Svartalfar - Revision history

Saber-Scorpion at 23:06, 4 March 2015

2015-03-04T23:06:48Z

Maverick-Werewolf at 05:41, 21 February 2015

2015-02-21T05:41:17Z

Saber-Scorpion at 21:55, 15 May 2014

2014-05-15T21:55:21Z

Saber-Scorpion: Created page with "While most elves are viewed as beautiful and generally well-meaning, the ''Svartalfar'' (Dark Elves, also called Night Elves or Black Elves) are quite the opposite. Mill..."

2014-05-15T21:54:13Z

Created page with "While most elves are viewed as beautiful and generally well-meaning, the ''Svartalfar'' (Dark Elves, also called Night Elves or Black Elves) are quite the opposite. Mill..."

New page

While most [[elves]] are viewed as beautiful and generally well-meaning, the ''Svartalfar'' (Dark Elves, also called Night Elves or Black Elves) are quite the opposite. Millennia ago, they turned to the [[Demons|Demon]] Lords of the Underworld for greater power, becoming masters of the [[Demonic Magic|dark arts]]. Perhaps due to corruption from this practice, their skin is ashen black, with ridges and horns. Most dwell deep in [[Nidavellir]], far from the sight of Midgard. They are not known for their kindness.

==Appearance==
[[File:Dark_elf_01.jpg|thumb|200px]]Dark elves are the only elf race not typically regarded as beautiful by other races. Their skin color ranges from ash-grey to black, with horn-like protrusions and ridges on their bodies and parts of their faces, such as the brow, nose, and chin. Their hair may be black, red, or stark white, and their terrifying eyes range among bright red, yellow-green, or violet. It is not known how many of these features stem from the demonic corruption that has plagued them over countless generations. They are also the shortest elven race on average, and have the longest ears, perhaps due to their subterranean lifestyle.

==Culture==
[[File:Svartalfar_city.jpg|thumb|280px|A svartalfar city.]]
The majority of the svartalfar dwell in immense underground cities inside of great stalactites and stalagmites, sometimes reaching higher than the tallest human castles. These dark cities are lit primarily by glowing crystals, and sometimes runic flames and glowing mushrooms that are the natural flora of [[Cosmology#Nidavellir|Nidavellir]]. The dark elves are shunned by all surface-dwelling races, including all other elves, and they like it that way. Their greatest enemies are other subterranean races who compete with them for territory, particularly [[Dwarves|dwarves]] and [[Goblins|goblins]]. Sometimes they even dispute with [[Dragons|dragons]] over territory and treasure.

==Religion==
The dark elves primarily worship various gods of death, particularly [[Hel]]. Some dark elf houses worship demon lords, often taking a patron demon lord as their primary deity. This practice is usually shunned, however, for most dark elves like to believe they are better than demons - merely "using" them for greater power. They are aware that demons laugh at this notion, believing the truth is quite the opposite. Thanks to the demonic rituals and demon binding deeply ingrained in svartalfar culture, many dark elves are either practitioners of demonic magic or are at least very knowledgable in it. However, most dark elves turn their noses up at outright necromancy - the reanimation of shambling corpses - preferring to summon and bind actual demons to their will.
===Summoned Demons===

As mentioned, dark elves consider themselves above demons in general. Though they would not dream of directly defying a demon lord, dark elves have played the games of trickery and temptation with demons for years, and they have mastered the art of winning the demons' bargains. As such, summoned demons in dark elf cities are bound to serve their masters or merely trapped in one location to show the power of a noble house, not allowed to wander as they please. Though many - perhaps all - dark elves have some demonic blood in their veins, the practice of copulating with a demon is highly frowned upon, as it usually means a foolish dark elf fell for a demon's seduction. Also, dark elf [[Demon-kin|demon-kin]] are no stronger than others at resisting the temptations of their demonic blood, meaning they usually simply become another demon.

