Sildanyar

History of the Sildanyar, People of the Veil

The sildanyari, or the People of the Veil as they had one time called themselves, see themselves as among the few remaining wonders of an ancient world.

To many outside races, the llyranesi and silvanyari practically exemplify the concept of fae glamour and magic, with the mul'niessa as its underbelly. The People of the Veil exude a sense of otherworldliness. Poets may instinctively compare this otherworldliness to loss, without knowing why.

Today, the sildanyari live divided into three races. The llyranesi, who hold to the ancestor's heritage as warrior-mages of the light. The sylvanori, who remember the wild spaces, and the mul'niessa, who betrayed the world. Once upon a time, the sildanyari were a powerful race, creatures of the Unseen World. They dwelled beyond the boundries of the fae Veil, and existed in a realm where magic reigned supreme. There, magic was the very substance of the world, so the tales go, and could be altered at whim.

There, it is said the sildanyari dwelled as spirits. They served a role in the maintaining the precious life-giving energies of the World Tree. Sildanyari would say this is their original purpose, as directed to them by the Gods of Light.

However, during their long vigil, Gunahkar the Destroyer and the patron of the Daemons of the Void, entered into the blissful realm of the Fae. He sought to unmake the Feywild. He wounded the World Tree with poison and black weapons. Though the elves arrayed their great magic against the God of Darkness, it was only the intervention of the Gods of the Light that they were able to survive and drive off the nihilistic being. Long after he left, they would whisper among themselves as to how he gained access. These whispers planted, or perhaps expanded, the divisions among the People of the Veil.

Filled with doubt of their own and with a thirst of vengeance, some dawned Light's mantle and sought to pursue Gunahkar to the ends of the world. Some began to look beyond their spirit dwelling; they wanted realms of their own. Against the wishes of the Courts, these groups moved into the world. They did so arrayed in shining glory.

The sildanyari established great kingdoms and sought to pursue the allies of Gunahkar. Many crusades did they undertake in the name of the Light against the forces of the Void. However, these sildanyari soon found themselves akin to exiles. Their abilities to return, at will, to the Feywild diminished over time. With it, so did much of their potency and spiritual power.

Civil war would soon grip them. The whispers that had begun ages ago were fed perhaps, by the Void or their own doing. The sildanyari also lost their immortality, and their own, slow-bearing child years meant some of them would seek other means. Desperate for power and a return to their old glory, a faction broke from their sisters and brothers, to foreswear themselves to the Goddess of Murder. Sweet were her whispers, and potent her promises of glory. They sealed a pact with Her for all time, believing this would return their waning might.

It is said that as they did, the gods of Light turned their backs and the race's skin gained the color of dusk. In their hearts, they had turned away from their race's true purpose.

The result was civil war. The name of the assassain to take the sildanyari's greatest king is lost, stricken from records, but the result was potent. The nation of the sildanyari split in two. The greatest of the elven nations, Myn'Sandriel, was no more. The twin heirs to the king soon followed. Beyond it all, Taara laughed, and Her followers drew blood against brother and sister, their eyes blazing their lust for power.

Named at first "the Betrayers" or "the Cursed," the mul'niessa soon saw the truth of their bargain, as the dark goddess would bind a part of each of their souls. However, hungry for power, the Betrayers named themselves the mul'niessa and swiftly declared themselves the one true race.

One lone and surviving heir of Myn'Sandriel, a princess, led those who would come with her to what is today known as Llyranost. Here, somehow retaining a measure of the ancient and vaunted immortality of the old world, she reigns to this day. Known by many names, Cherylindrea surveys a dwindling race from the depths of a forest realm.

Today, their realm slowly shrinks as it is besieged on all sides by forces that would drive sildanyari from Gaea forever. Some are their own, former kin. Others are traditional enemies, such as the Fel Orcs, or followers of Gunahkar. Yet, despite losses, the llyranesi and sylvanori work to protect their home.

In response, the Elvenwood grew to be one of the most beautiful places on the continent of Arcania. At night, the forest truly comes alive with fey creatures, faeries, and more soaking in the magical glory of the wood.

Llyranost would grow in size over the centuries as more sildanyari from various parts of the world continued to migrate to it on great pilgrimages. Many remained, but others would be only passing visitors. In time, the pilgrimages to Llyranost came to be known as the Gathering. The Gathering also became a way for the llyranesi and sylvanori to reaffirm their connection to the fey world that their ancestors had left and were barred from returning to. The mul'niessa turn to other sources, and do not practice this tradition.

Elven Races

Elf, Dawn (Llyranesi)     Elf, Shadow (Mul'niessa)     Elf, Wild (Sylvanori)

Recent Events

For years content within their isolation, the ascension of the dark goddess has alarmed the llyranesi and sylvanori greatly and placed them on the offensive for the first time in generations of the histories of men. Of late the llyranesi have moved forward into the world again, seeking ties and contacts with the world around them. The mul'niessa in Charn have taken the coming of the shadow goddess as a sign of strength, and have broken off to form their own nation.

The rest of the world waits to see what the sildanyari may do.