Dark Elves: The Darkest North

*a historical journal published by the Aether-Con*

Not comparable to any other situation amongst Elves, the split of the Dark Elven nation is historically unique. With their lack of understanding for their parent or sibling species, the Dark Elven community already had laid the groundwork on which their elitist ideology is built today.

It was the refusal of the Frost Elves to let the Dark Elves cross the official borders within the mountain mines that led to a series of battles in the deep mine systems. The majority of the Dark Elves did not want this to break out into a war, whereas about a third of the nation was determined to go against the Frost Elves and their lack of willingness to find compromises and new, more modern trade agreements. To these Dark Elves, it was not right that their neighbors in the cold claimed Hesou’s natural goods all for themselves.

Unrest spread through the land over the course of a decade, localized rebellions occurred, and when they demanded assistance from the Night Elves, who also border with the Frost Elves to this very day, the Night Elves instead demanded a clear decision from the Dark Elves, for everyone to know their political standing as a nation: War with the Frost Elves or peace.

The answer of the Dark Elves was not prompt, but it was an unexpected one. After three more years of tumult and loss of life, the nation’s seats agreed on a split. Negotiations between Dark Elves, Night Elves, and Moon Elves led to an agreement in which the Moon Elves were given land by the Dark Elves in the East, for the Moon Elven territory to connect with the Night Elven territory - something the Moon Elves had sought for centuries - and in return the Dark Elves were given a smaller path of land in the north-west extreme corner of the former Moon Elven territory. This connected the newly formed northern Dark Elven region with the border to the Light Elves. Additionally, the Moon Elves had to act as neutral grounds between the two Dark Elven nations. The goal was and is to prevent a war between the two disagreeing Dark Elven nations.

The southern Dark Elven nation, still home to the majority of the Dark Elves, was named the *True Dark Elven Community*, whereas the northern territory was called *The Darkest North*.

Since they came to be, Moon Elves have always been a peaceful folk. None ever wanted quarrels with another, so the idea of giving their siblings peace was an easy moral choice to be made. Yet, they did not bow to demands on how to achieve what was expected of them, but made sure to set their own rules in place, written down in documents and contracts.

In order to remain a neutral zone and assist the two Dark Elven nations, this is to be executed passively by the Moon Elves:

Peace and guard forces are stationed on the borders to the Dark Elven nations.

Passage between the two Dark Elven nations is forbidden.

In return and to make up for the Moon Elves having increased costs to pay the guard’s wages, the Dark Elves regularly supply the Moon Elves with various resources. Furthermore, the northern Dark Elven nation, having closed borders for everyone, makes their only exception for Moon Elves under specific laws of the *Rights of Trespassing*, requiring proper documents and prior confirmation.

The *Rights of Trespassing* are seldom used by the Moon Elves to cross through the *Darkest North* today, as political disputes over diamond mines have led to a war between the *Darkest North* and the Night Elves, with constant battles occurring in the northern mountain ranges. This evolved to less tolerance towards the Moon Elves within the *Darkest North*, and whereas there are no laws forbidding Moon Elves from trespassing and all contracts are being abided by, there also are no rights protecting Moon Elves whilst on the territory of the *Darkest North*. To not risk their lives as outlaws in a hostile nation, Moon Elves rather take detours around the *Darkest North* whenever possible.