Ice Elf
Ice elves are a reclusive and secretive race who make their home in Quel’doren in the frozen north of Otusi Isles in the Free Kingdom of Coldhold.
Their existance is considered a national secret due to an ancient pact between the Ice Elves and the first rulers of Coldhold in the interest of mutual respect and cooperation.
Basic Information
Genetics and Reproduction
Gestation in Ice Elves are about the same as humans and normal elves, however due to their aloofness and long lives, births are rare, yet celebrated.
Growth Rate & Stages
Ice elves grow slightly slower than normal elves, reaching adulthood at about 34. Ice elves are exceptionally long lived, even by normal elf standards, some reaching more than 10,000 years old but this age is only reached by Archdruids.
Ecology and Habitats
Ice elves make their home in the frozen north of the Otusi Isles. They can comfortably endure tempretures of down to -50c without protection.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Ice elves value personal freedom and indipendence above all else. There is a council of elders that oversee the city but it is rarely ever gathered.
Facial characteristics
Due to their exceptionally long lives, even compared to normal elves, Ice Elves tend to seem very aloof or even emotionless. This isn't technically true, its just when you live as long as they do, you come to understand that worrying about thinks is a waste of energy.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Ice elves barely ever travel far outside their home of Quel’doren
Average Intelligence
Most Ice Elves would be, compared to humans, of above average intelegence.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
The ice eleves carry two names. Their taken name, then their given name.
Not all given names are given to you on your first day.
Some parents name you to prevent you from that fate (Harmur = sorrow), some name you to boast (Auðdal = Valley of wealth), and sometimes you earn your name when your parents get to know you better, Söngfugl = bird of song, Nálvís = one who is pointed/clever/good with her hands, Hámur = glutton.
And a very few are just different, like Frostbit = frostbite (he bit his mum)
Major Organizations
The ice elves maintain a close relationship with The Free Kingdom of Coldhold however their relationship is and the exact details and nature of this relationship is a closely guarded secret by both parties.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Elvish is the main language however they speak a slightly different dialect known as Nord Elvish or Ad Edhelen
Common Dress Code
Due to their resistance to the cold, Ice elves tend to wear thin cloth but do also wear animal furs as a trophy of kinds. More primal than their normal elvish cousins, Ice elvish tends to have more focus on function over form promotinv efficency, though none would dare stifling creativity or individuality shown though what they wear.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
The Ice elves are a very pragmatic and slow moving people, the "teaching" isn't really a concept in the culture, instead you are expected to watch others while figureing things out yourself, though actively watching others or copying is considered weak and shameful. Instead, you are expected to take inspiration andthen put your own individuality into the activity. The result of this is that, dispite their relitively small population, Ice elves have a wonderfully diverse range of both fighting styles, art and music with no two quite the same.
Ice elves are a very reclusive and isolationist people, it is widely accepted that being left along to persue ones own talents and passions is the best way to do things, both on an individual and collective level.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Life and Death
The birth of a new child is a rare and celebrated occasion for the whole city. The last birth as of 624 ASC was 87 years ago, Vindharpa Glóð. A festival and feast in the town square down by the waterfront takes place and continues for up to 5 days and nights as the whole City comes to greet the new infant, gives gifts and expresses their thanks to Veotl for the new arrival. The death of an Ice Elf is honored in several different ways depending on the cause. Regardless of the cause, burial is done by one of two ways, Either laid on a sheet of ice and floated out into the sea, or taken to the icy catacombs and frozen standing in the glacier to stay that way for the end of time, most elves choose to be frozen alongside their family. It is not uncommon for an eldery ice elf, sensing their end, to walk into the catacombs and allow themselves to be frozen while awake for the final sleep. Much like a birth, a death is a city wide affair and the entire tribe comes out to say goodbye.Common Taboos
Leaving Quel’doren is strictly forbidden as to not be discovered by the outside world as well is allowing an outsider into the city. Exceptions are made but are very rare and not without controversy.
History
Tens of thousands of years ago, there was a civil war between the elves. A faction, known as the White Elves due to their fareness and beauty, decided they didnt want anything to do with the war and fled to the frozen north. There they encountered an Avatar of the goddess Veotl who offered the White Elves Sanctury in the shadow of The Everice and immunity to the cold in exchange for their worshp. The Elves agreed and Veotl mixed their esscence with the blood of the Ice Giants transforming them into the much taller Ice Elves.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
In the history of the Ice Elves, there hasn't been a single recorded instance of interspecies relations, the very idea is considered impossible by most and not even considered by the rest.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Lifespan
More than 7,000 years
Average Height
7-9 ft
Average Physique
Slender, muscular.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Ice elves tend to be very pale, almost white, skin with light blue or while hair and eyes. many have tattoos, usually of a light blue colour.
Geographic Distribution
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