see: Seven Sovereignties, The
Also referred to as alfar, elf (pl. elves), or Ellyllon, the Aelvar (sing. Aelvar) are a race of eternally young beings that populate the world of Esperia. They reside within The Seven Sovereignties, ruled by seven queens.
They are the same height as men but possess slighter frames and large, motile ears that taper into points. The Aelvar also possess large eyes with a dominating iris -- completely covering the sclera (or "whites"). Their pupils are often hidden in bright lighting conditions but appear as vertical slits, like a cat or serpent. In darkness, the pupils open widely and the iris emits a feint glow. This enables the Aelvar to see well in nearly complete darkness.
Our opening tale is presented from the perspective of one of the Aelvar sovereignties.
Aislinn /ash-ling/ is the queen of the Tir Y Goeden ("Land of the Tree" in the Aelvar language of "Tylwyth") sovereignty. Given the nickname "The Red Queen", due to the heavy heraldic usage of various shades of red throughout her sovereignty, Aislinn is the first protagonist we meet in The War of The Trees saga.
Amaroks are large, solitary wolves that possess a thick hide of bright white or deep black fur. These creatures make their home in the frigid northeastern reaches of the continent and along the Sárú Scamall Mountains of the northern hinterlands.
The goddess of the frosts, Cethlenn, is believed to have created these creatures to serve as her hunting hounds.
Legends tell of an army from long ago, faithful to Cethlenn, that rode into battle upon the backs of fierce amaroks, like noble steeds. Statues of the goddess are often depicted with these giant wolves at her feet.
Known as "Mother Oak", this ancient tree resides in the heart of the continent of Fódhla.
In Aelvar origin myths, this gigantic tree was believed to have been planted by the gods be to bear the first Aelvar when the world was young. Its massive root networks twist and tear through the verdant landscapes in all directions.
Few, if any, Aelvar have ever ventured close enough to touch the An Darach as it is situated deep within the holy lands of the Garden of The Gods. This place is forbidden to all but the gods and their chosen few.
Aoife is the younger sister of Deirdre. She was taken from the Tir O Afonydd sovereignty, along with Caolan, Darwen, her sister, and a handful of others, to serve Tir Y Goeden when the young prince wed Aislinn many Harvests ago.
Unlike her sister, Aoife was more suited for military pursuits. Though low-born, Aoife’s rise through the ranks were attributed to her formidable skills on the battlefield. Her combat prowess is only rivaled by her strikingly good looks – considered above average among the vane Aelvar people.
Though she shares her sister's blue eyes, her golden locks are a stark contrast to the other river folk of Tir O Afonydd.
The highest position within the hierarchy of the Brón (or "Sisterhood") of druids, the archdruid leads her subordinates of druids and neophytes to carry out the will of the gods. It is said that she communicates directly with these divine beings.
Currently, the title is held by the mysterious, Badb.
She is the current archdruid. Little is known of Badb /baɪð/ beyond her mysterious abilities to control the great Iolair ("War Eagles") and other birds (especially crows).
It is said that she had two other sisters but, over the ages, few can recollect their names or faces.
Badb wields a strange scepter when performing various religious ceremonies. There appears to be a different scepter for each sovereignty she visits -- that represents that sovereignty's patron god. Some have seen her speak to the strange visage sculpted upon the scepter's finial as if holding a conversation with it.
Balor, or Balor the Radiant, is regarded as the Bringer of Light to the world of Esperia. It is believed this god created the Solas Mór (or Great Light), that passes through the sky, to watch over the lands. During the day, this brightly burning eye sees all below it.
By evening, the Solas Mór sets, returning to the god's eye socket from which it was cast. This is why most statues of Balor depict him blindfolded (or with other forms of eye coverings). The eye that remains in his head during the day also possesses an overwhelming brilliance and remains closed. When opened, it casts a deadly gaze of searing light, capable of laying waste to the land for several leagues. This is why Balor is also called The Blind God despite seeing all with his illuminating eye in the sky.
Balor is also the largest of the gods -- even taller than his king, Indech. His heavily muscled physique is covered in black robes that match his long, black beard and hair.
