Category:Snow Elves

Snow Elves are a hardy race native to the northern polar regions of Althea.

Description
Adapted to the polar permafrost, Snow Elves have extremely pale skin and hair. Their eyes, lips and nails are predominantly blue, though in some elves these features may appear silver, grey or white. Among elves, they are considered to have the longest ears.

There is a large degree of height variation among Snow Elves. This is thought to be as a result of the Melts, where several geographically isolated populations were brought together and decimated.

Snow Elves are adapted to temperatures below 0°C and immune to freezing. Up to 10°C, temperatures are considered uncomfortably hot and Snow Elves may have difficulty performing tasks outside for long periods of time. Above 10°C, elves burn and dehydrate very quickly, and temperatures above 20°C are lethal.

Life Span
Snow Elves live for approximately 250 years. They are considered children up to age 15, at which time they enter adolescence. This period lasts for another 15 years. At 30, a Snow Elf is considered adult and expected to take on a full set of duties, and this birthday is accompanied by a lavish celebration lasting a week. It is common for elves to live with their parents until around age 50, as they are still considered youths.

The "young adult" period lasts from about age 30-50 until 100 years of age, at which point a Snow Elf is no longer considered very young. This centennial birthday is usually marked by a celebration, recognising the golden period of a Snow Elf's life.

Around age 200, Snow Elves show the first physical signs of ageing. The effects are slow until around 230, where the rate of decline sharply increases. At this point, Snow Elves become more prone to illnesses, less tolerant of heat and lose motor skills and senses. Few Snow Elves live beyond 250.