The Lion King
The Lady of the Lake, Queen of the Aelvar, communing with the Frostvatn at its centre.
OUT-OF-CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To flesh out the beliefs of the Aelvar species.
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- Canon: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
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- Religion Name: Disciples of the Frostvatn (lit. "frozen water")
- Religion Type: Force-based
- Influence: Minor
- Influence Area: Midvinter; Forest of Averlorn
- Symbol: The White Tree is not only the symbol of their religion but also serves as the coat of arms of Averlorn.
- Description: The Disciples of the Frostvatn is the religion of the Aelvar who dwell within the mystical forest of Averlorn, located at the heart of Midvinter and surrounded by mountains. At the centre of those woods lies the Frostvatn, an ever-frozen lake housing, unbeknownst to them, a Force Nexus, granting those born in its proximity Force Sensitivity. The Elves learned to harness its powers, calling it "magic", by communicating with the Skaugr - living tree-people granted sentience by the Frostvatn at the dawn of time. The Lady of the Lake is their leader, known as the most powerful Force-user in all of Midvinter after having spent centuries communing directly with the Force Nexus and deciphering its mysteries.
- Founder: The first Queen of the Aelvar and Lady of the Lake, thousands of years ago. The exact date is unknown.
- Membership: Elves are born into the religion, as those born in close proximity to the Frostvatn awaken the ability to harness its magic, commonly known as the Force. Not all choose to undergo training in its usage, however. While typically exclusive to the Aelvar and other inhabitants of the forest of Averlorn, the Queen holds the power to allow outsiders to access the Frostvatn and become a member.
- Sacred: Obviously, the frozen lake is intrinsic to the Aelvar as a people and is considered hallowed ground, fit for only their Queen and those she deems worthy. No higher honour exists in Elven culture than to be allowed to step out onto the ice and experience the sheer power of the Frostvatn. Certain animals, such as the silvery stags known as Vhaanir, are considered sacred. To harm one is punishable by death. The forest of Averlorn they reside in is under their protection, and, due to their close connection to the Skaugr, they refuse to cut down trees, instead building their homes using only fallen branches and leaves, or trees that have died or fallen over by themselves.
- Dogma: Nearly every aspect of Aelvar society revolves around serving the Will of the Frostvatn. Its disciples are heavily religious due to being exposed to it from birth. Children are taught to trust in the Frostvatn and encouraged to harness the powers each person is born with, resulting in their keen senses, focused mind, and incredible dexterity. Some individuals are less talented than others depending on their level of devotion, but all possess the ability to learn. The Lady of the Lake is their undisputed religious leader; communicating directly with the Frostvatn, she is considered the most powerful being on Midvinter.
- Reputation: With the Elves being thought of as nothing but a fairytale told to Valkyri children, their ways and customs were a complete mystery until their fateful first encounter only a couple of decades ago. As such, their religion is largely unknown to the rest of Midvinter and currently exclusive to the Aelvar race, save for a rare few exceptions. Since the treaty known as the Three Kindreds Alliance was signed at the height of Thyrian the Uniter's rule, the religion of each race is slowly but surely being introduced to the other two and mutual respect has since blossomed between the three. Few if any would know of Aelvar religion outside of Midvinter.
Other than the Aelvar as a species, these are some of its more noteworthy members (PC and/or NPC):
- Ióunn Galadorn, Queen of Averlorn and Lady of the Lake
- Thrand Galadorn, Prince-Consort of Averlorn
Unbeknownst to its locals, Midvinter has ever been home to a powerful Force Nexus capable of influencing the world itself, including its unaware inhabitants. It was the Frostvatn, as the Elves call it, that brought the tree-folk known as Skaugr to life millions of years ago, granting them a certain level of sentience. They became the shepherds of the world, nurturing life in all its forms with none around to challenge their presence. During this pre-historic time, Midvinter was a lush and green utopia with countless exotic species of flora and fauna, warm and inviting.
Eventually, an early galactic conflict of unknown origin reached this uncharted paradise. A terrible war was fought across the skies of Midvinter, and the crude weapons of mass destruction used rained down on the peaceful world, setting events in motion that would turn apocalyptic in time. As the soil suffered and plantlife perished, the Skaugr too were decimated as a result. The world grew harsh and cold, killing the widespread forests and forcing the sentient tree-men to retreat to their place of birth; the forest that would later be named Averlorn.
Here they rooted themselves and fell into a deep slumber, and would not reawaken until aeons later.
Fast-forward many millions of years, the next generation of sentient creatures emerged in the form of the Beorni. They too owed their sentience to the Force Nexus, having evolved from feral bears into intelligent, bi-pedal beings, equipped with all the tools necessary to make a living in this cold new world. All the while the Frostvatn remained buried underneath an ever-frozen lake. Hidden. Forgotten.
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