The Land of Seven Rivers: Shindolay

[Troll Lord]

The Land of Seven Rivers

Shindolay is High Elven, loosely translated into the Vulgate it means the Land of Seven Rivers. Though in truth the translation is inaccurate, for lay is a word that literally translates river land but has, in the elven tongue greater meaning, referring to origins as in the source of life, being water and soil and the earth, more than land that is defined by one geographic particular or the other. The word shin means awareness. A more accurate translation would be the seven rivers where the people became aware, meaning that the elves came from the seven life giving rivers. But in these latter days, even in elven parlance, it has come to be known as the Land of Seven Rivers, the homeland of the elves.

Shindolay came to be when the All Father dreamed it. Aihrde had long existed when the Land of Seven Rivers grew from the All Fathers mind. He dreamed of a broad expanse of land, where the grasses grew all year long and hills were forested and only tall enough to capture the snows of the high altitudes. The land was lit by a calm light that was not too hot nor too distant. This light had no origins. There was light. The land was surrounded by a deep darkness and those who dwelt there could see as if it were day, but when they looked up, their horizons, indeed the whole sky, was made of an inky blackness. This was the Great Deep, the Void. The elves name it the Dark Lake. There no lights shone, but on occasion a light passes through, bright, colored sometimes, like a great commit. And this is the movement of some creature or event in the Empty.

Through this land of eternal light flowed seven rivers, each of varying sizes and lengths, but none greater or lesser than the other. These rivers were named in his dream; there was the long river of Am, the blue running waters of Aul, the shallow clear waters of Hue, in the high mountain tumbled the tumultuous, powerful waters of the Loth, upon the long open planes meandered the Pth river, and beyond that in a low range of forested hills the dark and brooding, slow moving Ra, and the seventh river was called the Uul, in later days the Damnun, for it flowed underground for great lengths of its course. The All Father dreamed these seven rivers and he dreamed a wilderland around them of trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses. Animals passed through these lands too, but beyond them his wild imaginings gave life to all manner of strange creatures, they resembled the fey of Aihrde in many respects. And into this dream came the elves, conjured from beautiful, timeless thoughts of the All Fathers and they mirrored those thoughts being wonderful to gaze upon. Too they were deathless unless met by some violent end. These elves were dreamed of in seven peoples and they each came to be upon the banks of the seven rivers and they were given life and became aware.

Each of the seven peoples took the name of the river upon which they dwelled and in those long ago days they were still seven.

The Am reflected the river upon which they dwelt. The river Am is the longest in the whole of Shindolay and all rivers drain into it. Its origins begin the high mountains, where it is fed by mountain run offs. The water begins slowly but picks up speed and strength so that where it ends, tumbling into the Void, it is a mighty river. It is strong and constant and so are the Teth-Aet-Am who dwell upon its shore. They are the tallest of the elves and the most noble, with silver or golden hair. They are skilled hunters, but greater sorcerers as well. Most of the great elven wizards, druids and sages come from the Teth-Aet-Am. They are kindly people if aloof and only a little arrogant. They cloak themselves in magic more than the mundane things of the world. They dwell in long houses made of living trees that they carefully cultivate into their homes, shaping them as they do.

Aul is one of the most beautiful rivers in all of Shindolay, its banks are low and shallow and covered in fields of wild flowers and deep yellow-green grasses. The water that feeds them is a deep, calm blue. It runs slowly over its long course and is filled with all manner of fish. Those who dwell on its banks, the Teth-Aet-Aul are a shorter people who ply their canoes and water craft along the rivers course. They are fisherman for the most part. They live in small family groups of one to two score. The Teth-Aet-Aul dwell in homes that line wide bridges that span the river. These homes are fashioned of a yellow-green stone quarried in the fields near by and are highly decorative, with frescoes and statues. They are built into the river and use it to feed their many fountains, pools and ponds.

The river Hue (pronounced hway) is a shallow river whose bottom is covered in smooth stones. The waters tumble over these rocks, gurgling and bubbling for many long miles. The water is extremely clear, rarely clouded by dirt or mud. Where there are no rocks there are bars of fine sand, The river is favored by all manner of beasts for the water here is good to drink. The elves who dwell upon the river, the Teth-Aet-Hue are a smaller folk, usually only 4 to 5 feet in height. They dwell in rock houses built into the banks of the river. They fashion the rocks into shapes that fit their needs. They are the greatest stone masons in all the Seven Rivers. They dress in simple clothing but often tie their long hair back in tails. They have wide eyes and friendly jovial faces.

