The Tale of Aethelfaer of the Wilds
The text in this tome is written in Sylvan, despite its age, it is in decent condition. It appears to be an excerpt from a book called Longmeadow's Tales of Extrodinary Elves.
Aethelfaer was a Saeli by birth, although it is not a lineage he would proudly bear, for Aethelfaer was outcast from Saeli society due to an ailment he was born with. At birth, Aethelfaer was revealed to suffer from the sickness of meromelia, a rare disease often associated with the bloodlines of those who practice the arcane. Meromelia is a syndrome that causes the partial absence of limbs, and it took from Aethelfaer his right foot and his right arm, from elbow to hand. The ailment made the mastery of magic difficult for Aethelfaer, and he was scorned for it, branded as an Uran-ghul, one without magic. For in high elven society, there is no greater prestige than the ability to use and mastery the arcane arts. For this reason Aethelfaer left Gwintalatir to seek out a fate that was his own. He did not travel far, however before he was beset upon by being from the Nether Realm called a Slaad. The aberration was a moment from consuming Aethelfaer when it's chest was pierced by the purple and gold horn of a unicorn, pure white with a mane of silver. The creature fled with its devastating injury and the unicorn carried Aethelfaer to a nearby band of Runidiri who helped to nurse him back to health. When Aethelfaer awoke he found that he had been outfitted with a prosthetic arm and foot by the elves. They were crafted from red elm, yew, and owlbear bone, the foot bearing resemblance to a cloven hoof. Aethelfaer traveled for some time with the Runidiri, elves much maligned by the noble Saeli for eschewing the arcane. He learned their ways and mastered the use of his new limbs, becoming a deadly warrior. As thanks to the Runidiri he served as escort to bands of the elves that traveled through the wilds from temple to temple to pay their respects to the various spirit beasts of the Runidiri. Shortly after one of these escorts Aethelfaer was informed of a creature wreaking havoc in a nearby forest, a unicorn. This being the very forest that Aethelfaer was attacked he swiftly departed the Runidiri temple to seek out the unicorn. It was not long before he had found it, the black blood of the sladd had seeped deep into the unicorns horn and corrupted it. Aethelfaer did all he possibly could to calm the noble beast, but it's affliction was beyond his skill to mend. He returned to the Runidiri temple, and with several Runidiri rangers and druids they were able to safely subdue the unicorn. Aethelfaer then traveled to Dalendra'thira to ask for aid from the Saeli in breaking this curse. Aethelfaer, however, was still maligned as a Uran-ghul and was denied the aid he sought. Crestfallen, Aethelfaer despaired for but a moment, but then ironed his resolve. In the dead of night Aethelfaer scaled the walls of the Spire of Lore, a great tower told to contain a thousand thousand tomes and librams. He stole away with as many magic tomes as he could carry and fled Dalendra'thira. He returned to the Runidiri temple and spent many days pouring through the tomes with one of the druids, spurred on by the pained whinnies of his former savior. It was nearly ten days before they found a spell that may undo the curse and with the aid of the druid, Aethelfaer was able to dispel the curse. Aethelfaer spent many days nursing the unicorn back to health, spending almost every waking moment together. During that time he learned to communicate with it, learning that it was called Onriel. Once Onriel is healthy enough to return to the forest, Aethelfaer decides to accompany the unicorn to ensure its full recovery. During this time Aethelfaer decides to practice his newly found arcane abilities, magically strengthening and enhancing the flexibility of his prosthetics and bow. He learned much about the forest from Onriel, but particularly about a threat that Onriel had been combatting for some time. Beings from the Nether Realm had been appearing throughout the forest, causing corruption and siphoning lifeforce from the flora and fauna of the forest. Onriel had been hard at work fending off the creatures but was unable to find the source from which they had been appearing. Aethelfaer offered his aid to track the creatures and defeat them once and for all. For nearly ten years the two traveled the forests of the Mortal Realm, taking refuge at Runidiri temples or with wandering Runidiri bands when possible. They tracked the source north and found deep in a forest there a powerful aberration, a Beholder. They returned to the Runidiri, calling a meeting of the clans. Here Aethelfaer used his magic to enchant the staffs of the leaders of each clan and instructed them to clear each of their forests of the aberrations while he and Onriel took on the beholder. They returned to the northern forest and Aethelfaer and Onriel fought the horror for three days straight, struggling to gain an upper hand with the beholder. As it seemed they may be locked for eternity in mortal contact, a massive explosion leveled that section of the forest. When the dust settled the beholder and Aethelfaer were destroyed, only Onriel surviving, albeit with a glowing crack in their horn. All that remains is a massive crater and Onriel, who now travels the forest of the Mortal Realm mourning the loss of their friend rooting out any source of corruption that attempts to find purchase there.
