#ardenweald

[sabvenia-blog]

"Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light; I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night. " Dragoness illustration inspired by Ardenweald on twitter

[sheryl-the-kestrel]

I haven't drawn cats for about ten years, but now I just had to remember how to do it

Colored sketch of a cat from the Ardenweald. This cat used to be orange, loved attention and meowing loudly, was afraid of plastic bags and a plush duck named Mr. Quack. His name was Blewick and he was the best cat I've ever seen

[suomarart]

Void Elf, commission

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[cenarion-archive]

Apple Trees

Properties: Healing, rebirth, divination, magic, love, Otherworlds (the Dream, Ardenweald, etc), and G’hanir Deities: Mother Moon, Eonar, Aviana, Aessina, Ursol, Aliothe, Q’onzu Elements: Spirit, Decay Guardians: Moonkin, hippogryphs, harpies, owls, ravens, wisps

As many are told in their earliest druidic lessons the blossoms and fruit of the apple tree are also tied to some of the most powerful times of the Druidic and Elunarian year - Byltan and Samha, when dawn and twilight are at their most equal in spring and fall and veil between planes becomes thin. Because the apple blossoms bloom as Byltan approaches and produce their fruit in preparation of Samha, these trees hold great significance to the cycle itself and are often seen as representations of the cycle of generosity.

The apple tree serves as a Shan’do to us all, naturally teaching us lessons in the cycle of seasons and the balance between Spirit and Decay.  After the rest of winter Spirit and Life blooms and in time creates fruit. In turn if not consumed or pruned that fruit will fall to decay and rot. However, for those that do not see the world in cycles and balance they see the beautiful fruit becoming putrid and falling to the earth as a tragedy and waste of potential. As Doril we know that when the apple falls to decay it begins a new phase of life. One where it feeds the soil and insects below giving life to new trees or the apple tree itself. And so after the rest of winter does the cycle begin again. The apple tree is a reminder of this balance and cycle. Because of these lessons the Apple tree is closely associated with the cycle on a grander scale between the Dream and Ardenweald, a cycle that repeats in measurements of moments and eras. Interest and study in the realm of Ardenweald has only grown since the shattering of the veil and the blooming of Amirdrassil. During many moots and discussions of the cycle in Moonglade has the apple tree become a symbol for the lifecycle of Wild Gods, Loa, and nature spirits - each like an apple in the greater cycle and cosmic tree. When one falls it transitions to another phase of being in the long slumber either being reborn or sustaining others just like the humble apple.

A Gift of Elune While some tie the tree to G’hanir there are Druids of the Moon who believe that the apples are a gift from the Goddess Elune herself and her gardens. They say that the blossoms are a manifestation of her tranquility and each apple is blessed with a star inside to show her love. Some Druids of the Moon believe the Tear of Elune and the Sister’s Tear which seeded Amirdrassil are cosmic apple seeds from Elune herself.

Druidic Uses Some Druids of the Branch plant an Apple tree in their grove as a promise to stay. This is for two symbolic reasons, one for its symbol as a tree of community and the other for its protection. During the corruption of Val'sharah by the Nightmare, apple trees were some of the last to fall to corruption leading some to believe the tree held some natural resistance to the corruption if even for a short period. It's also believed that lightning will not strike an apple tree so it may serve as a ward from natural disasters as well. As such many druids will make wards of protection from apple branches or its blossoms, fruit , and/or wood as reagents for protective spells.

Some teaching methods use these properties of transition to aid Thero’shan in their first attempts to transition their consciousness to the Dream. A Shan’do will have their Thero’shan sleep beneath an Apple tree at the peak of a Full Moon. The theory being that the tree may serve as a guide for the mind. We find a similar lesson in The Legend of Applebeard. For as he slumbers  he dreams of forests far and unknown to him. If no apple tree is near, a Shan’do may take a fallen branch of an apple tree and tie silver bells to it. As the wind passes through the chimes it is said the mystical singing of Elune may be heard and lull Thero’shan into a trance and transition with greater ease. With the blooming of Amirdrassil some have begun to apply this method to the great tree and sleep under its boughs or fashion similar chimes with fallen branches of Amirdrassil in hopes of visiting Ardenweald. Though I have yet to hear if any have been successful.

