Assemblage

The **Assemblage,** also known in Elder Speech as the **Valadarin**, is comprised of five gods and four goddesses, whom modern Sylvan elves call "**the** **Creators**". The pantheon is led by Elderath the All-Father, god of fatherhood and vengeance, and Loralar the Protector, goddess of motherhood and justice. There are also references in elven mythology to another race of gods, called "**The Forgotten Ones**", the enemies of the elven gods. It is said that Fenegoth was the only one able to walk freely between the two clans, and they both thought of him as one of their own.

Interestingly, elven belief holds that, though the elven gods are credited with creating the gifts of the world (and in some cases for *recreating* the world itself), they too were borne of the earth and are not considered responsible for its initial creation. Unlike the Deceivers, the Assmeblage was never believed to have walked in the mortal realm, or to have directly challenged the Watcher. Their current location is uncertain, as they do not interact with the mortal world. However, elven belief holds that the Dreaming, or the "Beyond" as it is known to the elves, is considered a holy place, and the gods are trapped there in the "Eternal City".

## History

The elven pantheon was revered in the time of Elveshaal, before humans arrived on Morgaea. Little is known about how the gods were worshipped at this time, except that elves worshipped their gods for months at a time, and that worship may have included rituals involving water, kneeling, and praying before altars.

Once the elves found that the very presence of the humans, or "quicklings," caused the once immortal elves to age and die, they attempted to isolate themselves. Many believed that the gods had judged them unworthy of their long lives, and cast them down among the quicklings.

The elves retreated within Elveshaal, but were ultimately conquered and enslaved by the Adamantium. During their centuries of slavery, the elves lost most of their language and history, and the worship of the old elven gods declined. However, the elves, led by Febrion, fought alongside Sibylla in her fight against the Adamantium, and their reward was a new home in the Sylvandale, where the worship of the elven gods could be revived. The elves left the Adamantium for their new homeland in **-165D** (1030 AE).

Though Sibylla's husband honored her promise to the elves, and gave them their new homeland, it was to be short-lived by the standards of Elveshaal. Over the next 270 years or so, relations between the elves and their human neighbors deteriorated. By the early Second Age, there were numerous border skirmishes between the Sylvandale and Maudet, which soon escalated into war. When it appeared that the elves might actually capture Ducailles, the Ministry called for a Crusade, resulting in the Second Crusade that completely crushed the elves by **2A20**. The lands of the Sylvandale were appropriated by Maudet, with elven settlements being uprooted, and worship of the elven gods forbidden. Elves who accepted the Ministry's offered truce were required to accept the Watcher and live in ghettos, known as enclaves, within human settlements. Some elves, however, refused to give up their worship or their dream of their own homeland, and became the Sylvan. Today, all that is left of the elven gods are old statues, Elven temples in ruins, and lingering stories.

## Assemblage

### Elderath: God of Vengeance

**Elderath**, also known as the **All-Father**, the **Eldest of the Sun**, and **He Who Overthrew His Father**, was the first of the elven gods, born of the sun and the earth. According to elven legend, the sun grew jealous of the favor shown by Elderath for the things of the earth, and so burned them to ashes. In retaliation, Elderath threw the sun down from the sky, and only later relented because of Loralar's intervention. He was convinced, with her help, to restore his father to the sky on the promise that the sun would set each night. With the aid of Loralar and his parents, Elderath remade the world. Most elves will invoke Elderath's name when they seek retribution.

The Sylvan believe that when Elderath buried the sun in the abyss, some of its heat remained in the Earth, giving rise to hot springs in the Sylvandale. They call the springs the Pools of the Sun, and treat them as sacred. They also believe that the sun's lifeblood spilled in the battle with his son became the stars.

The Sylvan also believe the dwarves fear the sun because of Elderath.

### Loralar: the Great Protector

**Loralar** the **Protector**, **All-Mother**, and **Goddess of Love**, is the patron of motherhood and justice. The Sylvan believe that Loralar was born of the sea, and that when Elderath threw the sun out of the sky in vengeance for burning the earth to ashes, Loralar calmed him and helped him see how his anger had betrayed him. Elderath was convinced to free the sun. On the first night after the sun was released Loralar created the moon, from the glowing earth round its bed, to be placed in the sky as a pale reflection of the sun's true glory.

