In any case, some canonical background:
• 2,200 BC: Some elves break off from Ilsundal's migration and eventually find their way to the frozen valleys of Glantri, where they settle. A few survivors from the second migration from Vulcania also reach Glantri and settle among their cousins. (GAZ3)
• 2,000 BC: The Ethengars arrive on the fertile lands of the Steppes. (GAZ?)
First human settlements in the coastal and island lowlands of the Northern Reaches. (GAZ7)
• 1,800 BC: The dwarfish race on the Known World is slowly, inevitably dying out. The Immortal called Kagyar the Artisan takes all remaining dwarves in the Known World. Half he transplants to the Hollow World, and half he reshapes into a new dwarven race. Now there are no remnants of the original dwarven race on the outer world. Some of the "new dwarves" are returned to the Northern Reaches, where the largest dwarf colonies had been, and eventually become the Modrigswerg clans; others are planted in the Rockhome region. Both groups are given false memories and believe that the Modrigswerg dwarves also originally lived in the Rockhome lands. (HW)
• 1,700 BC: The elves of Glantri discover, in the Broken Lands, a strange artifact from the lost Blackmoor civilization. They tinker with it, and the artifact explodes cataclysmically, sending impenetrable clouds into the sky (which last for years), and spreading a strange rotting plague among the surviving elves - those who were far enough away to survive. The elves shelter themselves in the deepest caves of Glantri. They find an incredible series of caverns there and begin a years-long migration. The traveling tribes are separated from one another. These are the ancestors of the Hollow World's Gentle Folk, Icevale Elves, and the Schattenalfen. A fourth group, led by an elf named Atziann, has no survivors save that king. Some emerge, years later, hundreds of miles south, past the Broken lands. Some perish.
By the occurrences of these events, it seems the clans that would later become the Icevale and Schattenalfen were living in the Known World region prior to the explosion of 1700 BC. The Icevale elves share cultural similarities with the Heldannic/Antalian people that no other elvish culture seems to (same Immortals, etc.). The Schattenalfen have a germanic name... which doesn't really mean much, since the Antalians aren't strictly Germanic (the Hattians are more directly Germanic). In any case, this is my theory that fills in the gaps:
2,200 BC: Among the elvish settlers in the Glantri region are the ancestors of the Icevale, Schattenalfen, as well as the Truedyl clan. The Icevale elves settle in the northernmost reaches of the Glantrian highlands, in the regions now known as Wendar and Heldann, along with the Schattenalfen. The Truedyl stay in the wooded valleys of Glantri.
2,200 - 2,100 BC: The elves and humans of the north come into conflict over land as the humans begin to migrate southwards.
2,000 BC: The Icevale clans and Antalians settle into a peaceful coexistence. Contact is largely peaceful, and consists of exchanges of ideas- the Antalians gain a written language from modifications of the elvish runic alphabet, and the elves learn of the humans Immortal ancestors. (Legends speak of the time that Odin hung himself on Ordana's World Tree for nine days and nine nights as a sign of his commitment to peace between the two peoples, and her granting him the runes as an offering from her side.)
There are rumors of some humans and elves intermarrying, particularly in the Namahed clan.
1,800 BC: The dwarves make their presence known in the lands of elves and men. Among these are the enigmatic and dangerous Modrigswerg clan.
1,800 - 1,700 BC: The Modrigswerg make contact with the Schattenalfen clans of elves. The two races share an interest in eldritch sorceries and strange artifice. Together, they dabble in ever darker dweomercraeft, and enter into pacts with demonic entities in a search for power.
The Schattenalfen discover a technomagical device that survived the Great Rain of Fire among the shattered peaks known as the Broken Lands. They bring this to their Modrigswerg allies in an effort to glean its hidden secrets.
1,700 BC: The efforts of the Schattenalfen and Modrigswerg result in an accidental triggering the Blackmoorian device, creating death and devastation across the Known World. Most of the elvish clans, including the Schattenalfen and Truedyl, flee underground to avoid the worst effects of the explosion. The Icevale elves join their brethren, withdrawing from the world of man.
The Schattenalfen are forever linked with dark magicks and death in the minds of the Antalians, who call them Svartalves in their legends.
That's the idea- nothing too fancy, and it needs some tweaking yet.
I tied the elven runes/Antalians runes together based on the elvish runes presented in CM7: Tree of Life, and X11: Saga of the Shadow Lord. The runes in X11 are slightly different, but the ones in CM7 are exactly the same as those in Gaz7 (which are RW Norse runes, which is probably where Bruce Heard, author of CM7, got them). I imagine they weren't intended to be the same thing, and that the author of Gaz7 wasn't even aware that they had been "claimed" by the elves of CM7 already, but the tie was there, so I went with it, and tied the two legends in together along with the Immortals.
