Dark Elves

The dark elves, named after their uniquely black hair colour (as far as elves go), are one of the youngest races and their origin can be traced back to the night of the Great Aurora. They are lead by the legendary sorceress Arsianna, whom they hail as High Queen. Since their humble inception and small numbers, the dark elves have formed their own kingdom within Ashenvale forest, ever growing in power and solidifying their position as one of the great forces in the west. With unique traits and some ingenuity, they have been able to steadily develop a strong and stable society and come close to a true state of utopia. This has allowed the dark elves to prosper immensely - intellectually, technologically and economically. Their currency, Ashen Gold, are the most expensive and revered coins in this region of the world and the Ashenvale Commonwealth Trust is one of the wealthiest organisations throughout the lands. Their society does not suffer from the likes of poverty or scarcity and everyone can be considered wealthy, especially for outsiders, though there are well established ranks within their community.
Sprawling within the Ashenvale but contained within it, dark elven society is relatively isolated from the other races in a cultural aspect, despite their well established trading. Comprised entirely of women, they are shunned and their existence is condemned by other races, who are either uncomfortable with women being so prominent or condemn intersex relationships as a general belief. Those few who can overlook their nature are usually the ones who seek material gain in establishing financial relationships, either for ashen gold or some of their unique exports, such as potions, enchantments and fine crafts.
Few in numbers, with their current population approaching 5000, dark elves focus on becoming the best individuals they can be, in order to better serve their society and grow as powerful as possible. They train and study for most of their lives, always perfecting their craft, and are often the best at what they do. Whenever they venture outside of the Vale to explore the world, dark elven mercenaries are some of the most highly sought after and their legendary sorceresses are feared and venerated by everyone.
This is just a temporary description with some very general notes, to be updated later. If the article gets too big (it will), a lot of the parts overlapping with the Society article will be moved there.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Dark Elves are genetically identical to Elves, except for their namesake black hair colour. They are humanoids and share all major characteristics of this group of races - muscle and bone structure, average metrics, number of limbs, appendices and organs. Over time, the safety of their homeland, passive way of life and primarily fruit-based diet have caused their bone structure to weaken, even compared to Elves, and their muscles can suffer retrograde effects if not specifically trained.
They are considered magical creatures because they are conceived and born with the help of a magical enchantment placed on the world. The Force connects with them from conception and Dark Elves form a symbiosis with it, their entire body serving as a living host for this mystical energy, which in return sustains them. The Force empowers their entire being, compensating for physical weakness, speeding up metabolism to keep them naturally fit and strong, and supercharging their senses. Dark Elves thus possess an affinity for the mystical aspects of the world, but like all other things, these too must be actively trained in order to prevent deterioration.
The Vale is a natural intersection of prominent leylines of blue, black and green mana and Dark Elves born within it are naturally attuned to them and carry within themselves their properties, however which of them will manifest and how is up to the individual. Unlike Elves, dark elven bodies are sustained indefinitely by the combination of their affinity for green mana and their symbiosis with the Force, which constantly replenishes and renews their bodies.
Dark elven skin is noticeably more pale than that of Elves or Humans due to their prolonged lack of exposure to direct sunlight.

Genetics and Reproduction

Just like the rest of the humanoids, Dark Elves procreate when two or more adults have sex. However, unlike the rest of the races in this category, here we can observe multiple deviations in the process and results of said procreation.
Since two females cannot naturally mate, the Dark Elves utilise an enchantment that was interwoven into the very fabric of nature during the Great Aurora, which allows two women to conceive a child. It is not entirely clear how this enchantment works, but it appears to help the exchange of traits between partners and facilitate fertilisation. It also appears that the partners which participate have some agency which one of them will become fertile and carry the offspring. It is not uncommon for both partners to conceive and their children are considered twins.
Although it is not common practice, there is no particular limit on the amount of individuals that can participate in the mating process, since physical contact at the moment of conception is an important yet not deciding factor. And indeed, a larger pool of traits has been observed to create stronger offspring. Most notably, mating is done by couples and triplets, the latter being less common. Higher numbers have also been observed, though that is extremely rare. It is said that the magic will not work if love between partners is not sincere and they don't wish to create new life.
Other than the process of conceiving the offspring, they share most similarities with other humanoids and Elves in particular, with pregnancy lasting between 46 and 54 weeks and happening within the womb of the parent individual. The birthing parent nurses the child for a period of 1 to 2 years, however the other parent(s) may also develop nursing capabilities, regardless whether they carried a child or not. They appear to have agency in this aspect as well, though in most cases the nursing and caretaking for the child is distributed equally between parents.

