Dark elf

This article contains lore taken from Warcraft novels, novellas, or short stories.

Dark elves were elves, but not like high elves. They were beautiful in their own way, too, but it was a cold, haughty beauty, one that in the end repelled. The beauty of the dark elves was said to be almost as chill as Deathwing's voice, if not colder. They were lesser beings with minute lifespans and quick to rashness, plunging into what was believed too great a risk. In their folly, they brought demons.Template:Cite

Retconned to night elves?

This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.

Early concept maps show "dark elf lands" in northeastern Kalimdor near Mount Hyjal. A race is said to have spoken a fourth elven dialect Elven on Mount Hyjal.Template:Cite Template:Cite Perhaps this is the dark elves.

Most evidence points to the mysterious dark elves as being an early developmental form of the night elves. It is hinted that the dark elves, possibly along with others (the book says, "others came, lesser forms, minute life spans"),Template:Cite had something to do with releasing the Burning Legion on Azeroth. According to interviews and references made in The Art of Warcraft and on the The Making of World of Warcraft DVD, night elves were based off the dark elves of other fantasy settings (especially the drow from D&D), but their personality and culture were made to be the direct opposite of the culture and personality of dark elves. A story nearly identical to the one told about the dark elves in Day of the Dragon is later related to Khadgar in The Last Guardian by Medivh, where he gives these ancient magic-users a more familiar name: Kaldorei. It seems most likely, therefore, that the "dark elves" are in fact the night elves under an earlier name.

Dark Elf Speculation

Although there seems to have been plans for a race of evil Elves in world of Warcraft they seemed to have been reconnted into the good Night Elves.

Although Dark Elves are not a race it could be used as a term for evil elves of various elven groups, although these individuals are always described as a member of their original kindred. A small number of High Elves worked for the Scourge and took up the dark art of Necromancy, or have joined the Cult of the Dark Strand. Some Blood Elves have become Warlocks, Wretched or Felblood Elves using Fel energy and trafficking with demons. These also could be viewed as Dark Elves. Illidan would becoming a demonlord would be an example of a dark elf from a Night Elf heritage.

Due to their undead nature many of the Forsaken, best embodied by their leader Sylvanas Windrunner, could be considered Dark Elves as many were High Elves who now are involved with the power of Shadows (although this is because they were forced to become undead rather than choosing it).

Myth

In Tolkien, the dark elves (Moriquendi) are elves that did not join the Great Journey over the sea and behold the light of the two trees of Valinor. They are more similar to night elves in that they are not evil.

Dark elves are known as a class of elves living underground in Old Norse mythology. They are subterranean creatures like some dwarves.[1]

Dark elves, or drow, are a generally evil, dark-skinned subrace of elves in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game. They were forced underground after a great war between elves.

In Dungeons and Dragons fantasy settings, dark elves speak the language Undercommon.