Taurë Winter aspect of Kemí, Father of the Ylvani, King under the Stars Taurë is the winter aspect of Kemí, the father of Ylvani, and the estranged mate of Cualúr. He is the teacher, the warrior, the judge and the ruler. In the age of darkness, Galudur, the first and wisest of the trees lamented his cold and lonely existence. He plead to the world for companionship, and Kemí heard the call. Kemí was unable to go to Galudur, as it was needed where it was, but did send a piece of itself to the material world: Taurë. Taurë brought with him the people of Neylar. Galudur, greatful for the companionship, blessed the land where they lived, and thus it became the Wenya, the blessed land. For all their days, the Neylar filled the Wenya with music and dance, singing and joy. As the years passed, Taurë grew increasingly fascinated by the poetry he heard as he slept, and the face he saw in his dreams. He knew that he could not leave the starlight world to seek out the face, had to reach out to her somehow. He sought out the greatest musician among the Neylar, so he held a contest to find the greatest muscian among the Neylar. The winner of the contest was the bard Lindele. Lindele [did something to allow Lokte to enter the world of the night]. Lindele taught Lokte how to play sing, and Lokte taught Lindele how to write, and the song they created brought the Neylar and the Scalar (and Taurë and Cualúr) together. From this union came the Atani, the people of sun and stars. Cualúr and Taurë were united, and in their love they begot two children, Ethelë and Duór. Cualúr and Taurë, Ethelë and Duór lived in harmony and this was the Age of Harmony. The Age of Harmony ended with the arrival of Úr-Rassë. Cualúr and Taurë discovered the beast on the frozen mountains at the edge of the Wenya. It said that it was beset upon by a foul creature named Málrýtil, and that its arrow of cold iron was tainted with poison. Úr-Rassë sought Galudur, hoping that the wise tree would be able to heal his wounds. Noble Taurë agreed to aid the beast, though Cualúr was distrustful of the creature. She feared the creature's brutal strength, but Taurë trusted the creature, seeing honor in it's bearing. Úr-Rassë promised to protect Taurë in gratitude for his aid, and Taurë took the beast into their home. True to his word, Úr-Rassë protected Taurë and his family from threats from outside the Wenya, saving their lives on many occassions and protectin the Atani as well. Sadly, neither Taurë nor Úr-Rassë knew that Málrýtil was still hiding within the Wenya. He could not destroy Galadur while Taurë and Cualúr still lived, and he could not strike at them while Úr-Rassë was guarding them. So Málrýtil tried a more cunning approach. He sought to corrupt their children, and convince them to fell Galadur. Ethelë heard the promised and lies of Málrýtil, but did not heed them. He was far too impulsive and frolicsome to learn the lessons Málrýtil would teach. These habits frustrated Taurë, Cualúr and even Úr-Rassë on many occasions, but here they proved to be Ethelë's salvation. Duór, who was much more studious (and credulous) and eager to impress her parents, was much more receptive. Duór learned at the feet of Málrýtil, and in his twisted lessons he convinced her to fell the great tree Galadur. This was the greatest and most terrible of crimes, and in comitting it, she cemented the taint of Málrýtil within all women, broke the Atani people forever more, and ended the blessed age forever more. It was Úr-Rassë who witnessed the crime and he was too late to stop it. Málrýtil himself struck out at Úr-Rassë to give her the time she needed to commit the deed, and when the tree was felled, the Atani people were broken. The entire world suffered cataclysmic damage, and the Wenya was forever lost. Málrýtil fled, and Úr-Rassë had no choice to to inform Taurë of what had transpired. When Taurë learned that his own daughter had felled the great tree Galudur, he wept. But duty cannot be washed away by tears, and the punishment for such a treacherous crime was clear. Úr-Rassë offered to take on this grim errand, as no father should have to pass sentence on his own child, but Taurë declined. His duty was is own, and he could not put it aside. When Taurë asked Cualúr's aid, she refused to join him. She plead with Taurë to forgive Duór her crime, to go one as if she had done nothing wrong. She was willing to sacrifice all of her people if her daughter could just go on living. Taurë saw that the taint of Malrytil had spread to his beloved Cualúr, and she was lost to him as well. Hoping to save his people, Taurë went to his son Ethelë and enlisted his aid in