Dark Elf clans

The real power in Winterheart (and by extension, most of southern Snowfell) resides in the leaders of the clans. All the ruling clans are webbed in intrigue so thick that no one dark elf or spymaster knows all the ruses and conspiracies in play at any one time.

By tradition, five noble houses oversee Winterheart. Members of these great clans refer to themselves as if they were extended families, related by blood. In fact, they're symbolic alliances connected by ceremonies of adoption. Blood families belong to the same clan.

Though the clans do not openly quarrel with each other, they all have very different views of the world. Rather than resolve issues by vote, the clans make “pacts” to support each other if they believe their fellow clans deserve support in any measure — humanitarian, military, or otherwise. If a clan presents an issue to the others and receives no support for it, they can still carry out whatever plans they wish, and try to convince individuals who are not a part of the five leading clans to support them.

Each clan member is marked by a tattoo on their face, which not only signifies the wearer's affiliation but also supposedly recalls (to historians) some significant detail of the house's past glory. The houses are ranked below in descending order of influence.

Clan Uri’pe

Warriors led by Amarinth Uri’pe and her demonic consort, Skolrith.

Tattoo: Jagged X somewhere on the face

This clan of warriors, gladiators, and generals is famed for its raiding parties and vicious strikes against outsiders. They are the main protectors of the dark elves and their members form the bulk of the official army, stationed mostly underground between Winterheart and Thrain.

Clan Uri’pe is the most diplomatic of the ruling houses. Because the dark elves are less in number than many of the other races, surgical strikes and tactical assaults must be well-planned and well-supported by the other clans, who possess military might of their own. Clan Uri'pe tries not to make enemies of anyone.

Uri’pe’s clan leader, Amarinth Uri’pe, is well-known for upholding traditional dark elf values of loyalty to her people, vengeance for those who have wronged her, and an unwavering will to uphold Selune’s wish. However, in the last fifty years, she has begun granting influence to her consort, the fiery raider Skolrith — who happens to be one of Vandun’s demons. The number of scouts and assassins amongst Uri’pe’s ranks have increased so much in the last few years that the Shadow Hunters jockey with them for work.

Clan Vosk

Artisans led by Ravka Vosk.

Tattoo: A fancy curved line around and under the eyes

Vosk’s power rests in its skilled artisans and its deep collection of powerful enchanted items. Over recent years it has enveloped several families of up-and-coming traders, forging a new identity as the city's preeminent mercantile concern.

Clan Vosk’s members were most of who were slaughtered at the Laubrekker Massacre. Ever since taking in the refugee humans who survived, they have maintained relations with non-dark-elves. These relations are very limited to not draw the ire of the other clans, many of whom are more traditional and do not take kindly to working with outsiders. Most, if not all, half-dark-elves are a result of Vosk’s influence. Humans and half-elves are mostly accepted by dark elves at this point, but if they do live in Winterheart, they are mostly cordoned away underground.

The Shadow Hunters are Vosk’s creation, meant to involve humans and other races in dark elf culture while serving a purpose that the other clans could not disapprove of: protecting their land. Once an organization kept tightly under control by Vosk’s clan leader, Ravka Vosk, the Shadow Hunters now have so many schemes in play that she is in danger of losing track of one or more threads.

Clan Erendwain

Beastmasters led by Zekhan Erendwain.

Tattoo: Three clawmarks somewhere on the face

The dark elves of Clan Erendwain control the beast trade. In its effort to keep its pens stocked with fresh product, the clan sponsors raids throughout the Winterfell Mountains and even visit the lowlands to acquire food to feed the countless reindeer, muskox, and wolves they cultivate. They are careful not to over-hunt the area around Winterfell, and not a single part of any kill goes to waste. The meat from Erendwain herds is the bulk of the dark elf diet in Winterheart.

Though the beasts Clan Erendwain procures and breeds are a valuable commodity the city of Winterheart could hardly do without, the gathering of resources and trade of winter animals and white fur (facilitated by Clan Vosk) draws the attention of enemies to the mountains.

Despite being Winterheart’s hunter-gatherers, the Erendwain clan has its own strong fighting force that patrols Winterheart’s borders and protect dark elf caravans traveling within the mountains. Mighty armored mounts and wolfpacks who attack in sync are their most powerful assets. The well-trained military animals used in Erendwain raids inspire envy and fear in anyone who faces them in combat.

Clan Toroth

Magic-wielders led by warlock Iris Toroth.

Tattoo: Circle with a rune of choice drawn inside somewhere on the face. Sometimes, no circle.

Conjurers, warlocks, illusionists, and practicers of dark magic fill Clan Toroth’s ranks. Their leader Iris was once a mage, but when the dark dwarves introduced Vandun to the dark elves she began studying Vandun and Arth’s destructive and regenerative magics.

Seeking power to defend Winterheart, many of her fellow magic-wielders followed suit and began consorting with demons and other dark forces to grow stronger and more powerful. They take full advantage of the fact that the Sun Elves have almost no knowledge of black magic and use curses and other vile practices to silence and control enemy spellcasters.

In recent times, Clan Toroth has accumulated a cadre of undead servitors from their warlock summoners. It is said that every structure commanded by Toroth is staffed by an elite force of deathless knights. There are some pure archanists and healers left in Toroth’s ranks, but the hunger for power is ever-present amongst its members.

Clan Svalbren

Sages led by the High Priestess of Selune, Tristela Svalbren.

Tattoo: Crescent moon. Higher level priestesses have additional moon phases tattooed on them.

Selune’s domains are night, astrology, stars, solitude, truth, and wayfinding. These areas are what Clan Svalbren is organized around. Long ago when Selune first guided the dark elves to the Path of Stars, it was Clan Svalbren who organized their first settlement and took charge. Anyone looking for spiritual guidance knows to ask one of Svalbren’s sages.

Historically, Clan Svalbren used to be very influential. Over the years, the dark elves have suffered huge casualties to the Sun Elves and merged their religious beliefs with the dark dwarves. Selune is mostly silent and sends very few signs for Svalbren to interpret; and so, they no longer holds as much power as they once did. They are still respected as experts on Selune and all things religious or prophetic. Members of Svalbren are consulted on when to marry, where to build, and how to enact policy to best please Selune.

In addition to the sages that live in Winterheart, Svalbren’s ranks are filled with priestesses, astrologists, archeologists, and explorers who send aid to the dark elf forces scattered along the eastern Winterfell Mountains. They are more explicitly religious than the other clans and pride themselves in clinging to the very roots of the dark elves: being an expeditionary force. Scouts from Clan Svalbren move at night throughout Hellan, charting territory and keeping tabs on enemies. Their spies are finer than any other’s, and sometimes work with Shadow Hunters or blend within other races’ civilizations for the benefit of the dark elves.