Fennic Remnants
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The Fennic Remnants, also known simply as Fenn, is an absolute hereditary monarchical princedom made up of Mali'Fenn and home of the faith Isvinity. Located in the Northern reaches of Almaris. Fenn is the ancestral home to the ancient Tundrak Bloodline and a multitude of other ancient bloodlines and families. The current capital of the Fennic Remnants is the city of Ikur'fiyem, established after the migration away from Arcas.
In 27 SA Prince Vytrek Tundrak gathered the remaining Mali'Fenn bloodlines for the Third Fennic Bloodlines Summit. There the Archon of each bloodline swore allegiance to Vytrek Tundrak and the Mali'Fenn once again unified under their Tundrak Prince in the newly formed Fennic Remnants.
History
Cataclysmic Era
The Cataclysmic Era, immediately following the Ancient Era, was defined by disaster, loss, and isolation. Four of the six catastrophes of Snow Elven history occurred during this era, spawning cycles of redemption, isolation, and tragedy. However, it is through the fires of this tumultuous era that Snow Elven strength was forged.
The Cataclysmic Era began with the end of their war against Ondnarch and restoration of their sanity. Having fought Ondnarch and freed Wyrvun, Aelthos II sought refuge for his wayward Snow Elves by bending the knee to the Grand King of the Dwarves, founding and settling Frostfall in Urguan. Their newfound peace was not to last. From the north, the Drakaar Setherien’s armies struck with a fury, besieging and sacking Frostfall in the Second Cataclysm despite a coalition of defenders from across the realm. Forced from their homes, Aelthos II led a raiding party to seek vengeance against Setherien. Beyond the frigid northern wall of Anthos, the Mali’fenn were in their natural element, penetrating Setherien’s defences and encountering the unsuspecting Drakaar in his layer. The first mortals to directly encounter Setherien, they gave him battle, cutting down several of his harbingers in the process. Despite Aelthos II throwing a javelin into Setherien’s face, the Snow Elves were no match, and the few survivors withdrew. Upon Setherien’s eventual defeat by the allied forces of the realm, the Snow Elves followed the other descendants to the Fringe.
It was in the Fringe that the Snow Elves met unparalleled death and destruction. Founding the settlement of Lindale, they were granted independence from the Grand Kingdom of Urguan. Seizing upon an opportunity to unite mankind under a new dynasty, forces of the Holy Orenian Empire faked an attack upon their countrymen, laying the blame squarely at the Snow Elves’ feet. Abandoned by their Dwarven allies, the Snow Elves were besieged and sacked at Lindale by the Empire and its Orcish and Haelun’orian allies in what became known as the Third Cataclysm. The siege plunged the Fringe into a series of wars involving every nation within the realm, with the remaining Snow Elves taking sides - eventually, even descending into civil war. Aelthos II was killed in the fighting. Brought to total ruin, the Snow Elves lost all cohesion, and were scattered to the wind as refugees - their Princedom no more. Throughout the realms of Thales and Athera, the Snow Elves were actively hunted. The Haelun’orians in particular sought to wipe the Mali’fenn people from existence on account of their notions of purity, and the powers of the age agreed to aid them in their endeavor. For decades, the Snow Elves clawed at survival, knowing only death and poverty in their isolated hideouts.
It would not be until the realm of Vailor that Aelthir I, son of Aelthos II, reached maturity. Regathering the Snow Elves, he reforged the Princedom of Fenn, settling the city of Tar’sil. Peace and isolation reigned, until once more, the realm plunged into warfare. Orcish raids prompted Aelthir I to declare war upon the War Uzg. At the First Siege of Tar’sil, the Snow Elven defenders routed a besieging Orcish army, earning them their first respite in centuries. This was not to last, however. The Holy Orenian Empire, along with Haelun’or, the Wood Elves, and other assorted allies, joined ranks with the Orcs to once more attack the Snow Elven Princedom. Joined by the Grand Kingdom of Urguan, the Snow Elves fought bitterly at the Second Siege of Tar’sil, but were defeated in what would become known as the Fourth Cataclysm. As in previous cases, the city was sacked, while men, women, and children alike were put to the sword. Decimated once more, the Snow Elven survivors fled north to continue the fight alongside their Dwarven comrades. Aelthir I died in the subsequent Siege of Rhewengrad. With his heir only a child, Aelthir I left the throne vacant. Leaderless, the Mali’fenn once more separated, with many taking up residence among their Dwarven allies.
