Post by Moderator on Aug 11, 2008 7:06:34 GMT -5
I found this post at warhammervault.com posted by Jesswar and thought it was a good read.
warhammervault.ign.com/View.php?view=Columns.Detail&id=40
Lore and Gore - A basic role-player's guide to the evil Dark Elves! By Jesswar (01-27-2007)
Raianna Cryptmist held the still beating heart of her sacrificial victim in her hand. The now dead High Elf Commander was lashed to a dark, bloodstained altar. His capture, months ago, was a small victory towards the many battles to come. His troops had all been slain in the raid, but the Dark Elves had reserved a special fate for him. His sacfiice would be the signal to launch another glorious invasion into the hated seas of Ulthuan. Raianna turned to her followers, all covered head to toe in blood and cruel weaponry. "Tonight, with this sacrifice, we go to join the others at the Black Arks and then to Ulthuan!" A sheer chorus of cries and screams echoed into the darkness as the coven of Witch Elves surged out of the temple and raced towards the great Black Arks. As one the Druchii would venture out across the seas to bring vengeance, violence and death to their hated kin. Much blood would cover the sands of Ulthuan in the coming days.
Warhammer, to newcomers, may seem on the surface to be just another generic fantasy setting. Oh how they are wrong! This series of articles will have two goals: The first, is to give role-players tips on really playing their characters as they should be in the Warhammer world. The second goal is to showcase how different all the Warhammer races are from their other fantasy counterparts.
Names
Originally, the Dark Elves were (and in many ways still are) the direct kin of High Elves and thus share their characteristics for names. They are structured in a similar way, but many Dark Elves of late have adopted more evil sounding names throughout the millennia of separation and strife with their kin in Ulthuan. Their titles and surnames would be most appropriate if they contained malicious, violent and dark vocabulary to reflect this most evil of races. One fun way to find a good Dark Elf name is to find a High Elf name and then twist it into a dark and evil version for yourself. This would represent an ancient Dark Elf family who, over the centuries have become progressively more evil and distant from their High Elf roots.
Values
The Druchii value stealth, cunning, ruthlessness and killer instinct. Dark Elf society values the strong and their cities are places where the weak, meek and feeble do not last long. Two of the practices that the Dark Elves value above many others are slavery and sacrifice. These two things go hand in hand and almost any prisoner of the Dark Elves can expect one and often both of these two fates. It has been often said that being captured by the Dark Elves is one of the worst outcomes imaginable for a mortal This is a hundred times the case if you are a High Elf.
Likes
Evil: The Dark Elves are arguably the most evil race in the Warhammer world. While the actions of the followers of Chaos are without a doubt evil, they still have purpose and claim a twisted form of religious motivation for their actions. Dark Elves, however, commit acts of evil for the sake of being evil and base all their plans on vengeance, hatred and malice. It is the Druchii who wield Dark Magic and by doing so, rank amongst the most evil practitioners of magic anywhere. Evil is the driving force in all Dark Elves and any expression of it in any form is most welcome.
Dislikes
High Elves: It could be strongly argued that the hatred the Druchii hold for the High Elves knows no equal in the Warhammer world. It cannot be stressed enough, the Druchii hatred for the High Elves is like nothing else in the Warhammer world. Every breath of Malekith, Witch King of the Dark Elves and the hereditary heir the the throne of Ulthuan and Phoenix Crown, is spent on scheming, plotting and raiding against the High Elves and their allies. There are few battles more fierce and vicious when the Dark Elves launch themselves upon their hated kin. No mercy is given and the levels of loathing and violence are rarely surpassed elsewhere in the Warhammer world.
Religion
The Dark Elves primarily worship Khaine, the Elven god of War. The Druchii have changed course in this matter and worship Khaine as the god of Murder. Khaine is the fuel of the Dark Elf fire and his followers hold a zeal within them that borders on madness. It is Khaine whom the sadistic Witch Elves serve and the sacrifices made on his altar number in the many thousands.
Another god to attract attention by a small number of Dark Elves (but still enough in number to form entire armies) is the Chaos God Slaanesh. The Cult of Slaanesh has infiltrated Dark Elf society and although often persecuted, is slowly growing in power and influence.
Battle Cries
Prepare yourselves for the altar of Khaine!
Death to Ulthuan!
For Malekith!
The Druchii have come for you!!
