The Caerme'onn Seed

[WuHanXianShi14 0]

Caerme’onn - The Princely Seed

The ink in my flesh and the deeds of my faith bind me to my ancestors.

 

Caerme’onn is a Princely Seed (the wood elven term for clan), its chieftain and keeper is Prince Artimec Caerme’onn of Laureh’lin. Members of this seed are not royals themselves, but considered to be the blood of nobility and worthy of the respect and prestige it entails. The seed is naturally harder to be initiated into than other wood elven tribes, and requires the passing of ten trials to prove one’s worth. Elves of the Caerme’onn Seed do not pay taxes, like all elves belonging to the greater seeds of Laureh’lin. Additionally, due to the trials involved in joining, Caerme’onn seed elves must only complete half the tasks of dedicancy required to become a Naelurir Druid, as many tasks overlap.

 

The name Caerme’onn is interchangeable with its simplified and more widely recognized phonetic spelling in the common tongue: Camoryn.

 

History

The real origins of the Caerme’onn seed are shrouded in mystery, like the history of all seeds. However, what is known is that the name itself as born of a unity between two clans of proto-elves during Malin’s time. A band of elves from the far away continent of Aeldin had migrated away from their homeland for unknown reasons, they landed in the forests of Aegis and soon came into contact with their racial cousins, a Seed whose name is lost to time.

 

This nameless Seed had been close to Malin while the forefather still walked the earth. They held his teachings very closely and revered the Aspects over all else. They took the Aeldinic pilgrims under their wing and taught them how to live by Malin’s code and the Aspect’s teachings.

 

The Aeldinic elves adapted to the Aspectist faith, they bred into and adopted the traditions and lifestyles of Seed life, they learned to hunt and to plant their own ame’lie. In return, the nameless Seed adopted parts of the Aeldinic elven language. A new seed was born of this union, Caerme’onn. ‘Caerme’ being Aeldinic for ‘destiny’, and ‘onn’ translating into ‘born of’ in Malin’s ancient tongue.

This new seed of Caerme’onn, born of destiny, flourished in the ancient Aegisian forests, the golden age of the ancient seeds. They traded, married and occasionally fought with other ancient Seeds like Beloun, Chirr, and Aureon. During this time they grew to be master hunters, felling the largest and most ferocious of beasts in the name of the great god Cernunnos, the Aspect of the hunt. All the while, they held onto a shred of their Aeldinic roots, speaking a dialect of ancient elven influenced heavily with Aeldinic words. Names such as ‘Caedwen’ and ‘Faeinn’ were commonplace (white forest and flame, respectively in the Aeldin tongue).

 

Like with all Seeds, Caerme’onn made the great migration to the first city of Malinor: Laurelin. It is unknown why this great migration occurred and why the culture of the nomadic Seeds came to an end. Caerme’onn soon faded into obscurity, like all the Seeds did. However, even as its descendents grew more accustomed to city, stationary life across the lands of Aegis and Asulon, they never forgot their roots. Oral tradition was passed down from elf to elf so they would never forget the proud tribe they had once been.

 

The oral tradition became more strained as the wood elves suffered through Anthos and Athera. The race had almost lost all of the culture and traditions they once had, forgot Malin’s true teachings and forgot the Aspects. The same was true for the many descendents of Caerme’onn, who had assimilated into the general elven crowd, their bloodlines diluted into the sea.

 

Except for one.

 

Artimec was ‘Camoryn’. He was lucky, unlike most descendents of Caerme’onn, his family at least kept the bastardized name that Caerme’onn had gradually evolved into as the elves began speaking the common tongue exclusively.

 

Artimec was a patriot and a nationalist. He had clung onto the decrepit nation of Malinor in its dying days, trying to salvage something of a respectable elven homeland even as individualism and voidal horrors ruled the streets of its rotten cities. He had founded Lenniel, a town meant to be a rebirth for the wood elven people, only to watch it be flooded by outside races and made into another melting pot, his people and their culture lost again to time.

