| The Aureon Seed |

[Kaelan 1916]

The Aureon Seed
| Seed of Nature and Kin |

Bound by Honour, not Blood

The Modern Seed;

As the founder of the modern Aureon seed, Elvrohir Aureon, who believed to be the last of his lineage, sought to breathe life back into his seed by indoctrinating outsiders of the same mindset and beliefs as his own.

After many decades and having borne no offspring himself, Elvrohir established a wide diversity of Mali within his seed. While the Aureons of old were striking in appearance with their longer than average ears, light russet skin tone, vibrant green eyes, and reddish-brown hair, the Aureons of today share a wide range of characteristics. As the beginning members of the modern seed consisted of Aelthus, a fair skinned mali’aheral, Veravia, the elegant sister counterpart to the ‘aheral, Fawynn, a bronze skinned mali’ame, and Katar, a copper haired wood elf, the diversity was already in the works. While some bear the tell tale blonde hair and violet eyes of the mali’aheral, others show off their dark locks and deep set brown eyes. Most, if not all, come from various backgrounds and traditions, but one thing unites them all: their devout loyalty to one another. For while only a few Aureon’s are related by blood, their bonds are no less stronger. Each member proudly calls the other brother or sister, and treats them as no less.

 

Throughout modern Elven history, members of the Aureon Seed have been found in prominent roles in Wood Elven society. Made up of a vast majority of skilled warriors, dedicated druidic priests, and skilled craftsmen, these Aureons served in almost every area of Wood Elven society. From the time of the Principality of Laureh’lin to the later birth of the Dominion of Malin, the Aureon’s influence was ever present in the shaping of the modern Mali’Ame. During the time of the Dominion of Malin, the Aureon Seed bore the title of a Princely Seed, having held seats on the council that governed the nation and at one point rising to lead the nation. Later with the fall of the Dominion of Malin and the later rise of the nation of Irrinor, the Aureon Seed returned once more taking up council seats and once again led the Mali’ame people, their influence present once more.

 

Founded by Elvrohir Aureon, the Aureon Seed is currently governed by the chieftain, Lyemar Aureon, a longstanding priest, former warrior, and former Prince of the Mali’ame. With a firm hand, he leads and guides his family in the ways of their people and culture.

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Elenwë, the First Maiden of Malin

Ancient History;

While the world was still young, Malin lead the elven people, and a particular mali’ame woman held his favour. Elenwë, a fearless and honourable warrior strove to help guide her people in the ways of the forefather. Her skill with the blade and eye for the bow outranked many of her compatriots, establishing her within the sights of Malin himself. Pleased with her skill, he bestowed upon her his own spear, encouraging her to continue leading her people with a firm hand.

 

With the disappearance of Malin and the division of his people, Elenwë remained in the location of his disappearance, along with the people entrusted to her. Choosing instead to rest in one location, they were the first of the seeds to live in a non-nomadic lifestyle. Her, along with others, then began the formation of the seeds.

 

Settling into permanent lodgings, a concept unheard of in this time, Elenwë, and a few steadfast individuals, supplemented their life to hunting and gathering with the blessing of the Aspects. As the years passed on, they mastered the art of tree harvesting. The Home Trees provided them with shelter, the Iron Barks produced superior hunting bows, and the fruit trees bore a surplus of food. This artificial forest, called Ame’lie, grew in tune with nature, and served the Aureon Seed well. And in this way, they existed through The Era of Seeds.

 

Elenwë, Chieftain of the Aureon Seed, resided over her people for many peaceful years, sustaining leadership even when her strength and vitality had began to fade. She was a beloved grandmother to her kin, and no one could find it in themselves to question her.

 

Unfortunately, the Uruk did not share this affection. Now despite being exceptional hunters, the Aureons were not soldiers. When the time came, they could do little against the ironclad Raiders of the Uzg. Elenwë died in battle, and her spear was taken, leaving the Aureons without a leader and without a mother to guide them.

 

Without the steady hand of Elenwë to guide them, in the span of a couple years time the Ame’lie the Aureons called home would grow silent as the Seed drifted apart.

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The Aureon seed marking, Ame’lie

Ilmyumier;

As the ancient history of the Aureons spoke of their ties to the Ame’lie, it held a deeper meaning to them. For the Aureons, the Ame’lie meant the difference between surviving and perishing. Without the Ame’lie, they would have had no homes, no food and no means of continuing on. And so, the Aureon’s became known as the protectors of the Ame’lie, helping guide their forest in tune with the Balance of Nature. The Balance relays the cycle of life, of existence and death, of fruitfulness and rot. And thus, the illmyumier of the seed relates just that message.

 

Traditionally tattooed in a visible area of the body, the Aureon seed members bear their markings with pride, telling the tale of how their ancestors helped keep the life growing, not only in the Ame’lie, but within themselves too.

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An Aureon hunts a beast that enters the Ame’lie he patrols.