==Military==
Dark elf warriors traditionally wear almost colorless armor in black and shades of grey, in order to blend with their environment. The wealthiest prefer armor and weapons forged from void iron, though they cannot craft such armaments as skillfully as the Dvergar, meaning they must often turn to trade with dwarf clans. Dark elves are masters of the sword, spear, and javelin, and have been known to field cavalry riding bound demonic steeds.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-While most [[elves]] are viewed as beautiful and generally well-meaning, the ''Svartalfar'' (Dark Elves, also called Night Elves or Black Elves) are quite the opposite. Millennia ago, they turned to the [[Demons|Demon]] Lords of the Underworld for greater power, becoming masters of the [[Demonic Magic|dark arts]]. Perhaps due to corruption from this practice, their skin is ashen black, with ridges and horns. Most dwell deep in [[Nidavellir]], far from the sight of Midgard. They are not known for their kindness.
+While most [[elves]] are viewed as beautiful and generally well-meaning, the ''Svartalfar'' (Dark Elves, also called Night Elves or Black Elves) are quite the opposite. Millennia ago, they turned to the [[Demons|Demon]] Lords of the Underworld for greater power, becoming masters of the [[Demonic Magic|dark arts]]. Banished from their original homes, most now dwell deep in [[Nidavellir]], far from the sight of Midgard. They have colorless skin, either ashen grey or black as pitch, due either to living underground or their corruption from dark magic, or both. They are not known for their kindness.
 ==Appearance==
-[[File:Dark_elf_01.jpg|thumb|200px]]Dark elves are the only elf race that other races do not typically regard as beautiful. Though some dark elves may be pale, their skin color generally ranges from ash-grey to black, with horn-like protrusions and ridges on their bodies and parts of their face, such as the brow, nose, and chin. Their hair may be black, red, or stark white, and their terrifying eyes range among bright red, yellow-green, or violet. It is not known how many of these features stem from the demonic corruption that has plagued them over countless generations. They are also the shortest elven race on average, and have the longest ears, perhaps due to their subterranean lifestyle.
+[[File:Dark_elf_01.jpg|thumb|200px]]Svartalfar are the only elven race not typically regarded as beautiful. Though some dark elves may be pale, their skin color generally ranges from ash-grey to black, with horn-like protrusions and ridges on their bodies and parts of their face, such as the brow, nose, and chin. Their hair may be black, red, or stark white, and their terrifying eyes range among bright red, yellow-green, or violet. These features are thought to stem from the demonic corruption that has plagued them over countless generations. They are also the shortest elven race on average, and have the longest ears, perhaps due to their subterranean lifestyle.
 ==Culture==
-The majority of the svartalfar dwell in immense underground cities inside of great stalactites and stalagmites, sometimes reaching higher than the tallest human castles. These dark cities are lit primarily by glowing crystals, and sometimes runic flames and glowing mushrooms that are the natural flora of [[Nidavellir]]. The dark elves are shunned by all surface-dwelling races, including all other elves, and they like it that way. Their greatest enemies are other subterranean races who compete with them for territory, particularly [[Dwarves|dwarves]] and [[Goblins|goblins]]. Sometimes they even dispute with [[Dragons|dragons]] over territory and treasure.
+The majority of the svartalfar dwell in immense underground cities in Nidavellir, built inside of great stalactites and stalagmites, sometimes reaching higher than the tallest human castles. These dark cities are lit primarily by glowing crystals, and sometimes runic flames and glowing mushrooms that are the natural flora of Nidavellir. The dark elves are shunned by all surface-dwelling races, including all other elves, and they like it that way. Their greatest enemies are other subterranean races who compete with them for territory, particularly [[Dwarves|dwarves]] and [[Goblins|goblins]]. Sometimes they even dispute with [[Dragons|dragons]] over territory and treasure.
 [[File:Svartalfar_city.jpg|left|thumb|280px|A svartalfar city.]]
 ==Religion==
-The dark elves primarily worship various gods of death, particularly [[Hel]]. Some dark elf houses worship demon lords, often taking a patron demon lord as their primary deity. This practice is usually shunned, however, for most dark elves like to believe they are better than demons - merely "using" them for greater power. They are aware that demons laugh at this notion, believing the truth is quite the opposite. Thanks to the demonic rituals and demon binding deeply ingrained in svartalfar culture, many dark elves are either practitioners of demonic magic or are at least very knowledgeable in it. However, most dark elves turn their noses up at outright necromancy - the reanimation of [[Shambling Dead|shambling corpses]] - preferring to summon and bind actual demons to their will.
+While the relationship is not always what one would call "worship," the svartalfar "religion" is based around demon lords, with many dark elf houses having a patron demon lord, to whom they pledge their service and often their souls in exchange for power. They typically do not view them as "gods," however. Many dark elves worship no god at all, but most do pay homage to the gods of death who rule the Underworld and thus have power over demons. Thanks to the demonic rituals and demon binding deeply ingrained in svartalfar culture, many dark elves are either practitioners of demonic magic or are at least very knowledgeable in it. However, most dark elves turn their noses up at outright necromancy - the reanimation of [[Shambling Dead|shambling corpses]] - preferring to summon and bind actual demons to their will.
 ===Summoned Demons===
-As mentioned, dark elves consider themselves above demons in general. Though they would not dream of directly defying a demon lord, dark elves have played the games of trickery and temptation with demons for years, and they have mastered the art of winning the demons' bargains. As such, summoned demons in dark elf cities are bound to serve their masters or merely trapped in one location to show the power of a noble house, not allowed to wander as they please. Though many - perhaps all - dark elves have some demonic blood in their veins, the practice of copulating with a demon is highly frowned upon, as it usually means a foolish dark elf fell for a demon's seduction. Also, dark elf [[Demon-kin|demon-kin]] are no stronger than others at resisting the temptations of their demonic blood, meaning they usually simply become another demon.
+As mentioned, svartalfar consider themselves above demons in general. Though they would not dream of directly defying a demon lord, dark elves have played the games of trickery and temptation with demons for years, and they have mastered the art of winning the demons' bargains. As such, summoned demons in dark elf cities are bound to serve their masters or merely trapped in one location to show the power of a noble house, not allowed to wander as they please. Though many - perhaps all - dark elves have some demonic blood in their veins, the practice of copulating with a demon is highly frowned upon, as it usually means a foolish dark elf fell for a demon's seduction. Also, dark elf [[Demon-kin|demon-kin]] are no stronger than others at resisting the temptations of their demonic blood, meaning they usually simply become another demon.
 [[Category:Races]]
 [[Category:Elves]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:55, 15 May 2014
Line 16:		Line 16:
	==Military==		==Military==
	Dark elf warriors traditionally wear almost colorless armor in black and shades of grey, in order to blend with their environment. The wealthiest prefer armor and weapons forged from void iron, though they cannot craft such armaments as skillfully as the Dvergar, meaning they must often turn to trade with dwarf clans. Dark elves are masters of the sword, spear, and javelin, and have been known to field cavalry riding bound demonic steeds.		Dark elf warriors traditionally wear almost colorless armor in black and shades of grey, in order to blend with their environment. The wealthiest prefer armor and weapons forged from void iron, though they cannot craft such armaments as skillfully as the Dvergar, meaning they must often turn to trade with dwarf clans. Dark elves are masters of the sword, spear, and javelin, and have been known to field cavalry riding bound demonic steeds.
		+
		+	[[Category:Races]]
		+	[[Category:Elves]]