The Warrior from the Apex of the Sun

The light of the elves.

Written by a very sleepy Acturus Albani.

The Warrior from the Apex of the Sun (Elvish: Ahrn Arivæ; "One Who Wields Sunlight") is a myth that finds its origins in the oral traditions of the elvish peoples of The Kingdom of Crendameth, wherein a warrior of unknown origin wields a blade that appears to be a static, pulsing ray of concentrated sunlight called the Zenith Blade (Elvish: Vel Ar Y'Tellarien: "Blade of the Sun's High Peak"), using it as both a symbol to unite and lead the elves during the Age of the Blade and the conflicts that took place then.

While evidence supporting the existence of the Zenith Blade is contested, it is a symbol that invokes great respect and reverence in wood and high elf settlements, being used as a metaphor for hope and light, and is a common literary device in most elvish stories, poems and tales related to the time before the kingdom's foundation.

Nowadays, the myth has been transcribed and translated into a multitude of different languages. The first person to accurately translate the telling was Igtraz Megzor, who went to great lengths to ensure that the original meaning was not lost upon being told in dwarfish.

Summary

The myth itself, told originally in sung verses, speaks of a figure that leads the elves through the Age of the Sword, referred to simply as The Protector (Elvish: Arægisess; 'Great Protector') using a weapon that has been described as

"... sunlight itself, piercing all enemies and vanquishing all darkness. To behold it is to feel a renewed warmth, like that of the dawn after a bitterly cold night, or broth after long months of far travels..."

primarily called the Zenith Blade.

Most iterations of the story start the tale with how the blade was obtained by The Protector, or begin with The Protector revealing themselves to the elves, unveiling the Zenith Blade for all to see. Though inconsistent, there are numerous verses across completely different singers that speak of the blade as a boon from beings that

"... draw both name and might from the sun, limited though their number is, even in memory..."

point after which the elves, dispersed as the were, convene at the Firetree (Elvish: Amarillis; 'Fireflower') after being unable to ignore a light that appeared in their field of vision, are united by a speech that invited (in some versions, demanded) for a sense of kinship and camaraderie with their fellow elves and set forth to their battles, marching as one.

Through strife, battle and deceit, The Protector never faltered nor showed any sign of tiring, instead gaining strength as their ranks grew in number. So, too, did the blade grow brighter and more fierce with each claimed victory, to the point where some versions claim that it could burn people to ash by simply being in its presence for too long a time.

The last quarter of the tale is dedicated to a battle between The Protector and a monster whose only surviving name is 'Zæn'Sheæn', which roughly translates into 'The All - Consuming Gaze'. No concrete description of the adversary has been recorded other than vague depictions of a shadowed figure turning everything surrounding it to little more than dust. The story ends with Zaen’Sheaen vanquished and The Protector in varying degrees of grievous wounds, or with them dying outright after the battle is ended. Whatever the case, the Zenith Blade loses its consistency, retreating into the sword's hilt. The words

"The need for arms has passed. It is time to write history with ink, rather than the blood that soaks this land, for it grows weary of its taste and the trees grow not with its flow. With this last ray of light upon the earth I walk, I hope that the heavens outshine my blade's sheen and that there is never a need for anyone to brandish it again."

are famously attributed to The Protector, but can also be found said by third parties in the versions where they perish after emerging victorious from their final combat.

An epilogue appears in some iterations, wherein it informs the listeners that the hilt was handed down from one leader to the next until its trace was lost after it was stolen by an unknown faction during the Great Conflagration of the Firetree. Although it appears to be a largely modern addition to the myth, it has inspired many within the elvish clans to search for the object, believing that claiming and activating it entitles them to become the next Protector, thus being crowned leader of all elves.

