Editing Snow Elf (section)

==Society==
Oerthian snow elves are close relatives of the valley elves, another wild elf branch, and have settled into the frozen and remote regions partially due to natural aloofness, and partially due to bad relations with both [[human]]s and other [[elves]]. They are most known to inhabit the Crystalmist Mountains, but smaller enclaves may be found in other arctic regions or frozen mountains elsewhere in the Flanaess.

During their ages of seclusion, snow elves have focused their studies on fields that would aid their survival in the harsh environment in which they are fated to dwell. Thus magic, particularly the magic of cold, has waxed while clerical studies have waned. Druids and rangers have become prominent. All the while, snow elves have become more reclusive and secretive as lowland societies have grown unaware and indifferent. Indeed, the snow elves might be a dying race, even by the standards of other elves.

Snow elf society revolves around tightly knit, extremely isolationist extended family units, or clans, typically consisting of 3d10 snow elves per clan. A snow elf clan is ''extremely'' territorial, reacting to the presence of trespassers with great hostility; they riddle their territories with traps to punish intruders, and will not hesitate to use violence to expel perceived invaders. Traps are always based on weaponizing their environment; snares, deadfalls, and triggered avalanches or rockslides. These clans live in small villages consisting of 2-10 dome-shaped huts of woven trees, covered with furs and skins and packed on the outside with snow. Such villages house members of one clan only and lie generally near the center of that clan's territory. Territories average two square miles in size for each member of a clan's village. Communities numbering more than 30 undergo a branching off, wherein two or more family groups pack their belongings in early spring and set out in search of new territory. This prevents overpopulation and starvation in a rugged environment that offers no bountiful harvests for large communities. Such branching off is now a rare event.

Snow elves are most likely to be [[Fighter]]s, [[Ranger]]s, [[Druid]]s, [[Wizard]]s or [[Rogue]]s, and most clans are gender segregated, with males being warriors or rogues and females being spellcasters. Indeed, a truly large clan is typically ruled over by a trinity consisting of "The Father" (male ranger, minimum 5th level), "The Mother" (female wizard, minimum 5th level) and "The Priest" (a druid of either sex, minimum 4th level). 

Snow elves have no ability to work metal - no small surprise as they use but dislike fire - and disdain all metal armor, including studded leather and even elven chain. They prefer to wear leather, skins, or their own special garb. Snow elves are renowned for their ability to manufacture a strong and beautiful type of armor from the hide of the [[Chromatic Dragon|white dragon]]. Due to their carefully guarded secrets for curing and treating, this armor grants AC 4 while hindering movement no more than elven chain. Only the 7th-level druids are taught the secrets of its crafting, and all armor is manufactured at the shrines. Other snow elves (including any PC) will have no knowledge of the construction process. Access to this armor is a rare privilege; only the [[druid]] caretakers of the snow elf shrines (see below) will always be found wearing it. Lower-level snow elf [[ranger]]s and [[druid]]s may also be found wearing it, with the chance depending on their level; outside of shrine-keepers, only the "Fathers" are especially likely (75% chance) to be found wearing snow elf hide armor. On rare occasions, a valley elf may also be seen wearing this armor, due to the strong ties between the two races and their status as the snow elves' primary trading partners. Magical versions of this special armor exist, but are very rare.

Snow elf clans are avid beast-tamers. 90% of the clans will be attended to by packs of hoar foxes - a vulpine analogue to the [[Winter Wolf]] - whilst the remaining 10% will instead train bears.

Snow elven music centers around a single special instrument: the keras (Keh-rahz), a large instrument very similar to the alpenhorn used by Swiss shepherds. Keras range in size from 4' to just under 20' and are usually made of wood (although the best are said to be constructed from the tusk of the woolly mammoth) with bone mouthpieces. In their native environment, snow-elven clans often use keras to communicate across vast distances, having developed a complex code for signaling. Some of the largest of these instruments may be found at the shrines and are sounded only in times of great need or grand celebration. The bards use the smaller versions of the keras to play mournful and powerful ballads as majestic and sad as the mountains themselves.

Snow-elven clans, while not at all interdependent, will not hesitate to aid one another in repelling invaders or raiding high-altitude settlements. Clans often come together in spring and fall for various festivals and religious holidays. A snow elf will never turn another of his kind away empty-handed, although the proud snow elf only rarely admits the need of another's assistance.

Though a snow-elf PC will, of course, travel as he likes, a snow-elf NPC will seldom be encountered below the snow line. Occasionally, their clans will dwell for brief periods just below the tree line in the dead of winter. Snow elves will never be encountered in a city, and they go into the foothills or lowlands only on urgent clan business or to raid for food.