Dark Elves (Warhammer)

In Games Workshop's Warhammer Fantasy fictional universe, the Dark Elves are a race of harsh, warlike and vicious elves. They are also known as the Druchii in most Warhammer fiction books. They are cruel, sadistic raiders with much disdain for all other races, especially their lighter kindred, the High Elves. After a bitter civil war, the Dark Elves were driven from their homeland and settled in Naggaroth. They are typically presented as being the most evil of all races in the Warhammer World.

Unlike 'dark elves' in most of modern fantasy fiction (such as drow in Dungeons & Dragons), Warhammer's Dark Elves do not dwell underground, nor are they dark-skinned; instead many of them are pale skinned and have raven black hair as they are descended directly from High Elves. Their Warhammer 40,000 analogue is the Dark Eldar (as a foil to the Eldar, which was added by Games Workshop in 1998, although the Eldar-Dark Eldar back-story is far less detailed).

Thousands of years ago, the Elves were a unified race living in the island kingdom of Ulthuan.

The first Phoenix King, Aenarion the Defender, was the greatest warrior to walk the earth. It was by his hand that the first great invasion of Chaos was thwarted. Aenarion was married to Astariele the Everqueen who bore him two children, Yvraine and Morelion. During the war Astarielle was murdered and Oakheart the Treekin took the children and hid them safe within the Gaen Vale. Thinking them dead, Aenarion in a bloodthirsty rage, drew the Sword of Khaine from its resting place and waged a new war of vengeance on the forces of Chaos. During the next war, he rescued an Elven seeress from a Slaanesh warband. Her name was Morathi, and she was beautiful beyond description. Aenarion fell deeply in love with her, and she bore his son Malekith. Under the tutelage of both his father and mother, Malekith became a formidable warrior, a skillful general and an accomplished sorcerer.

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