Thrashia
01-10-2008, 06:40
Name: Naggoroth “Land of Chill”
Race: Dark Elves/Druchii/Drow
Government:
The society of Naggoroth is a hierarchical one, with the Witch King, Malekith, at the top. At his right hand is his mother and consort, Queen Morathi. The Dark Elves are in truth a Machiavellian society, with one man at the top and several powerful underlings in competition with each other, all vying for power but simultaneously preventing others from getting it. Malekith allows this to continue because it keeps all sects strong by culling the weak, but also keeps them under his complete control.
While the Witch King holds ultimate power in the land of Naggoroth, he allowed a great amount of freedom to the heads of the Three Houses. Each of the three houses, Redoran, Hlaalu and Telvanni, all have their own lands, armies, and fortresses but owe fealty when the Witch King calls.
Malekith, Witch King of Naggoroth (http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/617/ceat0304hs5.jpg)
Throne of Iron, seat of Malekith (http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/5080/ironthroneja2.jpg)
Banner of the Witch King (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/7076/bannerofthewitchkingbg9.jpg)
Emblem of the Witch King’s Champion (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/9792/desymbwebdo7.jpg)
Druchii Highborn Lord (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/7250/druchiilordfd3.jpg)
Dread Lord Malus Darkblade (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/8339/013008ca03ym5.jpg)
-It is the highborn warrior Malus Darkblade that is the present Champion of the Witch King. He answers to Malekith and Malekith alone, no other drachau or highborn lord may touch him or risk the Witch King's wrath.
Population:
3.1 million Dark Elves
1.2 Million Slaves of all races
The Land of Naggoroth
Map of Naggoroth (http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/2282/mapofeltarbyfraglesskv6.jpg)
The dark and forbidding land of Naggoroth is called "the Land of Chill". The name is an appropriate one, for the unwelcoming home of the Dark Elves is a harsh wilderness of cold and unrelenting climates. After exterminating the native barbarian tribes of Naggoroth long ago they constructed six heavily fortified cities:
• Sormithiar the Tower of Cold and Dark Elf capital
• Emaron the North Tower where the sorceresses study the Realm of Magic
• Ambor the Tower of Despair and largest slave port of the Dark Elves
• Kalias the City of Executioners and religious capital of Cult of Khaine
• Koivanas the Tower of Doom and largest Dark Elf shipyard
These cities, besides the more numerous minor cities, have innumerable black towers rising like pinnacles of ice from the cold, hard rock of Naggoroth. Due to the harsh and unforgiving nature of Naggoroth, they are some of the densest population centers in the world. All of these cities are dark and evil places. Their black dungeons are crammed with captives whose wailings fill the air and whose moans seep through the thick walls of the high towers, saturating the place with pain, despair and the souls of the dying. At the tips of these towers, the Sorceresses of Naggoroth cast their malign magic over the Land of Chill.
Each major city in Naggoroth has a highborn lord that rules it. For those that are not only city rulers and lords, but also personal servants of Malekith himself, they are given the title of 'drachau' and are answerable only to Malekith himself, being the Witchking's council in times of war.
Highborn Ruler/Drachau (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/4747/warconceptaug085xt9.jpg)
Economy of Naggoroth
Dark Elves have one major source of income: plunder. Dark Elves raid all other lands, particularly the Great Green, a massive forest on a continent south of Naggoroth where humans and elves are known to live. They take food, treasure, and slaves. Slaves play an important part in Dark Elf society, as they perform the menial chores that an enterprising Druchii deigns to be below him. Slaves also make up the bulk of the ritual sacrifices to the god Khaine.
The Dark Elves take to sea in their corsair ships. Deadly ships of war, the corsairs are known as Black Arks, and they travel far and wide to procure slaves. Each Black Ark is home to a small army of Dark Elf raiders. These forces can be landed on the coast of an unsuspecting kingdom, perform a lightning raid, and be off before any of the local defense forces are able to react. In this way countless millions of doomed souls have been taken back to Naggoroth to a fate worse than death.
