bickando

Along old cobbled paths did the young man walk, guided by torchlight - amber hues flickering against the red leaves of the autumn seasons. Beside him, a trusted steed - the lame-legged mule, Julia (unrelated to the Saint), carrying a week's worth of supplies for one. The smell of thistle among the undergrowth; of sea-bream sold by a fisherman by the wayside. These were the smells of his homeland, still recovering from the war, its shining capital rebuilt yet again.

An old crossing stood before him, though its picket-sign was newly replaced; the beginning of a highway, where once stood unmarked footpaths. To Ebonwood; it cried to be explored. A journey for another time, for the young man was weary from the year's travels already. He had time, though, to pause at the watering hole; a campsite of misplaced milk farmers, their fields salted years ago by Sedanites, the nobility too embattled to pay foreign drui to heal their ruined lands.

Cloaked in a plain brown cape, its shape contorting around the sheath of a far finer blade, his tanned skin and rust-colored hair seemed misplaced among the pale folke of the refugee camp; indeed its combination would be misplaced anywhere in Almaris. He pulled from indigo-dyed pockets the letters he carried with him; of Fealty, and of Independence. Moere, warm and coastal, had never wanted for much - a small lakeside village of five raised into a county for a political game the boy had no part in playing. The land, beautiful but infertile, could host little more; yet he had remained there dutifully all the same, bound by oath to cousins that hated his mother, fishing, drinking, lazing about - for the invaders that had so crippled the rest of that Principality had left his Moere alone, the single young man more than enough to fend off the the odd coyote.

Yet now he was released, and his father had called for him. He oft wondered after his siblings - he had left home at the age of five, when they were yet whelps cradled in their shared mother's bosom. A brother and a sister he had never met, a keep he never cared to visit, a city he remembered only by the dizzying array of colors plastered onto its walls and the stench that so very often accompanied large settlements.

Perhaps home could wait. His steps led him into the Pale.

That's crazy! My ex also told me she was looking for someone_better! Let me know if you find them!

@rukio

Discord: bickando#5883

Skin/s: Comm 2

Bid: 25 USD

WTF

1 hour ago, Suicidium said:

A de Astrean nobleman slid his sword into his sheath, as he then gestured to the missive of the declaration of war. 

"Some imbecile Haelunorian hiding in the woods is digging up abhorrent lies to fuel his wanderlust for power on the bloodshed of others." 

((Feel free to hit me up on discord(Crines#2975) if you want to arrange some uncapped skirms))

Haelun'or, deep in the chaos of a civil upheaval, had little time to dedicate towards the lesser races - Veluthri Elibar'acal no exception. Drinking a cup of green tea, the leaves harvested in the wintry seasons for a fuller palette, she read through the morning papers of elcihi, rife with news of elections and speeches, of hurled insults and attacks on character - nothing, of course, related to Elysium, or non-thilln mating with other non-thilln (such was no business of the third-best publication of elcihi, the Silver Inquirer, after all). Suddenly, she sneezed.

"Heyae-?!" she exclaimed, confused - for it was a rather warm day as Malin's Welcome was coming into full swing.

"Maehr'sae hiylun'ehya," commented Veluthri Elibar'acal idly upon receiving the missive with her morning meal - today, a hearty affair of oatmeal, two eggs, an orange, and raspberry juice. The exact contents of her meal had no deeper meaning, except, perhaps, that she was especially craving fruit that day.

The golden eyes of a humbly clad 'thill glittered as they caught one of the many leaflets.

"Maehr'sae hiylun'ehya," they spoke quietly, near-religious fervor apparent in their voice.

Voting Ballot

((Minecraft Name: edelos))

Name: Tiuthwyn Visaj

Age: 132

Vote 1: Alaion Miravaris

Vote 2: Alaion Miravaris

ETERNALITY

We see ourselves as ETERNAL, lliran - sons and daughters of Larihei, our writs recorded for the eons and our deeds in living memory for countless Valah generations. Yet today I find that questioned - for the past few months I have spent staring out the gate of our so aptly named Eternal Library, watching executions in the streets in the name of order.

