The Velvet Church

The Velvet Church is a shadow of a once-powerful arcane order, devoted to Visarys, the legendary first elf, known for his unprecedented powers and dark magic prowess. They once ruled the Isles of Arcadia with an iron fist, exploring the forbidden realms of dark magic. However, the Liberation of Arcadia saw their fall from power. Today, they exist in secret, scattered across Talmin, silently continuing their dark practices in the name of Visarys.

## Origin of the Velvet Church - Visarys The First Elf

In the mystical realm of Talmin, nestled within the ancient Mother Isles, a legend was born - Visarys, revered as the first elf. His existence, a marvel crafted by the benevolent Giants, marked the dawn of the elven era. Visarys, the esteemed leader Inalt Elf leader, stood as a beacon of power and wisdom on the verdant shores of the mother isles. Under his reign and with the guidance of the Water Giants, the elves flourished.

But peace was short-lived. After the events of the Great Migration and the loss of his daughter in the Giants distant wars pushed Visarys to the edge. In his despair, he turned to dark magic. This sinister force, known for its corrupting influence, ensnared his soul, warping his noble aspirations into a thirst for absolute power.

The elven kingdoms on the mother isles flourished even with his corrupted influence until one day a large force landed on their shores. Refugees of the Monster Wars on Edoria, a coalition of humans, dwarves, and wild folk, began settling on elven territory. This ignited a war that would forever alter its history. The ensuing conflict was brutal and unforgiving, known as the War of the Two Kings. Despite their valor and mystical prowess, Visarys and his kin suffered a devastating defeat.

Amidst this turmoil, Visarys, driven by desperation, delved into the forbidden depths of dark magic. In the climactic battle, a catastrophic spell, intended to turn the tide, tragically backfired. The magic, too volatile and potent, decimated the elven forces and covered the planet in a dangerous fog called the God Mist. This backlash left Visarys a drained, hollow shell of his former self.

In the aftermath, the shattered Visarys, clinging to the remnants of his power, retreated into a self-imposed comatose exile within his secret chambers. Time passed, and the new settlers claimed this land as The Arcadian Isles, oblivious to the dormant inalt elf king hidden in their midst.

Centuries later, a young, ambitious boy named Ferax Vemir stumbled upon the ancient chambers. Visarys, awakened from his long slumber, saw an opportunity. He whispered promises of power, respect, and renown into Ferax’s eager ears, planting the seeds of what would then become the infamous Velvet Church. The allure of dark magic began corrupting Ferax, with Visarys as the puppet master.

## Creation of the Velvet Church

In the wake of Visarys’s manipulation, Ferax Vemir, now thoroughly ensnared by dark magic, became the figurehead in a sinister plot to seize the Arcadian Isles. Together, they conjured a fearsome Basilisk, unleashing its wrath upon the islands. The devastation was massive, but it played into their twisted design as Ferax demonstrated control over the creature, quelling its fury in a display that won him fearful respect within the newly founded Grand Magus Council and adoration among the islanders and the Arcadian Consulate.

Portrayed as a savior, the boy and the Basilisk were heralded as protectors, elevating the boy to a status rivaling that of royalty. His power and following swelled with time, and soon, the Grand Magus Council, awestruck by his command over the Basilisk and his arcane might, sanctioned his own sect named the Velvet Church.

In the secrecy of the shadows, Visarys, the puppeteer, orchestrated the church's doctrine, depicting the Basilisk as a holy deity and exalting Ferax Vemir as a divine conduit. The people, in awe of this never before seen power before them, embraced this new faith, and within generations, the title of High Priest coursed through the Vemir lineage, cementing the Velvet Church at the heart of Arcadian life.

The church’s tendrils of influence coiled ever tighter, wielding dark magic to bend its followers to its will, governing the islands with a malevolent hand. What once was venerated as a beacon of safety twisted into a regime of tyranny, as the once-idolized Velvet Church descended into darkness, enforcing the will of Visarys, who remained veiled in obscurity.

Centuries of this oppressive rule blighted the islands until a band of intrepid adventurers arrived. Against all odds, they dismantled the Church's reign, liberating the isles from the suffocating grasp of the Velvet Church, marking the dawn of a new era of freedom. This event was known as the Liberation of Arcadia.

## The Velvet Church: Present Day

In the aftermath of the Velvet Church's downfall on the Arcadian Isles, its remnants have become spectral whispers scattered across the corners of Talmin. They now practice their dark magic in secret, remote enclaves called Velvet Sects. These sects are led by priests, drawn together by the lure of dark forbidden sorceries. Wherever the taint of dark magic festers, whispers of the Velvet Church's legacy follow.

The Vemir bloodline, enshrouded in mystery and rumor, is said to preside over these fragmented congregations, their authority undiminished by distance or dissent. Amongst the common folk and the enlightened alike, tales of Visarys's true role in the church are met with skepticism, often cast aside as mere myth. To the elves of Talmin, Visarys remains the exalted ancient sovereign, an emblem of elven supremacy and affluence.

Yet, within the covert circles of the Velvet Church's adherents, Visarys is venerated as the supreme architect of their dominion, his name invoked in shadowy rites and sacrifices. A chilling notion persists that Visarys's influence has never waned, that through the strings of the Vemir lineage, he continues to manipulate events from beyond the veil. In hushed tones, they speak of the puppet master, ever-present and ever-powerful, a specter guiding the hands of his loyal followers as they weave their dark magic across Talmin.