how can you recognize a shadow elf?
Shadow elves are easily recognizable by their purple skin, down turned are side ways painted ears, glowing horns, long tail, black hair with glowing ends, eyes with cat like pupils (the other 2 are old models), and occasional black markings
are there different variants?
commonly shadow elves have a more cyan color to their hair but can also be found in cooler blues or vibrant purples. due to their nature of enjoying the night time their hair will never be found in any warm colors so if you see one with red, orange, yellow, or green colored hair they are not shadow elves
as for eye color's shadow elves come in many colors though, purple, cyan/blue, and red are the most common
can shadow elves be albino, have vitiligo, or heterocromya.
no. there is no such thing as an albino shadow elf because that would basically be a normal elf and due to this vitiligo is also not possible. as for heterocromya yes they can have heterocromya.
what elementals do shadow elves fall under
shadow elves usually fall under the element of Knowledge surprisingly. shadow elves although able to use blue flame like magic that flame is not fire but something called soul fire, it is not caused by a spark or heat source and it doesn't burn people but more burns their mana/spiritual energy. due to this shadow elves are more connected to the all mother and have been given the gift of high intelligence and knowledge for their skill in being able to wield such unstable and high level magic so naturally.
why do they have different sized and shaped horns?
the horns of a shadow elf are dependent on their strength or blood line.
the royal family which is currently run by the prince, prince mari all have 2 sets of horns that can occasionally resemble deer antlers
for the average shadow elf a curved horns, or longer/larger horns mean they have stronger magic while smaller and shorter horns either mean their weaker or aren't of age.
are dark elves and shadow elves the same?
No they are not, dark elves have the average natural skin colors you would find in humans and occasionally unnatural skin colors, but shadow elves are more reserved and don't use dark magic like dark elves. shadow elves also have a long history or being anti war/violent people and would rather resolve a conflict with words before blood is shed