The First Mourningfaun

Many people have expressed great interest in Professor Mouriningfaun, whose journal entries are used throughout the world as reference material and a way to learn about new fascinating places and people. To these interests and questions I have contemplated an answer, in the form of the Professor's greatest source of inspiration, his great grandmother Elrith Mourningfaun.

— Aeterno

Personal History

Born in the small town known as Blin in Steid, somewhere between the central plateaus and the eastern coasts of Meta, Mourningfaun initially was known as 'Elspeth'. For the most part, she lived a normal childhood, working parents, regular schooling, general socialization between those of her own age. In fact, most of her life was normal, up until her family took a trip to the coast of Halie, east of their hometown, when she was a young adult. During this trip, she was exposed to people of all sorts of different cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs, which she had never thought existed as the coast was a popular tourist destination but the further in you went the less attention you'd get.

After she worked through the initial culture shock, curiosity took over her mind and a plan began to formulate. While her family spent their time in the water or relaxed on the beach Elrith, as she insisted was her name now, spent all of her money on writing supplies, and all her time with these other people. The questions came one right after the other, like a series of electric shock or a flurry of blows. Her unsuspected victims couldn't answer as fast as she asked, but in time they would come, a true testament to her newfound impatience. From this point on, her life would be entranced by the experiences and cultures of the world.

Death

No sooner than the anniversary of the Paragons, professors Nevu, Von Hertz, and Mourningfaun embarked on their last journey as a trio. It has been reported that on the final day of travel an ambush occurred at the camp as they packed up and this, of course, caught everyone off guard and the damage wrought would be greater than if it took place any other time. As members were torn down by a violent group of extremists, Mourningfaun set into her own course of action. Nevu and Von Hertz state that Mourningfaun offered herself up as a hostage so that the rest of the group may behave and so she could act as a type of translator despite the formers protests. The remaining events have been muddled by all the recollections of various witnesses so it is not sure what exactly happened next, but it is safe to say that in a slight moment of ease Mourningfaun sought an opportunity and took out a small handful of members, which created a big enough distraction for the other Professors to take out what remained and for the rest of the camp to seek shelter. In the aftermath of this standoff, Mourningfaun was already gone, and the site was marked to be made a sort of memorial, and her incredible strength sparked the beginning of the Paragon of Power status.

— The sacrifice of Mourningfaun

The ambush that ultimately killed Elrith was sent on by a rogue religious sect from Lieo, who saw the new Paragon order as a threat to their way of life, and their holy symbol Velo as a heretic belief. The actual cause of death was from bleeding out, presumably due to a special chemical toxin that went exposed directly to the bloodstream prevents clotting.

Her Legend

With the death of the First Paragon of Power, a hole was left in the new order, as well as the scientific journalist community; she was survived by her son Roderick who would be the grandfather of the now modern Professor Mourningfaun who takes in the way of his great-grandmother. Initially, her story took time to grow, but over the years as those who witnessed her end spread it their own close friends and family, the general feeling of heroism grew. Certain recounts skewed the details and made it seem like she alone stood against the ambush and protected the camp, others stretched out her abilities and power to make her resemble some sort of magic folk hero. Needless to say, even the true events of that day are almost all lost to time, with the scattered memories of valor and great protection being all that remains.

In Her Memory

On a normal day to day basis, people remember her for her strength and will to help others; and so they themselves would often perform unexpected good deeds whenever possible in her name. Those with magical abilities often boast their powers, sometimes in a selfish manner but always with the intent to make the image of magic users a bright and welcoming one.
On her day of celebration, which is also a day of mourning, feasts are often held with huge families; these feasts are always kept in as close to the traditional way of life back then as possible. Everything from the food made to the clothes worn to the tools used is assured be of the old traditional lifestyles of the order.
The Paragons of Virtue as an organization open its doors in all locations and outposts to those in need of basic necessities and a place to sleep on the week surrounding the anniversary of Elrith's death. This week includes feasts for every meal every day, pampered baths and makeovers for those who request it, expensive beds and clothing. Often by the end of the week, the morale of those who entered are permanently raised and the majority of them get a job and turn their life around almost immediately.
Those in any form of militant service spend their days off, with opportunities to visit their loved ones and truly revel in the fact that they're all still alive and well.
As for opposing sides, there is a group in Lieo who seek to revive the perished rogue sect that celebrates the death of the Paragon as a general victory for them. Lots of drinking and violent activities occur on the anniversary wherever its members may be at the time.

by Aeterno Art

Elrith lived to be 467 years old, the typical lifespan of her people can stretch up to +1,000 years.

Elrith is survived by her son Roderick, who would be the grandfather to the modern well-known Professor Mourningfaun.