finding Duór and Málrýtil. Ethelë promised to stand beside him and Cualúr against any foe, but could not stand against either. So long as they were across purposes, Ethelë could not intervene. He could not blame him son for his choice, for it was Taurë's duty, and his son should not have to bear it. Against all and anything, he would protect his people. When Taurë finally found Duór, she had taken her own life. She had swallowed a poison she herself had brewed, with the knowledge she gained from Málrýtil. She had hoped that in doing so, she could make up for her error. Taurë knew better. He told his dying daughter even fleeing beyond the River Therelen, she could not escape justice. He set upon his daughter a penance: The people who, because he her actions, trapped on the far side of the River Therelen would need someone to aid them, to guide them and to keep them from peril on their journey into the afterlife. Duór would be responsible for this. Perhaps in doing this, she could in some way repay the debt to her people and to the world that she destroyed. Taurë then set about to hunt Málrýtil, and the cleanse those who had been befouled by his taint. To punish those who did his bidding, and in doing so make right what had been made wrong. Úr-Rassë would fight at his side for all time and against all odds. Holy Books & Codes Gemil Taurë (the Sword of the Father) is a collection of songs and stories that chronicle the mythical history of the Scalar and Neylar, the Atani, and their sundering into the Ylvani. Many of the tales told within the book are framed as Taurë teaching life lessons to his children, defending and avenging wrongs done to his family or his people, and occasionally making right the wrongs made possible when Cualúr took pity on or showed mercy to the wrong people. Úr-Rassë is commonly featured as a loyal companion, a defender and a voice of caution to the normally bold and decisive Taurë. Cualúr is shown in most stories as a lover, healer and advocate of mercy, but in many stories, this advice is naive, and leads to unforeseen peril to the Ylvani people or the natural world. Málrýtil is the primary antagonist of the stories, a creature that sustains himself on deception, destruction and defiling all that is good and just in the world. Dogma Taurë is the sword of justice, and his teachings extol the virtues of valor, courage, nobility and bravery. Even the smallest candle illuminates a darkened night, and thousand such candles will outshine a single bonfire. No good deed, no matter how small, is ever wasted, but any good deed left undone by those with the power to do it is an evil. Taurë is the rightful ruler of the Ylvani people, and his duty is the protect his subjects. The Ylvani, as superior mortal specimens, are are the rightful leaders and exemplars of the people of the world. The Taurec faithful must accept this mantle, and act accordingly. The world looks to them to see how a just and virtuous people comport themselves. Taboos When Malrytil convinced Duor to cut down the great tree Galadur, she succumbed to the taint of Malrytil. When Cualúr stood opposed to Taurë, unwilling to punish Duor for the greatest crime in all of history, she allowed the taint of Malrytil to spread to all of womankind. Because of these choices, the Taurec Church teaches that women cannot be priests, and for them to wield divine power is an abomination. This attitude pervades other aspects of Yelin society. Women are seen as the source of "original sin," as all children are born from women. Having one's first child be a daughter is considered an ill omen for the family. When a man and woman are together, it's considered bad luck for the woman to enter first. While these customs are habitual While the Taurec faithful are not as averse to use of metal as Cualurans, they retain the same antipathy towards the use of magic to animate normally inanimat objects, and consider golems, intelligent items, and clockwork constructions to be vile things. They will also make a point of covering metal in holy places, especially in churches, temples and shrines dedicated to Kemi or its aspects. It is rare for a Taurec cleric, acolyte or guardsman armed with weapons that cannot be scabbarded. Temples and Shrines Temples to Taurë typically feature expensive and exquisite architecture, the equal of any Ylvani noble manor. They often feature high vaulted ceilings, large windows with finely etched designs, lush carpeting and comfortable seating and intricately carved stonework. Fine Ylvani artistry can be seen anywhere you look within a Taurec temple. The ecclesiastical leadership of the Taurec Church is comprised