Snow Domicile
... in the cold world of forever frost, there's snow place like dome!
"You know what they say; cast boulders break Ice houses."
A typical Snow Globe is a magical device with a limited internal space. Pure Snow Globes, denoted by their clear surface, act as bi-ways. From outside, the contents appear in snowy impressions. The icy exterior absorbs cold from the environment, providing a livable ambient temperature within the globe.
Multiple families could live under one Domicile, divided into communal areas. Clans built individual structures within.
Domicile Village
Multiple families could live under one Domicile, divided into communal areas. Clans built individual structures within. The interior is gyroscopic, maintaining a stasis despite exterior conditions. The hydrophobic property of Ice provides buoyancy, actively repelling water and forming a layer of air along the surface.
Snow Globes are portable orbs contained within a leather bag or silk pouch. As long as the bag can breath, living creatures can be contained within. For this reason, Snow Globes found a purpose in the Mystomythian's construction of portable shelters, known as Snow Domiciles.
Magical in nature, these structures were otherwise similar to Snow Globes. Allowing for more space, these could be moved by reverting it into a small orb. Vehicle compartments often reserved space for Globes or Domiciles.
Snow Globes are portable orbs contained within a leather bag or silk pouch. As long as the bag can breath, living creatures can be contained within. For this reason, Snow Globes found a purpose in the Mystomythian's construction of portable shelters, known as Snow Domiciles.
Magical in nature, these structures were otherwise similar to Snow Globes. Allowing for more space, these could be moved by reverting it into a small orb. Vehicle compartments often reserved space for Globes or Domiciles.
Breathless, the exhausted Mystic leaned on his Staff, tipped with the heavy orb. His family and Mythic kin had traveled into the icy mountains after Giants raided their Domiciles with boulders.
They now depended on the Shaman to make a decision.
He and a few others had spared their Snow Domiciles, and now had to choose where to re-settle. He peered within the orb.
Their families, tired and hungry, peered through the surface, as if the shadow of the Giants were still upon them. Children, horns and teeth chattering, shivered huddled together in fear.
Beyond them, the dawning horizon. They'd come far enough.
Misacado proclaimed, "We begin anew ", thus, the Folk rejoiced.
Architecture & Customs
Inside a Snow Domicile, the temperature hovers above freezing. While it is a cold environment, it is habitable. Air flows through as constant snowfall creates melting pools inside. The area for a Snow Domicile is on average 500 Un- large enough for groups of people to live within comfortably.
Unlike Snow Globes, small, controlled flames can be held within. Smoke emits into vaporous transmissions against the surface.
These buildings became important structures, inspiring the "Dome & Spire" Architectural style of the Folk. Evacuating a Domicile in a moment of crisis was also crucial in their ability to adapt to cold, freezing environments. Re-settling after a calamity was a matter of location.
Unlike Snow Globes, small, controlled flames can be held within. Smoke emits into vaporous transmissions against the surface.
These buildings became important structures, inspiring the "Dome & Spire" Architectural style of the Folk. Evacuating a Domicile in a moment of crisis was also crucial in their ability to adapt to cold, freezing environments. Re-settling after a calamity was a matter of location.
Mystomythian Arcanum
Traditionally, an Arcanum is created as either a domed structure, or it's constructed within a Snow Domicile. Mystomythian Folk were concerned with preservation of the Folk Lore and other important records significant to Folk History. Purpose & Defense
Snow Domes & Snow Globes
There are key differences between a Snow Domicile and a Snow Globe:- Snow Globes weigh much less while a Snow Domicile, as a small orb, can still weigh 300 Ub or more, depending upon interior contents.
- Interior is etched in snow upon the surface of a Snow Globe; one can peer within a Snow Domicile as if it were a bi-way window.
- Accessing a Snow Domicile at different quadrants allows different access points into the interior.
- Items and people can't be moved or drawn out of a Snow Domicile.
- Intense flames or heat burst both, but the Domicile has a higher tolerance, allowing small contained fires.
- Once activated, a Snow Domicile has an expanded range compared to the Snow Globe's interior space.
- The Snow Domicile can regenerate, withstanding much more damage or pressure than a Snow Globe.
One key difference between a Snow Domicile and a Snow Globe is that a Globe is a pocket of space, contained within the Globe; a Domicile is an expanse of space, stretching the boundaries of the Domicile. This is achieved through an effective application of Sizing and Phasing Magic to activate the Domicile.
