Elios, The Sun-Kissed Mountains
Mountains stretch up and seem to touch the sky, dusted with a layer of snow year round. Those who travel through these mountainous giants must brave the harsh winds, bitter cold, and unpredictable nature of the mountains themselves. Yet, for those who are brave and bold, there exists a haven wreathed in warmth. It is said that the sun first shown upon the tallest peaks in the northernmost end of the mountain range. It is here that the avian races of Dremora call home, living under the domains of Elis, Goddess of the Sun and of Warmth, the Sky, Flight, and the Hunt. However, the warmth of the sun turns to a scalding burn to those who are not of the feathered variety…
Overview
At the Southern border of Elios, the flat-topped, red-copper mountains of Ragna and what once was Judas transition to towering, jagged mountain peaks with rocky points dusted in snow year-round. In the summer months, the winds are calm and gentle, no more than a reassuring push for those traveling the mountain passes. When the winter months approach, however, the wind becomes a vicious, howling beast that draws forth thick, blinding blankets of snow and beats down upon weary travelers seemingly with no end. The few towns that have been built within the mountains’ domain exist on the fringes, where the cliff sides are more gradual, the snow not as thick, and the wind more willing to negotiate. In these towns, the beginnings of new technology are being interwoven into the traditional culture and lifestyle of the people of Elios, but there are some who openly scowl at its integration. For with the advance of technology comes further encroachment upon their sacred and ancient culture.
In times long past, the mountain passes were well traveled, despite the risk of blizzards and avalanches. The people of Elios knew the places to step, the sturdy tree branches to grab, and the slopes to slide down… though most of them had the luxury of flying and traversing the strong airways, riding the air currents at high speeds straight to their destination. Now, the mountain passes are rarely traveled and the various lodges built as waypoints for travelers and hunters have fallen into disrepair, many being buried under the snow or devoured by the mountains themselves. The beasts of the mountains lurk in their caves, preying upon those who risk the journey believing the warnings to be exaggerated. Every now and then, a flying aarakocra may drop down to save an unfortunate or perhaps stupidly foolish traveler, but these avian rescues are becoming rarer as the aarakocra retreat to the North.
As one travels north through the Anwar-Dai mountain range, the snow increases and the wind is more relentless… but if you can brave the mountain’s bitter heart, they will part. The snow suddenly lessens as a burst of warmth rushes across the land. Hidden within a raging blizzard and suspended between the towering mountain peaks is the hidden “Valley” of Elis. Here, the Goddess of the Sun’s warmth pervades all corners and cracks. The City of Elios rests here, bathed in the sun’s golden rays. It is a City built to cater to those most favored of Elis: races gifted with flight. Homes are strung up across towering rock pillars, up the sides of steep cliff sides, or perched atop the tall peaks themselves. Within this secluded valley, a variety of avian species have thrived, including those of the more sentient and humanoid variety. Here, newer technology is absent and an emphasis on tradition, ancestors, and their sacred culture prevails.
Since the beginning, Elios has been the home to a vast variety of avian races. Villages and lodges were scattered throughout the mountain ranges, but these permanent settlements were considered stopping points along the greater journey – along one’s physical, spiritual, and religious flight through life. The concept of ownership was a distant thing. If you needed a place to rest and a lodge was available, it was yours to use so long as there was space. And if you were resting in a lodge and a stranger appeared, it was considered expected of you to offer a place by your fire or along your perch. The hunt was a sacred thing and various areas through the mountains were designated as sacred and ceremonial hunting grounds. The youth would prove themselves worthy to adorn themselves with braid, a symbol of Elis and her capabilities as a huntress. In the days of old, the broader sense of community and connection to the land extended beyond the Anwar-Dai. The people of Elios were quick to fly a land-bound stranger to their destination, to lure or fight off an encroaching predator, or to travel far beyond their lands boarders, venturing to the City of Fortune, the Heart of the Desert, or to compete with the Hunters of Oshozi. Although land-bound, they were worthy competitors.
