Acaele'thil | The Heralds of Wisdom

[Your Favorite Impure 734]

Spoiler

 

The Heralds of Wisdom

 

(Could not find the artist, but credit to whoever did this amazing art piece!)

Scholars, politicians, sentinels. Though always having been small in size, those of the Acaele'thil Seed have achieved much in their storied history. Whether it be the taming of gryphons in the Era of Ancient Seeds, to securing the crown in modern times, they have never cowered in the face of a challenge.

 

Wisdom
Loyalty
Cunning
Guidance
Knowledge
 

Following his abdication of the throne, Aenor Calithil, the current Chieftain of the Seed, wandered the wilds for many, many seasons. In his travels, he managed to discover tomes regarding some of the more ancient Seeds, his own included. What struck him as most interesting is that ‘Calithil’ was a butchering of the original elven name of the Seed: Acaele’thil. Over time, he managed to piece together a more cohesive history of his progenitors and garner new insight into the lives of his ancient kin.

Spoiler

In the ancient era when Malin still led the unified Elven people and spread his teachings, there was one amongst his students who devoted nigh everything to the King of Elves. Records indicate that the elf went by the name “Inderir'vul”, which translates to “Clever Student”. But whether this was the elf’s actual name or an affectionate title given to the elf by Malin has been under much scrutiny and speculation. Regardless, Inderir'vul lived and breathed Malin’s teachings and absorbed nearly every word that left the eldest of the Four Brother’s lips. At Malin’s behest, he was one among many who chose the path of a Druid to further uphold the balance in nature that Malin made clear was imperative to preserve. 
For years upon years, Inderir'vul would live in harmony with the natural world and spread the teachings of the wizened Father of Elves to all who would listen. But it was when Malin vanished without a trace that Inderir'vul was at a loss of what to do. The shock of their forefather departing left most Elves helpless, and Inderir'vul was no exception. He bore witness to Larahei leading what would be the Mali’aheral to their golden pools, and could do nothing to aid to Mali’ker as their eventual insanity gripped the populace. Seeing that there was nothing left for him, or those that remained, he was one of the first to follow Irrin Sirame into the forests. 
But like all who followed, eventually Inderir'vul ventured forth on his own with a small gathering of similar-minded Elves. They each held Malin’s teachings close, either being students themselves or having relatives that were once disciples of the revered Father. They wandered the outskirts of the forests they called home for centuries, not feeling the need to venture as deep into the verdant woods as some of the other Seeds did. 
But as always, life continued on and the Elves soon became accustomed to their neoteric epoch. Eventually, all was as it should be, the Seed tending to their Ame’lie and living alongside nature in such a manner where it was left to its own volition. Yet, over time, Inderir'vul began to experience this hollow sensation deep within his very being. Despite the prosperity of his kin, he felt as though there was a lack of an overarching purpose. Sure, he was continuing to guide his fellow ‘ame through trying times while passing on the teachings of their revered Father to the younger generations, yet even then he felt as though there was a final piece to the puzzle he could not see. This small seed of doubt was given root in his mind, and soon his thoughts were consumed with the notion that there was more to life, that perhaps he as a Druid was not doing enough to uphold the teachings of Malin, and subsequently the will of the Aspects. Finally, after months of pondering over this, Inderir'vul was given what he believed to be a sign. 
During one of the excursions the hunters of the Seed took to trail after a herd of deer in the forest, they came across one of the most horrifying sights that an Elf following the Aspects could ever bear witness to: Blighted land. The flora within the area was withering away, some wilted to such an extent where it was no longer recognizable. Carcasses of local fauna were strewn about, seeming to have perished due to whatever was twisting the land. Yet, some of the carcasses seemed to have fallen to some manner of beast, either torn apart or extremely gaunt due to exsanguination. The hunters knew at once that they must return to where their Seed currently was situated to gather the Druids who were capable of healing the lands of this sickness. However, before they could depart, the hunters fell prey to abominations that defied nature: undead beasts that roamed through this land with bodies twisted and mangled, clearly placed there by some manner demented individual capable of terrible feats. The hunters did not hesitate; they set out to slaughter any such beasts that approached them. Though early on in this skirmish it was clear they were not suited for such battles. Nevertheless, they emerged victorious and they were not without their losses.
