On Cortus: Cortus is known as the "Last Haven of the Faithful" to the rest of the world. This is due in no small to the various Elvi races that make up a majority of the continent. Elvi population is virtually nonexistent in any other realm in Aterja. In most accounts Cortus is the birthplace of all mortal kind and these Elvi are charged with caring for this lush land. It is the largest of the continents spread across Aterja. Cortuslies in the western hemisphere of Aterja. Cortus is a land with 45 percent of it's landmass being covered in a vast forest that the Ligni call their domain. To its east Cortus boasts a magnificent mountain range that runs the length of the continent. This sky-scraping land is home to both the Nocti and the Dwarves. To the south and west are lush grasslands that the Hyuman and the dragonkin, Dacor, call their homes. In the south the Hyumans busy themselves with industrial endeavors which has gradually turned the southeast lands into a maze of industrialization and innovation. Their numbers have skyrocketed as the corruption has taken hold in distant lands and more and more refugees pour into Sucopera from the East. To the west the small kingdom of Elethone boasts its fantastic seamanship. It's people are known for their exquisite fish dishes, exotic songs and dance, and well as having the strongest Navy in all Aterja. The last of the kingdoms is the secretive haven of the Elvi, Cael. It is a sanctuary made by the Aurea for them. No mortal in Cortus know it's exact location. The only information they do have is that the Ligni and Nocti and venture away from their shores always do so to the far north. The kingdom shrouded in mist is the home to the Primi who have for centuries have prided themselves in their expert diplomatic prowess backed by powerful magical ability. For thousands of years now these different countries have lived in relative peace with one another. While the remainder of the world is consumed in shadow, Cortus alone stands as a beacon of hope. That is until unrest takes root in the heavenly kingdom of Cael. This is where our story begins.
There are rumors that there exists a land whose halls gleam with a never-fading golden glow. A land whose fields boast emerald reeds that dance in the gusts of the heavens. Some say its sapphire waters run so pure that one sip is said to sip from the hand of Faerae herself. Some whisper its people are so fair and so beautiful that to lays eyes on them would be akin to catching a glimpse of the Old Gods and would be enough to cause a man to avert his eyes in shame before them. Whatever rumor you have come to associate with the Floating Isles rest assured that rumor will utterly fail to capture the sheer benevolence of the Kingdom of the Gods.
All have heard of them and yet none have seen them save those who have. Those brave souls that have journeyed to the lands north of Cortus in search for this bountiful land have been many. None returned. Naturally this has only further fueled the need for rumor and hearsay to provide the knowledge of these lands. Surely a land hovering above the seas would be seen on a clear day if one were to sail the distance between the Northern Woodland and the Frozen Gap. Surely someone had to have seen it by now. Surely someone must know.
Cael it is called in the tongue of the Elvi. The Lifted Lands of the Gods it is called to the Dwarves . The Land of Plenty it is called to the Dacor . The Skysent Isles they are called to Men and it is here that we begin our tale. If Cael was to be considered the crown of Elvi society, then Primis is surely the jewel affixed neatly atop that crown. The capital is centrally located amongst all the other islands that made up the kingdom. It is the seat of the Caelyan government as it housed the entirety of the noble population. Primis is suspended much higher than the other islands almost as if it were pulled apart from them by some invisible hand to serve as a makeshift star for the kingdom to gravitate around. The island itself seemed to create its own atmosphere.
In that ozone, perched magnificently at the center of the waterfall strewn landscape of the capital, are the pure white spires of Arinel . True to word of mouth that circulated through the world below, Arinel boasted the glory of the Primi. The largest of all Castella on Primis it was the home of the Royal Family and the highest ranked officers of the Auremi Exerzitus. As such the size of the castrum would easily encompass a small town as traveling even a few miles would still see you inside the walls that encompassed its borders. Many of the pure white towers seemed to disappear into the very blue of the heavens above. The strength and splendor of Arinel could be seen by all on Primi and the islands below. The sun crested over the clouds illuminating the setting for the beginning of our tale a lazy yellow. The morning sun crept slowly up the intricate towers until finally spilling into a certain tower on the west wing of the tower.
“You know if you keep dragging your feet, you’re going to be late,” an elvi servant said as he flung open the curtains of the bedroom. With the extra flooding of light that entered the room the sleeping elvi in bed threw the blankets up over his head with a groan.
“Oh no you don’t,” the servant said and waved a hand. The blanket snatched itself from the bed as if he had pulled it away with his own hands.
“Hey!” the dark haired elvi in the bed exclaimed rushing to cover himself as he slept naked.
