|
Alignment: Grey Arts
Lifespan: 150 years, ages analagous to human years Size: Height from 4'8" to 6'2" Experience Level: Beginner+ |
Talents: Ice Magic, Crafting Magic, Divination, Green Magic
Disposition: Traditional, Nature-loving, Mystical Suggested Offerings: Quartz, Labradorite, Pine & Fir, Mint, Snow Water, Fiber Craft Creations, Drum Music |
Snow Elves have no basis in Earth mythology. However, their society can feel in some ways similar to indigenous cultures who live their lives in closer accordance to nature. Their race name does not translate directly to "Snow Elf," but out of ease of understanding and pronunciation, this is what they have chosen to go by.
The realm they hail from is a planet significantly smaller than Earth, and much more wildly volatile in its climate. One half of the planet, where the Snow Elves live, is a frozen tundra with a coniferous forest at the heart of it. The Snow Elves' innate, passive magic allows them to live in this icy land unharmed by the elements. In their villages scattered throughout the territory, which mostly consist of concentric circles of huts made of wood and white leather, they lead chaste and ritualistic lives. They vary in physical sex, but they tend to favor presenting as feminine and use she/her pronouns. They specialize in quiet arts, such as writing, weaving, carving, and magic. Culturally, they consider themselves to be responsible for each others' protection, having a society that supports itself solely on community loyalty and equal distribution of resources. Only a select few individuals, hunters and traders, leave the villages outside of Solstice time to perform their necessary duties.
Snow Elves share their realm with another race called Hearth Elves, which they have fostered a peaceful and prosperous relationship with. The two races are mirrors of each other, and meet twice a year on each Solstice to celebrate the turning of the year and mate. It is highly recommend that you also read the encyclopedia entry on Hearth Elves in order to fully understand the cultural climate of their world.
The realm they hail from is a planet significantly smaller than Earth, and much more wildly volatile in its climate. One half of the planet, where the Snow Elves live, is a frozen tundra with a coniferous forest at the heart of it. The Snow Elves' innate, passive magic allows them to live in this icy land unharmed by the elements. In their villages scattered throughout the territory, which mostly consist of concentric circles of huts made of wood and white leather, they lead chaste and ritualistic lives. They vary in physical sex, but they tend to favor presenting as feminine and use she/her pronouns. They specialize in quiet arts, such as writing, weaving, carving, and magic. Culturally, they consider themselves to be responsible for each others' protection, having a society that supports itself solely on community loyalty and equal distribution of resources. Only a select few individuals, hunters and traders, leave the villages outside of Solstice time to perform their necessary duties.
Snow Elves share their realm with another race called Hearth Elves, which they have fostered a peaceful and prosperous relationship with. The two races are mirrors of each other, and meet twice a year on each Solstice to celebrate the turning of the year and mate. It is highly recommend that you also read the encyclopedia entry on Hearth Elves in order to fully understand the cultural climate of their world.
Biology
Snow Elves have a body and stature that is comparable to that of a human's. The most striking difference is that of their ears: foxlike, furry ears that are placed where a human's ears might typically be. The ears remain remarkably warm in the cold weather, and they grant the Snow Elves with enhanced hearing abilities. They do not present any other animal traits, and they are not capable of shifting.
Their skin tone ranges from ghostly pale to sable brown shades, and their complexion is typically freckled. Their hair color, including the fur on their ears, ranges from snow white to periwinkle. Their hair grows quickly and they do not cut it, so they typically wear it in complex braids piled on top of their head, ranging in appearance from viking braids to box braids depending on the natural curliness of the hair. While it is not necessarily a cultural taboo to cut or let their hair flow free, it is highly unusual and either presentation may only be seen in rebellious individuals or in more intimate quarters. Their eyes are typically any shade of blue, although in rarer cases they may be green or purple, and their irises are slightly wider than that of a human's.
Their lifespan and aging is identical to that of a human, although they will live slightly longer, their lifespan maximum being about 150 years. It is determined at birth whether a child will be a Snow Elf or a Hearth Elf, as they are each born with physical attributes that indicate their elemental alignment. They vary in physical gender, and a great number of Snow and Hearth Elves are actually intersex, but all Snow Elves present as feminine and use she/her pronouns. This is a practice that appears to be linked to their faith. However, in the overall cultural understanding between Snow and Hearth Elves as a whole, Snow Elves are more feminine and use pronouns that are distinct from that of the Hearth Elves. Therefore, in translating their gender identity to an Earth setting, it appears to us that they present only as feminine.