Growth Rate & Stages

Dark elves grow and mature exactly like elves do.
Infants are born and suckled up until their second or third year, after which they can be fed solid food and develop eating habits based on the local diet. Dark elven children eat less meat on average than their counterparts everywhere else and they grow slightly more fragile in their early childhood, a trait that carries over as the body develops. Individuals between after the age of 3 and before the age of 13 are considered kids.
At around their 15th or 16th year they undergo puberty and enter adolescence. This is the most noticeable period of physical change, where the body undergoes significant biological changes - external and internal changes to the organism as it matures into an adult. Physical growth is expressed through increase in height and small gain in mass, faster hair growth and the development of external features. The body changes on the inside as well - bones become slightly thicker and harder, the metabolism is sped up and development of sexual organs completes and secondary sex characteristics develop. Externally this is noticeable by a swelling of the breasts, widening of the hips and increased libido. This period lasts until the 19th or 20th year.
Adolescence is also the time for major psychological changes as well - younglings are taught to become full-right members of society and everything that entails. As the body reaches its full potential and higher functions are slowly developed, mentality changes as well, with psychological and cultural maturation. Social and personal responsibilities help shape the mentality of young adults.
In dark elven society, full maturity and status of adulthood are not tied to physical changes. Elven bodies do not develop much further after the process of puberty is completed and their healing factor can keep them in this state of growth for unlimited time. Girls are considered young adults until they finish the scholarship phase of their lives and begin work by joining a guild, after which it is stated that they are considered to reach womanhood. Still, everyone who has undergone the biological state of maturity is considered an adult and carries the same responsibilities as any other.
After adulthood, the territory is unfamiliar space. The dark elves themselves are a relatively young race and the oldest individuals are barely over 1000 years old. Despite few people reaching these ages in history, it is well known that elven bodies are not affected by aging until that point and even much later on. Their intrinsic symbiosis with the Force appears to dampen the effects of aging just as well as the infusion of mana does for elves, however the extent of this has been observed to be closely related to their ability to control the Force themselves.

Ecology and Habitats

Like their elven brethren, the ideal living conditions for dark elves are massive forests, where they can feel comfortable amidst nature. The unique properties of ashenwood trees limit the dark elven exposure to true sunlight and although it is in no way harmful to them, they grow up preferring the comfort of a good shade. The Vale is also home to many rare plants, which are the basis for Witchcraft.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Dark Elves are omnivorous like most other humanoids. They hunt prey that is naturally found within the Ashenvale, however due to their relatively confined domain, they also domesticate animals, most often ones that produce byproducts such as milk or eggs. They are noticeably less carnivorous than their Elven brethren, which can be attributed to their smaller areal and the necessity of preserving more of the wildlife.
Their forest is extremely rich in various forms of berries, which comprise a large part of their diet and as a result, the dark elven have developed a taste for snacks and intermediate courses during the day. The Vale is also rich in fruit, including of the tropical variety, which comprises the major part of their food consumption.
The most common drinks are water and fruit juice. The dark elven witches produce high quality, sweet, heavy wine, which is the preferred drink of choice for most.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Dark Elves can be recognised by their namesake dark coloured hair, most often jet black. Another common overtone is dark brown, though it is not nearly as dominant or widespread as black. The hair is thick and lush, with both straight and wavy types being equally common.
Dominant eye colours found among them are most often the dark tones of the typical elven green and blue, but individuals can be found with lighter coloured eyes (directly inherited elven traits). Brown and black are are slightly less common but still well represented. A very rare eye colour is purple, with only a few recorded cases - it is believed to signify a deep connection with the Force.²
They possess most other traits associated with elves, such as sharper and elongated facial shapes, more clearly expressed canine teeth and the hallmark pointed ears of the elven race.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

The vast majority of Dark Elves are concentrated within the boundaries of their country, residing in the Ashenvale Forest, with rare occurrences of individuals or small families located elsewhere throughout the world. Those who travel outside the Vale are typically bankers and traders or the occasional ambassador, even though it's not uncommon for more adventurous souls to go out and explore the world outside of their limited community.
Whenever they choose to settle somewhere else, it is usually in solitude in some woods, yet relatively close to a major populated area. You never know when and where you can encounter a dark elven family.