In most legends, Loralar and Elderath had at least four children, possibly five: Morthil, Shandalar, Almithara, Anoreth and Selanil. However, Selanil is oftentimes depicted as Anoreth’s husband, thus potentially excluding him from being considered one of the children.

In most stories, Loralar rights wrongs while exercising motherly kindness. Some, however, paint her as dark and vengeful. Yet all accounts end the same: Loralar was exiled to the Beyond with other gods.

The Sylvan invoke Loralar's name when they require protection.

### Morthil: Friend of the Dead, the Guide

**Morthil** is the elven god of death and fortune who guides the dead to the Beyond. In Sylvan stories, Morthil and his twin brother Shandalar are the eldest children of Elderath and Loralar. Morthil had no fear of the night, and would walk where the People could not live.

Legends tell that the twins were inseparable from birth to adulthood. They were split from each other when the kindly Morthil took pity on a dying deer, and carried her to rest beyond the Veil, to a place where Shandalar could not easily follow. The deer's spirit was released from her weakened body and she once again became light on her feet. Seeing this, Morthil vowed that he would remain to guide all the dead to their place in the Beyond. Morthil's lost brother eventually caught up with him, and the twins swore to never be parted again.

Since then Morthil, accompanied by his brother, guided elders on journeys of enlightenment while in elamera. When elves became mortal, he started to carry them beyond the Veil in death instead. Finally, Morthil was banished along with the other gods, and the Sylvan now bury their dead with an oaken staff to keep them from faltering along the paths without a guide. They invoke Morthil on their deathbed, or before quests from which they expect no return, and sometimes refer to him as the Merciful One.

### Shandalar: Keeper of Secrets

**Shandalar** is the elven god of secrets and knowledge. In Sylvan stories Shandalar and his twin brother Morthil are the eldest children of Elderath and Loralar. Shandalar gave to elves the gift of knowledge, and taught them loyalty and faith in family.

Legends tell that the twins were inseparable from birth to adulthood. They were parted when Morthil ventured beyond the Veil, to a place where his brother could not easily follow. Shandalar wandered the grey paths of the Dreaming until he found and outmastered two ravens, Fear and Deceit. The ravens took him to Morthil, and the twins swore to never be parted again. Together they accompanied the elders who would enter elamera, and walk the shifting paths in search for the secrets of dreams. Shandalar provided such elves with counsel.

In one tale Shandalar gave each creature a secret, but only the bears kept it and therefore were honored by him.

Elves also tell that, in the days before Elveshaal, there was a city in the mountains. It was beloved by Shandalar, who shared his wisdom with its people. When a dragon attacked the city, Shandalar created the first terralac from the fallen trees of the forest to serve as its eternal guardian.

The Sylvan believe that Shandalar was banished along with the other gods, and his city crumbled to dust. They bury their dead with a cedar branch to scatter his ravens, who are now without a master.

### Almithara: Goddess of the Hunt

**Almithara** the **Huntress**, also known as the **Lady of Fortune**, is the elven goddess of the hunt. She is a daugther of Elderath and Loralar, and a sister to Morthil, Shandalar, Anoreth and Selanil.

Almithara is the creator of the Teo Feredir or Way of Three Trees.

* First, the *Teo Pilindi*, or Way of the Arrow: fly straight and do not waver.
* Second, the *Teo Peng*, or Way of the Bow: bend but never break.
* Third, the *Teo Taurel*, or Way of the Forest: receive the gifts of the hunt with mindfulness, or alternatively, together we are stronger than the one.

Almithara watched over the animals of the forest and taught elves to respect them. Meil'thyra, once a mortal elven woman, was Almithara's chosen, and was transformed into an elote, rising Meil'thyra to a godly rank.

In one Sylvan legend, Shandalar gave a secret to each creature to keep, and the foxes traded theirs to Almithara for wings. In another sylvan legend, Almithara confronted Reshaar, one of the Forgotten Ones, over the right to punish Fenegoth, but he outwitted both and managed to escape.

### Anoreth: the Hearthkeeper

Anoreth, the Hearthkeeper, is the goddess of all the domestic arts. In all Sylvan tales Anoreth is the sister of Almithara the Huntress. Some legends paint them as daughters of Elderath and Loralar, while others suggest that they are children of the earth. Similarly, Selanil is viewed either as their brother or as Anoreth's husband.

