The Ancients

The history of the **Ancients** is shrouded in mystery and to most people living in Edynor they’re just a legend, a rumor and something to scare children with as they are said to fly away with naughty kids. Because one thing everyone seems to know though is that the ancients have wings. And yes, some of them do, but most don't.

### Life in four cycles

The Ancients measure their age in four cycles. The childcycle, *bai*, the young adult cycle, *uing*, the adult, *ving*, and the old, *aald*. As you might have guessed, it is during the adult cycle that they grow their distinctive wings. Having them however was a must for them to be able to live on the Laveald mountain. Now, when many ages have passed, narrow dwindling paths have been constructed along well hidden sites along the sides and in crevices. But from the beginning it was the wings that gave them access to this protected and secluded location.

#### The Ving-cycle

The third cycle of the life of an Ancient is called *ving* because this is when they have them. The first signs that the cycle has begun is obvious to any Ancient-savvy observer: constant back-itching, muscles changing and a tendency to break bones - all preparing the body to have wings and to be able to carry the weight during flight. Before this cycle it is eagerly longed for and anticipated, afterwards the loss is mourned and remembered. All Ancients are what could be described as alluring - tall, slender, moving with noticeable grace and having a mysterious aura about them. At the same time, their gaze is penetrating, their minds sharp and they do have a tendency to measure and find fault in most everything they see. Still, the *ving*-cycle is what defines an Ancient most clearly. Few people have ever even realized that they have come across a member of the Ancients unless they have their distinctive wings.

### Olix

Olix is a national symbol of the Ancients: a winged woman holding an iron staff topped with a basket with a burning fire.

### The Academy of Olix

Long ago the Ancients were active members of Edynor, having rich interactions with other people, trading in goods of both the mind and hand. But exploitation and deceit led to them eventually deciding to seclude themselves on top of the Laveald mountain and restrict their contacts to the bare minimum. And so it has been since then; living in a remote and practically inaccessible location, dedicating time to scientific study and honing of skills at the Academy of Olix. This Academy is situated in Laveald city and is a formidable place where all Ancients are expected to spend at least the *ving* cycle. It is said that the walls of the Academy protect so many secrets of world-changing potential that a special guard had to be founded: the Olix Custodians.

### Geographical home: Morhenn

The oldest mountain range on Edynor lies in the south and is called **Areld** and consists of a range of table-top mountains protruding over the plains below as well as steep mountains and table-top mountains surrounding a lake. The area is called Morhenn by the Ancients. Here lives the seven houses that are the backbone of their society, in cities carrying the names of the houses. There is also a capitol, the Laveald.

#### Cities

All cities in Morhenn, except the capitol, equals a House.

* Laveald [Capitol]
* Moonbrooch
* Wethergaw
* Messenger
* Twirlwind
* Nightjar
* Sunblink
* Mokey

### Government

Every two hundered years, representatives of each of the seven houses gather at a location called the **Seven Sisters** to select the next **Seneschal**. During their tenure, the Seneschal resides in the capitol Laveald and is not considered a member of their original house.

#### Electing a new seneschal

The process to elect a new Seneschal is peculiar. After negotiations the representative of a house inscribes the name of their candidate into the pillar of their house. When the same name is inscribed in all seven pillars they all sink through the ground, lifting up the island and spinning it a full turn around its axis. As this happens, a shimmering cloud grows around the island, growing wider and wider until it covers all of Morhenn. This process has a profound effect on all of Edynor, as it produces near-perfect weather conditions all over the continent for about a year. Such years are called *fluke years* in the common tongue.