Balor's wife, Cethlenn, bore him a son, Conaing, and a daughter, Faeda. Scripture describes Balor's protective nature for his family to be unrivaled. It is said that he built the great Tor Ynys Cetne and lifted it from the ocean to serve as a mighty fortress for them after he received a vision of their demise at the hands of the Great Adversary. Despite this, Balor and Cethlenn primarily reside in The Garden of The Gods, at court with their king, Indech.
Vicious and highly territorial, this large serpent possesses a horned-head that, when severed, can grow another body from its stump.
The young hatch from large broods but ultimately consume most of their brethren as they compete for food within the nest.
Beithir are quick as a lightning strike and can grow to nearly 50 feet in length. As they mature, they sprout four limbs that drastically alter their anatomical makeup.
These elder Beithir can even sprout multiple heads -- giving them the name "Hydra."
Beithir blood, like their corrosive venom, is composed of a highly acidic fluid that dissolves most organic material (except metal). Their scaly hide is highly resistant to this acid and thus leather made from it is often used by Aelvar hunters that brave the Esperian wilderness.
See: Death Brides.
Brón bears the double meaning of "Sisterhood" and "Sorrow" in the Aelvar language of Tylwyth. It is the term reserved for the holy order of druids that travel between the Seven Sovereignties delivering the commands of the gods.
Led by the archdruid, Badb, these emissaries of The Gods are gifted with divine powers. It is said that Badb can control the great Iolair -- the giant war eagles that partake in a sacramental ritual known as The Harvest.
Aelvar daughters are taken, in their early youth, to the Garden of the Gods, where they spend ages training as neophytes to become fully-vested druids of the Brón.
No male druids exist as of the tales covered in Second Genesis.
The Brón are afforded a station above royalty and few Aelvar are foolish enough to question their authority.
The king-consort of Tir Y Goeden, Caolan once belonged to the Tir O Afonydd sovereignty before his arranged marriage to Aislinn.
He is one of the initial heroes of The War of the Trees saga and is the father of Zevulaun - the ill-fated prince that sparked a great rebellion.
This is the Aelvar term for fauns. "Cernute" (pl. Cernuti) translates to "Horned One" in the Aelvar language of Tylwyth.
For more information, see: Faun.
Cethlenn, known as the goddess of the frosts, is the wife of Balor and mother of Conaing.
All depictions of her contain long white hair, an icy blue or white complexion, and always wearing a white and blue dress with intricately laced sleeves.
While her affection for the domain of cold in the north is recorded in various religious texts, Cethlenn is also said to be partial to the large wolves, or "Amaroks", of the northern and eastern sovereignties.
Some excerpts of scripture even describe her as "The Mother of Wolves" and statues of her are often carved with Amaroks at her feet.
The island of Ynys Gannaid, or the "Shining White Island" is said to contain a crystalline palace from which a great Aelvar army, from ages past, was garrisoned. This army swore loyalty to Cethlenn and were rewarded with this icy paradise. The unwelcomed are turned away and most trespassers freeze to death before ever landing on the island's shores.
Great and terrible, Conaing is the almighty god that watches over the sovereignty of Tir Y Goeden. Votive statues of him, some as tall as one-hundred feet, are erected all throughout the land.
It is said that Conaing stands as tall as some mountains, with twisting horns, like tree roots, sprouting from his brow. His braided beard is depicted as dark brown with golden rings, and his heavily muscled body is adorned with opulent jewels and gold.
Only the druids have gazed upon his physical form and it is through these accounts that Aelvar artwork is depicted.
Conaing's favored Iolair, giant white eagles, are sent from The Garden of the Gods, after each full cycle of the moon phases, to collect the sacrificed Aelvar males offered to him in a tithe. This is known as The Harvest.
Long ago, the great city of Croí an Chrainn ("Heart of the Tree") stood defiantly at the foothills of the northern mountains in the Tir Y Goeden Sovereignty. It is said, the beautiful and highly adored queen, Niamh, ruled over her people from this city.
A great calamity befell Croí an Chrainn and nearly all of its residents perished. Survivors were brought to a new capital city, Hafanhaid ("Flock Haven"), after a period of wandering the deadly landscapes of an untamed wilderness. This deliverance was facilitated by the gods and it is from these survivors The Red Queen, Aislinn o'Hafanhaid, rose to power.
