Kingdom of Ansteorra Forums

[Dissident]

Approximately 247 years before the First Age of Calenndor
There was one such Elf amongst the lot of society who stood above the rest. Though her methods and exploitations were observed by those in leadership as dark, discriminate ways. Eventually, she struck out against her brothers and sisters, and was thus banished for it. She was cursed and sent into the Underdark, and there she would remain for years to come.

In the Underdark this Elf became something else. Deceived by the Heretic of Pain, Balseraph, she emersed herself in darkness and submitted to his infinite will. Balseraph corrupted the once fair Elven maiden down to the very core. She became an incarnation of the Underdark, and an entity of evil known only as Lloth. This deity of spiders and darkness would become Balseraph's instrument. His toy to bring about his plans upon the land of Hæ'eska.


Approximately 200 years before the First Age of Calenndor
The Elves of Hæ'eska are the first true civilization on Feanor after the Primes left. In Hæ'eska, the "society" of magic rich, nature loving Elves thrives and lives peacefully for eons, or so it would have seemed. Of course, as it is in any civilization, there will always be those who wish to stir discord. These particular Elves were well renowned in their times for being skilled weavers of magic, though not the best. They were many various Elves of a somewhat higher stature, and thus were often known to harbor a jealous and cruel nature to any more gifted than they.

As a result, their lust for more power only grew. Day by day, month by month, year by year, these Elves sought secretly every way possible to bring down those in their path to attain an even higher status. When the ways of the Elves were no longer sufficient, they began to seek another way to obtain their wishes. A darker way. It was then that Balseraph knew his time had come. The Heretic of Pain made his move, sending his minion Lloth to the aid of these power hungry Elves.

The Elves were easily corrupted, and easily drawn by the offer of a greater power. Convinced of their superiority, it became their right to ascend to the highest ranks of Elven society. That they should rule above all others. They delved into the dark arts provided them by Lloth, whom they unquestioningly dubbed their leader.

Secretly, the Dark Elves studied these dark arts with unrelenting fervor, and so themselves becoming more twisted in nature. An abomination to what they had once been. With the divine guidance of Lloth, they began to devote themselves to dark rituals, eventually going so far as to pledge their undying alledgiance to their new deity, Lloth. As was planned by Balseraph.

And so the Dark Elves continued to practice their shrouded, evil ways with each passing year, an unspoken veil covering their doings. They went on, planning their glorious coup to remove those in their way, and declare themselves the truly dominant race. They did it all unaware that they were being used in twisted ventriloquy by Balseraph to secure a point of instrumentality within his target. Which, ultimately would become the driving force in Balseraph's plan. Literally orchestrating the future destruction of Hæ'eska.


Approximately 100 years before the First Age of Calenndor
In this time, Balseraph had fully prepared his assault upon the land of Hæ'eska. It was time to make use of these Dark Elves. Corrupted to unspeakable evil, Balseraph's army was yet still completely ignorant to his intentions, for they had their own in mind as they rose in rebellion against their fellow Elves. The event was an unforgettable cataclysm. Darkness and evil covered the lands by the lead of the deity called Lloth as legions of Dark Elves rose against their brothers and sisters in a wave of destruction which would utterly destroy the land of Hæ'eska in the end.

The land now reduced to nothingness, the Elves fled away. The Dark Elves' true nature had been revealed. Their true intentions clear. They were proclaimed as traitors from that day forth. Marking them with a word of ancient Eldar, "dhaeraow" which meant "face of shadow, heart of night, traitor" and other such things of similar connotation. The Heretic Balseraph had succeeded to his everlasting joy. But what of the Dark Elves? Their purpose had been fulfilled and Balseraph's circle of corruption for these Elves was ended. He threw them away like a ratty old play thing. Forsaking them, in essence, and leaving them with little divine influence.

The Dark Elves, however, were unaware of such. They gave praise to their leader. Their goddess, this Lloth. This queen of spiders. But their purposes were not yet finished. They hunted the Elves down to the last, years later to the land of Westernesse to continue their crusade. Poised for combat, the dark ones attacked immediately. The battles fought were long and gruelling. The toils seemingly endless until at last the Dhaeraow fell. The Elves had conquered their enemy. All those who had risen against them, including their chosen leader, Lloth, were exiled. All banished to the Underdark forever, never to rise from the darkness again.

Hundreds of years passed. Times moving on into the First Age of Calenndor, kingdoms established, wars fought. Over the centuries the stories of the Dhaeraow passed into shadow. Becoming no more than lingering rumor and legend at the back of the Elves' minds. Even the name Dhaeraow had become corrupted by the years, and all that remained of its former meaning was a similar word called "Drow." But, rest assured, the Dark Elves did still exist in the Underdark.

If nothing else, the creatures had flourished. Over the years the power of Lloth grew until she herself passed into Dark Elven lure as their esteemed goddess. The vengeful teachings of the Dark Elves were passed on as well. Their dark ways had become more than just simple ways or ritual. They had become customs and teachings. An entire society was born from the remains of a banished army. A society bent on the vengeance of their ancestors through the conquering of their cousins, the Elves. Just waiting for the opportunity to strike back.


Second Age of Calenndor, year 566
By this time the Great War between the Elves and the Dwarves had been raging for 21 years. In this year the Elven king, Aldaron II died on the fierce battlefield. The Dwarves obtain the Elven crown and retreat deep within their mountain halls. Though more pressing matters were at hand.

The Dark Elves had found their time to strike. They found their time to finally reveal themselves to the world once more. Before the Elves were capable of amassing further troops to lay siege to the Dwarven halls, a large force of Dark Elven warriors attacked the kingdom of Westernesse. It was the first time in centuries that the legend of the Drow had been proven true first hand. It was also the first time they came to be known as Drow.

They came, speaking a perverse form of language, only identifiable as a severely warped dialect of ancient Eldar. The Underdark had transformed the Drow into something entirely different. Heads of white hair and skin of the purest black became known physical trademarks of the species born of darkness. Their senses were no less potent, though their eyesight capability in the darkness was unparalleled by even the most evil of creatures. Although this, in turn, meant that their eyes were extremely vulnerable to light, as the Elves would come to discover that the Drow only attacked at night.


Second Age of Calenndor, year 584
For 18 years the war lasted before the last of the Drow forces were diverted into the sea of Westernesse, eventually coming to settle once more in the surrounding Underdark of Calenndor. For centuries to come, the Drow would be forever known as a horrid plague upon the land. A race of evil which leaves nothing but destruction within their wake. Their influence and society still flourishes to present day.


Second Age of Calenndor, year 4671
The first of an increasing number of large "Drow Cities" are discovered by outsiders aboveground. Drow which seem to live naturally within the day's light have taken up residence within ancient, abandoned Elven cities in the West. Appearing to have lived there for many hundreds of years. Their ways aren't far differentiated from those Drow of the Underdark, however they don't worship Lloth. Instead, the chosen deity of these Dark Elves is another Drow goddess called Varunia. While still harsh, these Drow seem to follow their own code of debased ethics.
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Dalin Kayde, Veudir X'Tare, Cerris T'Kel, Paran Narel, etc.
"Ansteorra is as high as what I get for being a pelican."

[Dissident]

Original Topic
_________________
Dalin Kayde, Veudir X'Tare, Cerris T'Kel, Paran Narel, etc.
"Ansteorra is as high as what I get for being a pelican."