Founding of Cherva

**Founding of Cherva** is a Talawan oral legendary epic detailing the birth of the modern city of Chervonstad; known as Cherva prior to the founding of the modern nation state. The legend was spread orally by the Talawans themselves, taking shape at an indeterminate point in time long before the influence of the Empire of Uldarash. The epic would later go on to inform the national identity of Alfheim. Despite this, archaeological evidence does not support settlement of Chervonstad prior to southward Talawan migration following their invasion of Hapatmitas.

## Founding myth

The most common retelling of the founding of Cherva tells that the Ljósálfar were first born in Haven's Heart, rising from the water into the skies. It was said that the great deity of remorse and sorrow, Niuweht, fashioned the Ljósálfar from the light that shimmered on the surface of the pristine waters to alleviate his longing. They wandered through Haven searching for a place to live, eventually deciding to settle in what is now modern day Chervonstad after an Alpine Rooster (Alfheimi: Vetrkocklingr) perched itself upon a tall spruce tree. The Ljósálfar, interpreting it as a good omen, established the town of Cherva on the site of where the tree stood. When their work was done, the trunk of the tree splintered into 8 equal pieces. The Vetrkocklingr fell to the stump below, where it stood unmoving and unflinching for a month before dying.

The Talawans purported that the Ljósálfar had an adept understanding of magic and were a kind, humanitarian peoples. It was said they used Redstone magic, something found in Sanctuary today, to erect massive floating temples of wood to worship their progenitor. Their great cities were living houses carved into ancient trees, bridges connecting them. They routinely used their magic to hunt, obtain precious materials, and fend off attacks from wolves. Over countless generations, the very land they inhabited became imbued with thaumaturgical energy, creating a magically-rich area where life could thrive and the Ljósálfar could tap into a hive consciousness; including contacting their ancestors. For this reason, the Light Elves had little reason to technologically advance or build stone structures; magic fulfilling nearly every role in their society.

Niuweht was a serpent who was averse to light, opting to burrow through the soil like a worm or live in the depths of the waters. Creating the Ljósálfar as an expression of his sorrow - never being able to come to land - his melancholy soon grew to rage as he fashioned the Dark Elves (Alfheimi: Dökkálfar) from the blackness of the depths. Unlike the Light Elves, the Dökkálfar were cold and selfish, using their magical talent to kill and steal from the land. Both the Ljósálfar and Dökkálfar were hunter-gatherers, and thus shortages of food in the harsh alpine climate were extremely common. The Ljósálfar would frequently run into Dökkálfar hunting parties, merely butting heads until the Dökkálfar chieftain Rufus the Brute killed a Ljósálfar priest named Maxus. The Dökkálfar peoples began to colonize land, erecting cities similar to the Ljósálfar's. The two frequently clashed as Ljósálfar were frequently killed by Dökkálfar raids. Escalations continued, culminating in ceaseless war. For the next 10,000 years, the Light and Dark Elves killed each other.

In an eternal deadlock, the two races began a magical arms race, finding new and more effective ways to kill their enemy as Niuweht regretted the generations of carnage he had created. Niuweht informed the Ljósálfar and Dökkálfar of the Pact of the First Bourne, a way for one side to gain a decisive advantage and end the war. Niuweht, desperate for recognition from the people of Rathnir and wanting to erase his creations out of guilt, deceived the two races. The Pact of the First Bourne was in reality a plot to get rid of the elves and use their potent magical powers of the elves for Niuweht's own purposes. The father of every elven family killed their firstborn child simultaneously before killing themselves. The massive surge of magical energy being expelled into the air was harnessed by the legendary King Jägerfeld of the Ljósálfar and Queen Mildrania of the Dökkálfar each to reincarnate the souls of all the sacrificed elves into two of the most powerful magicians ever known.

Going into battle, both sides were shocked to see that their enemy had followed Niuweht's advice. Learning of Niuweht's treachery, the two reluctantly agreed to slay the deity. Niuweht, who had anticipated this, spoke to Æsċlēah the Traitor, the beautiful daughter of a powerful Ljósálfar chieftain. Niuweht had deceived her to reignite the conflict between the elves, promising her wealth and fame far beyond measure. Seducing King Jägerfeld during his march to the Heart of Haven with the Dökkálfar and Ljósálfar armies, she used her magical talent to breach the King's mental defenses and possessed him. Setting up camp mere kilometers from Niuweht's abode, the possessed King instructed his officers to relay knowingly unsound orders to slay the Dökkálfar in their sleep, such that it would alert the Dökkálfar. Æsċlēah the Traitor had been convinced by Niuweht that the two armies marched to kill him and take his godhood, such that one side may slay the other. Æsċlēah unconvinced that this would only lead to mutually assured destruction, refused until the promise of status and fame tempted her.

The Ljósálfar slayed many of the Dökkálfar in their sleep, but were inevitably caught in the act. War erupted once again as many realized the treachery of the Ljósálfar. Æsċlēah the Traitor, successful in her task, made her way to the Heart of Haven to claim her reward, only to be caught and killed by Queen Mildrania. Mildrania, distrusting of the Light Elves, had slept away from the main camp. Realizing what Æsċlēah the Traitor had done, the Queen attempted to inform the armies of the ruse. Before she could do this, Niuweht emerged from the waters and took advantage of the chaos inflicted by Æsċlēah the Traitor, absorbing the magical powers of the magicians created by the Pact of the First Bourne. He launched the armies, and with it the land beneath it, into the heavens by a swing from his powerful tail. Niuweht's gift to the people of Rathnir were the phases of the moon; critical for the development of agriculture amongst the primitive entities of Rathnir. It is now said that the moon's phases are caused by the warring of the Light and Dark Elves for eternity, with both sides never truly dying. What survivors remained died soon after as no more able-bodied or magically adept elves remained to hunt.

Satisfied with his work and seeing kingdoms emerging around agricultural settlements, he soon realized Æsċlēah was dead and nobody was left to preach that he had gifted farming to the world. He wept for causing the death of his only true companion, realizing he was alone once more.

## Dates

No specific dates are given for the events of the founding of Cherva, although all local variations of the tale purport that these events transpired long before the Talawan settlement of Haven; indicating that at the least these events happened possibly tens to hundreds of thousands of years ago.