Upon the descendants’ arrival at the realm of Axios, Aelthir II was finally old enough to assume the mantle of his people’s leader. Not yet of age, he established a fort named Nim’lindel and began the process of gathering his kin. His efforts were swiftly interrupted, however. Capitalizing upon a border dispute, the Wood Elven Dominion of Malin declared war upon the nascent Snow Elven gathering, bringing the full force of the Empire of Man and Haelun’or to bear along with it. Alone and heavily outnumbered, the Snow Elves met their attackers in the field, but were driven back within the fort. The Siege of Fort Nim’lindel would prove to be the Fifth Cataclysm, driving the nascently reforming Snow Elves to the Grand Kingdom of Urguan for protection. For harboring the Snow Elves, the Grand Kingdom was attacked by the Empire of Man and their Elven allies, leading to the Axiosan Coalition War. The Snow Elves fought alongside the Grand Kingdom of Urguan, Orcs, Warhawkes, the Grand Duchy of Lorraine, and the ascendant Kingdom of Courland against the Empire of Man, Dominion of Malin, and Haelun’or. After a bloody war, the Snow Elves and the rest of the Axiosan Coalition would emerge victorious, destroying the Empire of Man and isolating the Dominion of Malin, with Snow Elven Ivae’fenn led by Aelthir II personally overthrowing the Haelun’orian sovereign. Despite the losses assumed throughout the war, the Snow Elves returned home victorious. Upon Aelthir II’s coming of age, he would officially reforge the Princedom of Fenn and settle the city of Velaris, and was crowned as the fourth Grand Prince of Fenn. Thus began a new era in Snow Elven history.
Hegemonic Era
With the reformation of the Princedom in Axios, the Snow Elves entered a new era of peace, prosperity, and power. Drawing on their tumultuous history, the Snow Elven Ivae’fenn gained a reputation for martial prowess, and it was during this era that the Snow Elves were regarded as the foremost Elven military power and de facto hegemon.
The declines of the Dominion of Malin and Haelun’or positioned the Princedom of Fenn to assume the mantle of Elvendom. At the tail of the Axiosan Coalition War, debate raged among the Elves of their future. Talk of an Elven Empire led by the Snow Elves was commonplace, and for a time, the High Elves of Haelun’or and Dark Elves of the Warhawkes consented to such a possibility. However, with the most populous Elven state, the Wood Elven Dominion of Malin holding out, the idea was put to rest. For a time, the Snow Elves enjoyed alliances with the foremost powers of the realm, including the Kingdom of Courland and Grand Kingdom of Urguan. After being dragged into a decade of warfare to solidify these states’ power, however, the Princedom allowed its treaties of alliance to expire. Aside from periodic skirmishing with the Dominion of Malin, the Snow Elves began a slow retreat into isolation - albeit, a prosperous one.
With the descendants transitioning to the realm of Atlas, the Snow Elves founded the city of Talar’ikur, far to the south. Whilst the beginning of this realm saw further skirmishes with the Dominion of Malin, the Snow Elves of Fenn gradually became isolated; their homeland’s distance from the other descendants only cemented this trend. Regardless, Fenn prospered, and more Snow Elves regathered than at any point since the Ancient Era. In the final days of Atlas, the Snow Elves were forced from their isolation. Raiding parties from the reforged Empire of Man struck far to the south. Each time the elite Dragonknights attacked Talar’ikur, they were cut down by the Ivae’fenn - the Snow Elves reinforcing their martial reputation, and deterring aggression for a time.
