The Everfrost Court of Unyielding Winter

House Vaelmir ~ Keepers of Eirlys, the Chalice of Frozen Tears

It is said that when Wildfire raged across the land, consuming all in its path, Starlight wept, and her sorrow fell as frozen tears, quenching the flames and leaving behind a world reborn in ice and silence. From this sorrow, the Everfrost Court was shaped—an austere realm of endless tundras, glacial peaks, and forests wreathed in hoarfrost. The very spirit of winter’s lament lingers here, hardening the mountains in eternal frost and taming the wild magic left behind by fire’s wrath.

House Vaelmir, sovereigns of this cold and unforgiving land, rule from their citadel of ice and shadow, their domain one of endurance, quiet strength, and haunting beauty. They are the wardens of the Eirlys Chalice of Frozen Tears, a relic said to hold the last sorrow of Starlight, brimming with the unmelting essence of winter’s sorrow. It is whispered that to drink from it is to know the weight of eternity, to feel the ache of loss and the solace of stillness.

At the heart of the Everfrost Court stands the Pale Monarch, Kael Vaelmir, his presence as chilling as the frost-laced winds that sweep across his dominion. Veiled in shimmering icewoven silks and crowned with a diadem of glacial crystal, he embodies winter’s rule—unyielding, yet hauntingly serene. His gaze is said to hold the quiet vastness of an eternal snowfall, and his voice carries the hush of ice settling over a frozen lake. House Vaelmir governs with measured grace, ensuring that even in a land where the sun is but a distant memory, the balance of magic endures, preserved beneath the unrelenting grasp of winter.

Life here is as harsh as it is breathtaking, yet the land holds more abundance than one might expect, providing for the Frost Fey and Snowborn Elves. Food is plentiful for those who know where to seek it—through hunting the resilient creatures of the tundra or foraging nature’s hidden bounty. At the peaks of ancient, ice-laden trees grow Glacier Pears, their flavor a delicate blend of honeyed frost and warming spice. Among frostbitten thickets, clusters of Snowberries and Frostcurrants thrive, while sacred groves shelter the elusive Duskshadow Plums, prized for crafting the highly sought-after Duskshadow Wine, known for its deep warmth against the relentless cold. Beneath the thick snow, a wealth of hardy tubers can be unearthed—Everroot Tubers, Frostveil Squash, and Chillroot Carrots, each vital to the survival and traditions of those who call the Everfrost home.

All across the tundras and deep into the frosted woods roam the creatures of winter. The Frostclaws, massive bears with shifting coats of fur, blend seamlessly into the snow, their camouflage allowing them to strike swiftly at those caught unaware. These giants are terrifyingly powerful, capable of bringing down even the most formidable prey. The Tundra Vulpines move in small, tight-knit packs, hunting smaller creatures with deadly precision, while the Great Frostmane Stags reign over the forests, their antlers towering like ice-covered trees, embodying the strength of the frozen wilds. High in the mountains, great packs of Icefang Wolves roam the peaks, their eyes like frozen embers. These wolves own the frostbitten heights, their presence as much a part of the landscape as the snow itself. And as night falls, the Chillmourn Owls begin their haunting songs, their hoots carrying on the wind, adding a chilling melody to the otherwise silent landscape.

Wintertide

Wintertide, the Festival of the Longest Night, is a sacred tradition that unfolds every year on the winter solstice. On this night, the Snowborn and Frost Fey gather beneath the shadowed canopy of the Ebon Hollow, the heart of the Winter Court. Draped in thick furs and adorned with antler crowns, they come together to honor the night that stretches longest across the sky. With cups raised high, they drink in celebration of Eirlys, the Goddess of Winter, whose breath is said to be the first exhalation of the mountains and the kiss of the frost. A fire is kindled for her husband Tulo, the god of forge and craft, whose flames bring warmth to the coldest of nights. As the embers flicker, the people make their wishes, their voices carried in the cold night air, hoping that when the sun finally returns, it will bring renewal and light to their lives.

Wintertide is also a time for confessions, for secrets long held are shared in the presence of the ancient, glimmering trees, whose branches twist high above. In this sacred space, unions are formed, and bonds are sealed with the blessing of the Winter Court. Lovers declare their devotion, and those seeking redemption offer their hearts in the hope of new beginnings. The night stretches on, timeless and magical, as the Snowborn and Frost Fey await the first light of dawn, knowing that with the return of the sun, a new cycle will begin.