Average Intelligence

Dark Elven intelligence is widely regarded and generally considered superior to that of most other species, including even some of the other members of the humanoid group. There are many factors that play a role in this process:

Predespositions

They possess a number of biological traits that greatly contributed to their heightened intelligence.

Biology

Normally, all races of the humanoid type exhibit very high intelligence, surpassed only by that of the mythical dragons from ages past. Dark Elves are no exception here. The minor differences in intelligence level between humans, elves, dark elves, dwarves, etc. are cultural phenomena which shape the thought process from a very young age. Where Humans, for instance, are unrivaled in their ingenuity and creative problem solving due to their ever changing environment and fast-paced lives, the Dark Elves apply a slower approach, considering all possibilities and weighing options before arriving at a final conclusion. Biologically their minds are all comparable in strength, it is only how that strength is used and applied that is the difference.

Extrasensory applications

As previously mentioned, Dark Elves are imbued with the Force and perceive the world differently than everyone else. For fully developed individuals, this simply means that they gather more information at once, through advanced sense, which leads to a higher quality understanding of the world and serves as a basis for better decision making. This aspect plays a big part in the regard others hold for their intelligence, however it is manifested to a different degree in each individual based on their mastery of the Force.

Social Structure

Within Dark Elven society, high intelligence is sought after and held in high regard. There is a constant pressure on members of society to strive for perfection in all things - the accumulation of knowledge and stimulation of mind activities are a means and a self-serving end at the same time.

Education

Even before they begin formal education, younglings are taught by their parents from a very small age, usually starting at around 3 or 4 years of age, including private lessons by professional educators. They attend schools, much like everywhere else in the world, from ages 10 to 20, however unlike others, Dark Elves are encouraged to continue entertaining academia for decades on end. They are stimulated with post-graduate programs and various degrees for completing each additional step.
An adult is expected to have a large pool of common knowledge, as well as several fields in which they regard higher knowledge and can be considered adept. They are also required to have perfect mastery in one field of their choice, in which they can be considered a true professional and expert.

Expectations

Despite a lengthy academic process, the quest for knowledge is never over for a Dark Elf. They strive to keep improving throughout their lives and are often encouraged to take interest in fields outside their expertise. In typical Elven fashion, the learning process and acquisitions of new skills never stops, however their focus is on knowledge and understanding rather than execution and expression through their craft.
All of these factors combined make for dark elven people who are slightly more intelligent than other races, often times simply due to their unending pursuit of knowledge throughout their lives.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Elves are ubiquitous for their long ears and with them, hearing capabilities that surpass those of other humanoid races. The Dark Elves share all abilities of the Elves, such as their superior hearing and generally excellent sight, however they also possess a number of qualities that are unique to them, in the form of latent abilities that stem from their relationship with magic.
Their symbiosis with the Force is manifested through extended senses and an affinity to perceive the mystical, which is hidden to most. A Dark Elf who nurtures her spirit can perceive the world around in greater detail, reach out with her mind, sense and connect to others, see and enter other worlds, among many different and less known abilities.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

The dark elven language derives from an evolved form of old elven and relies heavily on the use of vowels. The names¹ reflect their overfeminine culture, based on a fragile nature and a focus on grace and beauty.
Examples: Show Spoiler

Alessandra, Elisabeth, Yrelarna, Michelle, Melissa, Cathelyne, Elmyra, Liliana, Loraline, Vanessa, Ameleen, Baudicea, Isabella, Inara, Alisha, Leesha

Major Organizations

The kingdom of the dark elves, although peaceful and a borderline utopia, has a plethora of social, political, economical, educational, legislative, executive and judicial organisations.
See image for more detail (yes it's missing right now.)

Courtship Ideals

Pursuing a romantic relationship is a daunting task in their society. It involves mutual interest from both single individuals and a back and forth wooing ritual that takes place over months and years. A major diversion from traditional elven norms is that parents allow their children to pursue relationships at their leisure and are not required to give consent to the suiter.

