Edellin

rough sketch of Edellin, circa 2A-1077 (S-17)

Edellin, born Edellin Tellayrasill *(edda-lin tell-era-sill)*, is a folk hero most notable for his association with The Ancient Heroes. During the Second Siege of The Niriad he was a close confidant and strategic advisor to Thew; and was well-regarded as a great scholar and leader. He later went on the establish the Scholar's Palace; the Tabek'rel, and act as its first headmaster before his sudden disappearance and presumed death.

## Early Life

Edellin was born in the market-city of Parradyr in the Sanctum of Erna a few years before the Second Siege officially began. Erna was at war with both Gorn and Ter-an at this time and the conflict and upheaval served as a backdrop for Edellin's early experiences. His mother Esollides *(eh-sol ee-days)* was a blacksmith and his father Devidedden *(dev-id-ed-den)* was regarded as a well-studied and highly successful healer. Erna's conflict with the other Powerhouse Sanctums made these roles highly desirable. As a result Edellin's parents were well-connected within the city; which Edellin leveraged and benefitted from even as the Siege's grip tightened.

As a child, Edellin is recalled as an avid learner. While he did enjoy reading, his preferred method of education was through conversation. In addition to the apprentices his parents took on (most notably Humash-Rak), the endless rotation of visitors to his parents' market shop gave Edellin access to a myriad of information, skills, and opinions, which he eagerly absorbed.

> "The young Tellayrasill is a charming conversationalist but more importantly, a willing and unusually retentive audience. I believe he could make a mute sing their life story and then recite it back to them word for word." *- Lemillodares, 2nd Steward of Parradyr*
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Edellin's daily interactions with all the races and walks of life who passed through his parents' shop helped him see the connectivity and community between the people of The Niriad. In addition to gaining access to skills and insights not native to Erna, Edellin identified patterns and commonality across the many Sanctums. This bolstered his distaste for the Powerhouse Wars that were currently ravaging the world. His determination to show others of their similarities and to celebrate differences would be foundational to the Sanctum Unification movement that he would later help enact.

### Bessoryk

At the age of 10, in the final years of the Second Age, Edellin's father began treating the chronic illness of Lemillodares *(lem-illo-dairys) -* one of the Stewards of Parradyr. The Steward's frequent visits led to Edellin's introduction to the Steward's son, Bessoryk *(bez-or-ick).* While Edellin had already developed a reputation for his level-headedness and extensive knowledge of the world, Bessoryk had considerable physical prowess and was set to have a large pull in Ernalik politics. The two admired each other's abilities and became fast friends. Lemillodares was grateful for her son to have a connection who was able to temper her son's fiery spirit and took Edellin in with open arms. This endorsement from one of the Parradyr ruling families granted Edellin access to the Parradyr Councilfort; where he gained the acquaintance of many influential leaders, strategists, and other prominent members of Ernalik society. By the next year Edellin was spending the majority of his time at the Councilfort; he continued both his formal and informal education there at the encouragement of his parents.

> "It is evident that Edellin holds the intellectual, philosophical, and strategic upper hand. What he doesn't have is power and influence. Luckily for him, Bessoryk acts as Edellin's perfect proxy. Sometimes I wonder if Bessoryk is getting as much out of the relationship as Edellin clearly is." - *Excerpt* *from the diary of Renellys Verraladin, a political contemporary of Edellin, 2A-1057*
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Edellin and Bessoryk worked closely to advance each other in the Ernalik political sphere. Edellin fell into a natural, albeit unofficial, advisor role with Bessoryk; helping the future Steward discern the best moves and understand the world around him. In return, Bessoryk was able to connect Edellin to a network of individuals with key political influence, which sharpened Edellin's talent for conversation and storytelling and tempered it with political savvy.

### Induction into the Ernalik Councilfort, the End of the 2nd Age, & Pro-War Speeches

On the 1st of Imalok, 2A-1056 at the age of 15, Edellin was officially inducted to the Ernalik Councilfort and put on the path to become a bona fide Councilfort Advisor to a future Steward of the Sanctum. The assumption was that he would serve for Bessoryk when he eventually took his seat in the Parradyr Council. To mark the occassion, Bessoryk and his mother Lemillodares gifted him an Ernalik raven, who he named Adistar. Adistar would remain a close companion to Edellin for the rest of his life.