Little is remembered of Croí an Chrainn's splendor and its ruins have been dubbed "The Forbidden City." Survivors, and newcomers to the Tir Y Goeden sovereignty alike, are warned to never venture into these accursed ruins.
What was that calamity? Some stories blame it on a mighty siege by a great cernute warlord. Others conflict this narrative and claim the gods themselves brought down their wrath upon the city and its rulers for failing their duties. History is seldom written by eyewitnesses.
The Daranu (or "Thunder" River in Tylwyth) flows southward from beneath the great, spring-fed Niwaelod Lake that sits high upon a great plateau near the heart of the continent. It serves as a massive trade channel with various river ports darting its banks on both sides. At its mouth, several trade cities mark its transition from freshwater into the briny waters of the Ysol Sea.
Though the waters are mostly tranquil, there are parts with dangerous rapids -- especially below the Hanging City of Easanna Arda. Two massive waterfalls, cleft by an outcropping of stone cliffs, feed the river from the plateau above it.
The low-born Aelvar that live along the banks of the Daranu, south of the capital, are colloquially referred to as "river folk."
An elite Aelvar soldier of the Tir Y Goeden army, Darwen is an expert hunter and slayer of Cernuti.
Darwen was originally from the soverignty of Tir O Afonydd and came to Tir Y Goeden with his childhood friend, Caolan.
Though Darwen is a low-born member of the river folk, a caste beneath Aelvar nobility, he gained his position within the ranks of the military through excellence and valor.
Darwen bears the black hair and bright green eyes that are characteristic of the river folk of Tir O Afonydd.
Troubling events, prior to the arranged marriage of prince Caolan to princess Aislinn of Tir Y Goeden, nearly destroyed the royal family of Tir O Afonydd. Perhaps Darwen accompanying the prince to the new sovereignty was for the best?
Death Brides are the elite soldiers of the Brón (Sisterhood of Druids). Known in the Aelvar language of Tywlyth as the "Brides an Bháis", this all-female hit-squad are part of the archdruid's retinue. They perform many of the executions passed down to the Brón by the gods.
Deirdre was originally from the Tir O Afonydd sovereignty but, along with a handful of others, she was brought to Tir Y Goeden to serve this new land.
She possesses the characteristic black hair of the lowborn river folk of Tir O Afonydd but has blue eyes, similar to the redheaded nobility of those lands.
Since Aelvar do not suffer most ailments, nor do they succumb to the betrayals of age, Deirdre's role as an apothecary began as a student of herbalism. Her tinctures and concoctions were often leveraged for recreational purposes until her true calling in animal husbandry made better use of her skills.
When Queen Aislinn fell pregnant, it was Deirdre that was called upon to assess her mysterious condition. This led to the lowborn herbalist becoming a midwife for the royal family. After the prince was born, Deirdre's talents helped sooth the ailing queen and comfort the infant.
Deirdre's role as a midwife became extremely taxing on her as more and more pregnancies and births cropped up around the sovereignty.
Dela /θ'eɪlʌ/ is the god of metalsmithing. It is said that he gave the gift of metallurgy to the first Aelvar in an effort to aid them in a war against the trolls.
Little is known about this reclusive god's appearance beyond statues of him being depicted wearing a large, goggled helmet and a full harness of metal plate armor.
His son, Morc, is regularly depicted with him in statues and votive art. Although Dela is said to be more measured and reserved, Morc is his direct opposite.
He is also said to wield a great hammer that is capable of splitting mountains in twain. A small replica of the hammer is often worn as a religious medallion by the Aelvar of the Tir Y Gerrig sovereignty in the south.
Every army of The Seven Sovereignties pray to Dela, along with Morc, before battle in hopes that their metal arms and armor do not fail in combat.
Druids are the religious leaders of the Aelvar people. It is through their guidance, gained from audiences with the gods, that all holy doctrine is issued and carried out.
Daughters are taken from their families at a young age to become neophytes within the The Garden of the Gods. Through ages of study and tutelage, they ascend into the Brón ("Sisterhood"). Few males, if any, have ever been inducted into this religious order.
Led by the archdruid, Badb, druids freely travel between the Seven Sovereignties to pass on divine edicts from the gods.
Dusios (pl. "Dusioi") is a term used for a gathering fauns, similar to a tribe.