They do have innate magical abilities. The most important to their survival is that of their passive ability to withstand extremely cold temperatures. However, they are unable to withstand very hot temperatures, and therefore never venture into Hearth Elf territory beyond the border. This passive magic also provides them with the ability to go long periods without a great deal of food. Snow Elves are also extremely tapped in with the spiritual world, and are adept at divination - in particular scrying, with ice, snow water, or crystal balls - as well as astral travel. Each individual village has a specific Magepriest who is responsible for communing with their gods on a regular basis, for guidance or to make requests, and for being a spiritual support for all of their neighbors. However, all Snow Elves have the capacity to perform divination or scrying, and often do it for petty issues in the comforts of their own home.
Their skin tone ranges from ghostly pale to sable brown shades, and their complexion is typically freckled. Their hair color, including the fur on their ears, ranges from snow white to periwinkle. Their hair grows quickly and they do not cut it, so they typically wear it in complex braids piled on top of their head, ranging in appearance from viking braids to box braids depending on the natural curliness of the hair. While it is not necessarily a cultural taboo to cut or let their hair flow free, it is highly unusual and either presentation may only be seen in rebellious individuals or in more intimate quarters. Their eyes are typically any shade of blue, although in rarer cases they may be green or purple, and their irises are slightly wider than that of a human's.
Their lifespan and aging is identical to that of a human, although they will live slightly longer, their lifespan maximum being about 150 years. It is determined at birth whether a child will be a Snow Elf or a Hearth Elf, as they are each born with physical attributes that indicate their elemental alignment. They vary in physical gender, and a great number of Snow and Hearth Elves are actually intersex, but all Snow Elves present as feminine and use she/her pronouns. This is a practice that appears to be linked to their faith. However, in the overall cultural understanding between Snow and Hearth Elves as a whole, Snow Elves are more feminine and use pronouns that are distinct from that of the Hearth Elves. Therefore, in translating their gender identity to an Earth setting, it appears to us that they present only as feminine.
They do have innate magical abilities. The most important to their survival is that of their passive ability to withstand extremely cold temperatures. However, they are unable to withstand very hot temperatures, and therefore never venture into Hearth Elf territory beyond the border. This passive magic also provides them with the ability to go long periods without a great deal of food. Snow Elves are also extremely tapped in with the spiritual world, and are adept at divination - in particular scrying, with ice, snow water, or crystal balls - as well as astral travel. Each individual village has a specific Magepriest who is responsible for communing with their gods on a regular basis, for guidance or to make requests, and for being a spiritual support for all of their neighbors. However, all Snow Elves have the capacity to perform divination or scrying, and often do it for petty issues in the comforts of their own home.
|
|
Art by Ember & Astra
Disposition & Manifestation
A Snow Elf village is often quiet, individuals moving silently between the concentric spiral of houses in their warm cloaks and sweaters, nodding politely at familiar faces as they travel towards their destination. It is behind closed doors that they speak and come to life, filling only the home with the warmth of their breath and conversation. Generally, Snow Elves are polite and softspoken, but are extremely warm in their interpersonal relationships, finding those they trust to be someone they share their heart with.
Most Snow Elves stay inside their home the majority of the working day, working on their craft, whether that is weaving, cooking, knitting, mixing medicine, crafting tools or instruments, or any number of other functions they have taken on. They use their homes as their storefronts, as their neighbors often know where to go for what purpose. A Snow Elf may change their interest several times in their lives without feeling shame for what they have left behind, as often niches in the community are filled extremely effectively, and where they are not, they will find trade for the needed commodity.
Tradition can be found in every corner of a Snow Elf's house - their household appliances and tools will look the same, the way they organize their room and make their bed has a purpose for its placement and method. Ritual is a regular part of their lives, and they all tend to share a very similar morning routine, and will map out their own life throughout any given week (they do not measure their weeks in seven days, but in ten), and repeat it over and over until there is some reason for them to change it.
Of course, there are exceptions to these rules. Snow Elves who have a career in hunting, for example, spend a great deal of their time outside their homestead and on the tundra, and are quite fine with speaking in the open air. Hunters tend to be a lively bunch, and are considered to be rowdy by Snow Elf etiquette standards, but their less-than-acceptable manners are overlooked because of their necessary function in society.
