The Arctic Elf
Arctic Elves, sometimes called Snow Elves, Wild Elves, or Tundra Elves, live in the furthest reaches of the northlands of Galabastarin, outside of the Six Kingdoms.
They are the closest to the primitive ancestor of the present-day Elf.
They are the only strictly carnivorous species of Elf (Though they will eat fruits and/or vegetables of they can get a hold of them)
They are the only species of Elf that has a natural toxin in their bodies. Arctic Elves have a toxin in their body that they are immune to. It stops them from freezing to death and makes them very unpleasent to predators. This toxin is also found in their saliva, because of glands just behind their upper canine teeth.
They have retractable fanged canines. When stressed, angry, or frightened, the fangs extend to full length. They can break skin easily.
Their "venom", though not deadly, is very unpleasent. Symptoms include localized pain and swelling, that spreads very quickly. Redness is also present. The bitten starts to feel dizzy and their vision blurs. As the pain spreads, movement gets a little difficult, they break out in cold sweats, and experience abdominal pain, cramping, nausea, and in severe cases, vomiting. In other words, you do NOT want to get bitten. Luckily, the effects of the toxin wear off within a few hours, though the bite will hurt terribly, be tender, and stay swollen for days.
Males are born more often then females, so competition for a lifemate is tough. An Arctic Elven woman always looks for the strongest male she can fine, one who will hunt well for a growing family.
Males generally travel the arctic once they come of age, though several "rogue" males will band together for survival. Families stick very close together. A father, a mother, and their children. Often, several families will stick together, which forms small "tribe" like groups, that become very close knit.
During the "Dark Months" Snow Elves go deep into hiding, in save dens they have carved out for themselves with food stores kept in the permafrost. During the "Light Months" Snow Elves hunt and gather food for the winter. They are usually not seen in groups of any more then 3 or 4 during the summer months. Midsummer, they all gather together for a Midsummer Festival, in celebration for good hunting. This is when mating is done, a male and his lifemate trying for an offspring, before they separate again and hunt until winter nears.
They worship the ice as if it is a Goddess, following her whim on everything. They believe that if you die, then the Ice has taken you, and your time came, or you weren't strong enough for her.
While primitive, they have a rich culture based around strength, hunting, and the Ice. They believe strongly in freedom, and will not raise animals for food. They believe that to take both one's freedom, and life is the highest shame.
They believe that when a noble Snow Elf dies they will come back as their Spirit Animal. They are strong in shamanistic sorts of magics, having to do with bone-reading, summoning and communing with animal spirits, and healing. Their magic is all very ritualistic.
They have a natural levitation ability. They can levitate both themselves if the need arises, and any kill that is too big to carry back to their storage cave carved in the permafrost.
They are usually to far north for people to see, but they are occasionally seen where the tundra ends and evergreen forests begin. They often gather wood here, for spears and fuel. They also use the fat of their kills for fuel as well.
Their hair is always white, and always has ice blue tips to it.
Their eyes are always pale and range from blues to greens and anything inbetween. The greens are usually teal, or blue-green. Pure green is very rare. Their eyes are NEVER dark, always very pale and icy looking.
Their hair has 2 layers, a course outer layer that appears very fluffy, and a thick, downy underlayer. Their hair never grows any longer then a certain point, and like fur, has the blue tips. The blue tips can be cut off, but the courser hair will stick up completely, and look rather rediculous. Their hair is never longer then their midback, generally hangs to where their shoulderblades end on their back. Longer hair is VERY rare and viewed as sacred.
Arctic Elves are very slim and long in build, having longer porportions then a human. Long limbs, ending in wide feet perfect for moving over the snow. Though very light, they are very tough and strong. They don't grow too terribly tall, the tallest ever found being 5'6". They average at around 5 feet tall.
The Arctic Elf is considered a species of Dark Elf. As such, they have the ability to growl, hiss, and purr.
They growl when angry, a soft, light churring growl. They hiss when frightened or angry, and purr when content or happy.
They startle easy to loud noises.
They wear the teeth and claws of their past kills to show their strength and hunting prowess, and scars are worn with pride. They often make bone beads, and are very fond of them. They also like to carve things from bone.
Snow Elves have an extremely heightened sense of smell. They can smell the condition, age, gender, and health of an animal from several miles away. Their eyesight is also very keen, as is their hearing. They have long, white eyelashes surrounding their eyes, giving them a rather innocent look. These eyelashes serve to keep snow from blowing into their eyes.
Arctic Elves have a layer of fat just under their skin, and around their vitals. It makes their tummies feel squishy x3 This keeps in heat.
They also have a layer of fuzz on thier skin, this is white in color, and makes them feel velvety and warm to the touch. This serves to make their skin waterproof and hold in heat.
