Ice Floes
Frozen and perilous seas
The Ice Floes is a large series of icy glaciers and small islands amidst a great frozen sea. It makes up the entirety of the northern pole of Arda, and lines Dragon Kingdom, the Golden Khanate, the Gray Marches, Nestoria, and Rian.
A longship sailing through the Ice Floes
In terms of geography of terrain and water distribution, the Ice Floes can largely be divided into three major categories:
While many "civilized" peoples live and make their living at the water's edge of the Ice Floes, largely from the Gray Marches, Nestoria, and Rian, these groups are more delved into in their specific articles. Instead, this section will be more focused on the people and culture of the forgotten or oft-marginalized "savage" peoples who live at the edge of the known world. As the first people to awake in the Arda, the elves were the first to travel the world's great expanse. While most settled in the sun-dappled homelands of the future Romanoran Empire, yet others continued their seemingly endless sojourn across Arda. From this millennia-long diaspora. elves traveled from the Romanoran heartlands to come to settle in the lands that hugged the edge of the Ice Floes, namely in Nestoria and Rian. A hardy few came to settle in the mountainous regions which would eventually become the Dragon Kingdom. As their population continued to grow and flourish in these new lands, they continued to travel and settle further north, and over time, losing their connections with their southerly kindred as they hunted the seasonal and herd migrations of the animals who lived there. While these scattered peoples, sometimes called "snow elves" or "ice elves" gained little benefit from the advances of magic or technology of the burgeoning Romanoran elves, neither did they feel much effect from the centuries of war and conflict which would embroil these southern lands. Indeed, their comparably "primitive" way of life changed little until the The First Primordial War, in which dragons came to settle en masse in the lands now known as the Dragon Kingdom and around High Peak. The moves of these powerful and often dreadful creatures prompted the flight of these elves further into the remote north to escape predation or slavery at the hands of the dragons. Now thus moved, the elves lived for centuries in peaceful seclusion, growing further apart culturally and linguistically from their Romanoran kin (see Language in the Dragon's Domain) as contact between the northern and southern groups of elves became increasingly erratic, even among individual tribes or clans of the northern elves. Increasing draconic activity during the The Second Primordial War continued to push the groups living around the Dragon Kingdom and Rian to seek safety further north or into the arms of their cousins in Cathay or Romanorum. They would eventually integrate into those kingdoms, though those elven descendants in Cathay are looked down on in a society where an imperial pedigree is treasured. The last and most drastic changes for the northern elves came following the The Last of the Primordial Wars. The war had ended with the mortal peoples of Arda joined against the Shadow, and the orcs largely without a homeland as the Shadow quickly overran the defenses of early Harad. Now dispossessed of their ancestral homes, the orcs came to settle throughout the northern Eastern Continent, namely Magnos, Rian, and Romanorum. For those who came to settle in Rian, it did not take long for the orcs and elves to come into contact. This was especially fearsome for the northern elves, as many were largely ignorant of the events of the Primordial Wars, and even of the very existence of orcs until that point. Numerous groups of elves had their own ways of coming to terms with the newcomers, from cooperation, assimilation, or conflict. In the face of the perceived orcish ferocity, the largely peaceful and pastoral elves again often opted to flee further north, now with new tales of newcomers from the south. As humans came to leave the cradle of their once elven lords in Romanorum, many came to settle the vast expanse of frosty woodlands of Rian or the wastes of Nestoria. Much like in the case of Rian, the northern elves opted to avoid conflict with the newcomers, often leaving for more remote lands to the north. Yet others came to guide the early humans in their new lives in the north. After centuries of conflict and northward expansion by the nations of the Eastern Continent, few tribes of snow elves remain today. Their descendants, where they remain, have largely taken to sedentary lifestyles of farming, hunting or crafting in remote villages or have slowly assimilated into the local cultures and peoples of the region. Of those who do continue their traditional lifestyles, they live on the fringes of the nations of Arda, in the largely unclaimed frozen and desolate lands beyond the glacial seas. These elves refer to this region as their homeland, and is commonly known to them as the "Crownlands". in the belief that they live in the frozen "crown" of Arda. Younger elves take this as a sign of pride, having spent centuries largely ignorant of the green and verdant lands south of their frozen homes. Yet others, especially the older elves, still have a memory or heard stories of these fruitful southern places, and long for the time they might see them again. Despite this hope, they largely consider it fantasy, for the only thing that comes from the south is the slow march of progress of the (largely) human villages that spring along the Floes to capitalize upon the seasonal trade routes or whaling in the area. As a result, the remaining snow elves have become increasingly hostile to explorers and frontiers people who may threaten to take away their last remote refuge.
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About
Despite being largely frozen over, there is numerous wildlife that lives in the region including but not limited to whales, bears, and elk. Numerous peoples live along the southern edge of the Ice Floes, where fishing and whaling are common ways to collect food and oil. A small number of nomadic peoples, namely elves, eke out a living in these harsh and frozen lands.
Geography
In terms of geography of terrain and water distribution, the Ice Floes can largely be divided into three major categories:
- Glacial Sea - The waters of the Ice Floes. Even during the summer, significant portions of the Floes remain frozen. Despite being frozen over, it is not devoid of life; large fish, whales, and other creatures swim beneath the waters, and birds of varying size and ferocity watch for prey and dive at opportune moments. During the summer, such ice can be fragile, but is incredibly sturdy during winter.
- The Northern Shelf - Across the glacial and oft frozen seas lies a mountain range and adjoined flats and shelves of the last true "land" of the north, and makes up the north pole of Arda. These lands are referred to as the "Crownlands" by the indigenous elves, as they are believed to be the frozen "crown" of Arda. The lands themselves are largely desolate and featureless beyond the nameless and unexplored mountains, save for few sparse trees and brush in which only the hardiest animals live. It is the home and the last refuge of the snow elves, who see it as one of the few remaining places on Arda unsullied by the machinations of civilization.