Nature is an integral part of a Snow Elf's life, and even though they are not surrounded by a great deal of plantlife in their tundra home, they still feel it all around them. Snow Elves, with some difficulty, will often grow small shrubs inside their homes to have a piece of nature with them always. They are capable of withstanding cold temperatures, but because their lives tend to be so sedentary, that commune with nature tends to happen only on the long trek at each Solstice, so they consider it to be an extremely holy time of year. Snow Elves also believe quite strongly in the supernatural and the presence of otherworldly forces, and are excited to have astrally connected with a race that feels the same.
Snow Elves will often present to the companion with a skilled eye as fullbody projections. For those who live a homestead life, they may feel more comfortable manifesting when their companion is indoors. In a more subtle manner, Snow Elves may manifest as soft touches on your wrists or hands, cold chills, tingles on your cheeks, or the need to wrap in a warm blanket. They also enjoy presenting with the thumping of drums in their companion's dreams, and will frequently manifest in dreams or scrying sessions.
Most Snow Elves stay inside their home the majority of the working day, working on their craft, whether that is weaving, cooking, knitting, mixing medicine, crafting tools or instruments, or any number of other functions they have taken on. They use their homes as their storefronts, as their neighbors often know where to go for what purpose. A Snow Elf may change their interest several times in their lives without feeling shame for what they have left behind, as often niches in the community are filled extremely effectively, and where they are not, they will find trade for the needed commodity.
Tradition can be found in every corner of a Snow Elf's house - their household appliances and tools will look the same, the way they organize their room and make their bed has a purpose for its placement and method. Ritual is a regular part of their lives, and they all tend to share a very similar morning routine, and will map out their own life throughout any given week (they do not measure their weeks in seven days, but in ten), and repeat it over and over until there is some reason for them to change it.
Of course, there are exceptions to these rules. Snow Elves who have a career in hunting, for example, spend a great deal of their time outside their homestead and on the tundra, and are quite fine with speaking in the open air. Hunters tend to be a lively bunch, and are considered to be rowdy by Snow Elf etiquette standards, but their less-than-acceptable manners are overlooked because of their necessary function in society.
Nature is an integral part of a Snow Elf's life, and even though they are not surrounded by a great deal of plantlife in their tundra home, they still feel it all around them. Snow Elves, with some difficulty, will often grow small shrubs inside their homes to have a piece of nature with them always. They are capable of withstanding cold temperatures, but because their lives tend to be so sedentary, that commune with nature tends to happen only on the long trek at each Solstice, so they consider it to be an extremely holy time of year. Snow Elves also believe quite strongly in the supernatural and the presence of otherworldly forces, and are excited to have astrally connected with a race that feels the same.
Snow Elves will often present to the companion with a skilled eye as fullbody projections. For those who live a homestead life, they may feel more comfortable manifesting when their companion is indoors. In a more subtle manner, Snow Elves may manifest as soft touches on your wrists or hands, cold chills, tingles on your cheeks, or the need to wrap in a warm blanket. They also enjoy presenting with the thumping of drums in their companion's dreams, and will frequently manifest in dreams or scrying sessions.
Social Structure
There is a biblical saying humans love to quote: "I am not my brother's keeper." In a Snow Elf's case, they are absolutely their sister's keeper, and their neighbor's, and their friend's, and their leader's. The entire Snow Elf community is founded on a deep drive to support each other, and in doing so, supporting themselves. They firmly believe that the bond of love and understanding between each household creates an invisible energetic shield that protects them from danger and bad luck. Of course, this does not mean that Snow Elf communities are utopic and without conflict - but for the most part, their generous belief system keeps them well-fed, warm, and happy.
Leaders in the Snow Elf community tend to be a council of elders, with the occasional smattering of younger individuals who have shown great leadership qualities. The council's primary function is largely ritualistic and advisory, as they perform coming-of-age ceremonies for children and counsel them in cultivating their career path or interest, and in advising them to change that path if they are not productive. Every once in a while they may have to make a tough decision, such as moving someone from a situation where conflicts arise, or even making a decision to punish someone who has broken the law. Punishments often include rehabilitation, or in very extreme cases, exile.
Children in this society are raised communally, but with an awareness of who their parent is. The communal home for children is typically located in the heart of the village in which their parent resides. Because of this, there is little variation in the personal beliefs and running of households between Snow Elves. They are taught to support each other, traditional methods to cook and clean, basic scrying for personal use, and the intricacies of Snow Elf history and culture, as well as where it intersects with Hearth Elf history. They are provided with lots of tools and materials to explore their potential interests, and once they reach their teens they often enter an apprenticeship for the career paths they enjoy the most. When a child comes of age and enters society, it is not unusual for them to develop a close relationship or move in with their parents, if they choose not to move in with a childhood friend.