Have fun, good luck and I'll see you on the field!
Jesswar
warhammervault.ign.com/View.php?view=Columns.Detail&id=40
Lore and Gore - A basic role-player's guide to the evil Dark Elves! By Jesswar (01-27-2007)
Raianna Cryptmist held the still beating heart of her sacrificial victim in her hand. The now dead High Elf Commander was lashed to a dark, bloodstained altar. His capture, months ago, was a small victory towards the many battles to come. His troops had all been slain in the raid, but the Dark Elves had reserved a special fate for him. His sacfiice would be the signal to launch another glorious invasion into the hated seas of Ulthuan. Raianna turned to her followers, all covered head to toe in blood and cruel weaponry. "Tonight, with this sacrifice, we go to join the others at the Black Arks and then to Ulthuan!" A sheer chorus of cries and screams echoed into the darkness as the coven of Witch Elves surged out of the temple and raced towards the great Black Arks. As one the Druchii would venture out across the seas to bring vengeance, violence and death to their hated kin. Much blood would cover the sands of Ulthuan in the coming days.
Warhammer, to newcomers, may seem on the surface to be just another generic fantasy setting. Oh how they are wrong! This series of articles will have two goals: The first, is to give role-players tips on really playing their characters as they should be in the Warhammer world. The second goal is to showcase how different all the Warhammer races are from their other fantasy counterparts.
Names
Originally, the Dark Elves were (and in many ways still are) the direct kin of High Elves and thus share their characteristics for names. They are structured in a similar way, but many Dark Elves of late have adopted more evil sounding names throughout the millennia of separation and strife with their kin in Ulthuan. Their titles and surnames would be most appropriate if they contained malicious, violent and dark vocabulary to reflect this most evil of races. One fun way to find a good Dark Elf name is to find a High Elf name and then twist it into a dark and evil version for yourself. This would represent an ancient Dark Elf family who, over the centuries have become progressively more evil and distant from their High Elf roots.
Values
The Druchii value stealth, cunning, ruthlessness and killer instinct. Dark Elf society values the strong and their cities are places where the weak, meek and feeble do not last long. Two of the practices that the Dark Elves value above many others are slavery and sacrifice. These two things go hand in hand and almost any prisoner of the Dark Elves can expect one and often both of these two fates. It has been often said that being captured by the Dark Elves is one of the worst outcomes imaginable for a mortal This is a hundred times the case if you are a High Elf.
Likes
Evil: The Dark Elves are arguably the most evil race in the Warhammer world. While the actions of the followers of Chaos are without a doubt evil, they still have purpose and claim a twisted form of religious motivation for their actions. Dark Elves, however, commit acts of evil for the sake of being evil and base all their plans on vengeance, hatred and malice. It is the Druchii who wield Dark Magic and by doing so, rank amongst the most evil practitioners of magic anywhere. Evil is the driving force in all Dark Elves and any expression of it in any form is most welcome.
Dislikes
High Elves: It could be strongly argued that the hatred the Druchii hold for the High Elves knows no equal in the Warhammer world. It cannot be stressed enough, the Druchii hatred for the High Elves is like nothing else in the Warhammer world. Every breath of Malekith, Witch King of the Dark Elves and the hereditary heir the the throne of Ulthuan and Phoenix Crown, is spent on scheming, plotting and raiding against the High Elves and their allies. There are few battles more fierce and vicious when the Dark Elves launch themselves upon their hated kin. No mercy is given and the levels of loathing and violence are rarely surpassed elsewhere in the Warhammer world.
Religion
The Dark Elves primarily worship Khaine, the Elven god of War. The Druchii have changed course in this matter and worship Khaine as the god of Murder. Khaine is the fuel of the Dark Elf fire and his followers hold a zeal within them that borders on madness. It is Khaine whom the sadistic Witch Elves serve and the sacrifices made on his altar number in the many thousands.
Another god to attract attention by a small number of Dark Elves (but still enough in number to form entire armies) is the Chaos God Slaanesh. The Cult of Slaanesh has infiltrated Dark Elf society and although often persecuted, is slowly growing in power and influence.
Battle Cries
Prepare yourselves for the altar of Khaine!
Death to Ulthuan!
For Malekith!
The Druchii have come for you!!
Have fun, good luck and I'll see you on the field!
Jesswar