The Loth is fed by a huge glacier high in the mountains. It tumbles down through cliffs and crags fighting its way to the plains below. It is lined with amazing water falls and its currents are twisted and strong. The water is jade green in many places because the river bottom is home to many gems, jade and turquoise. Trees line the banks of the river, growing right up to the edges and the many falls often end in deep tree lined pools. It is here that the Teth-Aet-Loth dwell. They build their houses in the deep pools and the trees that line them. Though they are not aquatic they are able to survive under the water for a long time. They connect their homes with rope bridges and walkways round the trees from about mid way to their tops. They Teth-Aet-Loth are a tall people, with deep red or blond hair. They are broad, being the largest of all the elves. They are very prideful. They work gems like others do clay and the wealth and beauty of their realm is without compare in Shindolay. It is from these people that the line of Daladon and Metlowg sprung, for there are of the noble blood of the Lothian.

The Pth river is a wide, slow moving meandering flood. It wanders through much of Shindolay, the hills and plains both. Its banks are gentle, the wild grasses growing right up to and in the river. The Teth-Aet-Pth are average in height and have silver or gold colored hair. They are hunters and herdsman. They are skilled horsemen and use the beast to gather and watch over vast herds of wild cattle. They do not own the herds but rather travel with them following their courses. They live in tents that are often huge, multi-roomed affairs. The Teth-Aet-Pth are a warlike people and revel in the hunt and violent sports.

The Ra is the shortest of the rivers of Shindolay. Its origins like in the Dark Lake and it is believed that its waters come from the original well spring of the All Fathers mind. The water itself is dark, even in the light of day. It moves slow, burbling once in awhile when some fissure beneath the riverbed opens up and water fills it in. The elves here, the Teth-Aet-Pth are tall, slinder and possessed of long hair that is universally platinum. They are a quiet folk, brooding like the river. They are skilled craftsmen, philosophers and sages.

The Uul is a deep river that is underground for the most part only bubbling up in short lake like streams before it vanishes beneath the ground again. Its waters are too cold to drink and only a few elves call this river their home. Indeed the Teth-Aet-Uul are the least of the seven tribes, for their numbers were never great. The river does no invite one to live there and it is held that it is the only thing that is marred in the Seven Lands. Of course the Teth-Aet-Uul, dark skinned elves with white hair and pale eyes, would not agree. Their river is the course of dreams they say and those who would know their hearts desires fulfilled need only sleep upon its banks and listen to its subtle charms. In after ages the Uul was renamed the Damnun for it is where the Fontenouq attempted to cross over to Aihrde before the Shindolay was closed off. They were trapped there and spent many long years in that limbo.

The elves dwelt in The Land of Seven Rivers in a timelessness that only they could grasp. In Shindolay there is no day or night. There are no seasons. There is little that denotes time other than events. They came to understand the universe differently than all the other peoples for they were removed in their own dimension. In many respects they are like the foul demons of the Shadow Realms, for those creatures too do not understand time. Much of this timeless is reflected in their language because they cannot reference the concept, but they speak more of moments that occur. Coming of Age for elves is very important as it is a milestone that denotes not time but the ability to cope.

Shindolay is not a land without dangers and those who dwell there are not unskilled in the fashioning of arms and weapons. Beasts stalk the deeps and dwell in the river bottoms. But more than that the Void looks upon Shindolay and there is no Wall of Worlds to keep out the horrors that dwell in that Empty place. Only the sorcery of the elves.

Elven sorcerers had long since discovered the world of Aihrde and the other dimensions. They spoke of these strange universes and dimensions and attempted to study them. Some few, very powerful wizards, could cross over to them. But few of these returned and those that did were affected in some way and always sought to cross the divides again or withered away.