Should you wish to fashion a chime like this for your own use or use the wood of apple trees in a staff or wand I offer a word of caution, never cut down a branch of an apple tree. Only take that which has naturally fallen and thereby freely given. To do so otherwise is said to bring bad luck and twist spells.

Rituals of the Apple Tree - If you wish to use Apples as regents in your spells it is commonly believed that if you pick apples between the new moon waxing to the full moon you will receive the abundance of the goddess either in consumption of the apple or any spells pertaining to it. An apple picked in the waning moon is said to also bring bad luck or is used in more baneful practices to curse another. - Apple trees may serve as wishing trees for Byltan or other occasions. Write your wish for the coming season on these thin strips of beech wood. Next, take a silver bell, ribbon, and some cider and approach the tree. Knock three times to awaken the spirit inside, pour some cider as an offering, and whisper your secret to the tree. Last, tie the ribbon to the tree’s branches and when the ribbon weathers away your wish will be granted. - Spells practiced underneath an apple tree may bring love and health. As will apple blossoms and the oil made from those blossoms. - Sleeping beneath an apple tree may grant someone visions of the Dream or Ardenweald. - Food made with apples may also bring any of its properties to the consumer.

[laurenwalshart]

Creating the Tear of Elune

So there I was crying as I always do while watching the video of Elune speaking through Tyrande because it was suggested to me yet again in my YouTube feed and then I noticed something.

It's always been kinda confusing to me why the Tear of Elune is the Pillar of Creation for Eonar when its so heavily Elune themed. However, what I noticed in that scene with the Winter Queen and Elune is that they created the Sister's Tear together. It hit me that this scene could be showing us how a tear artifact like that is made and that it requires another to do so.

We already know that Elune and Eonar have some form of bond (either in friendship or romantic) from the Legend of Elun'ahir, so it's not hard to assume they had some alone time together at some point. Perhaps in that time Elune shed a tear and together they made the Tear of Elune just like the scene of the Winter Queen and Elune. Under what circumstance we don't know yet. What's interesting is that the Tear of Elune does seem to have more green in it as opposed to the Sister's Tear. The green magic could be Eonar's thereby hinting at the two creating the Tear together.

Tear of Elune - Eonar's Pillar of Creation

What's super interesting to me as well is that Elune's tear in the cinematic with the Winter Queen is pure light and it appears their joint actions together transmuted it into the artifact. Both the Winter Queen and Eonar have physical forms and in some theories both have titanic backgrounds [the quick tl;dr for the WQ being tied to the Titans is the robotic like vessel that her spirit is housed in similar to the Titans. there is more, but that's a whole other post. Titanic or not she does have a physical form like Eonar]. Perhaps her tear being pure light also answers questions on why the Tear of Elune was able to unlock Light's Heart. Elune herself could be a being of pure Light that is simply more powerful and older than Xe'ra and therefore able to unlock them. Maybe what Elune and the Winter Queen did was a similar process to how the cores of naaru were created? By willing creatures of Light crossing into reality and Titans forging them vessels. We know that both Tears are vessels for the souls of the fallen and seem to house the light of Elune. So there are similarities there as well.

The need for another to create a Tear artifact like this is could also be a hint that Elune is in another plane that cannot access reality and needs physical gods, avatars, or heavenly bodies for her power to cross over, much like Sargeras in many ways. These Tears and the Trees that can come from them would then act almost like anchor points for Elune in reality while not allowing her to manifest her power entirely. Now I would just like to point out that just because you are being of Light does not mean you wouldn't have a shadow/void side - as we see with the life cycle of naaru and currently with Beledar. We already know that Elune has a darker side shadow/void side with how the power of the Night Warrior manifests, so she may exist at a point between Light, Void, and Life adhering to her more cosmic themes and description as a Life Goddess.

With that in mind we also have one more possible Tear mentioned in the first troll legend.

"And when our brethren pass Into the Mountain's Temple We shall protect their eternal spirit Encased within the holy blue crystal.

And when our brethren pass A Moon over the Vale shines."