I figure that "Alfheim" as we know it was actually named by the Antalians/Heldanners when the Mealiden migration arrived- the elves doubtless have a name for their own homeland (Canolbarth, maybe, or something more elvish), but that "Alfheim" is based on Heldannic legends of the elves, and was given to the land when the "light elves" returned to the Known World via the Rainbow Bridge (another Northern Reaches legend).
Something I am also in favour of is establishing the 'Dark Elves' as elves that already exist, as opposed to inventing a new race (or subrace) with dark colour. We don't need a drow-equivalent race. Having them named after their mentality instead of colour is much more interesting.
So, I really like your take on it! I'll probably use this IMCs. Nice job.
Something I am also in favour of is establishing the 'Dark Elves' as elves that already exist, as opposed to inventing a new race (or subrace) with dark colour. We don't need a drow-equivalent race. Having them named after their mentality instead of colour is much more interesting.
IIRC, Gaz 7, when it first mentions the Dark Elves, it specifically states that the nomenclature refers to their outlook and not their appearance. I can't look it up right now, as my copy is loaned out.
Roger
IIRC, Gaz 7, when it first mentions the Dark Elves, it specifically states that the nomenclature refers to their outlook and not their appearance. I can't look it up right now, as my copy is loaned out.
Roger
Really? I haven't noticed it say that, but I wouldn't be surprised if it did. Either way, that's my preference.
The Schattenalfen discover a technomagical device that survived the Great Rain of Fire among the shattered peaks known as the Broken Lands. They bring this to their Modrigswerg allies in an effort to glean its hidden secrets.
I'm a little uncertain what this implies. As I take it, this is unrelated to the one that blew up and was merely used to learn from?
IIRC, Gaz 7, when it first mentions the Dark Elves, it specifically states that the nomenclature refers to their outlook and not their appearance.
Gaz7 is pretty vague on the details of the dark elves; this is all it says about them:
DMs book, p. 24: "Modrigswerg conspired with dark elves, and with priests of the Father of Demons... [t]he dark elves brought the secrets of life and its rulership... [t]he fates of the dark elves and the cultists do not concern us here."
p. 27: "Dark Elven Life-Binding Rituals: [description of the rituals, nothing on the elves]"
p. 28: "The Ring of the Nine Svartalven: [description of the ring and names and specialties of the dark elves who are bound into it, but nothing about the description of the elves]"
p.63: "Svartalfheim: [description of the Outer Planar home of the dark elves "ancestors of the Known World's Dark Elves", but no physical description of them]"
Those are the only references I can find at the moment, but I don't see anything about physical descriptions.
It seems likely that they're a clan of Schattenalfen, related to shadowelves but without the ties to Rafiel or Atzanteotl.
It doesn't necessarily refer to their outlook or appearance - most likely, they're called 'dark elves' because they live underground, in the dark.
That could certainly be true as well, but I really beleive it does refer to their nature. I'll propose a theory in a few seconds.
First, some points that we have to work with:
- There was a confederation of three groups; the dark elves, the Modrigswerg dwarves, and the priests of a dark cult.
- The dark elves brought the secrets of life and its rulership, the cultists brought the rituals of summoning and binding.
- This happened sometime after 2500 BC. This is after the GroF and possibly before Kagyar crafted the 'modern dwarf' in 1800 BC.
- The Modrigswerg dwarves are able to work with craftmagic and life-binding rituals.
- 'The moulder dwarves were cursed of the Darkness'
Here's the theory (it starts as Andrew's does):
2,200 BC: Among the elvish settlers in the Glantri region are the ancestors of the Icevale, Schattenalfen, as well as the Truedyl clan. The Icevale elves settle in the northernmost reaches of the Glantrian highlands, in the regions now known as Wendar and Heldann, along with the Schattenalfen. The Truedyl stay in the wooded valleys of Glantri.
2,200 - 2,100 BC: The elves and humans of the north come into conflict over land as the humans begin to migrate southwards.
2,000 BC: The Icevale clans and Antalians settle into a peaceful coexistence. Contact is largely peaceful, and consists of exchanges of ideas- the Antalians gain a written language from modifications of the elvish runic alphabet, and the elves learn of the humans Immortal ancestors. (Legends speak of the time that Odin hung himself on Ordana's World Tree for nine days and nine nights as a sign of his commitment to peace between the two peoples, and her granting him the runes as an offering from her side.) There are rumors of some humans and elves intermarrying, particularly in the Namahed clan.