 

Failure after failure occurred. Artimec was kept down under the regime of Kalenz, when wood elves lived under high elven oppression, unable to shape his people’s culture in any way. Malinor before that had been far too individualistic, filled with mages and selfish men who cared nothing of nation or culture, plagued with constant raids from humans, spooks and orcs.

 

Artimec took up leadership of the newly founded nation of Laureh’lin after it was formed in the fires of a rebellion which overthrew high elven power. A few more wars passed, mostly fought against the high elves of Haelun’or. Finally, under the stability of the Orenian Empire, Artimec found the peace he needed to finally bring Malin’s way and the Aspect’s teachings back to the wood elven people.

 

It took patience. Patience, persistence, blood, sweat, and tears. Eventually Artimec developed a core group of acolytes willing to re-learn ancient Seed culture. This group grew until eventually a majority of the elves of Laureh’lin were Aspectist, following something close to what Aspect worship had been in those tribes of old. Artimec himself became a druid and formed a druidic order dedicated to being priests of the wood elven people- the Naelurir.

 

The religion had been reformed. Artimec was content, but now he had to revive the seeds themselves. He encouraged wood elves everywhere to rediscover their roots, remember their oral traditions, revive their Seeds they were descended from. Of course, not before his own.

 

Artimec knew his seed had once been proud. His father had passed down the oral traditions to him, after all. He knew his ancestors had once bore the mark of the crimson stag, the icon of Cernunnos. So, he inked his own skin with the jagged scarlet patterns of a stag’s antlers, and did the same to his children. He formally founded the Camoryn Seed. Symbolically, Caerme’onn had been reborn.

 

The Camoryn seed spearheaded the revival movement, with many other elves following its example and reforming their own ancient seeds or forming their own, such as Torena, Calithil, Terin, Aureon and Athri. Despite this, the Camoryns true name had been lost to time.

 

This would not be forever though, as the man from the seed born of destiny met the hawk-eyed elfess Salhassan by fate. Salhassan was a seed-elf, one of the few descended from those who kept to the forests and did not give up their traditions over the millenia. The pair fell in love, and Salhassan taught Artimec of many old traditions lost to most elves, but still known to her and her kin. She spoke of old tribes such as Beloun, Chirr, and of course, Caerme’onn. The connection was made fairly quickly.

 

While glad to know his now flourishing seed’s ancestral name, Artimec was reluctant to abandon the surname he had been born with. Tragedy would soon strike with Salhassan’s untimely death. In mourning, the Camoryn seed fell into decline and its members dwindled as even blood-relatives like Toren- Artimec’s son found their own names and own paths.

 

With the great migration to Axios, the revival movement of the Wood Elven people was now near complete. Artimec had been given the title of Prince for his longstanding leadership of Laureh’lin and the new wood elven city was a shining example of a home built in accordance to the Aspect’s way. The old ame’lie of the seed way.

 

An elf named Valor had been a longtime friend and comrade of Artimec. His own seed, To’las, had recently been disbanded. This was the catalyst which led to the final rebirth. Taking Valor under his wing, Artimec decided no longer to sit complacently as his own Seed dwindled while others he had inspired to grow flourished. It was time to regrow his tribe, to weed out the unworthy and integrate the strong. This time, he would bring back his true roots. Camoryn was put aside.

 

Caerme’onn was formed once more.

 

Values and Culture

 

The elves of the Caerme’onn seed hold some values above all else. While only Artimec and his bloodline hold direct ancestry to the ancient Caerme’onn Seed, all those who hold the Caerme’onn name are expected to uphold the values their ancient counterparts once lived by.

 

Piety.

 

“Our gods are the Aspects, for they are the sea and the sky, the great mountains and the wide plains, the forests and all the beasts that roam within it. They are all, and we are beholden to their will.”

 

Aspectism is extremely important to all elves of the Caerme’onn Seed, and all elves within it are expected to be devout followers of the religion. The Aspects hold a huge part in Caerme’onn life, with both elders being druids of the Naelurir- priests who guide the wood elven people.

 

The Caerme’onn Seed practices ritual offering to the Aspects, leaving many a gift to their gods before the sacraficial braziers and shrines erected across the wood elven city. These offerings are left before a hunt, before childbirth, and other situations that require diefic blessings.

