The Voldtaren Envoy
The Voldtaren Envoy is a combination historical record and anthology of cultural works surrounding said historical record. It was found by the Spiritual Travelers on Nurend 15, 308 while they were exploring The Prison Beneath Thera Relovut.
The historical event in question involves a foreign envoy from Voldtaren coming to visit Harandil and improve the relationship between the two nations. While adventuring in the Frozen Shores with some guides, this Envoy supposedly vanished within the endless tundra far north of Harandil. The event is well documented for the benefit of both Voldtaren and Harandil, and many different poems, short stories, songs and paintings all came about because of this strange event.
The cultural works that sprung up are mostly not based in fact, and instead seem to somewhat compare this lost traveler's supposed time in a mystical land to that of other Elven stories such as The Lost Child. Things like losing a hand, being alone and traveling for a long time, and the suffering that ensues from being in such a state for too long.
While most common knowledge for Voldtaren begins at the start of the war between them and Ulktorov, this event did apparently transpire long, long before that. Copies of this text are elusive at best, appearing in only the most ancient and well preserved libraries. In Harandil it can be found in Mahjhovni's Libray located deep within Z'emuzk'ral's Palace. The library itself is guarded with limited access provided only to whoever Mahjhovni's deems trustworthy enough to have access to the knowledge within. As a collector's item, certain private collector's may have a copy, but one would need to hunt such a document down.
In Voldtaren there is no copy of this particular book in any library, but they do have record of the historical event in their official Hall of Records in the Royal Castle. Certain vendors of collectors of rare goods may have a copy available on the rarest of occasions, though.
The calender used has similar months as the modern Taranel Calendar, but the years are no longer relative to the war, and as such are quite different. It is unclear how long before the war or the "Calm Era" this event takes place without contacting a Record Keeper such as Mahjhovni in Harandil or Serah Mjolian in Voldtaren. It also includes dates using the Elven Calendar.
Yunend 25, 760/25 Smrtjen 158 - The Voldtaren Envoy arrived on the Frozen Shores. He was greeted by the full presence of all 10 of Z'emuzk'ral's Court. Z'emuzk'ral Him-and-Herself was not present for his arrival, but She-and-He did attend the evening's dinner prepared by Majjed and his finest kitchen staff. The Envoy's mission was simple: to absorb Elven culture, learn about the land, and leave a good impression on them regarding Voldtaryns for years to come. He was successful over the coming months, and left such a good impression that he was invited to stay beyond his initial assignment.
Nurend 03, 768/15 Smrtdva 166 - The days leading up to this date were largely just the Envoy spending time in Harandil while learning the language, culture and history of its people. He became a close friend to many there including some members of the Court. Even Z'emuzk'ral saw potential in him, saw someone to trust and extended an invitation to this envoy to travel north, deep into the Endless Tundra. He was given two guides, these two guides were also friends with the envoy and had indeed volunteered to help him with the journey. The lands north of Harandil had been unexplored by most of the world, legend has it that it only accepts Elven kind and that Fae creatures play pranks on any that wander too far north. Most Elves don't even travel these lands, it's almost a pilgrimage for those that would like to connect more spiritually with the divine or their ancestors. This Envoy would be the first outsider to do so, and navigating the land required these two guides to make sure he doesn't get lost. According to reports from the two of them, everything was going smoothly. Even the more dastardly tricks, dangerous animals, and an avalanche from some invisible mountain. He was about to approach Old Harandil, a "holy" or "sacred" land to the elves, their ancestral home, but as the last foggy cliff was about to be approached his guides found that he had simply vanished.
It was near the end of the journey, as mentioned, and on Nurend 03, 768 (15 Smrtdva 166) according to the reports provided by the guides. Their official commentary on the situation is found in the book and was as follows: "I'll never understand it. Everything I'm writing here is as true as all my previous entries. Why'd he do it? What did he hear? One minute we're laughing about some joke, and the next thing I know he just stops. Staring forward, a look of bewilderment and panic on his face. His mouth started moving, but no words were coming out... just air, but then the air was joined with a whimper and a mumble before he started screaming. It was the most terrifying thing I'd ever heard. His screams were almost that of a child that had become lost and was crying out for his mother to come find him. He just kept calling out our names, screaming them, like he was miles away and all alone. Then he stopped, he turned his head like he heard something, did he finally hear us? We were trying to calm him, but until that moment he had just been staring through us as if we weren't there. He started to walk away. I reached for him to stop him, trying to explain we were almost there, and as I grabbed his hand he vanished leaving behind a hand and a great deal of blood. We searched for him for hours, but there was nothing to be found save the blood-stained snow where he vanished."