Ascending from the common public into an authentic position within the Ernalik Councilfort electrified Edellin's growth. For the next five years, Edellin gained notoriety as a political orator with the exceptional ability to adapt his messages for both the general public and those in the Ernalik Councilfort; the latter of which began to use this talent in order to placate the Ernalik public, who were becoming increasingly aggravated at the continuation of the Powerhouse Wars. Edellin's first pro-war address was given to the common public at the Grand Forum of Parradyr in 2A-1059: Ithado, just after his eighteenth birthday. It is said that civilian sign-ups to join the war effort increased by 20% after his speech. For the next two years, Edellin travelled through Erna giving numerous pro-war speeches on behalf of the Councilfort, however from Edellin's own journals we know he did not agree in the sentiments he was tasked to share.

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> "In the act of spinning them yarns of honour and of bravery, I have found myself threadbare. They warmed themselves in the comfortable blanket of war, though I know it to be a shroud." *- Excerpt from Edellin's journal, circa 2A-1060: Keso**.*
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The Niriad's Second Age officially ended on Grand Arsolum in 2A-1060 (2S-1) a few weeks after Edellin turned twenty. By this time, The Ernalik Councilfort was plagued by petty politics and eye-for-an-eye retaliation against the other Sanctums - especially Gorn and Ter-an.

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> "Renellys says we're sending nearly half a Foten southward to lay waste to the outpost at Hashyest even though Delly says we should be turning our attention to the East. Sometimes he gets this fire in his eyes when he talks about the war... it's hard to say no to him... But as a steward for the people of Erna, I think the people would want me to make sure we aren't letting the Gornik hoards take the land and everything they work hard for. Remind me to talk to Del about it." *- Excerpt from Bessoryk's journal, circa 2A-1061: Vobe*
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Edellin had always believed it was in Erna's best interests to end the Powerhouse wars and unify with the other sanctums, however the start of the Second Siege strengthened Edellin's resolve for Sanctum unity twelve-fold. He could no longer stomach being used by the Councilfort's as a mouthpiece to spread positive sentiment about a war he was staunchly against. Edellin's last pro-war address was in 2A-1061 (2S-1): Keso, and was his most remarkable, as he used the time instead to denounce the Powerhouse Wars and encourage the common people to turn their attention to the rising darkness of the Siege. This was considered the largest betrayal of the Ernalik Councilfort at the time.

## Exile

Edellin officially removed himself from the Councilfort a few days after his final 'pro-war' address. In his journal from the time, he writes that he felt that Sanctum Unification could not be started from within a broken political system and needed to come from outside the existing systems of power. For the next year and a half, Edellin travelled through the provinces of Erna and did what he was best at: speaking to people. He spent his time undoing his previous pro-war messaging and introducing unification ideals to the common public of Erna. He also began work the One Sanctum Manifesto, which would be finished two years later and serve as the foundation for the Unification Edict that the Ancient Heroes instated at the ebb of the Second Siege. He also penned many plays and short stories that had central themes of overcoming differences and unifying against a common enemy. Through speech and story his ideas spread rapidly among the general public, especially in regions most heavily affected by the Powerhouse Wars.

> "Edellin was not just a masterful orator. He was a true craftsman when it came to getting his messages to spread. He was able to find angles into the peoples' subconscious and sway their opinion without even needing to be in the room."
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During this time, Bessoryk continued corresponding with Edellin via his raven, Adistar. In one letter, Edellin learned that the Councilforts of Erna were now identifying Edellin as a political threat. An archiver who recorded Edellin's story later in life wrote that after this correspondence, the two met in secret and decided that Edellin needed to leave Erna until Bessoryk could ascend to a Stewardship and gain enough political influence to grant Edellin amnesty. Edellin officially exiled himself from Erna and fled to Ara in 2A-1062 (S-2): Agaku at the age of 21.

