Khelekedhel
Also known as Snow Elves
Snow elves can be seen as colder than most of their kind thanks to their rigidly formal mannerisms. However they are staunch allies and fierce opponents, and are welcomed almost universally wherever they go. This also means that any known dishonest snow elves are reviled even more strongly and shunned even more completely, which makes life hard for some enterprising, opportunistic khelekedhel adventurers.
Basic Information
Dietary Needs and Habits
Kheleki diets primarily consist of meats and seafood, supplemented with pungent or bitter vegetables that grow in cold climates like onions, garlic, and chard.
Additional Information
Facial characteristics
Snow elves have more rounded features than most other elves, with cheekbones not quite as pronounced. Their irises range from whites to blues to pinks to violets. Snow elf hair is thick and mostly in pale shades of white, blue, or blonde.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Khelekedhel are primarily found in arctic and subarctic regions, or other areas that are perpetually cold. The northern, mountainous regions of Lados and Elaysm as well as the permafrost region of southern Ashenthorn are all home to snow elves.
Civilization and Culture
Beauty Ideals
In general the more androgynous an individual looks the more attractive they are seen as. Snow elf culture strongly emphasizes duty and skill over excessive physical showings. Thus in most cases women with smaller breasts and narrower hips are preferred, and men with more narrow shoulders, more modestly-sized genitals, and slimmer waists are preferred.
Common Etiquette Rules
Kheleki tend to be formal with almost everyone they meet, even long-time friends or family. They are similarly formal when making or accepting requests (leading to many uncomfortable tavern waiters). It is only during a hunt or while in battle that they 'let loose,' flowing with the tide of the fight.
Common Dress Code
Unlike other elves, khelekedhel tend to wear plenty of covering clothing, often in layers. Leathers, hides, and furs are favorites, with cloth often being reserved for special occasions. Metal or laminate plates are generally used where most effective instead of all-over.
History
Some few Naledi hunted elder things and their shoggoth servitors during the Fourth Elder War, playing a major part in pushing the elder things back to their strongholds in the antarctic. And there they stayed, building shelter out of anything available and becoming premiere hunters to sustain themselves.
By the founding of Meara, the kheleki had become masterful warriors and hunters, and the harsh living conditions of their environment shaped their culture into one of strict codes of honor and loyalty. They brought those skills and beliefs to the great kingdom and became Meara's police force and judicial system, as well as the kingdom's hunters and ground scouts. After the destruction of Meara in the Godswar, the snow elves largely returned to their frigid homelands, though many chose to stay with and aid other fleeing Mearans. Thanks to this, snow elves are widely considered honorable and dependable, and while a few selfish and dishonorable khelekedhel exist, the stereotype is largely true.
By the time of the Culling, snow elf numbers had dwindled to a dangerously low point. They were led out of the path of extinction by the Adamantine Empress Zafara Bladesong, whose long reign proved to be a turning point in khelekedhel fortunes. She consolidated the species on Koraith, a snowy mountain top, and codified snow elf martial prowess, which from then on was called the Bladesong. The Bladesong line continues to lead the khelekedhel as the most effective pound-for-pound fighting force in the world.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Scientific Name
Homo sophos proelium
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Khelekedhel have very pale skintones, sometimes even alabaster white. They can have a slight bluish tint to their skin. They can also have more peach-colored skin, which generally means a non-kheleki elven ancestor.
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