Dark Elves

Character
The Dark Elves, like most other races, came from a humble origin. Not unlike their forest-dwelling brethren, the first Dark Elves lived a peaceful life among the trees and animals and bore nary a concern in the world. Much of their worship was turned to the Creator in times of trouble and the Elves were rightly repaid with showering grace and loving care. Such proof remained stolid in the form of the Elven forests and tree homes located in Aeonis- a true gift where other races struggled to make their first cave dwellings. ~ Rognvaldi

Social Hierarchy
THE DARK HOST

Among the Dark Elves are many subdivisions of military- mounted cavalry- which has yet to arrive-, highly skilled knights, basic soldiers, assassins, and sorcerors.

Basic Military- Responsible for acting as the backbone of the Dark Elf military in combat.

Dread Warrior: The most basic type of soldier, these warriors have yet to make a name for themselves and are hardly expected to make it past their first battle. Out of the battlefield, they are responsible for watching over the slaves. They may be seen pillaging and raiding for slaves under the command of a Drauchar.

Corsair: An all-around combatant, expected to focus on ranged combat above all other. These individuals are normally trained to impede the enemy's progress into a battle after skirmishing. They may be seen pillaging and raiding for slaves under the command of a Drauchar.

Retainer: The personal guard of a Drauchar. These individuals are expected to serve their Drauchar without question, and are rewarded justly by the one they serve. A position of honor.

Drauchar: A highborn dark elf suited for battle. These individuals are invariably well trained and have shown supremacy over the rest of their peers in combat. Drauchar are expected to raid settlements and report to the Dread Lord on success or failure, the latter which may constitute for having the individual's head impaled on the Black Ark's gate spikes.

The Endless: Dread Warriors, corsairs, or Drauchar who have proven supreme fighting capabilities above all others in any branch of military, these individuals have gone undefeated in combat and are among the most loyal to the Dread Lord. Those who make it to this rank are promised riches and glory above all others. These warriors are expected to be emotionless, ruthless, and capable of making split-second choices over situations that threaten life or death. They have no concern for life other than the Dread Lord and his bodyguard.

Specialized Military- Responsible for turning what may have been a defeat into a crushing victory, these individuals are highly trained and are usually found in a higher class positioning in Malus's Ark. By no means are the Dragoon Knights expected to live up to a code of chivalry.

Dragoon Knights: These individuals may be found living on their own together in a guild house, but are expected to remain loyal to the Dread Lord and defend the Dark Elves should the need arise.

Dragoon Initiate: Not yet expected to truly become a Dragoon, they must prove themselves worthy to enter the ranks through combat to the death with other initiates. Those defeated must become Dread Warriors or retire as a slave.

Dragoon Knight: Proven worthy in the death trials, these individuals are under command of the Dragoon Captain or higher.

Dragoon Captain: Dragoon Captains are proud representatives of all the virtues of their race. They openly display cruelty and savagery and are trained to lead in combat.

Dragoon Patriarch: The supreme commander of all the Dragoons. Loyalty to this figure is normally unflinching, although he is despised by common Druchii for his racially typical arrogance.

Executioners:

Executioner: While not exactly a specialized form of military, these individuals are responsible for the beheading of captives and those who plot treachery against the Dread Lord. The mere existence of these individuals is enough to frighten would-be despots back into subservience to the Dread Lord. Coupled with their amazing aptitude for the blade as is expected with any executioner is an all-encompassing face mask that displays eternal disdain. These individuals also make for a dreadful foe to face on the field of battle.

Convent of Kael: The practitioners of the faith in Kael. These individuals have their very own housing and altar upon the Black Ark, which is generally left undisturbed lest the prying eye be sacrificed to the god of murder.

Kael Novitiate: These individuals have been freshly introduced to the worship of Kael. They must successfully assassinate a member of any race to be fully accepted into the convent.

Disciple of Kael: Inducted to the service after an assassination has been completed. They will gladly murder any that the Mouth of Kael instructs- save for the Dread Lord himself. These individuals are affected by the Death Night.

Assassin: One who has broken faith in a slight- these are Disciples that take hits from other races and gladly partake in the Death Night.

Shadowblade: A legend of sorts. This individual is a well-renowned and feared assassin. The true identity of this individual is unknown to any- save who the title-bearer last appointed. Should Shadowblade fall, the aforementioned individual will forgo all form of identity and take up the name for himself.

Personal Guard of the Dread Lord

Blackguard:

The elite of the elite, these individuals are hand selected from among the Endless after many fields of training. The Blackguard are expected to remain stoic and unflinching in battle. These individuals become living personifications of Kael himself and reap a bloody score over it. These individuals are the only few allowed within ten feet of the Dread Lord. Any who impose upon the Dread Lord's space are quickly dispatched without question, regardless of importance. Treachery against the Dread Lord at this level is invariably unthinkable. The Black Guard are forever corrupted by the Dread Lord and may only act as his hands, performing actions that he alone sees fit. They will not give credence to any other. Even as they refuse treachery, they will not retreat on the field of battle, unless the Dread Lord himself commands it. They would rather give their lives than allow the Dread Lord to fall.