They soon returned to inform Inderir'vul of what occurred, and while he mourned the loss of elvish blood, it dawned on him that this was the purpose of his Seed. Whether it was a sign from Malin himself or from the Aspects, he desperately grasped onto it and was not letting go. Despite this revelation, he felt as though something was still missing, that there were some pieces to this puzzle that he was not yet aware of. Thus, he bided his time, sending small groups of Druids to work on pieces of the blighted land, ordering them to flee if unnatural beasts approached. 
It was sometime during these passing months that the Seed came across a small gathering of High Elves traversing amongst the edges of the forest. Curious, the hunters of the Acaele'thil Seed observed these High Elves for days, noticing that they transported a myriad of tomes in their gathering, amongst other items. Over time, the supplies this group carried dwindled, and it was clear that their time was running short. The Mali’aheral were clearly not suited for life within the forest, and those hunters that observed from afar were certain that the High Elves would depart soon to return to their towering stone cities. And yet, despite the Acaele'thils’ doubts, they still remained with seemingly no intention of departing. Amongst the hunters, a consensus was made that it was Inderir'vul’s decision of what must be done, and thus one hunter returned to the Seed to seek out their leader. Inderir'vul nearly waved the hunter off, having no time to be concerned about such trivial matters. His complete focus was on healing the lands that had been tainted and he knew he could not waste his time caring for the fates of the Mali’aheral who so readily abandoned Malin’s ways. Though, in almost an instant he had a sensation fill him, almost akin to a moment of clarity, yet one that was almost screaming at him that this was part of the answer to his problem. With much surprise to the hunter, Inderir'vul calmly informed her to approach the High Elves and extend the hospitality of the Acaele'thil Seed to them.
Not but a day later, the hunters returned with the foreign group in tow, their fair-skinned cousins taking in their surroundings with awe etched upon their delicate features. Upon exchanging stories, Inderir'vul learned that this small band of High Elves did not see eye to eye with the leadership in their towering silver city. They dared to question the decision of Larahei to so readily abandon the ways of their forefather, which led to scrutiny against this small group by their high elven brethren. A small schism occurred, though it seemed doomed to fail. The High Elves that survived said schism fled from the marble citadels of the Mali’aheral as their brethren had begun to hunt them down. They brought what they could steal away with, ranging from instruments to make life in the wilderness easy, to tomes of knowledge so that they might better integrate into such a way of life. The High Elves were unaware of the ways of the Mali’ame, as there had been little, if any, interaction between the Seeds and the outside world. 
While many within the Seed were apprehensive, at the behest of Inderir'vul, the Mali’aheral were slowly integrated into the life of the Seed. Still, they were not greatly adept with the skills necessary to survive in the wilderness, but to Inderir'vul, the fact that these High Elves wished to return to the old ways of Malin was enough reason for them to remain amongst the Seed. He had this feeling deep within his very soul that Malin would wish for his children to return to the old ways together and that this was a start if any. The Wood Elves of the Acaele'thil Seed showed their newly accepted brethren how to hunt, they were guided on how to cultivate the flora within their Ame’lie so that nature may continue to thrive. The High Elves were also taught the tenants of the Aspects to better revere them as Malin once showed their people. The Acaele'thil High Elves were introduced to the Wild Animal Spirits, the Mani and specifically, Sonnos. They gave offerings to the Prince of Foxes, asking for knowledge throughout their hunts, and to allow their minds to be open to new tactics when it came time for conflict. To show their gratitude towards their saviors, the fair-skinned Elves readily shared what knowledge they stole away with to their new kin, and it quickly became clear to Inderir'vul that this was the final piece to the puzzle. While some of the knowledge the High Elves had amassed was known to the Wood Elves, such as methods to grow crops and the different edible flora within nature, there was something new; a tome whose pages were filled with information on all manner of beasts, whether they be vile, unnatural amalgamations such as those within the blight, to natural creatures that still posed a threat to the Descendants. 
Inderir'vul ensured that this knowledge was spread around throughout the Seed, especially to those whose task it was to protect the Druids who were healing the blight. Within the coming weeks, it was evident that this knowledge had aided them greatly, allowing the hunters to bring down these beasts with greater ease. Before long, the blight they first came across was healed, and life soon began to flock to it once more. It was clear to not only Inderir'vul, but the Seed as a whole that this was their duty in life: to cleanse tainted lands and hunt the beasts that threaten the natural order. And so, they migrated throughout the edges of the forest, sometimes even venturing out from it completely to heal lands when it was required. They called upon aid from all, even managing to earn the respect of a herd of gryphons, not quite taming them, as such a proud beast could never truly be tamed. 
