Dark Elves

Dark Elves

Dark Elves
File:DarkElf.png
Homeworld:	Nomadic (Fleet-based enclaves)
Average Height:	1.8 m to 2.3 m
Average Lifespan:	Up to 600 years
Classification:	Mammalian (Elf subtype)
Language(s):	Vael'Shari (Dark Elvish), dialects of High Elvish, Galactic Common
Government:	The Synod of the Abyss
Notable Traits:	Pale or ashen skin, luminescent eyes, elongated features, tall and graceful physique, attuned to arcane forces
Affiliation(s):	Various (seen as neutral, often respected)
Status:	Existing

The Dark Elves

1. Public Perception: The Enlightened Nomads

To outsiders, the Dark Elves are not seen as a hostile faction—instead, they are viewed as a reserved, highly intelligent, and self-sufficient people with their own unique philosophies and traditions.

• Nomadic by choice – They claim to reject static planetary rule, preferring to live in disciplined, mobile enclaves across the galaxy.
• Scholars of the Unknown – Many believe the Dark Elves to be guardians of forgotten knowledge, respected as historians, mathematicians, and philosophers.
• Neutral Diplomats & Traders – While not expansionist, they engage in diplomatic relations, technology exchange, and cultural discourse, giving them a reputation for wisdom and fairness.
• Order Above All – They are seen as a people who value hierarchy, stability, and rationality, often stepping in to mediate conflicts between factions.

2. Government: The Synod of the Abyss (A Rational Hierarchy)

The Synod of the Abyss is an oligarchic, philosophical order ruling over the Dark Elves' fleets and enclaves. It presents itself as a council of visionaries, guiding their people through disciplined order.

• The Synod – A governing body of scholars, strategists, and orators that dictates long-term policy and expansion.
• The Executors – Military leaders and fleet commanders who enforce discipline and oversee external engagements.
• The Keepers of Order – Overseers of trade, diplomacy, and legal matters, ensuring the Dark Elves maintain a positive galactic reputation.
• The Stewards – The labor class, including trained servants, engineers, and conscripted workers.
• The Guided – Those under Dark Elf rule who are "not yet ready" to govern themselves, often treated as servants rather than slaves in public view.

3. Cultural Ethos: The Grand Design

The Dark Elves frame their ideology as one of universal balance and higher understanding.

• Hierarchy is Natural – They believe some beings are destined to lead, while others must follow—but frame this as natural stewardship, not tyranny.
• The Weak Require Guidance – They publicly justify their control over others as "elevating" weaker species toward enlightenment.
• The Pursuit of Perfection – They believe the universe is disordered and incomplete, and only those with vision can shape it into something greater.

4. Strength & Survival: How They Hold Their Own

The Dark Elves survive in a hostile galaxy not by open warfare, but by calculated strategy.

• Staying Hidden – Their fleets rarely remain in one place, avoiding prolonged wars or planetary entanglements.
• Maintaining a "Neutral" Reputation – By presenting themselves as scholars, mediators, and intellectuals, they avoid mass opposition.
• Controlling Key Trade & Knowledge – They trade rare knowledge, technology, and artifacts with other factions, making themselves too valuable to be enemies.
• Precision Strikes & Subterfuge – If war is necessary, it is fought in secret, through assassinations, sabotage, and psychological manipulation.

5. Physical Distinctions: How They Differ from Other Elves

Unlike their High Elf counterparts, Dark Elves exhibit clear physiological differences:

• Taller and More Graceful – 1.8 m to 2.3 m, with slender yet resilient frames.
• Pale or Ashen Skin – Ranging from moonlit white to deep obsidian, often appearing cold and statuesque.
• Luminescent Eyes – Silver, violet, or emerald—unnervingly bright in the dark.
• Unnaturally Still Movements – Their discipline gives them an almost eerie presence; they move deliberately, rarely fidgeting or wasting motion.
• Elongated Features – Slightly longer faces, fingers, and limbs, creating an ethereal, uncanny beauty.