These nomadic creatures gather together in multi-family groups and setup temporary tents and other dwellings for short periods of time before packing everything up and moving once more. Aelvar soldiers have observed these migration patterns to be linked to their hunting and gathering limitations.
The capital city of the Tir O Afonydd sovereignty, Easanna Arda translates to "High Waterfalls" in the Aelvar language of Tylwyth. Also known as "The Hanging City", this seat of power for the ruling class is suspended above two thunderous waterfalls that feed into the great Daranu River below. It is presided over by the Bright Queen, Joan.
The alien world in which The War of the Trees saga takes place, Esperia is very different from our own world in many ways. A large, ringed moon, known as "Theia" looms in the pink-violet skies over this world -- visible in both day and night. There are no ferrous metals on this world, nor does silver exist here naturally. The single continent of Fódhla, with its few outer islands, are all that is known to the peoples of Esperia.
The word "Esperia" means "Evening" in a long lost ancient dialect of a forgotten Aelvar language.
Faeda is the goddess of fertility and agriculture. Though her domain resides in the verdant fields and pastures of the mainland, she mainly dwells within a mighty tower on the island of Tor Ynys Cetne.
She is depicted as an alluring, voluptuous Goddess with long brown hair, wreathed in flowers, and adorned in a green dress with varying leaf patterns.
It is said that her father, Balor, received a prophecy that his children would be slain in some kind of conflict with a "Great Adversary." This prompted him to build a tall tower on an island surrounded by treacherous cliffs.
Despite her father's attempts to keep her locked away, there are excerpts from scripture that tell of her ability to change forms and occasionally escape her island refuge. It is during this time she is said to seduce males of various species by assuming pleasant-looking female forms.
Although she is worshiped for agricultural and livestock blessings, the Aelvar of the Seven Sovereignties do not view other forms of fertility to be much of a virtue and rarely pray to her in such matters. However, the vanity of the Aelvar compels them to pray to her for gifts of beauty and matters of the heart.
Fauns are caprine creatures with the furry legs, tail, and cloven hooves of a goat. They also possess two horns that come in an assortment of styles, earning them the name "Cernuti" ("Horned Ones" in Tylwyth) by the Aelvar.
In addition to their goat-like qualities, they also appear to possess heads, arms, and torsos that resemble more densely muscled Aelvar. The males sport beards when they mature and many fauns are prone to painting their hides with cryptic symbols -- even tattooing themselves with their odd designs.
They are nomadic and gather in small "dusioi" ("tribes") that roam the plains, forests, and hilly lowlands of southern Fódhla.
Though primitive and uncivilized by Aelvar standards, fauns make use of crude weaponry that can pose a threat.
They speak a nearly incomprehensible language and show signs of being highly organized when they conduct raids on Aelvar settlements for food and materials.
Considered more of a pest than a true danger to the interior towns of the southern sovereignties, royal armies of trained Aelvar are regularly sent into the countryside in a, gods-ordained, "Wild Hunt" to dispatch these bothersome "beasts."
The great continent of Fódhla is the main landmass of the known world. Aelvar origin myths describe the continent to be that of the goddess that bears its name. It states that all life resides upon her resting body as she maintains her eternal slumber within the endlessly rocking waters of the Mór Ocean. Should she awaken, the world, and all life upon it, shall end.
The gods regularly sway their titanic sister by producing the great winds from the heavens and the tides from the seas. Some myths claim that low tides occur when the gods leave the sea and high tides occur when they return.
The continent is divided into Seven Sovereignties, ruled by seven Aelvar queens. In the heart of the continent, a gigantic tree (known as "An Darach") grows high above the clouds. Its vast network of roots radiate outward and extend to the sea along the edges of the continent in the cardinal directions.
The Garden of the Gods, a paradise from which the gods hold court, exists at the base of this giant tree. The Brón, a holy order of druids, are the only known mortals to gaze upon its divine splendor.
Galanar is a faun and the aging chieftain of his dusios ("tribe"). More information about this character shall become available as future books are released.
Deep within the heart of the continent, shaded by the wondrous branches of the titanic, An Darach, the hallowed domain of the gods resides.
These lands are sacred to Aelvar and only the chosen Brón among them dare tread on this holy ground.
