The Illisyr, also known as dark elves, were once one of the five great clans of
elves and were devotees of the
Dowager. When the royal house of clan Antar vanished, they attempted to take their place as rulers of the elven clans. The other clans objected, and after the War of Supremacy they were exiled into the
Thorned Wood, and they declared themselves no longer kin of those who defeated them. Rather than being wiped out, the Illisyr managed to survive and became obsessed with self-improvement and personal power. They modified their appearance to blend in with the shadows of the Thorned Wood and became known as dark elves.
The Illisyr are few in number due to the dangers of the Thorned Wood, but even the weakest of them is considered a match for a trained solder of another kingdom.
Castes
Their society has three major castes, split between the Guardians, Hunters, and
Shapers, while their culture is largely matriarchal in nature. Their castes are just the roles the members play in their society, and Illisyr can change castes with the agreement of their caste leaders.
Guardians are the bulk of their clans, forming the defenders of the villages, those who perform simple labor, basic crafting, and even the rare cultivation of crops.
Hunters are those who delve into the Thorned Wood to destroy threats before they attack the villages and hunt down beasts for food and raw materials.
Shapers are those who perform more focused crafts, such as weaponsmiths, enchanters, and more. Shapers are also those who perform the more advanced magics of the clans.
Clans
Illisyr clans include Demonclaw and Fire Dragon.
Demonclaw has interbred with demons, largely those with a form close to elves, and use Shapers to pick which traits they wish to keep. This is the clan which hates other elves the most. Clan Shadowfire is a minor offshoot of Demonclaw.
Fire Dragon uses the blood of fire drakes and dragons to improve themselves and create mantles of power using it for their members. They're relatively likely to be encountered as mercenaries beyond the Thorned Wood's borders and are among the most approachable of known clans. They're known for their bright crimson or orange tattoos with flame or dragon motifs.
Those descended from the royal house simply call themselves Illisyr. They're mysterious in many ways, and they seem purely dark elves.