- The Southern Shore - As the name implies, the southern shore encompasses the vast expanse of cold sandy or clay-deposit beaches and shores that often make up the northern border of the numerous nations that border the Ice Floes, but few better exemplify these cold and dreary coasts than the northern edge of the Gray Marches and Nestoria. Depending on the latitude of these brinks will determine how long their waters will remain frozen during the winter or that during the other months of the year. For most regions, namely the Gray Marches, the waters will be thawed from late spring to mid-autumn, but frozen over in winter. During this time, fishing and whaling are popular professions for people who live along the coast, and merchants sometimes take advantage of the seasonal water route. In other locations however, the waters of the Ice Floes that only during the "hottest" summer months, or even remain frozen year-round. Beyond their coasts, such lands are diverse, from deep forests to desolate taigas, again, dependent on latitude.
Peoples of the Ice Floes
While many "civilized" peoples live and make their living at the water's edge of the Ice Floes, largely from the Gray Marches, Nestoria, and Rian, these groups are more delved into in their specific articles. Instead, this section will be more focused on the people and culture of the forgotten or oft-marginalized "savage" peoples who live at the edge of the known world. As the first people to awake in the Arda, the elves were the first to travel the world's great expanse. While most settled in the sun-dappled homelands of the future Romanoran Empire, yet others continued their seemingly endless sojourn across Arda. From this millennia-long diaspora. elves traveled from the Romanoran heartlands to come to settle in the lands that hugged the edge of the Ice Floes, namely in Nestoria and Rian. A hardy few came to settle in the mountainous regions which would eventually become the Dragon Kingdom. As their population continued to grow and flourish in these new lands, they continued to travel and settle further north, and over time, losing their connections with their southerly kindred as they hunted the seasonal and herd migrations of the animals who lived there. While these scattered peoples, sometimes called "snow elves" or "ice elves" gained little benefit from the advances of magic or technology of the burgeoning Romanoran elves, neither did they feel much effect from the centuries of war and conflict which would embroil these southern lands. Indeed, their comparably "primitive" way of life changed little until the The First Primordial War, in which dragons came to settle en masse in the lands now known as the Dragon Kingdom and around High Peak. The moves of these powerful and often dreadful creatures prompted the flight of these elves further into the remote north to escape predation or slavery at the hands of the dragons. Now thus moved, the elves lived for centuries in peaceful seclusion, growing further apart culturally and linguistically from their Romanoran kin (see Language in the Dragon's Domain) as contact between the northern and southern groups of elves became increasingly erratic, even among individual tribes or clans of the northern elves. Increasing draconic activity during the The Second Primordial War continued to push the groups living around the Dragon Kingdom and Rian to seek safety further north or into the arms of their cousins in Cathay or Romanorum. They would eventually integrate into those kingdoms, though those elven descendants in Cathay are looked down on in a society where an imperial pedigree is treasured. The last and most drastic changes for the northern elves came following the The Last of the Primordial Wars. The war had ended with the mortal peoples of Arda joined against the Shadow, and the orcs largely without a homeland as the Shadow quickly overran the defenses of early Harad. Now dispossessed of their ancestral homes, the orcs came to settle throughout the northern Eastern Continent, namely Magnos, Rian, and Romanorum. For those who came to settle in Rian, it did not take long for the orcs and elves to come into contact. This was especially fearsome for the northern elves, as many were largely ignorant of the events of the Primordial Wars, and even of the very existence of orcs until that point. Numerous groups of elves had their own ways of coming to terms with the newcomers, from cooperation, assimilation, or conflict. In the face of the perceived orcish ferocity, the largely peaceful and pastoral elves again often opted to flee further north, now with new tales of newcomers from the south. As humans came to leave the cradle of their once elven lords in Romanorum, many came to settle the vast expanse of frosty woodlands of Rian or the wastes of Nestoria. Much like in the case of Rian, the northern elves opted to avoid conflict with the newcomers, often leaving for more remote lands to the north. Yet others came to guide the early humans in their new lives in the north. After centuries of conflict and northward expansion by the nations of the Eastern Continent, few tribes of snow elves remain today. Their descendants, where they remain, have largely taken to sedentary lifestyles of farming, hunting or crafting in remote villages or have slowly assimilated into the local cultures and peoples of the region. Of those who do continue their traditional lifestyles, they live on the fringes of the nations of Arda, in the largely unclaimed frozen and desolate lands beyond the glacial seas. These elves refer to this region as their homeland, and is commonly known to them as the "Crownlands". in the belief that they live in the frozen "crown" of Arda. Younger elves take this as a sign of pride, having spent centuries largely ignorant of the green and verdant lands south of their frozen homes. Yet others, especially the older elves, still have a memory or heard stories of these fruitful southern places, and long for the time they might see them again. Despite this hope, they largely consider it fantasy, for the only thing that comes from the south is the slow march of progress of the (largely) human villages that spring along the Floes to capitalize upon the seasonal trade routes or whaling in the area. As a result, the remaining snow elves have become increasingly hostile to explorers and frontiers people who may threaten to take away their last remote refuge.
A long-enduring legend among the snow elves is that deep within the Crownlands exists a green and verdant paradise known as the "Blossoming Forest". It is said that in this place, it is always summer, the wild game is plenty, and the long and wispy leaves of the trees there can heal any illness known to man or elf. As a result, this mythical place has long been sought by intrepid or desperate elves who seek its warm boughs or life-giving growths for their people. With the dangers of the cold and remote Crownlands already teeming, these well-meaning quests often take more lives than they save for an already slowly-diminishing people.
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