Milvasi

The Milvasi, often referred to as the Pale-Blooded, are an ethnic group native to the city of Milvas on the frostbitten Milvani Peninsula on the northern coast of Siarland. Neither wholly Elven nor Human, they are the product of generations of intermingling between Lorinthan colonists, Nordur whalers, and the peoples of the Frozen Shelf of the far north.   Though often considered Half-Elves and indeed sharing similar characteristics such as extended lifespans, the Milvasi are in actuality an ethnic group distinct from the half-elves of the rest of the continent.    

Physical Characteristics

The Milvasi are famed for their striking, otherworldly appearance, a visible reflection of their fragmented lineage. Their bloodlines weave together three distinct ancestral threads being the far-northern tribes who roam the Frozen Shelf, the Lorinthan Elves who founded the city of Milvas, and the Nordur whalers who settled the coast in later years.   Their complexions span a striking range, from frost-pale skin that borders on translucent, to deeper hues of ashen bronze, muted copper, and wind-darkened tan, each shaped by centuries of intermingling. Most possess angular yet soft features, with faintly pointed ears, a distant echo of Elven descent now diminished across generations. Hair colors range from silvery white and flaxen blonde to deep brown and obsidian black, often streaked or lightened by the salt and sun of the coastal winds. Eye colors are equally diverse. Icy blues, sea greens, storm greys, and the rare violet or pale gold, said to reflect the light of the aurora when seen beneath the right sky.   The only recognized distinction within Milvasi society are the so-called Icekin. White hair, near-colorless eyes, and skin so pale it gleams in moonlight. These individuals are not exalted nor shunned, but regarded with quiet awe. It is believed they are born with a closer connection to the Voice Beneath the Shelf. Many Icekin are drawn into temple service or the dream-laced traditions of the Milvasi mystics, though just as many choose lives as sailors, hunters, or smiths.     Hair colours span white, ash-blonde, blue-black, and iron grey. Eyes are often pale, sometimes violet or ice-blue, with a faint reflective quality in moonlight or near frozen surfaces. Ears are subtly pointed, not quite as pronounced as typical Half-Elves, but enough to mark them as “not quite human” to the southern eye.