SUPerIOR Record 00000000--5376--THEOLON--PATRIARCH--WARSHIP--SKYDANCE--124703
Grand Librarian Faustus, Iohannes --- SUMMARY
Consigned subject is a religious organization extant, in significant population, on at least 26 Isles; located in majority within the Southeastern quarter of the S.O.V. Current size of affected population within the reach of said organization numbers approximately 654 Million Inhabitants, one of the largest subject populations of a so-called "Lesser God's" followers. The religion, in its current form, began approximately 83,000 years B.V., but has origins going back to the period from 111,000 - 72,000 years B.V. known as the "Great Sorrow". It is currently not considered threatening, and in fact is thought somewhat helpful, to the mission of the Knights or the general stability of the Isles in total. --
SUMMATION: Sylvan, identified as the Mothering Being of the Elves, began the Race of said elves in ~121,000 B.V. From this original diaspora, a Cult of Veneration for the founding god came about. This, in and of itself, is by no means atypical in any form. In almost every single case of a mothering being remaining present and potent within the scape of the Isles, they retain a significant following of dedicated "children" (members of the subjects created species/race), whom serve their parent deity. In the case of Sylvan, this small druidic circle expanded significantly to encircle millions of subjects in races and origins far beyond the god's homeworld. The current adherents are numbered at around 24 million members, making it one of the most significant organized religions beyond the typical creeds and folklores. It has a relatively unique characteristic, however, of being a quite decentralized organization. Beginning, as aforementioned in around 83,000 B.V., it retained several hundred thousand members. The earliest origins of said group, however, followed the path of 106 dedicated acolytic worshippers and attendants of Sylvan - a group referred to as the "Darven Ulls" (Elvish for 'Sons of the Orchestra'*). These 106 were furtherly led specifically by group of 11 more honored figures, who are in turn venerated in the religious practicum as saintly figures known as "Glissolyn" (Elvish for 'Most Joyful Leaping/Leapers'). The initial expansion of the faith beyond the original circle encompassed the formulation of belief in specific prophecies from Elvish Folklore. The 106 Acolytes claimed, through a statement made from the mouth, desk, and house of Thearn Vissic, personal choir master to Sylvan. Said prophecy follows thus:
In those days beyond the 499 shall cometh a fury untold to the realm the earth shall tire and the trees shall break and it shall be the need of every elf to raise their sword their shield their voice to defend from he as yet unknown thus sayeth he who sang first of the trees by word of the sickle he knows it is so**
Akin to most species, the Elves have developed a rich history of the formative years of the race. A collection of traditional figures left lasting marks upon the popular imagination of the Elvish race. A number of prophetic texts were constructed on the basis of these figures, foreseeing periods of hibernative lapses in natural joy, which would call upon the Elves, fourth most populous race of the Isles, to resurrect nature through ritualistic dances and poetics. Members of the Cults of the Dance, known as "Dancers" as lay-members, and "Orchestrors" for the clergy, owe their origins to the work of the 11 Glissolyn, but more directly to Thearn Vissic, Presently, the faith is guided by both Sylvan, who organizes certain organized conferences to discuss more crucial elements of theology, and localized elders who are considered to be uniquely talented Dancers or Orchestrors. The practice of the faith includes ritual prayer, usually invoking the "great music" usually interpreted to be some kind of elemental expression of the K'Reai, and communal ritual dances, of various forms to invoke and honor differing effects and forces. All such forms make claim that Sylvan is the purest form of this musical force, and that all other gods are corruptions of this force. There is no "sacred text" or "law of faith" as found in other religions of the Isles; the major moral prescriptions revolve around an obedience to the "natural order" and a willingness to "seek the music" in all forms of life. The religion furtherly distinguishes itself by being highly expansionist, and interested in converting not only Elves. The current demographic makeup is approximately 62% Elves, 14% Half-Elf, 13% Human, 4% Gnome, 3% Faey, 3% Faun/Centaur/Apidian, and trace percentages of other races. The religion is one of the most prominent supporters of the Vampire Rights Movement, and has engaged in thousands of charitable and relief efforts across the Isles by means of their philanthropic organization, the "Circle of Friends in Muse".
*The term 'Ulls' has been the subject of some debate in the transliterative community across the Isles. Elvish researchers insist on different direct translations, depending on certain contexts in surrounding language. This word, for reasons as of yet unknown, appears to change truest meanings depending upon the context of the emotional state of the author and or audience.
**The subject prophecy is written in a style of verse that remains almost devoid of periodic demarcation, seldom capitalization, and a poetic verse that is highly disorganized and uneven. Scholars believe that this demonstrates the early stages of the Elvish Language's branching-off from the Great Tongue (first language of all the Isles), which more than likely also lacked such punctuation, and whose balance in pronunciation, prose and poetic alike, is unknown - as it remains yet untranslated.
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