of exiled nobility, so naturally there is an inclination to ensure that the church is seen as being on equal footing with the great noble houses. Even temples built in small towns or foreign enclaves for the common Ylvani tend towards the opulent, even if simply in relation to their more humble surroundings. The commoners see their local temple as their share of nobility, and great pride is held in maintaining the temple's luxuries in even the leanest of times to the best of their collective ability. One thing that is never seen in the construction of a Taurec temple is iron. The Taurec faithful do not have the same level of aversion to metal and Cualurans, but on some level metal is tainted my Malrytil, and is not appropriate for usage in holy places, or for holy symbols. Divine Symbols & Sigils The sword and the burning antlers. [Four inter-linked knots or arrows or other interlocking design. Each of the aspects has their own section of the symbol. Taure's is the south] Tenets of Faith Veneration of Taurë looks different among different Ylvani Aldwarwa The Aldwarwa see Taurë as something between a misguided hero and a unwitting vector for the taint of Malrytil. He receives some veneration as a figure of arcane knowledge and martial strength. Ylvani Erume Taurë is viewed by the Erume as an obstinate and wrathful disciplinarian, prone to setting severe punishments for minor infractions of rules set in place for their own sake, rather than for any practical or useful purpose. Úr-Rassë would be set upon any who would defy Taurë's decree, as well as those with the temerity to question whether painful death is the proper punishment for small infractions against the will of the Father. Taurë and Úr-Rassë are venerated as givers of law, figures of strength and destroyers of the wicked, but Ethellen teachings often feature Ethelle saving his people from the horns of Úr-Rassë, then using his wit and will to stay his father's continued wrath. Ylvani Yelin Taurë is the central moral figure of Yelin worship of Kemi. He was the only one of the family of Kemi with the moral fortitude to maintain purity in the face of corruptions and betrayal. He was greatly saddened by his duty, but did it anyway, because his people needed the right thing to be done, and only he would do it. Some credit Taurë's broad intelligence and intimate knowledge of magic, while others credit his moral fortitude and vast wisdom. Perhaps it was his great discipline and martial prowess that allowed him to say the righteous path, or perhaps it was the loyalty and support of Úr-Rassë's that saw him through. Theologians might quibble over the details, but the Yelin broadly understand that Taurë is the hero among the family of Kemi. Half Ylvani A growing segment of the Leithelenan half-Ylvani have come to see Malrytil as a liberator, freeing magic from the greedy clutches of Galadur. Taurë is viewed as the sword arm of a tyrant. Even if his ways are honorable, his outlook is that magic does not belong to mortals, it belongs to gods, and thus he is an enemy of Malrytil. Other Worshipers and Faiths Among that Karrak Taar is known as the mountain king. It is said that from him that the Ulvan (Ylvani) and Kynar, are born. Legend says when the Karrak arrived upon Skaan, Marlena came to Taar, and bade him to slay Unthar and his followers, for they had spurned her rulership, and would bring ruin upon his land and his people. Taar, at first, was inclined to agree. He set upon Unthar and his people with blizzards and his followers raided the Karrak in hopes of driving them from Taar's land. But Unthar and his people were strong. They endured the snow and the winds, they resisted and repelled the raids, and they refused to return to the sea. St. Unthar journeyed to Kashiractyl and demanded an audience with Taar. He offered to face him in single combat for the right to settle upon Skaan and live in peach with the natives. Taar agreed and lost the duel, though stories differ on whether this was due to Taar taking mercy on the mortal, or because he underestimated Unthar's strength. Whatever the reason, Taar declared a truce, and Marlena was unhappy. She slew Taar's wife Umar, and lay a geas upon their children to slaughter and destroy until no one lived upon Skaan. With her dying breath, and the blessing of Amangyr, Umar separated the corruption from her children, creating the blessed (Ulvan) and the damned (Kynar). Taar, in gratitude for Amangyr's blessing and to spite Marlena, forged an alliance with the Untharans which would stand until the day Malena's storms stood forever still. The Cherekoth hold that the Tor is one of the four fiends who