Seeing how such little knowledge had aided them to such a great extent, Inderir'vul could see no harm in gathering more, therefore, when the Seed ventured out from the forests every so often, he tasked some of the High Elves who had joined the Seed to go out into the lands and seek any knowledge they could find. It was due to this that, inadvertently, two ‘sects’ of the Seed were unofficially formed. There were those whose role it was to gather and protect the knowledge that they had claimed, and those whose role it was to hunt aberrations of nature and cleanse the land. Each worked in perfect harmony to assist the other, and for many years this was the life of those within the Acaele'thil Seed. During this period, Inderir'vul took a few of the High Elven scholars aside to scribe the teachings of their forefather, Malin. Should something happen to the elven people, at least Malin’s words would live on, or such was Inderir'vul’s hope.
Having been a student of Malin’s, Inderir'vul held his teacher’s adopted daughter in such high regards and when he heard the rumors of Taynei’Hiylu being awoken by the Aspects, he set out to see if such whispers could possibly be true. When the Dragaar called the first Omentahu, Inderir'vul ensured that the Acaele'thil Seed was among the first to answer the summons. Some of the other Seeds, namely those who called themselves ‘Chirr’, looked upon the Acaele'thils with disdain for assimilating some of their High Elven brethren. Yet, Taynei ensured that, at least during the Omentahu, peace was kept. Still, despite this disagreement with the warrior Seed, Inderir'vul, amongst many others within the Acaele'thils, were overjoyed to see that the Great Dragaar still lived. When she was present, they took in each wise proverb that she laid upon them, just as they had with Malin’s teachings centuries past. 
For years on, the Acaele'thil Seed continued with their self-appointed task of cleansing the forest and the surrounding lands. But one fateful day, the then-experienced Druids and hunters of the Seed came across a blight that would prove far too challenging to cleanse, even for their skills. The land was torn asunder beyond recognition, baring the similarities of other blights they had discovered over the centuries. Yet, there was something different about this blight, a heaviness in the air that made one’s hair stand on the back of their neck. It was the type of heaviness that made it difficult to breathe, as though icy cold digits were slowly compressing your lungs and not allowing them to expand. The small excursion of Acaele'thil Elves tread carefully to get the lay of the land, deciding where best to begin their healing while simultaneously seeing if there was a source to this unnatural corruption that was twisting the land to its will. The accounts scribed at this point in history are strangely absent, or at least explain very little. Each account of this time that has been discovered seems to have differences in what truly occurred during the attempt to cure this blight. But there is one similarity that remains true: deep within the corruption, there was a beast of untold proportions, though the description of said beast is just as vague as the rest of the accounts of this time. All that is clear is that it proved to be too great for the elves of the Acaele'thil Seed to handle. Most of the hunters, despite their best efforts, lost their lives. Only a small handful of the original group that first set out returned, much to the dismay of the rest of the Seed. It was a time of mourning, though the blight was still spreading across the lands, slowly but surely. And yet, the Seed could not devote the time they wished to at least attempt to hold it at bay, for it was at this point in history that the conflict between Garthon and Taynei’Hiylu was brewing. The Acaele'thil Seed answered the call of the Dragaar and pledged themselves to her, or at least the few that remained did. 
In this time, Inderir'vul could not help but feel as though he had failed his old mentor, for this was the first time they had suffered so greatly and failed to heal such a scar on the land. He focused on the war that was at hand, yet this thought of failure was constantly nagging at the back of his mind, and his kin noticed a change in their usually mellow leader. He withdrew himself from his peers, usually only speaking with Taynei herself to give input on the war when she asked. The situation only seemed to worsen from here once the final battle between the Seeds of Yore had come to a close, the conflict finding resolution after so long. 
The loss of Taynei weighed heavily upon all, but some say it was the straw that broke the camel’s back for Inderir'vul. There are those that claim that he saw it as the end of an era, himself being a relic of such a time. Others say he felt as a failure to his kin now that Taynei had finally perished. Regardless, Inderir'vul departed without a word from the Elves as a whole, not even leaving a hint of where he had traveled to. With even fewer in their numbers and without true leadership, the Acaele'thils gathered up what knowledge they had and set about to the lands of Aegis in the great exodus of the Wood Elven people, soon scattering to go their own separate ways once Laurelin was formed.
 