The 'thilln are a breed of logicians and orators, of thinkers and writers; that is to say, we are a largely defenseless lot. Atop our marble walls sit fewer cannons than one finds in a single Orenian hamlet; behind them sits an army suitable only for putting down civilians. And put them down they have; in the streets and in their homes are the Sohaerites hunted for the misdeed of wishing to continue a status quo we have known since the time of Larihei, etched into the history of the world by such figures as Lucion Sullas, the infamous Kalenz Uradir, and the far more recent Dimaethor Visaj. Abiding by the will of the Maheral and Malauriran could be counted on as surely as the sun rising - which means the sun must not have risen this past year, for all their calls and requests went unheeded.

Though I was voted in by the Silver Council under Ayliana Valwynn, both sides in this conflict have insofar seen fit to affirm my measures towards the neutrality and security of the Library - but I will spell out my personal stance, and my stance as Okarir'maehr, in full, that there may be no confusion - and that, should we wish to continue persecuting Haelunorians for what I can only see to be peaceful protest, I am not alone spared.

I find no solace in releasing this missive, and would apologize to the Valwynns for what will appear a betrayal - but I have lived by maehr'sae hiylun'ehya my entire life, and know no recourse but Larihei's teachings. The below three points summarize my beliefs on this civil war.

OEM | I abide by the will of elMaheral and elMalauriran, and their words are the words of elcihi and the mali'thilln; for to be pure is defined by their example, and one cannot be 'thill in the absence of their teachings.

NIUT | Those hired by the claimant Ivarielle hold no grounds for their terrorization of the denizens of elcihi; and so long as she continues to employ foreign bandit-mercenaries to murder defenseless Haelunorians (a misdeed I was an unfortunate witness to, and which caused me to board up the Library in the first place) instead of partaking in civilized debate, I shall continue to refuse acknowledgement of any claims or transfers of power to her. Engage our people in shows of culture, speeches and rallies; not with the blades of nameless hordes.

HAEL | ElMalauriran have demanded a vote among our people; the pure, especially those learned in our histories, would abide. That she continues to rely on the support of foreign legions speaks either to her insecurity in her popularity among the greater populace, or that she finds greater happiness among those masked masses than in engaging her own would-be peoples in our traditions. Neither are traits I would see in one meant to lead our people.

maehr'sae hiylun'ehya

Okarir'maehr

Tiuthwyn

elTalonnii Visaj

Tiuthwyn did not sign off on this missive, and will resign immediately in protest if this is real.

Veluthri Elibar'acal, like some few other upstanding denizens of the city of silver, rarely took her breakfasts later than an hour after dawn. Her haelun had always said, "Oemerih ciw lye eth!" - first may we rise - though that may have been an excuse for her crippling insomnia. Nevertheless, Veluthri had always seen the value in such words - and it was a good thing, too, for that day the morning couriers delivered quite the missive. Swallowing a bite of porridge and washing it down with an herbal remedy that smelled of ginger, she commented offhandedly to the barkeep (who, not being fluent in Ancient Elven, seemed very confused indeed),

"Marn u'marenne, iylcihi elcihinte marohn. Ikru tuva, aver tuva. Adontereh maelu nae, o lye pario taelu?"

Veluthri Elibar'acal read the missive, looking then to her tea-partner A'eollaja with a satisfied smile. In that rhyming chant of Ancient Elven she had the unfortunate tendency to revert to, she quipped,

"Kae puerith perith'ehya! Iyl'puerithn elcihi waleh suloem, kae salum."

@Havsbris_

Paul Temesch et Moere pores over the copy of the map sent to his family. Displeased, he redraws the borders and presents it to his father.

@Tiresiam

Paul smiles the sun's smile, sharpening his wooden training sword in preparation for glorious conquest.

"To each of you, I too ask the same question; what is your resume in regards to actually teaching maehr'sae hiylun'ehya or spreading progress? Not," she paused, glancing to Elarhil, "In terms of affairs enacted within the year, but in terms of your long-term histories - we all know how oft plans fall through or are abandoned half-finished in elcihi. I have heard winding ideas and tertiary attachments, but would like to know what qualifies you for a position on the Council itself, ne as a Tilruir."

Tiuthwyn looked between the two, then, and answered - Leithedir first.

"I resigned, simply, because there were a few relatively capable subordinates at the time that I believed could handle the Eternal Library without me, and I wished to pursue research opportunities abroad, without the...ah, not just burden, but the responsibilities, that came with staying a member of the council. After all, I would ne wish to undertake a project I could not uphold to the best of my ability."

