dark elves

Dark elves by far less popular then light elves as they often seem to be arrogant and selfimportand. They are especially disliked for their habit of talking down on other races that are not as skilled in arts the dark elves hold in high honours. Already beeing a pround race during the first Order, playing a major part in the imprisonment of the souldestroyer surely did not decrease their self esteem. On the contrary it is common opinion among them that for giving up their homeland for this they should be praised above all others.
During the early second age they withdrew again from the other races, mostly making their homes in the far north, few heading south to abandoned lands where they grew trees from seeds they had brought from their homeland and wished only to be left to themselves. Yet the godking , ruler of all the land did not leave them be but demanded tributes - as he did of any other race - in order to help rebuild civilisation. The tribute however beeing the wood of their trees which grew tall and sraight they took as an afftront as to them their trees were far more than just wood. They did not send their tributes but neither did they took up arms when the godking sent his men to cut down trees. For one this was for the reason that the trees grew faster than the men could cut them. For the other the dark elves did not wish for war and rather suffered quietly what they thought to be the lesser pain.
By the time human population begann to grow rapidly again and spread to long abandoned corners of the Land the elven forests had already spread far and wide, hiding its inhabitants within. So it came that for a while the dark elves either did not or choose not to notive the ever faster cutting of their trees. Yet when they choose to call on the godking to be left in peace and were denied to call the land they now inhabited their own, conflict arose between men and dark elves

Basic Information

Anatomy

dark skinned, slim but strong built, dark haired, mostly bright coloures eyes with dark rings aroud iris, ears slightly pointed

Genetics and Reproduction

very slow reproduction but long lifespan

Ecology and Habitats

moderate to subpolar climate, forests, preferrably coniferous

Dietary Needs and Habits

omnivores, hunters

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

extraordinary hearing, sharp eyes, birdspeech, magic

Civilization and Culture

History

Beeing given all the land in the north-west covered in coniferous forests and surrounded by the seas on three sides the dark elves have never had much contact with the other races. Especially after the downfall of the council of the high tower they withdrew from interspecies relationship with exeption of the light elves to which they have always had a special bondage for several reasons.

"For most part of the first Order they kept to themselves, studying nature, magic and the skies above them. In this way they reached a level of mastery at magic only rivalled by the Wizards , altough this comparison is very hard to draw as the magic of the two races is profoundly different. Yet it surely can be said that their knowledge of nature and elemental magic of wood and stone remained unmastered in later days. In particular their long time protective spells invoking mental confusion and torture up to permanent madness were developed in this time wich was one of the reasons for placing the souldestroyer in their lands.
When at least the great demonwar begann the darkelves did not immediately join the fights. They themselves later claimed not to have known of the war as their lands had been too far away from any attacks. During the first Council however this was proven to be only an excuse and that in fact they simply did not care for the suffering of other races. When they finally did join the fight they tried to take command of the assembled forces of good which could be prevented by a joint effort of the other races.
After settling of these tensions they proved to be strong and fearless fighters. For a while the demons could not penetrate any further forward, especially north where most of the dark elves fought. But as their numbers dwindled the demons began to claim land again, however it was then not much longer to the arrivl of the spirits and following this the end of the war.
On the question where to safely keep the souldestroyer imprisoned it soon became clear that a place of strong magic would be required to keep the monster under lock. The Wizards refused to offer their lands and after consideration of many other places of naturally existing magic the dark elve king could finally convinced to give the land of his entire race. Other options were of course considered in detail yet it became clear that for their own safety and that of all other races they could not dwell anywhere close to that monster. More protective spells were put in place and the dark elves even put spells on wood and stone and shadow to act as guardians of the prison. They then left the land that had been their home since the beginning of time and settled mainly in the cetral northern forests, some wandering south where they began to build new homes, bringing seeds of their homeland trees which grew fast, tall and straight."
- from the account of the first Order, of the dark elves, written by the scribe to the godking

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• gods

Scientific Name

seven mortal races

Origin/Ancestry

created by one of the seven gods

Lifespan

multiple centuries

Conservation Status

severely depleted after war with demons