Relationship Ideals

Due to the nature of how they reproduce, the dark elven are naturally looking for long-lasting romantic relationships based on mutual love and respect with their partner. They will not be afraid to pursue such relationships until they have met the ideal person, regardless how long it takes. Dark elven engagements last significantly longer than those of any other race and the resulting marriage is strong and lasting. They do not view sexual relationships outside of the marriage as a problem, although the agreed-upon state will vary from couple to couple.
Even though they are not quick to have children, dark elves reproduce at a higher rate than elves, which can be attributed to their relatively small population and therefore need to grow in numbers.

Romantic relations

Parental relations

Friendly relations

Average Technological Level

Dark Elves are on par with the rest of the world due to their trading relations with elves and humans, even if they are slow to incorporate major innovations into their daily lives. One aspect where they excel above others is their Witchcraft and their ability to perform enchantments, to which modern alchemy has yet to catch up.

Common Etiquette Rules

Dark Elves live in a mostly aristocratic society and their etiquette reflects that. Complex and posh, learning the rules and traditions can be daunting for outsiders but comes up naturally for the dark elven as they grow up. At its core are politeness and respect for elders and those of higher rank, but strict rules govern even aspects of daily life, such as dining or conversing. Proper manners and ladylike composure are the most important parts of etiquette and expected from everyone.

Common Dress Code

Their clothing style is a product of culture and location. The tropical climate with it's relatively high temperatures and humidity lend themselves to scarce clothing, while their cultural development places an emphasis on beauty and grace above all. As a result, dark elven dress code has slowly developed over time from the elven practical to bourgeois ostentatious, focusing on one major aspect - elegance.

Clothing

The primary types of clothes are dress-based, evolved from traditional elven high society female clothing. The most common items include skirts, tops, dresses, tunics, robes, all with plenty variation between them. The shapes are typically prolonged and the fabrics are lightweight and elegant.

Materials

Dark Elves' wealth enables them to work with the finest materials, such as high quality cotton, linen and silk, as well as their very own spidersilk cloth, produced by the giant spiders in the depths of the Ashenvale and gathered by witches.
Cotton is largely used as a substitute for linen. Even though there are regions in close proximity to the Vale that are abundant in the plant, it is generally regarded as an inferior fabric. It has most commonly found use in supplementary products and as a reinforcement material in clothing. It is also the material of choice for those rare occasions where clothing for colder environments needs be produced.
Due to the heat and humid, hyetal environment, the preferred material for everyday use is linen. It's lightweight but firm nature makes it exceptional for clothing of all kind and it is valued for the cooling and freshening properties in the hot tropical weather of their forest. Linen comprises the greater part of dark elven clothing by far and is highly sought after and traded by their people - who have access to the flax plant, but not nearly enough for supply to meet demand.
Silk is the second most used fabric in traditional clothing. The smooth feel and elegant look are adored by the Dark Elves and the material is regarded as the go-to fabric for dressier garments. Some individuals even prefer it altogether regardless of the climate. Linen and silk combined make up the vast majority of dark elven clothing and are widely adopted in almost all branches of textile artisanship. Spidersilk cloth is regarded even higher, however it is extremely rare and difficult to obtain, as well as used by witches as an ingredient in various potion. It is affordable by the richest among even the folk of the Vale. Clothing made from it is exceptionally soft and smooth, regarded as the highest form of beauty in garments by the people, with an unrealistic flow to the fabric and a natural shine.
Leather is another relatively common fabric used in clothing. As a supplementary product mostly, it is used in a vast gamma of belts, straps, holders and as texture. Primarily, it is used distinctively in three major fields - footwear, bags and armour. Most shoes and boots that Dark Elves wear are comprised of cloth and leather, as well as hardened leather and wood for platforms. In the same vein, leather is the traditional material for all the different satchels, pouches, bags and other carrying accessories Dark Elves use, for its strength and waterproof qualities. Finally, leather is also commonly found on the rare instances of armour that the dark elven smiths produce - leather armour is common for warriors, but it's also found as a lining and reinforcement material. Hunter's and scout's clothing is also traditionally made of leather.
Golden thread is a material used for detail work and insignia. The dark elven witches enchant the threads so that they behave like silk and goldwork is commonly used on clothing, especially in more ceremonious garments. For this reason, it is most often combined with silk or spidersilk cloth, but it can be found in combination with other materials just as easily and it further extends from garb to footwear, supplementary items and even as addition to jewellery and accessories. This widely adopted usage of goldwork is one of the most desirable aspects of dark elven tailorship among outsiders.

