Shiv
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Post by Shiv on Nov 12, 2010 19:46:58 GMT -5
Salmaradim - The Dark elves
The dark elves of Kaer Maeghol are a brooding and twisted race. Set apart from the other elven races in times long past the dark elves peculiar beliefs and practices have made them one of the most feared and mistrusted races, often rightly so.
Like all elves, the dark elves are distinctly different from their brethren. Where the wood elves are tanned, the dark elves are pallid. Where the high elves have soft gentle features, the dark elves are gaunt, often with chiselled visages. The dark elves are lithe and agile like any elf, but a –relatively- sedimentary lifestyle and a harsh land offering little food has made them physically weaker than their southern brothers. The harshness has given them tenacity though, and a will to overcome hardships. The dark elves are strong willed, driven and are survivors of the highest kind, ready to use any means to get by if need be.
Although their society to an outsider looks like a place where dog eats dog, a dark elf is never alone. Ruthless behaviour in search of progress is not seen as a good thing, especially if you garner a bad name for yourself from double crossing your friends, so the Dark elves are more accustomed to forming small, close-knit, groups called cabals. These “families”, usually 3-8 people, have ties stronger then blood relations, each member trusting the others with a fervour matching that of a dwarven vow. Society is based on these cabals, dozens of smaller cabals joining into larger groups called nests and finally nests merging to form Clans, composed of up to a thousand individuals. These clans vie for control of the most fertile (and almost only) valleys in the middle of Khaer Maeghol through skirmishes, political intrigue and assassination, the one person garnering the most votes in the elections held every ten years being voted king (or “Crown” as it is called in the dark elven language). The new Crown will then be allowed to move into the valleys with his nest and divide the remaining land as he sees fit. The current leaders are clan Caelthran, with the demonologist Rith’narr of the Chirascoro-nest at its head.
The dark elves acknowledge other pantheons, but firmly believe that they themselves came from the grand tree called Salmaridon in their tongue. According to legend, a trio of High elven brother gods, Lythis, Tausil and Sehk, once found Salmaridon in their travels across the lands. Sensing the powers of the tree, the brothers sank to their knees in awe and worshipped the new-found divine apparition before them. The tree then reached out and chose Lythis as its first champion, infusing his twin swords with power. In trance the elf rose and used his blades to cut swathes of leaves off of the trees branches, each leaf falling to the ground and transforming into a dark elf, servitor of Salmaridon. Next the powers touched Sehk, who was given the task of directing the new children of the god. Sehk gathered some of the leaves who had yet to find their way to the ground and fashioned himself a crown. Then, infusing the unborn elves one by one with power, he sent the leaves flying across the world on winds of magic, the newborn elves following the leaves flight and settling where it fell. Finally Tausil was chosen and, taking up his heavy war staff, he solemnly took his position by his two brothers’ side, guarding them against dangers as they continued their work to spread the children of the great tree.
This story has shaped much of the Dark elven society. Firstly, the dark elves are an expansionist race, following the teachings of Sehk to settle “where his leaves fall”. Secondly they see themselves as a “Race apart” even more so than the other creatures, as they believe themselves to come from a being powerful enough to command the gods. Third, the motifs of the trunk, the blade, the staff and the crown of leaves are commonly used in all parts of society, both from mundane items to building architecture. While Salmaridon is revered as a god, the tree is seen as an indifferent creature and the highest chance of having your prayers hears comes from worshipping the three brothers. Lythis as the life giver, Sehk as the god of travelling and leadership, and finally Tausil as the protector. To be “steadfast like Tausil” is a great compliment of prowess in battle, while to be gifted with “the sight of Sehk” means that you are a born leader or a magician. Most dark elven children learn to handle one of the three sacred weapons: swords, staves of throwing knives to some degree as part of their religious schooling.
Since the main loyalty of a Dark elf lies with his cabal, other races often regard the elves with mistrust. Also, as only the oaths given to your cabal have any true meaning (a vile thought to the dwarves) and a Dark elf is ready to kill his own blood-kin for his cabal (an abhorrent act to any other race), they are often seen with a great deal of mistrust, even though the dark elves themselves see view their morale code as the most honourable and effective one (since they don’t complicate it beyond being loyal to your immediate friends). The final wedge that is driven between most races and the dark elves is the practice of slavery. While this has led to several skirmishes and wars in the past, the neighbouring countries have learned to deal and minimize the damages of dark elven raids, while the dark elves themselves seldom make any major offensives against other countries. The most common source of slaves for the elven empire comes from prisoners of war, Blackbloods, and the occasional group of humanoids that venture too far into the reaches of Kaer Maeghol without staying along the appointed trade routes.
As much as they are feared Dark elven adventurers are common, due their expansionist principles that encourages travelling. Although often shunned by the communities they visit some dark elves have assimilated well into certain parts of the world, often forming Cabal-like ties with a particular adventuring group of allies. You will find a dark elven enclave in most any major city, though (due to suspicion) they seldom settle in larger communities than a single nest -at most- in any area. The dark elves have long been in communication with the Valecian god-avatar Nimth about buying some of the northern areas of land for farming, but no progress have been made as of yet. Should this take place it is highly probably that a shift in power will be seen in the dark elven society, as the clan to hold northern Valecia would then rival the leading clans position as the major producer of food.
Beyond their often used traditional weapons dark elves will use any underhand or dirty technique to win. They firmly believe that “might makes right” although “might” in their language means “the winner”. So using backstabbing, poison, dirty tricks or political intrigue is considered the correct way of doing things, as long as you come out the victor. Therefore, as they are less physically impressive than most races, a dark elf will poison her weapons, lay traps to lure his enemies into or (if she has ample time) slit her enemies throats in their sleep. Once the natural mistrust dies down Dark elven adventurers are often welcome in many groups due to their almost paranoia-like caution, at least once the racial superstition is overcome. Hired as scouts or pathfinders, they always find the most defensible position, the most effective sleeping pattern and the safest (if sometimes least honourable) way of winning a battle.
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