Surrounded by a ring of white mountains eternally covered in clouds that snow and rain, there is a prospering city, built by what the inhabitants call the Old Ones. It is entirely made of glass, some transparent, some opaque, in many colours. Nothing seems assembled, as if it just grew out of the ground that way. There is also another metal that has formed wisps in the glass. Tendrils of pale silver like captured moonlight. They weave throughout the castle, creating intricate designs. But the castle lies empty. The only other buildings made by the Old Ones are other noble towers and mansions surrounding the castle. They too await a new ruler.
But a ruler has not been chosen in centuries, and now the Pale Folk lives along the mountains, great houses of stone, barely creeping into the circle of the forest, just a few swaths of green chopped down. When children turn eleven, they are sent into the mysterious forests, where wisps and spirits and even the odd monster may lead one away. The ones that return are welcomed grandly. But still held back, for they failed. A ruler was not chosen. They need a ruler to restore their lands. But maybe the Old Ones weren't the benevolent rulers that legends describe. Perhaps that castle came with a price. But now ten children are being sent away. They will follow the steps of their ancestors, of their clan. The marks will protect them, won't they?
Vocabulary:
Eversnow, the storm that looms over the mountains, preventing anyone entering or leaving, possibly made by the Old Ones before they left for the moon, sometimes used as a name for the entire mountain-bound area
Old Ones, the pure white, glowing, and powerful ancestors of all current elves, the creators of the Glass City, who raised Eversnow, made the Pale Folk, and left for the moon, creating a caste and warning that even Rubies would bow to a Diamond
Pale Folk, the elves living along the mountains, with white hair, eyes of peculiar colours, and a caste based on said colours. Folk higher on the cast are known to live longer, with stronger powers
Marks, either temporary or permanent, runes drawn on the skin for either a short boost or to mark an achievement, also may denote a job or quest
Clan, a prefix added to a short surname, recognizing a particular group, or regional area, which may be changed if the elf moves away
The Chromacaste:
Fire: The absolute highest and unquestionably noblest of colours, also officially Ruby Eyes, but nicknamed Fire Eyes for their cruel and unforgiving nature, two Fire Eyes will exist at a time. A parent, the King or Queen, and a child. They can only marry Noble Eyes or gain a more serious risk of not passing on the rare trait. Fire Eyes are their own nameless section, where they rule with serious strength, endurance, and skill in many, many things. A red-eyed elf rules over all clans, living up to several thousand years old.
Gold: Rich and snobby, if it matches their eye colour, the Gold Eyes will want it. Fire Eyes often will have up to three in their court, due to their ability to detect lies and impurity, as well as how they, who also are physically powerful as well as slightly psychic, will do it if it benefits them. A rare case is a Gold Eye who turns down riches and only gives to others, but one hasn't been found in centuries. A Fire and a Gold have the best chance of having another Fire Eyed child, about 50% chance. Until they have another Fire Eye, they will be together, when the Gold is cast aside and out of Areth Castle. This is unfortunate, since they live to 2000, although almost every clan has a Gold Eyed elf ruling it, answering only to Fire.
Emerald: The green-eyed ones are held with such regard perhaps mostly due to their mystical and sometimes religious powers. Emerald Eyes organize celebrations, festivals, and may become Priestesses to the Old Ones. Not only that, but aside from soothsaying and convincing powers, they have slightly psychic abilities like all Nobles, theirs mostly focused on living things. Thus the Gardener position will be held by a green-eyed elf, usually from the line of Tariba Sidurlock, and Locks are the best. Emeralds may spend their 1000 year life leading small groups or giving herbs to Violet Eyes, who they work well with.
Silver: Last on the Noble list are those with grey eyes. And as silver is a metal, is it a surprise that most warriors have eyes like that? Ice Eyes may be a chunk too, but Silver Eyes are fierce. They'd be above Emerald if they weren't so feisty. They have eyes like an eagle though, and can perceive tiny details. Lies are impossible to pull around them.
Ice: Their personalities match their eyes. As such, the law is chock full of elves with pale blue eyes. They feel very few strong emotions, but when they do, they can be dangerous. They also are given tedious jobs like sorting items, building things, and printing parchments or decrees. Ice-Eyes don't get bored so some take up lookout jobs for nobility. They are incredibly strong, not even half as strong as a Gold, but to anyone below them, an Ice is no match. They are skilled weapon-masters as well as makers, and often seclude themselves. Despite this, many join the Guard, but others spend those 500 years in crime. After all, they don't feel it.