Arctic Elves can not sweat, when too warm, they pant like a dog. They are not good at losing heat, since their bodies are hardwired for their harsh, arctic home.
They are the closest to the primitive ancestor of the present-day Elf.
They are the only strictly carnivorous species of Elf (Though they will eat fruits and/or vegetables of they can get a hold of them)
They are the only species of Elf that has a natural toxin in their bodies. Arctic Elves have a toxin in their body that they are immune to. It stops them from freezing to death and makes them very unpleasent to predators. This toxin is also found in their saliva, because of glands just behind their upper canine teeth.
They have retractable fanged canines. When stressed, angry, or frightened, the fangs extend to full length. They can break skin easily.
Their "venom", though not deadly, is very unpleasent. Symptoms include localized pain and swelling, that spreads very quickly. Redness is also present. The bitten starts to feel dizzy and their vision blurs. As the pain spreads, movement gets a little difficult, they break out in cold sweats, and experience abdominal pain, cramping, nausea, and in severe cases, vomiting. In other words, you do NOT want to get bitten. Luckily, the effects of the toxin wear off within a few hours, though the bite will hurt terribly, be tender, and stay swollen for days.
Males are born more often then females, so competition for a lifemate is tough. An Arctic Elven woman always looks for the strongest male she can fine, one who will hunt well for a growing family.
Males generally travel the arctic once they come of age, though several "rogue" males will band together for survival. Families stick very close together. A father, a mother, and their children. Often, several families will stick together, which forms small "tribe" like groups, that become very close knit.
During the "Dark Months" Snow Elves go deep into hiding, in save dens they have carved out for themselves with food stores kept in the permafrost. During the "Light Months" Snow Elves hunt and gather food for the winter. They are usually not seen in groups of any more then 3 or 4 during the summer months. Midsummer, they all gather together for a Midsummer Festival, in celebration for good hunting. This is when mating is done, a male and his lifemate trying for an offspring, before they separate again and hunt until winter nears.
They worship the ice as if it is a Goddess, following her whim on everything. They believe that if you die, then the Ice has taken you, and your time came, or you weren't strong enough for her.
While primitive, they have a rich culture based around strength, hunting, and the Ice. They believe strongly in freedom, and will not raise animals for food. They believe that to take both one's freedom, and life is the highest shame.
They believe that when a noble Snow Elf dies they will come back as their Spirit Animal. They are strong in shamanistic sorts of magics, having to do with bone-reading, summoning and communing with animal spirits, and healing. Their magic is all very ritualistic.
They have a natural levitation ability. They can levitate both themselves if the need arises, and any kill that is too big to carry back to their storage cave carved in the permafrost.
They are usually to far north for people to see, but they are occasionally seen where the tundra ends and evergreen forests begin. They often gather wood here, for spears and fuel. They also use the fat of their kills for fuel as well.
Their hair is always white, and always has ice blue tips to it.
Their eyes are always pale and range from blues to greens and anything inbetween. The greens are usually teal, or blue-green. Pure green is very rare. Their eyes are NEVER dark, always very pale and icy looking.
Their hair has 2 layers, a course outer layer that appears very fluffy, and a thick, downy underlayer. Their hair never grows any longer then a certain point, and like fur, has the blue tips. The blue tips can be cut off, but the courser hair will stick up completely, and look rather rediculous. Their hair is never longer then their midback, generally hangs to where their shoulderblades end on their back. Longer hair is VERY rare and viewed as sacred.
Arctic Elves are very slim and long in build, having longer porportions then a human. Long limbs, ending in wide feet perfect for moving over the snow. Though very light, they are very tough and strong. They don't grow too terribly tall, the tallest ever found being 5'6". They average at around 5 feet tall.
The Arctic Elf is considered a species of Dark Elf. As such, they have the ability to growl, hiss, and purr.
They growl when angry, a soft, light churring growl. They hiss when frightened or angry, and purr when content or happy.
They startle easy to loud noises.
They wear the teeth and claws of their past kills to show their strength and hunting prowess, and scars are worn with pride. They often make bone beads, and are very fond of them. They also like to carve things from bone.
Snow Elves have an extremely heightened sense of smell. They can smell the condition, age, gender, and health of an animal from several miles away. Their eyesight is also very keen, as is their hearing. They have long, white eyelashes surrounding their eyes, giving them a rather innocent look. These eyelashes serve to keep snow from blowing into their eyes.
Arctic Elves have a layer of fat just under their skin, and around their vitals. It makes their tummies feel squishy x3 This keeps in heat.
They also have a layer of fuzz on thier skin, this is white in color, and makes them feel velvety and warm to the touch. This serves to make their skin waterproof and hold in heat.
Arctic Elves can not sweat, when too warm, they pant like a dog. They are not good at losing heat, since their bodies are hardwired for their harsh, arctic home.