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The History of the Ice Elves - ABRIDGED VERSION
Long ago, in times forgotten by living men and their histories, the ice elves dwelled upon the land now known as 'the Valley'. Where now the wildlife flourishes, there once was a bleak and harsh world.
Survival was difficult. The cruel environment brought about a feudal and often cruel society. The unrepenting and chaotic nature of these elves mirrored well the nature of the land they had inherited.
The ice elves were tribal in nature and grew, over time, into nations. Each warred with the others over the meagre resources that were available. Yet, ironically, most nations had much in common. Their culture, class structure and morality were broadly similar; it was only the whims of their rulers that brought about conflict.
Thus, for centuries unrecorded, did these nations battle. War was viewed as a game more than ought else and few nations sought to truly defeat another; the play was the thing. Yet this 'play' was to radically alter the face of ice elven society.
Inevitably, there came a time when one nation stood, more powerful than the rest, as a true force to be reckoned with. It was fortunate indeed that Tar-Analion, High-King of Nation Isindril, possessed a wisdom and benevolence to match the might at his disposal. In the knowledge that to decline his invitation would be folly, he called a meeting of the leaders of every nation. There, at what was to become known as the Great Council, Tar-Analion laid down his law. He decreed that the wars were to end, lest his armies descend upon those who opposed his vision. The other Kings had little choice but to concede to his will.
The 'Golden Age' began. Trade between nations was commonplace. Philosophy, mathematics and the arts took the place of warfare. Conditions for the peasantry improved and, where once savagery reigned, there was now finery.
Alas, fatefully, the Golden Age was to be short-lived. The darker, evil, side of their chaotic nature was to return to haunt the noble elves, for those who had been driven from the light, eons before, were to wreak a terrible vengeance.
The Drow came in force. No reason, no argument would deter them. They brought with them a ferocity with which even the ice elves were unfamiliar. They struck first at the centre, the glittering jewel at the heart of the ice elven empire. Within but a month, Isindril was in ruin. Women raped, men put to the sword, children enslaved. None were spared.
From their central position, the drow spread outward. With each new victory, their malice and bloodlust grew. Many fiefs they found already abandoned with only the remnants of a ritual of transportation, the others they took with ease. Within two years the mainland had been conquered and the Drow were all but victorious. Only a solitary star of hope flickered in the surrounding darkness.
The smallest, most insignificant, of nations still remained untouched. The island province of Spirior, with little in the way of monetary, political or military weight had been assessed by the Drow as no threat to their plans. But now, the fleeing remainder of the ice elven race did gather at this final beacon.
There was much that the Drow had not reckoned with. For Spirior, on the isolated edge of the empire, had been resistant to change. During the Golden Age, when the other nations has adopted a more peaceful existence, Spirior had kept to the Old Ways. Rather than enter into trade, King Tar-Meneldur had simply closed his nation's borders. The people of Spirior still embraced the chaos that was their heritage and were as fierce and unyielding as ever.
At the palace of Taj-Melene, capital of Nation Spirior, the ice elves would make their last, proud, stand. The Drow gathered all their forces to converge upon this place and ensure a swift, glorious, victory.
In what was to become known as 'the Battle of Shattered Ice', the fighting raged for three days and nights. For the first time in the War, the Drow were pushed back, even though they outnumbered their foe by three to one. On the morning of the fourth day, however, the Drow returned in even greater numbers and finally broke through the palace defences.
Stood, surveying the scene of the battle, the Drow commander's face was lit with a joyful smile. As his troops followed the fleeing ice elves into the maze of corridors inside the palace, he could almost taste victory. Perhaps, if he were able to see the face of his counterpart, Tar-Meneldur, his reaction would have been more modest. For King Tar-Meneldur's face was also animated, as he prepared himself for the greatest feat of magic he was ever to perform.
In the most tragic and bitter victory of the War, Tar-Meneldur shattered the very foundations of Taj-Melene. As the screams and oaths of both friend and foe echoed around him, Tar-Meneldur drew his final breath. The grim smile upon his face was to be the last of the War...
Ice Elven Society
General Overview
Although the structure of ice elven society appears, at first glance, to be ordered and lawful, the ice elves were more akin to Chaos. While most ice elves conformed to the social boundaries detailed below, they were not forced to do so. Most ice elves simply chose to perpetuate the customs of their ancestors. There was no legal system in the society and no crimes or official 'punishments'. The few who did not conform were simply frowned upon.
The society had no sexual bias; males and females were considered to be of equal importance.
Class Structure
- The Royalty. The only class to possess knowledge of the Arcane magics, they achieved their status by right of birth alone. Well educated and often petulant, they placed their faith in finery. One was often judged, in royal circles, by the clothes that he wore.
Only the King, Queen and their direct offspring were permitted to learn the art of White Sorcery; this knowledge was guarded most jealously.
- The Nobility. The nobility were formed of the Lords and Ladies who were 'landowners'. Each Lord ruled over a small fief and was responsible for the defence and welfare of those who dwelled within it. The nobility often tried to emulate the Royals in their demeanor, albeit it somewhat unsuccesfully.
The nobility possessed knowledge of High magic, but many Lords were known primarily as mighty warriors.
- The Soothsayers. A somewhat mysterious and nebulous group, the Soothsayers were the wisest of all the elves. With knowledge of the Good Sphere and the mysticism of Chaos, it was believed that they could see into the future itself. They were the only elves to use 'power'. Almost the entirety of their number was formed of the nobility's secondborn, although a particularly talented peasant could sometimes be admitted.
They tended to ignore magic, considering it to have little worth.
- The Warriors. The firstborn of each peasant family would become a warrior. He would serve in the forces of the fief in which he was born, following the Lord of that fief in battle.
The warrior class has access to battle magic only.
- The peasantry. Merchants, smiths, foragers etc. All equal. None had access to the magical arts. Many were oppressed and mistreated by their lieges; their value to the society as a whole was overlooked by those in more emminent positions.
Class System - Other notes
Naturally, within each class there were certain distinctions. A warrior who fought for the royal family or a peasant serving as a maid to a noble would both be regarded in higher esteem and would receive extra benefits.
Other Ice Elf Information
Titles
The title 'Tar' means 'Lord' and was used exclusively by royals. In general, the title was only used for either the Ruler himself, or his offspring.
Names
'Tar-Meneldur' (Quicksilver's father) means 'Heaven-Lord'.
'Tar-Minyatur' (Quicksilver) means 'First-Lord'.
'Spiriantii' is the surname of the Royal Family of Spirior.
(Hence Quicksilver's full name would be 'Tar-Minyatur Spiriantii'.)
Psionics
It is believed that several of the ice elves demonstrated mind powers, in a similar fashion to their drowic adversaries.
Weaponry
Ice elves used sharp weapons almost exclusively; only the Soothsayers used blunt weapons. Bows were also favoured by the lower classes, for their use in the hunt.
Dress
Quite dependent upon class/social standing. Peasants and Warriors often wore furs and had a distinctly 'wild' appearance. Metal armour (difficult to acquire in those times) was almost certainly reserved for members of the nobility; all such armour was naturally ensorcelled. The soothsayers usually dressed in white robes, and bore the symbol of chaos upon their cheek (tatooed). The Royalty dressed in a bright fashion, often sporting the colour purple (since the dye necessary to make such clothes was very rare).
Quicksilver, supplied to the library from his personal notes, Planting Moon, 10AR