Historical Basis

The events told in the myth have actual merit to them. Namely, in the fact that there is a figure quite similar to the legendary Protector present in the annals of history in the form of Syndil Xiloscient, leader of a large faction of elves suring the last years of the Age of the Blade, who managed to unite the scattered elves under a single banner, leading them to victory before being part of the founding members of the Kingdom. However, the warlike nature of The Protector is mostly absent from the surviving historical records related to this figure, indicating that she preferred to use diplomacy over brute force to ensure the continued existence of her peoples, resorting to armed conflict only when absolutely necessary.

In regards to the Zenith Blade, much of the evidence that points to its presence during the actual historical event are attributed to hyperbole and the need to create a symbol that would unite the clans and tribes. As such, it is believed that the Zenith Blade was, in fact, a Sunsword whose power was exacerbated using illusion magic. Whether or not Xiloscient possessed such an artifact has yet to be determined, yet surviving depictions of the time depict her as carrying a simple metal hilt with no blade attached to it, perpetuating the search for the fabled item. Disjointed reports found throughout history describe a weapon similar to the Zenith Blade being used in different conflicts throughout the Kingdom and beyond its borders, with some speculating it played a role in Mórilanta, the downfall of the Moon Elves. Proving such claims has proved to be a task of great difficulty, as little of their culture has stood the test of time, said event being discovered and pieced together after a long lack of contact from their settlements.

Apart from the myth, no reference is made of Zæn'Sheæn. It is believed that, much like with the Zenith Blade, it is an exaggeration of the events that actually took place. Which events this might refer to is uncertain, for no allusions to an All - Consuming Gaze is found anywhere else. This part of the tale is normally interpreted as a moral lesson rather than a historical one, placing value in hope against overwhelming odds.

The Great Conflagration is, however, an event that has been recorded in numerous sources. According to the manuscripts, the Firetree was to be found someplace near the deserts to the south of the kingdom. So far, only a place corresponding to the surrounding stone grove has been found, with evidence suggesting that there was a settlement not too far away from it.

Spread

The myth of the Zenith Blade is well-known within the Kingdom, yet the story surrounding it receives less attention, being known mostly to the ones that listen to its telling in a yearly fashion, their vast majority being part of the elvish demographic of the country.

The popularity of the Blade is largely attributed to the fact that there is a possibility that the hilt is still to be found, giving way to adventuring parties to search for it.

Variations & Mutation

The myth's different iterations have appeared throughout the years largely due to creative licences being taken while the story is told by its respective narrator, normally done to heighten dramatic tension. The versions have the same core themes and story moments, yet depict The Protector and their abilities in different lights while also altering the order of the events, the characters that aid The Protector, where they do so and the outcome of the final fight.

Cultural Reception

The story of The Protector and their blade is one of the central myths for the elves in the Kingdom. Even after adopting the Crendameth banner, most elvish settlements will have depictions of The Protector in the form of statues or tapestries with the symbol for the Zenith Blade (a bladeless hilt overlapping an eight-sided star) being present in the town's banners or present as decorations in the people's homes. It represents not only their continued hope for a brighter tomorrow, but also their pride in being part of the race from which such a story would be born. It is also commonly associated with the right to lead the elves, but such a meaning is often eclipsed by its less militaristic counterpart.

In Literature

The myth itself has been told and handed down through epic poems sung yearly by the elves of Crendameth. As such, many inconsistencies and variations have been introduced to the tale.

Igtraz Megzor was the first to accurately transcribe and popularize the myth outside the realm of the elves, leading to greater interest for the myth of the Zenith Blade.

In Art

Art depicting The Protector is not uncommon in elvish settlements, appearing mainly in the form of wooden or stone statues or appearing in woolen tapestries, where certain scenes of the legend are portrayed. All depictions of The Protector include the inactive hilt of their blade.

Modern telling sessions are considered a work of art in their own right, what with it balancing narrative prowess and the dramatic flair needed to keep the listeners interested and entertained.

Songs that have been inspired or derived from the myth are not uncommon, as well, yet are mostly sung by wandering bards and troubadours with a penchant for the historic.

Date of First Recording

Age of the Sword, c.a. 1200 BE.

Date of Setting

Age of the Sword, after the tribes had made contact with each other.