It is said the gods hold court here, beneath the boughs of the An Darach, and preside over the lands from a court of white marble and faewood.
The gods of the Aelvar exist in a pantheon of beings that physically manifest in this world. They are said to be giant (some taller than a hundred feet) and first emerged from the endless Mór Ocean that once fully covered the world.
There are patron gods for each sovereignty -- lands divided up by the gods to protect their Aelvar children from the deadly fauna that dwell beyond the safe confines of various walled cities.
Though not all gods are said to influence all sovereignties, they all hold court within The Garden of the Gods, within the central lands of the continent, and regularly return to their domain beneath the Mór Ocean.
Today, few Aelvar, beyond the druidic order of the Brón, have ever laid eyes upon their great and terrible forms. Instead, massive stone statues have been erected throughout the sovereignties to remind the Aelvar of their gods' presence.
It is here, various ceremonies and rituals are carried out, including: naming children, marriages, burying the dead, drawing "The Lottery", and providing tithes to The Gods (see: "The Harvest").
Notable gods include:
Balor, Conaing, Cethlenn, Dela, Faeda, Fódhla, Indech, Morc, Tethra, & Theia.
The capital city of the Tir Y Goeden sovereignty and the seat of power for its royal family, Hafanhaid translates to "Flock Haven" in the Aelvar language of "Tylwyth."
It was built after the fall of Tir Y Goeden's first capital city, Croí an Chrainn (or "Heart of the Tree" in Tylwyth), during the Dark Times. Scripture tells of the gods building this sanctuary to protect their children from the dangers looming beyond the sovereignty's borders.
Located within the interior of the Tir Y Goeden sovereignty, Hafahaid serves as a crossroads for various trades routes. Like a spoke and wheel, roads fan out to the four corners of the sovereignty and meet within this city as a hub.
Originally presided over by Queen Niamh, her infant daughter, Aislinn ascended to rule after the queen was executed for failing to provide a suitable tithe for The Harvest. Though a royal court of advisors had acted as an assembly of stewards until Aislinn came of age, the royal bloodline of Tir Y Goeden technically remained intact during this period.
With that said, rumors of Aislinn's true parentage circulate to this day but most of her subjects adore "The Red Queen." It was she that helped secure the northern borders from cernuti incursions by leading the charge in a campaign of several strikes -- known as "The Wild Hunt."
Today, Hafanhaid stands as a shining jewel in the southwestern reaches of the continent.
This ancient ritual is part of the Aelvar religion. It consists of a costly tithe from which male sacrifices are paid to the gods after their names are drawn from The Lottery.
The gods are cruel but fair. They have protected the Aelvar people since the Dark Times and have provided a life of luxury and relative safety.
As moon, Theia, becomes full, The Harvest ritual is performed. Male offerings are brought before the gods and the Brón perform ritual sacrifices. Their corpses are transported to the gods for consumption and the cycle repeats during every full moon. Unlike our own moon, Theia waxes and wanes over a considerably longer period of time. Scholars believe a full cycle from new moon to full moon is roughly 300 years on our world.
Aelvar dare not question this long-established ritual as it is a price they are willing to pay to live in comfort and free of want.
Our tale opens with an Aelvar queen's newborn infant having his name drawn from The Lottery on the very day he received it from the Brón. Since children are rare among the Aelvar, the infant's doom has planted a seed of defiance within the grieving queen & mother.
The king of the gods and wisest of all beings. It is said that Indech was born from the Mór ocean that once belonged to the celestial seas beyond this world. It was he that first discovered his sleeping sister, Fódhla, in the Great Mór's dark depths.
Indech, and his siblings, raised their sleeping sister above the waves and established a great continent upon the slumbering goddess' body. Over the ages, the continent grew rich and fertile. Indech sowed many seeds. Crops of all manner flourished.
This is where the Aelvar origin myth is derived. It was Indech that cultivated the massive "Mugna" tree that bore seeds of the first Aelvar. The tree would later be known as "An Darach" (Mother Oak) in contemporary texts. The reason for its name change is unknown.
No Aelvar has ever gazed upon Indech's physical form but ancient druidic scripture describes him as a golden-haired, long-bearded giant with a powerful physique and an antlered crown upon his brow. Idols of Indech are found throughout the Seven Sovereignties.
