Dark Elves
Children of the Stemine
Dark Elves, also known as Subtotanians due to their primarily underground residences, are an ethnicity of Elves, originating from Lunar Lake and Camor just as High Elves and Wood Elves are. Dark Elves are known for their grey, discolored skin that resulted from the radiation that came from the teleporting rose that saved them from the High Elves: the Stemine.
In truth, there are six different answers, with each having different power over different people.
Government Structure
Depending on who you ask, you'll get a different answer about who rules the Dark Elves.Jarrur, Lord of the Dark by somcleverusername and Jarhed
Jarrur, Lord of the Dark
The primary and official ruler of the Dark Elves, Jarrur is the purple Dragon Lord, and one of the most powerful and intelligent beings in the world. He rarely interacts with his citizens, preferring to issue decrees and proclamations from afar, but his millennia of experience and vast intellect allowed him to create a system that could see to his citizens needs as best as he possibly could. This system keeps him at a distance so that he cannot benefit from or be corrupted by it, but it also leads to many thinking he is too distant, unable to truly see the struggles of the average Dark Elf. But that is what he has the Council of Attendants for.Council of Attendants
A group of 5-9 mostly Dark Elven officials from across the underground settlements, with the primary job of advising Jarrur on the best course of action to improve society under the surface of Totania. They are not public figures, and surface dwellers are often unaware of who sits on this council. This council is chosen by Jarrur, with each member representing a group that Jarrur believes speaks to present issues that need addressing. The entire council is often fired at once and replaced, but occasionally, individual members are replaced instead.Overseer of the Entrance
An elected position that guards the entrance to the cave and serves as the official envoy of New Chazarre, chosen from among all Dark Elven cities under Jarrur. They are seen as the face of the underground, though they have little actual power. Each city elects one representative via popular vote (lifted from the Dwarven Prime Minister elections), and all representatives compete in a series of challenges to prove their worth in all fields that would be relevant for the position. These challenges include combative, legislative, and diplomatic.City Overseers
Each city elects Overseers in similar local processes that don't include the other settlements. These Overseers rule their cities as proxies for Jarrur, not making many decisions, but instead being the extension of his will. During some periods, some Overseers have seceded and tried ruling the city themselves, but it has always ended up back at Jarrur. The patient Dragon Lord allows this, acting only to safeguard the citizens and letting the sham government collapse on its own.Gang Leaders
Ruling over small neighborhoods for the most part, Dark Elven gangs are powerful and influential, with one having ruled over the city of St. Qizynna for hundreds of years. These gang leaders demand allegiance from those in their neighborhoods, and in some cases are globally famous figures on par with world leaders.Dwarven Generals
The Dwarven General of the Blue Devils has some sway over what happens in the Dark Elven caves, and they often send soldiers down to disrupt the goings on in New Chazarre (usually never delving much further down to the other cities).Settlements
On the surface, not too much is known about the Dark Elven settlements, because they're all deep underground, and it's dangerous to delve too far from the light. Below, some of the major settlements will be described.Chadzar Dalarune by Jarhed
New Chazarre
New Chazarre is the capital of the Dark Elves, and their largest city. It is at the entrance of the caverns, towards the edge of Dwarven territory, and is the most well-known (and easily accessible) underground location. The city was named after Chadzar Dalarune, the founder of the city and the "first Dark Elf" who led his people to salvation, and it houses monuments to him, the Stemine that saved the Dark Elves, and a home that likely belonged to (and may still be owned by) his monstrous rival Dresmorlin Cobath.Trade
The Dark Elves do not have great trade connections, due to their cave being guarded by Dwarves. This does mean they have strong relations with the Dwarves, who bring them most of what they need. Aside from that, they trade exclusively with other cave residents. Slime, Ocultos Goblins, Under Gnomes, Cave Dwarves, and Fire Giants.The First Dark Elves