Defense Readiness
Snow Domiciles act as hardy bastions against cold environments. Using flames or environmental factors, such as geo-thermal vents, can create an atmosphere within the Snow Globe, but care must be taken to keep the temperature at a certain threshold. The Domicile can still burst if exposed to intense sources of heat, impacts or crushing force.
Otherwise, small fractures and fissures in the surface regenerate if exposed to the cold. Over a few moments, these cracks will frost over from the inside, resealing the passage. To exit the Snow Domicile, all one must do is cross the threshold. As a bi-way, it can be entered, but command words may be necessary to enter once more. Entrances were often guarded.
Escape Plan
With a few command words, a Snow Domicile can be commanded to shrink into the size of a Small Snow Globe. In this form, it has a considerable weight, but it can be moved. While people within can move around and act normally, all objects seem to frost over with ice during the initial diminishment. Once the Snow Domicile retains its normal size and dimensions, the interior shifts to arrange within the surrounding. If the Snow Domicile is in a location it can't conform to, it won't revert to normal size.
Origins & Historical Significance
Snow Globe
Snow Domiciles are the evolution of Snow Globes. Both of these built the foundation for Orb & Pocket Technology.The development of the Snow Domicile occurred merely 300 years after the Snow Globe had become popularized.
Folk Traders and other travelers were known for carrying a Snow Globe or Domicile in case of emergencies. These were kept within a special compartment of their vehicles, used to hold their stock or special goods. While Folk Traders were reluctant to barter with Snow Globes, these items sometimes found their way into the hands of other Cultures, which sometimes caused conflicts.
Due to the massive and various amounts of rare Ice used in the construction of these homes, they were incredibly uncommon. Owning a Domicile was often a sign of importance amongst the Folk.
Folk Traders and other travelers were known for carrying a Snow Globe or Domicile in case of emergencies. These were kept within a special compartment of their vehicles, used to hold their stock or special goods. While Folk Traders were reluctant to barter with Snow Globes, these items sometimes found their way into the hands of other Cultures, which sometimes caused conflicts.
Due to the massive and various amounts of rare Ice used in the construction of these homes, they were incredibly uncommon. Owning a Domicile was often a sign of importance amongst the Folk.
Given enough Time, Snow Domiciles could be crafted and obtained. Small communities and villages would gather around local Domiciles, as the owners were often helpful, protecting others during storms or raids. Left alone for over thousands of years, Snow Domiciles take on their own micro-habitat if it's never moved or reverted in size. In later Ages, these ruins were known as Green Houses, as they evolved over millions of years, abandoned.
Myths & Cultural Relevance
Mystery: Remains of Ice and Snow
Mythologists have never found skeletal fossil records within Snow Domiciles or Snow Globes. While evidence of altercations or Death can be found, no bodies have ever been claimed from these ruins. A Folk belief holds that those who perish within become one with the Ice and snow, but this has never been proven. It is also true that long-held structures will often form caches of Blue Ice within, but otherwise, none have ever confirmed the presence of the dead. Some funerary rites evolved from this belief, involving a Snow Globe and the deceased. Tombs and burial mounds are often filled with empty Snow Globes or Domiciles, either on pedastels or in mass graves.
Snow Vacancy
Under the Dome
Construction
Snow Domiciles are created using Blue Ice, Pink Ice, and Black Ice. 4 people are required to construct a Snow Domicile, each with their own tools, working in unison.
Alchemical ID
#03: Blue Ice
#03: Blue Ice
- Hydrophobic "Ice"
- Absorbs
Cold Energy
- Repels Water
Cold Energy
Material Base Cost
TBD Casho
TBD Casho
Foundation
An open, flat location is chosen or leveled. Must have a firm foundation; area is marked by radius of the dome. Planks of wood are used to form a wall, 2-3 Un high. Artisans pour salt water into a briny pool.
Structure
From the center, Artisans create Snow Globes. With hollow tubes, they create one large bubble, forming multiple layers until the radius meets the boundary. Additional chambers can be formed. Spells are woven intermittently within the process, accomplished within several hours.
Operations
As a communal living space, it served simply as a shelter. For others, these were vaults, forts, and safe havens against the cold and weather. Settled long enough, they formed interior micro-climates.
Notable Locations
- Misacado
- Arcadia Arcanum
Compartment of Vehicle
Comments
Author's Notes
They also carried these as personal items, so I thought that was pretty neat! Honestly, a Snow Domicile is suitable for the "Item for Protection" Prompt as well, since you can safely hide within!
As with each SC Article, I'll return here once more when I'm not so pressed! Hope you enjoy!
**Update:02/10/25**
Added more details and organized sections! Better aligned, more Assets, and tightened Lore!
MYTH X