Style

The people of the Ashenvale have developed a unique clothing style based on several cultural and geographic factors, all contributing to a defined sense of fashion rarely seen elsewhere.
Culturally, dark elven mentality is the primary shaping factor behind their clothing traditions. Their society is built around the philosophy of beauty and grace, which reflects in everything they do, including how they dress. Expression of female forms and parts considered sexually attractive is well highlighted and accentuated on, however there is an added layer of expectation for decency at all times. As a result, clothing is as revealing as possible without distasteful nudity. Outfits tend to be open and comprised of many smaller parts, often independent of each other.
From their tropical environment come a number of adaptations to traditional elven clothing, which is for significantly less warm regions. First and foremost, many layers of the typical female dress are removed altogether. The arms and shoulders are usually exposed and the top is a smaller, standalone part of the outfit. The skirt keeps traditional form, but is extended as much as possible to the ground, in order to provide better shadow coverage and keep as much of the body cool, including the feet, however it is also often cut in the front or double cut at the sides to facilitate movement.
As a result, the typical dark elven outfit comprises of a long skirt and a cropped top, accompanied by a scarf, hood or cloak for the chilly nights. The traditional dress and its variations are the second most common clothing style and both largely based on personal preference. Aside from pieces with a specific purpose such as uniforms, casual and ceremonious variants, as well as anything in between, exist for both dominant styles. In general, the emphasis is placed on the beauty of the garbs and how well the individual looks, rather than their personal style, and there are plenty who deviate from tradition.

by Anna Hannon

Dress Code

Society puts pressure on individuals to always be dressed up to the occasion, whatever it may be. Even though their general clothing style appears dressy and official to non-dark elven observers, there are subtle or sometimes major differences in what attire is appropriate when. The sharpest example of this is clothing habits based on occupation, however special occasions also call for a change in garments, much like they do traditionally elsewhere in the world.

Informal dress code

Everyday life is when the individual is at their leisure to wear what they want and express themselves through clothing. Even in the workplace, as long as it doesn't require a more specific uniform, they are free to dress in any manner, including as formally as they desire. While there are not specific requirements, when dressing at their leisure dark elves typically follow the common patterns and this is where you are most likely to observe personal expression in the traditional clothing style. Very often skirts will be shorter, tops will grow shorter and sleeveless and more of the body will be exposed, especially among the younger individuals.
This is especially prominent in the spreading popularity of the brassiere, with certain dark elves foregoing the top altogether in favour of a more promiscuous look. (After the invention of the corset and it's wide adoption into both human and elven styles, it was immediately sought after and desired by the dark elven people, however before long it was discovered that such clothing would quickly spell doom for the wearer in a warm and humid environment. The recent adaptation by tailors, called a brassiere, is quickly growing in popularity among the people for its various properties, from the revealing look to the comfortable support a traditional top provides.)

Formal dress code

On the other hand, formal occasions such as ceremonies, celebrations and other official events have much stricter requirements and individuals are expected to dress up appropriately. Still, some occasions are minor while some are major, and respective differences in the expectations apply.
Minor events, such as the family or friendly dinner do not require the most ceremonious attire, however at least a change of garbs is expected. Especially approaching night time, longer and thicker clothes are brought out, with more and finer detail. Dresses and cloaks are the most commonly worn outfits, with sleeves and decorational gloves often seen as addition. Jewellry is more common, especially head pieces which require hair the hairstyle to be also fixed and made appropriate. This extends to other smaller formal events, such as visits to or by higher ranking members of the society, birthday celebrations, holidays, parties or even at work when the position requires an official look.
Major events require the people to dress in their most elegant, prestigious and ceremonial garments. This is where gem studded clothes are worn, individuals put on intricate jewellery and garbs of silk and gold and "Mantle of decorum"s are brought out. These events include receptions by the queen, major celebrations, ceremonies, funerals, among others. In their sometimes tedious preparations for these events is where a lot of their culture shines through - the importance of rituals and the effort put into presentation are core to their society.