Slaver’s Caravan Wagon (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/8042/cncart090721lh3.jpg)
Typical Druchii Slave Pit (http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/7031/cncart090719hy8.jpg)
Typical Druchii Torture Chamber (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/9714/cat110705ck8.jpg)
Armies of Naggoroth
Household Army Average: 10,000 Infantry, 4,000 Light Cavalry, 1,500 Cold One Knights
Army of the Witch King: 30,000 Infantry, 5,000 Light Cavalry, 3,000 Cold One Knights
Household Navy: 300 Ships of the Line, 600 raider frigates, 50 Black Arks
Dark Elf armies are fast and dangerous but potentially fragile. They are fleeter of foot than humans and favour speed and maneuverability over heavy armour. Characteristics of Dark Elven armies include armour forged with all manners of wicked barbs, hooks and blades, and their uniforms tend to be dark somber colours such as purple, indigo or black. Human skin is a highly prized material for durable military garb, and their graceful swords and spearheads tend to be hooked and serrated for catching enemy blades and inflicting severe injuries.
Typical Druchii Warrior/Spearman (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/118/druchiiwarriorxk0.jpg)
Druchii infantry consist of spear phalanxes and repeater crossbow regiments which are supported by shock infantry such as Executioners, who wield heavy two-handed blades called Draich, heavily armed Corsair raiders, or scores of Witch Elves that are drugged up into a killing frenzy. The most elite fighters are chosen to join the fanatic bodyguard of the Witch King, the infamous ‘Endless’. Another elite group of warrior guard the drachau and leading highborn of the land, known as the 'Black Guard.' They are the best regular state troops in the land. There are also the druchii 'Shades'. A people known to city druchii as the Autarii. They are the best scouts and sharp shooters with their repeater crossbows than perhaps any other in the world with perhaps the exception of their High Elf brethren.
Druchii Corsair (http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/3675/darkelfcorsairbyzakkefg2.jpg)
Autarii Scout, a Shade (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6523/shadeps2.jpg)
Black Guard Warrior (http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/3793/ca080706dt0.jpg)
“Executioner” Shock Infantry (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/5220/executioneryd8.jpg)
Witch King’s Bodyguard, the “Endless” (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/6312/dearmorblackguardt5xg9.jpg)
Cavalry often plays a key role in engagements. The elite Druchii cavalry are the Cold One Knights: Druchii nobility that ride carnivorous reptiles known as Nauglir, or Cold Ones, into battle. Not used by other races, they are native to the caves beneath the Blackspine Mountains deep in the heart of Naggoroth and are a separate breed of dragon-kin. These fearsome beasts are also used to pull heavy Cold One Chariots. They are often deployed alongside Dark Riders; fast and highly maneuverable warriors swathed in black robes who ride upon swift Elven steeds.
Fully Armoured Nauglir/Cold One (http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/9744/ca080502iu2.jpg)
Dark Rider Cavalry (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/3289/darkelfcavalrybg6.jpg)
Cold One Knight (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/1696/112pj8.jpg)
Cold One Knight(2) (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/9761/mounteddarkelfbymikhailpm2.jpg)
Highborn Knight (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/8869/ca080607sw6.jpg)
The Dark Elves use a rather vicious war machine known as the Reaper. Similar to the original design for the Repeater Bolt Thrower, the Reaper is a large, ballista-style torsion weapon. It is capable of hurling either a single harpoon-like projectile with devastating force or a volley of multiple smaller bolts. They are usually found mounted on the bow of Dark Elf raiding ships or on the parapets of a city wall. However, they are also frequently taken into major combat engagements, as they are both lightweight and extremely effective in the hands of a skilled crew. Dark Elf corsair ships are some of the fastest vessels in the world besides those of the high elves. Innocents run and hide before the approach of these vessels, as they herald a vicious attack that claims both lives, slaves, and booty.
Druchii Corsair Ship (http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/8895/shipxr5.jpg)
Druchii battering ram (http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/6894/ca080211gr1.jpg)
Bolt Thrower/Reaper (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/1184/ca080208ij2.jpg)
Dark Elves display a talent for taming and training the gigantic monsters that stalk the mountain ranges of their homeland. It is not uncommon for a Druchii Beastmaster to drive monstrous creatures into battle. Off of the battlefield, these Beastmasters are also responsible for training Cold Ones and Elven steeds, and the subjugation of the endless supply of slaves.
Magical power on the battlefield is supplied by the six Convents of Sorceresses, who refine the inherent magical aptitude of Dark Elf women into a deadly force. Though the Sorceresses are vulnerable in close combat, the sinister power that they wield is potent enough to ensure that almost every significant Dark Elf force will have at least one Sorceress. (It should be noted that Druchii males are not allowed to be trained in magical arts, and renegade Sorcerers are killed without question.)