 

Loyalty.

 

“A wolf is a fearsome beast, a proud creature. It has reason to be proud, for it is one of Cernunno’s apex predators. Yet, a lone wolf will quickly find itself starving. Wolves may be haughty, they may be fierce, but they know that the strength of their kind is in the pack.”

 

Elves of the Caerme’onn seed must first care for the seed, and the elven people as a whole, before any one individual. To jeopardize the safety of the seed or the nation for the sake of one man is considered selfish, and elves of Caerme’onn are expected to know when to sacrifice themselves should their lives come at the cost of the pack.

 

The traditions, culture and prosperity of both the Caerme’onn and the wood elves as a whole must be protected at all costs, and no elf of Caerme’onn is above this duty, even if carrying it out leads to their death.

 

Leadership.

 

“We are the shepherds.”

 

Initiative is a key trait of the Caerme’onn. Leadership is highly valued, as Caerme’onn is considered to be the spearhead in the revival movement of all ancient seed culture, at least in the eyes of its own members. After all, Caerme’onn was the first Seed to be formally re-founded during the beginning of the cultural revolution in early Vailor.

 

All elves of Caerme’onn are expected to provide some leading role in the wood elven people. They can do this by joining the Naelurir- elven priests that teach the commonfolk of the Aspects, by working their way up the ranks in the warriors of Sirame, or taking up other highly sought after societal roles such being the head of a healing clinic.

 

Caerme’onn tribesmen and women must know when to stop and listen, however. Leadership is as much knowing your betters and seniors and respecting the chain of command, as it is guiding those younger and lower in rank than you.

 

Strength

 

“We must be swift as a coursing river, with all the force of a great typhoon, with all the strength of a raging fire, mysterious as the dark side of the moon.”

 

The elves of the Caerme’onn Seed value strength in all its forms. Naturally, all its members must learn to be proficient in combat. The men must learn the way of the blade, the spear, and the tomahawk. Women are expected to learn to be deadly with a knife, although swordplay is not discouraged. Both are required to master marksmanship and hand-to-hand fighting.

 

A Caerme’onn’s physical strength is often judged by their prowess in the hunt. The larger the game, the harsher the terrain, the more honour he brings himself and his seed. Women are less pressured to hunt, instead being asked to show mental strength. Calm minds and calm hearts as they serve as diplomats, healers and mothers.

 

Indeed, strength of the mind is equally valued in both men and women of the Seed. All Caerme’onn are expected to carry themselves respectfully, to not bend to petty insults nor dole them out themselves, to be mature and refrain from acts of heated emotion, to have a cool, calm and sensible heart.

 

Initiation Trials

While originally restricted to the bloodline of Artimec, Caerme’onn is now open to all elves who wish to join. That being said, becoming part of the Seed and earning the right to have the crimson antlers inked onto your flesh is by no means an easy task. All initiates seeking to find brotherhood in the Princely Seed must first pass a variety of trials aimed to test their worthiness, and whether or not they are capable of upholding the values of Caerme’onn.

 

Trial of Faith

The initiate is taught rigorously of the Aspects, what they stand for, and why their worship is so critical to the seed and to the wood elven people. The initiate must pass this trial by offering up an item of great value to the sacraficial brazier, burning it in the name of the Aspects and explaining the significance of its sacrifice to the Seed Elders. The initiate must also swear an oath to always worship the two gods of nature and never hold any deities above them.

 

Trial of Tradition

The initiate should endulge on the things that the Mali’ame have been raised from. It is required that they raise an animal from birth to be their companion. Craft their own weapons. Find or create their own shelter. Erect a shrine in the name of the Aspects. It is up to the initiate to decide what old tradition to show prowess in, and the elders to judge if their efforts are worthy.

 

Trial of Knowledge

The initiate is encouraged to talk to Elder elves, to learn of the history of the Mali. Then write a thesis on a significant period of elven history of his/her choice and explain the lessons learned from it.

Trial of Endurance

The initiate is taken to the base of a high mountain and given a pack full of stones. He is to climb that mountain under the watchful eye of an elder. If he falters or gives up, he is not worthy to join the seed.