In her youth, Anoreth stayed at the home-tree to sing and make art while Almithara hunted and played. She gave the elves fire, taught them how to weave rope and thread, and how to use herbs and magic for healing purposes. Selanil used her lessons to teach the elves to fashion bows for hunting Almithara's gifts. Anoreth is seen as a protector of all who dwell close to a hearth, especially children.

Anoreth's path is called the *Teo Senda*; The Way of Peace. Her name is invoked before a fire is kindled, and after it is quenched. The Sylvan sprinkle their renwyls with tree-moss, and ask that Anoreth protect them and all within.

### Selanil: God of the Craft

**Selanil** is the elven Master of Crafts, and a god of crafts and building. Tales describe Selanil either as a brother to Almithara and Anoreth or as Anoreth's husband. It is even said that he created himself.

The Sylvan tell that before Anoreth and Selanil came to them, the elves wandered the forests without purpose, eating only the berries and nuts they could find, and shivering naked through cold nights. Selanil taught the elves to make all needful things, and in particular used Anoreth's gentle lessons to the elven people to teach them how to make bows, arrows, and knives to hunt Almithara's gifts.

Little is known of Selanil. In keeping with his inscrutable nature, Sylvan elves train their minds with an insoluble wooden puzzle carving they call "Selanil's knot."

### Meil'thyra: Mother of the Elote

**Meil'thyra** is called the Mother of the elote, white deer-like creatures revered by the Sylvan and used to pull their renwyls, as well as the goddess of guides and navigation. According to Sylvan tales, Meil'thyra was a huntress of the People and Almithara's chosen. She was transformed into the first elote by Almithara. Meil'thyra rose to a godly rank.

Meil'thyra is invoked by the Sylvan hunters when they struggle to find their way home.

### Fenegoth: the Great Fox

**Fenegoth**, also known as **the Great Fox**, **Lord of Tricksters,** and **Roamer of the Beyond**, is the elven god of trickery and betrayal.

He was known as kin to both the Creators and the Forgotten Ones. His supposed betrayal of both clans of gods by sealing them away in their respective realms, never again to interact with the mortal world, is sometimes used to explain why the elven gods, particularly the benevolent Creators, did not intervene to prevent the fall of Hathalas. Indeed, Fenegoth has allegedly never been fond of the elven people, and is said to have spent centuries in a far corner of the earth after his great deception, hugging himself and giggling madly in glee.

The deceit of Fenegoth itself, known as the **Great Betrayal**, is sometimes described as a truce suggested by the Great Fox, and other times as a hunt by the Creators and Forgotten Ones in the Heavens and the Abyss, respectively, for a blade Fenegoth promised would stop a war. It may even have been a bid by Fenegoth to rule the Dreaming, or even Elveshaal itself, without the interference of the other elven gods.

In spite of Fenegoth’s reputation, however, he has been known to be invoked by the Sylvan to express dismay at unexpected events, to demand the annihilation of an enemy when all seems lost, and as a wary farewell. Furthermore, some Sylvan elves still erect shrines to him and make offerings; perhaps as a form of appeasement, but still a sign that the fearful wariness in which the Great Fox is held by modern-day elves is not absolute.

## The Forgotten Ones

The **Forgotten Ones** are a mysterious group of elven gods that are considered the maligned aspect of the Assemblage. During the event the Sylvan elves refer to as the **Great Betrayal**, the Great Fox Fenegoth was said to have tricked both sets of gods: locking the Forgotten Ones away from the world in their realm of the abyss, and shutting the Creators away in their realm of the heavens. Legend suggests the Forgotten Ones were many, but even the names of most of them have been largely lost to time, making their title exceedingly appropriate. Some fragments of lore do remain, however, as do revelations of their intentions.

### Veneration

Priests of the Forgotten Ones were persecuted during the time of the Sylvandale. Yet secret worship of these gods continues. It is said that some souls, seeking revenge against humans for their affronts to the elven people, have sought the Forgotten Ones out through hidden, dark cults. According to the Sylvan, these individuals have committed a great crime, and have forsaken their people in return for the keys to a twisted and terrible strength.