#umbril

[wreyedeenk-moved-blog]

Elven Creation Myth

Before creation, there was one deity: Altae. She was raw, undeveloped, and completely unaware of even herself. She existed in nothingness, no time or space. She had no thoughts or actions until a moment of enlightenment: she became aware of her existence. This caused a spontaneous eruption-for she was a being of unknowing.

From her came a world as raw as she. Her power split into five separate beings, Anima, Beaula, Aquilani, Terronae, and Umbrilo. Separately, the power and knowledge was easier to contain.

These Gods and Goddesses wanted to develop the world around them.

From the fingertips of Terronae came planets and stars, rock and fire bending to his will.

When Aquilani saw these creations, she cried for its beauty. These tears flooded the Earths they touched, creating water: oceans and lakes sprouting forth.

When Beaula caressed these worlds, vines and trees sprouted from her touch, satiated by the water and held in by the ground.

These creations were in distress from the harsh light and heat from nearby stars, so Umbrilo hid them, creating shadows and darkness.

Anima looked upon these worlds and saw that they went unnoticed, unseen by any, so he created life. He created Spirits, imbued with Core Energy.

His creations were untouchable and incomplete, unable to interact with the world around them, so his brothers and sisters helped him by giving him their creations, forming the bodies of the animals around their Spirits. Water became blood, stone became flesh, shadow became shapes and colors, and vines became tendons, muscles, and ligaments.

Once they saw how incredible this new world was, they wanted to do it again. They created a creature like them, but with rounded edges. Once their bodies were complete, they began to act upon the Earth they were placed on. These creations killed and destroyed, wreaking havoc wherever they went. Looking upon them, the Gods and Goddesses were ashamed. The Humans were banished from the Holy presence.

They tried once more, this time creating them in their image. They made these creatures unable to feel rage, for this was the Humans’ downfall. Releasing these beings upon the Earth, the Gods and Goddesses saw them attempt to heal the world in Man’s wake. At this, they were proud. Anima wanted to give them a gift, so he asked his Brothers and Sisters for help. Upon the Elves, he bestowed a special connection to the Gods and Goddesses. Blue Force, as it is known, gave the Elves the ability to manipulate the world around them.

The Elves never forgot their gift, and remembered to honor their Gods and Goddesses, using this gift in their name. The created the Five Schools, named after the deity they represent: Anim (Core), Beau (Nature), Terrone (Earth), Aquila (Water), and Umbril (Shadow).

[wreyedeenk-moved-blog]

The Elven Gods pt 5: Umbrilo

He is the God of Shadow and Illusion. He is the deity of Shadows (UmbrilMysts). Meditation for Umbrilo is best shrouded in darkness, at midnight, or on the New Moon. The markings devoted to him are a deep purple, and his rune is depicted here.

[howyouducan]

Umbril Torq-Alth, now trying out a hyphen. Perhaps the meaning can now shine through: Torq resembling "torch," his biological mother having been assigned to the fire-keepers/light guards as a lifelong position; and Alth, a corrupted (or creatively spelled) "elf."

Umbril is a Szarkai, an albino drow. The appearance of Szarkai have provoked a variety of reactions from Lolth-Sworn society over the centuries. In Umbril's time, the bright hue of the skin is an undesirable trait, but the condition itself is considered blessed, as well as its side effects: bare of hair; noticeable veins; curling of the fingers and toes; odd jagged development of the teeth; and viewed strangely positively, doubled weakness to bright sunlight.

Coupled with his servant status this put Umbril in a curious position. As a female he could have become someone high-ranking, outstripping his mother easily. But as a male, he can never have any power; yet, Szarkai should not do menial labor lest they be looked down upon, for fear of disrespect to Lolth herself.

Fortunately, Szarkai can have another use. Albino drow and albino high elves are indistinguishable, in theory. The symptoms are unfortunately strong in Umbril, but the drow are of course all too content to take a gamble and pass it off as sickness, if it means gaining a spy.

Umbril, age nine, was given a mission and sent to the surface with another Szarkai, an adult female of both status and skill. They were to set up in Baldur's Gate in order to track the location of a mysterious item connected to Lolth without drawing attention. The item proved to be more difficult to pin down than expected; the duo stayed in Baldur's Gate for three years, spending the last months in outright hiding, having drawn the ire of the Rakshasa who jealously hoarded said item.

Finally, all other options having been exhausted, a report to the underground was deemed necessary. The two parted ways to make for the journey home separately. The plan went awry when it was revealed that the Rakshasa had quietly been watching them all the while and had sent mercenaries after each. Umbril had noticed his hunters, armed and numbered; and so, rather than stick to the plan, he threw the mercs off his trail the only way he could: doing the unthinkable and turning around.

Confronting the Rakshasa in their lair revealed that this Rakshasa had the ability to open portals to other planes. The Rakshasa used a prisoner, an aberration, to open a portal to the Far Realm. Umbril was banished to the Far Realm for only hours, but exposure to such alien dimensions has consequences. Umbril, delirious and dissociated from his senses, began distorting the space around himself by his own will, and eventually, used that same spell to sacrifice another aberration and open a portal back to Faerun.

Both mental and physical developments stayed with him, as well as additional memory problems. He has since lived in the wilds alone, with budding talents of sorcery. But the Lolth-Sworn took his missing presence as death, and should they discover Umbril still lives, it would turn into a mark of betrayal...

[wreyeder-wreyedine]

Hi! It's been a while since I posted anything Ilian, so here's a short 5 question quiz about which school of magic suits you best! Please take this peace offering and tag your results. Also maybe go through the tags of ilian and thoi?