Dread Elves

The **Dread Elves,** also known as the **Daeb,** are a playable faction in the game The 9th Age: Fantasy Battles. They are an elven ethnic group who live in the nation of **Dathen**, formally known as the **Republic of Dathen**, also known as the **Fatherland**. Situated in Silexia, it is the largest elven nation in the world .

The Republic of Dathen was presumably founded in the Fifth Age . It is governed by the three Crimson Consuls, who sit on the Obsidian Thrones in the capital of Rathaen.

## History

### Origin

*Main article: Elves*

All elves of the modern world have a shared history. In the First Age they were slaves to the Saurians as many other humanoid species, but rebelled.

*The elves made their home in the great forest (presumably Wyscan)*, and later many elves are said to have migrated out. Those that did became known as the Arandai. They built towns and towers in Vetia, and eventually build boats to conquer the rivers and the seas. They eventually made their home on Celeda Ablan.

During the Third Age, the elven provinces in Vetia were facing formidable threats from barbarian hordes and dwarven enmity. Many elves left the provinces in Vetia to travel to Silexia instead, growing the Arandai colonies there.

Eventually, *presumably in the Fifth Age judging by the World Hymn* the Aldan's control was rejected and civil war followed. The colonists formed their own nation, the Republic of Dathen.

### Republic of Dathen

The Daeb fought a war in Vetia against the human. It is said to have ended in 201 A.S. Shortly thereafter the Empire of Sonnstahl is founded.

## Geography

The Republic of Dathen lies in Silexia.

There are two known cities in Dathen. The capital Rathaen and Caen Dracin.

## Religion

*Main article: Elven deities*

The Daeb are said to worship the Holy Trinities, also known as the Elven deities. Their worship has taken on a dark touch than that of other elves, and is said to involve blood sacrifices.

Religion is said to play an important role in shaping the Dathen society. Their most powerful cults able to dominate both civilian and military life.

There are cults in Dathen dedicated to:

* Nabh
* Yema
* Cadaron
* Olaron

## Economy

The slave trade is an important part of Dathen economy and culture . Slaves are used as workforce by the DrfarmsFleet and on farms around the land, but also as household servants to powerful Daeb.  The Daeb are known for their strong naval presence around the world .

## Government

   Dathen is a republic. It is governed by the three Crimson Consuls from the Obsidian Thrones. The consuls embody the will of the Senate, which consist of 99 elected individuals. The Senate is found in the Tower of Gar Daecos in Rathaen.

There are three main faction within Dathen politics: the Fatherland faction, the Motherland faction and the Slaver faction.

### The Fatherland Faction

The Fatherland faction strives to have the Daeb reclaim territories in Vetia.

Presumably, the Fatherland faction was involved in the War against Dathen as it is called in Sonnsthal, upon the conclusion of which the Empire of Sonnstahl was founded.

### The Motherland Faction

The Motherland faction seeks dominion over the Highborn Elves of Celeda Ablan.

### The Slaver Faction

The Slaver faction focuses on Silexia and seeks to empower it through slave trade. It is popular among many younger Daeb.

## Military

The military of the Dathen, known as the Dread Host, is known for its ruthless spirit.

### The Dread Fleet

The ships of the Daeb are said bring terror around the world , possibly the most formidable naval force in the world. They take many captives to be used as slaves.

*At least some* ships of the Dread Fleet are crewed by so called Corsairs.

### Military Academy

Dathen has a military acadamy. Those who graduate become either Repeater Auxiliaries or Dread Legionnaires, but are free to choose between a life as famers, continuing in the military or even to enter polictis in Rathen. The most elite of them may be selected to become members of the Tower Guard.

### The Menagerie

The menagerie has been described as perhaps the greatest weapon in the Daeb arsenal. It is a collection of monsters and beasts that the Dread Elves have bent to their will.

## Magic Use

The Daeb more than any of their brethren view magic as a military art. They are said to possess a natural affinity for magic, almost as able as the Arandai. They supposedly use their magic to augment their ability of manipulating emotions, fear most of all. They use it to appear and disappear out of fog or shadow.

The magic users of the Daeb, known as Oracles, have access to the following paths:

* Alchemy
* Witchcraft
* Divination
* Cosmology
* Occultism

## Sources

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Graduation speech from a military academy in Dathen (*The 9th Scroll, issue 6, p26***)**
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Faction info from T9A Webpage
3. ↑ The World Hymn: The 1st Age (*T9A:FB Rulebook, v1.3.5, p126*)
4. ↑ Jorge Zamoran; An account of the peoples, nations and monsters which inhabit the world: Elves (*T9A:FB Rulebook, v1.3.5, p138*)
5. ↑ Account by Rodomonte (*The 9th Scroll, issue 9, p21*)
6. ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 Informative text about the Dread Elves (*The* *9th Scroll**, issue 6, p26***)**
7. ↑ The World Hymn: The 5th Age (*T9A:FB Rulebook, p128*)
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Informative text about the Empire of Sonnstahl (*The* *9th Scroll**, issue 5, p36***)**
9. ↑ Meradus Gercator (962 A.S.) Map of the Lands and People of the 9th Age (*T9A:FB Rulebook, v1.3.5, p125*)
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Jorge Zamoran; An account of the peoples, nations and monsters which inhabit the world: Dread Elves (*T9A:FB Rulebook, v1.3.5, p139*) Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name ":8" defined multiple times with different content
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Letter intercepted between Sonnstahler traders (*The 9th Scroll, issue 6, p27***)**
Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name ":7" defined multiple times with different content
12. ↑ Johannes Strabo; A New Atlas for the Ninth Age (*T9A:FB Rulebook, v1.3.5, p124*)
13. ↑ Diary of Samuel le Pepin (*T9A:FB Warriors of the Dark Gods, v0204.2, p38-39*)
14. ↑ On races and their magic (*The 9th Scroll, issue 5, p8*)