Professional uniforms

There are certain professions, jobs and titles that have their own specific dress code, often to the point where little enough variation is allowed that it can be considered a uniform. Sometimes these will trump the occasions and vice versa. The dark elves have a complicated chain of command regarding clothing and an attempt to understand it can result in insanity for those who have not been born and raised among their society. Some of the more notable examples of professions are:
Witches. Though they don't have a particular outfit, a witch is easily recognisable by their overall style and aesthetic. A large number of dark elves are witches and thus for clothing, they share the common aspects with the rest of the population. Long wide skirt and top are preferred due to the modularity of the outfit and flexible options for customisation. Witches are renown for wearing multiple smaller pieces of clothing and an excessive amount of jewellery and trinkets - an assortment of earrings, necklaces, rings and bracelets, most of which are often enchanted in some fashion. They are also easily recognised by their elaborate utility belts most prefer to wear in order to carry around pouches with herbs, vials and other tools of the trade.
Warriors. These fighter's outfits feature the most variation from the traditional style. With practicality in mind, their clothing consists of a light and flexible tunic, combined with either short skirt or pants, and protective elements such as leggings and armguards. The standard uniform is designed to be light and allow for swiftness while offering protection. Shoes are flat, primarily of leather and built for running and acrobatics. In organised battle, warriors wear strong but flexible armour pieces on cloth for better coverage and the ability to deflect weapons and smaller projectiles.
Archers and hunters are the only group which regularly wear leather. The traditional elven archer's cloak has been directly adopted into their uniform for it's form and function, complete with the practical leather boots. This is the only other division, outside of the warriors, which have been observed to wear pants, for easier movement in dense terrain.
Evoys are the officials of state and representatives of the dark elven throughout the rest of the world. Required to always dress formally, in ceremonious garbs, in order to represent both their status as a figure of authority and to display the values of their culture to others. Dominating outfits are the long, elaborate dresses and mantles, alongside jewellery and lots of ornamental pieces, most commonly golden.
Envoys within the Vale are easily recognisable and distinguishable from afar, always in ceremonious attire, even without occasion. Their costumes are designed to grab attention and stick out, so that they can easily be found and engaged by others whenever in need. Often times this translates to generally brighter colours with higher contrast to the rest of their surroundings. This is also where the white colour is most prominently used in dark elven clothing traditions.
Ambassadors and emissaries in the rest of the world adhere to a strict colour palette in their uniforms and wear the iconic dark green and gold of their people, with black and purple as secondary colours. Clothing can slightly change depending on the climate and local temperatures, but it's most likely to be based on the classic long dress or it's local variations, if the envoy wanted to demonstrate a willingness to accept local culture.
Sorceresses. The dark elven battle mages are the most iconic and easily recognisable symbol of their people, especially among outsiders. They favour open outfits, primarily long dresses and skirts, for their blend of style and maneuverability. With protective wrist guards, shoulder pads and oftentimes leather boots, this outfit combines minimalistic yet important defensive capabilities with the flexibility to move around unobstructed by heavier armour. A staff is the preferred weapon of many sorceresses, however what they are instantly identifiable by is the golden tiara, signifying their belonging to the Sorceress Order and a symbol of their social status.
The Queensguard. Although they are a select few individuals, strongly encouraged to stick to their own personal style, the members of the Queensguard are allowed, and required, to bear the Royal Standard - a plain dark green full-body cape with the dark elven coat of arms and lining in gold, part of the Queen's regalia.

