[Accepted] [Settlement] Maehrel-Vaxu, the Dark Elven Communion

[christman 3529]

 

Yesterday’s gathering!

 

Leader MC Name: schemingeunuch 

 

Leader Character Name: Ulln Thyone

 

Realm/Settlement Name: Maehrel-Vaxu

 

Realm/Settlement ID (all lowercase, one word - used for regions etc - ie 'urguan' or 'oren' or 'malinor'): maehrel

 

Primary Realm/Settlement Color: Dark Blue

 

Proposed Capital Tile / Region Location (Highlight 3 on the map):

First choice: tile_palm_island_1, 

Second choice: tile_volcanic_plateau_3,

Third choice: tile_silverwoods_1

We appreciate the Kharajyr have also applied to settle, albeit as a lair, on our first choice (palm_island_1) and are confident there is room for both of us. Our settlement (200x200) and their lair (75x75) will take up just over half of the tile (the island itself being ~400x400). There is also room for dialogue between these two groups rooted in their shared worship of the Moon, which we are confident would lead to interesting roleplay interactions should they come into contact with one another.

 

Lore (could also include previous roleplay posts showing involvement with the community):

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/236910-kothel-the-origin-and-creeds-of-the-dark-elves/

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/224981-velluah-the-dark-elven-language/

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/237458-rituals-of-the-gloom/

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/265829-the-moonlit-caravan/

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/266443-gloomguard-protectors-of-the-maehr-diaspora

 

Government Structure Explanation:

Maehrel-Vaxu is a theocratic confederation that is mildly democratic. The primary lawmaking body, a congregation of the Chiefs of the maehr clans, elects a Primarch (the PRO) to rule in the High Priestess’ name. 

 

Governmental powers are split between the three bodies in a pseudo-form of checks and balances, albeit one that heavily favors the High Priestess. We believe that this unique blend can create political and religious roleplay and drama not available in the other, more traditionally monarchical, governments on the server.

 

Here is the current rough draft of our constitution:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H0DXsERucPcYRx0zgyIa2rv3UbKfQ5-J5Q7mjYny1uA/edit?usp=sharing

 

 

Capital / Settlement Build Concepts (photos of assets / layout / inspiration required):

We understand that there is high demand for the regions listed and that our current build design is fitted to the jungle pallet. With this in mind, the majority of our build motifs have been made with the intention of flexibility to other regional pallets, e.g. shifting stone and stone brick to blackstone were we placed in the volcano region. That is to say, we have built with a view of ‘how would this culture adapt to living in this environment’, rather than ‘how would a culture have developed in this environment’.

How does this realm/settlement offer a unique niche not already found in an existing group on the server?:

Maehrel-Vaxu will be the home of the dark elves known as “the maehr”.
The maehr follow a distinct culture not currently seen elsewhere on the server, even amongst other elven communities. Their unique faith makes the community itself stand out as its own group, unable to easily merge with existing communities on the server.

 

Many maehr derive their identity from their clan, some of which have existed since the very beginning of dark elven history. Clan members are not related exclusively by blood, for a kinship of values and spiritual life tends to be valued more highly by the maehr. There are many avenues for new dark elves to integrate into ongoing narratives by finding kinship with a clan.

 

The maehr are highly spiritual, worshiping their moon goddess Helun-Velulaeya along with numerous other gods, including the spirits of the Stargush’stroh, their honoured ancestors and the countless aenguls and daemons that inhabit the heavenly realms, who are named uniquely in Vel’luah, such as Malchediael being Urhuluzk, Gazardiel being Guzzad and Tahariae being Taheryn. This is borne out of centuries (the majority of server history) of dark elven diversity of culture and belief, which have melded together in the modern Yyrul Koth philosophy as an expanded form of Shamanism, that has historically been scrutinised by orcish practitioners as well as condemned if not outright forbidden by the majority of other races and nations. 

 

The Maehr perspective on their pantheon and their broader tolerance of the Void, combined with their deep hatred of Nemiisae and their Mori’Quessir cousins spawned from her, has resulted in an entirely unique worldview and set of religious and cultural practices alien to the existing realms of Azuras.

 

Maehr culture already has many unique traditions and customs, which include:

• It’s own language, Vel’luah which has over a thousand words and is still growing  (see lore links, we recently added a word for bald!)
• The ceremonial hatching of Xy-Hulud (silt striders)
• The role of the high-priestess as the goddesses’ voice, along with the hiding of her sacred face and form from non-maehr
• Songs written in Vel’luah
• Unique rituals (https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/237458-rituals-of-the-gloom/)
• Pilgrimages across the map while /walking to various holy sites (we actually did this and it was very fun)
• A unique governmental structure that blends theocracy with oligarchy
• An honor-bound order of warriors called the Gloomguard.
• And much more.

Should Mordu’s Xyve lore be accepted, we plan to integrate the tooth-daggers into our culture as well, and create rituals and honor-duels around them. 