The blue crystal housing the souls of the fallen under the Moon seems extremely similar to the visual description of the Tear of Elune and the Sister's Tear. The question then becomes how was this Tear created and with whom. If Elune has created other tears is it possible that this is how Cenarius came to be? I know the joke is usually "lol Elune slept with a deer," but maybe this is how Malorne and Elune came together. In the War of the Ancient books it is hinted that the Kaldorei have some form bloodline connection to Cenarius and perhaps it is because they are both children of the stars. Also another fun idea is there appears to be an antler like tree sprouting from a crescent moon in both Tear artifacts. This could be a little stretch, but when I roleplay my Druid Celiwin Dreamspeaker who has antlers I always describe her head as being "crowned by antlers" and each of the world trees is "The crown of X." Since we know now that the Tears of Elune can become world trees and there appear to be antlers serving as a tree trunk in both tears, in particular the seed of Amirdrassil looks almost identical to the tree it would eventually become, antlers and trees seem to have deeply rooted symbolism.

Right: Creating the Sister's Tear; Left: Seed of Amirdrassil

All of this could be hint to a theory of mine that Elune is the cosmic world tree situated at the forge of creation between Light and Void seeding Life in the universe. Her wispy silver magic and design language her branches and roots extending to all planes of existence. But that is a deep dive for another day.

Video: Creating the Sister's Tear

[bronzedragonflight]

[kottkrig]

Raffle prize for Belethe77

[eonianarchives]

with all the Ardenweald talk, I wonder how you'd design/integrate more mythology into it/what would be your take if you could change anything about it

and fr yeah I agree the other zones should have gotten more spotlight too

Well for starters not killed off Ursoc. That's not a mythology thing I just think that was a bigger injustice than what they did to Arthas.

Change her name to the Queen because if you're going to be British Isles themed then it makes the most sense. I don't see why her name is Winter Queen I hate that.

And for the leveling campaign I would make the conflict the denizens of Ardenweald themselves. The reason it takes you so long to get to the Queen is because everyone is trying to murder and eat you in classic British isles fashion. The anima drought worsened this, while before Ardenweald used to be more tricks that could be harmful they're now full lure you off the path to die for the Weald.

Niya would actually be your guide, she'd understand the importance of your mission and teach you the rules of Ardenweald. You'd make your first mistake with her by introducing yourself, she's thankfully nice and tells you never to do that. For the Law of Names, if someone in this realm knows your true name and knows your face then they have control over you.

Thus you can only say your name once you have a spirit shape as this hides your true face.

When you soulbind in Ardenweald you actually give your soulbind your true name and true face as a sign of trust. You will both be equal in this.

Lady Moonberry would actually be considered boring by Night Fae standards. Her personality is the exact same, but as she prefers mischief over harm in these dire circumstances a lot of Night Fae stop taking her seriously (hints at the campaign conflict.)

I'd include a lot more creatures from the mythos, such as gytrash/coin-shìth/bargast/striker (aka dog like creatures of death) shagfoal/kelpie/ceffyl dŵr (horse like creatures of death), boggarts, red caps, Will-o'-the-Wisps etc. A lot of mythos in the British isles is 'don't follow that thing off the path. Do not trust whatever you see.'

I'd love to incorporate the constant threat in a lot of these stories. When is a dog not a dog. When are you being watched, did you remember the rules? Etc.

These rules would actually be the most important part of Ardenweald culturally. Their entire culture would focus on being hospitable and polite. So you have to watch what you say and do carefully.

And these rules would be borderline insane to remember, such as it's considered an insult to give a rose with an odd number of leaf's and if you gave a bouquet, it cannot have an odd number of flowers. Or you cannot walk backwards on a full moon.

Except here these rules are real, they're not just superstition. But you can actually get out of a lot of bad situations by just being polite.

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The Queen I would assign from my usual design changes change her lore noticeably. I would actually make her and Elune lovers not sisters. This is partly to try and remove the confusion this created around Elune but also to make The Queen a mimic of Niamh Cinn-Óir the goddess of death in Irish mythology.

This would be a mimic of Niamh and Oisín where yes Elune spent time in Ardenweald, but this was temporary, she had to return to where she rules, thus separating them. This also ties Teldrasil into Oisín' tradgady where everyone he knew had died while he was in Tír na nÓg.

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The actual campaign conflict would be that the denizens of Ardenweald now where rejecting the queens orders. Not out of rebellion but survival. Unlike the other internal conflicts the Jailer does not directly cause this, but the anima drought does.

The drought is so heavy on Ardenweald that the joy has died and the denizens just want to keep the cycle going even if that means turning against each other in a kill or be killed.