Background:
Dark Elves are dark-skinned, almost ghost-like creatures who are rarely seen on ground-level. Instead they have built a huge city underground, named Kabal Tiranduaas in their tongue, or "Lost Hope" in human translation.
Far too little is known about the Dark Elves. Only the fact that Kabal Tiranduaas exists is known to humans, not where it is. This simple fact was established when a single Dark Elf prisoner was captured by the scouts of the Kaylonic Elite Knights some four or five years ago when he was crossing the bordering mountains between the Northlands and the Kaylonic Empire.
By use of skilled ESP the ArchYandrite's most skilled conclave of magi and priests were able to ascertain the Dark Elven city, and some small details about the way of life of Dark Elves. That was it - the prisoner escaped that very night.
The chances of finding out more are few. The only other race possibly having information on the Dark Elves are their cousins, the Elven-folk.
Very little is known about the relationship between the Elves and their evil cousins, except that they were once one race. The Elves are remarkably close-mouthed about it, regarding it as the great shame of their race, and their cousins are obviously not willing to volunteer any information.
It is thought that the split occurred at the time of the Chaos Wars, a very sparsely recorded time of history. More about this period can be found in the History section, but basically a great leader arose across the lands of Aradellion (the Great Continent, dating from the time when all the lands were joined together). There was a sweeping of Death and Chaos magic across the lands, and members of every race were warped by it. Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Centaurs, Gnomes and Halflings, all were corrupted, and turned against their former friends, family and races.
After a titanic battle, the Chaos god himself and all his minions where driven from the land by the Pantheon of Thirteen and the armies of Light and Good. Once like their cousins, the Dark Elves dug themselves deep holes and caverns underground. They gradually became more and more unique, until the differences between the two races was recognisable.
All Dark Elves now live in Kabal Tiranduaas. They have learnt to cultivate the far depths, and frequently raid the ground-level to get more choice food and slaves. The slave-trade is a major source of wealth for Dark Elves, and it is the slaves who do further mining, and underground carving for the Dark Elves. Obviously for this reason Dwarven slaves are highly prized.
Because they live underground they automatically have the skill Dark Seeing. They however can not deal well with bright sunlight, and most wear some sort of cover over their eyes when on ground raids (when not travelling by night).
Dark Elves in ability are similar to their cousins the Elves. They are strong magic-users, and have natural abilities in music and the arts. However they put these talents to ill-use.
Role-playing:
Dark Elves are secretive, cunning, and dextrous. They at times seem to be almost supernatural. Found much more often in Kul than anywhere else - they can roam freely without being too much targeted.
Advantages - bonuses to dexterity and intelligence. They have the basic skills above.
Disadvantages - penalties to constitution. May be killed on sight in most lawful lands (Northlands, Kaylonic Empire and Tan Kthol).
Specialized Racial Class - Any.