Referred to as the “Boundless Age” within Elios, the period of time between the Barrier’s creation and the formation of the High Dremoran Council was one of unbounded skies. Once they had received their first braid, the blessed of Elios – her avian races – were free to travel the vast expanse of the sky, where borders are nonexistent. And they did just that. The avian folk of Elios made names for themselves wherever they went, but none more than Tuari. The son of the Elian Chieftain, Tuari was – and perhaps still is – believed to have been the son of Elis herself, but the hawk-like aarakocra denied such divine parentage even to his dying breath. Regardless, Tuari earned his five braids and then traveled on a pilgrimage around the continent, speaking with mortals and gods alike. He spoke with the God of Fortune after besting Judas’ best archer. He painted alongside the Laurels and outflew even the fastest sand seal racer. He outhunted the Chosen of Oshozi and presented his hunt to the God of the Hunt himself. To Caliban – his Goddess’s other half – he presented one of his braids: the most sacred of gifts. There was no region or place that Tuari did not travel. Although his accomplishments are the subject of many stories, poems, and paintings, it is his character that persists. Tuari lived in the present. He cared not for material possessions. He offered up his lodgings to those in more dire need. He was the token Elian hero – a representation of what the people of Elios strived to be.
When Tuari was murdered, it was as if a strike had landed in the heart of the Elian people. Some accounts claim that it was a bounty hunter form Ah’Shal – one of the first – who struck the blow when Tuari had raised concerns about change in the city’s demeanor. Other accounts claim that it was a vindictive warrior of Ragna who struck him down in cold blood. His death shook the people of Elios, but they did not resent the continent for his death. When the Dread King’s War began, the hunters of Elis were some of the first to rally to fight the encroaching threat. Although smaller in number than the warriors of Ragna or the Moon Guard of Caliban, all of their finest warriors and best archers went to the war… and most of them perished. The Elian people view the continent as united under the warmth of the sun. It was honorable and valiant to stand against a tyrant that sought to control that.
When the Dread King’s War had abated, the Elian people found that their culture, history, and customs were suddenly of incredible interest to the broader population, especially in the developing technological centers. Over a century, the Elian people watched their sacred culture become a mockery and a sham of what it was. The people of Eredet fired one arrow and earned a braid. It was not about hitting the target once copper had been exchanged, it was about acquiring the accuracy to kill a creature with one blow, with mercy and respect. It was not about jumping and climbing to ring a bell at the top of a crude tower. No, it was about elevating oneself and ascending in one’s life… to overcome the barriers and mountains that life wishes to bury one under. All of their traditions… boiled down to a game.
The Elian people first sought diplomacy: cease the disrespect to our culture. Yet they received no change. The Elian people remembered Tuari’s unanswered murder. They remembered how they had died for the continent not but a century prior. And they turned to the Neg’Varos Bay and saw how the land had been polluted and destroyed for the gain of a few. They saw how the people on the edges of their mountains began to resemble the people of the Bay more and more. And so Elios closed her borders, determined to protect its heart.
To this day, the borders of Elios remained closed to outsiders. No aid should be expected from the avian folk as they fly above the dangers of the mountain passes. Should you make it to the City of Elios, you may feel the warmth of the sun… but you will only receive the icy coldness of a people wronged.
The City of Elios itself is run by an elected spokesperson – often referred to as the Chieftain – who speaks on behalf of the people of Elios. Given the strong belief in community over individual, material possessions, any affairs that require governmental interference are open to the general populace. The Chieftain is expected to hear the opinions of the people, consider each equally, and make the best decision for all. The spokesperson is voted in by the Elian people and can be swapped out every three years if the people of Elios are dissatisfied. Once less stringent, now one must be blessed with avian blood to serve as a spokesperson.
