The Craft of the Astsantse is based on Ice and their ability to make it stable at higher temperatures, even though the temperature of LandsEnd never goes above freezing. They use it to build their graceful towers, the Ice dyed a thousand pale colors, and to weave their transluscent garments. For weapons and armor, they alloy Ice and Adamantite,  when they choose to make such. They also make unthawable Ice Gems used for trade and decoration.

The magic of the Astsante is derived from the Source of All Contamination.  Most of the powers it gives them are related to Ice and cold (the Source itself is somehow the enemy of heat and entropy). The more power an Ice Elf weilds the greater his taint. Over the centuries, his blood is replaced by the stuff of the Source. This transformation only takes place during sleep, when the Source has access to his body. Eventually they reach total contamination and are absorbed into the mass of the Source, possibly to be later reextruded.

 Using Ice Magic has a peculiar effect o their bodies: it slows them down. Using too much will immobilize them as Ice statues, which may take years to thaw, if ever.  (Each point of move is worth about four fatigue, in terms of spell casting. Lost move can only be regained when the temperature rises - usually a year later.)