### Ara

After leaving Erna, Edellin made his way to the Arlan capital of Ikran. He found refuge with Humash-Rak, who had once studied healing under Edellin's father. Rak was able to provide Edellin with sanctuary for four months from Sokol until Takulo of 2A-1062 (S-2). Rak was still a close friend of Edellin's parents, and shared Edellin's enthusiasm for ending the Powerhouse Wars, but this sentiment was not popular in Ara at the time. Rak's power within the clan structure became more tenuous the longer they housed a political exile and perceived zealot, and so Edellin left Rak's company and made his way to Ter-an.

> "Rak has a keen mind and I know they will help lead Ara to the same conclusion that I have come to, but it will take time. Until they are ready I will venture to Ter-an. News as spread that they are preparing to fight the Siege and I aim to join them." *- Excerpt from Edellin's journal, circa 2A-1063: Athin**.*
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### Ter-an

Edellin travelled from Ara to Ter-an with haste.

Edellin served as the scholar and strategic leader of The Ancient Heroes – aiding Thew’s vision with decisive tactics and an encyclopaedic knowledge of the world. If Thew was the leader, then Edellin was his right hand. Originally training as a bard, Edellin had a huge appreciation for the power of storytelling, but also sharpened his diplomacy and leadership skills. By the time he met Thew, he had a wealth of world experience, and was seen as more than just a bard in the eyes of many. He was considered an extremely talented leader; balanced in knowledge of the battlefield (sword) and in exercising mercy (peace-root). There are some pockets of historians who believe that it is Edellin who played a larger role in the second siege than Thew; some Ernalik go so far as to say it should have been Edellin who ruled the united sanctums. However, even Edellin would disagree with this. He was more concerned in ensuring the future than ruling the present.

Edellin for the most part, became involved because he knew Sanctum Unification was the only way forward that wouldn’t lead to The Niriad’s destruction, and he believed Thew did not have connections, experience, nor the tact to achieve that vision. In general, Edellin did what needed to be done, and tempered Thew’s fierce resolve with even-headedness.

At his core, Edellin believed that even once the sanctums were unified, it would require education and a similar long-term vision to keep it from falling apart. While other members of the Ancient Heroes lacked a plan for once the war was over, Edellin was one of the few who had their sights set far into The Niriad’s future. The war was merely the first step to a multi-part plan.

During the final battles of the second siege, Edellin was not found on the front lines, so much as he was leading from the tent with tactics and monitoring all fronts with the aid of his great raven, Adistar. He was also working to make sure that The Niriad had a strong central leadership that could immediately take hold once the darkness of Arik was beaten back. He anticipated a power vacuum and was determined not to have all their hard work be undone because they didn’t have a leader prepared to take over. He spent any time off the battlefields canvassing for Thew to take leadership in the new city of Palan-Garel.

## Later Life and Disappearance

After the closing of the second siege, Thew’s first act was to instate Edellin as the head of his Imegar (council). In this role, Edellin had the power to become the principal founder of the great Tabakrel - where he could finally lead the world and pass on all the wisdom that he had learned. He stayed in this post for about two years consistently, but after the sudden passing of his beloved Adistar, Edellin began spending more and more time away from the city. Unbeknownst to others, Edellin was making frequent trips to Iminekaruno to set up a puzzle for his legacy to be continued and a way to safe-keep Adistar’s only heir. The last time Edellin was seen was about 7 years after the conclusion of the second siege and 5 years after the foundation of the Tabekrel.

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Wikanden, Eba et al. "Biographies of the Great Unifiers", *Archival House for World History and Folklore / Erna,* (3A-12)
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Morellinus, Koranennin "The Bard of Im: The Founder of the Third Age"
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Tellayrasill, Edellin: "personal Journals", *Tabak'rel archive*
4. ↑ Renellys Verraladin was a political contemporary of Edellin, and served as the Fifth Steward of Parradyr
5. ↑ a Foten is a military quantity that totals 4,860 soldiers. A Foten is further divided into groups of 60 soldiers; called Kikolen. There are 9 Kikolen in a standard Foten.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Bessoryk often uses the names 'Delly' or 'Del' to refer to Edellin
7. ↑ It is not clear whether Bessoryk personally shared his friend's intense hatred of the war, however Bessoryk consistently differs to Edellin's judgement in his journals.