Overview
The Dark Elves of Naggaroth are the cruel, exiled kin of the High Elves — driven from Ulthuan after the Sundering by the Phoenix King Caledor I. Led by the Witch King Malekith, who believes himself the rightful Phoenix King, the Dark Elves have built a civilization of cruelty, slavery, and military excellence in the cold lands of Naggaroth. They raid the coasts of the world for slaves and plunder, and their armies are among the most disciplined and deadly in existence.
History
The Dark Elves were born from the Sundering — the civil war that split the Elven race. Malekith, son of the first Phoenix King Aenarion, believed himself the rightful heir to the Phoenix Throne. When the sacred flame of Asuryan rejected him, burning him terribly, he refused to accept the verdict and launched a war that nearly destroyed Ulthuan. Driven out, he led his followers to Naggaroth, where he has plotted his return for thousands of years.
Military Forces
Dark Elf armies combine Elven martial skill with ruthless discipline and exotic monsters. Spearmen and Crossbowmen form the core, while Cold One Knights provide devastating cavalry. Witch Elves — frenzied devotees of Khaine — are terrifying shock troops. Black Guard of Naggarond are the elite of the elite. Hydras and Black Dragons serve as monstrous support. Dark Elf Sorceresses wield powerful magic drawn from the raw winds of Chaos.
Culture & Society
Dark Elf culture is built on cruelty, ambition, and the worship of Khaine — the Elven god of murder. Slavery is the foundation of their economy, and the slave raids that Dark Elf corsairs conduct across the world are both economically necessary and religiously significant. The Witch King Malekith rules through terror and absolute authority. The Hag Queens of Khaine — immortal priestesses sustained by the blood of sacrifices — are the spiritual power behind the throne.
Notable Places
- ✦Naggarond — the Black City, capital of Naggaroth and seat of the Witch King
- ✦Har Ganeth — the City of Executioners, centre of Khaine worship
- ✦Clar Karond — the Tower of Doom, primary slave port
- ✦The Blighted Isle — the island between Ulthuan and Naggaroth, site of the Altar of Khaine