Historical Record
Not the full text, but brief summaries of different events throughout. Langreann 17, 760/02 Rastdva 158 - First contact between the two nations occurs. Seeing the slowly evolving society of Voldtaren as a potential ally in the years to come, Harandil extended a hand of peace. Treaties were forged, and in the years to come the hardwork set out by various ambassadors and envoys would prove invaluable to both nations as different powers attempt to rise throughout time.Yunend 25, 760/25 Smrtjen 158 - The Voldtaren Envoy arrived on the Frozen Shores. He was greeted by the full presence of all 10 of Z'emuzk'ral's Court. Z'emuzk'ral Him-and-Herself was not present for his arrival, but She-and-He did attend the evening's dinner prepared by Majjed and his finest kitchen staff. The Envoy's mission was simple: to absorb Elven culture, learn about the land, and leave a good impression on them regarding Voldtaryns for years to come. He was successful over the coming months, and left such a good impression that he was invited to stay beyond his initial assignment.
Nurend 03, 768/15 Smrtdva 166 - The days leading up to this date were largely just the Envoy spending time in Harandil while learning the language, culture and history of its people. He became a close friend to many there including some members of the Court. Even Z'emuzk'ral saw potential in him, saw someone to trust and extended an invitation to this envoy to travel north, deep into the Endless Tundra. He was given two guides, these two guides were also friends with the envoy and had indeed volunteered to help him with the journey. The lands north of Harandil had been unexplored by most of the world, legend has it that it only accepts Elven kind and that Fae creatures play pranks on any that wander too far north. Most Elves don't even travel these lands, it's almost a pilgrimage for those that would like to connect more spiritually with the divine or their ancestors. This Envoy would be the first outsider to do so, and navigating the land required these two guides to make sure he doesn't get lost. According to reports from the two of them, everything was going smoothly. Even the more dastardly tricks, dangerous animals, and an avalanche from some invisible mountain. He was about to approach Old Harandil, a "holy" or "sacred" land to the elves, their ancestral home, but as the last foggy cliff was about to be approached his guides found that he had simply vanished.
It was near the end of the journey, as mentioned, and on Nurend 03, 768 (15 Smrtdva 166) according to the reports provided by the guides. Their official commentary on the situation is found in the book and was as follows: "I'll never understand it. Everything I'm writing here is as true as all my previous entries. Why'd he do it? What did he hear? One minute we're laughing about some joke, and the next thing I know he just stops. Staring forward, a look of bewilderment and panic on his face. His mouth started moving, but no words were coming out... just air, but then the air was joined with a whimper and a mumble before he started screaming. It was the most terrifying thing I'd ever heard. His screams were almost that of a child that had become lost and was crying out for his mother to come find him. He just kept calling out our names, screaming them, like he was miles away and all alone. Then he stopped, he turned his head like he heard something, did he finally hear us? We were trying to calm him, but until that moment he had just been staring through us as if we weren't there. He started to walk away. I reached for him to stop him, trying to explain we were almost there, and as I grabbed his hand he vanished leaving behind a hand and a great deal of blood. We searched for him for hours, but there was nothing to be found save the blood-stained snow where he vanished."
Poetry
Blood in the Snow
Lost, he wanders
Forgotten by the living and Dead
A hand, all that remains
And some Blood in the Snow A guide ponders
Wondering where he had led
The Noble, now in Chains
Nothing more than Blood in the Snow Looking, over yonder
To a land we had all fled
A history of suffering and pain
Maybe we are just Blood in the Snow
Forgotten by the living and Dead
A hand, all that remains
And some Blood in the Snow A guide ponders
Wondering where he had led
The Noble, now in Chains
Nothing more than Blood in the Snow Looking, over yonder
To a land we had all fled
A history of suffering and pain
Maybe we are just Blood in the Snow
A Faerie Trick
Touching on the hand that leads you astray
A light, a lantern, a snowflake
They promise wisdom, they offer guidance
But they will always make you pay Longing for a friend, a companion, someone to talk to
The Envoy spent time where he should not have been
His dealings were noticed by Masked men
And forces that he never knew Taken by silence, seen by no one
Lured by fae and spirit alike
He fell into their trap, giving more than was asked
All to be part of their fun
A light, a lantern, a snowflake
They promise wisdom, they offer guidance
But they will always make you pay Longing for a friend, a companion, someone to talk to
The Envoy spent time where he should not have been
His dealings were noticed by Masked men
And forces that he never knew Taken by silence, seen by no one
Lured by fae and spirit alike
He fell into their trap, giving more than was asked
All to be part of their fun
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments