Khaeros

Physiology & Appearance | Notable Characters | Additional Information

Druids

Alyrians have a profound respect and reverence towards the gods and this is perhaps best illustrated by the importance of their holy men and women, the Druids, in their society. An Elder Druid’s word outmatches even that of their military officers, with the exception of the Bleanor, who enjoys the same amount of prestige as they do. Druids perform the roles of judges during local disputes or in the rare occasions of theft, murder and other crimes. They are also trusted with the education of every Alyrian child from the age of eight, whence they start to learn the basic aspects of Nature and how everything in the world has its function and place in the great order of things. However, their utmost duty is a religious one.

Druids preside over all rites in honour of the gods. They are the spiritual leaders of their people and, therefore, play the important role of interpreting and explaining the signs sent forth by the gods. These omens present themselves to men in various forms, such as the flight of birds or prophetic dreams. Through the interpretation of dreams and prodigies, Druids advise their people and aid them in making important decisions.

During feasts and celebrations in honour of the gods, animals are often sacrificed by a Druid. After killing the animal, which is usually a sheep or a cow, the Druid responsible for the ritual skins the victim and then burns their fat and bones, whose fumes ascend to the skies as an offering to their gods. Nothing is thrown away or ill used in Alyria, and so, after the offering of bones and fat is made, the animal’s meat is cooked and served along with the rest of the feast and the celebration continues with dances, poetry and games.

As holy men, Druids are a force to be reckoned with, since they are able to channel the power that their gods entrust them with to perform miraculous deeds, usually related to healing the wounded and curing diseases. In such occasions, they frequently perform a minor ritual, followed by a quiet prayer to their gods. Such rituals are usually simple gestures such as sprinkling salt around a building to protect it from evil or cleansing a wounded warrior’s forehead with water from a pure fountain.

The Gods

Arianthynt, the goddess of the moon, is probably the most worshiped deity in Alyria. She is revered for her presence in everything that is beautiful in Nature, as well as the world’s secrets and the knowledge that can be acquired from studying them. She is pictured as a pale nymph walking upon the water’s surface of a lake and bathed by the soft moonlight. Her symbol is a crescent moon.

Gwenhun, the goddess of the abyss, is venerated mainly for being the caretaker of the dead, as well as the keeper of order and continuity in Nature’s cycle. In ancient times, it is said that Gwenhun would sing sweetly enough to lure all those that heard her to their deaths. Her symbol is a circle, which is often drawn as a serpent eating its own tail, a symbol of continuity.

Braichmor, the god of the sea, is a very respected deity by Alyrians, since it is he who presides over the unknown, which is something that has always fascinated this people. His symbol is comprised of sinuous lines representing the wind as well as the waves of the sea.

Eurdrych, the god of the Sun, is praised for his presence in everything that lives, as well as the changing aspect of matter and thought. His symbol is the bow.

Cariadawyr, the goddess of Nature, is probably the second most worshiped deity in Alyria, due to her presence in Love, Fertility and Balance. Her symbol, conveniently enough, is a golden balance that is always depicted in perfect equilibrium.

Haearnduw, the god of war, is a deity whose cult gained more popularity centuries ago during the Great War, but such popularity only decreased as time went by and peace became the rule. His symbol is the shield. He is venerated, however, as the essence of creativity.

Knowledge

Alyrians and Khemetar share a common interest for knowledge, but, unlike Khemetar, Alyrians do not rely upon the written language to ensure that their teachings will be preserved through time. Instead, Alyrians have remained as an oral culture, even though they do have their own alphabet, which they employ in more mundane tasks, such as the management of their natural and monetary resources.

Alyrians believe that knowledge is a living thing and, therefore, should be kept inside men’s mind, where it can evolve and blossom. For that reason, during centuries they have created highly devoloped mnemonic techniques, which allow them to store an unmeasurable amount of knowledge in their own minds. Their bards are known for being able to sing long poems that go on for hours, sometimes days, without aid from any sort of written texts, whereas some of their elder mages, commonly referred to as Sorcerers, are said to have an unequivocal understanding of how every natural force in the world acts and converges in the cosmos, perpassing everything that exists. For that reason, they are considered to be very powerful beings, whose sole will is strong enough to manipulate the elemental energies present all around us.

