The term Dark Elf, is used to describe several different sub races of Elves, all of whom share in common the side their ancestors chose in the war of the Sundering. By far the largest contingents of Dark Elves in the Heartlands are the Drow. These dark skinned Elves live predominantly below ground in a network of vast caverns and tunnels, known as the Underdark. However there are others; Such as the Norns, and moradel.
Those known as Dark Elves have a distinctly different culture and attitude than their former brethren. Distinctly colder, less moral in human terms, and are often considered harsh.
The Drow of the Heartlands mostly follow a chaotic ancestor Lloth. She is their Spider Queen and consequentially they tend to be matriarchal and revere spiders. Although Lloth is chaotic by nature, Drow society tends to be extremely ordered. They are ordered into houses that follow a Matron Mother, these are then ruled over by the High Matron Mother who is the representation of Lloth on Erdreja. They consider all other species to be below that of Drow, but tend to be more polite to females. They are protective to their own house, but have no concept of love or affection. A female Drow will take a mate or patron, and when she tires of him she will kill or discard him. There is no need for her to be faithful, but he is considered her property. This is a reflection of the society as a whole, it is not so much 'why should I kill you?' but 'why should I let you live?'. The traditional method of advancement is to assassinate those above you, culminating in House war, which can result in the total destruction of an entire House.
Other Dark Elves sub-races tend to live by different moral codes, though these are no less callous. The Norns are also Dark Elves, yet, they have strange pale white skin, in contrast to their Drow kin, and are not matriarchal. The Fallen Elves are different again. Tribal and tanned they are nomadic and solitary by nature.
One thing that all Dark Elves do share is a strong dislike for there Elven brethren. The issues of the Sundering that split the race are mostly forgotten, Yet the feelings remain, and the distinct differences of culture are a testimony that the two races belong apart.
Lloth and Dracos granted their children succour in the bowls of the earth in the strange places surrounded by the holy Darkness. Slowly Lloths Children were changed our skin darkened our hair bleached from the strange waters we bathed in. Soon night became as day to us and day a painful sight. Lloth the Spider Queen spoke to her children through her Priestess's saying that the female was stronger than the male and would lead the way. The Strongest females of each house led in Lloths name each house moving out in the Darkness to build great cities and praise the Spider Queen for her mercy. We seek constantly to improve our position in the world and in Lolth's many eyes. If it comes at the expense of another's life, so much the better-that makes one less to challenge us.
