Brisimer

The brisimer, or "snow elves" as they're often called in common, are elvish people that originate in Virias. It is thought their existence is a relatively new one, having diverged from their now-extinct ancestors, the dro'mer. Identifiable more easily by their cultural traits than their physical, brisimer are well adapted to their frozen home and are often considered blessed by the Fey Queen of Winter.

Physical Traits

Build

Brisimer are tall, rarely standing shorter than 5'5" and heights around 6' much more common. They are often less-slender than other elvish people, and usually well-boned and broader in the shoulders and hips than some other elves. They tend to hold onto weight easily, to gather fat to protect from the cold. They have incredibly large, almost bat-like ears that are cropped culturally by the majority of people as they come of age to prevent frostbite, only the incredibly wealthy being able to afford to stay inside and well clothed enough to keep their ears intact.

Snow elf features are often pointed, angular and dramatic in appearance, with very little difference in facial structure between men and women with both sexes carrying strong jawlines and noses, long eyelashes to protect from the snow.

Skin

Perhaps the most telling snow elf feature, the skin is almost always touched with a blue, silvery or grey tint. Brisimer are often referred to in derogatory ways outside of Virias as being "sickly" or incredibly pale in some other way. This is not entirely true, and just as Drisimer can be incredibly pale, snow elves can be very dark in tone and their skin range is incredibly varied. Snow elf skin ranges from very pale white to dark ashy grey or a deep blueish colour, with variations in tones of pinks or purples along the way. Their skin can be more notably translucent than other elvish races, and can carry an almost shimmery glow to it. This feature seems to diminish as one is exposed to sun and wind over time, and it is often considered a trait of the wealthy.

Hair

Snow elf hair is another unique feature; almost always straight and incredibly fine, their wispy hair is very delicate and important culturally. While the strains themselves are very fine, the hair grows very densely, with snow elves on average having 2-3 times the amount of hair follicles on the head compared to a human or high elf. Never brown or golden/yellow blonde without outside genetic influence, snow elf hair is usually cool-toned blonde, silver, black or red. The hair grows quickly and breaks easily, requiring extensive care and is often worn in braids or wrapped in a shawl to protect it while outside.

Snow elves do grow facial hair, though it grows at a slower rate than in humans, and due to the fineness of their hairs, beards are often scraggly and difficult to maintain and therefore worn in knots or braids when long. Beards are seen as a trait of the poorer or working class of people, and those who are wealthy or wish to appear so opt for a clean-shaven face.

The body hair grows as quickly as the hair on their heads or face, and they tend to grow a lot of it. The are very fine and often pale, allowing sun to reach the skin while trapping heat.

Cold Adaptations

Brisimer are adapted very well to their frozen home of Virias. Their fine hair traps heat very effectively. The easy breakage of their hair is by design, strategically snapping at a manageable length that will keep warmth trapped closer to the skin and accumulate less snow and ice. The eyelashes are very long, protecting the eyes from snow and ice. Snow elves have increased blood supply to their fingers and extremities compared to other people, and their bodies hold onto fat strategically to keep the body warm and fueled in times of extreme cold or famine. Their thick boning and wide frames allow for the carriage of extra fat and muscle, and while their height and long limbs are not typical of cold adaptation, these allow them to move quickly and hunt effectively and are a legacy of their elvish heritage.

History

Legends

Veridian Culture

Veridian Brisimer are, by generalisation, a proud and stubborn people. They cherish their culture and traditions and are reluctant to stray from their old ways for any reason. Valuing strength, resilience, loyalty and determination above compassion and charity, they are incredibly strong as a people and have been able to use these traits to withstand countless hardships in their history. This does mean that they tend to attract conflict from others, and are constantly at-odds with their bordering neighoubours in Sedia.

Virias is an isolated country, surrounded by either ocean, ice or the hostile Sedian border, they have little interaction with other cultures outside of brief trade or governmental discussion. Often stereotyped as being rude, brash or violent by other cultures, Veridian cultures are just highly removed from others and have developed to differ quite significantly from surrounding cultural norms.

Wealth divides culture in Virias, with the culture of the rich being very separate from that of the poor. While many cultures across the known world value the willingness to work as a noble and honourable, Brisimer in Virias value the pursuit of art, study and knowledge and have built their culture around minimising workload. While other cultures with similar ideals such as in their cousin Drisimer cultures resort to slavery to maintain this ideal, Virias' large wealth gap means that the poor often work for the rich to supply themselves with housing and food. While this system is undoubtedly unfair, it's well known that servants in Virias tend to live much more comfortable lives than those living in the poor undercity of Astrellos or on the streets of Sedian cities.

In Virias, it is considered honourable to fill one's life with contemplation of philosophy or knowledge, artistic expression, or adventure. Successful artists are some of the highest members of Veridian society, and outstanding art is one of the only ways to escape the wealth prison of your birth. Asrannas is often considered the heart of Viridian art, and is home to the prestigious Asrannas School of Creation. Creative architects are considered some of the most valuable creators in brisimer culture, due to the importance of lasting architecture in Virias. Music is a further extension of this, and music, song and dance holds a very important place in Veridian culture.

"There are only three routes to wealth in Virias; by birth, easel or bed." Veridian proverb

Magic is also highly important to brisimer people, and the study of magic or the arcane is considered an honourable, if unrewarding one. Careers in the magical or invention field are often less highly paid than those in arts, with the exception to this being during wartimes. That being said, magic researchers and those who have knowledge in magic can often find very cozy living in Colleges as teachers or research facilities as part of their role compensation, and lead long and comfortable lives. Magically gifted individuals often find themselves a notch above their less magically inclined citizens, and can often find decent coin performing magic as entertainment.