River: River Eyes are known by that for more than just their dark blue eyes, but perhaps since they are gentle and giving. They are protectors, polite followers, and sometimes rule enforcers. They also run hotels, orphanages, and hospitals. If a sickness descends upon a clan, a blue-eyed elf will be on the scene, preferably of the Nymm line, descendants of an elf who was said to be able to bring back the dead. With just a light touch a River Eye can identify and heal any minor ailments and most medium ones. Occasionally, a powerful healer can mend mortal wounds, but it is rare. It is good to have one since they live roughly 250 years.
Violet: The lowest Middle Eyes, purple-eyed elves run small businesses, like taverns, and sell objects Night Eyes make, or food Dirt Eyes collect. They run shops, as well as a more obscure art, that of potion making. The shops are rather disliked due to a no-questions-asked policy, but even Noble Eyes have been seen in them. A shop is like a bar, with stores of unusual plants, and several people in the front, with pots, books, and a mortar and pestle. Bring the required ingredients, and they can make almost anything. Purple-eyed ones are a bit shady, but they will do it, their skill being a perfect memory and an innate herbal knowledge. 100 years of life won't dim it.
Night: Black-eyed elves are the top of the Low Eyes, making items for Middle and Noble Eyed folk, such as books, clothes, and furniture, they are very dextrous, known for a long-gone elf who wove the tapestries in Areth Castle, named Lune Galondene, and the Dene family, mostly Tarim or Moor, is the best weaving house around. In a race, if there are Night Eyes present, they will win. They have nimble fingers, which their pesky and clever nature can turn back to Galon, where they can spend the 75 years of their life using luck and their enhanced senses to evade capture.
Dirt: The lowest still normal colour of eyes, brown-eyed elves will work as servants, or amusement, for Noble Eyes, but also, due to their innumerable groups, forage, farm, and hunt for everyone. Some are enslaved, or abused by all above them, so they usually hate Snow Eyes the most. An educated Dirt Eye is a rare sight, as few reputable schools and few buildings in general permit Lower Eyes.They are very good with work, being hardy with good endurance, both traits amplified by being around other Dirt Eyes. Not well liked, a crude sort, they live to about fifty, making the cheerful best of it.
Snow: An impossibly rare defect, a mutation, any elf born like this is dropped to the bottom of society, with the worst jobs, if they're lucky, and no job, if not. Snow Eyes are known for their uncanny ability to sense outcomes of very small events, and their quiet fairness. When a Snow Eye is born, a hut is constructed away from their clan, on the outskirts. Most aren't even given the clan prefix, like the renowned poet Chadin Pulis. A rare sight, white-eyed elves will lack the powers and respect of their parents' eye colours, and the parents likely claimed either to never have had a child or to have had a miscarriage. They are considered horrible luck, living only about 25 years.
The popular clans include: Areth (directly around the castle or in it, surnames like Arethirn, Arethdale, Arethera, the last only for Fire Eyes), Moor (large town several miles away from the castle, Moorlan, Moorisin), Skor (northern outpost), Sidur (eastern town home to a library, a hospital, and several schools), Len (southern farming town, mostly dirt), Tarim (western town known for taverns, shops, and practical things), Galon (perched in the mountains, a wreck of criminals and the odd mystic, seemingly supported by a thin ledge, possibly magic), and others you guys can create.
Making the world of Eversnow
Areth Castle: A combination of Era, which was the first Fire Eye's name, and Rameth, the Old One who kept time and aided towns, as if to say the descendants of Era would raise a great kingdom to last for centuries.
Twelve solid, round towers piercing the sky are the first you'll see of this castle and are connected by large, chunky yet graceful walls made of silvery stone. Refined windows are scattered thinly around the walls in fairly symmetrical patterns, along with symmetric holes for archers and artillery. A vast gate with wide wooden doors, a regular bridge, and strong defenses offers a safe home to all those Nobles in need in the cold mountains, but it's not the only way in, although it'll be your best shot if you wish to enter the castle. A handful of waterfalls flow into various small rivers and provide the precious farm fields outside the castle with needed water. This castle has clearly stood the test of time and its inhabitants are intent on making sure it stays that way for ages to come. A stylized fire symbol made of ruby rests above the great wooden doors. Arethera people stay there, Gold, Emerald, and even the odd Silver who descended from some Fire or their older siblings. (Remember, once a Fire is born, the pair separates)
There are several plants with special properties, these being just a few:
Era's Tears an extremely common, medium-sized plant and can be found in most regions. It blooms in late autumn. It has large, oval leaves, which are usually a silvery-green. It also grows large flowers, which can be any shade of red, fringed with gold.These plants are only found within the walls of the Royal Gardens, but it is extremely easy to control and maintain their growth. Violet Eyes can use them in sleep, healing, or calming potions, and when a new Fire Eye is born, the best one is picked from the Garden, pressed, and framed, next to one for every past Fire Eye. Era's Tears grows thick thorns. They rely on animal pollination to reproduce. Once pollinated, they grow small, delicious nuts eaten by Noble Eyes.
