The Louves' Carved Knives

The Louves

The Louves have moved to The Great Towers Range, south of Alven five centuries ago, and have pretty much kept to themselves until now. Some young Louves have been known to leave The Elders' Caverns to find fortune north in Alven, and settled down through marriage and become part of one of the Alven clans.
However, Louves differs in many ways from the rest of the Alvenite population. Physically, they are taller and broader than the average Alven man and woman. Their skin is very pale and they usually dye their hair black or red. They have a reputation for courage and strength and for that reason are usually very well respected among Alvenites.

On the other hand, the Louves' religion sets them apart from the rest of Alven: the Louves are brought up to believe - almost fanatically - in a one god pantheon where Belen is the sole purveyor of life and death over the human race.

Culturally, Louves are marvelous smiths and craftsmen. Many believe that as well as the craft and know-how they brought with them when moving to the Alven mountains, Louves have also acquired some of the techniques belonging to their neighbours The Encrors, The Staynes. The Louves are the only human ethnicity to have forged links with the mysterious Staynes.

Like the Staynes, The Louves rear The White Mountain Goats and produce high-quality woollens that are much prized by the Alven clansmen. The Louves craftsmanship is also legendary and few enterprising caravaners make their way up the difficult and dangerous Tower roads to trade with the craftsmen of the Caves.

If successful in their negotiations- which can be difficult in themselves - caravans come back to the cultural centers of Alven with a wagonload or two of many prized goods such as goat wool and cloth, carved knives and swords, even intricate armors and helmets. Among these goods, the carved knives and daggers are the most popular and in fashion right now with the young bucks and does of the clans. No attire is finished without one of the Louves' knives somewhere visible on their person.

The Skindirk

The Skindirk  is the name the Louves give to their ornate and beautiful daggers. The hilt is usually intricately carved in either metal or the horn of their goats. The patterns are often abstract but also represent stylized animals from the Louves' Tale of Creation.

Many of the animals celebrated in the Tale are also part of the totemic animals close to the clans' hearts. It could explain why the daggers are particularly popular among the Alvenites. It is customary for a clansman or clanswoman to sport a skindirk with a carving of the clan's spirit animal. See The 13 Sacred Animals of Alven.