Dark Elves

Dark elves were created by the goddess Hester and for many years lived amongst the high elves of Rendora: indeed there was very little difference between the two. The dark elves were responsible for much of the corruption that distressed the goddess Sorn when she visited the city with her sons. When Sorn destroyed the city, the dark elves, like the high elves, fled to distant corners of the earth and it was only then that they truly became an independent elven race.

The dark race found evil mentors to follow and slowly melded into a hate-filled clan that preferred the darkness and underground to light and the forest. Dark Elves see power as the only true answer to any problem and only follow those that hold power over them. Each separate clan of Dark Elves was ruled by a warlord, but the Dark Elves never warred among themselves, preferring opposing warlords to settle disputes in singular combat or better yet in the political arena.

Since power was the Dark Elf answer to every question, they sided with anyone that could offer them power. They were constantly involved in the slave trade, and the number of slaves owned was a measure of status within the Dark Elf community. Dark Elves worshiped Hester, or sometimes Phykrell or Broodblame, and made living sacrifices to their chosen deity.

Dark Elves were most well known for their training in the ways of the Monk or Thievery. They were well suited to this life, as they have little regard for morality, life, or the balance of the universe. These Elves hated Knights and considered it a great honor to slay such. Remarkably, the Dark Elf, sometimes called Gray Elves, puts much stock in family ties and never turned against his own blood. The oldest male of each family controlled all actions of that family, and the prestige of a family was determined by its wealth and political power. Dark Elf women were rarely seen and wore facial coverings so that only their mates saw their face.

However, the reclusive females played important roles in the religious hierarchy. The various temples were often completely dominated by female leadership. Though the Dark Elf males rarely took much interest in the more intricate magical domains, females exceled in that realm. That is not to say that the masculine members of society shunned magic, but they generally combat training the preferred route to gain status.