Battle Sorceress (http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/7862/ca080723su5.jpg)
Acolyte Sorceress (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/8743/ca080702wf2.jpg)
Druchii Witch/Sorceress (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/489/ca080704mr8.jpg)
Covenant Sorceress (http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/4876/socc07vf9.jpg)
Witch’s Tower (http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/6093/towerjt0.jpg)
Overall, the Druchii are devastating on the offensive. Every Dark Elf spends their entire life drilling and training in military maneuvers. Units working together in concert can break or destroy nearly any enemy that dares underestimate them, yet their fragile constitution means they are not able to absorb much damage in return. This forces Dark Elf commanders to rely on sound tactics rather than brute force. Thus Druchii generals are considered some of the best tacticians in the world.
Household Knight’s Shield (http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/4210/deshield01qw0.jpg)
Regular spearman’s shield (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/7827/deshield02en1.jpg)
Black Guard Shield (http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/8443/deshield03sb7.jpg)
Typical Druchii Swords (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/9256/druchiiswordslo9.jpg)
Religion
Banner of Kaine (http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/1157/debannersbloodyhandofkhsl9.jpg)
The Dark Elves primarily worship the Elven god Kaela Mensha Khaine, the Bloody-Handed God and Thousand Faced Lord of Murder. They are wholly devoted to him. Each city has temples and shrines devoted to Khaine where blood sacrifices are made. Dark Elves are required to donate a percentage of the slaves they capture on raids to the temple but most Dark Elves make several additional sacrifices a year.
The most savage sect of Khaine worshippers are known as the Brides of Khaine, more commonly called Witch Elves (or Maibd in the Dark Elf language). They are an all-female cult of warrior priestesses. Witch Elves consider the battlefield to be a holy place and are suicidally fanatical in proving their worth to Khaine by spilling the blood of their enemies. The cult is lead by high priestesses called hags, who bathe in blood to retain eternal youth. Morathi founded the cult of Khaine, yet it is currently led by Crone Hellebron, eldest of the hags.
Dagger of the Blood Witch (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/8006/cncart090722qe5.jpg)
Priest of Kaine (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/6127/ct120723do6.jpg)
Chosen of Kaine (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/3704/ct120730ih6.jpg)
Cauldron of Kaine (http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/5592/ca080217bq3.jpg)
Temple Assassin (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/5738/ca080609hz0.jpg)
Temple Assassin (2) (http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/4974/ca080722tz1.jpg)
Temple Zealot (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/9510/dspl02wg2.jpg)
Blood Witch of Kaine (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/3972/welfie090706fd4.jpg)
The holiest time of the year for Dark Elves is ‘Death Night’. During this night the Witch Elves rule the streets of the Dark Elf cities, capturing anyone they find (whether they are slaves or Dark Elves) and dragging them back to the temples as sacrifices to Khaine. The Witch Elves will even go so far as to break into houses, which has led to Dark Elf families barricading windows and doors during this night. On Death Night the Witch Elves will also steal away a number of children. Girls captured like this will be trained to become Witch Elves. Boys are tossed in a cauldron of boiling blood. Those that survive are trained to be true adepts of Khaine: the feared temple assassins. As dawn breaks after Death Night it is customary for those who lived though the night to make a sacrifice from their own houshold (usually a favoured slave or elderly relative) as a thanks to the Lord of Murder for sparing their family.
The Great Houses of Naggoroth
There are three ‘great’ houses of Dark Elf families. These noble families have spent millennia building their power, making alliances, killing, backstabbing, and becoming the prominent holders of power in their areas by sheer ruthlessness.
House Hlaalu
The House of Hlaalu came to its place of power through sheer force. Of all the great houses the Hlaalu have shown the greatest amount of martial prowess amongst all others, with the exception perhaps being the Witch King’s personal retainers. Through alliances with several minor houses and victories gained through their veteran army the Hlaalu have truly honored Kaine with blood through their path to ruling the northern lands.
The present ruler of the Hlaalu is Marcus Hlaalu, March Count of Naggoroth. Marcus Hlaalu was charged by the Witch King to defend the northern border of Naggoroth from all intruders and as such the northern corsair fleets, the majority, are under his control and are manned by troops loyal to House Hlaalu.
Their main fortress city is Emaron, purported to be as strong as the Witch King’s own city of Sormithiar, resides in the center of their lands and is at the center of a life-line of roads that link all the border fortresses and major northern rivers, allowing for the swift passage of troops. A noted plus side is that a large amount of trade has sprung up because of this.