Miscellaneous

Other types of clothes that can't be worn standalone, such as scarves, sleeves, cloaks, hoods, footwear, shoes, underwear and the like, act as supplementary items that bring detail and personal style to the look. Many of these elements borrow heavily from eastern styles, brought by Arsi herself after her extensive travels to the distant lands.
Full-body capes and cloaks are very popular. Even though most of the people don't travel too far, the chillness of the night has been enough reason for the adoption of this traditional elven accessory, ranging from a typical traveller's cloak to intricate and ornamental designs. They are mostly made from a combination of wool, silk and leather, and aim to provide complete coverage and protection from wind, as well as keep the person warm. Many of these items are imports, treated by local artisans. It's not uncommon for cloaks to be enchanted by witches with all sorts of special properties.
Even separate parts can be seen incorporated throughout the rest of their clothing. Often times an outfit will incorporate a form of sleeve or hood, attached to to an elaborate armlet, shoulder pads and the like. The modularity of the typical dark elven outfit allows for great customisation and every individual expresses themselves by choosing different parts to accentuate, usually in combination with otherwise more revealing clothing based around exposed brassieres.
The increasing promiscuity among the younger dark elves is also causing a shift in the design of underwear. As clothing becomes more revealing, it leads to an increase in the visibility of the more intimate areas and the garments designed for them. Despite the controversy of this style (originally developed by blood witches out of practical concerns for their ritualistic orgies), lingerie has seen an increase in quality and more intricate designs have even started becoming the norm. In other aspects this is a welcome change, as it enhances the intimate experience between partners - something that other cultures are catching onto very quickly.
Footwear has developed in a very different way than their elven counterparts. Most shoes are as open as possible, with a leather or sometimes wooden sole. For informal and everyday use, open-toed sandals are the most common type of footwear. Even here, modern designs have started incorporating heels, taking after their increasing popularity in human culture. Another relatively popular option are cloth espadrilles and turnshoes, for the more athletically inclined. Of course, though rarely, some prefer to walk around barefooted altogether. Boots are rarely seen, mostly used in riding and activities where protection is the priority rather than style.
In a formal environment, high heels are close to a must. Shoes are rarely open-toed and enclose more of the feet. Ankle and knee-high boots become more prominent, though the standard shoe is the most commonly seen. Overall, the trend moves to more of the foot being covered, so that craftsmanship has more space to shine. Elaborate goldwork and encrustations of precious stones are no less represented than they are on clothing.

Decorations and insignia

Ornaments are incredibly important to the dark elven people. Their culture and style are dominated by decorations for all purposes - gracing garbs and brooches with gems of splendor and lining of golden thread, displaying rank and status through sewn insignia, wearing regalia, carrying enchanted jewels and precious metals. Nothing is without purpose, even if that is to make the wearer stand out among her peers.
Most decorative pieces come in two forms:
Jewellry is worn for stylistic reasons. Items are usually gold or silver based, woven into intricate shapes and patterns. Sometimes encrusted with gems, they serve to help individuals express their personal style and rarely serve a practical purpose outside of the brooch that holds a cloak together or the armband at the base of a sleeve.
There really is no limit in the types of jewellry that the goldweavers can produce with their excellent craftsmanship skills. Armlets, bracelets, brooches, earrings, necklaces, pendants, tiaras, anklets, bands, bangles, bijoux, caméos, chains, charms, chatelaines, circlets, frippery, hairpins, lavallière, lockets, medallions, navel gems, necklaces, pendants, pins, rings, rosaries and more. They are also often combined with precious stones, such as diamond, topaz, ruby, sapphire, beryl, opal, pearl, garnet, emerald, amethyst, lapis lazuli, onyx, etc. Since most dark elves are wealthy, choice comes down to personal preference rather than affordability. Notably, emeralds seem to be the most popular, with amethysts and onyx stones also held in very high regard among most.
Trinkets are usually enchanted or encrusted with gems for magical purposes. These are the preferred type of decorations, since they can usually have a dual use and combine the vanity of pretty things with the practicality of all sorts of enchantments, stored spells and energy reserves that most dark elves use incredibly often. Some notable differences from jewellery come in the form and specific materials used - different gems store varying amounts of energy and some crystals are naturally tuned to resonate with certain colours of mana. Given their attunement and locale, dark elves who use mana typically stick to sapphire, emerald and onyx.
Generally, trinkets are smaller things that are easy to carry around and do not get in the way of everyday life, such as rings, armlets and bracelets, amulets, etc. Witches are particularly easy to spot and recognise, because more often than not they will be covered from head to toe in all manner of trinkets, on their body and dangling from chains and straps.
Insignia are the various depictions of title and status within the dark elven community. These are emblems and items that represent belonging to an organisation, certain rank or role and duties an individual might have within society. Emblems are the most commonly found form of insignia, present on all uniforms and even most everyday clothes, where people put them in order to clearly represent their role. There is no standartificaltion of emblems and they are created on a case by case basis, but are always easily recognisable by adhering to the same depiction of a certain symbol. Other than that, individuals have complete freedom how to express them - some will simply sew it onto their clothes, others will craft elaborate pins or brooches.
Some of the more distinct items not found outside dark elven society include:
Witches, especially those that specialise in blood magic, commonly use claws - an elaborate ornamental piece of accessory that serves as five long finger rings with sharpened edges that extend over the nails. It has a variety of uses, the main one being easy and comfortable access to a sharp tool to cut with. There is ample room for encrustations with gems, as well as artistic expression, so much so that many witches wear them as jewellery too.
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Sorceress are the only ones who can wear crown-like accessories other than the Queens and their insignia is the golden tiara, a symbol of belonging to the Sorceress Order. Surprisingly enough they are usually simply decorational, however it's not unheard of crafty individuals enchanting them.
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The "Mantle of decorum"^[4] is a unique piece of regalia. Every individual that has earned the right to carry one of these special insignia crafts it to their personal taste and to reflect their nature. An intricate build, this lavish and spectacular piece of insignia is worn on the back. Usually it is firmly secured by straps, no more sparingly decorated and adorned by the mantle itself, however those highly skilled in usage of the Force can use it to make the mantle float behind them in a display of power and dominance.
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Add-ons and utilities

