Ylenwe

Latest revision as of 01:36, 8 July 2024

"The Swan" artist unknown. Part of the Sunspire collection, auctioned in 125YE to raise funds for the construction of the Halls of Knowledge. Current whereabouts unknown.

In the past, the Swan was concerned with purity and harmony. Recent changes have seen the eternal undergo a subtle but profound transformation and adopt a new identity.

Eternal of Day

Sobriquets

Ylenwe is called the Dove.

Unlike many other eternals, Ylenwe does not have many other common names. Previously, zie was known as Ylenrith, and the Swan, but recent events have seen zir abandon these sobriquets. The only other name used so far for the "new" Ylenwe is Zie of the Perfect Morning. Since zir re-emergence, Ylenwe has expressed an intent to use zie/zir/zirself pronouns.

Appearance

Ylenwe (Il-LEN-way) appears as a humanoid, often with strong merrow characteristics. Zie is neither female nor male, although zir physical form may suggest elements of any gender. Zie is usually dressed simply in a single pale colour, often white, light green or soft pastel blues. Zie usually wears a cloak of white feathers, and a belt of silver scales. Zie always speaks quietly, never raising zir voice except to sing.

As with Roshanwe, the eternal is said to make zir home at the point where the ocean of the realm of Day rises to touch the sky. Also like Roshanwe, zie expresses emotions such as bittersweet joy and quiet sadness in a way that is comprehensible to humans. While zie is clearly a creature with great emotional depth, zie rarely expresses those emotions - and when zie does zie does so through the medium of song.

Ylenwe claims that zie never lies - that lying creates unnecessary dissonance - but this claim is difficult to substantiate.

The Dove is often accompanied by one or two heralds; they are generally either musicians or mathematicians and some observers have suggested that they treat Ylenwe with a kind of restrained awe or worship that can be slightly unsettling.

Concerns

Prior to 384YE, Ylenwe was strongly associated with concepts of purity and harmony. After the Spring parley with Archmage of Day Skywise Gralka, it seems that zie has undergone a subtle but far-reaching transformation. Zie has abandoned the pursuit of purity, and taken on a new name. Focus, clarity, calm, and reason remain powerful touchstones as far as Ylenwe is concerned, but the emphasis is on working toward achieving harmony rather than destroying things that are "corrupt" or "impure".

In Winter 381YE, as a result of allegations regarding the kidnap of Imperial citizens, Ylenwe was declared an enemy of the Empire by the Imperial Conclave. A parley was requested by the eternal in Winter 384YE, and the Archmage of Day at the time met with zir during the Spring Equinox. Ultimately, Ylenwe was reconciled with the Conclave by Skywise Gralka during the Summer Solstice of the same year.

Zie is a consummate musician, and regularly expounds the idea that true communication takes place only through music (and occasionally through dance). The Dove appears to believe that spoken and written language impedes, rather than promotes, communication and suggests that it might be a dead end that encourages division rather than harmony. When individuals make music together their spirits briefly move into alignment with each other and with the greater scheme of things - they become a metaphor for the power of unity without sacrificing individual identity. Emotions and passions expressed through music are 'harnessed' to the will of the musicians, and allow for catharsis, without which they can overwhelm the good sense of an individual and cause them harm. Ylenwe teaches that it is not wrong to feel things strongly, but that unless powerful emotions are carefully controlled they can lead to suffering and dissonance. By expressing them through music, they can be experienced in a contained and ordered way and provide strength and spiritual communion, rather than encouraging selfishness and disharmony.

Ylenwe encourages magicians to practice their magic with music - even the passionate dancing of the hakima - and especially favours magicians who employ the Music of the spheres in their rituals.

Finally, music is also used as the gateway to Ylenwe's only true passion; mathematics. Zie firmly believes that the study of mathematics is the only 'pure' discipline, and that through it every truth of existence can be expressed in an elegant, simple and above-all truthful way. Mortals who study mathematics as more than "the physics of bottlecaps" are of great interest to Ylenwe.

Ylenwe was once Ylenrith, who appeared as a humanoid with strong
merrow traits.

This eternal is interested in medicine and healing, but focuses on treating the "entire patient" - finding the root cause of illness rather than focusing on treating symptoms, and recognising the link between the body and the spirit.

In the past, Ylenwe was closely associated with the rune Cavul, but that association has apparently been broken by the recent transformation. Zie is still associated with fresh water, but no longer has any association with magical fire.