Another pause, and then to Elarhil - likely wishing to complete both questions at once to move the pace along;

"And on your point, my first objective would be to establish a research post in the unclaimed beach we yet own, to the south of the voidal tear. There, we could learn how to prevent such a disaster from occurring again. I would also seek to improve our teachings on purity and maehr'sae hiylun'ehya through lessons in elcihi and in the field, perhaps even abroad - as my youthful colleague here has so graciously pointed out, the oem'ii are not always properly taught our values, nor our reasons and commitments. As we have seen, this has led to disastrous diplomatic incidents abroad where a better-educated generation may have erred on the side of cordiality."

"For those of you that have read my recently published guide in the Eternal Library, or those that have allowed me to engage you in discussion, you might have a more clear understanding of what I espouse whenever I am able."

"Ahernan," Tiuthwyn echoed, a slight step taken forward as she faced the crowd. "Karin'ayla, mal'onn, larionn'ehya Larihei'leh. I am Tiuthwyn, of elTalonnii Visaj - but many of you may better know me as Tiuthwyn Harriel, for when I first returned to elcihi I did not wish to rely upon my blood to gain rank and recognition. For a Valah decade I served as the Okarir'maehr - every book on its shelf was placed there first by me, its directory organized, the list of Maheralan first updated again. I can speak with confidence when I boast that I was the most successful Okarir'maehr since Illyara Valarieth, if only in that the library was expanded and refined in my tenure rather than left vacant and still." She paused, offering finally a thin smile to the crowd. "I have always sought progress - maehr'sae - and pushed those around me to pursue their interests to the benefit of the State, and enabled those that sought it to find the knowledge they needed. My record before my resignation was spotless - and I would not seek this position again without being ready to keep it spotless." The white-clad elf dipped her head to the crowd, then, and stepped back into her original position.

Finally, Tiuthwyn stepped onto the stage - garbed in the whites and reds of elcihi, and a pale blue cloak to match the color language of their culture. The expression of that child of silver was devoid of her usual cheerfulness, replaced by a cool gaze between the pair already on the dais, then out towards the debate moderator. She stepped into position on the stage, then gave Usamea a nod.

Taeleh'akaleh thill'sae - Wealth of the mind spreads purity - translated more aptly to "High Standards leads to Purity", and so oft touted by my Talonnii, and that famed Malaurir that led a generation of greatness, of silver so polished it would reflect as a mirror across elcihi.

Yet, spoken so many times, it had become as the wind - just as those that chant maehr'sae hiylun'ehya forget that Progress comes first, that, ti, purity is not a touted trait but a requirement. Where is our purity, our health, our progress?

In the decade and a half of time I took after resigning my post as Okarir'maehr, I travelled to distant realms - gleaned what I could from the civilized fauna off our coasts, the wayward mali in ruined stone and thatched huts among the forests. I returned, wealthier in experience, having lived our creed, to find the Eternal Library caked in a layer of dust, nothing new save replaced names in its sections. My directory, unmoved; my records of the Maheralan, with the scribbled-in handwriting of a hasty update tacked to its end; the upstairs magical testing rooms and laboratory unused; the donation boxes I left, filled to the brim with unsorted, locked-away knowledge. No new sections of the library have been filled; some removed, even, ransacked by those that found our librarians lax in collection and protection.

I had hoped that, by allowing another to step in in my stead, the library would flourish beyond what I could provide - but I now find that it would have been best had I stayed. As such, I self-nominate myself to return to the position of Okarir'maehr. I would return to shelving books, and to enabling those that wish to pursue their varied studies - mundane and otherwise - and I would do so until a candidate with passion as great as mine for the pursuit of knowledge, true passion, makes themselves known.

Undersigned,

Tiuthwyn

elTalonnii Visaj

ay'Maheral

Discord: bickando#5883

Skin Name: noble colors

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New Bid: 10

Paul Salvian smirks savoyardly. The boy drew his wooden sword as he rode his toy horse around the empty beaches of Moere, accompanied only by a beleaguered old butler.

"Ave Savoy!"

Paul Temesch is read the missive by his lord father - unfortunately, he nodded off halfway through, only awoken by the mention of cannons.

"Can I make matrimoney so I can fire a cannon too?"

@Tiresiam

ISG VARA

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Actions |

Another [5 Influence] gift is sent to the Irik Warchiefs of the House of Banners. No military movements are seen in Vara's space, either.

200,000C - Four more colonies are founded.

150,000C, 10I, 30M - A refinery world is fully populated with...refineries.

