Dark elf

Dark elves is the name for the (mostly) evil counterparts of the elves in many mythologies and fantasy settings. They are often at war with other elves.

Dark elves in mythology and folklore

Norse mythology

In Norse mythology, the Svartalfar ("black elves") are ugly, misshapen, subterranean and generally evil creatures who dwell in the world of Svartalfheim, often confused with the Dokkalfar ("dark elves"), the light-avoiding (though not necessarily subterranean, nor necessarily evil) counterparts of the light elves.

The term "svartalfar" is sometimes synonymous with "duergar" (dwarves).

Celtic mythology

In Celtic mythology (Gaelic), the Daoi-Sith are dark elves, while the Du-Sith are black elves.

Scottish folklore

In Scottish folklore, the Trow or the black elves are similar to the Svartalfar and inhabit mines and caves beneath Orkney Isle. They may be either good or evil, but the evil variety are more common. Probably derived from the Du-Sith of Celtic Mythology.

The Drow or the dark elves are presumably the Shetland Isle equivalent of the Trow, but unlike the Trow, they are thought of as exclusively evil. Probably derived from the Daoi-Sith of Celtic Mythology.

Note that both the Trow and the Drow are often described as troll-like creatures, and that many feel that their names might be related to the word "troll" due to phoenetic similarity. This is to be expected if they are derived from the Du-Sith and Daoi-Sith, since the various Gaelic words for "elf", "faery", "goblin", "troll", etc., were generally used interchangably with each other. Thus, "black elf" or "dark elf" in this context doesn't necessarily relate to creatures thought of as "elf-like".

On the other hand, if the Drow of Scottish folklore are not related to the Daoi-Sith, and the Trow are not related to the Du-Sith, then this strongly implies that their epithets "dark elf" and "black elf" actually does refer to elf-like beings.

Dark elves in fiction

Middle-earth

In J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, the Moriquendi—the Elves of Darkness—are, in essence, the Elves that did not join the Great Journey over the sea and behold the light of the Two Trees in Valinor. The term "Dark Elf" in Tolkien's writing seems to hold an additional special (not explained) meaning, as it is given as a special title of Eöl of Nan Elmoth.

Dungeons & Dragons

In the Dungeons & Dragons multiverse, especially in the worlds of Greyhawk, the Forgotten Realms and Eberron, dark elves are called drow. They are dark-skinned and white-haired and are generally, but not exclusively, evil. Many other games and works of mainstream fantasy fiction derive their "dark elves" or "night elves" from the drow of Dungeons & Dragons.

The Dark Elf Trilogy is a series of books written by R. A. Salvatore, set in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting, starring the heroic dark elf Drizzt Do'Urden.

In the Dragonlance setting, dark elves are not a distinct race; rather, "dark elves" are elves who have been cast out by the other elves for various crimes, such as worship of the evil deities. Dalamar, an ally of Raistlin, is the most notable of Krynn's dark elves.

In the Mystara/"Known World" setting, night elves are a race of subterranean elves who have been mutated via magic.

Record of Lodoss War

Dark elves from the fictional world of Record of Lodoss War are brown-skinned and not necessarily evil, but primarily aligned with the forces of Marmo, the enemies of the story's heroes. These Dark Elves are capable of deep loyalty and love.

Warhammer

In the world of Warhammer Fantasy, the generally evil Dark Elves (Dark Eldar in the Warhammer 40,000 universe) do not dwell underground, nor are they dark-skinned. They call themselves the Druchii. The Druchii live in Naggaroth, the geographic equivalent of North America in the Warhammer World, and are cruel raiders with much hatred for all other races; especially their lighter kindred, the High Elves.

WarCraft

In the WarCraft series of computer games, night elves are a race of elves similar to the drow of Dungeons & Dragons.

The Elder Scrolls

In The Elder Scrolls series of computer role-playing games, Dark Elves (also called Dunmer) lived peacefully with other races. They were the predominant race in Morrowind, and held many of the highest positions of authority. In addition, much of the mythology surrounding Morrowind revolved around them. The Dark Elves had mostly black hair, bluish-grey skin and red eyes.

Other occurrences

There are also Dark Elves in the fantasy world of Glorantha.