Though I did not use the name in the novel in which they appeared (Valley of Visions), the large ape-like creatures the Taona Marareta (Michael Malvern) and his party encounter in the high mountains between Hurasu’s valley of the Tez and the Mora homeland were snow-ogres. Yes, they are somewhat yeti-like, taller than men and covered with shaggy white fur. They are advanced enough to carry weapons, even if only clubs and stone blades, and are able to converse with one another (whether an outsider would ever get the chance to communicate is a whole other question).
They are indeed a variety of ogre, meaning they are of faerie and not closely related to mortal men. They could be a people who have fallen back into a primitive lifestyle, adapting culturally and physically to the harsh conditions of the high mountains, or they could be an offshoot of the early lineage of the fay. I’m inclined to the first of these choices but it need not be decided one way or the other. Being of the fay, they would have some capabilities for magic. None are at all likely to be powerful sorcerers. They should be able to ‘speak from afar’ to their fellows, and others with magical talent.
Those snow-ogres who trailed and threatened Malvern never had the opportunity to attack, turning tail when a dragon showed up. What might they have had in mind? Maybe they only wished to drive strangers from their territory. More likely, they would have eaten those strangers, given the opportunity. Perhaps, should we encounter the creatures again, we’ll learn something of their dietary habits.
Will we encounter them in some future story? There are other high mountains and, it is to be assumed, more tribes of snow-ogres. It is also likely that their numbers are few, at least in Exura. In other worlds? Who can say? They might well serve some god or another elsewhere. They are certainly waiting in the wings should I wish to use them again.
