Appendix A. Some Notes on the Dhe'nar

The Dhe'nar view the split of the elves into its 7 separate houses to be the downfall of the elves from the very beginning. To them, unity and the practice of Arkati self-enlightenment are the goals to which everyone must stride to achieve. They believe the bickering and quarreling among the elven houses as petty, and refuse to take any part in it or the political games it created. When the Dhe'nar left the elven nation, they left forever, believing the others to have betrayed the Arkati teachings. The Dhe'nar have no emotion or pity for the other elves, nor do they admit they have anything to do with the elven nation.

The legendary Arkati philosopher Noi'sho'rah taught them that the elves are the children of the Arkati, and, as a child strives to become as its parents, the Dhe'nar strive to become as the Arkati. They do not view the Arkati so much as "gods" or "celestial beings," but more as role models for what they themselves can achieve. Being that the Dhe'nar believe they can become as powerful as the Arkati, they do not see them as different or better, only more powerful, thus Dhe'nar bow to no "god." Their religion is not one of worship; instead it is one of self-perfection, not so much as an individual, but as a race in whole; the ultimate goal being to achieve power over all things.

Over 50,000 years of hardship have scarred the Dhe'nar, forging and twisting their ancient beliefs into what they are now. They are an elitist race. Time has taught them that the other races are inferior; nothing more than pawns to be used to their own ends. The Dhe'nar have long been hunters, survivalists, and warriors. 50,000 years of fighting for survival has taken its toll on the Dhe'nar psyche, however. The Dhe'nar at battle are a gruesome sight. They seem to want to torture and punish their prey, savoring the pain they inflict which each kill.

The Dhe'nar do not believe in the concept of "good" and "evil". They believe in survival, they believe in power. They hold true to the philosophy, "to be strong is to survive, to be weak is to perish." However, simple survival is not enough for the Dhe'nar, thus they constantly strive to better themselves in their quest for power. This belief is shared with the great Drakes of ancient times, and has long endured the tests of time.

While history is very important, a Dhe'nar scholar does not waste time brooding over such concepts like good and evil or spend their days asking "why," but rather they ask "how."