When the All Father died and The Land of Seven Rivers fell into the world of Aihrde the elves were free to cross over into the world. Many did so, mostly people from the Pth, Ra and Uul. But there were members of all the tribes that crossed over and they mingled together for they entered the strange lands and dimensions without friend and many foes. Those that entered the Shadow Realms found themselves at war with the hosts that controlled those planes and many died in the deep pits of those demons. But some survived and they carved out for themselves fiefdoms upon the blasted planes and ruled them with war, blood and iron. Some found their way into Stone Fields and other planes and these died or thrived as it always is. But many and the greater part of them came to Aihrde, mostly around the Channel Lakes. Some found themselves upon the fringes of the Marl and almost immediately were at war with the orcs lords who dwelt there. The orcs there were ferocious and hated all things that lived and they fell upon the elves with a lust. The elves adapted quickly to the new world and learned the crafts of weapon smithy from the orcs themselves. These early wars created a great loathing in the elves and the orcs bore the brunt of their wrath ever after. Though for their part the orcs do not hate elves any more than they hate all the other peoples of the world. They do however find elves far more tasty.

But in Shindolay the world of the Seven Rivers continued on. Some elves, those possessed of great pride, did not cross over, though they watched and learned. They fashioned armaments for themselves, tall helms, long spears and swords, in case some day these wars spilled over into their own plane. In time there was a free traffic between Aihrde and Shindolay, though the paths and gates were hidden, those who knew them could cross back and forth as they desired.
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[Tadhg]

That's excellent Steve, thanks for posting this!

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[skathros]

Damn Steve, this reminds me of the old days when all we had on the forums was Erde and you'ed grace us now and then with tales from the setting. Very cool stuff! Long live Erde (you can call it what you want...it's still Erde to me )

[moriarty777]

skathros wrote:
Damn Steve, this reminds me of the old days when all we had on the forums was Erde and you'ed grace us now and then with tales from the setting. Very cool stuff! Long live Erde (you can call it what you want...it's still Erde to me )

Easier to spell too!

M
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[Treebore]

So Steve,

When you say the greater part of them went to Erde, you do mean the greater part of those who actually left the 7 Rivers, correct? I ask because otherwise this contradicts what you say later about the greater part of them staying in the 7 Rivers.

Also this sentence is confusing to me:

"The orcs there were ferocious and hated all things that lived and they fell upon the orcs with a lust."

I believe you meant to say the orcs fell upon the elves with lust?
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[Troll Lord]

Thanks gents! There are two more fleshed out pieces on the migrations and wars. Beyond that is a time track of when they left and short notes for years about large events, such as the Quest Knights etc. This needs some cleaning as I probably should have prefaced it with, Jim is interested in putting the whole thing into the Crusader following one of the story arcs.

Steve
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The High Lord, Coburg the Undying

He who sits on the elephants back

Castle and Crusade Society
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[Troll Lord]

skathros wrote:
Damn Steve, this reminds me of the old days when all we had on the forums was Erde and you'ed grace us now and then with tales from the setting. Very cool stuff! Long live Erde (you can call it what you want...it's still Erde to me )

Thanks! Man I would work on this every day if I could! hahah

Steve
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He who sits on the elephants back

Castle and Crusade Society
troll@trolllord.com

[Troll Lord]

Treebore wrote:
So Steve,

When you say the greater part of them went to Erde, you do mean the greater part of those who actually left the 7 Rivers, correct? I ask because otherwise this contradicts what you say later about the greater part of them staying in the 7 Rivers.

Also this sentence is confusing to me:

"The orcs there were ferocious and hated all things that lived and they fell upon the orcs with a lust."

I believe you meant to say the orcs fell upon the elves with lust?

Nice catch. Yes they fell upon the elves with lust. I'll fix that directly.

And it is a contradiction. I"ll fix that too, no the greater part went to Erde....errr Aihrde....leaving Shindolay a vacant land. What remains are those that are too proud to cross over. Their numbers are small but their power is great. They do not greet the migrants with kindness when they return and those who do return are governed harshly by their long ruling lords of Shindolay. There is some strife, especially later when the Fontenouq begin causing trouble, wishing to return again Aihrde.

Nice catch treebore!

Steve
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[Treebore]

No problem Steve! I think I catch these kinds of things from editing all of my wife's books.

I have to say I love the creation myth for each of the elves and the ways you have them live.
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[Omote]

GAH! Should have saved this for a Crusader article!

-O
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[Troll Lord]

It will be Omote. But it will be expanded with the other material I dug up. The time line and some events such as the Quest Knights. As Treebore pointed out it will need some editing of course!
Look for this in issue 15 (as 14 is almost done).

Steve
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