The Dark Elves possess one of the richest and most tragic histories in the world of Lineage 2. Unlike the Light Elves, they remained loyal to the goddess Shilen after her fall and embraced powers that forever changed their people. Their homeland, culture, and starting quests are all deeply connected to this dramatic past.
This article explores the origins of the Dark Elves, the wars that shaped their race, and the events players experience when beginning their adventure in the Temple of Shilen.
The Origins of the Dark Elves
Long before they became known as Dark Elves, they were called the Brown Elves and lived alongside the other Elven tribes within the great Elven Kingdom.
After the elves were defeated in their war against humanity, disagreements divided the race. While most elves accepted peace, the Brown Elves believed the war should continue until the elves reclaimed control of the continent.
Centuries later, they became fascinated by the forbidden magic used by the demon Beleth through the power of Gran Kain. Convinced that dark magic was the key to restoring their former glory, they sought new sources of power.
At this time, a human mage named Disparion appeared and offered to teach them forbidden magic in exchange for the secret of elven longevity.
The School of Dark Magic
To study these dangerous arts, the Brown Elves built the School of Dark Magic, hidden beneath the earth.
Although concealed from the outside world, the school reflected the grandeur of elven architecture while serving as a center for experiments with forbidden rituals.
The magical energy released there poisoned the surrounding landscape. The rocks southeast of the academy turned black from toxic miasma, giving rise to the region later known as Black Rock Hill.
The Brown Elves abandoned the worship of Eva and Einhasad, instead devoting themselves to Gran Kain and Shilen. They constructed numerous ritual sites, including a massive sacrificial altar where dark ceremonies were performed.
Through forbidden knowledge and contracts with demons, they became powerful enough to threaten the rest of the Elven Kingdom.
The Civil War Between the Elves
Tensions eventually erupted into open war between the Brown Elves and the remaining Elven tribes.
Seeking complete domination, the Brown Elves unleashed Disparion's Spell against the Wood Elves. The spell proved far more devastating than intended, annihilating the entire tribe—including elders and children.
Even the Brown Elves were horrified by the destruction.
The battlefield became a cursed swamp where the fallen Wood Elves rose again as undead creatures. Before dying, the surviving elders placed a terrible curse upon those responsible.
The Curse That Created the Dark Elves
The curse transformed both the land and its people.
The beautiful western forest decayed into what became known as the Dark Forest, while the Brown Elves themselves suffered an even greater punishment.
Their eyes became sensitive to sunlight, their skin burned beneath the sun, and they could no longer live on the surface during daylight.
Forced underground, they took refuge inside vast caverns that had once served as Giant mines beneath the Misty Mountains.
As generations passed, their appearance permanently changed. Their skin turned pale gray, their lifespan shortened, and the Brown Elves gradually became known as the Dark Elves, while the remaining elves became the Light Elves.
Mitrael's Defeat and the Rise of the Tetrarchs
During the war, the Ivory Tower sided with the Light Elves.
Its greatest mages sealed the Dark Elf leader Mitrael using three magical seals:
A physical seal that imprisoned his body.
A mental seal that restrained his mind.
A spiritual seal that confined his soul.
With their leader imprisoned, the Dark Elves lost much of their magical strength and morale.
The Light Elves and humans captured the Dark Forest and looted the Temple of Shilen. Unable to continue fighting, the Dark Elves withdrew completely into their underground homeland.
In Mitrael's absence, four powerful rulers known as the Tetrarchs governed the race.
The Return of the Dark Elves
Over six hundred years of research eventually allowed the Dark Elves to remove the curse that prevented them from walking beneath the sun.
Led by Tifiel, they launched a new war to reclaim their homeland.
To compensate for their smaller numbers, Tifiel created terrifying new soldiers through dark rituals. He transformed the remains of Wood Elves into powerful creatures and corrupted a princess of the Scarlet Pixies, creating the bloodthirsty Blood Pixies.
The conflict dragged on for years without a decisive victor.
Eventually, both sides suffered enormous losses, leading to a ceasefire. A neutral border separated their territories, but centuries of hatred remained between the two peoples.
The Dark Elf Starting Village
The Dark Elf village is built above an underground lake inside an enormous cavern, becoming the new homeland of the race.
To make life easier underground, the Tetrarch Vellior magically created imps from gremlins. These creatures served as slaves for centuries before eventually escaping to the surface during the war.
At the beginning of Lineage 2, many of the starting quests revolve around recovering these escaped imps and preparing magical rituals to control them once again.
The Temple of Shilen and the Beginning of the Story
When players begin their adventure, the Dark Elves are preparing for the annual Dark Mass, a sacred ceremony honoring Gran Kain and Shilen.
Several early quests revolve around these preparations:
Gathering ritual items for the priests.
Learning about the traditional Hunt of Shilen, a ritual once necessary for survival when the Dark Elves could only leave their caves at night.
Equipping the village guards for an approaching invasion.
Recovering sacred relics required for religious ceremonies.
These quests gradually introduce the beliefs, traditions, and fears that define Dark Elf society.
The Threat Facing the Dark Elves
The Tetrarch Kair foresees an imminent attack against the village.
At the same time, the Dark Elves prepare for an invasion by the Balor Orcs, who have rebelled after the arrival of a powerful monster named Shislasys in the Misty Mountains.
Many Dark Elves suspect that the Light Elves are secretly responsible for the growing unrest.
Another ominous sign appears through the mysterious Tears of Shilen—a crimson dew that forms on the temple pillars during rare solar eclipses.
Normally sacred, the Tears blacken whenever disaster is destined to strike the race. During the events of the starting quests, these sacred relics are stolen by an Orc band, forcing the player to recover them.
Exploring the School of Dark Magic
Although abandoned after the war, the School of Dark Magic remains central to several early quests.
Within its halls, players:
Defeat the succubus Merkenis, who torments Tetrarch Vellior with magical nightmares.
Collect ingredients needed to weaken one of Mitrael's magical seals.
Recover the stolen Revelations of Kaisha, ancient writings containing hidden truths about Gran Kain and Shilen.
These revelations become an important part of the broader Lineage 2 storyline and continue to appear throughout later quests.
The Beginning of a Dark Elf's Journey
By completing the starting quests, players prove their loyalty to Shilen and earn the trust of their people.
Only then do they leave the safety of the underground village and enter a world where the Dark Elves are still viewed with fear and suspicion by the other races.
Their journey marks the beginning of a much larger story, rooted in centuries of war, betrayal, forbidden magic, and unwavering devotion to their fallen goddess.