In society, Sorcerers, but most often Druids, perform the role of diplomats, when there is a need of sending forth an envoy to a foreign land. There has never been a large number of such mages in Alyria, since it takes someone with an unmatched force of will to master the elements and control them. It is also a matter of great responsibility, for Alyrians are aware that there are harsh consequences to any ill use of the world’s elemental energies. It is said that inconsequent mages vanish from this world at night, when Arianthynt indicates her presence through the pale moonlight.

It is common for a child that is to become a mage one day to manifest in their early years a dire thirst for knowledge. Druids always pay more attention to such children, since, being their teachers, it is their duty to ensure that they will not grow to become irresponsible adults.

Proverbs and Aphorisms

On Omens by Bradoc

The howl of the wolf on a full moon is the joy of Arianthynt.

The singing of the nightingale on a new moon is the wail of Gwenhun.

The birth of twins is the blessing of Cariadawyr.

The sudden storm encloses the mystery of Braichmor.

The clarity of the rainbow is the wealth of Eurdrych.

The thunder that strikes true is the work of Haearnduw.

Happiness flies high with birds over your right shoulder. Misfortune, over your left.

When the sun fades away and the moon shines in its place, a new Scion is born.

A lamb that suffers during sacrifice preannounces death.

Expect disease from a fallen tree.

A falling star during the day brings fortune, but death during the night.

A snake at your front door is a dire warning. Do not neglect it!

On Death by Bradoc

The future is born from the remains of the dead.

Even a drop of water can cause death, if not employed with wisdom.

Death is the beginning of a new life.

Cry not for the dead, for what is finished now starts over again tomorrow in the great circle of life.

General Ones by Bradoc

If you hit the water’s surface, expect it to hit you back.

The image of another being is the most perfect mirror of ourselves.

Water is one and nothing about it lacks balance.

The river that flows by your feet is as old as the mountains and as fresh as the dew.

Be like the river in youth; the sea, in adulthood; the lake, in old age.

The water that you waste today is the same one that you will long for tomorrow.

Work rejuvenates the body, as the waves, the sea.

The greatest vessel cannot sail along a modest creek.

Live that which you know.

Look around you and learn. See things as if for the first time ever.

The inner voice is the truest one.

Shape your thoughts with modesty and your speech with prudence.

Poetry

The Origin of Life by Morvran

Beyond the sky wherein the moon and stars
Are seen by men from fair Alyria,
In ancient time, before our kind was born,
The everlasting gods already strove
To find out who among them could perform
The greatest deed of prowess and of craft.
The golden-haired Eurdrych stood up and looked
Upon the neverending emptiness
That pervaded the cosmos beneath him.
Even from the fair House of Gods the sight
Was dire enough to bring unending sorrow
To whomever dared look into the abyss.
The golden-haired Eurdrych did then decide
He would create a changing world that could
Provide a sight of light to the eternals.
From part of his own being he shaped a land
Of lustful green beneath a moonlit sky,
Which he alone could not have brought to life
Without the aid of silvery Arianthynt,
His younger sister, and of Cariadawyr,
To whom he is sworn until the end of time.
Together did they labour on this task
For many days and nights in secrecy,
Because they did not want the other three
To have a part in this their solemn dream.
Upon this land they built high mountains, lakes,
And placed as many trees as they deemed fit
To feed the various creatures they created,
Among which there was man, to whom they gave
The gift of speech and thought, so that they could
Create themselves their homes and live in peace,
In cities that would surely glorify
With majesty the sacred work of gods.
But there was failure in the eternals’ plan,
For men could simply not create from scratch
The glorious monuments they had expected,
Despite the fact that nothing in the world
Was strange to them in their enlightenment.
Instead, that very aspect of their minds,
Of knowing all without experiencing,
Was causing them to feel no joy in life,
And boredom would prevail in their days,
Which knew no end, since death was non-existent.
Without a choice then did they seek the three
Remaining gods, for whom they pled for help.
The dreadful Gwenhun cast her shade upon
The world and left it there to end men’s life
As soon as they became too old and sad.
She made it sure that order would prevail
And that continuity would have its place.
The veiled Braichmor’s turn came afterwards,
In which he separated all the tribes,
And placed an ocean all around the land,
In which mankind would find some novelty,
For in the ocean secrets are abound.
At last, it was the time for Haearnduw
To make his contribution by allowing
Men to take part within the heart of genius
Through the great gift of creativity.
However, blood-stained Haearnduw still had
A devious design, for with his grant
He also gave mankind a piteous pride,
Which soon would turn a man against his peer
And cause as many wars as men have seen
Throughout the times of chaos and distress.

