The Danis: Dark elves, culture, history, and Biology.
Introduction
The Dark elves or Danis, or as they were once known in ages past the Mundis or Moon Born. These people are the children of Senea. Their appearances, culture, and lives are all reflections of the Moon Goddesses eternal beauty and mystery. They were the first race born to Ealtiyn. They were the first to fall, but from their mistakes others learned and grew so that the descendents of the Moon Elves, and the young Koragi race would rise together and build the largest and most powerful nation in the history of the world.Basic Information
Biological Traits
Some unique biological features that distinguish Dark elves from the other races of Ealtiyn besides their appearance are as follows. Dark elves have a special connection with water giving mages of the race an innate connection with water magic. They also possess higher than average strength and stamina allowing them to lift far heavier objects than other races as well as do physically taxing tasks for far longer than other races.
Additional Information
Social Structure
The social structure of dark elves is unique when compared to the Koragi with whom they've built a civilization alongside. Dark Elves tend to live in large generational households with each member of the household having an area dedicated to his or her own research. They pay immense respect to their elders and practice a form of ancestor worship (Though this ancestor worship often takes the form of remembering an individuals accomplishments rather than the individual themselves) with a family having an ancestral tomb located either within their house/compound or within the city where there family first originated within.
Family Structure
Their family structure is a very loose nuclear family with more emphasis placed on strong bonds between all members of the extended family, as the success of ones own lineage is intimately connected with that of the rest of ones extended family.Facial characteristics
Dark Elves have angular faces with pointed ears and slightly slanted eyes. Their eyes will glow red or pale blue regardless of the actual color of their iris's. Their sclera is also a teal or maroon color depending on the individual and will often influence the color of the glow their eyes give off.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
The Dark Elves largely live on the continents of Omeron and Iadria within the lands of the Holy Ayselin Imperium. They originated on the continent of Iadria where the Goddess Senea first molded them using her own blood, the waters of the ocean, and the rocks of seaside cliffs.
Civilization and Culture
Major Organizations
The most major institutions that dark elves are associated with are the Holy Ayselin Imperium, Various Imperial education institutions, several major Elven families are associated with royal families in the kingdoms across the empire such as the Red-sands family, and the current ruling house of the empire the Adhir imperial family. They also make up roughly 60% of all mages within the empire with close ties to the four schools of magic.
Beauty Ideals
Dark Elven beauty ideals are quite divergent from the Koragi with whom they share a society with. For starters they heavily embrace facial piercings while they don't go so far as stretching skin with their piercings it isn't uncommon to find a dark elf adorned with many golden and silver chains and even have piercings that dangle from their faces. Most men and women also grow their hair out with men's hair being shoulder length, and women growing their hair down to their lower back; keeping it very neatly curled and braiding golden jewelry into their hair. Men also grow large beards that they regularly trim but adorn similarly to their hair.
In terms to what physical features they find attractive, while it does vary from one individual to the next, what is generally considered the most attractive is individuals with skin the color of the midnight sky while illuminated by the full moon, with jet black or snow white hair, and turquoise blue eyes. For that is what is generally considered to be as close as one can get to what they looked like before their fall.
Gender Ideals
There are no "gender roles" within Dark elven society to speak of, Men and Women are seen as full equals and ones worth in their culture is dependent on what one accomplishes. Men and women both have equal opportunity to grow and accomplish the only limiting factor is their own intelligence and personal drive to create and discover. Within a Dark Elven household tasks, chores, and household duties are taken up by those who are able to accomplish them.
Courtship Ideals
Courtship amongst dark elves typically begins with a suitors declaration of their intent to win an individual's hand in marriage (Courtship can be initiated by a man or a woman). Throughout the courtship process there is exchanging of gifts as well as outings arranged by the suitor to show why they are best potential mate for the individual they wish to marry. The courtship process is not entirely one sided though, the suitor or suitress's prospect also has traditions and roles to fulfill to show their pursuer both their interest and commitment (for dark elves love is much less of a guessing game than it is for other races). For example the acceptance of gifts but also the returning of said investment in the form of their time and attention as well as the giving of their own gifts as well.
The courtship process according to Dark Elven traditions lasts two years, after which the suitor/suitress's prospect must make a choice as to whether they'll give their hand in marriage to their prospective partner. Should they choose to rebuff their persurers affections after the traditional courtship period it is expected that they give back all the gifts they were given by the suitor/suitress. If they give their hand in marriage then the process of planning a two week long extravagant wedding celebration is to commence. At the conclusion of this celebration the newlyweds retreat to their private bedchambers where they consummate their marriage.