While Snow Elves cannot have children together, their bodies only capable of reproducing with a Hearth Elf partner, it is common for Snow Elves to develop romantic or sexual relationships with others of their kind and move in together. Sex is not a topic they are generally open to speaking about outside of the bedroom. However, twice a year on the Solstices, their often-chaste society opens up sexually, as Hearth and Snow Elves alike meet on the border for merriment and celebrations, and also for sexual relations, as this is they only time they are able to effectively reproduce. Socially, this is often a nonissue. The nature of these events have caused both Snow and Hearth elves to develop a rather polyamorous disposition regarding sexual relationship. Since the mating period is very brief, children are quite rare in both Hearth and Snow Elf societies, and their populations are usually quite small.
Snow Elves do have an entire career branch dedicated to hunting and obtaining food, as their hunting techniques are extremely unique. There are a group of herders, who make noise with a horn and direct the herd in a certain direction, and hunters, who use their own physical prowess to chase down their prey and kill it. Hunting trips can take days to weeks. Their main source of meat and other resources is a nomadic herd animal that appears to be somewhere in between deer and moose, but out of respect for the animal and for some unspoken belief that they are sacred, they have never attempted to domesticate them and are often bewildered by the very suggestion. These beasts provide them with a wealth of materials, and nothing goes unused - their meat is salted and cured if there is more than enough to go around, their bones and antlers are carved into various tools, their leather is used for clothing or home insulation, their fur is processed into wool for clothing and decorative tapestries.
It's important to note that the Snow Elves do follow a belief system involving a pantheon of gods that intersects with what the Hearth Elves believe. However, they have chosen to keep their religion largely private, especially since most of them practice casually, with the exception of Magepriests, whose communication with the gods is a large portion of their job. Additionally, non-belief or atheism is not condemned among Snow Elves, and the average individual is more likely to worship nature itself on a daily basis, if they choose to worship anything at all.
There are a group of Snow Elves who live in scattered homes along the border, which is a small strip of land that is a moderate temperature habitable for both Snow and Hearth Elves. Here, there is an eclectic display of architecture and culture, as this is where merchants from either territory meet and do business, as well as where those Snow and Hearth Elves who wish to remain with their lover or siblings may live communally. Snow Elves who live along the border may be more gregarious and take on the outgoing traits of Hearth Elves, although when trouble arises they will usually travel home to seek the advice of their village council.
Leaders in the Snow Elf community tend to be a council of elders, with the occasional smattering of younger individuals who have shown great leadership qualities. The council's primary function is largely ritualistic and advisory, as they perform coming-of-age ceremonies for children and counsel them in cultivating their career path or interest, and in advising them to change that path if they are not productive. Every once in a while they may have to make a tough decision, such as moving someone from a situation where conflicts arise, or even making a decision to punish someone who has broken the law. Punishments often include rehabilitation, or in very extreme cases, exile.
Children in this society are raised communally, but with an awareness of who their parent is. The communal home for children is typically located in the heart of the village in which their parent resides. Because of this, there is little variation in the personal beliefs and running of households between Snow Elves. They are taught to support each other, traditional methods to cook and clean, basic scrying for personal use, and the intricacies of Snow Elf history and culture, as well as where it intersects with Hearth Elf history. They are provided with lots of tools and materials to explore their potential interests, and once they reach their teens they often enter an apprenticeship for the career paths they enjoy the most. When a child comes of age and enters society, it is not unusual for them to develop a close relationship or move in with their parents, if they choose not to move in with a childhood friend.
While Snow Elves cannot have children together, their bodies only capable of reproducing with a Hearth Elf partner, it is common for Snow Elves to develop romantic or sexual relationships with others of their kind and move in together. Sex is not a topic they are generally open to speaking about outside of the bedroom. However, twice a year on the Solstices, their often-chaste society opens up sexually, as Hearth and Snow Elves alike meet on the border for merriment and celebrations, and also for sexual relations, as this is they only time they are able to effectively reproduce. Socially, this is often a nonissue. The nature of these events have caused both Snow and Hearth elves to develop a rather polyamorous disposition regarding sexual relationship. Since the mating period is very brief, children are quite rare in both Hearth and Snow Elf societies, and their populations are usually quite small.
