Solonor's Dancehunters 'neath the Shade of Selune

[dergon darkhelm]

Solonor's Dancehunters 'neath the Shade of Selune. That's the closest the translation into the common tongue from elven. The common loses much of the elegance and fluidity, but the meaning can be taken.

And Torae took the meaning well. It came from a happenstance meeting in the town of Triboar as he made his way north up the Dessarin valley from Waterdeep, eventually hoping to look upon the City of Silverymoon while also fulfilling his duty to the Temagami Anishnaibi to go northard, learning all that he could until such time as he was recalled to his tribe.


As Toraedhien Starspire became an ever more proficient and stealthy hunter he began to think more and more on devotion to Solonor and the blessing that had been bestowed upon him. He had questions of what to undertake, but he was alone in his travels, and knew of no clergy or even other Or-tel-quessir in these lands.

Torae had only entered Triboar to purchase arrows and more supplies for his trek, but while in the village he had been told by some locals that he would enjoy a stroll through a patch of woods West of town. It has here that he heard, in a whisper through the wind, that he should seek the Solonor's Dancehunters in the northern forest. He was puzzled and unsure, yet knew with certainty that his path was now urgent.

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It has been a few seasons since Torae made the Silver Marches. In that time he has sought audience with other elves, wanders the wild woods for days on end, and thought long on the whisper of the Dancehunters. But to this time nothing had been revealed.



Now he hopes that a friendship with a wizard, a human by the name of Azikar, might bring him the knowledge he seeks and find him to the Dancehunters. Azikar has agreed to perform extensive research on the subject in Silverymoons libraries. The wizard seems to have a great intellect (if a slightly strange affect), and Torae hopes that this new line of queery will answer questions.





(( OOC - Torae is now parked on TSM. Doubljay (playing Azikar) and I are going to try to do some running about as Torae continues to work toward his PrC. If any other players feel like jumping in please do! And if by some miracle someone wants to DM on TSM and give me a little help in PrC character development .... please please do!! ))

[dergon darkhelm]

After some extensive information gathering in and around SIlverymoon, Toradhien beleves he may have found an important lead.

Stories tell f a group of reclusive elves that reportedly live in the wild lands west of a small settlement named Winter' Edge.

He plans to set out for the village soon.

[dergon darkhelm]

Toraedhien has made contact with a holy servant of Corellon in Silverymoon.

Feywarden Daertho Elbrar has agreed to use his contacts among the Tel'Quessir at Everdusk Hall to help find what information might be known of the "Dancehunters".


Toraedhien could barely contain the excitement of meeting an elven cousin of such high standing willing to make efforts on his behalf.

[dergon darkhelm]

Along the North slope of the Starspire mountains at the “Four River Flow”, three small mountain streams joined around a great ancient aspen grove and made their egress as the Silversmooth River. The Silversmooth wound through the Wealdath forest eventually meeting the sea spilling into Firedrake Bay at Mosstone.

Here in this wild woods lived a remote and isolated tribe of Or-tel-quessir, the Tema-gami Anishnaibi (“The flow water peoples”). It was into this tribe of wild elves that a young elf was born some 130 years prior.


The forest lands near the Silversmooth were rich and wild and lush. Thus, among the tribesmen were many great hunters and trackers who could follow mountain elk for days or bag a covey of nightfinches while they were in full flight from a hundred paces. The elves of the Tema-gami Anishnaibi ranged far but within their own woods, having little contact with outside peoples, even other elves.


Within this culture the young elf thrived, showing himself to be both a strong, keen-eyed archer and silent stalker of game. He was especially adept at approaching his quarry in silence. So quiet was his approach that some of the tribesfolk laughed that he could as easily strike his prey with his fist as shoot with his bow.


This latter skill led Foranthil, the priest of Solonor who led all great hunts of the Tema-gami Anishnaibi, to name him “Torae-Dhien” upon his ascension to manhood. (This roughly translates in common tongue to “The hunter, unseen” or “stalker”.) The name was seen as a such great honor to the young elf that from that point forward he put effort in equal parts into his archery and his game stalking.


______________________________________


In the center of the aspen grove of the Four River Flow was a small mountain that poked up beyond the treeline. Atop that mesa was a crystal set into a mithril stand that could be rotated in all planes. Its presence dated back beyond reckoning of any of the Tema-gami Anishnaibi. Peering into this crystal which reflected the night sky allowed the elders of Toraedhien’s tribe to develop a great understanding of astrological events which were incorporated into their faith tradition over generations.


Therefore, it known that on Midsummers eve DR 1381, the Bluefire and the Sisters Three, each highly auspicious constellations, would come to be veiled beyond Selune’s tears at middle night. Such a celestial happening occurred only once each 74 years, and was named “The calling to beyond the waters”.



Upon recognition of this celestial alignment the elders of the Tema-gami Anishnaibi would choose 4 tribesmen to go forth into the wider world, one to each point of the 4 winds. Among these four were chosen Balenth to the South jungles, Hol’briel to the Sea to the West, Ersulindel to East and the great trade cities of the Inner Sea, and Toraedhien to the Northern wilds and the Spine of the World.


He would be sent out to travel and learn of events and happenings beyond the Four River Flow, to be summoned for return to the Tema-gami Anishnaibi only at the time of the “Golden Quadrature”, an equally auspicious celestial alignment of restoration.

_______________________________


It has been a number of winters now since Toraedhien of the Starspires set out northward. His path into the chill climate was slow, taking him to many cities, making friends and learning the ways of men and elf and halfling, and even dwarf.

But it has been these last seasons in the Silver Marches that have captivated the young elf. The stark savageness of the land feels much like his home at the Four River Flow, yet there are a great many mysteries in the trackless wilds. ... and as he is learning with each passing day, there are a great many enemies to be fought.

[dergon darkhelm]

Ches 19, DR 1381. Ostara, Festival of the Vernal equinox. The “Four River Flow”, Tethir Forest


The winter had been mild and kind to the Temagami –Anishnaibi. The food stores had held, no orcs had challenged the boundaries during the long nights, and three live births were celebrated to the tribe as the midwives successfully guided all of the mothers through a healthy child-bearing.


The Silversmooth ran heavy as the Winter melt from the Starspire mountains filled the flows into the river at the elven village, plentiful trout already jumping at the many small rapids and schooling to eddy pools. It would be a fine spring indeed.

It was with this optimism that Foranthil, the Priest of Solonor accompanied the elders and star-reckoners of the Temamagi- Anishnaibi up the hill out of the aspen grove to view the Selune and stars atop the revered mesa that provided a full view of the night sky in all direction.
It was known that on Ostara the summer stars would reveal themselves low in the north sky, awakening from their winter retreat below the horizon.

Lu’Flueuil, the Starmaster of the tribe, had prayed for clear skies on the night of Ostara.. and those prayers had been answered. Selune was but a sliver on the low south horizon making conditions perfect for northern gazing. In the center of the circle the elder drew forth the ceremonial feather of a the great eagle, and one also of the snowy owl. The Starmaster asked blessing of the Seldarine so that his vision would be enhanced and clear. As the feathers were consumed, Lu’Flueuil’s pupils went huge, taking up the whole of their sockets. He raised his gaze to the skies. And what he saw was of great import.

The Starmaster looked over to Foranthil with an expression of great gravity for he had seen a rare finding in the night sky. Lu’Flueuil knew that this Ostara would be known as “Solonor Thelandira’s choosing”. It foretold of great things to come…