“Oh, come on. I’ve served you all your life. Nothing I haven’t seen before,” the servant said crossing the room to the adjacent washroom.
“Well. Yes. Something might have changed though and I’d like to keep them private, thanks” the recently wakened elvi said standing and following suit.
“Of course, Lord Initheo . Just trying to keep your time,” the servant said with a deep bow, his silver afro waving as he did so. “Didn’t I tell you not to call me that, Vitus ?” Initheo said sliding into the already drawn bath.
“You are my prince and Ad Aetatum is coming up. After that I’ll have no choice. You know this,” Vitus responding handing over the soaps for the bath.
“Well until that day I am just Theo to you, thanks. Don’t make me order you,” he said setting to work washing himself. “Is that so?” Vitus chuckled splashing the prince.
“You did not,” Initheo said waving a hand elegantly over the waters surface as he stood. A stream of the water rose with him and twirled itself around his body.
“Oh, is this how we are playing now?” Vitus asked moving into a defensive position. Initheo responded by sending the water out in a beam towards Vitus. Vitus, being naturally adept at magic, spun to his left to avoid the beam. Mid-spin he waved a hand along the beam and assumed control of it instead. He mimicked the prince’s action of twirling it around himself before arcing it up over the bathing elvi. He motioned downward and the water shot down to cover the prince while the water still left in the tub came up to meet it, trapping the prince inside. For a few seconds the prince was suspended in a sphere of water just above the tub.
The orb prison began to bubble in certain places as Vitus fought to keep it formed. Suddenly the orb shot out four water whips that wrapped themselves around Vitus’s limbs. Breaking focus, Vitus’s eyes widened as he was swept off his feet and tossed across the room to land on the padded bench along one of the walls. By the time he recovered the prince had already stepped out of the tub and wrapped himself in a towel.
“Thanks. Father and I train every night after my shift here. He wants to increase how much we train with the trials around the corner…” he trailed off not meeting Initheo’s eyes. The prince frowned.
“If you need to rearrange your schedule- “he started but Vitus shook his head violently.
“No. We…we need the money Theo. I can’t afford to cut days,” he said meekly. There was a moment of silence.
“What if we work in more extended shopping trips. I could arrange contracts for you to get special clearance to the eastern isle,” Initheo said after some thought. Vitus’s eyes lit up.
“Really?” he said not bothering to contain his excitement. Initheo nodded.
“Just promise me that you will use the library and the mages there to prepare yourself as best you can. We both know vis is a dangerous thing. I don’t want you hurting yourself in the trial,” he said seriously.
“Thank you. I am not sure what to say,” Vitus said bowing.
“Then say nothing and run to the markets. Take this,” he said walking back into the bedroom and crossing it to the room on the opposite side from the restroom. It was decorated as the sitting room for his bedroom. Initheo always thought it was divine coincidence that his favorite color and the color in his house sigil were one and the same. His entire wing was decorated in deep royal blues, dazzling whites, and effervescent golds. For as long as he could remember these were the foremost colors of a majority of the royal wings. Everything had a pattern and theme. The wooden furniture was always of deepest mahogany and detailed with golden trim and appliances, like his tub, were of the same white stone or caepetri as the rest of the castrum. He waved a hand in the direction of the desk sitting under the open window and a quill began dancing across parchment writing in silvery blue ink. Once it finished Initheo stamped it with the sigil of their household on the bottom.
“It’s your official writ of passage to use the venicuni to get you both from Primis and Zona Meridi [SF(16] free of charge,” Initheo said handing it to his servant.
“Can you do this without the king’s consent?” he asked cautiously. Initheo shrugged.
“It’s an unofficial duty of the crown prince to be Warden of Transportation. So yes, I can. He only comes in when something needs vetoing or something of the like and I doubt he will object to this. Keep this with you and the Venitzi should not trouble you,” he assured his friend.
“Have I told you that you’re amazing?” Vitus said hugging him.
“Yes, but I don’t bore of the sound,” he said laughing returning the hug. “Now come. I must prepare as you said or we will never hear the end of my father’s wrath,” he said pulling away and moving to the clothes that Vitus had already prepared on the bed. Initheo slept in the westernmost tower of the castrum. It offers spectacular views of Zona Occidi and even Selaterja’s dense vegetation in the clouds behind. The western tower served as the family library which spanned the first four floors. It is the wing for the children of the Altum family and had at one point housed his father before him. The tower has three connecting walkways to it from the main castrum. The walkways start at the first floor and continue up four stories.
