Aéldelin
Present across the vast expanse of the Elderwood, the Aéldelinians were the dominant peoples of Dendralis in Time Immemorial.
Despite their long history, the Aéldelinians had little to show for their longevity by the means of their human counterparts. Peace reigned over the Elderwood for milennia as the autonomous communities rarely saw conflict within or between themselves. The decentralized form of governance allowed enough freedom for the community-minded society, while the Elderwood provided an abundance that left no Aéldelinian in need. Safety from the outside world also seemed to be guaranteed by the Elderwood itself as a result of their symbiotic relationship.
Survivors of The Separation were quick to note that thousands of years of peace left the Elders blissfully unaware of what level of destruction such a small group of people could bring down upon the Elderwood. Refusing to let such an event occur again in the future, one of the first decisions made while reestablishing civilization within The Greenwood was to further decentralize governance, ensuring that no event would ever see all Elders within a single place again, the way the Convention of Elders had been practice before. Though this has resulted in slightly more disconnect between the communities of the Greenwood, it has not increased the frequency of conflict within the forest.
History
The origination of the Aéldelin culture extends further back than any oral traditions or recorded histories reach. Comprised entirely of the Wood Elf subrace, it is unknown whether at what point the Aéldelinians diverged from a parent group of elves, or if they are the parent group for all other subraces of elves. The Aéldelin mythos does not provide any additional clues to this quandary. According to their legends, the Aéldelinians have been around as long as the Elderwood, claiming that they and the forest have been two parts of a whole for their entire existence, lacking any sort of creation myth behind their existence.Despite their long history, the Aéldelinians had little to show for their longevity by the means of their human counterparts. Peace reigned over the Elderwood for milennia as the autonomous communities rarely saw conflict within or between themselves. The decentralized form of governance allowed enough freedom for the community-minded society, while the Elderwood provided an abundance that left no Aéldelinian in need. Safety from the outside world also seemed to be guaranteed by the Elderwood itself as a result of their symbiotic relationship.
Downfall
The defining (and final) events of the Aéldelin society came via the Dagortauré and The Separation. As the tectonic ripplings completely reshaped the continent, it destroyed thousands of hectares of forest, and with it took down much of the Aéldelinian civilization with it. Those who fled to the southernmost reaches of the forest were the only ones to survive the catastrophe, and even those who already lived in the south lost their homes, leaving the entire surviving population displaced to varying degrees. The vast majority of casualties resulted from the crashing Eldertrees and rockslides, many Aéldelinians were lost to the opening of the land as well, falling fatal distances to the bottoms of these new valleys. Scarred by the deaths, the modern Olosse has seen virtually no settlement in the Fertile Valley of the Great Eastern Corridor, leaving the lush farming land to be inhabited by human and other non-elven immigrants to Dendralis.Survivors of The Separation were quick to note that thousands of years of peace left the Elders blissfully unaware of what level of destruction such a small group of people could bring down upon the Elderwood. Refusing to let such an event occur again in the future, one of the first decisions made while reestablishing civilization within The Greenwood was to further decentralize governance, ensuring that no event would ever see all Elders within a single place again, the way the Convention of Elders had been practice before. Though this has resulted in slightly more disconnect between the communities of the Greenwood, it has not increased the frequency of conflict within the forest.
Today
Though the Aéldelinian society no longer survives in the present day, much of their traditions and culture can be found alive within the Olosse. The same connection of the forest can be found within the Greenwood, wherein those who reside under the canopy seem to almost enjoy a sense of unseen protection from the forest that was present for the Aéldelinians as well. Similarly, the myths, legends, and religious practices within the Greenwood replicate those of the Aéldelinians, passed down from the last generations of the Elderwood to the first generations of the Greenwood.Culture
Major language groups and dialects
The Aéldelinians maintained a surprisingly consistent language across the expanse of the Elderwood. Across the entirety of Dendralis, Elvish was the dominant and official language of Aéldelin society, with very little difference in ways of local dialects. Those in the north tended to have a bit of a nasally pronunciation to their words, while in the eastern wood there was the occasional soft roll of the letter 'r' to be heard. The southern and western regions of the Elderwood sounded virtually identical, being a rather neutral pronunciation that was referred to as the Common Tongue of the Wood. This accent is still present on Dendralis today as the dominant voice of the Greenwood Culture.
