Heroes of the Lore Backstories

Aan'mar

The surface of Puddle Lake was black and still, punctuated by the occasional light ripple from the gentle caress of a night breeze. In the light of the full moon, Puddle Lake was a reflective basin, mirroring the full lunar glory in its idle brilliance.

While the lake itself was still, a keen observer would have noticed the flurry of activity along its banks. In the light of the full moon, hooded figures hopped lightly along the edge of the lake, clearing space for the ritual to come. With every full moon came the celebration of Mar, the elven Lady of the Moon. While wood elves were staunch worshipers of the Forest and all her bounties, dusk elves turned their praise skyward. This celebration of Mar was different to the others, as the Lady of the Moon was to choose her next line of Priestesses.

Having cleared ground and erected their effigies of praise, the dusk elf Acolytes took their place in a circle around the central effigy, an embodiment of Lady Mar made of clay and semi-precious stones. Unlike the rogue dusk elf brigands known to travel the King's Road, this adolescent group of elves were wide eyed and green, eager to uncover the secrets of the Moon. The young Acolytes were chosen at birth by the Sen'Mar, the High Priestess of the Moon, and consigned to a life of servitude to the Temple of Mar.

The young elf Vaela lazily scanned her surroundings, looking for any sign that the initiation was about to begin. Turning sharply towards the rustling bushes behind her, Vaela caught glimpse of an aged dusk elf making her way towards the circle. The elf was adorned in midnight blue robes, trimmed with silver thread. At her brow, she wore a silver circlet beset with lapis lazuli. Even in the dim moonlight, it almost seemed like the gems caught slivers of dancing light. As the aged elf reached the foot of the effigy, two senior Acolytes scurried up to her side, each carrying an assortment of ritual gear. Vaela noticed an assortment of weapons, as well as a small banded wooden chest.

Reaching her hands up towards the moon, Sen'Mar began to speak.

“We call upon the Lady of The Moon to shine her light on our young, may they in return uphold her virtue and embody the Way of the Silver”.

Sen'Mar glanced back at her two helpers, and they scampered through the collection of ritual gear. Placing 7 clear orbs at the effigy's feet, Vaela couldn't help but notice 7 orbs for 8 young Acolytes.

The old elf continued.

“With this offering of unsullied glass,
We invoke your wisdom,
Guide our souls in the time to pass,
Watch over the fate of our Kingdom.”

Vaela leaned forward, laser focussed on the glass orbs that now seemed to trap the light of the moon, glowing ever so slightly. The glow bathed the effigy's feet in a silvery light, almost dancing along the legs of the idol of Mar.

Turning towards the fresh Acolytes, Sen'Mar gestured towards the glass orbs. “These are Moon Shards, the very essence of Mar is contained within these spheres, and through them with the Lady choose you as her loyal servants.

“You will notice”, she continued with a slight nod towards the group of Acolytes, “there are only 7 Shards, and 8 of you. It was on a night like this, sixteen years ago, that I selected each one of you at the time of your birth. You are all children of prophecy, and among the 8 elves born on that day, the Lady Mar has chosen 7 to welcome as her voice on this plane. Step forth now, one by one, and feel the call of Mar”.

The young elves motioned carefully to the orbs. The first to stand before the orbs was significantly shorter and stockier than the other elves. With a deep breath and a fiery look of determination, she walked up to the foot of the effigy. As she got closer, the third orb from the right glowed brighter, the intensity of its dancing lights throwing slivers of light across the faces of those present.

“I..hear her singing..”, gasped the elf as she kneeled down and palmed the Shard.

With a reassuring touch, Sen'Mar looked up towards the idol of Mar. Turning her attention towards the elf at her feet, Sen'Mar exclaimed.

“Leave now Tolya the unnamed at the foot of the altar, and rise Tolya of Mar”. This ritual continued 4 more times, until it was Vaela's turn to walk up to the idol. Even as she made her way up, Vaela could sense something was amiss. Rather, she could sense nothing at all. Neither the glow of one of the two remaining orbs, nor the sweet song of Mar in her head. Her heart increasingly heavy with each step, Vaela stood in front of the two remaining orbs with a stony visage.

She would not be chosen by Mar today.