As Ylenrith, the eternal was viewed with some suspicion by followers of the Way. Zie made no effort to conceal zir disdain for the auras created through consecrate, hallowing and anointing. Some religious magicians further pointed to the way that zir heralds seem to encourage worship of the eternal, and warned that zir philosophy and boons may represent an attempt to spread idolatrous worship of an eternal to the Empire. They also point to the tranquillity zie seeks to promulgate as being no different to the malign spiritual presence of peace which ultimately robs humanity of its drive to strive and leads to stagnation and death. It remains to be seen if the "new" Ylenwe will have the same attitudes.

Boons

Ylenwe can remove almost any strong passion, alleviate pain, and grant clarity and clear-thinking, especially though the use of music. In the same way zie can help restore harmony to a mind or spirit, zie can also help bring equilibrium to physical things, especially by helping to treat infection and disease. Zie sometimes offers zir boons through consumable items (usually clear water) or enchanted musical instruments. At least one story concerns an apparently familiar magic item - in this case an Abraxus Stone - that the eternal commits to "renewing" each year through the use of a dedicated herald.

With Ylenwe's new focus, it remains to be seen what form the boons zie can offer will take.

This selection of articles can be downloaded as a PDF book (or as html only)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=YlenrithArt.jpg|title="The Swan" artist unknown. Part of the Sunspire collection, auctioned in 125YE to raise funds for the construction of the Halls of Knowledge. Current whereabouts unknown.|caption=In the past, ''the Swan'' was concerned with purity and harmony. Recent changes have seen the eternal undergo a subtle but profound transformation and adopt a new identity.|align=left|width=400}}</div>
 ==Eternal of Day==
 ===Sobriquets===
-Ylenrith (sometimes ''Ylenrath'') is called the ''Swan''.
+Ylenwe is called ''the Dove''.
-Unlike many other Eternals, Ylenrith does not have many other common names; the only one used with any regularity is ''the Pure'' but the Eternal is known to dislike the use of this term. It is also occasionally known as the ''Eternal Flame'' and the ''Pure Morning'' and responds more positively to these sobriquets.
+Unlike many other eternals, Ylenwe does not have many other common names. Previously, zie was known as ''Ylenrith'', and ''the Swan'', but recent events have seen zir abandon these sobriquets. The only other name used so far for the "new" Ylenwe is ''Zie of the Perfect Morning''. Since zir re-emergence, Ylenwe has expressed an intent to use zie/zir/zirself pronouns.
 ===Appearance===
-Ylenrith (''Il-LEN-rith'') appears as a humanoid, often with strong [[merrow]] characteristics. It is neither female nor male, although it's physical form may suggest elements of either or both genders. It is usually dressed simply in a single pale colour, often white, light green or soft pastel blues. It usually wears a cloak of white feathers, and a belt of silver scales. It always speaks quietly, never raising it's voice except to sing.
+Ylenwe (''Il-LEN-way'') appears as a humanoid, often with strong [[merrow]] characteristics. Zie is neither female nor male, although zir physical form may suggest elements of any gender. Zie is usually dressed simply in a single pale colour, often white, light green or soft pastel blues. Zie usually wears a cloak of white feathers, and a belt of silver scales. Zie always speaks quietly, never raising zir voice except to sing.
-As with [[Roshanwe]] the Eternal is said to make it's home at the point where they ocean of the Realm of Day rises to touch the sky. Also like Roshanwe, it expressed emotions such as bittersweet joy and quiet sadness in a way that is comprehensible to humans. While it is clearly a creature with great emotional depth, it rarely expresses those emotions - and when it does it does so through the medium of song.
+As with [[Roshanwe]], the eternal is said to make zir home at the point where the ocean of the realm of Day rises to touch the sky. Also like Roshanwe, zie expresses emotions such as bittersweet joy and quiet sadness in a way that is comprehensible to humans. While zie is clearly a creature with great emotional depth, zie rarely expresses those emotions - and when zie does zie does so through the medium of song.
-Ylenrith claims that it never lies - that lying creates unnecessary dissonance - but this claim is difficult to substantiate.
+Ylenwe claims that zie never lies - that lying creates unnecessary dissonance - but this claim is difficult to substantiate.
-The Swan is often accompanied by one or two Heralds; they are generally either musicians or mathematicians and some observers have suggested that they treat Ylenrith with a kind of restrained awe or worship that can be slightly unsettling.
+The Dove is often accompanied by one or two heralds; they are generally either musicians or mathematicians and some observers have suggested that they treat Ylenwe with a kind of restrained awe or worship that can be slightly unsettling.
 ===Concerns===
-Ylenrith is strongly associated with concepts of purity and harmony. Focus, clarity calm and reason are all powerful touchstones as far as Ylenrith is concerned, and all suffering is caused by moving away from these principles. Lies, sickness, ignorance, drugs, passion, desire, fear and anger are all the same thing - impure, dangerous things that weigh down the spirits of living beings and lead them to harm themselves and others.
