Era of the Seeds - Wood Elven Ancient History

[WuHanXianShi14 0]

 

[[The original writer of this lore is Watyll, who unfortunately has passed away. I offer my sincerest condolences to his family, and I thank him for the massive contribution that sprang the base from where most of current wood elven culture is developed. Even if it seems a very inconsequential thing to say.]]

Spoiler

 

15th of First Seed, 1532

The Era of the Seeds

 

Ancient History of the Wood Elves

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Introduction - Glimpses Into Our Past

Little of wood elven history is written down. What reason had our ancestors to record such things? I suspect that time was an abstract concept to these ancient elves, whom never knew any other world but the deep wild forests they dwelled in. There was only the hum of nature and the grace of the Aspects. All things are meant to die, all beings of nature are meant to fade away, the greatest elder trees wither and mountains crumble. I am certain the ancient wood elves adopted this fatalist stance, hence why little of our history was recorded. They were one with nature, and writing is a “civilized” concept.

 

Ah, how serene their lives must have been. How nice to know your place in the natural world and be content with it. I only wish the wood elves of today can salvage what remains.

 

Prelude

When the world was young, the Creator made the Aspects. While the Aspects created the wild world, the animals, plants, the sea and sky… The Creator gave birth to his final creations. Man and woman. Man and woman had four sons, one of whom was Malin. Malin, the fair haired, wisest of the brothers, sired his children - the elves, also known as Mali.

 

For millennia, the Mali were as one. All elves followed the teachings of Malin, and those of the Aspects, whom Malin revered above all. For eons, peace reigned in the ancient forests, with Malin as the first and only king of the elves.

 

And then, he vanished…

 

The Origins of the Wood Elves

We were known as the forgotten folk.

 

 

Spoiler

“Once the Elves were all united under one Elf. Malin. I am one of the few to remember him, you know. People speak of him now in a reverence that was well earned. Of course, When he disappeared, we were left helpless. Our brothers the Mali’ker went with their Velulaei, and the High Elves with their Larihei, and we were forgotten. We, the only ones who dared to stay with what our father had taught us.”

~Archdruid Garthon

 

Much of our past has been forgotten. What we know is that ‘Wood Elven’ identity first emerged at the split of the elven race, which was prompted shortly after the disappearance of Malin. When the group of elves that would become the Mali’aheral discovered the golden pools which turned them pale like fresh snow, and when those who would turn into Mali’ker descended into their caves, becoming one with ash and stone.

 

What remained was us. Despite Malin’s disappearance, the group of Ancient elves that would become the Mali’ame remained loyal to him and his teachings. They revered the Aspects and lived by their code, as Malin had done.

 

The other elves had turned ashen and red eyed, or pale and silver haired. Only one bloodline of Malin’s original children remained. Soon, our olive skin and emerald eyes would distinguish us as the Wood Elves. The forgotten folk, the last true sons of Malin and followers of the Aspects.

 

 

Ancient Wood Elven Society

Divided, yet more as one than we’d ever been.

 

Ancient Wood Elven society lasted from Malin’s disappearance and the split into subraces, to the founding of the first city of Malinor in Aegis. It is estimated that this era began 3000 years ago and lasted for approximately 2500.

 

The Wood Elves of old lived in the deep forests of Aegis, in what Malin in life had founded as Malinor. But in these ancient times, the Mali’ame had no concept of nations or borders; they did not draw arbitrary lines on parchment, for the entire world belonged to nature. The only ones who could claim to be rulers of the land were the Aspects themselves, they who shaped the very world.

 

We were not a united race.

 

The Seeds

 

Spoiler

“Caeldir of the Beloun Seed shouldered his quiver and exited his little house in the trees, heading down a well established wooden pathway to the forest floor. Unlike some seeds, the Beloun were not nomadic. This little establishment, known as Taliame’lin, had been the Beloun’s home for as long as the Seed had been in existence, formed by his father Iodir after the death of Celebor. Within the treetops, scores of other little huts and pathways wound, with other Mali’ame such as himself going about their business. He saw a group of Harvesters pray before an apple tree before plucking some of its fruit. Taliame’lin was more than just the home of the Seed: it was their food source.”

~Excerpt from “War of the Tyrants”

 

The surviving old stories reveal that our ancestors lived in small, tight knit tribal groups called ‘Seeds’. Seeds rarely ever grew larger than a few hundred elves, and were usually structured like tight knit, extended families.