The rest of the ritual continued without a hitch, and her 7 companions each clutched a sphere in their left hand. Sen'Mar gestured towards the chest of weapons and urged the Chosen to find a weapon that speaks to them. As did the orbs choose the elf, so did the Moonlight Weapons call to their wielder. Vaela looked on with a sense of emptiness as her companions hoisted the weapons of Mar, blades and bows trimmed with silver so bright it looked like trapped moonlight. With 7 Chosen elves standing at attention at the foot of the idol of Mar, Sen'Mar hobbled over to the banded wooden chest. Whispering an incantation, she willed a silver rune into the air, which then collided with the chest. The thick metal lock on the front clicked open, and Sen'Mar reached in to hoist a heavy sphere covered with a dark cloth. Waddling over to the idol, Sen'Mar strained under the weight of the quarry in her arms as she struggled to hoist it upon the dais. Sen'Mar unveiled the object to reveal a smooth green orb, much larger in size to the clear glass orbs held by the Acolytes.

“With the power of the Atma Orb, we seal our obligations to you, Lady of the Moon”. Slivers of light danced lazily within the green sphere, congregating at the centre in a bright core. While most of the light seemed contained, Vaela noticed wisps of light seeping beyond the confines of the orb. The light danced lazily around the edges of the orb, behaving almost like smoke.

As the dark cloth slid off the orb and fell to the floor, Vaela's senses were assaulted on all fronts. The light from the orb ramped up in intensity to the point of blinding, as the image of the orb was burned into Vaela's retinas through closed eyelids. She felt a sudden rush of blood as her elven heart flooded with adrenaline, pumping blood to her extremities in anticipation of a fight. Then, there was that voice.

Where her companions heard the beautiful song of Mar, Vaela's ears rang with the low vibrato of chanting. The voice was androgynous, and while she could not hear Mar in the chant, the radiation of power was undeniable. The weight of the chant brough Vaela to her knees, slack-jawed and wide-eyed, staring straight up to the full moon.

Sen'Mar whipped her head back at the sight, gasping with surprise. As she turned to the Acolyte, she lost her grip on the green orb. Time seemed to stand still for the old elf as the Orb slipped through her hands and fell towards the floor. While the Orb was usually steadfast and rock-solid, the gathering of dusk elves watched as the Atma Orb shattered at Sen'Mar's feet. Wisps of silvery, smoky light shot out of the shattered orb, arcing above the gathering of elves for a second, and then siphoning into the breast of the idol of Mar. Vaela stood up at the sound of the shattered orb and ambled, trance-like towards the display of light. The dancing light hovered mid-air for what seemed like an eternity, before shooting into Vaela's outstretched arms.

As the light traveled up her arms, runes burned into her skin. Screaming in a mix of agony and pleasure, Vaela was flung bodily towards the idol of Mar, landing like a ragdoll at her feet. As suddenly as it all began, still and silence was restored to the night. Sen'Mar rushed over to the unChosen Acolyte, resting her hand on Vaela's brow. She sharply pulled her hand back, as Vaela's skin was cool to the touch. As Vaela opened her eyes, the light of the moon danced along her irises.

“Oh, child”, exclaimed Sen'Mar as she ran her hands along the runes now etched onto Vaela's arms.

Standing up, Sen'Mar looked again upon the idol of the lady.

“The Lady Mar has chosen not only 7 Priestesses, but through the power of the Atma Orb, she has chosen her Champion.”

Lifting up Vaela's arm for the Acolytes to look on in wonder, she continued. “These markings are the Song of Mar, and Vaela shall carry the song of the moon, the embodiment of Mar's presence on our plane. The last time we saw a Champion was during the time of the Great Elven war, and our people have never had a Champion among us. Until..now”. “The reach of the moon is failing. With our Forest dwelling cousins cozying up to the Humans in the West, how long until they come for us? To drive us out of our homes, to blot the moonlight with their tall buildings? How long until the men at that farm across Puddle Lake claim our young to till their fields?

Lady Mar has heard our cries for help, and sent us her light”.

Looking at the kneeling elf at her feet, the High Priestess of the Moon continued. “Leave now, Vaela the unnamed at the foot of the altar..and rise, Aan'Mar, the Champion of the Moon”.