The Halȏrn

> "*In the olden days, when the world was still young, there were many gods, deities and other disembodied entities roaming and coveting parts of  the world for themselves, but some of them, in the freezing far south, tending to their curiosity and disobeying the Pact of Creation, sculpted beings of ice in their image, which they did not know would come to life as the concept of bringing life into being was new to them...*"
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(*Excerpt from the "**Asfhlaos-i-ȏrnos**" or the "**Myth of Birth**")*

The Halȏrn as a race are very unique when compared to the rest of the races out there in Mohedros, as they seem humanoid at first glance, but when spoken to, their forked tongues immediately become visible, more so in their speech, as when they speak they make some snake like sounds, especially in their own language. Though it has to be noted that not many have heard them speak another language bar from a few words spoken by their traders.

The Halȏrn have been gifted with long lives by their caretaker god Berzhal. When he granted them the knowledge and power to wield magic, he also gifted them with long lives, though not intentionally, but the way magic works makes it seem like the god knew exactly what he was doing as magic is a force that wants to keep the body alive as long as possible as, during the creation of the world, it was used to create life and give it the means to sustain itself. Only later did the concept and essence of magic become corrupt... As the magic flows through the veins of the Halȏrn, they are given lifespans, ten times that of an average human being. Most live up to around 600 years, but their age catches up to them at around the 470th year of their lives, that is when they, as the humans would call them, become elders. Mages of Lodash can live longer than 600 years as they use the magic not only for research and for the purpose of honing their skills, but also to give themselves increased lifespans.

Their bodies are pale white and cold to the touch, their eyes are azure blue as the purest turquoise and their hair is always some shade of grey. Noses and ears similar to those of humans, but for the females, the ears show more elven features. Most of them are tall and slim, as tall as the greatest sons of man. The pale white bodies and light blue feature hint at their immunity to cold and icy weather, due to it, they are even able to climb the highest mountains of Mohedros without any issues, they are able to sleep naked during snow storms as well as enter the coldest regions of Mohedros and stay there as long as they want. This is due to the fact that they were created in ancient times by gods from ice.

It has to be noted that they cannot enter the warmer climates of Mohedros as they would start “melting”, in other words, easily get hyperthermia and die, even temperatures as low as 15 C can give them heat strokes and induce slow organ failures. They are only able to enter these climates with powerful magical enchantments cast upon their bodies.

Their clothing is sophisticated and in a way arrogant, as it shows their ancient nature and that they have been here long before anyone else. Women wear long, flowing dresses of many different shades of blue, supported by many different types of Jewelry from necklaces, to rings to jeweled bracelets. Men wear much simpler clothing, but it still would be in the same category as that worn by the noblemen in Vardhem or Reyllea. The same color patterns as for the women appear for the men in their apparel as well, with Jeweled rings as a preferred accessory to the wealthier men of Lodash.

The Mages of Lodash are an exception to these rules of clothing, as they always wear long, grey robes. They are the least social part of the Halȏrn society, as they only speak with one another or the Halorn of higher standing in their society. Their cold presence is always felt, even by the Halorn, as the Halorn, though immune to cold weather, are not immune to frost created by magical means.

When magic is addressed, it has to be said, that all Halȏrn have the ability to wield ice magic, but only a select few are chosen to be trained as Mages of Lodash. They are chosen at birth, during a full moon. These children stand out as, during the full moon, most Halȏrn would be unable to sleep due to them having a connection to the moons by means of one of their creator gods, who was a moon spirit. These children, however, sleep soundly, without anyone being able to wake them. When this happens, a Mage may sense it and go after the child, to claim it for the College of Berzhal and, in due time, turn them into one of the Acolytes of Everfrost. The reason why these children are special is hidden to the wider society, but it is speculated, that these children show less emotion and have a lesser connection to their creator gods, meaning, that they are bound to become powerful Masters over Ice and Snow, as that is what Berzhal wanted all the Halȏrn to become.