Relationship Ideals
Dark Elven views on relationships is very fluid in comparison to other elven races. To dark elves Love is Love, and homosexual relationships are accepted and celebrated alongside heterosexual relationships. This is to do in large part with the many tragedies this race has endured over their history. They've learned that to get caught up in petty and often useless squabbles over who may love who is ultimately counterproductive. Another reason for this view of love and relationships also comes from the fact that Senea, the goddess who created their species, is also the goddess of love and in their eyes, to rule on and decree who is allowed to love who and who isn't allowed that same right would be an insult to their goddess.
Average Technological Level
They are the technological, magical, and alchemical research backbone of the Holy Ayselin Imperium. They have pioneered many technologies that other races and nations of the world are still years away from creating an equivalent to. they're magical achievements are unparalleled with wards of protection around cities, castles, important institution and, religious sites being designed, and cast by Dark Elven mages and maintained by them. Their alchemical mastery is unparalleled as well. they've spearheaded the creation of many medicinal potions with all kinds of properties and effects both helpful and harmful.
Common Dress Code
their style of dress is incredibly similar to that of medieval Persians, and the Ancient Assyrians. Men have tightly braided or curled beards with gold jewelry woven into it, and their hair is always neatly curled. Women tightly curl their hair and add jewelry to it as well. Both men and women also have facial piercings and colorful facial tattoos. Their clothing is typically brightly colored with alchemically created dyes. Dark elves often wear clothing of their own designs that follow the current popular design trends but with each individuals own personal modifications based on their daily lives and vocations.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
The dark elven culture is incredibly unique in how they work, and how they structure their families. They hold deep religious reverence for the ocean, the goddess Senea, and the cycle of the tide. They are scholarly people who devote their lives to a singular area of study, whether magical, botanical, scientific or otherwise dark elves devote their lives to their chosen field always chasing after the next big breakthrough. It isn’t uncommon to enter a Danis Household and find that each member of the family old enough to devote themselves to their scholarly pursuits to each have their own private studies or laboratories. It’s also not uncommon to find Danis taking jobs as professors at universities and advisors to kings and nobles across the Ayselin Imperium. Despite their inquisitive nature and pursuit of knowledge, there is one subject that is considered to be universally taboo amongst Dark elven kind, and that is any research into magically or medicinally lengthening life, or attempting to regain their ancient immortality. Their culture in terms of architecture and religious beliefs has had a profound impact on that of the Koragi.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Some commonly observed traditions of the Dark Elven people include the First Mark Ceremony, The widespread familial tradition of parents taking their children to receive their first piercings. Several major holidays commemorating Lunar and Solar Eclipses throughout the year, as well as holidays for the summer solstice, autumn equinox, and festivals whenever a month has a blue moon.
Common Taboos
Dark elves have relatively few major taboos or things which they might choose not to pursue or discuss and many of those are subject reinterpretation or exploration as time goes on. There is One major exception to this, and that is the artificial lengthening of one's life or the pursuit of immortality through any means; whether that be technological, medicinal, or magical matters not. If it is discovered that you are researching or pursuing this topic in any way, you can be sure that you will become a social outcast or pariah. That is if they don't choose to imprison or execute you.