+Prior to 384YE, Ylenwe was strongly associated with concepts of purity and harmony. After the [[Have_you_seen_me_lately#Ylenrith|Spring parley]] with [[Archmage of Day]] Skywise Gralka, it seems that zie has undergone a subtle but far-reaching transformation. Zie has abandoned the pursuit of purity, and taken on a new name. Focus, clarity, calm, and reason remain powerful touchstones as far as Ylenwe is concerned, but the emphasis is on working toward achieving harmony rather than destroying things that are "corrupt" or "impure".
-It is a consummate musician, and regularly expounds the idea that true communication takes place only through music (and occasionally through dance). The Swan appears to believe that spoken and written language impedes, rather than promotes, communication and suggests that it might be a dead end that encourages division rather than harmony. When individuals make music together their spirits briefly move into alignment with each other and with the greater scheme of things - they become a metaphor for the power of unity without sacrificing individual identity.
-Emotions and passions expressed through music are 'harnessed' to the will of the musicians, and allow for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catharsis catharsis] without which they can overwhelm the good sense of an individual and cause them harm. Ylenrith teaches that it is not wrong to feel things strongly, but that unless powerful emotions are carefully controlled they can lead to suffering and dissonance. By expressing them through music, they can be experienced in a contained and ordered way and provide strength and spiritual communion, rather than encouraging selfishness and disharmony.
+In [[381YE_Winter_Solstice_Conclave_sessions|Winter 381YE]], as a result of allegations regarding the kidnap of Imperial citizens, Ylenwe was declared an [[Alignment#Enmity|enemy of the Empire]] by the [[Imperial Conclave]]. A [[Archmage#Parely|parley]] was [[Shake_it_off#Swan.27s_Polite_Request|requested]] by the eternal in Winter 384YE, and the [[Archmage of Day]] at the time met with zir [[Have_you_seen_me_lately#Ylenrith|during the Spring Equinox]]. Ultimately, Ylenwe was reconciled with  the Conclave by Skywise Gralka during the [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Conclave_sessions#Alignment:_Yelenwe|Summer Solstice]] of the same year.
-Ylenrith encourages magicians to practice their magic with music - even the passionate dancing of the [[The Brass Coast magical traditions|hakima]] - and especially favours magicians who employ the [[Music of the spheres]] in their rituals.
+Zie is a consummate musician, and regularly expounds the idea that true communication takes place only through music (and occasionally through dance). The Dove appears to believe that spoken and written language impedes, rather than promotes, communication and suggests that it might be a dead end that encourages division rather than harmony. When individuals make music together their spirits briefly move into alignment with each other and with the greater scheme of things - they become a metaphor for the power of unity without sacrificing individual identity. Emotions and passions expressed through music are 'harnessed' to the will of the musicians, and allow for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catharsis catharsis], without which they can overwhelm the good sense of an individual and cause them harm. Ylenwe teaches that it is not wrong to feel things strongly, but that unless powerful emotions are carefully controlled they can lead to suffering and dissonance. By expressing them through music, they can be experienced in a contained and ordered way and provide strength and spiritual communion, rather than encouraging selfishness and disharmony.
-Finally, music is also used as the gateway to Ylenrith's only true passion; mathematics. She firmly believes that the study of mathematics is the only 'pure' discipline, and that through it every truth of existence can be expressed in an elegant, simple and above-all truthful way. Mortals who study mathematics as more than "''the physics of bottlecaps''" are of great interest to Ylenrith.
+Ylenwe encourages magicians to practice their magic with music - even the passionate dancing of the [[The Brass Coast magical traditions|hakima]] - and especially favours magicians who employ the [[Music of the spheres]] in their rituals.
-This Eternal is also fascinated by medicine. Through understanding how mortal beings are built, one can restore harmony, purity and wholeness to them. It encourages healers to explore and embrace advances in medical sciences, moving away from superstition and tradition towards a true understanding not only of how living things are formed and operate, but from there to a greater undestanding of the world around them.
+Finally, music is also used as the gateway to Ylenwe's only true passion; mathematics. Zie firmly believes that the study of mathematics is the only 'pure' discipline, and that through it every truth of existence can be expressed in an elegant, simple and above-all truthful way. Mortals who study mathematics as more than "''the physics of bottlecaps''" are of great interest to Ylenwe.
+{{CaptionedImage|file=Ylenrith.jpg|caption=Ylenwe was once Ylenrith, who appeared as a humanoid with strong <br>merrow traits.|align=right|width=300}}
