[EdTheKet]

What I was suggesting, is that there are a significant number of influential people (primarily adventurers) who would vouch for and have friends among the Dark Elves. Those who, despite the atrocities of the Drow race, would at least give a Drow the opportunity to prove himself/herself trustworthy.

First of all, what makes you think they’re influential, and with whom do they have influence?
Second of all, they don’t have friends among the Dark Elves, they have friends among Dark Elf outcasts (for lack of a better word). Dark Elves are treacherous in dealings with other Dark Elves, and even more so in dealings with other races. They will break any agreements made with people from other races as soon as an agreement is not advantageous to them anymore.
So the smart thing to do is to not trust a Dark Elf, not even one that’s been on the surface for a while or one that has helped you a few times. It’s likely to be a ruse and you’ll get backstabbed in the night.
And it’s even worse if elves start to treat them as friends!
They should hate each others guts. After all, the Dark Elves betrayed the Surface Elves…. Err, the Surface Elves betrayed the Dark Elves… Errr…. Who betrayed who again?
This Betrayal led to the War between the Elves (in the year -2311 on Layonara, check the timeline and the history sections). Every Elf knows this, moreover, from an elf perspective (who live 7 centuries) it’s not even that long ago!
As for opportunities to prove themselves worthy. There are 51 drow characters above level 5, only 25 of those have been played the last 3 months and there are a couple of hundred thousand drow. 25 out of a couple of hundred thousand, if people are smart they shouldn’t give them an opportunity to prove themselves. Based on the centuries of backstabbing, atrocities and betrayals, people should expect them to turn on them eventually, so shouldn’t give them the opportunity.

My own character, Cole, does not trust drow, and was there at the occupation of Spellgard, and when adventurers were being poisoned. He's killed many and points out to any Drow he meets that he has done so. He has, however, developed a working relationship with certain "darkies," even offering them a measure of respect.

Nothing wrong with respecting your enemy

There are a significant number of respected people who have seen that the Dark Elves are, in fact, capable of doing good, and that in itself is enough to have hope for their race, however minute that hope is.

Have these respected people read the history books and been around lately?
Drow. Are. Evil.
And as for doing good? Or doing a small bit of good for a larger evil plan in the background? Judging on the well-deserved reputation of the drow, it’s the latter.

Yes, I realize I'm debating with the loremaster himself, although I truly don't disagree with him (not that it would matter if I did). It just is apparent I needed to clarify myself.

Loremaster, I like that Thanks.