy

The Ancient Drow believed that the meaning of life differed based on the hierarchal layer a being found themselves in.  

Elven Layers

A mortal Elf would fit into one of the following layers:

Kechèna, the lesser. These people were meant to toil and suffer to uplift others without any possibility of having a real worthwhile life for themselves. For many cultural purposes they were not considered living beings but mere tools. One was never born into Kechèna but suffer greatly throughout childhood and end up in Kechèna at the start of their adult life. The Kechèna were taught that if they did not endure their life then their spirit would be forced to repeat it. A Kechèna was coerced into sterilization through the belief that when they died their spirit would travel back in time to inhabit the body of their child. In human terms this was a slave class.

Kyzgani, the pitiful. The lowest of the people who were considered to be living beings. These people were socially forced to the menial jobs and they could work their way up by becoming the overseers of other menial workers. A Kyzgani usually worked alongside the Kechèna but worked shorter shifts. The Kyzgani were allowed to have families and the better a Kyzgani worked the better a life they could afford for their children. In human terms this was the lower worker class.

Ymyrta, the backbone. The bulk of Ancient Drow belonged to the Ymyrta. During childhood an Ymyrta was given the means to study for a skilled job. They would grow up to do honorable work and have enough sophistication to converse about things like philosophy. Alternatively a Ymyrta was a failed Kòch. The Ymyrta included farmers, hunters, merchants, servants, and soldiers.

Kòch, the force. The Kòch were split in two groups, the Kranicha or minds, and the Tarylasi or hands. These people were raised with a broader view on life. They understood that they were capable of things greater than their ancestors if they were humble enough to acknowledge the foundation that their ancestors had laid. The Kranicha dedicated themselves to magic and technology. The Tarylasi dedicated themselves to the skilled crafts such as smithing and engineering.

Saraki, the better. A Saraki is born to a wealthy family and grew up to be a person of exceptional influence through natural means. Though the Saraki are at the top of society, they are not any better off than the Kòch on the philosophical level. Their reaches in the existence are no better than the goods and services they can purchase. The Saraki usually end up following a Bokal and go down in history as a patron to greatness rather than a great person themselves.

Jörl, the heart. These people weren't really considered part of the hierarchal order but more an addition to their original layer. The Jörl would practise an artform and demonstrate it to the people in exchange for patronage. Few of the Ancient Drow were Jörl as the struggles of life in the Depths didn't really allow for a non-productive profession.

Mobaz, the spirits. The Mobaz were the spiritual and religious leaders. They led ceremonies meant to help the people through emotional times. Their lives are dedicated to tradition and council. Though the Mobaz are considered at the same social level of importance as the Kòch, they can achieve much greater things and are thus philosophically placed much higher in the hierarchy.

Bokal, the speakers. The Bokal are the ones who lead the Ancient Drow. All people, Kyzgani and Saraki alike, rally behind their words. A Bokal was usually raised in at least a Kòch household. These are the people who are eternalized in records, arts and tales.

Citta, the beyond. This layer was exclusively assigned posthumously to those who were at the center of something exceptional in the cosmological sense.

All Ancient Drow were bound to these layers, which represented the greatest impact they could have in the universe.  

Deital Layers

The deital layers described what was beyond the Elf, the unattainable.  

Katlau, the comprehensive. These beings or representations of beings were fully understood by most Elves. Though an Elf could never become one, their actions and reasons could be described and were comparable to those of Elves. The Katlau are demigods and the higher Celestials and Fiends.

Akylas, the unreasonable. Though Elves could not comprehend these beings, they weren't better than the Katlau, they were just too different. Their actions and capabilities were akin to that of the Katlau but they did not follow a reasoning that could be understood. Many Celestials, Demons, and other creatures from the various planes fall in this category.

Külaykà, the shadows. These beings did things that were not understood and would not make themselves known. They were largely unknown actors. It is unclear if they are more or less capable than the Gaudalàn.

Gaudalàn, the embodiments. A Gaudalàn makes itself known to mortals but possesses capabilities and reasoning that cannot be understood. These are the typical deities.

    The goal of living is to ascend through the layers to the highest a species can attain. Later developments added that one could "break out" of the limits inherent to a species. Most scholars agree that this additon came after the Azethians started to spread through the world, including the Depths.