Memories of the Great War by Arianwen

Such sorrow dwells within my heart
As autumn leaves descend the trees.
Today my love had to depart
To wage some war away from me.

Alas, my love, I pray for thee,
To come back home and live with me.

A blissful summer we had spent.
Among the trees, such joy to meet.
We lived a dream of roses’ scent
And cheerful songs in aves’ tweets.

Alas, my love, I pray for thee,
To come back home and live with me.

A month it’s been since he was gone
And winter now is cold and bleak.
At home I’m left and cry alone
And in my dreams his soul I seek.

Alas, my love, I pray for thee,
To come back home and live with me.

No news I’ve had for far too long.
And all that’s left for me to sing
Is this my hope that as this song
My grief will end in coming spring.

Alas, my love, I pray for thee,
To come back home and live with me.

The Legend of Nathanan, the first Scion of the Moon by Morvran

The living suffered from a plague that seemed
To have been left behind to us by war
As a guest-gift of woe. The only hope
We dared to sustain was to seek advice
From the wise oracle of Caswirlyn.
We sent for help and during many a night
And day our emissaries travelled fast.
They faced as many dangers as there were
Across the land and deep into the unknown,
To, finally, atop the Mount Eryr
Inquire the oracle about the plague
And what there was to do to change our state.
The oracle thus spoke in words of truth:
"A child that once was left to die alone
Will ease your pain and sit upon the throne."
When they returned the people gathered round
And much we pondered on the oracle’s
Advice, until someone, amid the crowd
Remembered us of twenty years past,
And how when Torin’s wife was to give birth
The sun just vanished from the sky and left
Us in an unbefitting darkened day.
It was a clear sign from the divine,
Which at that time we thought to be obscure,
But soon we overheard a mighty howl,
And quickly rushed outside to find a wolf
That stared at us with eyes that shone like stars.
Above us then we saw a silver moon
That gave us light and guided our paths
In such a time of need and lack of sun.
We all agreed then on the nature of
That portent, and so Torin took the child
Who had but barely left its mother’s womb
And carried it towards the large, black wolf.
The favored animal of Cariadawyr
Gently took the child by the wrapping that
Protected it and disappeared towards
The darkness that surrounded our woods.
As soon as it was gone from our sight
A golden light was once again sent forth
From the returning glory of Eurdrych.
Remembering those things we then dispatched
A group of scouts to search for Nathanan,
The missing child of Torin and Neala
Who lived among the wolves for twenty years
And learnt from them the secrets of the earth.
On his return we found him carrying vines,
Which later, when he learnt the words of men,
He told us to be gifts from Cariadawyr.
But by that time the plague was gone for months
Already, for the vines that Nathanan
Had brought along now grew from every part
Of our fair and blessed Alyria,
Who found in Nathanan the wisest man
And fairest ruler that had ever lived.

Biographies

Bradoc: Most of our proverbs and aphorisms are attributed to an ancient Druid by the name of Bradoc, who is said to have lived over a hundred and twenty years, way before the birth of our first Scion. Among other legends, there is one that states that Bradoc was able to summon storms and to bend iron with his sheer will.

Morvran: The greatest storyteller of all time, in the opinion of almost every Alyrian, would be Morvran, the author of two of our greatest poems, which not only summarize the Alyrian view of how the world was created, but also stand as a the foundation of our history and as a model for every epic poem that came afterwards.

Arianwen: Some of our oldest and most touching lyric poems were composed by a female bard known as Arianwen. She met a tragic end after losing her beloved Ysfael, who vanished during the Great War and was mourned without a proper burial, since his body was never found. His death was such a terrible blow to Arianwen that a few months later she died from a heart attack during her sleep.