 

 

With the resurgence of both Aspectism and the Seed Culture in Vailor, Aenor was among the first members of Wood Elven culture to re-establish their Seed, alongside the likes of Caerme’onn, Tresery, Aureon, and Terin. While most Seeds welcomed any into their fold, the Acaele'thil were the only ones who maintained their Seed through blood relations or marriage after seeing what troubles could arise from accepting anyone eager to join. The Acaele'thil Seed quickly established themselves as scholars, librarians, and forgemasters within the Dominion, lending a hand to numerous political situations that arose in such convoluted times. This continued on for many, many decades, well into Axios as Aenor eventually rose to the position of High Prince, even possessing a most sacred relic for some time; The Falchion of Malin. With the valuable assistance of his granddaughter, Carellith, who was Lady of Stewardy, Aenor led the Dominion to the best of his abilities until the position eventually took its toll. With the Dominion stagnating further and further with each passing year, despite efforts to have it be otherwise, Aenor signed the Dominion over to Oren as a protectorate before answering the call of the wilds.

During Aenor’s time in the wilds, much transpired in the world of the Elves without his knowledge. The Dominion he left behind soon began to splinter due to infighting, and likewise, the Acaele'thil Seed started to drift apart as well. Aenor’s first son, Kairn, dissatisfied with the path the Dominion was currently on, founded his own splinter faction, frequently vying for control of both the throne and military. This eventually became known as the Bronze Rebellions and Kairn succeeded in his endeavor, accepting the title of “Tyrant” during his time leading the Elves. He also joined the Ithelanen Seed in this timeframe. However, power was something Kairn grew weary of, for the mantle of King was a heavy one. Eventually, Abelas took the throne after Kairn decided to abdicate, and yet, eventually all leaders fall. Following the Death of Abelas, Renn was made Queen by Kairn, for the elf did not desire that power again, or so he thought. Eventually, Kairn was once more displeased with the weakness of the Elves following a distressing defeat at the hands of the September Prince. Due to this, Kairn eventually opposed Renn and succeeded in subjugating the Dominion, vassalizing it and dubbing it Irrinor.
 Towards the winter years of Atlas, Aenor’s granddaughter passed on to the Eternal Forest, the news eventually reaching the grizzled Elf and causing him to withdraw further into the wilds. 
Yet, also during these times, one of Aenor’s daughters, Anya, wandered the realms as a War Cleric as Tahariae until the Aengul withdrew from the realm, leaving His followers without a path in life. Both father and daughter would reunite in Almaris, in the city of Yong Ping. With reluctant hesitation, due to his history with the Wood Elves, Aenor eventually ventured to the Vale of Nevaehlen, where the Acaele'thil would re-establish themselves amongst kin, and have remained there to this day. 

