Dance Of Winter

[Adran 10]

((I thought it might be cool to have some more lore on Snow Elves that would allow for some group roleplay and in-character cultural exchange. And I couldn’t sleep, so I got up and wrote this. This is just a sample of what I'd eventually like to accomplish: an official, comprehensive guide to snow elven culture and lore, because that...doesn't exist. However, I'd like to get just the concept through review before I write the whole thing down, lest it get shot down because "everyone hates snelves." I can probably expand the poem to make it more interesting and the lore to add more details, but I'm actually tired now, so I'm going to bed. G'night. Oh, and apologies for my poetic ineptitude. I'm only sort of awake now. Cut me some slack. And constructive feedback would be very much appreciated.))

 

     Snow falls on all of Malin’s children. Some despise it, some don’t mind it, but the Mali’Fenn revere it. Every year, upon the first snowfall, the entire community gathers and performs the Dance of Winter. The dance begins with a chanted poem (sometimes set to music ((I've written a simple tune that you can find here (I used dropbox because I have no idea how else to post this; PM me if for some reason you can't accesss the file)))) that starts in the same ominous tone in which many (especially those who survived Thales) speak of the season. As the poem progresses, the chanting speeds up and grows joyful to reflect the Snow Elves’ love for winter.

 

     At the end of the poem, a lively dance is performed to the music of a flute. The dance resembles a square dance, except the dancers move in such a way that, viewed from above, the dance looks like an ever-changing snowflake. Traditionally, the dance is performed with eight pairs, each consisting of a male and a female; however, it can be modified to accommodate more dancers, and can be shrunk to as many as two dancers (although the snowflake image is lost as the number of participants shrinks, the technique remains more or less the same). The Dance of Winter is by no means an easy one to perform and requires hours of practice, both individually and together, in order to pull it off.

 

     Following the dance, the elders traditionally serve a banquet of magnificent size and scrupulous preparation. Following the banquet, there are other festivities as well as more dances. The Dance of Winter is known by other names as well, including the Snow Dance and the Fenn’annyern.

 

(Can be sung/chanted together, or with the first and third lines of each stanza read by only one man)

 

(Slow and dark)

 

Every day the air is colder;

All the leaves are gone.

Every night the wolves grow bolder;

Winter comes anon.

 

(Picking up speed and light)

 

Every day the sun sets quickly;

Longer stays the moon.

Every night the snow falls thickly;

Winter’s coming soon.

 

(Brightly and faster still)

 

Winter rapidly approaches;

We mere mortals have no choice.

Wind picks up and frost encroaches;

Winter’s coming, let’s rejoice!

 

(Dance begins)

 

((Edit: I think another thing that could be added to the lore is more information on snow elven festivals in general, like how long they last, what events occur, etc. Since winter actually is coming for us (At least in the Northern Hemisphere), a festival like this could actually take place as a mini-event or something, sort of like Halloween but on a much smaller scale. Although I don't actually think there are any other snow elves on the server who haven't given up or been banned, so... Also, I may continue to edit this but I would like to see whatever version is currently here reviewed as soon as the Lore Team has a chance. I am currently working on an idea for iatrocryomancy, which is basically magical cryonics that actually works.))

 

((Thanks for reading!))

[TavernLich 324]

Oh... your a snelf. SOMEBODY CALL DE CAHHPS!!!

PS: I like. Make culture nub race. +1.

[Rayna Star 167]

Interesting idea. I do wish there were more cultural events for the elves. +1

[Stump 709]

This.. This is actually rather good, it almost makes me like Snelves. All the +1's, my good man. Maybe one day we'll not-really hate you guys. Continue as you see fit.

Actually, I need to draw a Santa Snelf. I keep forgetting it's that time of year. Grr, Snelves.

[Lark 2227]

Whats this? Making snow elves an actual culture? I like you.

+1

[Adran 10]

I hadn't...quite realized how much people hate snow elves. Adran had best watch himself. Also, there is ample evidence to support the case of making snow elves a sub-race, not just a culture. For example, on the wiki:

     "Mali'Fenn (Snow Elf) are the genetically mutated offspring of High Elves."

The fact that they are genetically distinct means that there is more difference between them and the high elves than just culture. The wiki goes on to explain how they have different skin color (which in our world is enough to make a distinct race) and that

     "Fire leaves more serious burns on them than it does any other race."

If the snow elves are racially the same as high elves, then the above statement implies that all high elves are very vulnerable to fire.

Just a thought, although it has no real bearing on the actual topic of this thread. Do tell me if you think I should actually pursue this and make a separate thread arguing my point.

 

Thanks for the support, guys!

[Lima 774]

I hadn't...quite realized how much people hate snow elves. Adran had best watch himself. Also, there is ample evidence to support the case of making snow elves a sub-race, not just a culture. For example, on the wiki:

     "Mali'Fenn (Snow Elf) are the genetically mutated offspring of High Elves."

The fact that they are genetically distinct means that there is more difference between them and the high elves than just culture. The wiki goes on to explain how they have different skin color (which in our world is enough to make a distinct race) and that

     "Fire leaves more serious burns on them than it does any other race."

If the snow elves are racially the same as high elves, then the above statement implies that all high elves are very vulnerable to fire.

Just a thought, although it has no real bearing on the actual topic of this thread. Do tell me if you think I should actually pursue this and make a separate thread arguing my point.

 

Thanks for the support, guys!

 

These edits to the wiki were all made by Jax. This was not ratified by the Lore Masters in any manner.

[TavernLich 324]

Snelves are never going to be a race. I will riot if they do.

[Adran 10]

These edits to the wiki were all made by Jax. This was not ratified by the Lore Masters in any manner.

 

So the wiki is not an official source for lore?

[Hydra 515]

So the wiki is not an official source for lore?

GG. Erm snelf lore is difficult because there is none. There have been a few proposals from diffrent snelves each since they have always been divided no official lore consensus has been made. Like one version is high elven archeologist got exposed to the thamium and their bodies adapted to the snow, Praise wyvurn XD

[_pr0fit 3084]

I hadn't...quite realized how much people hate snow elves.

Nobody likes the snow elves, the people who played the snow elves were very toxic players, and they generally pissed everyone off with whatever antics they got up to, usually raiding and such. But the main reason nobody likes them is their Immature nature, specifically out of character.

[Adran 10]

Nobody likes the snow elves, the people who played the snow elves were very toxic players, and they generally pissed everyone off with whatever antics they got up to, usually raiding and such. But the main reason nobody likes them is their Immature nature, specifically out of character.

 

Oh...well, I guess I can try to break that stigma. Seeing as I'm the only snow elf I've met so far, I think I'm now representative of the snow elf population. And those snow elves you refer to sound like exactly the opposite type of people from what I'm trying to be. Anyway, I think one of the reasons snow elves are not seen much any more, in addition to that, is that they need interesting lore. So that's what I'm trying to make here.

[Hydra 515]

Oh...well, I guess I can try to break that stigma. Seeing as I'm the only snow elf I've met so far, I think I'm now representative of the snow elf population. Anyway, I think one of the reasons snow elves are not seen much any more, in addition to that, is that they need interesting lore. So that's what I'm trying to make here.

 I suggest you don't.... your better off playing another character.

Snelves really f*cked up and pissed everyone off

[Heff 2460]

First do ur culture, do not try to shoot for subrace

[Adran 10]

First do ur culture, do not try to shoot for subrace

Good idea. For now.

 

 I suggest you don't.... your better off playing another character.

Snelves really f*cked up and pissed everyone off

Just give me a chance. Please?