 

Trial of Hunt

The initiate is sent off into the deep forest in search of a monster or beast of extravagant notability. To succeed this trial, he must behead it and bring it back as a trophy. The other parts of the beast must be put to use, its hides worn, its bones sacrificed to the Aspects. Wastefulness will lead to the failure of this trial.

 

Trial of Fear

The initiate’s mind is warped with the drug of cacti or nightsap, and left at the peak of a mountain with absolutely nothing but a bone knife at his side. He will be watched carefully by elders, and must survive for a week while disoriented and far from wilderness. If he is unable, he will be collected and returned home, but deemed unfit for the Caerme’onn.

 

Trial of Pain

The initate must show his capacity to endure physical suffering for the Seed, and is chained to a post and flogged with a baton, the elders judge how worthy he/she is by how much pain he can endure. At any point, the initiate can call for the beating to stop, but if they call for it too soon, they are deemed unworthy. Those who endure the pain until the elders themselves decide to halt earn their place in the seed.

 

Trial of Worth

The initiate must defeat on of the Elders in one on one combat. This is the final trial where the initiate proves his newfound strength and his passion. If he is able to defeat the elder, he finally earns his place among the Caerme’onn.

 

The Initiation Ceremony

Once the trials are passed, the new tribesman of the Caerme’onn seed is taken to sacred ground. Usually, this means a fae ring or a site of Aspectist shrines. There, their skin is injected with crimson ink in the shape a stag’s antlers- the crimson horns are the ilmyumier of the Seed.  The tribesman is allowed to choose where they wish to bare their tattoos, but to bare them in a place out of view or commonly covered up with clothing is considered highly disrespectful. To have the tattoo be too small and insignificant is too.

 

Traditionally, most Caerme’onn wear the inking on their left arm, which is kept sleeveless so it can be displayed.

Current Members

 

Artimec Camoryn - Chieftain and Keeper of the seed, Prince of Laureh’lin.

 

Valor Caerme’onn - Elder of the seed, mentor and keeper of tradition, giver of trials to initiates.

 

Faeinn Caerme'onn - Blood-daughter to Artimec.

 

Saria Camoryn - Blood-granddaughter to Artimec.

 

Leoris Camoryn - Blood-grandson to Artimec.

 

Abelas Caerme'onn - Marked man and druid of the Naelurir

 

Quillian Caerme'onn - Druidess of the Naelurir

 

Elleonora Caerme'onn - Druidess of the Naelurir

 

Should You Join?

To join Caerme’onn is an arduous undertaking, but well worth it. To be in the Seed is to have a band of brothers and sisters who would stop at nothing to protect you, as you would for them. Only those who care the utmost about their people and their culture should join the Caerme’onn, as all who do will be expected to take up the mantle of cultural preservation among the wood elven people.

 

Caerme’onn enjoy prestige and noble status within the Dominion of Malin, but that nobility comes at the steep price of dedication, loyality, tradition and faith. If you consider yourself adamant enough to uphold those values, then the life of the Princely Seed of Caerme’onn may be for you.

 

[Guest]

"I thought it was Camoryn," remarks Kairn Calithil. 

[__WaterFox__ 636]

"Please tell me this means I won't have any more Camoryns crying on my shoulder or trying to adopt me" , Alirya said with a sigh

[Anawkin 247]

Leoris weeps at the sight of his exclusion, wondering where he went wrong.

[Elvrohir Aureon 210]

Chieftan of Seed Aureon, Elvrohir, sits with Chieftan Artimec on a rather large branch of a Home Tree, their feet dangling in the air hundreds of feet above the ground. They converse loudly, watching the bustle of daily life below them. The thriving city a testament to the favor of the Aspects. 

 

"Remember when they called you a fuckin' idiot for trying to revive a dead culture?"

 

[Remyy 952]

"A option for everyone to join a seed that is treated like royalty.. Hmph, well This will be interesting."

Remarked a older Mali, she leaned back in her seat running a finger down her disfigured face, a dull gaze shifted from the wall to a single bird that kept its perch.

[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.