 

Much like other Seeds, the Acaele'thil have no qualms seeking the wisdom of all Mani. However, there are two that they seek guidance from above all others. 
The first of these two is Ohowaki, Princess of Owls, who embodies not only wisdom, but the pillars of patience and knowledge. These traits are highly revered by the Acaele'thil, who have always had a thirst for discerning the unknown and broadening their minds. It was, and still is, not uncommon for Acaele'thil to pray to Ohowaki for the wisdom necessary to guide those who rely upon them. Many Acaele'thil in the past, and even in the present, have carried an effigy or carving of the Princess of Owls on their person, invoking the Mani to, in turn, guide them when the time comes for such intervention.
The second of these two Mani is Sonnos, Prince of Foxes, who, above all else, personifies cunning. An Acaele'thil has always required a quick mind, both sharp and attentive, in order to strategize the best path to tread in many circumstances, whether it be during something as simple as a hunt, to a more intense situation such as a political conclave. While most might associate prayer and worship to Sonnos with those who are politicians, or even merchants, a cunning mind can be useful for all descendants. But what’s more, is that Acaele'thil have found that a cunning mind must be tempered with wisdom, for knowing how to convey something is just as important as knowing what to say, hence the dual worship of both Ohowaki and Sonnos.
 

 

While the ancient Acaele'thil art of gryphon taming has become lost to the ages, the symbol and status the gryphon conveys still resonates deeply with all Acaele'thil. Majestic, mighty, and wise, these companions were greatly valued by the ancient Acaele'thil who managed to gain a gryphon’s respect. While there were smaller variations of these beautiful beasts in Axios that were able to be bonded with, no such creature has been found in the lands following. However, the meaning behind bonding with a creature is still revered, and thus, one trial of the Acaele'thil is to earn the respect of a beast, whether it be screowl or feline, duffle or canine.

 

With knowledge being a pillar of Acaele'thil values, it comes as no surprise the Acaele'thils have gathered quite a collection of tomes and scrolls over the centuries. With the intent of continuously expanding their collection, one simple, yet vital trial of an aspiring Acaele'thil is to obtain new information from whatever lands they may reside in. They may gather a single tome, or many, or simply whispers they may find in their travels. When they return, they should be ready to discuss what they have found, for intimately knowing the knowledge one has found is just as important as possessing it in the first place.

 

The Acaele'thil were once purgers of blight and aberrations that arose from such taint, seeing it as their calling in life and their part in upholding the Balance. While only Druids are truly capable of purging blight from tainted lands, those without the Gifts can still contribute. And so, one of the trials for an aspiring Acaele'thil is to find a beast that is tainted beyond saving, whether it be something as small as a hedgehog, to something as mighty as a caravachorn. Upon finding the beast and tracking it, the aspiring Acaele'thil must offer it up as a sacrifice to the Aspects, for cleansing nature of such taint is admirable in the eyes of the Horned Man and Green Lady.

 

This trial varies between each individual, and is usually saved for the latter part of the trials, once the Acaele’thil in charge of the trials begins to learn the strengths and weaknesses of the Aspirant. The aspiring Acaele’thil will be thrust into a difficult, or even dangerous, situation at an unknown point in time, requiring them to overcome what obstacle is placed in their path. It might be a physical trial, or one involving the mind. The vagueness of this trial is imperative, for an Acaele’thil must be prepared to face down challenges at a moment’s notice, using their honed mind to overcome the tribulation.

 

Following the Aspirant's success in their trials, they are allowed to scribe their name in the Acaele’thil Book of Deeds. This tome holds the names of many prior Calithil and what they accomplished in life, once more stressing the importance of not allowing knowledge to be forgotten.

 

(Credit to Numirya for both)

Having both ‘ame and ‘aheral blood, the clothing of an Acaele'thil has been influenced by such and varies greatly. From the furred garbs of the Wood Elves, to the refined clothing of their fair skinned cousins, they find comfort in donning either variety. Yet, the most distinguishing trait of the Acaele'thil is their dual-colored hair. For those of Acaele'thil blood, it is inherited, though many Acaele'thil in the past, either through marriage or joining the seed, have voluntarily dyed part of their hair white, though it is not a requirement.
 For those blood Acaele'thil, it seems all share the stark white locks of their ancestors, yet the second color is determined by their same-sex parent. A daughter will have white hair with the secondary color of their mother, while a son would bare the white locks with the secondary color of their father. Very rarely though, the secondary color may be that of a vibrant, fiery orange, once seen as a blessing, a symbol of an ancient Acaele'thil whose story is known by all within the Seed.

