Azar was the founder of the
Singing Wood and is the ancestor of its current royal family.
Life
Azar was born approximately -1830 EOG during a time of great political unrest. To escape persecution in their homeland, Azar fled into the
Singing Wood. At the time the Singing Wood was regarded as a dangerous place that should be avoided by travelers, for anyone who entered would only become hopelessly lost. However, left with few options, Azar took a chance and threw themself into the forest. They spent many days searching for a place to rest safely, and after many days found themself in the
Sacred Grove of
Anzû--a fledgling wind spirit who only had reign over its own grove.
Anzû's grove was a sanctuary, filled with the singing of birds, gentle sunlight,
flowers and dappled shade. Azar, weary from travel, all but collapsed at the roots of a young tree. Anzû took pity on the lost
elf and let them rest in the shade of the branches. When Azar at last awoke, they asked to stay in Anzû's grove, and offered to help tend it in exchange. The two made a pact, forged in blood: Anzû would share their power with Azar and their descendants, and in return, they would serve Anzû. Together, they would protect the Singing Wood. Anzû taught Azar how to entreat the fey spirits of the forest, and how to find their way through the ever-changing paths. With Azar's diligent assistance, Anzû became stronger and their reach in the forest grew.
Azar helped Anzû steadily increase their dominion over the course of about three hundred years. During this time, word spread that the forest had become safe to those who knew the way. Refugees flocked to the forest, and Azar helped them establish a village at the base of the mountain. The people looked to Azar as their leader, for though it was under Anzû's shelter that they lived, Azar was the only one among them to whom Anzû deigned to speak. From among the village people, Azar took for husband a man by the name of Sohrab, and together the two had a son that they called Govad.
Around -1550 EOG, Azar and Anzû began having conflict with invaders from ___. Initially, the invaders were repelled by the confusing nature of the forest and the fey spirits who lived within. However, in -1480, the invaders allied themselves with another faction and together succeeded in setting fire to large parts of the forest. Anzû's dominion did not yet cover the entire forest, and so whenever Anzû's put out one fire, another would spring up in its place, raging from beyond their reach. The cries of the spirits who lived on the fringes could be heard as they burned. Azar begged Anzû to grant them power so they could help. With Anzû's power, Azar was able to go beyond Anzû's grasp, where the fire was blazing the hottest, continually rekindled by the invaders.
With a wide cast of their arms, Azar drew all the flames that covered the forest into themself, and their mortal body was consumed. However, Anzû was unwilling to suffer the loss of Azar, and so from the ashes emerged a brilliant
Huma bird, whose immortal body would never again be hurt by flame. As the bird took flight, a single, resplendent feather fell from its tail and landed at the feet of young Govad.
Legacy
After Azar's transformation, Anzû's dominion grew to encompass the entire Singing Wood, as all the fey spirits who were previously reluctant to swear fealty now sought Anzû's protection from other would-be invaders. It is said that Azar still lives yet, watching over their descendants from above and serving as Anzû's companion for eternity. There have been many supposed sightings of Azar, whose shadow is said to bring blessings to those it passes over. It is also believed that Azar has the power to bestow kingship, so the turbans of Kings of the Singing Wood are traditionally decorated with Azar's plumage, in the style of Govad, who was the first to do so.
