This lore is based on my own Midgard campaign experiences and the information available in the Midgard Worldbook. Some is research and some is information that will be revealed diegetically. It was created as a GM aid to tailor campaign lore for my player running a cleric of Valeresh.
While conducting the research for this article, it became apparent that there are both large gaps in the Bard’s Chronology timeline as provided in the Midgard Worldbook, and very vague language throughout that book and the Book of Ebon Tides. Perhaps the most confusing portions are the conflicting references to events and locations, such as Thorn. It is said to have fallen during the Reaving of the Dwarves, but then reappears during recorded history as a center of elven civilization. The Northlands source book refers to Thorn as fallen in the Vanir War, yet the Worldbook says that the capital of the second
The History of the Elves of Midgard
The Earliest Days and the Vanir War
The elves of Midgard have a long history defined by different eras. In the far distant past was the age of the first elves, who allied with the giants and the ancient elements as part of the Vanir against the dwarves and the Northern gods (Aesir) in the Vanir War. It appears that Valeresh may have lived as a mortal and ascended to godhood during this time based upon available sourcing. The gods of the elves likely worked together as they forged this early empire, forming a elven court of Thorn that set the pattern for their current elven pantheon and presaging the structure of current elven and fey courts. Valeresh's wife likely died during this time period, and somehow he and his court ascended to godhood. It is also said that at this time the elves planted the seeds of Yggdrasil in the Silendora, or Summer Lands. The elven version of this story attributes this act to Yarila & Porevit, while dwarves and Northerns say it was Freyr & Freyja (these are both true, as Yarila & Porevit were exchanged as hostages in the peace that settled the Vanir War and their now are gods who dwell with the Aesir).
The elven court that became the pantheon consisted of at least:
- Baccho (Baccholon)
- Holda
- Valeresh (Valeros)
- Yarila & Porevit
- The Green God
- Gytellisor
- Volund, in his aspect as “armorer of Valeresh”
This empire’s legacy is seen in truly ancient elven ruins and the legacy of great magic later used by the Second Elven Empire. The Reaving, in which the rival Dwarven empire fell and drove many dwarves South, caused the fall of this empire, as elves retreated into the lands of the West in Midgard and to their strongholds in the Summer Lands, much like the Great Retreat that sealed the end of the Second Empire.
The Coming of the Valeran Elves
Roughly 2,200 years ago, a new group of elves departed the Summer Lands to reestablish the elven peoples in Midgard. Over the 1,300 year reign of the elven empire, there emerged five centers of civilization. The first was under Emperor Xindrical the Explorer, who founded the River Court of the Arbonesse. The second was Sephaya in modern day Perunalia on the Ruby Sea, ruled by Queen Shillesh Greensun Sephaya. Queen Sephaya was said to be the daughter of Yarila. The third, abet short lived comparatively, was the High Court of Liadmura, in the modern Ironcrags, under the Eagle Emperor, famed for his conquests and veneration of Valeresh. The fourth and longest was at Thorn under the High Queen Lelliana Thorntree Endiamon. Most notable was the influence of her daughter, Shadow Princess Sarastra Aestruum, whose actions resulted in the creation of the Shadow Fey and their and her exile into the Shadow Realm. Queen Osilessi in the late fourth empire also built the “Summer Garden of Queen Osilessi,” or Osilessidra. She sought to restore the ruling caste of elves’ dominant position.
The final elven capital was at Valera after the fall of Thorn, with Triolo as another great elven colony (though it appears that Thorn and other cities remained inhabited by elves, due to their sudden vacancy in the Great Retreat).
The expansion of this period was driven by the combination of elvish magic, including prowess in navigating the Fey Roads, and in their martial strength with their archers and light cavalry. Valeresh took on a grim aspect in this time, with many conquered adversaries purged or sacrificed to him.
Corruption of the Shadow Fey
In the dark days of the Black Sorceress’s Revolt, Shadow Princess Sarastra and her followers joined with the dark mages of Caelmarath, calling upon dark powers. This corrupted them into the Scáthesidhe, or Shadow Fey. This people departed the Summer Lands and Midgard, breaking with the other elves, to follow Sarastra (Hecate) into the Shadow Realm. The Shadow Realm was reached by the corruption of the ley lines by the fiend-aligned mages of Caelmarath. The Shadow Fey, lured by the promise of powerful magic from the darkness and infernal—hence why many possess horns. This schism occurred roughly 582 years ago.
At some time after this, Sarastra, the Queen of Night and Magic, fell out with her husband, Ludomir Imbrium the XVI. He is better known as the Moonlit King of the Shadow Fey. Before the Moonlit King followed his wife into the Shadow Realm he was a high born noble, as the Duke of the Ironcrags, Baron of Bratislor, Earl of Zobeck, and Count-Palatine of Salzbach. His regret at leaving the world behind drove him to sorrow and madness. During this time, Sarastra also corrupted the Miremals of her sister, the Faerie Queen Titania.
The sable elves followed after the exodus of the Shadow Fey. Their motives are shrouded in mystery, but the truth is that unlike the true elves who remained in Midgard and were driven from the Northlands by the dwarven empire before the Reavening, or the Shadow Fey who forged pacts with the darkness, the sable elves instead fled this destruction in disgrace. This era is called the First Flowering of Shadow. Both these groups brought their own servitor peoples with them into the Shadow Realm.
This period led to the rise of the dark elven god, Sarastra. The worship of Valeresh is not wholly lost in the Shadow Realm though. The sables elves and Queen of the Court of the Golden Oak worship him under the name “Valeros,” prizing martial and arcane power.
The Great Retreat
482 years before the present time, for unknown reasons, the priesthood of Valeresh led the Great Retreat to the Summerlands under the direction of Emperor Jorgyn. The cities of Thorn, Valera, Liadmura, and Sephaya are left vacant. The elves left behind are few and scattered like windrunners of the Rotheian Plains, and a larger concentration in the River Court of Arbonesse, which closes its border. These pockets are but a memory of their former glory, and the worship of Valeresh is all but forgotten. Besides these small groups of true elves, only the elf-marked, those descended from their dalliances with human servitors, remain.
Stirrings of the Elves
After long centuries the elves show signs of restlessness once more. The Deathsworn, fanatical warriors dedicated to Valeresh (Creature Codex, of. 142) haunt the ancient forests. The relics of Valeresh, Illethandril (the Silent Sword of Valeresh), Korren-Gadresh (the True Bow of Valeresh, or Farseeing Bow), remain untouched in his temple at Hirschberg, said to be reclaimed when the elves return from exile. It is said a light appears at the Cathedral of Bright Honor on a hill outside Valera, and a voice speaks to those present in Elvish. In the same city, the Scolia Valeresh teaches martial and arcane battle skills, led by First Fencing Master and Ley Adept Tikkalan Illuvitesh. The First Fencing Master also calls himself the “Last Knight of Valresh.” Cults of the Return worship the elf-marked, and foretell of the elves’ coming back to Midgard.
Other portents seem to be appearing as an elven knight, dressed as the “Chosen of Valeresh” made a pilgrimage to the Seat of Mavros in the Western Wastes, praying to the warlike aspect of the deity. Elves examine old lore related to the shadow roads, and the ancient learning of the Magocracies that remains in Bemmea and Friula. Even the rumors of war pressed Magdar speak of a portal to the Summerlands, and elven hosts that will emerge to halt the growing Dragon Empire.