House Telvanni
It was as a result of an edict made by Malekith himself that the House Telvanni gained their position as a great house in the land. A long a bloody civil war had been raged in the southern lands for near 100 years, between House Telvanni and House Kor-Wyrm. However the House of Kor-Wyrm broke the rules of the blood feud and thus enacted the judgment of Malekith. The dark army of the Witch King descended upon House Kor Wyrm, joined enthusiastically by House Tevlanni, and the rouge house was utterly destroyed. Thus House Telvanni gained ascendancy.
The leader of the Telvanni is Sardet Telvanni, known as the Devious. After his house’s good fortune Sardet made it clear that the house Telvanni would live and act according to the whims of the Witch King in all things. As such you will always find Telvanni side with what seems “in agreement with his dread majesty.” Their capital city is Kalias.
House Redoran
Long ago when the different noble families along the western coasts of Naggoroth competed for the best slave grounds and harbors, a great Sea War erupted. The different houses warred upon each other at sea and on land. The amount of blood shed was enough to rival that of the Southern War. Finally there came a Corsair Lord who led his house to grand victories over his fellows and claimed the entire coast as his personal realms.
The leader of House Redoran is none other than the great Balethek, the Corsair Lord. No other great or minor house of all Morrowind can match the House Redoran in seamanship or the art of the shipwright. Their corsair crewmen, cutthroats all, are some of the fiercest men outside the lands of the Hlaalu. Every year slaves are brought to the city of Ambor, the City of Slaves, where millions in gold coin is made from their trafficking.
It is house Redoran that provides Naggoroth with its chief naval prowess.
Important Buildings and Fortresses of Naggoroth
Typical Druchii Fortress (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/2046/095tg2.jpg)
Typical Druchii Outpost (http://img219.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ca080202oo7.jpg)
Dread Gates of Sormithiar (http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/9486/ca080205ze7.jpg)
Dragon Portal of Sormithiar (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/8659/ceat0302kg7.jpg)
Nauglir Pens (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/3353/cncart090716bg2.jpg)
Typical Naggorite Watch Tower (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6685/cncart090717qn5.jpg)
Typical Naggorite Fort Wall (http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/6081/cncart090718ob4.jpg)
Race: Dark Elves/Druchii/Drow
Government:
The society of Naggoroth is a hierarchical one, with the Witch King, Malekith, at the top. At his right hand is his mother and consort, Queen Morathi. The Dark Elves are in truth a Machiavellian society, with one man at the top and several powerful underlings in competition with each other, all vying for power but simultaneously preventing others from getting it. Malekith allows this to continue because it keeps all sects strong by culling the weak, but also keeps them under his complete control.
While the Witch King holds ultimate power in the land of Naggoroth, he allowed a great amount of freedom to the heads of the Three Houses. Each of the three houses, Redoran, Hlaalu and Telvanni, all have their own lands, armies, and fortresses but owe fealty when the Witch King calls.
Malekith, Witch King of Naggoroth (http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/617/ceat0304hs5.jpg)
Throne of Iron, seat of Malekith (http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/5080/ironthroneja2.jpg)
Banner of the Witch King (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/7076/bannerofthewitchkingbg9.jpg)
Emblem of the Witch King’s Champion (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/9792/desymbwebdo7.jpg)
Druchii Highborn Lord (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/7250/druchiilordfd3.jpg)
Dread Lord Malus Darkblade (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/8339/013008ca03ym5.jpg)
-It is the highborn warrior Malus Darkblade that is the present Champion of the Witch King. He answers to Malekith and Malekith alone, no other drachau or highborn lord may touch him or risk the Witch King's wrath.
Population:
3.1 million Dark Elves
1.2 Million Slaves of all races
The Land of Naggoroth
Map of Naggoroth (http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/2282/mapofeltarbyfraglesskv6.jpg)
The dark and forbidding land of Naggoroth is called "the Land of Chill". The name is an appropriate one, for the unwelcoming home of the Dark Elves is a harsh wilderness of cold and unrelenting climates. After exterminating the native barbarian tribes of Naggoroth long ago they constructed six heavily fortified cities:
• Sormithiar the Tower of Cold and Dark Elf capital
• Emaron the North Tower where the sorceresses study the Realm of Magic
• Ambor the Tower of Despair and largest slave port of the Dark Elves
• Kalias the City of Executioners and religious capital of Cult of Khaine
• Koivanas the Tower of Doom and largest Dark Elf shipyard
These cities, besides the more numerous minor cities, have innumerable black towers rising like pinnacles of ice from the cold, hard rock of Naggoroth. Due to the harsh and unforgiving nature of Naggoroth, they are some of the densest population centers in the world. All of these cities are dark and evil places. Their black dungeons are crammed with captives whose wailings fill the air and whose moans seep through the thick walls of the high towers, saturating the place with pain, despair and the souls of the dying. At the tips of these towers, the Sorceresses of Naggoroth cast their malign magic over the Land of Chill.