Captain of the Black Guard: Selected personally by the Dread Lord. This individual is in charge of maintaining the fighting capabilities of the Blackguard.

Dread Lord: The seat taken by Malus, also known as the Hand of Kael, the Mouth of Kael, His Dreadful Majesty, or the Terrible One.

THE DARK ONES

The side of dark elf society responsible for construction

Slave: One taken captive from Dark Elf raids, or a new elf awaiting corruption.

Slave Master: Invariably a Highborn Dark Elf. These individuals will drive the slave force on a project of their choosing with a ruthless fury.

Architect: Wealthy Dark Elves that enlist the aid of slave masters to finish their buildings. They may occasionally take matters into their own hands.

Head Architect: Found in an expensive plot of land in the Black Ark, allowed entrance to all but the most secretive of projects. This individual is promised much wealth by the Dread Lord.

Commoner: A simple Dark Elf.

Highborn: A Dark Elf of noble backgrounds. These individuals are born with much power and are led by scorn.

~ Rogvaldi

History
Biogenesis The Dark Elves, like most other races, came from a humble origin. Not unlike their forest-dwelling brethren, the first Dark Elves lived a peaceful life among the trees and animals and bore nary a concern in the world. Much of their worship was turned to the Creator in times of trouble and the Elves were rightly repaid with showering grace and loving care. Such proof remained stolid in the form of the Elven forests and tree homes located in Aeonis- a true gift where other races struggled to make their first cave dwellings.

A Spark in a Dimly Lit Room After centuries of conflict between the many races of Aeonis, the Creator appointed a leader to assemble the elves to war, one apt enough to settle tensions between dwarf, human, demon, and elf through bloodshed or trickery. From this decision arose the first great Elven King- King Phoenix I. While many elves looked upon this decision with distaste, preferring to live a life of solitude and peace, several more insidious and brooding individuals looked upon the situation with a certain serendipity. Inspired in these individuals was a great taste for war, trickery, and bloodlust. Where most elves kept to sniffing flowers and practicing protective magics, these differing individuals took to more high-brow activities, becoming arrogant with their increasing confidence and skill in warfare. As conflict with the dwarves became inevitable, these individuals nurtured a deep disdain for all things that were not like them, and this quality had shone through when King Phoenix returned to the Elves as a vampire. Although the war-like elves were repulsed by their king's new form, they gladly partook in his dark activities and bloody rituals. It was here the dark ones learned of sacrifice and of Kael, the Elven god of murder.

The Unforgivable Deed While most Elves sought distancing from others and dealt with their troubles, a great commotion had been arising deep within the Dwarf mountain-halls. News of the Elf King's transformation angered the Dwarfs for several unknown reasons, and they were justly rewarded with a full-scale war that lasted just over a decade. Drawing near the end of the war, the Elves found themselves on the losing side and were quickly finding themselves preparing defenses in their Creator-blessed forests. Unexpected to the defenders, the Dwarfs emerged from underground tunnels that had been dug away from the start of the war, slaughtering many unprepared farmers and onlookers who refused to participate in the fight. While few elves took up arms, the darker individuals encircled their king spitting curses out toward the invaders. In mere moments, a boom resounded through the forest, taking down the protective wards of the Elves and taking along with it the Elven King and Dwarfen host. As the dark defenders watched their great King slowly fade from their presence due to the teleportative magic, they each cursed the name of each of their brethren who were incapable of fighting, and those of the magicians who had completely failed to sustain the protective wards covering the forest.

The Sundering Denied the ability to spill the blood of their enemies, the war-like elves quickly turned upon their brethren, murdering every lethargic elf who refused to defend their vampiric king in the name of Kael. Appeased, the god of murder manifested an avatar of himself and helped in the slaughter. Although many were allowed to be slaughtered, Kael was not the only god who had taken interest in the conflict. When all seemed hopeless for the remaining Elven citizens, the holy form of the Creator appeared and banished Kael and his followers from the Elven forests. Despite the banishment, Kael used his power to maintain his and his followers' presence in the woods, although movement became lethargic. The dark ones pressed harder and claimed the lives of precious few, but were stopped as the Creator called down the most powerful of ancient magic, and the entire dark force was teleported many continents away from the Elves, ending the conflict entirely.