+This eternal is interested in medicine and healing, but focuses on treating the "entire patient" - finding the root cause of illness rather than focusing on treating symptoms, and recognising the link between the body and the spirit.
-She is closely associated with the rune [[Cavul]]. She is strongly associated with pure water and a form of magical fire - which she calls ''the true flame'' - that can consume almost anything without producing smoke or soot, or leaving ashes behind.
+In the past, Ylenwe was closely associated with the rune [[Cavul]], but that association has apparently been broken by the recent transformation. Zie is still associated with fresh water, but no longer has any association with magical fire.
-Ylenrith is viewed with some suspicion by followers of the [[The Way|Way]]. She makes no effort to conceal her disdain for the auras created through [[Religious skills#Consecration|consecrate]], [[Religious skills#Hallow|hallowing]] and [[Religious skills#Anointing|anointing]]. Some religious magicians further point to the way that her Heralds seem to encourage worship of Ylenrith, and warn that her philosophy and boons may represent an attempt to spread [[Religious_Crimes#Idolatry|idolatrous]] worship of an Eternal to the Empire. They also point to the tranquility she seeks to promulgates as being no different to the malign spiritual presence of [[Malign_spiritual_presences#Peace|peace]] which ultimately robs humanity of it's drive to strive and leads to stagnation and death.
+As Ylenrith, the eternal was viewed with some suspicion by followers of the [[The Way|Way]]. Zie made no effort to conceal zir disdain for the auras created through [[Religious skills#Consecration|consecrate]], [[Religious skills#Hallow|hallowing]] and [[Religious skills#Anointing|anointing]]. Some religious magicians further pointed to the way that zir heralds seem to encourage worship of the eternal, and warned that zir philosophy and boons may represent an attempt to spread [[Religious_Crimes#Idolatry|idolatrous]] worship of an eternal to the Empire. They also point to the tranquillity zie seeks to promulgate as being no different to the malign spiritual presence of [[Malign_spiritual_presences#Peace|peace]] which ultimately robs humanity of its drive to strive and leads to stagnation and death. It remains to be seen if the "new" Ylenwe will have the same attitudes.
 ===Boons===
-Ylenrith can remove almost any strong passion, alleviate pain, and grant [[Crystal Clarity of the Rational Soul|clarity and clear-thinking]], especially though the [[The Solace of Chimes|use of music]]. In the same way she can help purify a mind, she can purify physical things, [[Distillation of Diverse Parts|separating potions into their component parts]], turning wine into water and fruit juice, [[Ascetic Star of Atun| cleansing infection and disease]] and similar effects. While most of her boons focus on the small scale, she has also been known to offer aid in purifying tainted water sources up to the size of large lakes or entire rivers.
+Ylenwe can remove almost any strong passion, alleviate pain, and grant [[Crystal Clarity of the Rational Soul|clarity and clear-thinking]], especially though the [[Solace of Chimes|use of music]]. In the same way zie can help restore harmony to a mind or spirit, zie can also help bring equilibrium to physical things, especially by [[Ascetic Star of Atun|helping to treat infection and disease]]. Zie sometimes offers zir boons through consumable items (usually clear water) or enchanted musical instruments. At least [[Abraxus_Stone#The_Swan.27s_Chalice|one story]] concerns an apparently familiar magic item - in this case an [[Abraxus Stone]] - that the eternal commits to "renewing" each year through the use of a dedicated herald.
-In the past Ylenrith has also demonstrated the ability to permanently remove [[lineage]] from an individual, although the process is apparently extremely painful and on at least one occasion has proved fatal.
-She can also sometimes be prevailed on to grant boons related to the ''true flame'' with which she is associated. The fire can consume anything found in the mortal world except [[ilium]] (and [[Ilium#Creating_Artefacts|things made with ilium]]) which do not even become warm when exposed to it. This represents one of the dangers of receiving the boons of Ylenrith - the act of purification can sometimes prove more damaging than allowing corruption to run it's course.
-On one occasion, Ylenrith was asked to help remove a curse from an area of forest that was causing [[Mundane_beasts#Iridescent Butterfly|iridescent butterflies]] to poduce horribly tainted [[Materials#Iridescent Gloaming|iridescent gloaming]]. With some reluctance she agreed. She instructed the magicians involved to set fire to the trees at the heart of the forest, and the ensuring conflagration consumed every living and unliving thing within five miles of the central point, without producing a thimbleful of smoke. The curse was alleviated, but to this day no plant larger than tall grass will grow in the area.
-She sometimes offers her boons through consumable items (usually clear water) or enchanted musical instruments.
+With Ylenwe's new focus, it remains to be seen what form the boons zie can offer will take.
 [[Category:Eternals]]
 {{pdf}}

Ylenwe

Latest revision as of 01:36, 8 July 2024

Contents

Eternal of Day

Sobriquets

Appearance

Concerns

Boons

Profound Decisions[edit | | ]

Community[edit | | ]

Wiki Editors[edit | | ]