Dark Elves

***(Dryadalis tenebris)***

### Origin

Dark elves were among the earliest of the elven civilisations to emerge out of the Early Bronze Age, having branched out and grown separate from their ancestors after settling in the Fertile Crescent circa 3500 B.C. They thrived in the early empires of Sumer and Akkadia, living alongside humans for much of their duration.

Following the Alexandrian conquests around 334 B.C, the elven populations living under the Achaemenid Empire squabbled and disagreed about which side to support, leading to the decisive Golestan Revolts where almost all elves in the region were expelled, and any trace of their residency was laid waste to. A great exodus was undertaken as they fled North through Transoxania and into Southern Russia, each and every convoy of refugees marching under the guidance of the (ironically human) Ilythiiri prophet Mese.

Settlement in East Europe followed soon; with a largely agrarian population forming in the West, with the remaining wealthy elite establishing major trade-centres in what is now modern-day Perm. Due to the change in diets, rural elves exhibited a slow, generational darkening of hair colour, while the more priviliged could afford to import Babylonian foodstuffs.

#### Naming

The name 'dark elf' denotes their jet-black skin, with this features being distinct even as far back as Sumerian times, with the people of that era taking to calling themselves the 'coal-headed people'.

Besides the common dark elf, other terms used to refer to them have been in circulation across the centuries. **Drow** is a term used to refer to any white-haired dark elf, whilst **dunmer** may be used for any elf of a darker or differing hair colour.

#### Habitat

Prior to the Keltrussen Revisen, dark elves inhabited a region spanning their ancestral homeland of the Fertile Crescent, all the way across Northern Persia, through the Donbas and into Transoxania, though following the Dominions rigorous expulsion of non-elven citizens and the appropriation of vast swathes of land, hundreds of thousands of dunmer flocked to Siberia to populate the vacated pastures and villages.

### Description

As of the late Dominion, dark elves lived in a highly defensive and prejudiced society that clung to its set of morals, despite progress in co-existence in the 15th century. Attempts to pry into and question their customs by outsiders are often met with swift retaliation and ostracism. Even when not met with criticism, they carry themselves with a dismissive, aloof air of superiority, manifesting in disdainful looks and snide insults.

#### Physical Attributes

Height varied greatly depending on their native region, with dunmer usually standing at roughly five foot seven and drow achieving an average of 6 foot or over. Their skin was a deep jet-black, appearing a very dark brown or even a shade of purple in some lights. As is standard amongst the elven races, they exhibited long, pointed ears that varied in shape and size, with a larger set usually indicating good health. Eye colour was usually a crimson or maroon, but purple and even pure white eyes have been documented. Throughout the 13th Century, a rumour persisted that implied that the drow possessed a form of pseudo-nightvision, though this was debunked at a later date.

#### Biology

Dark elves are unlike the other elven ethnicities in that they have many mutations and features that are largely alien to their kin. In most intelligent species, men are more often than not the stronger sex, possessing muscle-growing hormones and usually being designated with 'leading' the household; however, the exact opposite can be found among the dark elves. The usual broad shoulders and deeper voices that are often associated with masculinity are found in most adult women.

A lifespan of 130 years is usually to be expected, with a 150 year old drow being extremely old. As an evolutionary tradeoff, the fertility rate among dark elves is some of the lowest on the planet, with less than 30% of conceptions resulting in a successful pregnancy. Certain genetic lineages have been known to greatly favour either men or women, to counteract this, many have been known to undergo a 'thir-kva' - a long, exhausting, often embarrassing process in which one's sex is reversed. It can be triggered either by stress, after eating certain foods, or on command in some individuals.