 

Most, but not all Seeds were nomadic. They roamed where the game was most plentiful and where the Aspects guided them. Those who stayed in one place wove their towns and villages into the elder trees of Aegis, their homes and hearths carved in the familial embrace of their branches and roots.

 

We know that each seed had a chief Keeper. The Keeper was the de facto leader of the Seed and kept the family together. The position of Keeper was hereditary, and each one would name whichever one of his children he saw as the fiercest, most capable hunter as his or her heir. Of course, any aspiring hunter could wrest leadership through cunning, strength and wisdom. Such power struggles were brief and not deadly. Usually.

 

Keepers had to be considered master hunters to properly lead a Seed. In the thick forests of ancient Malinor, there was no flat farmland to plant crops. So in order to survive, the Wood Elves picked what herbs and fruit the forest gifted them, but moreso, they hunted.

 

Every Seed strong enough to survive had many hunters worth their salt. The way of the spear and way of the bow were integral to any Seed’s way of life, and an elf’s social standing in their Seed revolved almost entirely on how much meat you could bring in.

 

Wars were not common among Seeds. For long lived creatures attuned to nature, the sanctity of life was a mutual respect held by all wood elves that prevented conflict most of the time...but not always. The wars that were fought stand the test of time. Memorable due to their rarity. One such conflict is the 'War of the Tyrants', a tale of an Archdruid known as Garthalon who resorted to hideous deeds to unite a hundred scattered Seeds. Wars were fought as feral wolves. Primal skirmishes among the trees as tribal warriors dashed in and out of the thicket with bone-tipped spears and bows in their grip, their bare bodies painted with ochre in the colours of their Seed, adorned in patterns that paid tribute to Cernunnos, the Aspect of the hunt.

 

Despite the fierce savageness of ‘Ame warriors, conflict between Seeds rarely resulted in many casualties. The losing side to any war would mourn their dead as they returned to nature, and nurse their wounded pride.

 

In these ancient times our people were fractured, but fierce and brave. Our ancestors had a sense of family and loyalty among their Seeds that formed a bond stronger and closer than anything we’ve ever known. Now that the wood elven race is united, imagine what a force we’d be if we harnessed even a fraction of the fraternity and ferocity our ancestors once had...

 

The Druids

 

Spoiler

“Karin’ayla, First Son.” chorused the assembled Wood Elves, quieting down. Iodir smiled lightly, before gesturing to a figure at his side. “This is Archdruid Garthon Morncalaq. He would like to say a few words before going on his way.” Iodir stepped aside, allowing the elderly Druid to step forward. Many in the audience exchanged hushed whispers. Caeldir was greatly surprised. Archdruids almost never left the grove, and it had been years since the Seed had been visited by one. Druids didn’t come to you. You came to them.

~Excerpt from “War of the Tyrants”

 

The Druidic Order has historically had strong ties to the wood elven people. In fact, in modern times, more wood elves join the order to devote their lives to the Aspects than any other race.

 

There is a reason for this. In the time of the ancient Wood Elven Seeds, all druids were mali’ame. The order did not just have close ties to the people, but was deeply ingrained in the most important, spiritual dredges of society.

 

The druids commanded the will of the Aspects. Cernunnos and Cerridwen, the Horned Man and Green Lady, whom oversaw all death and gave birth to all life, respectively. With the power of the two at the palm of their hands, Druids performed marvelous, incredible, and terrible feats. They shaped the trees and commanded the animals, flowers bloomed at their touch and some claimed that they could call upon the wind. Indeed, a breeze in the lazy glades of the Wood Elves’ forests was often seen as a bad omen, that somewhere, a druid’s wrath had been invoked.

 

Based on the capabilities of Druids today, we can assume some of these stories are myth. Or perhaps the druids of old wielded greater, more mysterious powers. We do however know that druids transcended rivalries or wars between Seeds. Their groves were sacred ground, and no blood was ever spilt on their soil, lest the Wood Elves invoked the wrath of the Aspects themselves.

 

The Archdruids were the headmasters of the sacred order, just as they are in modern times. Wood Elves travelled miles through the forest thickets to seek out the Archdruids’ advice.

 

Many druids today seem to have forgotten their duty. In a world where our race has seen the influence of Valah and the other subraces of mali, we have become less dependent on the natural world and more on stone walls and steel blades.

 

Perhaps someday the druids will reclaim the glory their Ancient counterparts and become the prophets of our people once more.