Gigantic, white eagles that soar high in the violet skies of Esperia, the Iolair are the war birds of the gods.
The Brón often use these creatures to travel across the Seven Sovereignties and have been known to ride upon their backs or within special cages carried in their massive talons.
Badb, the current archdruid and spiritual leader of the Brón, is said to have a special connection with the Iolair and can communicate with them.
A druidic ceremony consisting of the drawing of clay tiles containing male names from a large bowl or jar. The number of names drawn varies and is announced by the Brón before the drawing.
All Aelvar of a sovereignty must attend this ceremony to bear witness to the names drawn and announced (though few exceptions have been made from time to time). This makes the ceremony draw large crowds. Multi-day festivals are held within the capital cities that lead up to the drawing event.
Names drawn are to be tithes for The Harvest. Their sacrifices are paid so that all other Aelvar may live under the stewardship of the gods.
The low-born Aelvar of the Tir O Afonydd sovereignty dwell along the banks of the great Daranu River. This term is used both affectionately by the low-born and as a derogatory term by the Tir O Afonydd nobility.
Since the upper classes safely reside atop the towering waterfalls that feed the river below, river folk live a much more dangerous life closer to the deadly fauna that call these turbulent waters their home.
Most river folk are excellent swimmers and artisans - crafting jewelry and beautifully rendered sculptures from the finely polished stones and driftwood gleaned from the river.
They typically possess dark hair and favor greenish fashions of plant fibers with special knots in their stitching. Most of their diet is comprised of fish and water fowl. This is also depicted in their various decorations and textile patterns.
In ages past, a great conflict befell the continent of Fódhla. In the dawn of Aelvarkind, the world was beset by the life-devouring trolls. These foul beasts were both mighty in strength and numbers. They preyed upon all other beings and laid waste to creation.
The gods, along with their allied Aelvar forces, successfully cleansed the world of these unclean creatures. They drove the remaining survivors deep underground and away from the light of this world.
In the wake of this costly victory, the gods sought to mitigate any future damage from other possible enemies of creation by dividing the continent into seven compartmentalized lands - The Seven Sovereignties.
Each sovereignty was appointed a royal leader - chosen from generals of the great Aelvar armies that had fought during the Dark Times.
These generals were all female. As a result, the social structure became matriarchal, with Aelvar females holding the majority of leadership roles.
One of our protagonists, Aislinn, is the queen of the southwestern sovereignty of Tir Y Goeden (The Land of the Tree).
The other sovereignties are as follows:
Also known as "Conaing's Tower", this island fortress resides off the northwestern coast of the Tir Y Goeden sovereignty.
It serves as a beacon for wayward seafarers and all are warned never to approach or travel beyond it.
The massive tower also serves as roosts for the mighty Iolair, war eagles, that assist in the rituals of The Harvest.
No Aelvar has ever scaled this titanic tower's insurmountable walls.
Tylwyth (or "Family") is the language of the Aelvar people. Its written form, Tyl-Ysgrifen, has an alphabet based on tree symbolism.
It is believed Tylwyth was not the original language of the Aelvar but was instead taught to them by the gods many ages after the founding of the Seven Sovereignties.
All modern Aelvar are instructed in this language, making trade and communication within each sovereignty accessible. Religious ceremonies are also fully conducted in this language.
The infant prince of Queen Aislinn and the king-consort, Caolan of Tir Y Goeden, Zevulaun's birth marks a strange disruption in the lives of the Aelvar. Since Aelvar births are extremely rare, his mother's pregnancy was something many have never seen in their lives. After his birth, many more Aelvar have fallen pregnant.
Religious texts claim the first Aelvar were born from the seeds of the great An Darach tree that resides within the center of the continent - a hub between The Seven Sovereignties.
Few Aelvar can recall their parents. Most were either claimed by The Harvest or by the gods for failing to obey.
Coincidentally, on the day of Zevulaun's naming ceremony (the day in which newborn Aelvar receive their names from the gods), the young prince's name was drawn for The Harvest. This series of strange events have planted seeds of defiance within his parents. How could the gods demand a mere infant be sacrificed to them? Such a new life hasn't had a chance to live!
Perhaps the gods know more of Zevulaun's true potential than they care to share with their disciples?