(https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/266062-invention-xyve/)

 

Modern Maehr culture is a direct evolution and combination of the various dark elven settlements that have existed across the server’s history, such as Ker’nor, Rennalia, the Warhawkes, Nor’asath/Nor-velyth and most recently Darad Kezia. This has been expressed through the continuous roleplay expression of the ‘Maehr diaspora’, featuring characters which have carried, passed on and reinterpreted cultural staples and values from all of the above realms and creeds, identifying in them a consensus of fundamentals which make up the modern ‘Yyrul Koth’, or ‘Kothel’; this is the Gloom of the Dark Elves, for which the dark elven subforum is named.

 

At the heart of Kothel is the belief that since their origin in Magara’lin, the dark elven race has been cursed by the gods to wander, and that through shared acceptance of their patron goddess - Mother Moon, or ‘Helun-Velulaeya’ - they are destined to reunify, setting aside historic differences and tolerating a diverse pantheon of Ancestors, Spirits and Aengudaemons alongside her.

 

Maehrel-vaxu, meaning ‘the Maehr Communion’ in Vel’luah, is the realisation of a unified dark elven state borne out of the various clans which have come together in existing roleplay caravans and have each interpreted their diverse and storied belief systems through the shared Kothel confession. 

 

Maehrel-Vaxu would be a home for this growing community of maehr, one where their unique culture can continue to thrive and prosper. 

 

How does your realm/settlement tie to the greater lore and narrative set by the community on LotC?:

The dark elves are the only core race without an independent settlement, save the dwarves and orcs who lost theirs only recently. Since the collapse of Nor-velyth in early Aevos the dark elves have been without a home, setting up various camps across the continent and doing diaspora roleplay (see links). In recent weeks, our numbers and coffers have grown substantially, and, at long last, it finally makes sense for the maehr to have a home once more.

(https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/265829-the-moonlit-caravan/; https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/266228-an-invitation-to-all-maehr/) 

 

Have you ever run a realm/settlement on LotC before and what experience does your group have with leadership within roleplay communities?

Although I do not have experience leading a realm or settlement, I led the Fifth Synod from mid Almaris to early Aevos; Creete has been the Maheral of Haelunor, and the NL of Nor’Asath as well as Nor-Velyth; and Mordu has spearheaded and inherited various nation and settlement groups.   

 

Do you understand the metrics for upkeep, maintaining activity, and the grounds for realm/settlement removal? 

Yes

 

[The King Of The Moon 7016]

Sathoro, son of Vierna Kameki and Arzota Shadeleaf, of the Des'Nox clan signs the settlement's charter.

 

The Maehr smiled, sharing the song of his wayward people and their promised land to the caravan:
 

"Ben heubo ben mege yleo tahelel	((As long as deep within the heart
Osyenel aeth Maehrzhel yx zeemaru lu mohyu,	The soul of the Maehr is tranquil with grace,
Ben heubo ben my yyrel-xebatule	As long as to the changing sea
Amel gobel Yyrul Kothel myxzu yx a’metto	The eye towards Kothel always is turned
Mebe uhv’lye xythal, zeb yx syex a’ko	Then our ambition, it is not dead
Teymo myhelel lo tom a’robela:	The ancient passion will be fulfilled:
Tom xaelunyt norel, norel aeth uhv’lye helunzh	To rebuild the land, the land of our mothers
Zydarel aeth Magara’lin, vat Velulaey ukh xutea.	The city of Magara’lin, where Velulaei set sail.
Tom xaelunyt norel, norel aeth uhv’lye helunzh	To rebuild the land, the land of our mothers
Zydarel aeth Magara’lin, vat Velulaey ukh xutea…"	The city of Magara’lin, where Velulaei set sail…))

((IGN: TheKingOfTheMoon))

[Aelesh 540]

Vynkukesh, daughter of Ulln Thyone, as yet clanless, signs the settlement's charter. ((IGN: Aelesh))

[CamoRein 154]

WOOO YEAH!!! I LOVE DARK ELVES!!!!. Enaid Illwm Signs the Charter ((IGN: ILoveTurbo_Dog))

[Spellblades 749]

Vesryn of Caurost, Clanless, signs this settlement's charter. (IGN: Spellblades)

[Zonty 994]

Azulon, a nameless, scrawls his share down. ((_Zonty))

[Perkins 167]

Vekas, Bannerman of the Great House of Thyone, signs the settlement's charter. ((IGN: Periklis_))

[UniBearse 922]

Solaris Maiheiuh-Delevoye, BardMaster of the Bard College signs the settlement's charter. ((IGN: unni5k))

[spaazmatism 1018]

Ynir signs the ledger. 
(IGN: EPLEIADES)

[blackhand7 368]

Azaryl,  of House Thyone, signs this settlement's charter. (IGN: blackhand7)

[Gnomeh 470]

Ekyth'aher, clanless and young yet driven by ambition, signs the charter (IGN: Gnomeh)

[BlueJaeeb 32]

Vuln'Acaln, Shomaana Remnant, signs the settlement's charter. ((IGN: _polonium210))

Edited April 2 by BlueJaeeb

[Stripe 3]

Vyrekh signs the settlement charter. (IGN: SStripe)

[Gaea_Foundation 625]

Mara signs this settlement charter (Voice_of_Gaea)

[Tav 4336]

Varys, Ulln Thyone’s secret husband, signs the charter. ((ign: straightboytav))