The dawn of Arcas would prove to be far more consequential for the Snow Elves. Settling in the city of Tahu’lareh, the peace of the previous realm was shattered by war. Threatened by an expansive Haelun’or backed by the Orenian Empire, the other Elven states - the Wood Elven Principality of Alderyn, Elven Principality of Aegrothond, and Dark Elven Principality of Vira’ker - turned to the Princedom of Fenn for aid. Together, these nations formed the Elven Union. Led by the Ivae’fenn, the Elven Union defeated the Imperials and Haelun’orians in a series of minor skirmishes across the realm, before the Orenian Empire erupted into civil war. In the War of Two Emperors, the nations of the realm took sides, including the Snow Elves. Despite initial martial success, the Snow Elven-backed Emperor and his vassals were defeated upon the field. On account of the victors’ unwillingness to suffer what they predicted as tremendous losses upon a siege of Fenn, Aelthir II managed to secure a white peace. Thereafter, exhausted from his long reign over the Snow Elves and scarred by two major wars, Aelthir II passed on to Fin'ciwn, perishing. His son, Aelthos III, was subsequently crowned as Grand Prince. In their defeat, the Snow Elves once more withdrew from the realm at large, beginning the Declinate Era of Snow Elven history.
Declinate Era
Throughout the Declinate Era, the Snow Elves experienced gradual decline, losing their hegemonic status over the Elves.
Under Aelthos III, the Princedom of Fenn’s power within the realm began a steady decline due to external political circumstances and losses incurred from the War of Two Emperors. His reign was marked by the successful defeat of the Principality of Llyria for aggressions against Fenn. Outside of the Princedom, the Orenian Empire consolidated its rule of the realm, with the Haelun’orians at their side. Without allies, the Princedom had no choice but isolation, with the mantle of Elvendom ultimately passing to Haelun’or. Aelthos III’s abdication paved the way for the two short reigns of Aldred I and Akkar I. Aldred I was thought to be insane, though he managed to successfully navigate the Princedom through another war with the Orenian Empire and Haelun’or, emerging unscathed. His abdication led to the rule of Akkar I, focused upon the rising tide of domestic issues. Finally, towards the end of the realm of Arcas, the Inferi invasion struck and shattered the mountain city of the Snow Elves; the event became known as the Sixth Cataclysm. Their population decimated and Princedom reduced to ruins, Akkar I abdicated, and the Snow Elven survivors abandoned their former nation to eke out an existence as refugees.
Going into the realm of Almaris, the Snow Elves remained scattered, stateless, and leaderless, their Princedom dissolved. Whilst some lived isolated in the wilds, others took up residence with the other Elven states.
Culture & Society
Fennic society is distrustful of outsiders, though they do offer hospitality to others. The concept of ethnic unity is important to the Mali'Fenn as they see race-mixing as an act of cruelty as the parents impart both curses onto their child. The Mali'Fenn have separated into many bloodlines which are all loyal to the Prince of Fenn who is of the Tundrak Bloodline. The
Norlandic society is normally tolerant of most races but the Norlandic people are often very close in regards to their ethnic unity diverging into many Clans, which has helped them survive hundreds of years in the harshest conditions the world has to offer. On top of that, Norlandic society contains a large warrior caste, with many of the populace enlisting in the Northguard or various other military entities. There is a common belief in Norlandic society that if you die, it should be with a weapon in your hand.
A common misconception of Norland is that they worship the Ashwood Tree. While the tree is very significant to Norland, it is not for religious reasons. The Ashwood Tree in fact serves as a symbol of Norland and is featured on the heraldry of the Rurikkid Clans. The tree is also highly regarded in Norland for its sap's alcoholic properties.