History
Foundation Era
At the creation of the world after it was formed The goddess of the moon Senea created the moon elves from the land where the waters of the ocean met the shore. She fashioned them after her eternal beauty, giving them skin like the night sky, eyes that gave off the holy light of the moon, and curly hair black as a moonless night to reflect her mysterious yet beautiful nature. After she created them she walked amongst them for a time before returning to her place in the sky with her husband Ameten, and the elves her immortal children christened themselves Mündis, The Moon born; or as most called them the Moon elves.Prehistory
They quickly begin to build a culture centered around magical study and worship of the moon. Emphasizing the moon in their dress and in their architecture, along with building great ziggurats out of moonstone and granite to be places of worship and reflection as signs of devotion to their goddess and creator. As their population grew so did their territory, they began to quickly spread beyond Iadria, encountering the recently born race the Koragi on the larger continent of Omeron. Incorporating them into their empire and “enlightening” the young mortal race. At the height of their empire the Moon Elves controlled 4 of the 6 continents of Ealtiyn. They also Participated in the Draco-Mordis Wars and were the primary authors of the peace treaty that created the Dragon Rider OrderCollapse Era
As their dominion grew and spread, so did their lust for power. Their focus quickly turned inward and became cruel and obsessive with their magical and intellectual studies turning towards breaking their physical chains and ascending to godhood for just being immortal was no longer enough for them. They began to lay the groundwork for a ritual that would allow them to cast off their metaphysical bonds despite warnings from the draconic races and silent pleas from their goddess to stop what they were doing. They continued with their work and began to craft the ritual. When the ritual began it seemed that they had done what they set out to do, however Deśni Goddess of magic, creator of the weave, Daughter of Senea and Ameten. Seeing their attempt to upset the magical balance struck the Moon Elves down at the height of their spell stripping them of their immortality, the starlike marks on their skin, and turning their skin dull to symbolize their lost purity. Ushering in the Dark Era.Dark Era
Following the loss of their immortality any Moon elf over the age of 120 years old died instantly killing off over two thirds of their population overnight. Their problems were just begun however as the Dawn elves; Now christening themselves as the high elves, launched a campaign of genocide against those they now called the Dark elves. By the end of this genocide the now Dark elves had been pushed back to the coasts of their ancient homeland of Iadria and their population had been reduced from one billion, to less than ten thousand. With the Elves going into hiding in small scattered camps across the Continent, fading into obscurity and the other races of Ealtiyn believed they had gone extinct.Recovery Era
in the first years after they had gone into hiding one of the first new cultural traditions created was the application of colorful facial tattoos that denoted ones lineage back to an original Moon elf, that their origins may never be forgotten, and the adoption of facial piercings consisting of simple rings or long chains as symbols of great accomplishment and rites of passage. Also during their first few decades as mortals the mental anguish of their minds adjusting to their now shortened lifespan and new need to procreate more rapidly lead to an ever decreasing population for the first 50 years. The anguish of this process led to the very notion of becoming immortals again becoming incredibly taboo and the Elves began to view their punishment as a blessing for now they could experience the world as it was truly meant to be experienced. This is what leads to their culture of constant innovation and discovery as it leads to a mindset that every Dark elf must leave this world having made a lasting impact or discovery that benefits the world.Koragi Unification Wars
During the opening stages of the Koragi unification wars the Danis as the dark elves now called themselves had reestablished some semblance of their former civilization, and their attention was turned towards the upheaval on the continent of Omeron and the 3 rival factions fighting for dominance, the Newly declared Holy Ayselin Imperium, The Unified Koragi Free states, and the Theocratic Ametist Republic. With subjects of debate amongst the Danisian Rulers being what they would do should one of these powerful factions decide to forcibly integrate their people into their Nascent Nations. The general consensus was that the Danis would begin growing their naval strength and fortifying their coasts as the Belligerent Ametist Republic was capturing and subjugating Koragi kingdoms and city states along the southernmost coast of the Continent of Omeron and were sending scouting vessels along the Iadrian Northern coastline. Before the republic could launch an invasion of the Iadrian continent however the Ayselin Imperium routed their forces and unified the southern coast under their banner. They then sent a fleet of Envoys to the Danisian kingdoms extending a hand of peace to their once lost brethren and extending an offer of integration with the Imperium which the Danis accepted. They immediately pledged their military and navy to the Imperium’s war effort and helped the Koragi Conquer the other two nations uniting the Omeron and Iadrian continents under a single banner.Current Era
In the modern era Koragi and Danisian culture is so intermixed that there is no difference between the two anymore from the large Ziggurats as places of worship to the Emphasis placed on the four chief gods of their pantheon, Senea The moon and water, Ameten the sun and fire, Cerda the earth and nature, and Dësní the weaver and prophet. Their architectural motifs of the sun and moon, as well as the style of the buildings constructed. The Danis are also responsible for many of the great magical, technological, military, and medical advances within the imperium. One such Military advancement is the creation of the Al-Yuqhar Man o’ War ship, the largest and most powerful vessel to ever sail the oceans of Ealtiyn. They serve the imperium in many ways and are accepted as members of Koragi society as some of the most intelligent individuals in the Empire. With their help the Holy Ayselin Imperium has become the most powerful nation in Ealtiyn's history.
Lifespan
120-160 years (ancient times they were functionally immortal)
Average Height
6.5 feet on average
Average Physique
Dark elves by and large are very fit. Typically either slender in body or lean and well built due to a high metabolism.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Skin colors range from dark navy blue, to a pale desaturated blue. With the addition of colorful facial tattoos denoting discoveries, research breakthroughs, or improvements to existing knowledge made by the individual.
Related Organizations
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