Name:
Icefolks of Frostfell. The Icefolks do not have a central government and they are led only by Chieftains who act as both mayors and military commanders. However, they do have a circle of elders and are gathered when the total might of the Icefolks are required.
Appearances:
Icefolks typically stands between 5 to 6 feet tall with men most of the times obviously taller than women. They are extremely human-like, with a penchant for brightly coloured hair (such as blonde and platinum) and similarly coloured eyes (such as ice blue and emerald green). Icefolks are, however, generally fairer than human though their skin can be rougher because of the harsh weather in Frostfell.
Physiology:
The Icefolks are close cousins of humans, except that they are stronger, tougher and more resistant to the weather and dangers of Frostfell making them excellent explorers of the Northern regions. However, they cannot bear the heat of the South. Icefolks also reach maturity slightly earlier than their human cousins, though they generally live far shorter lives due to the daily dangers they face in Frostfell.
Reproduction:
Icefolks reproduce just as humans do.
Culture:
Due to the geographical feature of Frostfell, Icefolks usually live near beaches where the fishes are plenty, near forests where they are sheltered from the worst of storms, or near the mountains where they can safely mine from the earth. They usually gathered together in loose formations of towns, and greater cities have not yet been found. Due to their long veneration of Moira, the Icefolks can be considered to be mechanically advanced as well as talented ivory craftsmen. The discovery of coal had helped the Icefolks improving their lives by leaps and bounds as they can now keep the frosts away from their homes and camps as well as using it to power a lot of their machineries.
Icefolks are friendly folks, and they welcome outsiders with open arms. However, they are also fierce hunters and proud warriors; calling themselves the true children of the frigid wastes of Frostfell. All men and women are equal in the eyes of the Icefolks, and it is the deed that you do that represents you. Icefolks are also known for their naivety as well as undying loyalty to those who had earned their trust. Likewise, if one betrayed their trusts, be prepared to be hunted down like dogs.
The Icefolks do not have a central head figure. Instead, they are led by the Council of Elders, formed by representatives of all the towns and villages in Frostfell. The decision making process is oversaw by the clergy of Moira to make sure that there is transparency and fairness. The representatives are chosen by their own towns and villages.
Due to the perpetual winter that surrounds the North, the Icefolks usually wear thick layers of animal furs over heavily quilted clothing to protect themselves from the cold. They also wear a veil over their nose and mouth to prevent their face from being frozen, while those who can afford them wear a pair of snow goggles to resist snow blindness as well. Due to the hard lives all Icefolks endure, they value function over form almost at all times.
Religion:
The Icefolks believed that after their race was created, their god died in the frozen wastes while trying to protect his children from the all-consuming darkness. After his death, they were godless. They became feral, fathers killing sons, mothers killing daughters, brothers killing brothers, daughters killing daughters. It was an age of chaos and darkness, until the Icefolk's first prophet, a young Icefolk cried out to the Frostfell in despair as he was left to die in the snowfield. Then out in the distance, a stern giantess came, and she groomed him back to health. She taught him many things: fishing, hunting, foraging, engineering, healing, culture and even taught him the secrets of magic. She even taught him the secrets of the gods, though it was said that he brought that secret into his grave.
The prophet eventually returned to his people, teaching them what he learned from the giantess whom he called mother, and the Church of the Mother Smith or the Church of Moira came to be. The giantess then appeared to the prophet in his dreams, rebuking his effort in persuading her to stay. But he wept, and begged for her to stay. Her heart softened, and it was how the Mother became the guardians of the people.
The Church of Moira does not stop the Icefolks from worshipping other gods, for they understand that Moira herself merely adopted the Icefolks and it would be wrong for them to stop the people from worshipping others. However, regardless of who they chose to worship, Icefolks believe in sworn promises and if one was broken, they would be cursed until they made amends.