Each major city in Naggoroth has a highborn lord that rules it. For those that are not only city rulers and lords, but also personal servants of Malekith himself, they are given the title of 'drachau' and are answerable only to Malekith himself, being the Witchking's council in times of war.
Highborn Ruler/Drachau (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/4747/warconceptaug085xt9.jpg)
Economy of Naggoroth
Dark Elves have one major source of income: plunder. Dark Elves raid all other lands, particularly the Great Green, a massive forest on a continent south of Naggoroth where humans and elves are known to live. They take food, treasure, and slaves. Slaves play an important part in Dark Elf society, as they perform the menial chores that an enterprising Druchii deigns to be below him. Slaves also make up the bulk of the ritual sacrifices to the god Khaine.
The Dark Elves take to sea in their corsair ships. Deadly ships of war, the corsairs are known as Black Arks, and they travel far and wide to procure slaves. Each Black Ark is home to a small army of Dark Elf raiders. These forces can be landed on the coast of an unsuspecting kingdom, perform a lightning raid, and be off before any of the local defense forces are able to react. In this way countless millions of doomed souls have been taken back to Naggoroth to a fate worse than death.
Slaver’s Caravan Wagon (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/8042/cncart090721lh3.jpg)
Typical Druchii Slave Pit (http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/7031/cncart090719hy8.jpg)
Typical Druchii Torture Chamber (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/9714/cat110705ck8.jpg)
Armies of Naggoroth
Household Army Average: 10,000 Infantry, 4,000 Light Cavalry, 1,500 Cold One Knights
Army of the Witch King: 30,000 Infantry, 5,000 Light Cavalry, 3,000 Cold One Knights
Household Navy: 300 Ships of the Line, 600 raider frigates, 50 Black Arks
Dark Elf armies are fast and dangerous but potentially fragile. They are fleeter of foot than humans and favour speed and maneuverability over heavy armour. Characteristics of Dark Elven armies include armour forged with all manners of wicked barbs, hooks and blades, and their uniforms tend to be dark somber colours such as purple, indigo or black. Human skin is a highly prized material for durable military garb, and their graceful swords and spearheads tend to be hooked and serrated for catching enemy blades and inflicting severe injuries.
Typical Druchii Warrior/Spearman (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/118/druchiiwarriorxk0.jpg)
Druchii infantry consist of spear phalanxes and repeater crossbow regiments which are supported by shock infantry such as Executioners, who wield heavy two-handed blades called Draich, heavily armed Corsair raiders, or scores of Witch Elves that are drugged up into a killing frenzy. The most elite fighters are chosen to join the fanatic bodyguard of the Witch King, the infamous ‘Endless’. Another elite group of warrior guard the drachau and leading highborn of the land, known as the 'Black Guard.' They are the best regular state troops in the land. There are also the druchii 'Shades'. A people known to city druchii as the Autarii. They are the best scouts and sharp shooters with their repeater crossbows than perhaps any other in the world with perhaps the exception of their High Elf brethren.
Druchii Corsair (http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/3675/darkelfcorsairbyzakkefg2.jpg)
Autarii Scout, a Shade (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6523/shadeps2.jpg)
Black Guard Warrior (http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/3793/ca080706dt0.jpg)
“Executioner” Shock Infantry (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/5220/executioneryd8.jpg)
Witch King’s Bodyguard, the “Endless” (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/6312/dearmorblackguardt5xg9.jpg)
Cavalry often plays a key role in engagements. The elite Druchii cavalry are the Cold One Knights: Druchii nobility that ride carnivorous reptiles known as Nauglir, or Cold Ones, into battle. Not used by other races, they are native to the caves beneath the Blackspine Mountains deep in the heart of Naggoroth and are a separate breed of dragon-kin. These fearsome beasts are also used to pull heavy Cold One Chariots. They are often deployed alongside Dark Riders; fast and highly maneuverable warriors swathed in black robes who ride upon swift Elven steeds.