 

The Ame’lie

 

Spoiler

“Some visitors to the Wood Elves wondered why the Ame took such offense to some forest trees being chopped down, and didn’t care at all when others were cut. What visitors didn’t know is that each Seed possessed an ame’lie, a manufactured grove. There were no clearly defined boundaries that could be seen by the eyes of other races, but to the Wood Elves it was quite obvious. Every tree in the ame’lie was planted by the Seed that owned it, not like the ‘wild’ trees that the Ame revered with a passion.”  ~War of the Tyrants

 

The Ame’lie was the very heart of the ancient Wood Elven way of life.

 

An Ame’lie was a grove, grown and shaped meticulously by the Wood Elves. Unlike the deep forest wilds, of which were grown solely on the Aspects’ divine whim, Ame’lie were planted and cultivated for the use of the people. Despite their nomadic nature, each Seed had an Ame’lie of its own. No Seed with the manpower to spare would ever leave their Ame’lie unguarded, and often had revered druidic acolytes aid in keeping their manufactured groves healthy and strong.
 

The trees of the Wood Elves’ Ame’lie were grown to fit what they would be crafted into.  A clan would ensure that a tree destined to make arrow shafts and spears would boast strong bark, like that of iron. A tree for shelter or clothing would be of soft, pliable wood, such as cedar.

 

In ancient times, our people had perfected the art of growing Ame’lie. It is said we could grow trees that produced wood as hard and durable as iron, or as soft and smooth as silk.

 

Perhaps we will someday reclaim these lost arts. I take heart, for some of them have survived the centuries. Are our modern wood elven cities not interwoven amidst the elder branches? Have we not grown our own trees to make our homes in? Our own Ame’lie?

 

Some traditions have, and always will live on.

 

But it is important to always know where they come from.

 

The End of the Era - The founding of Malinor

We no longer roamed the forests, we now lived in cities. But we still made the trees our home.

 

For millennia after Malin’s disappearance, the Wood Elves lived this way. They roamed around the deep forests of Aegis in their hundreds of diverse Seeds. Each one living by the Aspect’s teachings. Ame’lie dotted the forests, with the elves crafting wonders of woodworking from the trees they meticulously farmed. Druids and Archdruids resided in their groves, Wood Elves from all seeds coming from all corners of the vast forests to seek their council.

 

But, as all things, this was not to last. And now, we reach the beginning of recorded history.

 

The founding of our first cities marked the end of the era of the Seeds, and of ancient history.

 

When the city of Laurelin was founded in Aegis, Malinor’s first capital, Wood Elves from all seeds migrated en masse to the new city. It is unknown why such a major shift was made. I have several theories, such as excessive warring, natural disasters, or perhaps our people had finally grown tired of being separate.

 

From here, the Wood Elves, now elves of Malinor, opened themselves up to the world. We elves who live today know the story from here. The second invasion of Iblees, the destruction of Aegis. Our suffering at the hands of the White Rose. The fall of Malinor and rise of the Conclave, our subjugation under the High Elves of Haelun’or. The Bronze rebellion and finally, the founding of Laureh’lin. Our home.

 

Conclusion

While in the present day, almost all wood elves dwell in our cities... I believe that remnants of the past live on. I believe that some of the ancient Seeds still remain, cultivating their Ame'lie, hidden deep in the wilds away from civilization. Perhaps we will contact our long lost brothers and sisters someday, should they exist. Perhaps someday we will fully return to our roots, and bring about a new Era of the Seeds, living fully among nature as wood elves should.

 

...Perhaps that day will come sooner than we expect.

[WuHanXianShi14 0]

Folktales and Legends from the Era of the Seeds

A Tale of Two Hunters

Vule'Berr - The Clever Bow

From Winter to Spring

The Gift of Greed

Edited December 13, 2015 by 吳憾戰士14

[WuHanXianShi14 0]

[Reserved]

[Birdnerdy 1539]

Father Enoch sits quietly in his cramped workspace in the attic of the Laureh'lin chapel, reading over a wood elven history text. After finishing the long narrative, he leans back in his oaken chair, pondering the practices and beliefs of his ancestors. 

[Giga 357]

((A quality read. Nice one!))

[Malaise 1570]

((This is very impressive. I hope many of the wood elves integrate this into their RP.))

[osumanduas 1442]

Moved to The Great Library. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.

 

If you feel this is a mistake, please contact myself or any FM and we'll restore it.