Infrastructure:
The Icefolks generally live in wooden cottages and houses made of logs. However, buildings made of stones and concrete are not unknown. The Icefolks love to use sledges pulled by Direwolves, though cavalries are quite common. When traversing the mountains, they usually do it by foot. The Icefolks are also known to be have tamed Ice Wyverns and use them for transports, but because of the frequent snowstorms they use it quite sparingly. Canoes, boats and ships are quite frequently used for fishing and trading. The area surrounding Frostfell exports a lot of rare materials that are not found anywhere else including seal fur, whale oil, mammoth and walrus ivory, smoked fish and high quality timber. Frostfell is also blessed with mineral wealth such as gold, silver, coal, copper and iron. Magical materials also exist on Frostfell, though these are extremely dangerous to harvest.
Magic:
Magic among the Icefolks are very rare, but those who can wield it are extremely powerful individuals. Those who are talented in the Arts usually approach the Church of Moira for instructions, and most eventually become part of the clergy to learn more about magic and to serve Moira. As expected, Icefolks hold extraordinary affinity towards cold magic.
Army:
In times of war, the entire Icefolks population transform themselves into machines of wars. Men become soldiers, rangers and cavalries while women take care of the logistics. Experienced engineers modify their equipment and raise weapons of destructions and the ice wyverns were called to war. Mammoths were outfitted to carry great cannons. Members of the clergy call upon the power of the ever freezing North to their sides, and to awaken the great slumbering beast called Frostfell. They can also invole the ancient pact that their ancestors have made with the Frost Giants, and call upon their aid.
Background:
The first of the Icefolks struggled in Frostfell. There were cold, slush, snow and ice, but the Icefolks endured. Though primitive, the Icefolks adapted to the harsh and dire winters of Frostfell while living in caverns, tents and underground complexes. It was years after that when their god finally died that they were plunged into a dark age where many were turned into barbarism. It was not until they were adopted by the goddess Moira that they were able to return to civilization. Their new prophet brought them into a new golden age where they learnt to properly fish and hunt, as well as to cultivate plants that can be eaten yet were able to stand the harsh winters of the North.
It took years, but the Icefolks were finally able to rise up from the ashes and embraced both science and magic. During this time, they were even able to defeat the hated Frost Giants, and eventually befriend them as well. Though the dangers of Frostfell remains, they became one of the dominating forces on the frozen wasteland.
Relations:
The Icefolks are a welcoming and friendly lot and thus their relationship with others who had visited their lands are good. However, the Icefolks do not leave Frostfell frequently enough so they can be considered quite naïve by others, but it was this naivety that drawn others to them.
Legends/Myths:
Their favourite story is about how the giantess that was sent by the goddess Moira picked up their young prophet when he was but a young teen and nursed him back to health while teaching him the secrets of the gods.
The Lands:
Is your land full of mountains, forests, rivers, caves ? What kind of animals live there, what kind of plants ? Are there any special objects, ruins or artifacts scattered around ? Is it dangerous out at night thanks to bandits or other creepers ?
Notable beasts:
The land of Frostfell is home to several mythical beasts, and to not so mythical horrifying creatures. Great dragons were said to dwell deep within the bowels of unexplored mountain valleys, sleeping await with their horde of treasures. Dire Winterwolves, Great Huskies, Giant Polar Bears, Ice Wyverns and the Woolly Mammoths aren't that rare. Air and Ice Elementals, creatures made of pure elements roam at the highest altitudes of certain mountains and plateaus. Frost Giants make certain mountains and valleys their homes. Spirits of the dead also danced in the snows, luring the living into their demise.
Location:
Frostfell is the northernmost continent of the known world (black in the map). It is an extremely unfriendly land, surrounded by perpetual winters littered with mountains, high plateaus and valleys that only the hardiest species could survive. In the winter season, lakes and rivers may freeze and the land becomes devastated by blizzards and snow storms. Even the seas surrounding it became harder to traverse as glaciers form and ice chunks blocks harbours. However, it is also blessed with immense mineral wealth, known to have large deposits of various precious and even magical metals. Plants that made their home in Frostfell are also one of the hardest type of lumber that had ever existed, making it ideal construction material. Hotsprings are also relatively common, providing heat, warmth and a source of water.
Why: The Icefolks is not interested in lands beyond the Frostfell. Not like they can live anywhere else, really.
