Dark Elf

Dark Elves (闇妖精) are close kin of the wood elves and can be found in the New World and YGGDRASIL.

Background
While the wood elves dwell in the forest, their cousins, the dark elves preferred to make their homes in caves or underground.

According to Igvarge, he had heard that the large settlements of the Dark Elves were located in the great forests to the south, where no man had set foot.

On the other hand, Ryraryus Spenia Ai Indarun noted the dark elves used to be rulers of the Great Forest of Tob. This is also confirmed to be true by the members of the Slane Theocracy who clarified that the dark elves relocated to the Great Forest of Evasha. And was further confirmed by the Elven Slaves that the dark elves migrated from the north to the Elf Country. Said event was known as the Great Migration which saw the race journey to the southern forest.

Appearance
Similar to wood elves, they possess all the beauty and grace inherent in the elven race, though dark elves possess darker skin complexion.

Culture
The dark elves are a race that does not lean towards the notion of absolute good or evil. Unlike their cousins, which maintained a code of honor, they tended to be more flexible.

The culture of the dark elves were not so different from forest elves, aside from skin color, forms of animal repellent they used, and other trivial customs. Like forest elves, elf trees were the center of their lives and served as shelters for them in the dangerous Great Sea of Trees.

Though in dark elf villages, they used an animal repellent that produced its avoidance effect by using scents. They were taught this precious bit of wisdom by the treants and other inhabitants of the forest where they were living before moving to the Great Sea of Trees.

By using the potent smelling herbs which were planted around the villages, it created and spread out a special drug that repelled animals, although its powers had to be considerably divided between duration and area of effect—using druidic magic. The dark elves found the method to be extremely effective in the Great Sea of Trees and compared to other elf villages—excluding the Royal Capital— the dark elf villages were considered safe. The method was never disseminated to the other forest elves as if it were to spread, the repelling effect produced by scents would drop as the monsters would soon learn that the repelling scents where places that prey lived.

While memory of their time in their original forest has faded, they nevertheless still treasure their origins as evidence by the Archery Tournament. During this competition. promising dark elves are awarded the few composite bows made from material of their former homeland.

Dark elf naming conventions were different compared to their forest elf cousins, as their surnames were named after fruits and was normally the first part of their name while the last part was their personal name.

Village Hierarchy
Traditionally dark elf culture functioned as a geritocracy where age was regarded as a qualification for leadership and so their villages were ruled by its elders.

The pillars of authority in the village were the Master of the Hunt, the Council of Elders, the Chief Pharmacist, and the Rite Master. The Council of Elders was composed of three people, so altogether there were six people. Any number higher than three elders was regarded as abnormal.

Though the political structure of the dark elves has served them well for many centuries, more recently a movement has been growing through the villages, involving members of the younger generation who have begun challenging the authority of the eldership. They question on whether age to be a prerequisite for leadership and instead they call upon skill and ability to be more vital.

Abilities
The exact general strengths of dark elves are unknown. So far only two abnormal specimens have been shown in the Overlord series.

However, Ryraryus was wary of a single one commenting the dark elves were strong opponents. And Pinison Pol Perlia admitted that dark elves were skilled archers, showing little surprise at Aura's rain of arrows.

Known Dark Elves

 * Aura Bella Fiora
 * Mare Bello Fiore
 * Blueberry Egnia
 * Plum Ganen
 * Ovei
 * Sumomo
 * Prune
 * Apple

Trivia

 * In the Web Novel, there is a nation of dark elves located at the southwest of the Re-Estize Kingdom.
 * A tribe of Dark Elves once lived in the Great Forest of Tob but were driven out by the Evil Tree Zy'tl Q'ae.
 * In Norse Mythology, Dark Elves lived underground in huge caves and tunnels.

Gallery
Mroczny elf