Drow
Hakaji'Elle
During the millennia since the dissolution of the Mava'Valia Empire the Mava'Elle diaspora spread across the world. While many spread out to corners of the continent others spread beneath the surface and founded new Elvish societies. Collectively named the Hakaji'Elle (Grave People in standard Elvish), these subterranean Elves developed a myriad of cultures independent of surface civilizations and are typically at war with one another.
While the most physically different from their Mava'elle ancestors, the Hakaji are the closest in terms of societal conflict. Many noble houses spread across the vast underground expanse compete with each other for the title of supreme ruler; a quality that caused the downfall of their ancestor's culture and empire.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Eyagi, Lariira, Menini
Masculine names
Kio, Nadoba, Taka
Family names
Bivi, Kallo, Zeyame
Culture
Coming of Age Rites
Developed independently from the Elven cultures on the surface, the Hakaji'Elle practice a form of ritualistic facial tattooing that represent the unique identity of the individual. The tattoo is often a complex arrangement of symbols and shapes endemic to their local culture that reflects the person's natural talents or upbringing.
Children and adolescents in the Hakaji cultures will paint facial markings onto themselves as they age, removing or adding pieces as they mature and develop their personalities. They are encouraged to experiment with different designs as upon their 30th birthday they will undergo the ceremony to make their markings permanent as tattoos.
Coloring is often dependent on one's social status or family status. While the color coding varies from area to area, one universal tradition is the reservation of illuminated tattoos for noble houses and those who practice magic. Glowing inks that are derived from the luminescent plant life are difficult to develop and are used to distinguish the upper castes from the common folk.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Ages spent underground led the Hakaji'Elle to covet sharp and defined features that are easily distinguished under low light conditions. As underground hunters began to compete with the native subsurface wildlife, dark skin tones also became preferred to provide a more natural camouflage in the darkness.
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