Once, the people of Elios traded frequently beyond their borders. They were known to have good relations with the Heart of the Desert and the City of Fortune as well as the Old District of Caliban (when it was the only District). Despite their closed borders, the Elian people are still considered the best bowyers and are well known for their pottery and skills in training hunting falcons Occasionally, some Elian merchants will trade their wares outside the Anwar-Dai, though it is now raw materials within the mountains the rest of the continent seems more concerned with nowadays.
In the City of Elios, it is a rare sight to see someone who is not of an avian race. Those who are flightless are the elderly, the injured, the sick, or a rare ambassador granted access to the City of Elios. Every now and then a bold non-avian hunter may make the trek through the mountains and may be given a chance to prove their mettle to the Elian people. Most of the time, it’s a case of luck… and that time has long since passed.
As a Goddess of warmth, the Elian people value sharing community time with one another. Although physical warmth is considered a sign of Elis, community brings with it a different and deeper sense of warmth. During The Day of the Sun, the people of Elis take to the skies at noon before returning to their homes and communities to dance, sing, craft, and talk around fires. Alcohol is often consumed to give yet another layer of warmth.
Although not formally assigned the domain of the Hunt, as the Goddess of birds of prey, she is often honored through the Hunt. Similar to Oshozi, her followers do not hunt for only glory and for sport. Those who bring back an animal with excessive signs of struggle or injury are reprimanded and scolded. It is more valuable to bring back a docile mountain deer with no wound to its side than to take down the largest, fiercest Szorm’Szor.
As one travels north through the Anwar-Dai mountain range, the snow increases and the wind is more relentless… but if you can brave the mountain’s bitter heart, they will part. The snow suddenly lessens as a burst of warmth rushes across the land. Hidden within a raging blizzard and suspended between the towering mountain peaks is the hidden “Valley” of Elis. Here, the Goddess of the Sun’s warmth pervades all corners and cracks. The City of Elios rests here, bathed in the sun’s golden rays. It is a City built to cater to those most favored of Elis: races gifted with flight. Homes are strung up across towering rock pillars, up the sides of steep cliff sides, or perched atop the tall peaks themselves. Within this secluded valley, a variety of avian species have thrived, including those of the more sentient and humanoid variety. Here, newer technology is absent and an emphasis on tradition, ancestors, and their sacred culture prevails.
Basic History
According to the mythological history of the region, the Anwar-Dai mountains were the first to be graced by the light and warmth of Elis’ sun. The mountains are believed to either be the first place Elis stepped upon arriving in Dremora or the place of her birth. And on the other side of the continent – in another mountain range – the Moon’s colder light first appeared. Elis and Caliban were believed to be distant yet close, intricately connected yet bound to forever be apart. Both are called to the skies, yet Caliban is grounded by his connection to the Tides. Elis, however, was a Goddess of the Sky, the Sun, and of Flight. Traditional Elian cities are identifiable through their architecture, which pays homage to Elis’ desire to avoid the ground and to remain aloft for as long as possible. Older cities are strung up along the sides of mountains or at their peaks, far from the sea level.Since the beginning, Elios has been the home to a vast variety of avian races. Villages and lodges were scattered throughout the mountain ranges, but these permanent settlements were considered stopping points along the greater journey – along one’s physical, spiritual, and religious flight through life. The concept of ownership was a distant thing. If you needed a place to rest and a lodge was available, it was yours to use so long as there was space. And if you were resting in a lodge and a stranger appeared, it was considered expected of you to offer a place by your fire or along your perch. The hunt was a sacred thing and various areas through the mountains were designated as sacred and ceremonial hunting grounds. The youth would prove themselves worthy to adorn themselves with braid, a symbol of Elis and her capabilities as a huntress. In the days of old, the broader sense of community and connection to the land extended beyond the Anwar-Dai. The people of Elios were quick to fly a land-bound stranger to their destination, to lure or fight off an encroaching predator, or to travel far beyond their lands boarders, venturing to the City of Fortune, the Heart of the Desert, or to compete with the Hunters of Oshozi. Although land-bound, they were worthy competitors.