Fully Armoured Nauglir/Cold One (http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/9744/ca080502iu2.jpg)
Dark Rider Cavalry (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/3289/darkelfcavalrybg6.jpg)
Cold One Knight (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/1696/112pj8.jpg)
Cold One Knight(2) (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/9761/mounteddarkelfbymikhailpm2.jpg)
Highborn Knight (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/8869/ca080607sw6.jpg)
The Dark Elves use a rather vicious war machine known as the Reaper. Similar to the original design for the Repeater Bolt Thrower, the Reaper is a large, ballista-style torsion weapon. It is capable of hurling either a single harpoon-like projectile with devastating force or a volley of multiple smaller bolts. They are usually found mounted on the bow of Dark Elf raiding ships or on the parapets of a city wall. However, they are also frequently taken into major combat engagements, as they are both lightweight and extremely effective in the hands of a skilled crew. Dark Elf corsair ships are some of the fastest vessels in the world besides those of the high elves. Innocents run and hide before the approach of these vessels, as they herald a vicious attack that claims both lives, slaves, and booty.
Druchii Corsair Ship (http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/8895/shipxr5.jpg)
Druchii battering ram (http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/6894/ca080211gr1.jpg)
Bolt Thrower/Reaper (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/1184/ca080208ij2.jpg)
Dark Elves display a talent for taming and training the gigantic monsters that stalk the mountain ranges of their homeland. It is not uncommon for a Druchii Beastmaster to drive monstrous creatures into battle. Off of the battlefield, these Beastmasters are also responsible for training Cold Ones and Elven steeds, and the subjugation of the endless supply of slaves.
Magical power on the battlefield is supplied by the six Convents of Sorceresses, who refine the inherent magical aptitude of Dark Elf women into a deadly force. Though the Sorceresses are vulnerable in close combat, the sinister power that they wield is potent enough to ensure that almost every significant Dark Elf force will have at least one Sorceress. (It should be noted that Druchii males are not allowed to be trained in magical arts, and renegade Sorcerers are killed without question.)
Battle Sorceress (http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/7862/ca080723su5.jpg)
Acolyte Sorceress (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/8743/ca080702wf2.jpg)
Druchii Witch/Sorceress (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/489/ca080704mr8.jpg)
Covenant Sorceress (http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/4876/socc07vf9.jpg)
Witch’s Tower (http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/6093/towerjt0.jpg)
Overall, the Druchii are devastating on the offensive. Every Dark Elf spends their entire life drilling and training in military maneuvers. Units working together in concert can break or destroy nearly any enemy that dares underestimate them, yet their fragile constitution means they are not able to absorb much damage in return. This forces Dark Elf commanders to rely on sound tactics rather than brute force. Thus Druchii generals are considered some of the best tacticians in the world.
Household Knight’s Shield (http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/4210/deshield01qw0.jpg)
Regular spearman’s shield (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/7827/deshield02en1.jpg)
Black Guard Shield (http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/8443/deshield03sb7.jpg)
Typical Druchii Swords (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/9256/druchiiswordslo9.jpg)
Religion
Banner of Kaine (http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/1157/debannersbloodyhandofkhsl9.jpg)
The Dark Elves primarily worship the Elven god Kaela Mensha Khaine, the Bloody-Handed God and Thousand Faced Lord of Murder. They are wholly devoted to him. Each city has temples and shrines devoted to Khaine where blood sacrifices are made. Dark Elves are required to donate a percentage of the slaves they capture on raids to the temple but most Dark Elves make several additional sacrifices a year.
The most savage sect of Khaine worshippers are known as the Brides of Khaine, more commonly called Witch Elves (or Maibd in the Dark Elf language). They are an all-female cult of warrior priestesses. Witch Elves consider the battlefield to be a holy place and are suicidally fanatical in proving their worth to Khaine by spilling the blood of their enemies. The cult is lead by high priestesses called hags, who bathe in blood to retain eternal youth. Morathi founded the cult of Khaine, yet it is currently led by Crone Hellebron, eldest of the hags.
