Ice Elves

The Ice Elves, or Hyakki, are a mutated type of elf produced from generations born in the harsh tundra of Eldham in the Amarion Kingdom.

Ice Elves live to be 800-1300 years of age, much longer than most races of Elves do.

History
According to history, the Ice Elves derived from the Elven Migrations, but instead of settling in Rathnir, they kept looking for land and arrived in Eldham. As generations passed in the Tundra they took residence in, they started to mutate due to their surroundings, gaining pale blue skin, white eyes, silver hair, stronger lungs, and resistance to frostbite. Their blood, unlike other elves, is a dark blue.

Over time, the Ice Elf tribes reunited to form the kingdom of Amarion, where they ruled most of the tundra of the northwest of Eldham. Evidence shows that throughout time, other races such as dwarves, orcs and humans joined, slowly making the kingdom diverse. Eventually, the beginning Ice Elf tribes became nobles, under families such as the Bryleth family, the Phalix family, the Yllafir family and the prominent Virhice family, who, through a vote through the citizens, became the ruling royal family.

This did not last long though, as the kingdom was split apart through feuds of the tribes. Each tribe had citizen backing, and they began the Amarion Civil War. Through this war, the population was cut down to a fifth of what it used to be, destroying the Amarion Kingdom and leaving the Ice Elves scattered, with the heir to the throne, Ruvaen Virhice, wandering the tundra.

Some fled back to Rathnir after the events, and were accepted into the state of Aurora under the Empire of Uldarash.

Religion
Nearly all Ice Elves are or were followers of Astralism, the belief that every star in the sky is a god standing upon the Astral Plane watching them, judging them fit for the afterlife or not. It is said that if a ritual is followed, an elf may be purified under the astral plane and returned to the cradle, but most history of this was lost to time in the Amarion Civil War.

Many Rathniri Hyakki however follow a religion known as the Sisters of Peace, a pacifist religion revolving around the goddesses Serenity and Exolvonturis. Notable Hyakki and half Hyakki that follow this religion include Cxon, Potato_Lemon, and MakkisPekkis.

Culture
Ice Elves are beings of complete neutrality or complete aggressiveness when it comes to their personality, so they either eat civilized or barbaric-like. Their main food source formally consisted of frozen river fish and polar bears. If an Ice Elf's reputation is tarnished by another, they may challenge the other to mutual combat to regain their honor. Power is the hierarchy, and this can come in many ways; power in wealth, power in strength, power in intelligence, and such. The more power you have, the more reputable you are, and the more opportunities you are given.

Ice Elves show no particular hostility to races, as they value potential and power, not blood. Their preferred racial term is Hyakki.

There is however, an offshoot of Hyakki culture that left Eldham millenia ago and ventured to the South pole, where they would form into several nomadic tribes. Many years later, one of these tribes would venture North to Sorligste, where they would become instrumental in the politics of the Republic of Ato, the GSF, and later on, in Frostmarch.

Appearance
Adult Male Ice Elves are around 6'3-6'5. Females are around 6'0 - 6'3. They usually have blue/whiteish eyes, and longer ears then your average elf.

The mutation caused from them adapting to the tundra, and being born there caused their blood to develop into a dark blue color, this makes them unique and rare as no other Elves are known to have said blood color. Hyakki with dark blue blood are pureblooded, meaning both of their parents are Hyakki. The few elves that possess said trait are considered royal ice elves.

Rathniri Hyakki are distinguishable from their Eldhamite counterparts by their webbed feet, an adaptation that helps them swim faster through the water. They also are known to sometimes possess purple eyes.

Some Hyakki in Rathnir intermingle with Humans due to their low population. This has resulted in occasional half elves with light blue blood.