Aethelfaer was a Saeli by birth, although it is not a lineage he would proudly bear, for Aethelfaer was outcast from Saeli society due to an ailment he was born with. At birth, Aethelfaer was revealed to suffer from the sickness of meromelia, a rare disease often associated with the bloodlines of those who practice the arcane. Meromelia is a syndrome that causes the partial absence of limbs, and it took from Aethelfaer his right foot and his right arm, from elbow to hand. The ailment made the mastery of magic difficult for Aethelfaer, and he was scorned for it, branded as an Uran-ghul, one without magic. For in high elven society, there is no greater prestige than the ability to use and mastery the arcane arts. For this reason Aethelfaer left Gwintalatir to seek out a fate that was his own. He did not travel far, however before he was beset upon by being from the Nether Realm called a Slaad. The aberration was a moment from consuming Aethelfaer when it's chest was pierced by the purple and gold horn of a unicorn, pure white with a mane of silver. The creature fled with its devastating injury and the unicorn carried Aethelfaer to a nearby band of Runidiri who helped to nurse him back to health. When Aethelfaer awoke he found that he had been outfitted with a prosthetic arm and foot by the elves. They were crafted from red elm, yew, and owlbear bone, the foot bearing resemblance to a cloven hoof. Aethelfaer traveled for some time with the Runidiri, elves much maligned by the noble Saeli for eschewing the arcane. He learned their ways and mastered the use of his new limbs, becoming a deadly warrior. As thanks to the Runidiri he served as escort to bands of the elves that traveled through the wilds from temple to temple to pay their respects to the various spirit beasts of the Runidiri. Shortly after one of these escorts Aethelfaer was informed of a creature wreaking havoc in a nearby forest, a unicorn. This being the very forest that Aethelfaer was attacked he swiftly departed the Runidiri temple to seek out the unicorn. It was not long before he had found it, the black blood of the sladd had seeped deep into the unicorns horn and corrupted it. Aethelfaer did all he possibly could to calm the noble beast, but it's affliction was beyond his skill to mend. He returned to the Runidiri temple, and with several Runidiri rangers and druids they were able to safely subdue the unicorn. Aethelfaer then traveled to Dalendra'thira to ask for aid from the Saeli in breaking this curse. Aethelfaer, however, was still maligned as a Uran-ghul and was denied the aid he sought. Crestfallen, Aethelfaer despaired for but a moment, but then ironed his resolve. In the dead of night Aethelfaer scaled the walls of the Spire of Lore, a great tower told to contain a thousand thousand tomes and librams. He stole away with as many magic tomes as he could carry and fled Dalendra'thira. He returned to the Runidiri temple and spent many days pouring through the tomes with one of the druids, spurred on by the pained whinnies of his former savior. It was nearly ten days before they found a spell that may undo the curse and with the aid of the druid, Aethelfaer was able to dispel the curse. Aethelfaer spent many days nursing the unicorn back to health, spending almost every waking moment together. During that time he learned to communicate with it, learning that it was called Onriel. Once Onriel is healthy enough to return to the forest, Aethelfaer decides to accompany the unicorn to ensure its full recovery. During this time Aethelfaer decides to practice his newly found arcane abilities, magically strengthening and enhancing the flexibility of his prosthetics and bow. He learned much about the forest from Onriel, but particularly about a threat that Onriel had been combatting for some time. Beings from the Nether Realm had been appearing throughout the forest, causing corruption and siphoning lifeforce from the flora and fauna of the forest. Onriel had been hard at work fending off the creatures but was unable to find the source from which they had been appearing. Aethelfaer offered his aid to track the creatures and defeat them once and for all. For nearly ten years the two traveled the forests of the Mortal Realm, taking refuge at Runidiri temples or with wandering Runidiri bands when possible. They tracked the source north and found deep in a forest there a powerful aberration, a Beholder. They returned to the Runidiri, calling a meeting of the clans. Here Aethelfaer used his magic to enchant the staffs of the leaders of each clan and instructed them to clear each of their forests of the aberrations while he and Onriel took on the beholder. They returned to the northern forest and Aethelfaer and Onriel fought the horror for three days straight, struggling to gain an upper hand with the beholder. As it seemed they may be locked for eternity in mortal contact, a massive explosion leveled that section of the forest. When the dust settled the beholder and Aethelfaer were destroyed, only Onriel surviving, albeit with a glowing crack in their horn. All that remains is a massive crater and Onriel, who now travels the forest of the Mortal Realm mourning the loss of their friend rooting out any source of corruption that attempts to find purchase there.
Type
Text, Literature
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