Religion
Named for a vernacular label for Fin’ciwn, Isvinity is the religion of the Mali'Fenn - though none of its tenets are limited to ethnic Snow Elves, and many who dwell within Fin’hesin - the lands of eternal winter upon the mortal realm - abide by the faith as well. Despite serving as the religion of the Mali'Fenn, it is not limited to them, for Wyrvun holds domain over all of Fin’hesin and its settled peoples. Thus, some seek conversions among the other settlers of this region, along with devotees of the winter season from across the realm-at-large.
Language
Ancient Elven is the language the Elves developed during the second generation of Malin's children. The Mali'Fenn follow their kin by speaking Ancient Elven and teaching their youths the language so as to carry the tongue on for the future generations.
Festivals
The four festivals central to the Snow Elves are the Equinox of Birth, Solstice of Peace, Equinox of War, and Solstice of Death. They are held, respectively, on the Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice, Fall Equinox, and Winter Solstice. Each of these holidays embodies the aspects of a wayshrine, and thus has religious undertones. Secondary festivals, held periodically, include Antecedents Day and Reunification Day.
Equinox of Birth
The Equinox of Birth is held on the Spring Equinox, at the height of that season. During Spring, life returns to the land, and much is born anew. During this festival, Snow Elves welcome back the sun and usher in a new cycle. Spouses seek fertility, and the unwed seek partners. The main feature of this festival is a dance, providing the unmatched an opportunity to enter relationships. There, the Snow Elves consume drinks laced with bitter herbs, meant to wake the body after the hardships of winter. Further, during this festival, Snow Elves clean their settlements and houses, whilst people in costume roam the streets and put on skits, songs, and pranks; a fun pastime is to guess who is who.
Solstice of Peace
The Solstice of Peace is held on the Summer Solstice, at the height of summer. It is a festival of revelry; a rare day when Snow Elves may content themselves with comfort and enjoyment. Drinking is the central feature of this celebration, often done before hearths and in taverns. At night, bonfires are lit, around which the ‘fenn engage in storytelling, singing, jumping over the fire, and fire dancing. Fires are lit in shapes along the mountains, both as a form of celebration and to serve as controlled burns - staving off wildfires.
Equinox of War
The Equinox of War is held on the Fall Equinox, at that season’s height. It is a festival of martial prowess that occurs before the deep freeze of winter. It is a time of hunts, offerings, and sharing. The central features of this festival are a melee tournament and a hunt - an opportunity for ambitious warriors to prove themselves. The melee’s victory is given the title of Wyrvun’s Champion. For the hunt, the Snow Elves will fan out across the land, tracking and killing most that fall in their path. To bring home many pelts is a matter of prestige. Often, the one to bring home the most is heralded as Ihnsil’fenn - the Spear of the Snow Elves. Once the hunt is completed, all return home. Together, they will prepare the animals and hold a feast; their gathered food, it is hoped, will last them through much of the winter. For the Snow Elves, this is a time to share with neighbors, remember times of hardship throughout their long history of warfare, and count their blessings.
Solstice of Death
The Solstice of Death is held on the Winter Solstice, at the height of winter. It is a solemn festival of mourning, and so it is only appropriate that it is held upon the darkest of days, yet at the height of Wyrvun’s power on Fin’cuith. On this day, the worlds of Fin’ciwn and Fin’cuith are at their closest. For Snow Elves, it is an opportunity to reflect on their lost - ancestors, relatives, friends, and comrades. The Cataclysms in particular are remembered, for they were a trauma upon the collective Mali’fenn psyche. Tombs are visited and cleaned, and offerings are made at the Wayshrine of Death. Throughout the day, talking is not permitted in the settlement except in emergencies, and so all is held quiet. This silence is only broken by the commencement of a communal feast, whereupon Snow Elves eulogize and memorialize their dead.