There was dissent among the second generation of Elves in Camor, born after the Holy Rebellion, as they believed their parents were not looking out for their interests. This lead to a district of the city known as Chazarre popping up, housing a rebel movement led by Chadzar Dalarune, supported by a first generation Elf, Dresmorlin Cobath. Cobath sought to provoke the Queen of the Elves, Meiriris Nerifir, while Dalarune truly believed in the cause. Still, he could not deny the aid that came with Dresmorlin's support, and so the two became the leading figures of the movement in Chazarre. In an attempt to force Dalarune to capitulate, under Meiriris' orders, the Elven Guard chased all of these rebels out of the city, but Chadzar found the first Stemine and teleported himself and many of his followers away to what would later be New Chazarre. The Stemine that saved them became an object of worship, also changing their skin, and Chadzar became a symbol of their freedom for generations to come. Dresmorlin Cobath, on the other hand, became one of the most notorious villains in the world, killing Dalarune and supposedly living forever as a vampire (though many doubt the validity of the latter part of the story, as he likely killed himself in prison).Religion
There are five major religions among the Dark Elves. First, and most prominently, the Dark Elves make up the bulk of the Shadow Goddess Nyx's followers, with many attributing the shadows of the cave they live in with their protection. Second, there is a sizeable portion of Dark Elves who still follow Selene, the Goddess of the Moon who created the Elves. Third, many Dark Elves (due to the Dwarven presence in and around the cave) have been either peacefully or forcefully converted to worship of the Dwarven God Hadur. A small population worships Tsukuyomi, God of Darkness, instead of Nyx. This is a small offshoot that is ostracized from most of Dark Elven society. Finally, many of Jarrur's inner circle worship his creator, Helle (though it is said that they do so by worshipping him in a way that makes him the object of divine worship, rather than his mother the Goddess, and so they are considered a cult, the Mindwyrms). There is also worship of the Stemine itself, but that is entwined with all Dark Elven culture, not any specific God or Goddess (though Nyx claims it as her work).Solothilès
Also known as the Realm of the Lord, this city borders New Chazarre, but is home only to Jarrur, Lord of the Dark, as well as his closest advisors and followers. Due to its small population, proximity to New Chazarre, and role as a center of the government, some consider it an extension of the capital rather than a separate city.
Dresmorlin Cobath by Jarhed
Calcaire
Calcaire is most well-known for its extensive limestone deposits, which are the largest known source of the material in the world. The city was overtaken by gangs around the Age of Heroes, leading to constant territorial skirmishes inside the city limits, and all semblances of overganized government being fronts for said gangs.Shadowsea
Originally called Mer d'Ombre in the Dark Elven language, it became colloquially known as Ombremer and then Ombrer later on, when the Elven language of Camor was little more than a distant memory of a long-dead generation. This city is the deepest that surface explorers have ever traveled (and survived), and is said to be the farthest that Jarrur himself likes traveling when he needs to visit the cities.
Saint Qizynna by Jarhed
St. Qizynna
Originally founded as an outpost for followers of Nyx to commune with the shadows and creatures of the caves, it was overrun and destroyed countless times before its namesake, the stalwart Saint Qizynna, drove back the creatures to the shadows and convinced Jarrur to give the resources to make it a full-fledged settlement. Now, it is the second most populous city in the underground, with a large population of faithful Nyx worshipers following in Qizynna's footsteps. Very little gang activity can be found in the city, as the faithful do everything to drive them out (and even try to stop them in other cities, though they are often killed or captured immediately upon entering Calcaire), and they also often try to usurp New Chazarre as the center of Dark Elven society, hoping to bring about a religious revolution among the Dark Elven people. While they claim to be free of corruption, Nyx and her followers have strong-armed the politics of the city so heavily that no other group really has a say, leading many to call it more corrupt and less free than the gang-infested Calcaire.Culture
Dark Elven culture has very little in common with those of other Elven peoples due to their very distant connection, and it is more in line with that of the Dwarves, though even that connection is very slight.
Stemine in a Field by genuinetrickster
The Stemine
The teleporting rose that brought the Dark Elves to the safety of the underground, Stemines have become a central object in Dark Elven culture. They don't necessarily worship it, as it is divorced from their religious practices, but instead they revere the Stemine. A temple can be found in New Chazarre, which has the original deactivated Stemine at the center, and guards who are trained for 200 years to protect it. Dark Elves line up at the temple every day to pay tribute to it and get a small taste of its poison, building up a resistance that, if they continue regularly until around the age of 310, is said to make Dark Elves immune to most if not all poisons.Elven Connections
The Dark Elves are still Elves, and so their language is, at its core, Elvish. Linguistically it has evolved to the point that the two would perhaps understand the root words and some common meaning, but a Dark Elf from Shadowsea and a High Elf from Camor could not have a conversation in their respective languages.
Narcelia by Jarhed
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