Angel Weed is a misnomer as it is a small, glowing plant that is highly toxic. It can grow everywhere, being a weed, but is very rare. It flowers in summertime. Its leaves are delicate and deep green. It has flowers like those on a tiger lily, but they are butter yellow. At night they glow that same color. At the time right for 'harvest' its petals drip a yellow-gold wax, which can be gathered and brewed by a skilled Violet Eye into many dangerous concoctions. When diluted in clean water and frozen, it can erase memories. Mix it with Water Mint and pour it in a freshwater spring, and the Angel Wax will kill anyone who drinks it. With drakon blood it induces sleep. They have small buds within the stem, so when cut, the closest bud will push through and regrow, earning them their name. Alone, the wax is mixed with the dye to create Marks.
Water Mint
Ice Creeper
A few holidays and festivals even take place:
Every year the Festival of Luminescence is celebrated grandly, yet with apprehension as well. It's a holiday with spiritual roots, but today it is mostly associated with the Marking of Years soon to come, dancing, strict ceremonies, and the children heading to the Glass City. It is officially celebrated for eleven days for eleven years during the fall, but the periods before and after that time are filled with preparation, followed by the Waiting when everyone anticipates the possible return of the children.
At, the end of each year, the Marking of Years takes place, full of beauty and magic. It is another festival with spiritual and religious origins, which is still is. On these three days, the people from all over Eversnow are given by the Emerald Priestess their Marks. There are marks for many things; marriage, a new mark for each child, a mark for being a soldier, marks for quests and good deeds, even a mark shaped like a stylized Era's Tear to denote attending the cherishing of a new 'ruler.' These will always be a darker shade of the elf's skin tone but may glow their eye colour.
The Six Main Old Ones:
Pymera is one of the most esteemed Old Ones, said to rule with music, peace, and wind, being caring and a guide to all. Pledges and alms are the way to honour her best, though there are a few small shrines here and there to visit.
Rameth is known for being lord over the passage of time, the builder of towns, and father of Era. Hunters ask for his blessing. Towns pray for his generosity in years. He is the companion of Pymera.
Era is absolutely most important to all.
The end of the year is marked by the second moon of their planet finally appearing above the mountains, where it will pass over the whole 'bowl' and vanish. During that time, new plants will start to bloom.
Elf Facts: All elves have white hair and pointed ears. It is not uncommon for one to use dyes to colour it something else. Elves can draw Temporary Marks to enhance certain things. The higher on the caste, the longer they live and the stronger they become. Magic exists now, kay? Things are similar to medieval times.
You don't have to be one of the ten for this Festival of Luminescence!
Name(include last name and applicable titles):
Age(11 if one of ten on the quest):
Eye Colour:
Clan(or town):
Personality:
Family:
Pet?:
Skills:
Backstory:
Appearance:
Weapon?(not for Lower Eyes):
Marks?(and if so, for what?):
Great Ancestor?(powerful elf):
Other:
FORMS CAN NOW BE MADE!!!
Monarch: Queen Syviis Arethera (my NPC) (Cool and collected, wants everything to by the best for her son, can have a freak out now and then, distressed about the ceremony coming up) (red)
Royal Treasurer: Aiwin Arethvir (my NPC) (Reedy man with round glasses who says 'hmm' a lot and is rather strict and prone to flustering, also says 'interesting') (gold)
Royal Librarian: Quinthys Arethlock (my NPC) (Was to inherit Garden but she and Keenor found the other suited better, very young and energetic, fails at strictness) (green)
Royal Guardener: Keenor Aretharis (my NPC) (Enjoys being around Quinthis, green hand, while Quinn couldn't do any florakinesis, serious but still likes having fun) (green)
Royal Guard Captain: Ruvien Skorfjord (my NPC) (Tough and burly Viking-like man with a big beard and an axe who protects all elves, acts like a father to Inuri) (grey)
Chief Potions Master: Evtrix Tarimwyre (my NPC) (Sly and silver-tongued, if not in eyes, likes 'perhaps', will make anything for a price, likes to barter, extremely shady) (purple)
Fire (Ruby) Eye: Prince Narion Arethera (Enyo's character)
Gold Eye: Lady Lilliana Arethdale (Annabella321's character)
Emerald Eye: Ukumi Arethlock (Glitterthesylveon's character)
Silver Eye: Inuri Moorhane (my character)
Ice Eye: Melody Korimeg (Lightsagafox's character)
River Eye:
Violet Eye: (Isi's character)
Night Eye: (Shayni's character)
Dirt Eye: Ambrosia Clamont (Duckipus's character)
Snow Eye: Erlen Merrywinter (Hawkeye's character) |