Culture and cultural heritage
Nearly every aspect of Aéldelinian culture was deeply intertwined with the Elderwood. Much of daily life was centered around food, with communities holding multiple small feasts each week, drawing upon the surplus of edibles provided by the forest. This connection was not just limited to the meals themselves, but the hunting, fishing and foraging to acquire all food and ingredients; activities which also supported the culturally significant healing and medicine fields as well. The preparation of these feasts was also seen as a bonding activity between the youngest and oldest members of the community.
Shared customary codes and values
Of the most unique traits of Aéldelin society was its peaceful nature, seeing virtually no conflict for thousands of years, aside from minor skirmishes with orcs on the rare occasion. This reality is attributed to a number of factors, particularly to the abundance provided by the forest leaving no Aéldelinian in need, along with the community focus valued within the culture. Daily life withing the culture often focused on group activities, while most solo activities - such as hunting and foraging - were still completed with the collective betterment in mind. Personal disputes were often quelled without the need for arbitration from the local Elders for both party's failure to emphasize the greater good. The abundance received from the Elderwood inspired a level of humility that allowed a deeper understanding of what was truly a need versus individual wants, helping to solidify the collective mindset of the culture.
Common Dress code
Aéldelinian dress was incrdibly simple, derived primarily of leather and plant-based fibers that were lightly processed. Capes, cloaks, and robes were the standard forms of outerwear for all Aéldelinians regardless of gender, though a primitive form of pants was worn by those who lived the most adventurous of lives, such as hunters and rangers. Garments were often adorned in the natural earthy colors of the materials they were made of. However, garments dyed COLOR by PLANT were occasionally used for celebratory purposes.
Art & Architecture
Fine art was fairly primitive with Aéldelin culture. While written language was not unheard of, most Aéldelinians felt little need for the activities of desks, be it writing, painting, etc. As such, most visual art was limited to pictogram-style symbology, often used on trees, boulders, and various other large objects to announce locations and directions of various importances. The more refined artforms within Aéldelinian society included music, carpentry, and weaving. The Aéldelinians were known for beautiful melodies in vocals and horns, both simple and complex. Their clothing and woven objects such as baskets and cradles were capable of telling detailed storylines with the most intricate of designs.
abodes. The use of the living elements also gave the builders another opportunity to utilize their weaving skills in their creations.
The architecture was a modern marvel at the time, and is still put heavily to use in the Greenwood Culture. Named Aldatúrë, they utilized the natural elements around them, their buildings were comproised mostly of living elements, bringing together the roots, trunks, branches, and leaves of trees along with vines and other foliage to create living
Aldatúrë Architecture
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Above all else, the Summer and Winter solstice celebrations were the largest and most important celebrations within Aéldelinian culture. Both holidays featured a five-day celebration in which the Aéldelinians gave thanks to the Elderwood for bringing them through another season. Centered around the solstice falling on the third day, both celebrations began with a day of dancing and rejoicing on the first day. The second day would then be focused on preparation for the Solstice Feast, which would be had on the third day, after which any leftovers would be offered to the Elderwood at the end of the night. The fourth day would begin a fast, and feature much dancing and rejoicing similar to the first day. The fifth and final day of the celebration served as a day for rest and reflection, as the Aéldelinians finished their second day of fasting. Upon sunrise, three days after the solstice, citizens could break the fast and return to normal daily activities.
Common Myths and Legends
The central legend of the Aéldelinians centered around they and the Elderwood being two parts of one whole. All legends claim that the two had been intertwined from the beginning, with no story behind their creation, rather, just a simple belief that things were as they had always been. There were dozens of small myths that supported this notion, from stories of vines leading lost children home, to a white doe leading hunters to a mushroom forest within the Elderwood, and more. While different regions had different stories they shared, ultimately all myths from the Aéldelinians drew back to the idea that they and the Elderwood were one and the same, and always had been.
Major organizations
The Aéldelinians maintained a very decentralized form of governance, with a small group of Elders leading each individual community. The Elders convened at the annual Convention of Elders to discuss matters of the greater society, but rules and laws were scarce, and upheld firmly by a noble, community-minded society that saw little in the ways of disagreement.
Diverged ethnicities
Related Organizations
Related Myths
Related Locations
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A Displaced People
A Displaced People
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