Boreal Elves

Boreal Elves are a variant of Forest Elves, created just as them by genmaturgists of Xylian Dominion, to serve as slaves dedicated to hunting, foraging and woodcutting in vast forests of Karathia. Northern and northeastern region, to be precise, supplying local xylian population with all resources local woods could provide.
This changed in late Xylian Dominion, as their overlords become more and more mechanized, with their needs for products from the forests slowly getting smaller and smaller. They were redefined into combat elven subspecie, serving as inexpensive archers for various xylian warlords, their own society taking shape similar to the xylian militant magocracy.
Boreal Elves quickly gined freedom after the Black Iron War, when the Xylian Dominion crumbled. They created several small kingdoms to the north-easternn from today's Visenia, that collapsed after human wave. Boreal Elves managed to survive without degenerating into Low Elves completely, remaining a minority on their former lands, mostly being a part of human society.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Typical humanoids. Two hands, two legs, one head. They tend to have well developed muscular system in hands and legs, that make them good woodcutters, hunters... and fighters, both archers and warriors. They are also known for having extraordinary stamina, capable for running almost indefinitely as long as they are well trained, fit, and supplied with enough food and water.
On both parts they are worse than baseline forest elves, instead being more resistant to low temperatures and retaining more of their strenght and endurance when it is cold.

Biological Traits

As all elves, they are very dependant on level of their blood purity. Mixing with other elven subspecies makes their offsprings genetically inferior, slowly degenerating into low elves, making special traits of their subspecie much weaker with every generation, and lowering their lifespan. A pure-blooded aristocracy of boreal elves (very rare) can live two hundred years, with up to 400 years in case of particularly magic-talented and pureblooded elfs. The 'plebeians' that are still considered boreal elves have average lifespan of around 100 to 120 years.

Genetics and Reproduction

Their reproduction is typical for elves. Can have children only with other elves, ogres, and very magical beings for example shapeshifters and high dragons. Pregnancy ranges from 9 to 10 months, depending on level of blood purity.

Ecology and Habitats

Boreal elves particularly enjoy living in a small villages surrounded by forest, when they can freely hunt. They tend to have good relations with dryads whose domain surround them, making them avoid most of problems that come from such placement of settlements. They still have cities, naturally, but they tend to be spread, without really big buildings and with lots of trees. They tend to dislike the smell of big cities, but that comes from their typical environments rather than biology, which means they can get used to it after some time.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Lack of facial hair with exception of eyebrows. Slightly pale skin. Skin light, hair brown or black.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Tend to have very good sight, good hearing and keen sense of smell. They are also mostly resistant to snow blindness.

Civilization and Culture

Common Taboos

As among most of the elves, they have a taboo about relationships with members of other subspecies. While this does happen, it is generally shunned among most of elven societies, making elves that attempted it in most cases move to other provinces of Imperium.

Created by: Xylian Dominion.
IC: Occurence: Uncommon
IC: Danger: Threatened

Lifespan

80-400

Average Height

1.6-1.8m.