Dark Elves

The Dark Elves (Also known as Ash Elves) are a subspecies of Elves found throughout the kingdom of Saenziath, located within a section of the Dark Hollows beneath northwestern Imera. In addition to their skill in the art of shadow magic and fire magic, These Elves have developed a unique culture that combines elements of their Elven ancestry and the culture of their Dwarven neighbours, allowing them to produce a number of great smiths, spies, and builders.

General Appearance

Dark Elves have skin of various shades of grey, white hair, and red, purple, or yellow eyes. Additionally, Dark Elves have a physique ranging from slender to toned.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Rhimdriel, Edelra, Nivren, Onamne, Amorin

Masculine names

Amah, Daethru, Pharius, Heshalo, Rhanar

Family names

Vaemulnoth, Nialven, Arziga, Phaeldre, Zelrih

Culture

Culture and cultural heritage

Perhaps its recognisable aspect among outsiders, Dark Elf Culture contains a mix of cultural elements from Elves and Dwarves. While this is most commonly seen in their architecture (smooth, flowing shapes mixed with sharp, angular ones), it's also seen in their arts, fashion, and daily lives, with smiths and builders being far more commonplace occupations than among the surface Elves, and Magitech being more widely and readily accepted. Additionally, Dark Elves are often characterised as being a very diligent and straightforward people, and while their craftsmanship isn't as utilitarian as that of their Dwarven neighbours, it still places a greater focus on function over form compared to typical Elvish craftsmanship.

Aside from this, Dark Elves are also well known for their outlook on mortality. Perhaps owing to their turbulent early history (involving the Ithyrian War of Succession and the Ashen Ruin), the Dark Elves have developed a great deal of respect for mortality in both of its aspects, acknowledging the briefness of ones time in the mortal world while also being a very life-affirming people. This aspect is best seen in the respect they show for their deceased (with their destroyed former home on the surface being considered off limits for all), their philosophy espousing gratitude for what time one has in the mortal world, and the resilience they continue to show in the face of adversity.

Average technological level

The Dark Elves make the most use of Magitech out of the various Elven subgroups, and are the most open to accepting new technological advancements.

Common Dress code

Dark Elf clothing is made from tough, yet light, cloth (though members of the upper class may wear silk clothing instead), uses dark colours (black with silver/grey being the most common), and often includes angular, geometric shapes in their designs.

Art & Architecture

Dark Elf architecture makes use of the graceful, flowing shapes of their surface-dwelling kin (particularly among some of their more notable structures), while mixing in solid shapes with sharp angles. Their art, while less "rigid" in style than that of their Dwarven neighbours, still largely takes the form of stone carvings, and makes use of angular shapes.

Foods & Cuisine

Dark Elf cuisine consistly largely of whatever vegetation can be grown in the nearby volcanic soil, fungi, and whatever meat can be hunted within the Dark Hollows.

Funerary and Memorial customs

While cremation is practiced in environments that would allow it, Dark Elves typically bury their dead, or entomb them if they'veaccomplished something truly noteworthy.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Besides a healthy physique, Dark Elves also consider diligence to be an attractive trait.

Gender Ideals

It's generally expected for men to be seen in roles such as smithing and military service, while women are generally expected to be seen in artistic and scholarly roles, though this isn't a hard rule.

Courtship Ideals

It commonly falls on the man to make the proposal.

Relationship Ideals

Dark Elves are typically monogamous, and parents often raise their children of the same sex to pursue occupations similar to their own.

Parent ethnicities

• Ithyrian Elves