10I - Discord.

A tome, clad in white leather and silvered corners, sits neatly and prominently near the entrance of the Eternal Library.

PURITY WITHIN MAEHR'SAE HIYLUN'EHYA

THILLN MAEHR'SAE HIYLUNEHYA'LEH

A brief explanation for oem'ii and refresher for new returnees.

FOREWORD

To the lliran that read this - Karin'ayla, ker'ehya. Welcome to elcihi'thilln - The City of Silver, the City of the Pure. You have been admitted because you passed the first of our tests - of nominal intelligence! Congratulations - but this is where the important part begins. Few truly understand our culture, even within elcihi, even among the aheralan. This is the first in a long step of guides meant to remedy that - and as such, I will tackle the heaviest of our subjects, that of maehr'sae hiylun'ehya and of purity. Do not mistake it for be-all and end-all - part of our oft-shouted catchphrase is constant learning.

Let us begin before I bore you further.

ay'Larihei,

Veluthri

eltalonnii Elibar'acal

MAEHR'SAE HIYLUN'EHYA

At its unadulterated core, maehr'sae hiylun'ehya means the following - "Progress", maehr'sae, and "Health", hiylun. Many of us shout it, and often - but what does it actually mean?

Progress - maehr'sae - this is the constant movement forwards in society and in personal life. What does it actually mean?

To read and know what came before, so that it can be applied to what comes next.

To write, so that those that come next might learn from those that came before.

To know the reasons behind traditions, so that the worthless are removed and the worthwhile continue.

To understand the line between progress, where lives are better, and madness, where it injures health of person and of state.

To understand the background behind cultures of lesser races - for even wolves have ideas and aspects that can be integrated into our blessed society.

Health - hiylun - this encompasses all of life, but especially mind and body. It is for health that we do not pierce ourselves unnecessarily, nor fight with blades where we can win with words, nor couple with the lesser races - for such a coupling would result in a degeneration of our many blessings. But just as important as the body is the mind - protecting ourselves from insanity, from degradation into stupidity, from corruption of the ideals of progress and health. This also refers to the health of the state, of the community, and of the family unit. It is from this that Purity is derived.

PURITY

Cited constantly by the lesser races as the reason for our transgressions, and by us as the reasons for many deeds, both fair and false - Purity is the concept of self-perfection in health. Some frequent questions, and their answers, are detailed below.

Do we hate the lesser races? Should we respond to their insults?

We do not - for do you hate the squirrel and spew curses at it as it eats pine-nuts? Nonmali are as the squirrel, living entire generations within the time many of us spend pondering particularly profound poems. That they can speak is of little consequence - an annoyance, perhaps, like the cooing of an owl when one is trying to write, but little more. The 'thilln cares not for the insults thrown by those the age of an 'ame oem'ii, but half as wise and twice as crude.

Do we hate other mali?

They are less than, but not lesser - Larihei did not lead our unfortunate cousins to enlightenment, but we are from the same history and of the same base. To couple with one would be to invite the many deviations left in those that did not follow to the Motherland - the inability to act for the family or group of the 'ker, the nativism of the 'ame, the insanity of our most unfortunate cousins in the 'fenn. Tolerate their conversations where possible, but do not let them pull you back into the dark of Malin's teachings. Pity them, but do not hate them.

And what about the 'ata?

This is the exception to the rule. The 'ata are those that were born much like us - blessed in form, given the same opportunities for growth and well-being - but squandered it, choosing to live like animals or as deranged dark mages. Mali'ata are to be despised, and rightly so - for they are those that would rather destroy a place than improve themselves.

Is bloodline an indicator of purity?

Not necessarily - often our brethren have been led astray, indoctrinated when they perceive issues in our State. Yet see their fates; a fallen councillor joined the Druidic Grove and has degenerated into dancing around fires. A bookish woman of my own blessed Talonnii attempted to assassinate the man that raised her, then escaped abroad to plot against Haelun'or even after it had forgiven her. Better blood often indicates a better starting position - but not always.

What makes the pure better?

This is simple - with no other factors, would you rather have a healthy, intelligent man as your ally, or a crippled, insane one? In the same way, we keep company with others that pursue healthiness of mind and body, that pursue progress in learning and life, and that share in our blessings. We separate and cast away the chaff, so to speak, so that we needn't waste our time with pointless endeavors.

i hate elves

i hate elves