Snow Elves

## Basic Information

### Anatomy

Snow Elves appear similar to their elven kin in most regards. They are not as lithe as the Wood Elves, but are rather tall. Their skin ranges in color from pure white to icy blues. Their eyes range in color from from white to green or blue. The sclera of their eyes is black. Their hair is either pure white, platinum blonde, or pitch black.

### Ecology and Habitats

Snow Elves live in the icy expanse of Sitala, a small continent far to the north of mainland Forgosia. Because of the difficulty of farming in such an environment, many of the largest Snow Elven cities exist along the southern coast, where the weather is slightly warmer and trade is more practical with the Forgosian mainland. Smaller villages exist on small islands and along other coasts which subsist off of fishing and whaling. Further inland, cities are built over underground tunnel networks which are host to edible fungi which are farmed by Snow Elves for food and to raise livestock.

## Additional Information

### Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Like other elven races, Snow Elves have heightened senses compared to humans. However, because their homeland of Sitala is steeped in the darkness of night for nearly half the year, they have developed a highly keen sense of sight. They also have the ability to sense magic.

## Civilization and Culture

### Naming Traditions

**Male:** Tharben, Mendarin, Belenal  **Female:** Varya, Fenye, Lania

### Beauty Ideals

Snow Elves value intellect and magical skill, especially in urban areas. Appearance wise, white skin, hair, and eyes are considered most beautiful. In rural areas, where magic users are less common, more import is placed on survival skill.

### Gender Ideals

For the most part, Snow Elven culture is egalitarian. Men and women both work hard to contribute and survive in the harsh frozen climate of Sitala. Colleges are open to any willing and able to attend. That being said, there are certain roles which are restricted based on gender, particularly in religion. Many religious roles are held exclusively by women, with the exception of clerics and rural druid priests.

### Courtship Ideals

In urban Sitala, courtship highly formal and ritualized. Arranged marriages are common, especially within the upper class. Courtships are very long, often lasting from ten to fifteen years.

### Relationship Ideals

Snow Elves are not as openly affectionate with their spouses as other cultures, but this does not mean that they love their families any less. Snow Elves do not show much emotion in their personal relationships. Casual relationships, prostitution, and relationships deemed deviant are prohibited and frowned upon in Sitala due to the austerity of Snow Elven culture.

### Major Language Groups and Dialects

Tusali (Snow Elven), Common, Taleval (Wood Elven)

### Common Etiquette Rules

Unlike their Ash Elven kin, Snow Elves intentionally restrain most emotion they feel, as they feel that acting on emotional impulse results in rash and disastrous consequences. Snow Elves often communicate simple things like greetings and expressions of thanks via eye movements, eye contact, and other highly formalized gestures. To foreigners, this is often perceived as the Snow Elves being a cold-hearted, unfeeling, and calculating people. In reality, Snow Elves simply don't believe in expressing emotion. Members of Snow Elven society who don't agree with these views on social behavior often find themselves leaving Sitala in favor of life on the Forgosian mainland, but are often socially awkward, simply due to a lack of social experience. Rural Snow Elves are more open with their emotions.

### Common Dress Code

Urban Snow Elves dress warmly but elegantly, wearing fur-lined robes of white and blue. They often incorporate iconography of wild animals such as fish and osprey into their clothing. they also weave beads of metal into their hair, and silver jewelry is common. Rural Snow Elves dress even more warmly than their urban kin, as they are more exposed to the elements. They wear thick clothes made from animal skins and furs. They also wear jewelry of animal bones and weave bones and metal beads into their hair.

### Culture and Cultural Heritage

Urban Snow Elf society is highly sophisticated. They have one of the most advanced magic cultures in the world, and have the finest institutions of magic academia in Forgosia. Sitala is ruled by a king or queen, who is defended by an order of paladin battlemages. Their cities are massive, partially subterranean constructions made of stone, snow, and ice. Iconography of native animals such as fish, seals, orca, and osprey are common. They are fine shipbuilders, creating craft that are at the same time graceful, beautiful, swift, and sturdy enough to survive collisions with icebergs. They create beautiful weapons of a metal called adamantine, which is stronger than steel and conducive to magical energy. Their music is highly formalized, and seems to be played with a great deal of restraint and formal technique, somewhat reflecting the Elves themselves. The rural culture is much more centered on simply surviving than their urban counterparts. Like urban Snow Elves, theirs is a maritime culture, although instead of focusing on trade they survive as fishermen, whalers, and hunters. Their art mostly takes the form of bone carvings, again in the shape of animals. They also have a music tradition which is much freer than urban Sitalan. They are known for their bows, spears, and harpoons, many of which are made of bone, because they are so easily lost. They also are known for their bone armor. However, despite being known for bone tools, they also make many items fro metal, from simple pots and pans to hooked whaling swords, used for gripping and butchering whales, walruses, and fish.

### Common Myths and Legends

Snow Elves follow the Deretil Pantheon, although the faith is unique, being much more structured than most other religions. In this regard, it most closely resembles the Church of Oren, followed by the Suthermen. In more rural areas, the faith is much less structured, and incorporates many druidic animistic practices.

### Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Due to their social culture, Snow Elves are often seen as cold and unfeeling by foreigners. The fact that some Snow Elves have a slight superiority complex does not help matters at all. Nevertheless, trade with Sitala remains highly lucrative, and Snow Elven mages and scholars stay in high demand.

Genetic Descendants
* Drow

Origin/Ancestry
Elven
Lifespan
160 years
Conservation Status
Common
Average Height
6'-6'5"
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Skin color: White to icy blue

## Magic Culture

All forms of magic are central to Snow Elven society. Wizards and sorcerers are extremely common, due to the Snow Elves' natural predisposition to magic and established magic academia. Clerics are also very common due to the religious presence in Sitala. Magic-wielding Paladins also have an established place in Snow Elven culture, most notably serving as the royal guard to the Sitalan kings and queens. Due to the religious beliefs of the Sitalan people "dark" magic is illegal, and is in certain circumstances punishable by death. The religious institution of Sitala has actually formed a special group of witch hunters dedicated to hunting down heretics. Bards do exist in Sitala, although they are more scholars of music and lore than performers and adventurers as they are in other nations.