Here I add/alter things...
A few humans take notice of the Schattenalfen's elven magics and their mastery over nature and life. These humans were priests in a very small cult worshipping the Father of Demons. Originally created by Thanatos, he allowed his newest prodigy Loki, to hone his skills with this cult. Together, they deceived and corrupted certain elves into cooperating with the cult's activities. The Modrigswerg Clan of dwarves were then cunningly added to the dark alliance and they began to learn how to bind the powers of life and magic into devices.
1,810 BC: With many powerful creations, the alliance planned to conquer whatever lie in front of them. The dwarves looked to the mountains and the more powerful clans, the elves looked to the valleys of future Glantri and the rich lands of the other elven clans, and the Antalians looked to the coasts and their kin who reverenced the weapon over the divine. True to their nature, Thanatos and Loki spun treachery and betrayal to the cult once the damage to the surrounding peoples had been done. The Modrigswerg Clan were not only banished but Loki tricked them into rituals of self-cursing using an artifact of Thanatos.
1,800 BC: Kagyar reshapes the Dwarves into a new Dwarven race but discovers that the Modrigswerg Clan reacts slightly odd to his manipulations. Concerned about the results he places them in the mountains of the Northern Reaches. Thanatos' artifact and the fact that the curse was self-directed has made them somewhat resistant to Kagyar's reshaping efforts. The Modrigswerg do not gain the resistance to energy forms that Kagyar had intended.
1,800 - 1,700 BC: The Modrigswerg make their home in the mountains of the Northern Reaches. The Schattenalfen clans of elves are driven away by the other clans; they end up the the soon-to-be Broken Lands. The humans are forced westward.
1,740 BC: The Schattenalfen discover a technomagical device that survived the Great Rain of Fire among the shattered peaks known as the Broken Lands. They begin to study it in an effort to glean its hidden secrets.
1,700 BC: The efforts of the Schattenalfen result in an accidental triggering the Blackmoorian device, creating death and devastation across the Known World. Most of the elvish clans, including the Schattenalfen and Truedyl, flee underground to avoid the worst effects of the explosion. The Icevale elves join their brethren, withdrawing from the world of man.
The Schattenalfen are forever linked with dark magicks and death in the minds of the Antalians, who call them Svartalves in their legends.
Thereafter: The human cultists of the Father of Demons travel further west and continue their worship. Loki keeps an eye on them and reveals to them that the name of the Father of Demons is Bozdogan. They end up in the lands of Hule, and although they are assimilated, their beleifs continue to develop.
Thanatos still looks upon the Modrigswerg with pleasure as he watches them ever so slowly 'rot'.
But it would make sense if someone else originally created the Svartalfar if this happened before Loki became an immortal. I'd go with Hel rather than Thanatos though.
For game mechanical purposes I might make the Svartalfar Elves with the Infernal Template and the Ljosalfar (Light elves) Celestial Elves.
IMC, the Ljosalfar were elves who decided to leave Evergrun and serve Odin. Later Freyj was given command over the Ljosalfar.
Another theory could be that the Light and Dark Elves are something similar to Einherjar, elven heroes who have died and become servants of Freyj or Loki...
I'd like to see these take a more prominent position on Mystara...
Håvard
The Father of Demons would easily be another name for Loki, since he in Norse Mythology is known as the father (or mother) of the Midgard Serpent, the Fenris wolf, Hel, Sleipnir(Odin's eightlegged horse) etc.
I used Thanatos as the Father of Demons because in Marco's write-up of him that title appears under his name.
But it would make sense if someone else originally created the Svartalfar if this happened before Loki became an immortal. I'd go with Hel rather than Thanatos though.
They don't have to have been created do they?
I'd like to see these take a more prominent position on Mystara...
Me too, honestly. Unfortunately I have to go so I'll make more comments later.
I used Thanatos as the Father of Demons because in Marco's write-up of him that title appears under his name.
I see. Well, in that case it would depend on where Marco got the name from. If he got it from the same place, then it would be a weaker argument than if he got it from somewhere else.
I'd prefer using one of the Norse Immortals since matters of Svartalfar and Ljosalfar is part of their cosmology.
They don't have to have been created do they?
Not as such. They could be a regular race of elves (or Schattenalfen) who turned into Svartalfar. Now this could either be just the name of a cult, or something more as I have suggested, though the fact that there is an outer plane with their name on it (literally), this suggests that they are a bit more than Prime Plane Elves...
Me too, honestly. Unfortunately I have to go so I'll make more comments later.
