Also called the Dark-Elves. The Moriquendi were Elves which never saw the light of the Two Trees of Valinor, and therefore never came to Valinor, Eldamar or Tol Eressëa. These elves faced hardship and darkness for long years in Middle-earth at the mercy of Morgoth.

They include both the Avari, who never answered the summons of the Valar, as well as the Nandor and Laiquendi - remnants of the Teleri who started on the journey but turned aside for various reasons.

King Thingol (Elwë) is not considered a Moriquendi, because he traveled as an emissary to Aman and there beheld the light of the trees.

The Moriquendi were less powerful and fair than the High-Elves, save those that emerged from the line of Melian in Doriath, and often have stronger negative characteristics than those of the High-Elves.

From the Dark-Elves came the roots of the language of Sindarin spoken during the Third Age. Also from them came the early settlement of Mirkwood.
Encyclopedia entry originally written by Nanelleth