Snow Elves

Mali genetically of High Elven descent, those that call themselves Mali'fenn (lit. Ice Elves) are, for a reason that has long eluded both them and those that have attempted to wipe them out, more resistant to cold weather and the ore called thanium. This culture has a long history of bloodshed and tragedy, of massacres and genocide.

The Snow Elves, in the few times they have fought on even ground, have shown proficiency in cavalry but lackluster ability on foot, and while they do not act prideful like High Elves of the main culture, they are cordial but cold to all but those of their near-defunct Princedom.

It is important to note that the Snow Elves are a separate culture, not a unique subrace of Elves.

Physical Attributes

The Mali'fenn look very much like their High Elven counterparts, with dispersed changes - there has never been a Snow Elf with hair color darker than light brown, with the vast majority having a hue somewhere between white and blonde. Eye color is generally light and colorful, ranging from grey/silver and blue, to purple and the occasional green. Snow Elves generally stand somewhere between 5'8" and 5'11" tall, fairly short for Elves. Unlike the wiry builds of their High Elven and Wood Elven counterparts, Snow Elves have had to develop a more muscular body type in order to adapt to the hardships of life in the wintery mountains. Snow Elven ears are also slightly smaller and less pointed than those of their Elven counterparts, an adaptation meant to trim off unnecessary extremities to help prevent them from simply freezing off. A significant change from their Elven kin is that their skin is cooler to the touch, the Snow Elven body generally being significantly less warm than the average being.

Other Attributes

The Snow Elves are bound by mental issues not found within the High Elven population. A large amount of Snow Elves have been known to go insane between the ages of 50, as they reach the culture's age of maturity, and 120. The most famous example is their ruler in Anthos, Sparticus Tundrak. It has oft been found, however, that upon passing the age of 120 the chance of insanity drops quite a large amount.

Aging

Very few Snow Elves make it to the age of natural death found in Elves - the current oldest, due to the massacres of the past, is less than 200 years old, but the oldest recorded was 572 at the time of death by crucifixion.

Culture

The Snow Elves have run themselves strictly on traditions originally used by or derived from the first Princedom of Malinor, wherein the state, always called the Princedom of Fenn, is ruled by a prince, titled Grand Prince, and his council. They are protected by a military called the Ivae'fenn, whose ranks are also derived from the first Princedom of Malinor. The Snow Elves, while in most ways different from High Elves, also take care not to mar their skin. Snow Elves only allow intentional marring for earrings, and even that has been frowned upon. Clothing is generally loose and flowing for females and armor or human-styled clothing for males, nearly all of whom are in the military. While Snow Elves were once a friendly and amicable culture, they have since become cold to outsiders.

Literature

Snow Elven literature is rarely a pastime, and much more often used simply to document history or as a means of propaganda among the culture's populace. They have always kept tomes of history, so that their numerous losses would not be forgotten. Their writing is often fluid and well-versed, though literature of the culture is hard to find, as the codexes of their history are held almost exclusively by the head bloodlines.

Religion

Due to mandate by the Holy Orenian Empire, almost all Snow Elves have officially declared that they follow the Canonist Church. Years ago, many Snow Elves worshipped the Aengul Wyrvun, though that practice was stopped in the late 1400's. The worship of Wyrvun began during the formative days of the Snow Elven people. This worship was later cemented during the war in Southern Anthos, pitting Ondarch (the corrupted form of Wyrvun) against the Dwarves and Snow Elves of the Grand Kingdom of Urguan and Princedom of Fenn. After aiding in the liberation of the Dwarven city of Kal'Azgoth, Ondarch was freed from his corruption, and made a direct reappearance to the assembled Dwarves and Snow Elves in his true, pure form of Wyrvun. Before returning to his realm, the Aengul Wyrvun declared the Snow Elves to be His chosen people, blessing Southern Anthos with the gift of a fresh snow.

Law

The Snow Elven nation, the Princedom of Fenn, has its origins in the Constitutional, Hereditary, Representative Monarchy formed in Frostfall under the House of Tundrak, in Anthos. However, a period of in-fighting among the Grand Council and rebellions against Tundrak authority led to the gradual stripping away of the Grand Council's powers, eventually leading to the Absolute Hereditary Monarchy that the Mali'fenn maintain to this day.

History

The history of the Snow Elves can best be described as tragic. Almost as soon as they surfaced, their leader went insane in his quest for power and attempted to create a state as powerful as any racial nation, but it was destroyed in its infancy by a horde of Undead. Later leaders also embarked upon the same mission, almost all to have their cities wiped off of maps, and populations destroyed repeatedly. The total population of the Snow Elves is no larger than an eighth of what it once was, able to fit all within a single fortress. In old times, it is told that a large expedition of High Elves went on an expedition to a tundra and thereafter disappeared. Many believe that this expedition of High Elves were the predecessors of the current Snow Elves. Since before their recorded modern history, the three Talonnii of Tundrak, Drakon and Atmorice have led the Princedom of Fenn. In modern times, however, they have almost died out, with less than three in each Talonnii as of 1579.

Cities

The Snow Elves have always inhabited castle-cities made of bricks, quartz and ice, and have lived in tundras, mountains, or cold foothills. Each time, their cities have become harder and harder to locate without a guide, and now if chanced upon their gates are not opened for any not of the Princedom unless necessary. While in the past they held festivals and were open to all, now to the outside only heavily armored men and women walking the walls can be seen. Tall walls of brick and white quartz surrounding spires decorated with glass and thanium are generally the appearances of Fenn fortresses.

Current

• Nim'lindel

Previous

Anthos

• Frostfall

• Khazad'karrzark

The Fringe

• Lindale

• New Lindale

Vailor

• Tar'sil

• Tennallar'fin

Random Tidbits

• Snow Elves are a culture, not a subrace!
• The Snow Elves do not get along well with their Elven kin, historically speaking. Thus, they tend to be more isolationist, which is evident in their typically reserved personalities.
• On a different note, did you know: The Dwarven Irongut clan has had Ascended blood? Read more about it here

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