Dagger of the Blood Witch (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/8006/cncart090722qe5.jpg)
Priest of Kaine (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/6127/ct120723do6.jpg)
Chosen of Kaine (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/3704/ct120730ih6.jpg)
Cauldron of Kaine (http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/5592/ca080217bq3.jpg)
Temple Assassin (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/5738/ca080609hz0.jpg)
Temple Assassin (2) (http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/4974/ca080722tz1.jpg)
Temple Zealot (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/9510/dspl02wg2.jpg)
Blood Witch of Kaine (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/3972/welfie090706fd4.jpg)
The holiest time of the year for Dark Elves is ‘Death Night’. During this night the Witch Elves rule the streets of the Dark Elf cities, capturing anyone they find (whether they are slaves or Dark Elves) and dragging them back to the temples as sacrifices to Khaine. The Witch Elves will even go so far as to break into houses, which has led to Dark Elf families barricading windows and doors during this night. On Death Night the Witch Elves will also steal away a number of children. Girls captured like this will be trained to become Witch Elves. Boys are tossed in a cauldron of boiling blood. Those that survive are trained to be true adepts of Khaine: the feared temple assassins. As dawn breaks after Death Night it is customary for those who lived though the night to make a sacrifice from their own houshold (usually a favoured slave or elderly relative) as a thanks to the Lord of Murder for sparing their family.
The Great Houses of Naggoroth
There are three ‘great’ houses of Dark Elf families. These noble families have spent millennia building their power, making alliances, killing, backstabbing, and becoming the prominent holders of power in their areas by sheer ruthlessness.
House Hlaalu
The House of Hlaalu came to its place of power through sheer force. Of all the great houses the Hlaalu have shown the greatest amount of martial prowess amongst all others, with the exception perhaps being the Witch King’s personal retainers. Through alliances with several minor houses and victories gained through their veteran army the Hlaalu have truly honored Kaine with blood through their path to ruling the northern lands.
The present ruler of the Hlaalu is Marcus Hlaalu, March Count of Naggoroth. Marcus Hlaalu was charged by the Witch King to defend the northern border of Naggoroth from all intruders and as such the northern corsair fleets, the majority, are under his control and are manned by troops loyal to House Hlaalu.
Their main fortress city is Emaron, purported to be as strong as the Witch King’s own city of Sormithiar, resides in the center of their lands and is at the center of a life-line of roads that link all the border fortresses and major northern rivers, allowing for the swift passage of troops. A noted plus side is that a large amount of trade has sprung up because of this.
House Telvanni
It was as a result of an edict made by Malekith himself that the House Telvanni gained their position as a great house in the land. A long a bloody civil war had been raged in the southern lands for near 100 years, between House Telvanni and House Kor-Wyrm. However the House of Kor-Wyrm broke the rules of the blood feud and thus enacted the judgment of Malekith. The dark army of the Witch King descended upon House Kor Wyrm, joined enthusiastically by House Tevlanni, and the rouge house was utterly destroyed. Thus House Telvanni gained ascendancy.
The leader of the Telvanni is Sardet Telvanni, known as the Devious. After his house’s good fortune Sardet made it clear that the house Telvanni would live and act according to the whims of the Witch King in all things. As such you will always find Telvanni side with what seems “in agreement with his dread majesty.” Their capital city is Kalias.
House Redoran
Long ago when the different noble families along the western coasts of Naggoroth competed for the best slave grounds and harbors, a great Sea War erupted. The different houses warred upon each other at sea and on land. The amount of blood shed was enough to rival that of the Southern War. Finally there came a Corsair Lord who led his house to grand victories over his fellows and claimed the entire coast as his personal realms.
The leader of House Redoran is none other than the great Balethek, the Corsair Lord. No other great or minor house of all Morrowind can match the House Redoran in seamanship or the art of the shipwright. Their corsair crewmen, cutthroats all, are some of the fiercest men outside the lands of the Hlaalu. Every year slaves are brought to the city of Ambor, the City of Slaves, where millions in gold coin is made from their trafficking.
It is house Redoran that provides Naggoroth with its chief naval prowess.
Important Buildings and Fortresses of Naggoroth
Typical Druchii Fortress (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/2046/095tg2.jpg)
Typical Druchii Outpost (http://img219.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ca080202oo7.jpg)
Dread Gates of Sormithiar (http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/9486/ca080205ze7.jpg)
Dragon Portal of Sormithiar (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/8659/ceat0302kg7.jpg)
Nauglir Pens (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/3353/cncart090716bg2.jpg)
Typical Naggorite Watch Tower (http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6685/cncart090717qn5.jpg)
Typical Naggorite Fort Wall (http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/6081/cncart090718ob4.jpg)