Antecedents Day
Antecedents Day is a periodic festival held in celebration of the bloodlines. It is a time for families to show reverence for their lineage and hold pride in their bloodlines, demonstrated by the prominent wearing and display of their bloodline’s colors. During this time, they leave offerings for their ancestors, as well as clean their tombs. Flying kites and colored lanterns are flown, both to represent the polar lights of souls traveling to Fin’ciwn, and as another opportunity to display bloodline colors. The prominent feature of this festival is the Bloodline Games - a series of diverse competitions whereby the bloodlines strive to be crowned victorious over each other.
Reunification Day
Reunification Day is a periodic festival held in honor of the prince and Ivae’fenn, celebrating the many reunifications of the Snow Elven people under the former’s guidance and the latter’s protection. Its most prominent features are speeches, drinking, and storytelling - particularly as relates to battles. Martial displays are also frequent. It is a time of national pride in celebration of the Snow Elven people and their persistent determination to carve out a home for Wyrvun’s Chosen.
Art
The Mali‘Fenn has many artifacts that serve both utilitarian and symbolic functions, and their intricate ornamental patterns can be difficult to decipher. Highly stylized patterns swirl around and into one another, making it impossible to trace a single shape through one end to the other - if there are endpoints at all. The imagery was developed to convey concepts about social relationships, religious beliefs, and to recall a legendary tale. The materials most commonly used for the Mali'Fenn were those that could be carved or engraved: wood, stone, metal, textile, leather, or fabric. For example, in the form of colorful wall tapestries embellished with pictorial scenes, were also often utilized. Carvings of Wyrvun or deific animals that narrate some form of a tale are widespread. Another feature is ornamented swords, shields, and armor with symbolic motifs.
Government
Within Fennic governance, the Prince holds absolute authority. In practice, however, this absolutism is tempered. To rule a people by oneself is an impossible task, and so the Prince surrounds themself with a council. The Remnant Council's duties and roles are delegated from the Prince. In return, they are given a say in the processes of governance. While the Prince may overrule them, it is often an unwise course to pursue. These positions, appointed on the basis of merit, are hotly contested by the bloodlines - who seek an opportunity to influence Fennic policy. Common posts include Chancellor, Commander of the Ivae’fenn, High Vigilant, High Steward, and High Exchequer. These roles are often padded by the addition of advisors, present upon the council primarily on account of wisdom and experience. This process ensures important issues and functions most relevant to the major aspects of Fennic daily life and culture are not neglected or forgotten, lifting from the Prince the risk of making his decisions with unclear depictions of the state of the people these decisions may affect most.
Military
The Ivae’fenn is the Snow Elven military. From Anthos to Almaris, it has a lengthy, centuries-long history of fighting in some of the descendant realm’s bloodiest wars and battles. Across the years, it has garnered a fearsome reputation, particularly among the Elves. Service in the Ivae’fenn is more widespread than among any other standing army. Many Snow Elves will actively serve for their entire lives, while others will engage in active service for a time, only to enter into periods as a reservist. Nonetheless, the Ivae’fenn enjoys the participation of a significant proportion of the adult population, male and female. As a result, conscription is a rare policy, reserved only for the utmost emergencies.
Succession
The Royal succession is based upon the same principles as that of Archon; the eldest child of the Prince inherits the crown, regardless of gender, unless the Prince first designates another of their children as the Prince-Heir.
Notable Bloodlines, Families, & Clans of the Fennic Remnants
Tundrak Bloodline
Stolt'aroloth Bloodline
Atmorice Bloodline
Ithrandos Bloodline
Sylric Bloodline
Drakon Bloodline
Tathvir Bloodline
Geography
The geography of the Fennic Remnants consists of varying terrain ranging from rolling hills, thick forests, and most notably large mountains overseeing deep valleys. It is upon these large mountains that the Mali'Fenn place their cities and fortresses. The Mali'Fenn gather their food primarily from hunting in these thick forests and valleys; further if available the Mali'Fenn do ice-fish on the frozen lakes and in the freezing oceans.