For as long as he could remember Initheo had woken every Erud to have breakfast with his mother and father as a family as they rarely found time to do so during the week. These were joyous meals filled with all the missed loved from the week when they hardly caught but passing glimpse of one another. As the date of his Ad Aetatus approached he saw even less and noticed a great shift in the mood of these dinners as far as his father was concerned.
His mother on the other hand seemed determined to spare no effort in continuing this tradition of love. She refused to allow any of the servants to assist with this meal. She always made the favorites of both her husband and son with such tender care that her very soul could be tasted in each bite. The kitchen that they used she decorated herself with her two most trusted handmaidens who were akin to aunts to Initheo as both his parents were the only family he knew. When he was younger Initheo helped his mother setup as well much to the chagrin of his father.
“Young men should be out in the sun. Dragging in mud and smelling of fireflies,” he said on one these occasions when Initheo was still a teen.
“I was. I went outside with Vitus. It was hot so I came inside with mother. The scent of her arbutum (strawberry pie) was too alluring to stay away,” Initheo defended. His father smiled looking at his wife.
“Indeed. It seems it drew us both here,” he said gently grabbing her waist and kissing her.
“Oh, you never could resist,” she said grinning.
“I suppose you learning to make this would make you the desire of every woman from here to Oreas,” Lord Lucian spoke out after he and his wife pulled apart.
“It’s like you read my mind father,” Initheo said with a mischievous grin. Aurelia placed her hands on her hips.
“I will not see my recipe so mishandled Initheo Altum,” she warned. Initheo raised both hands.
“What? I swear to only use it in case of emergency!” he said laughing.
“Your mother is right Theo. That recipe isn’t to be used lightly. It possesses a power beyond your understanding,” he said chuckling with his son. It was at that point a golden armor-clad elvi approach the family in the kitchens.
“I trust this is important to warrant you interrupting the one time a week I specifically ordered no interruptions?” Lucian said without turning around.
“Indeed, your Grace. It concerns the Verii ,” the soldier replied with a slow deep bow. The king turned around slowly frowning.
“The Great Seeing Stone at the top of the tower?” Initheo quizzed. Aurelia and Lucian exchanged worried looks. She knew that look. It meant he would be missing their meal. Though she wanted to persist she chose to sit this battle out.
“Vitus? Won’t you come join us dear?” Aurelia said turning to face a door off to the right of the kitchen that led out to the gardens. There was a crash as a large elvi-sized vase toppled over and Vitus stumbled from behind it.
“What? I wasn’t…I was just making sure this was clear…oh no…” he said looking down at the shattered vase.
“It’s fine. Really,” Aurelia said walking over to him.
“I don’t know if we can afford that even out of my wages,” Vitus said looking to the floor.
“Honey you did me a favor. That thing was horrendous,” Aurelia said whispering to Vitus.
“I heard that!” Lucian said as he walked out of the kitchens.
“What can you tell me about Elisium ?” Aurelia asked Initheo and Vitus after Lord Lucian’s cape had swept out of the kitchens. Though Initheo had heard the tale told a hundred times he never missed an opportunity to hear it. He sat beside his mother as she worked the dough for the pie she was to make.
“Inaltsii, oh King of kings, to life did bring, The Firstborn from Elisium, by Her Grace , did spring…” Initheo sang in the sing song voice he was taught by the academicians in the Forum.
“Correct. When the world was whole and Unsundered our people resided in the old kingdom of Elisium. The world was young then and so full of light and life. This did reflect in the new denizens of Aterja who saw beauty and wonder in all living things from the smallest blade of grass to the pointed tips of the stretching mountains. From the beginning our lives were to share the fate of this Great Garden to which we now belonged,” Aurelia explained as she handed her son the rolling pin so he could have a go at the dough.
“As the first people, the Father of Father’s commanded that our purpose be to carefully prune this world; the world he instructed the Aurei to craft for us. Seeing the joy in his eyes for his youngest children, the Aurei descended from the heavens and gave color to the lives we led. It was through them that we learned a great many things,” she explained as they popped the pies in the oven and sat.
“Things like what?” Initheo asked eyes glinting with excitement.
“In those times we were as kin to the Aurei. They were our divine brethren to be sure, but mutual respect for mortal and divine stemmed from our understanding that Inaltsii had created all in his image and he makes no mistakes. Of the Aurei Lady Faerae was the fondest of mortal kind. She taught us speech so that we might commune with the forces of nature entrusted to our care. Through her love did we come to understand the beauty of life. She taught us that though mortal we may be our breath had been given to us by the Cosmos and encouraged us to draw upon it. Thus, did the first of the Maji come to be,” she explained as she poured them drink. A sweet wine for herself and Vitus and an orange fruit juice for her son.
