Svart Alfar:

[brynne]

Svartalfar are the black elves of norse mythology who grew from the maggots of Ymir's flesh. They live in the earth and in stones. Although they have the shape of men, they are often misshapen. Their home is Svartalfheim, which lies under the earth, and here they stay during daylight on pain of being turned to stone

Comments

[darkcacophany]

Norse mythology is my specialty. :)

Svart Alfir translates literally to "Dark Elves" (not that you didn't know that, just throwing it out). They are also fantastic jewelry makers and metallurgens.

They were pretty much the inspiration for Drow in OD&D when Gary Gygaxed created them. They're cool.

[darkcacophany]

And, of course, the Duergar are another branch off of the same idea, but I'm sure that was pretty obvious. :)

[darkcacophany]

Oh, yes, and the Ljos Alfir are the Light Elves, who dwell in Ljosalfheim. Ljosalfheim was a place of extreme light, radiance, beauty, but also enchantment, illusion, and mystery - "all that shines is not gold."