 

(Credit to Numirya)

The Acaele'thil Seed differs from most due to the fact that it technically has two markings, though only one was required by the members of the Seed. The official ilmyumier of the Acaele'thil Seed is an ever evolving token and story of the Acaele'thil’s life and endeavors. When first inked upon the Acaele'thil, it takes the form of a circular, hollow mass of white roots bearing blue leaves throughout its entirety, representing the Lentin’celia, or the Starlilly Tree. From here, momentous occasions that shape and form the Acaele'thil in life are added to the ilmyumier in the form of branching roots. At the end of these branching paths, a single item is interwoven into the ends of the roots that represents these character defining moments. No two ilmyumier are the same, though many might hold similar items depending on the path in life an Acaele'thil takes. 
A single item that represents the Calithil at their very core takes up the space within the center of this original, circular mass of roots. It is for this very reason that the space might remain empty for decades, or even centuries for many Acaele'thil. 
The second ilmyumier stems from that original group of Mali’aheral that those Acaele'thil hunters of old happened upon. They were the original scholars of the Seed, and many within knew to approach these individuals whenever they required answers they did not have, or simply wished to have a moment in their lives immortalized in writing. Others who also took this path afterwards decided to ink it upon their skin in respect for those scholars who came before them, and it took the form of a runic tree. Most individuals had it span the entirety of their backs, with roots spindling down their arms and hands, though there was no decree as to where it had to be upon one’s body. There were some who ever inked it upon their visage, symbolizing their dedication to knowledge.

 

Spoiler

Thank you for reading! I’ve been putting off this rewrite for some time and finally just banged it out. Huge thank you to @WestCarolina for helping with a large portion of the editing and fact-checking, as well as @Mewliet for giving it a once over! Also, to @Amayonnaise for consultation. If you’re interested in joining, don’t hesitate to reach out to me in game (Filavandrel) or on Discord (filavandrel_).

 

Also, with not being around on the server during Atlas, some of the modern history might be off. Don't hesitate to reach out so I can correct it!
 

 

[Mewliet 451]

Hey, I know that guy 👴🏻

[SoulReapingWolf 2258]

So knowledgeable, so guiding, so cunning, so loyal, so wise. 

[WestCarolina 1779]

Spoiler

Me lub culture posts. Good work, @Your Favorite Impure:D 

 

[ThumperJack 923]

Man. Look at that post. It's got all da lawr. You did so good!

[Terry 1859]

This lari certainly knows da lawr.

 

Excellent post! 

[excited 10833]

Good post. Faint historical inaccuracy— Renn did not oppose Kairn, and Renn was made Queen by Kairn after the death of Abelas, because he refused to take power again at her recommendation. Kairn later opposed Renn and vassalized the Dominion, calling it the province of Irrinor. The opposition came from the fact Renn lost a battle against the September Prince. Renn, prior to being Queen, was the best treasurer the Dominion had, making hundreds of thousands of Mina’s from caravans and selling pelts (the beast killing mina-making mini game of the time). 
 

 

[Your Favorite Impure 734]

49 minutes ago, excited said:

Good post. Faint historical inaccuracy— Renn did not oppose Kairn, and Renn was made Queen by Kairn after the death of Abelas, because he refused to take power again at her recommendation. Kairn later opposed Renn and vassalized the Dominion, calling it the province of Irrinor. The opposition came from the fact Renn lost a battle against the September Prince. Renn, prior to being Queen, was the best treasurer the Dominion had, making hundreds of thousands of Mina’s from caravans and selling pelts (the beast killing mina-making mini game of the time). 
 

 

I appreciate it! Not having played I had to scrounge up what I could from others, but I'll make the tweaks to it soon.