“In this land of splendor and plenty there existed an iniposs woman. Her name was Inessialuê. She was rumored to have been the most beautiful of all mortals to be born to the age her brilliance second only to Amalia . Her dark hair shone bright in the moonlight and the stars reflected back through her tresses. Her deep amber eyes contained the essence of the stars and were stern yet soft. Her bronze skin was smooth and glistened in the sun boasting the beauty of the earth from whence she had come. Inessialuê took a lover. His name was Semrubrí and he was something to behold. Being from the First Birthing, the inipri, he was a commanding figure to be sure. It is spoken that his hair was like flame crackling at a great campfire as it tumbled wildly to his shoulders. His broad shoulders stern and true radiating the strength of the earth. The same fire that roared through his mane also reflected in his eyes.
Inessialuê and Semrubrí were madly in love from first glance. Their love washed over Elisium as soothing underscore to the song of life. Every step she took he could be seen trailing behind like a bashful shadow eager for its caster’s attention. They were wed under the blessing of Amalia and lived for many years a peaceful life as you see the divisions among our people- the Primi, Ligni, Nocti—had not yet come to be. We were one people united in the love for our land,” Aurelia spoke. Initheo was quiet and staring eyes wide in anticipation. Somewhere off to his right the scraping of a chair told him that Vitus too was enraptured in the tale. Aurelia stared into the fire of the oven before continuing.
“If Faeroe was the fondest then it should be said that Xadé, Lord of Shadow, was the least. Though the rest of the Aurei would dance and sing with us, he was never among that number. No one knows exactly whence his hatred sprang. Perhaps he hated us because he was jealous that we were the ones given domain over these lands and not he. Perhaps he thought us beneath him in some way. Whatever his intent it has been lost to the ages.
What we do know is that his insipid hatred towards us manifested in him poisoning the minds of our ancestors. In them he instilled the same lust for power, mistrust, lies, and malcontent that he himself harbored. Soon the Two Birthings began to war amongst themselves. Inipri against iniposs. Yet his corruption did not stop there. His malice infected the very heavens and our Golden Ones began the War of the Gods.
For 1,000 years this conflict ensued. Turning son against father, daughter against mother, and friend against friend. Inessialuê and Semrubri were included in that group. Being born of different birthings they found themselves on opposite ends of this bloody and brutal battle,” she said taking a drink.
“Well what happened?” Initheo said leaning closer. Aurelia smiled a weary smile he had not seen before. Vitus glanced at his young charge frowning slightly.
“When you’re older I will tell you the full tale. Just know that with the end of this War began the second age and only one of our lovebirds would remain to usher it in. Inessialuê had lost the fire of her life and was cast into despair. She turned in desperation to the heavens for assistance. It was the Goddess Akina who answered. ‘No force divine or otherwise shall have dominion over those who have departed this world’ she would come to say. Instead Akina reached down and plucked a single hair from Semrubri’s still blazing mane.
‘Plant this in your garden in the sky child. Let it grow in the love that you both shared so that one day his flame should spread across all of Aterja’. Inessialuê, being faithful to the Aurei, did as she was instructed. Her garden would be planted right in these very grounds and at the ascension of Cael it is said that the fruits of their love took wind and found root through the very farthest reaches of Eaey,” Aurelia finished with a smile to her son knowing it was his favorite story.
Arbuta. If the days of the week could have a specific scent Erud would most definitely be associated with this fruit. Wild arbuta grew in fields and gardens across Cael. With caepetri being the staple mineral of Cael, arbuta was undoubtedly the most desired fruit. Aurelia hailed from the Old Kingdom and was one of the few Elvi who brought with her the traditions of old. In Cael the inipri and iniposs were far and few between. Many had been lost to the Great War or had already returned to the Land of Spirits. Initheo smoothed the creases on his tunic. It was an everyday outfit that would suit the intimate setting of eating with his parents. Truth be told he rather enjoyed Erud for the fact that he didn’t have to stand on so much pomp and circumstance with the ceremonial garb. Today he would journey into the world clad in a simple cream-colored tunic, black trousers and dark brown boots with bronze clasps and buckles.
The young elvi peered at his reflection in the mirror in the corner of his room. It could easily be seen why the Tale of Inessialuê and Semrubri was his favorite. The very same flame that burned with Semrubri now swirled in his eyes as well. There was a small difference. While never explicitly stated nearly every Primi was of a fair complexion. Though he was not far from it, Initheo’s skin was more naturally tanned than his brethren. His hair, though closely cropped now, also set him apart from Primi as it was wild and messy a stark contrast to the pin straight curtains of his people.