Referred to as the “Boundless Age” within Elios, the period of time between the Barrier’s creation and the formation of the High Dremoran Council was one of unbounded skies. Once they had received their first braid, the blessed of Elios – her avian races – were free to travel the vast expanse of the sky, where borders are nonexistent. And they did just that. The avian folk of Elios made names for themselves wherever they went, but none more than Tuari. The son of the Elian Chieftain, Tuari was – and perhaps still is – believed to have been the son of Elis herself, but the hawk-like aarakocra denied such divine parentage even to his dying breath. Regardless, Tuari earned his five braids and then traveled on a pilgrimage around the continent, speaking with mortals and gods alike. He spoke with the God of Fortune after besting Judas’ best archer. He painted alongside the Laurels and outflew even the fastest sand seal racer. He outhunted the Chosen of Oshozi and presented his hunt to the God of the Hunt himself. To Caliban – his Goddess’s other half – he presented one of his braids: the most sacred of gifts. There was no region or place that Tuari did not travel. Although his accomplishments are the subject of many stories, poems, and paintings, it is his character that persists. Tuari lived in the present. He cared not for material possessions. He offered up his lodgings to those in more dire need. He was the token Elian hero – a representation of what the people of Elios strived to be.
When Tuari was murdered, it was as if a strike had landed in the heart of the Elian people. Some accounts claim that it was a bounty hunter form Ah’Shal – one of the first – who struck the blow when Tuari had raised concerns about change in the city’s demeanor. Other accounts claim that it was a vindictive warrior of Ragna who struck him down in cold blood. His death shook the people of Elios, but they did not resent the continent for his death. When the Dread King’s War began, the hunters of Elis were some of the first to rally to fight the encroaching threat. Although smaller in number than the warriors of Ragna or the Moon Guard of Caliban, all of their finest warriors and best archers went to the war… and most of them perished. The Elian people view the continent as united under the warmth of the sun. It was honorable and valiant to stand against a tyrant that sought to control that.
When the Dread King’s War had abated, the Elian people found that their culture, history, and customs were suddenly of incredible interest to the broader population, especially in the developing technological centers. Over a century, the Elian people watched their sacred culture become a mockery and a sham of what it was. The people of Eredet fired one arrow and earned a braid. It was not about hitting the target once copper had been exchanged, it was about acquiring the accuracy to kill a creature with one blow, with mercy and respect. It was not about jumping and climbing to ring a bell at the top of a crude tower. No, it was about elevating oneself and ascending in one’s life… to overcome the barriers and mountains that life wishes to bury one under. All of their traditions… boiled down to a game.
The Elian people first sought diplomacy: cease the disrespect to our culture. Yet they received no change. The Elian people remembered Tuari’s unanswered murder. They remembered how they had died for the continent not but a century prior. And they turned to the Neg’Varos Bay and saw how the land had been polluted and destroyed for the gain of a few. They saw how the people on the edges of their mountains began to resemble the people of the Bay more and more. And so Elios closed her borders, determined to protect its heart.
To this day, the borders of Elios remained closed to outsiders. No aid should be expected from the avian folk as they fly above the dangers of the mountain passes. Should you make it to the City of Elios, you may feel the warmth of the sun… but you will only receive the icy coldness of a people wronged.
Politics
The political regime of Elios can be divided into two parts: the core and the fringes. The villages and towns on the outskirts of the Anwar-Dai constitute the fringes. These villages are run by various forms of government that may be connected in some way – through trade or protection agreements – but otherwise function independent of one another. Councils of some kind are the most prevalent form of governance, but mayors or governors run some settlements. Very few still follow the traditional model of the City of Elios itself.The City of Elios itself is run by an elected spokesperson – often referred to as the Chieftain – who speaks on behalf of the people of Elios. Given the strong belief in community over individual, material possessions, any affairs that require governmental interference are open to the general populace. The Chieftain is expected to hear the opinions of the people, consider each equally, and make the best decision for all. The spokesperson is voted in by the Elian people and can be swapped out every three years if the people of Elios are dissatisfied. Once less stringent, now one must be blessed with avian blood to serve as a spokesperson.