Utility belts, pouches, bags, holsters, armour, support.
A variety of items are used in combination with clothing as a way to enhance it both stylistically and functionally. Others have their own specific use and are either synonymous with a certain class or have a very widespread adoption.
Armour is not very common among the dark elven people and when it is used, it's almost exclusively lightweight and flexible. Both sorceresses and warriors prefer highly modular pieces that can cater to a very personalised fighting style, covering the areas a specific person exposes through the strengths and weaknesses of their individual form, rather than using standard issue items. The materials involved are most often hardened leather and silk lining, however it's not uncommon to see metal parts.
Depending on their weapon of choice, individuals will also prefer different types of armour. Sorceresses and rangers use armguards and shoulder pads almost exclusively and defensively, in case their high reach is overcome. Warriors are also known to use leg and chest protection, primarily offensively and as coverage against projectiles. Shields and other such defensive items are incredibly rare, but there are a select few who use them.
Weapons are no less a tool for combat as they are an extension of the wielder herself. While sorceresses usually carry a staff, most others incorporate a variety of holsters and sheaths into the design of their armour and even everyday clothing. From straps and holsters to elaborate retention webs, everybody crafts and commissions personalised items to custom fit their needs.
Holding items

Common Taboos

Their extreme frankness and candour (often described as plain bluntness by outsiders) leaves little room for such things as taboos - the dark elven folk are straightforward and forthcoming in their communication, both between themselves and with other races. The lack of insincerity among their people is well expressed in their general gullibility and naivité when compared to others and even though it will vary from person to person, it can be generally expected of a dark elf to constantly disrupt the established norm when outside of the Ashenvale, especially when recently introduced in a new environment.

Historical Figures

The High Queen
@[The eleven maidens]

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Dark elves usually prefer to mate with members of their own race mainly due to cultural reasons. In reality, they have no particular trouble selecting partners from among other humanoid races, so long as the desired individual meets their gender, beauty and relationship ideals.
Their preferred secondary species are elves, though unfortunately that is not a mutually shared sentiment in most cases, while for recreational purposes they prefer humans, whose culture is often times more accepting of such affairs. Despite that, it is relatively rare for dark elves to form relationships with mortals. Their short lives do not pair well with the dark elven eternal commitment to a partner.
Interestingly enough, due to their unique procreational properties, the dark elven folk are genetically compatible with almost all other races, although there are no known cases of an interspecies relationship with a species other than elves or humans.
Even though it is extremely rare, there have been known cases of individuals who prefer mating with elven and human males.

Footnotes:
1. Names are mostly selected from among the more exotic examples from Irish, Celtic, French, Italian and Spanish.
2. That's plain superstition and has no real significance.
3.
4. Temporary name
5. Images courtesy of the talented Anna Hannon. Follow her stuff: Website.

Jukebox

Lifespan

unknown

Average Height

1.6 - 1.9 m

Average Weight

50 - 65 kg

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Their skin is pale of colour compared to that of Elves or Humans due to their prolonged lack of exposure to direct sunlight, deep within the Ashenvale. Sunlight is in no way harming to the dark elven and prolonged exposure will cause their skin to change hue and appear identical to that of an elf. In fact, dark elves who live outside the Vale or regularly spend time travelling are indistinguishable from elves, barring of course their namesake hair.

Related Ethnicities

• Dark Elves

Related Materials

• Spidersilk