It was in keeping his hair short that he learned to navigate interactions with the other elvi of his age. Frequent brushing ensured his hair formed waves to appear that, though short, it still possessed some semblance to normalcy. He didn’t spend too much time at his reflection as he didn’t too much care for these differences. Grabbing up his wand he tucked it into the belt of his tunic and headed down to the kitchens.
Walking through the large oak doors he made his way across to the dining room off the side of the kitchen. His mother and father were already present and from the looks of it in deep conversation. They were both laughing and smiling when he walked in. Initheo smiled before walking up to his mother and giving her a kiss on the cheek.
“Sorry to keep you mother,” he said moving to his seat across from her. His father sat at the head of the table facing them both.
“By the sun’s account you are right on time,” she said handing him a bowl of food.
“Which by my account marks you late,” Lucian said sternly. Initheo paused while scooping food onto his plate.
“I apologize father I was---” Initheo started but was cut off by the king raising a hand.
“I would hear nothing more of your self-incrimination in the creation of a royal writ of passage,” the king said with pointedly.
“How did you-?” Initheo stared amazed.
“What? Hear about someone using a writ with a royal seal in my own kingdom?”
“I was only trying to help him dad. His AdA is coming up soon and I want Vitus to be ready is all,” Initheo explained. His father considered for a moment.
“I know you do my love. We all do. That boy is more of a brother to you than a servant at this point,” Aurelia said softly.
“And yet somehow this servant seems better prepared for the upcoming Ad Aetatum than the crown prince,” his father interjected. Initheo took a breath before answering.
“I am prepared as I can be. I would be more if I had access to the Circle ,” the young elvi stated folding his arms.
“I fail to see how the Circle will help you enter the Golden Host,” Lucian said taking a bite of his steak.
“Mm. So this is what this is about. I’m certain the path I will take will be one of the Maji,” Initheo said frowning.
“Then clearly you’ve not been listening to a word that I’ve said. You are the prince. Heir to the throne. The path is laid before you at birth my son. Every crowned prince has joined the Host and when they rise to the rank of King they become its Commander,” the king said voice rising slightly.
“Ah yes. The annals of history that tell who and what and how we are to be. How dare I think for myself,” Initheo said rolling his eyes. There was strained silence before-
“The weight of the crown is to do as you must not always what you want my son. I understand the pains you feel,” Lucian responded gingerly.
“How could you? You are exactly where you want to be,” Initheo said sarcastically.
“Actually, I knew a young man who wanted nothing more than to be a cook,” Aurelia said breaking the tension.
“A cook?” Initheo laughed incredulously.
“Oh to be sure. He could make the best nibamen in all of Cael! Delicious enough to put to song!” Aurelia exclaimed. Lucian chuckled.
“Aye. It was a good life then. I too had to make sacrifice for the sake of the kingdom and would make them all again. Which is why I say that when the time comes you will join the Host. To that end I’ve arranged for more involved training with Captain Ileqüiri here on the island. You are to report to him following this meal,” Lucian stated waving for his goblet to be refilled. Initheo opened his mouth to retaliate but his mother silenced him with a tender yet stern look. The young prince bit back his answer and the family enjoyed the remainder of their breakfast in relative silence only breaking it to engage in some small talk here or there. Near the end of the meal an armor-clad soldier moved from the doorway and bowed to the three of them. “Lord Lucian. Lady Aurelia. Lord Initheo. Young master prince if you would follow me I will take you to camp,” the soldier stated. Initheo nodded his head as he stood.
“Thank you for coming diami . You sure I can’t tempt you to some of the arbuta?” Aurelia said rising to hug the man.
“Thank you diama, but I gave your man here my word we’d follow a strict schedule,” the soldier said with a head nod to the king.
“Which you should keep. Woe upon you if I have to hear yet another excuse for you missing the hunt later this evening because you overstayed during training,” the king said with a grin.
“Perish the thought your grace. I’d sooner hang up my sword than miss an opportunity to put your bow-arm to shame,” the man said with a thunderous laugh.
“All the same. I’m bringing some arbuta. Stel will be furious if I show up without it, dilpatri ,” Initheo returned.
“Theo!” his father said exasperatedly.
“Sorry father. I mean Captain Ileqüiri,” Initheo said with a deep bow to the captain. Captain Ileqüiri raised his brows and looked to the king and queen. Aurelia chuckled slightly into her wine and Lucian sighed heavily while shaking his head. “When you’re done down there dilfillo we can be off,” Ileqüiri said in his deep baritone.