Snow Elf

Brief

Snow elves are the frigid, sharp, but beautiful off-shoot of the elven race. Their kingdom consists of cities atop the highest peaks of the mountains in the Divine Dispute of Yandelar. They are one of the less populated elf variants, with only a few cities left. Each city functions as its own city-state, under its own King, though all of the Snow Elves fall under one Emperor. The Snow Elves operate under a policy of isolation, wanting nothing to do with the world at large. That doesn't leave them unmolested, however. They are frequent targets of their brethren - favored prey of Wild Elves and the humans of Yandelar. Their cities are full of precious artifacts and goods that are coveted by many across the realm. It is only the recent Articles of Obligation, formed between the Snow Elves and Sun Elf, that the Snow Elves have ensured a sort of protection for their cities and mountain top Empire.

Beauty Ideals

Snow Elves are a delicate, seemingly fragile people who prize elegance, propriety, and appearance matters most. Blues, silvers, and precious metals are highly prized and are featured heavily in their decor. Nothing that they create is simple, unless it is meant to be in elegance. Attire is high quality, their jewelry is sought after all over Vyril, and their magical artifacts are precious not just in power, but in appearance. Even those outside their race can appreciate the sharp, ethereal beauty of the Snow Elves.

To one another, the Snow Elves look for a neat, orderly, and well-to-do mate. Clothing is layered, embroidered, made of silks and furs, with accented jewelry of silver, gold, and platinum. They do have a concept of gaudy - believing even displays of wealth should be tasteful.

by Ohara Koson

by Susan Wilkinson

by Yogendra Singh

Gender Ideals

Snow Elves have very clear societal expectations of their men and women, with plenty of social pressures to keep the majority of Snow Elves within these accepted norms. Exile and being disowned by ones family is easily the worst thing that could happen to a Snow Elf. Being cast out of a City-State and having nothing is pretty much a death sentence to a Snow Elf and, while none have been cast out expressly for stepping out of line, most are not willing to test their family's patience in such a way.

Men

Male Snow Elves practice a form of chivalry. Many train to become Knights, adhering to a code of conduct that hem them into respectful, polite, and honorable behavior. Many will learn how to tend to a set of armor as well as pick a favored weapon. The most popular for Snow Elves is the longsword. They are taught how to duel with their weapon, weaving in their natural abilities with cold magic. Every fight is honorable, always for a reason, and always public. Eventually, a Knight will either swear themselves to their family or to another if they intend to marry into one. Male snow elves are expected to carry the brunt of the physical labor and work of their society. While Snow Elf women are not fragile, the way they are treated it might seem like their populace believes they are.

Women

Women are expected to wear silk kurta, a short, mid-thigh length tunic, usually with a veil of some manner or shawl of fur, and some manner of skirts. Not even commoner women wear pants in Snow Elf cities. Their formal wear consists of more elaborate, embroidered full length gowns, usually overlaid a corset accented in metallic threading. Long hair is the norm, frequently left down or pinned back but always in a more simplistic fashion. Jewelry is expected, but tastefully. A necklace, a couple of rings, perhaps a couple of adornments on their ears. Anything more is seen as gaudy and ostentatious. Family and social matters are the concern of the female snow elf. Stately matters are left to the men, though they've been known to advise on occassion.

Courtship Ideals

Courtship for Snow Elves is as complicated as many other things in their society. Managed mainly by the women of the family, marriages and relationships are usually arranged. Then, a lengthy and often monitored courtship period begins for the two whose relationship has been arranged. Love, or other such feelings, rarely if ever factor into it. Family holdings, standing, political hierarchy, and many other societal factors will be considered for a relationship and are deemed far more important. A family's behavior during a courtship is just as important as it is to the couple involved - each expected to be welcoming but not exactly forgiving.

Relationship

Ideals

Monogamy is paramount to Snow Elves, as is the privacy and privaledge afforded to couples. Gossip certainly persists, but it is highly frowned upon to not only gossip about one's spouse, but use them to pass along secrets. Thus, almost all of the gossip or news is circulated primarily through the women or specific news outlets. Family bonds and forged relationships are incredibly important, with loyalty to such things expected almost above all.

by Isabella Jusková

Racial Relations

The Snow Elves are comprised of scattered City-States amongst the Divine Dispute. While they are loosely associated with one another, the city-states largely operate on their own. It is this isolationist ideal that led to a handful of the city-states falling prey to outsider attack. Veil elf Designs, or assassins, paid for by human would be conquerors and covetors have been the downfall of several snow elf cities, scattering snow elf treasure around Vyril and ending entire bloodlines in their greed. It has become a cruel joke to say the snow elves are endangered.
As a result, the snow elf Emperor and the sun elf Czar created a treaty known as the Articles of Obligation. It is this binding treaty that has created a very strong bond between the two variants of elves and has, for all intents, kept the Snow Elves safe in the most recent of years.
Conversely, it has made the artifacts, art, and finery previously looted more valuable. The Snow Elves want their property back and there is still a demanding market for such fine, rich, magical things. While the Sun Elves have unrestricted access to the Snow Elf cities, it is not in the Sun Elf nature to establish trade or even smuggle. They are far more a live in the moment race, preferring to just enjoy the benefits of the Articles in the snow elf cities.

Samyriana by Mandy Finke

Naming

Feminine Names

Examples:
Almae, Anaz, Idin, Natah, Silentara, Sithreosa, Zan

Masculine Names

Examples
Cemim, Cinnevar, Coary, Dovan, Reako, Shaekum, Vesd, Viussth

Societal

Outliers

There will always be deviants, deviations, and exceptions to the social norm. Many of the rules and laws structured in Snow Elf society are enforced through social pressure, so when something is done that is just not done, it is usually a shock through their City-State. Then, depending on the nature of the offense, there is usually a Council called forth to determine what to do with the offender. Most of the time, the matter is dealt with in house, with family's handling their own affairs. If the royalty of a City-State is involved, it's usually because the offense has gone beyond the family grounds and affects more than one offended party.

Crimes can range anywhere from adultry, robbery, theft, dishonorable conduct, improper behavior, or failure to meet expectations. Judgement is usually passed after a brief, personal trial with someone in authority - someone of noble bith or someone of import in the family - and a sentence declared that seems suitable to the nature of the crime. More often than not, it is enforced service. Only very rarely, for the most egregious of crimes, is a Snow Elf exiled.

Architecture

"Your home is beautiful, but complicated. Mm. I would say that describes snow elves rather accurately.... I may have wandered into into some of your family's rooms by accident."

- Sun Elf Archfiend Ajnai

As sharp, delicate, complicated, and complex as the snow elves themselves, their cities and architecture is a reflection of that. Metallic accents, white stone, tall spires, and wrought iron are all used in grand effect. Nothing about the snow elves, or their homes, could be called mundane or plain.

Black metal spiral by Kieran Sheehan