The Dark Elves are a sinister race of pirates and slavers that have haunted the waters of [[Helkaion]] since time immemorial. None now know whence they came, but it is said that the Black Islands lay silent and forsaken when the Dark Elves first reached their shores. In the long dark ere the sun was made, they fought their ancient enemies, the Moon Elves, for reasons now forgotten. But it has been said, that the Dark Elves were winning, until the [[Helcar]] came. Against the combined might of the Moon Elves and the Helcar, the Dark Elves could not contend, and they hid under the earth and sea for long ages. Whatever doom came to the Helcar, and perhaps the Moon Elves too, a thousand years ago, the Dark Elves escaped it, and eventually returned to the surface, only to find it occupied by new human settlers. These were rugged pirates and adventurers themselves, and the Dark Elves could not oust them. But raid them they could, and did so for centuries to come, bringing loot and slaves back to their hidden strongholds.
As beautiful as they are deadly, the Dark Elves posses both wisdom and power, but have turned them to evil purposes, and squandered their strength in violence and cruelty. Though they strive for excellence in all things, they have no patience for failure, and no remorse for weakness. Yet in all things that they do, an eerie beauty remains, and they are said to have magnificent mansions and wondrous treasures beneath the volcanoes, whose fires they use in the crafting of blades, ornaments and armors of otherworldly quality. Their ships are swift and strong, and until [[Dionos]] bested them in the [[Battle of the Coral Cove]], they were undefeated.