Snow Elves do have an entire career branch dedicated to hunting and obtaining food, as their hunting techniques are extremely unique. There are a group of herders, who make noise with a horn and direct the herd in a certain direction, and hunters, who use their own physical prowess to chase down their prey and kill it. Hunting trips can take days to weeks. Their main source of meat and other resources is a nomadic herd animal that appears to be somewhere in between deer and moose, but out of respect for the animal and for some unspoken belief that they are sacred, they have never attempted to domesticate them and are often bewildered by the very suggestion. These beasts provide them with a wealth of materials, and nothing goes unused - their meat is salted and cured if there is more than enough to go around, their bones and antlers are carved into various tools, their leather is used for clothing or home insulation, their fur is processed into wool for clothing and decorative tapestries.
It's important to note that the Snow Elves do follow a belief system involving a pantheon of gods that intersects with what the Hearth Elves believe. However, they have chosen to keep their religion largely private, especially since most of them practice casually, with the exception of Magepriests, whose communication with the gods is a large portion of their job. Additionally, non-belief or atheism is not condemned among Snow Elves, and the average individual is more likely to worship nature itself on a daily basis, if they choose to worship anything at all.
There are a group of Snow Elves who live in scattered homes along the border, which is a small strip of land that is a moderate temperature habitable for both Snow and Hearth Elves. Here, there is an eclectic display of architecture and culture, as this is where merchants from either territory meet and do business, as well as where those Snow and Hearth Elves who wish to remain with their lover or siblings may live communally. Snow Elves who live along the border may be more gregarious and take on the outgoing traits of Hearth Elves, although when trouble arises they will usually travel home to seek the advice of their village council.
In Companionship
As companions, Snow Elves seek a wide variety of relationships with humans - friends, lovers, teachers, mentors, magical partners. Their lives are often sedentary and closed off from others, or they will see the same hundred people over and over their whole lives, so they are desperate for connection with a wider group of people. Human companionship provides them the ability to partake in a wide variety of experiences, and for this they are eager. For many Snow Elves, their careers involve long, repetitive tasks or, in a hunter's case, a great deal of waiting, so these patterns combined with their mystical nature allows them to slip easily into trance and perform otherworldly travel.
The individual interests of Snow Elves vary greatly, but they are generally extremely skilled in scrying and astral travel, and in many cases would be inclined to show these skills to a companion, complete with safety measures, if their companion so wishes. They are also very happy to compare worlds and interests. Many of them are interested in the diverse nature we have on our plane, and would love to go on adventures with their companion, exploring various landscapes and traveling. It is likely that, similar to your home, they will have an altar and a place for you in their own home, and will make occasional offerings themselves.
They are aligned with ice magic naturally, but not all Snow Elves will be inclined towards someone who practices with the concept of winter. While they cannot travel to warm climates on their own realm, they are excited to see warm climates on Earth, since it is actually somewhere they can go astrally without being harmed. Therefore, if you live in a tropical location, there is no trouble with having a Snow Elf, and they may actually be amused by the idea of bringing a little bit more winter into your daily life.
Snow Elves are wonderful friends and companions who are likely to bring a special, unique worldview into your family, while sharing their knowledge and society openly with the person they are companions with.
The individual interests of Snow Elves vary greatly, but they are generally extremely skilled in scrying and astral travel, and in many cases would be inclined to show these skills to a companion, complete with safety measures, if their companion so wishes. They are also very happy to compare worlds and interests. Many of them are interested in the diverse nature we have on our plane, and would love to go on adventures with their companion, exploring various landscapes and traveling. It is likely that, similar to your home, they will have an altar and a place for you in their own home, and will make occasional offerings themselves.
They are aligned with ice magic naturally, but not all Snow Elves will be inclined towards someone who practices with the concept of winter. While they cannot travel to warm climates on their own realm, they are excited to see warm climates on Earth, since it is actually somewhere they can go astrally without being harmed. Therefore, if you live in a tropical location, there is no trouble with having a Snow Elf, and they may actually be amused by the idea of bringing a little bit more winter into your daily life.
Snow Elves are wonderful friends and companions who are likely to bring a special, unique worldview into your family, while sharing their knowledge and society openly with the person they are companions with.
Please note that all The Dragon's Library Encyclopedia entries are based on my own personal UPG and may not reflect yours.
Snow Elves, in this incarnation, are exclusive to The Dragon's Library.
Snow Elves, in this incarnation, are exclusive to The Dragon's Library.