Ældrassil
Ældrassil
Born from a wish, this massive ‘tree’ takes root at the heart of the basin carved into the Myrkvior mountains. And through their connection to it, the Æld'Norai are granted their unique form of Draoidh, Æcturnis.
Description
Ældrassil is the size of a small mountain on its own, and His wood is a rich, dark, cool toned brown. If one shines light onto it, it will glint with a subtle, opalescent patina, giving it an ethereal look. His leaves are a deep, bluish green in Summer, shifting to warm tones in the Fall, purplish in Winter and lighter greens in Spring.
There are various structures built onto and into the boughs of this massive tree, most of which play host to varying offices of the Æld'Norai government including the courts and the highest government officials also make their residences here. There are also several locations which serve as ritual sites accessible to the public.
History
Ældrassil is no ordinary tree– nestled within it lies the body of an ancient dragon. Now a hybrid between flora and fauna, He remains alive in a state of suspended animation, and ultimately, the tree and the dragon are one and the same. Ældrassil maintains His vibrant vitality from what became of His Arcana, and in turn, the flora of the region will always remain lush and full of life. It is said that the dragon influences the land around it, though in what ways and to what extent it is uncertain; the part that is certain, however, is that all of Ælheim's territory is part of His Grove. The Ælves who call the tree home struggle to tell where exactly their influence ends and the dragon’s begins, for they consider their relationship to Him to be wholly symbiotic.
In the modern era, Ældrassil's influence has claimed vast swathes of land including dark, primeval forests, treacherously cold mountains, chilly bogs, and more. The Ælven populace which calls Ælheim home have free reign of the land, though the majority of them call the Myrkvior mountains, where they have built their capital around Ældrassil, home. Their settlements include simple to elaborate structures built out of wood or stone, and often are built into the surrounding trees themselves.
Ældrassil's Life and Legacy
Long ago, the name Ældrassil belonged to the ancient dragon from which it had grown, and though asleep, He retains all the benefits thereof: His scales are supernaturally impervious to all but the most potent forms of harm, and His mind can speak so loudly as to make lesser mortals writhe in agony. Most troubling for those who would try and fight His, His boundless life force allows them to use even Expert-level Saol Metaphor seemingly without end, and He otherwise has thrice as much Saol as any other.
Meridian of Grist
During His long life, Ældrassil had ascended, becoming an Aspect of Grist; a Meridian.
Three-Among-Many
Each concept the Aspect embodies seeps into and influences the land around Ældrassil’s resting place and the Æld'Norai who inhabit it to this day.
To Govern Geomena
It was, in large part, Ældrassil's kinship to Geomena that drew Him to the mountains when searching for a place to rest. And now, through what remains of His Outer Alchemy and amplified by the arcane tree of Ælphyne, the earth and stone of the Myrkvior region is particularly dense in Saol.
- The mountains are thus rich in enchanted minerals, infusing the water which flows through them with a gentle glow. The water's color varies based on exactly what mineral composition suffuses it, and more often than not appears kaleidoscopic.
To Seek the Nocturnal
In life, Ældrassil was drawn to all things that thrived at night. Fungi, flora and fauna all were included in this deep fascination. Because of his Outer Alchemical influence and the tree's own magic, the Myrkvior mountains have become a haven to all three.
- Nocturnal creatures may find themselves drawn to the Myrkvior region and creatures that weren't nocturnal to start will find their sleeping patterns shifting during their stay within the mountains.
To Embody Biofluorescent Flora
While He lived, Ældrassil's body gradually shifted, and eventually, He became a hybrid of dragon and the glowing flora He Embodied. By the end of His long life, He was covered in myriad species, all of which carried with it some form of biofluorescence. This allowed Him to Invigorate Draoidh into Himself, eventually ascending in that Glamour as well.
- Now combined with a tree of Ælphyne, the living things within the Myrkvior region also share this Embodiment through what remains of Ældrassil's Outer Alchemy.
Fiadhaich of Draoidh
After cultivating the necessary gland, Ældrassil Awakened to Draoidh and, eventually, succeeded in His second ascension, becoming a Fiadhaich. With this ascension and His Governance of Geomena, the dragon was thus far more earthen than animalian.
Scion of the Night
Prior to His influence, Antarok was sorely lacking in flora that flourished under the light of the moon. While many such species existed, they failed to thrive and those with biofluorescent properties were especially rare. To Ældrassil, this was a deep tragedy, and as such, He made it his life's imperative to remedy it. Over time, He utilized Florabind to collect his favorites out of that which He Embodied. Traveling far and wide to spread their seeds, He only lingered long enough to make sure His plants took root and grew strong before setting off again. The vast majority of plants of this nature were introduced into Antarok's varying ecosystems by His efforts.
Myrkvior, his Grove
Having always been a wanderer when He yet drew breath, Ældrassil's search for a final resting place was also one to finally find the perfect place where He could cultivate a Draoidh Grove of His own. Once He and the conclave of Sidhe Fae who accompanied Him had carved out the mountain basin and Invigorated Him into the tree of Ælphyne, the Saol of the ancient dragon's Draoidh began to seep into the land around Him just as much as that of His Grist.
- Within His Grove, the plants he Embodied, particularly those to which He was Bound, thrive. Further, His Saol has enriched the very earth, allowing all plants to find some degree of sanctuary within the mountains.
Ascendant of Somnis
Acquired shortly after Ældrassil had gone to sleep. To be expanded upon the completion of Arcadia's Pact, Somnis.
Illustrious Galsterei
Master of Terra
With His mastery of Terra, Ældrassil wove His sorcerous magics in harmony with His Grist and Draoidh, desiring to influence the earth around Him as a whole– stone, metals, plants, wildlife all included, and in order to do so, He required consummate skill as a Galsterei.
- Due to being an Aspect of both Grist and Draoidh, His Grove was also warped by both his mastery of Terra and the Geomena over which He holds Governance. The stone of the mountains is streaked with His magic, now both exceptionally hard and dense, though those tied to Him are able to far more easily manipulate it using their arcane arts than others. And within that stone, pockets of fine metals and gemstones became unusually common.
Master of Aqua
Aqua was acquired shortly after Terra, with Ældrassil taking to it quickly, wanting to exert influence over the water that ran through the earth. Water is, after all, an integral facet in every ecosystem.
- The water which flows through the mountains is thus infused, rich in enchanted minerals, granting it a gentle glow. The water's color varies based on exactly what mineral composition suffuses it, and more often than not appears kaleidoscopic.
Master of Zephyr
Acquired last chronologically, Ældrassil added Zephyr to His arcane repertoire in order to have complete control over ecosystems. In His mind, this would allow Him to modulate any land He came across just enough to accommodate whatever it was He wished to plant. Further, when He finally found the perfect place for His Grove, He’d be able to customize it as He saw fit– atmosphere included.
- The entirety of Ælheim is colder than what one might expect given the rest of the region around it; this is due to Ældrassil’s magics altering the atmosphere via wind currents.
Poetics
Ældrassil has achieved mastery in both Syphon and Apparation. In some Æld'Norai rituals which require immense amounts of Saol, He will grant His children His own if initiated within His boughs. Additionally, His Tendrils will reactively burst forth from the earth in defense of the Myrkvior Basin if necessary.
Consummate Theorist
Those capable of communing with Him through their dreams often seek His wisdom, as Ældrassil possesses Grandmastery in all three Theorems with a Dominion in each.