After this event, the banished elves henceforth became known as the Dark Elves, Druchii in Elvish tongue, for turning from their brethren and partaking in murderous habits. Despite their banishment, the Dark Elves swore vengeance against the Elves and would forever hold an eternal disdain for other races. In their time away from Aeonis, the Dark Elves turned much of their worship to Kael, and forsook worship of the Creator for his deeds against their kind. Not only worship, but choice of habitat quickly changed. Where once the Dark Elves had spent centuries living in the shrouded forests, the Dark Elves began constructing spires and arks of obsidian. Much of Dark Elf society became wary of eachother and all vied for power. Because of this, much backstabbing and treachery had become observable- a true representation of a Machiavellian society. Where all vied for power, only one truly oversaw the actions of the Dark Elves. This new figurehead was known as the Dread Lord Malus.

The Tale of Malus Malus had always been a devious elf, born a mere 50,000 years ago. Malus had been fortunate enough to discover the existence of Kael at an early age, which led to a promise of immortality and supreme power over the other nations, should he suit the god's needs. He was glad to accept the undertaking, due to his disdain for his brethren. His tendency to renounce his brethren was never unwarranted, their desire to revel in the sunlight and cuddle with bunnies always repulsed him. Because of his reclusiveness, Malus often found himself locked away in his study preparing war plans and devising a way for more Elves to turn against their restricting, peace-loving nature and join him in a quick vie for power. In a stroke of genius, Malus convinced a great human king in old age during the age of man that great power could be found in assimilating the other races into his own. Seeking untold glory, the human king heeded Malus's advice and began a great onslaught between the races of Aeonis. For 10,000 years the war waged on, the human king was already far beneath the grave and was never able to see the fruits of his labor. A typical trait in humans, and easy to manipulate. Finally, the many races of Aeonis found themselves at a standstill and retreated swiftly to their homelands. Thus ended much of the conflict, however the Creator saught to forestall such an event from happening again, and chose select leaders from his favored creations that would overcome any enemy that desired to assimilate his beloved creations. Among those was King Phoenix of the Elves.

King Phoenix was exactly the type of figure Malus had desired, his tendency toward the darker side of life would be easy to influence and all too soon Malus could see his own plans coming to fruition. As Malus gathered his wits, he called the Elven king to a conference on the Shrouded Isles. Alongside Malus was the fabled vampire lord, keeper of secrets, Narrator. As the Elven king first arrived, his fleeting fear of the situation was dispelled with offers of wine and the sight of Malus. As the conference dragged on, Phoenix was finally introduced to the Elven god of murder, Kael. In a stunning acceptance of the god, Phoenix was also gifted with a more detrimental form of immortality- vampirism. In return, Phoenix was to return to the elf forests and convert as many followers as he could to the worship of Kael.

As Malus expected, the plan worked flawlessly. In order to assure that the converted elves would be turned over in totality, Malus requested the aid of Rajaat and Narrator in teleporting the Dwarf Paragon and Elven king to the Shrouded Isles to end their squabbling in a fatal duel. He requested that the Dwarfs be removed to their mountain halls after invading the Elven forests, and seeing the possibility of a challenge to his power, he asked that magics be cast to slacken the movements of the Elven king, assuring his loss in his eventual duel against the Dwarf paragon.

In a feat of malevolence, Malus took news of Phoenix's changing to the Dwarfs, and assured them that the Elves would then attempt to convert the Dwarf colonies to vampirism under the threat of war. This act easily enraged the Dwarfs, and led to an immediate preparation for war. Understanding what would occur because of this, Malus set off on a journey to far away lands, where Kael had instructed Malus he would be waiting, along with the newly converted Dark Elves. When Malus arrived, he fully understood that his entire plan, devised over tens of centuries, had finally shown the first signs of reward. With a well organized military behind him, Malus carefully instructed the Dark Elves in the ways of Kael, and mandated the construction of several "Black Arks", which were obsidian fortresses that sailed the waters due to a wicked magic.

With the completion of his own, personal Black Ark, Malus instructed his closest highborn nobles to finish construction of their own arks, enlisting the aid of slaves as they see fit. After each remaining Dark Elf was gathered into the ark, Malus set sail for Aeonis with a barbed blade at his side. His return to Aeonis would herald a new coming of fear and dismay.

The Return The return of the Dark Elves, or Druchii, was one unpredicted by many, but all too well known by the Elves. As the first, great Black Ark lowered its bridge onto land, many Dark Elves could be seen pouring out in dressed ranks, sporting gold and iron armor with dreadful visages to represent their hatred for the other races. Among the ranks of Dark Elf warriors were the Dragoon Knights, Executioners, Disciples of Kael, and finally, the terrifying personal bodyguard of the Dread Lord himself- the Blackguard.

Upon this beachhead was created the first of the Dark Elf camps, named Ghrond. It was from here that the Dark Elves would spread and raid settlements in pursuit of personal gain, and the disciples in a crazed bloodlust over their god, Kael. ~ Rognvaldi