Cool
Håvard
The Father of Demons would easily be another name for Loki, since he in Norse Mythology is known as the father (or mother) of the Midgard Serpent, the Fenris wolf, Hel, Sleipnir(Odin's eightlegged horse) etc.
Giulio Caroletti made that connection in his History of the Dwarven Race article as well, I noticed, and I like it quite a bit. It also fits with the Antalian/Heldann connection, I think.
I see. Well, in that case it would depend on where Marco got the name from. If he got it from the same place, then it would be a weaker argument than if he got it from somewhere else.
I think- I'm not sure, though- that DM gave Thanatos that title after we all sort of bandied about options here on the Boards and/or the List. In the end, I think the consensus seemed to be that it was probably a name for Thanatos, though in retrospect, I think the Loki connection does seem better.
The Father of Demons would easily be another name for Loki, since he in Norse Mythology is known as the father (or mother) of the Midgard Serpent, the Fenris wolf, Hel, Sleipnir(Odin's eightlegged horse) etc.
But it would make sense if someone else originally created the Svartalfar if this happened before Loki became an immortal. I'd go with Hel rather than Thanatos though.
For game mechanical purposes I might make the Svartalfar Elves with the Infernal Template and the Ljosalfar (Light elves) Celestial Elves.
IMC, the Ljosalfar were elves who decided to leave Evergrun and serve Odin. Later Freyj was given command over the Ljosalfar.
Another theory could be that the Light and Dark Elves are something similar to Einherjar, elven heroes who have died and become servants of Freyj or Loki...
I'd like to see these take a more prominent position on Mystara...
Håvard
Havard,
Have you ever seen Necromancer's D&D module Crucible of Freya? I was planning on adapting this module to Soderfjord in one of my campaigns, and your comments jibe so well with the module that I want to make you aware of it if you have not seen it.
The adventure centers on a ruined castle held by orcs and commanded by a priest of Orcus, but the home base for the players is a town which contains a temple dedicated to Freya and an elvish priestess who runs the temple. The sword the priestess has provides a good explanation for why an elf(like an Alfheim elf) would become a follower of Freya, but so would your concept of light elves.
GAZ7 states that clerics of Frey and Freya are actually druids(although nothing is said of whether they are druids at level 1 for BECMI D&D) and WOTI states that clerics of Frey and Freya can use swords and daggers, and it was that the little details of the module fit so well with the themes of the Northern Reaches which made me decide I want to run it there.
Havard,
Have you ever seen Necromancer's D&D module Crucible of Freya? I was planning on adapting this module to Soderfjord in one of my campaigns, and your comments jibe so well with the module that I want to make you aware of it if you have not seen it..
I haven't, but now you've made me curious. Thanks for letting me know!
The adventure centers on a ruined castle held by orcs and commanded by a priest of Orcus, but the home base for the players is a town which contains a temple dedicated to Freya and an elvish priestess who runs the temple. The sword the priestess has provides a good explanation for why an elf(like an Alfheim elf) would become a follower of Freya, but so would your concept of light elves.
I wonder why they'd use Orcus rather than say Loki, Hel or whoever, but since Orcus is a Mystaran immortal that works well for us anyway! Freyja and especially Freyj were always connected with the elves in the Myths, and I like having some part of that exist in Mystara too without going against what already is written about Mystaran elves.
GAZ7 states that clerics of Frey and Freya are actually druids(although nothing is said of whether they are druids at level 1 for BECMI D&D) and WOTI states that clerics of Frey and Freya can use swords and daggers, and it was that the little details of the module fit so well with the themes of the Northern Reaches which made me decide I want to run it there.
I'd treat them as druids from 1st level, but yet allow the usage of swords and daggers (but no metal armor). VotPA also had rules for elven clerics that you might want to look at if you are using BECMI.
Whoops, this is going to be a lost post isnt it?
Håvard
I wonder why they'd use Orcus rather than say Loki, Hel or whoever, but since Orcus is a Mystaran immortal that works well for us anyway! Freyja and especially Freyj were always connected with the elves in the Myths, and I like having some part of that exist in Mystara too without going against what already is written about Mystaran elves.
Orcus is the ultimate nemesis in Necromancer Games products. They even put him in a logo on their covers. Fortunately, as you say, it works for us.
There is also a free download detailing extra encounter locations for the module you can grab off their website. Most of them I did not find useful, but they did have a gnoll encounter which also works well with Soderfjord.
I'd treat them as druids from 1st level, but yet allow the usage of swords and daggers (but no metal armor). VotPA also had rules for elven clerics that you might want to look at if you are using BECMI.
Håvard
Thanks for the reminder. I will check it out.
I suppose we can repost this in two weeks.