History of the Vala'Suun on Gothenya

Notes on the arrival of the Vala'Suun (and other Sidhe) upon Gothenya, and the ramifications thereafter.

HISTORY OF THE VALA’SUUN UPON GOTHENYA
What follows is a copy of the raw notes taken from my Judge's journal regarding "elves" and other "fey" beings, up to and including the "demonic" Vu'un...
The Eld. The Eldreth. The Sidhe. The Vala’Suun…
They were the messengers of the gods. Their mouthpieces. They were Solti, kings amongst slaves. Hand picked from their fey homelands, from amongst the children of nobles. But to appease their royal blood, they weren’t the only Vala’Suun taken, these nobles. Along with the Solti, the Ulta captured the select children of the Kelti, the servant caste. But the ultimate trick, or perhaps you think it an irony, was reserved for their arrival upon Gothenya.
For reasons still unknown, but rumored to be “the will of the gods,” the Solti, having come of age, found themselves infertile, at least upon the verdant soil of their new world. Did the gods limit their immortal numbers to quell any possible future uprisings? Surely the Kelti would foster no such ambitions, and thus they were (fortunately?) able to breed. And even interbreed with one of the two native “thinking peoples” of the new world; man.
After the Sundering emancipated the Solti from their masters, things quickly escalated. Some men thought the Solti to have been instrumental in the downfall of Celene, working through their dark elf agents who eventually became the Quaili. What did the Winter Elves promise those of the dirt? Ascension? Nobility?
The Solti were quick to dismiss many amongst the “lesser” Kelti, so jealous of their ability to breed as they were. They forced the Kelti to take a bond of loyalty, fealty to the throne of Neishmehil. These Kelti were branded, in the manner of slaves. They would be bonded through arcane means to their “masters.” Though still technically free, these Sidhe could not take up arms against their “betters,” as was the nature of the magical brands upon their skin (and brains).
You can instantly tell a Kelti of Neishmehil from the “free folk” through these azure, glowing brands, typically splayed across their very faces.
Relations between man and Vala’Suun quickly broke down in the Age of Will, with the Solti retreating entirely to their forest kingdom of Neishmehil, shunning the world and even their own kind beyond its walls. You must understand that the Solti do not see the Kelti (or even the Quaili) as members of the same species as themselves.
In fact, the Solti foster a growing, festering hatred for any lesser Vala’Suun (the free folk amongst the Kelti) that denied their “gift” of indentured servitude.
Some men believe the secret to the fate of the gods resides within Neishmehil. And indeed, if it could be easily taken, long ago it would have been. It is only on rare occasions that the Solti leave their ancestral home to parlay with the lesser species beyond the Feywood.
Do the Solti believe in racial purity or a racial purity test? One would not go that far perhaps, as they are unified amongst themselves and rarely, if ever, put the question of loyalty to each other. Do they hate man or their cousins in the greater world? Here, there is a schism amongst the Solti of the High Court. Some believe their fate is entwined with the outcast Vala’Suun, while others believe that only once the Kelti have been fully absorbed into the world of man can the Solti move beyond them. By accepting and embracing the world of mortals, the Kelti condemned themselves to the filthy “circle of life” reserved for only the lowly.
The Solti are certainly doing nothing to help man’s opinion of them. They are seen as a species, haughty at best, xenophobic and racist at worst. It is known to not expect any help from Neishmehil if the world of man is ever threatened again, as they proved their lack of loyalty in the battle of Celene. Even facing down The Sundering itself, they closed their borders to both those seeking asylum and those seeking an army to stop the blood mages of the Sanguine Order.
It is certain that the Lentokki have designs on the elven nation. Surely they must. It’s a jewel that shines too brightly to be ignored by any intent on conquest. Especially those with eyes towards cracking open the holy mountain like an egg of gold.
In fact, the only reason why Wyeth never attempted to take it has something to do with their peace with the free folk amongst the Kelti. For whatever reason, even exiled as they were, these Vala’Suun demanded that the crown turn its gaze far from the Feywood. At least, this is how it is explained away by loyalists. In fact, it is secretly held that the crown still fears the eldritch powers within the fabled city of the Vala’Suun. But do the Lentokki harbor the same fears? I think not.
It is even said, rumored perhaps, that amongst the secretive god kings of Lentokk is a Solti blood mage. Perhaps even the never-seen Xerie Palinax himself (itself?).
“Intrude not upon the lands of fey, where vala’suun sun and ancient lines ley, For those who spy the gentle ones truth, The spawn of ruin shall taketh thine youth.”
The giants of the north, the Ultima Thule, have discovered a rend or rift in the fabric of the world, an entrance point to the feylands from which they originated. The Solti may attempt some crazy gambit to infiltrate these lands in order to find this alleged gate.
Based loosely upon Beyond the Black Gate…

Even the Kelti alive today do not know that their Solti cousins were once stolen slaves of the Ulta. It is even implied that any Kelti kidnapped at that same time have all since passed away, or were murdered to keep this secret. Their murderers may still be alive. The Solti.
What would the Kelti do? What would they demand? If the truth were to be known. What of justice? Could it even be had any longer? Many Solti have died. Are the murderers amongst their ranks?
MAGES
Vala’Suun mages often have their spells tattooed upon their bodies. Further, their station and rank are likewise branded upon their flesh in the form of concentric rings and arcane sigils.
TRUE NAMES
The true names of every Solti existent upon Gothenya is known to at least one Ulta aboard Celene. Now that they are dormant, the Solti seek to end their relationship with the godlings. Perhaps, since they are still bound, they know the gods are still alive. Perhaps they seek to invade the holy mountain to “do away” with their captors, once and for all. But how would they go about doing this?
How powerful is The Staying Hand? Strong enough to keep a Solti army at bay? What do the elves really fear within the cavernous walls of Celene?
“There are demons, untold and unknown to man, greater than any presumed to exist, behind those walls.”

THE REALM OF FAERIE
The native home of the Vala’Suun and all the Sidhe is not so much distant from our own world, but rather overlapping it. The Vala’Suun and the Isagorn, both taken from this realm as children, cannot (due to magical ward) return home. Other fey creatures can come and go as they please (or have access), but not the kidnapped Sidhe. There are “elves” from Faerie who may travel to Gothenya, and afterwards return home, but they have evolved along different lines and are nearly a different species. This explains the Eladrin or Eld or similar elves, specifically of Faerie.
The very term “elf” is a bastardization of “eld,” or “timeless ones.” Some think it is derived from “aelfadl” or “nightmare.”
Asbinothe