Feralian
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The feralian have based their entire Elven Culture on the teachings of one of the elves greatest philosophers and teachers; Morath Feralian. In the years before his disappearance, Morath prophesised that the elven race would stagnate and become weak and one day the elven civilisation would fall.
Morath’s scriptures on the subject indicated that, for the elven race to survive, they would need to adopt a new culture, where the weak die out and the strong live on. The elven society would survive through the propagation of favourable traits; strength, agility, intelligence and magical ability. When Morath Feralian died, his scriptures on the subject were lost only to re-appear a number of years after the separation from the homelands.
No one knows where or how the scriptures were found, but it did not take long for them to be copied and distributed among the elves. Those who agreed with Morath’s teachings began to follow his principles strictly.
Refusing to associate with elves they considered to be lesser, their culture grew and developed to ensure only the best traits were passed onto the next generation.
As time went by, these elves began to divide into groups that shared similar ideals and traits. These groups became known as prides and started to develop their own hierarchy. At the head of each pride stood the Altar [Al-Tar], the one amongst them that considered to have the strongest traits. The Altar is the leader of the pride and governs on behalf of their people.
The hierarchy and interplay between Prides is complex and ever changing as each Pride determines their own interpretation of Morath’s teachings.
These elves began to call themselves Feralian.
Contents
Prides of the Feralian(top)
Very few have crossed the silent eaves of Caerlyn and returned. Little is known of how many Prides live within the shadows and the elves themselves give no answer.
The citizens of the kingdom are warned from travelling through the forest except on the roads, and even then only with local guides. The forests of the Caerlyn have more than elves roaming in them and are the stuff of tales and nightmares to small children everywhere in the world.
Stories of other Feralian enclaves persist across the Kingdom, but are regarded by scholars as little more than myth. Since the Days of Fire much contact has been lost, except for a small collection of prides that live in the wastes of The Barrens far to the east in the Shield Lands.
Despite all that is known about them, feralian numbers are on the decline. Never being the most numerous in the first place, as they were the ones that decided not to settle into the cities, a small pride of feralians could number as little as five, where as a large pride would number no more than twenty. This is due to the harsh living conditions and the slow reproduction of both elven races. It is common place for smaller prides to merge if numbers become too low to be sustainable.
It is rumoured amongst the Kingdom that Lord Harper, Baron of Caerlyn maintains a winter residence in the forests of Caerlyn, in a location which is known by only a few of the king’s trusted allies. A sign between the feralians and the humans that there is peace and an alliance between them, as long as they agree to Kingdom Law. Most feralians know the location though!
Feralian Beliefs vs. The Theocracy(top)
Known for their own writings and beliefs, the Feralian Elves of Caerlyn are seen by many faithful as blasphemous and divergent. This is widely rumoured to be propagated from Sarquand at the heart of The Theocracy, despite feralian elves being members of the Northern Alliance and loyal subjects of King Edric of Elland.
The Theocracy has special groups that travel the length and breadth of the continent to destroy these particular writings and scriptures; which are burnt as heretical wherever they are found in human settlements.
Despite numerous tales of Theocracy crimes against Feralian Prides, there are very few reciprocal stories of crimes from the oppressed against their oppressors, which in turn give feralians in the Kingdom of Elland a measure of protection and respectability by those loyal to the King.
The Ritual of Sacred Earth(top)
Once a year all the tribes travel back to Shar Renlah to participate in open trade negotiations and the blessing of the year ahead by worshippers of The Divine Assembly.
At the heart of these festivities, away from the bustle of the feralians prides, there is a more exclusive service that takes place. This is at the heart of elven teachings, and is known as the ritual of the sacred earth, or the blessing of the soil.
No one that participates in this service may talk about it outside of the forest, and to do such is considered a breach of etiquette and high treason, punishable by death in all cultures of elven society, be they feralian or Ethrin.
So few have seen the service that many do talk about the nature of it, without understanding the truth. These are allowed to continue as long as the lies they propagate do not harm elves, in general, or the prides.
It is rumoured that in the past that other races had been invited to watch the ritual until an incident occurred. This altercation is referred to as the "Liviat Incident" in the few journals of that time that survived the Days of Fire.
It is now only available to the Altar’s of the Caerlyn Prides, and those they invite to join the service. It is considered a high honour to be recognised within Feralian society to be allowed to participate in the service. It is not unheard of to have an Ethrin elf join in the proceedings, but one has not done so for over a hundred years.
Feralian Views(top)
These are some of the generalised views of the feralian people.
Of the Ethrin; they have also lost the ways of the people, but more so they have lost the way of free elves. They should be treated with respect, for they are still elves. We weep for them.
Of the Haiesti; they call themselves traitors, for they are. They throw away what it means to be the people, what it means to be a Pride. They follow the creatures that are everyone’s enemies. They are our enemies as much as Orcs, Goblins and Undead. We must be mindful of these creatures lest they corrupt us with their strivings for power and greed.
Of the Elder; the old trees of the forest. They have seen much, are we are worthy to listen?
Of The Theocracy; they deny us, they cause us harm and distrust us at every turn. They are merely pawns taught to live their lives from a book of laws handed down to them by their seniors. Whilst there is a war against worse foes, and an alliance against common enemies; we will stay our hands.
Of Religion; despite The Theocracy’s treatment of us our brethren will follow the gods, praise be The Divine Assembly!
Appearance(top)
As with their Ethrin brothers, the feralian ritually tattoo themselves from the day they reach adulthood. However, feralians believe their tattoos have significantly more meaning to them as they depict their entire ancestral history and their pride.
The Feralian culture is a nomadic existence akin to real world Bedouin and Romany cultures. The two styles are interchangeable and there is no real distinction between the two and players are welcome to mix the two styles in any way to create the look they desire.
The Feralian prides differ in appearance and armour depending on their prides, for example some such as Braethnor favour are more rugged and rustic in their appearance favouring the browns and green of the forest and a more tribal feel dressing in leathers and hides.
Others such as Silyias favour long robes, and shimmering veils to better hide their tattoo research into magic. In the other extreme Harafar elves favour clean cut stark lines of simple cloth to highlight superiority is within than without.
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