poisoned Koth and cut him into a thousand thousand pieces. It was from these pieces that the Cherekoth were born, and the ritual of eating humanoid flesh is Koth trying to restore himself to his former glory to take his rightful place as the ruler of all lands. Tor and his horde chased the Cherekoth from their first home. In the Free Cities, the Knights of Tavok are known as the Cold Hand of Justice, and they venerate Avorre. Avorre is worshiped as a god of truth and righteous vengeance; the bane of fugitives and those who would harbor them. He spends eternity hunting the fiendish Tarel, and those who have received his blessings. Divine Goals & Aspirations Taurë is said to want to see the light of the world restored, and with it the blessed age and the restored Atani. This cannot happen until Malrytil has been slain. Malrytil himself continues to lurk in the shadows and other hidden places, growing his power through the temptation and corruption of mortal beings. Those who have the greatest capacity for purity such as the Ylvani, are the most fruitful targets, but other civilized humanoids are also fertile ground for such corruption. Because the Ylvani are such great vessels for purity, it is only natural that they take the lead in the fight to expunge Malrytil's taint from the people of Temnia. In addition to the fight for justice, Taurë is a champion for the responsible use of magic, which is (for the most part) the use of magic by those who are sufficiently educated and who demonstrate the proper moral disposition. Magic is far too dangerous to be left to warlocks, hedge mages, and other arcane dilettantes. Thus Taurë bids his people that such dangerous artifacts and unruly casters be locked away for the protection of the world at large. ------------- The Church of Winter King Father of the Ylvani, Winter aspect of Kemí Structure The Ecclesiasty is one of the five great estates of Yelin society. It is a seen by most as a co-equal segment of high society, along with the Nobility (in whom land and rulership are invested) and the Arcanistry (which controls the knowledge and usage of arcane magic). It is structurally superior to the low estates, the artistry and the commoners. The Ecclesiasty is structured as a sort of 14th "Noble" house, which is comprised of members of the nobility who have graduated from seminary, and have forsaken their noble title and inheritance for a position within the Church of Taurë. The nobles two undertake this path have poor prospects of advancement within their own houses and choose to try their luck within the church hierarchy, have become an active hindrance to an elder noble's ambitions within the court and are need to be moved out of the way, or who demonstrate potential as a divine caster. Unlike titles of Nobility, Ecclesiastic rank cannot be inherited. Each church leader is appointed by their hierarchical superior. Also, women cannot be named to any position within the Ecclesiasty, as women wielding divine power is considered heretical. The church of Taurë administrates their own lands tithed from the other noble houses, and are answerable only to their own hierarchy and the king. The church leadership, being comprised of displaced nobles, has structured itself in a manner very similar to the noble houses. They jealously guard the dignity of their titles, are sticklers for the proprieties of address and the equivalencies of their rank with their noble peers. Woe to the forgetful Lord Noble who addresses a Cardinal as "Your Reverence" instead of "Your Holiness." Leadership The administration of church lands is delegated through the authority of the Vicar, who serves at the leisure of the King of the Yelin. While he can be replaced at any time, the Vicar is traditionally a lifetime appointment. The Vicar will, when necessary, appoint Cardinals to see to administration of church business on a regional level. There are 13 such Cardinals, one for each Great Houses, and each of whom is considered equivalent in rank to a Lord Paramount. Each member of the Ecclesiasty has formally renounced their Noble title and legacy, but tradition dictates that church leaders are not appointed to serve within lands that they to which may have once held bloodties. This helps eliminate any ambiguities of loyalty. In addition to the provincial Cardinals, the Vicar also appoints a council of advisers, which are given the rank of High Cardinal. Though they do not command any lands of their own, they often command forces and resources which transcend regional jurisdictions. These advisers are known as the Circumpolar Council. Champion-High Commander: This is the personal Champion