Core Beliefs and Initiation;

While the Aureon seed is a notable and honorable seed, tradition is held highest among its members. With the ever growing family, it came to the attention of the wife of the chieftain, Lady Steward and Naelurir Archdruid Arahaelth Aueron, that those wishing to incorporate themselves into the fold would need to prove themselves to the existent family. After many years of delving into the ways of the seeds and teaching her dedicants the Balance and Aspectism, she created a structured manuscript detailing the key values of the seed, along with how aspiring members would prove these values to the Aureons. These values and trials are as follows:

 

Faith - The culture of the mali’ame is deeply rooted within the teachings of the Aspects, Cernunnos and Cerridwen. While many of the wood elven people are at least aware of the deities of the forest, many more are ignorant to the tradition. With this, the druii are the most reliable source of teaching. With a number of Aureon members being attuned druii, the aspirant is required to be taught the mali’ame ways from one of said druii. Once the teacher is pleased with the aspirant’s intake of knowledge, the are required to sit with the Chieftain and relay all they have been taught. Should they succeed in pleasing them with their new found knowledge, they may continue on with their trials. Should they fail, they will be required to continue their learning and will be re-tested.

 

Kinship - Family ties run deeper than blood within the seed. And thus, it is required for an aspirant to prove they can meld with the life of a family. Along with the observation of the elders, the aspirant will need to prove, through action, word and deed, that they can set family before themselves. Should brother turn on brother, or sister turn on sister, the whole family suffers. As the aspirant begins their initiation within the seed, they will be kept under continuous scrutiny by all the existing members.

 

Honor - Reputation and dignity go hand in hand with the Aureons. With many of the members being dignified soldiers, reputable clerics of Tahariae, and even political figure heads; the way an Aureon is viewed by outsiders is of the utmost importance. While the aspirant will not only be looked upon by the Aureons, most civilians and other seeds will scrutinize. Should the aspirant be viewed as dishonorable to the seed by Seeds and Clans viewed favourably by Aureon, along with the ‘Ame people, their chances of entering the seed are drastically lowered if not obliterated. 

 

Cohesion - Without unity, there can be no community. And with no community, relationships can not be formed. That being said, it is well routed within the ways of the mali’ame that working together is the most prosperous and efficient method of getting things done. For the aspirant, they will be pushed to many limits in order to prove that they can, in fact, work together with their counterparts and establish cohesion with their brethren. Depending on the aspirant, their first of many trails in this value may consist of harvesting and bringing the family a fallen tree (accompanied by at least one other member), hunting large game, aiding in the teachings of the Aspects (should they have completed the trial of faith) or any other trial deemed appropriate for the aspirant. While it is important for the aspirant to be tested, both physically and mentally, the Aureon’s are not cruel and will help find a balance when it comes to the position of the individual.

 

Self Worth - Personal integrity is an important aspect to the uniqueness of an individual. It is this uniqueness that makes each malii their own person. With this value, the aspirant must demonstrate what makes them who they are. While many of the Aureons are established craftsmen, a common method of proving self worth is to construct an object of importance on their own. Should an aspirant be an unskilled artisan, there are other methods such as transcribing stories, learning old elven ballads or even inventing new ideas and concepts for architecture, weaponry, battle strategies and the list goes on. No one is without individualism, and this characteristic is important to creating a sense of self and belonging.

 

Knowledge - While some may argue that the traditions of the mali’ame and the ways of the Aspects are one, the Aureon’s do not believe this is so. Just as the druii must be educated when it comes to The Horned Lord and The Green Lady, any aspirant of the seed must be educated in the culture and history of the people. In this trial, the aspirant must not only research and study the mali’ame, but they must also go out into the world and interview the notable figures, asking to learn in the ways of oral tradition.

 

While these values are held high and are considered of the utmost importance to the Aureon household, there are many others that the aspirant may be required to prove. While initiation into the seed may take time, the time that they spend and the devotion they put into it will be taken into account and be appreciated by all.

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An Aureon Aspirant sits awaiting a verdict from the Seed regarding her trials.

Oath of Initiation:

Once an aspirant has successfully completed their given trials, they will be sworn into the Aureon seed by declaration of an oath and sealing said oath in blood. Not unlike that of a dedicant agreeing to pursue in the tasks of a student, the aspirant will promise their life unto the seed through words and through the offering of their life source in the sight of the Aspects. The oath, transcribed by Leo Aureon, is as follows:

 

Let the blood that hisses within these flames be my word.

 

Let the flesh that I tear bind me to the troth I make today

 

Nay, be the blood, for the troth runs deeper.

 

My body is the shield of my kin.

 

For my brothers and sisters I will lay down my being if need be.

 

With passion in my heart I strive.

 

I strive to protect my family.

 

My bow stays true for the Father.

 

My heart stays true for the Mother.

 

Here, I become an Aureon. Here, I become one of Elenwë. 

 

Kae halere; I swear