Economy
Trade and barter are at the heart of the Elian economy. Gold has some value to the Elian people, especially those that still go beyond the Anwar-Dai, but within the city itself, trade and exchange are more valued. While some materialism has developed within the City of Elios, much of their day-to-day life still revolves around the concept of shared property. It is not right to simply take, but the concept of hoarding is considered loathsome, especially if done for the sole purpose of being cruel to another. In the mountains where food does not grow easily, hunters are incredibly valued within the community. They bring back meats, leathers, bone and ivory, and other materials from the Anwar-Dai. Often, they receive products in return. No gold is required for such exchanges.Once, the people of Elios traded frequently beyond their borders. They were known to have good relations with the Heart of the Desert and the City of Fortune as well as the Old District of Caliban (when it was the only District). Despite their closed borders, the Elian people are still considered the best bowyers and are well known for their pottery and skills in training hunting falcons Occasionally, some Elian merchants will trade their wares outside the Anwar-Dai, though it is now raw materials within the mountains the rest of the continent seems more concerned with nowadays.
People
On the fringes of the Anwar-Dai, the population is split with half being of avian races and the other half being land-bound. In some of these places, those of avian races may intermingle with the land-bound, engaging in trade, fun, and other affairs, but in other places, there may be a clear, thick, and tangible divide between the two. Those of non avian blood tend to be of a variety of races, including human, half-elf, gnome, dwarf, tabaxi, genasi, half-orcs (and a few orcs), and more.In the City of Elios, it is a rare sight to see someone who is not of an avian race. Those who are flightless are the elderly, the injured, the sick, or a rare ambassador granted access to the City of Elios. Every now and then a bold non-avian hunter may make the trek through the mountains and may be given a chance to prove their mettle to the Elian people. Most of the time, it’s a case of luck… and that time has long since passed.
Religion
In the region of the Goddess of the Sun, the day is generally considered a sacred time, but the night is given its due respect. Many in Elios also worship Caliban and may even worship the God of Night more than the God of Day – the owlfolk for example. Generally, the time when the sun is at its zenith is considered the holiest of holy times. Even those not religious inclined with stop to bow their head and spread their wings low before going about their day. Those who are more religiously inclined will set aside the noon hour for reflection or prayer to the Goddess of the Hunt. Others believe that the holy hour not be spent on the ground, but in the sky where they can be closer to the Goddess who warms the cold, often heartless mountains.As a Goddess of warmth, the Elian people value sharing community time with one another. Although physical warmth is considered a sign of Elis, community brings with it a different and deeper sense of warmth. During The Day of the Sun, the people of Elis take to the skies at noon before returning to their homes and communities to dance, sing, craft, and talk around fires. Alcohol is often consumed to give yet another layer of warmth.
Although not formally assigned the domain of the Hunt, as the Goddess of birds of prey, she is often honored through the Hunt. Similar to Oshozi, her followers do not hunt for only glory and for sport. Those who bring back an animal with excessive signs of struggle or injury are reprimanded and scolded. It is more valuable to bring back a docile mountain deer with no wound to its side than to take down the largest, fiercest Szorm’Szor.
Type
State
Included Locations
Tuari
Perhaps the most famous hero in Elian history, he was believed to be the son of Elis, though he continuously denied it. He seemed to care more for the small things in life than the larger things like divinity, though he had his fair share of contact with the gods and goddesses of Dremora. As Tuari was murdered, his body was never recovered and the inability to honor their hero properly pains the Elian people to this day.
Elian Art
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