of the Vicar, and often considered the most powerful and accomplished member of the Holy Orders of the Winter's Guard. He is the Vicar's bodyguard, but will also be sent to represent the Vicar's interest (and thus the Church's interest) on errands that require great martial strength or skill. He is also the commander of all those with the title of Templar Champion, even above those bestowed the mantle of championship upon them. While he is technically a peer of the High Cardinals of the Vicar's Council, the Champion-High Commander does not actually hold rank higher than Champion. High Cardinal Partisan: The commander of the Holy Orders of the Winter's Guard, the military organization of The Church of Taure. There are 13 orders, each of whom operate within the lands of a Provincial Cardinal. High Cardinal Inquisitor: In charge of the The Order of the Noble Hunt, the spies of the church. This group is informally known as the Inquest. High Cardinal Crusader: In charge of the Holy Crusades of the Winter's Soldiers, those military forces who protect Taurec interests outside the Terra Orforne. High Cardinal Evangelist: In charge of the misson, those non-military forces who are doing Taure's work without the aid of sword and spear. High Cardinal Consultant: Acts as the liaison between the Provincial Cardinals the Vicar. Also the defacto "second" to the Vicar. The other Cardinals administer church business at a provincial level, lands tithed by a specific Great House, or their Banner and Vassal Houses. While officially separate from the Lords Paramount, the prestige of a Great House at court reflects upon the Cardinal who administers that house's tributed land. This means that Cardinals then to see their local Lord Paramount as only slightly inferior to themselves, and works to bolster their standing within court whenever possible. Provincial Cardinals, like the Vicar they serve, appoint Diocesans to administer regional matters. They also have a small group of advisers called the Council of Bishops, and also retain a Champion Commander. Local Structure The relationship between Vicar and Cardinal is echoed between Cardinals and Diocesans, Diocesans and Abbots, Abbots and priests, though priests and those who work beneath them within the church, are not part of the Ecclesiasty. They are mundane church leaders. typically commoners or artisans who are moved by faith to become part of the church. Abbots will lead the church from a central temple, typically within the largest town or city with the Banner Land. They will see to it that any settlement of worthwhile size has a house of worship and a competent priest. If the settlement is large enough to have multiple houses of worship, he will appoint a High Priest (sometimes referred to as a Deacon) to lead them. He will also assign itinerant priests (referred to as Low Priests or Friars) to wander the rural holdings and ensure that small settlements have their shrines maintained. Suborginitions The Order of the Noble Hunt Holy Orders of the Winter's Guard Holy Crusades of the Winter's Soldiers Denominations, Splinter Groups and Regional Variants Among the Ylvani Er'Senya Er'kaan Taurec hardline faction who sees the other Ylvani as corrupting influence. Some take the view that a grand crusade that would establish an Ecclesiastic Empire is the best means of cleansing the sin from this world. They also believe that that nobility is corrupt, and should be subordinated under the Vicar. Malorsenya Colloquially known as the 'Black Brotherhood,' A group of rogue inquisitors dedicated to finding women who can channel divine power and destroying them. The church has disowned them, as their methods are abhorrent, and often they attack women in general. They were originally called the Order of the Starless Night until their official excommunication, and some of the members still refer to themselves as such. Melavalan Mainstream Tauric worship centers on the idea that the stain of Malrytil must be removed from the Ylvani before Taure and Cualur can be reunited. The philosophy of the Malavalan is that unity must come first, and by working and acting as one, the Ylavani can become a single people once more. Twen'Durae Anarchists and heretics, populists and free thinkers, the Twen'Durae see the church as having become a cudgel that the nobility has used to keep the common people in poverty. Outside the Terra Orforne Avorre, the Cold Hand of Justice Taar, the Father of the Winterfolk Divine Casters within the Church Cleric ??? Archivist ??? Druid ??? Inquisitor ??? Oracle / Favored Soul ??? Paladin / Champion ??? Ranger / Slayer ??? Shaman ??? Shugenja ??? Warpriest ???