The Ilmatar

Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, two women coming forward! The wind was in their wings. (Zechariah 5:9)

The Ilmatar ("air maidens") are legendary beings of great power, who have existed from ancient times. By the Fae, they are seen as the guardians of their anscestors, to other races they are consiered angelic beings. They most often are said to reveal themselves in the form of winged female warriors, either Elváen or Manáen in appearance. The Ilmatar share the chracteristics and power of the immortal spirits and their elvaen vessels.Legends tie them to a cluster of comets that appear at key points in history, also known as "The Ten Maidens."

• Micheanne - Elvalar (northwest) ruler/judge, Mistress of Justice
• Sareanne - Aishelon (central) herald/messenger, Mistress of Promise
• Geneanne - Wessa (northwest) mother/teacher, Mistress of Life
• Tereanne - Faeri (midwest) lore-keeper, Mistress of Destiny
• Mareanne - Kiersea (southwest) healer/protector, Mistress of Mercy
• Joreanne - Vensia/Tuerga (central) warrior/destroyer, Mistress of War
• Vereanne - Tyshea (far east) east wind, Mistress of Wrath
• Lareanne - Estra (south) south wind, Mistress of Death
• Riseanne - Dragon Isles (far southwest) west wind, Mistress of Shadow
• Juleanne - Otsan (northeast) north wind, Mistress of Sorrow

Historical Basis

The story behind the Ilmatar goes back to the time before the Arkhean Cataclysm, when God had decided to bring down his wrath upon the rebellious Dragons and Janniri. To preserve a remnant of the Elva, ten young Elvaen maidens volunteered to give up their mortal lives, that their physical bodies might serve as vessels for angelic spirits of light. Faithful to the Almighty, these spirits were charged with mission of defending the children of Mena in the ages that would follow.
Warned of the coming Cataclysm, the maidens gathered at the Source in Elvala, preparing to transfer the location of the Source to a new part of the world, riding the waves of the ethereal deluge about to pass over the entire world of Ulea. However, as the time neared, five of the ten were not ready. As the Cataclysm struck, the faithful five were carried forward through time as the ethereal poles shifted from Arkhea to the cold wastes of Vhoria, what would come to be known as Nuelva. Their reappearance is known as the Annuciation.

Biblical Basis

The legend of the Ten Maidens is reflected in the biblical parable from Matthew 25:1-13:
The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.