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Elsene

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Her Voice called the stars to attention, her Sword cut the sky in half, and her Crown bent the earth to her will. Through Elsene moved the destiny of Yevna upon the world, and Her Song lingers still among us, if you will listen.
—Intercessor Aoril of House Ìsithein, from The Trials & the Tribulations

In Yevim mythology, Elsene was divinely appointed by Yevna, the goddess of light and order, to lead the High People in the Great War against Asag, the Brood Mother. She is considered the first Queen of the High People. Elsene’s victory over Asag reshaped the world, driving chaos into exile to establish the rule of the High People. Her legacy endures in the artifacts and traditions she left behind, which continue to influence the fate of Midworld.

Then, Yevna parted the deep with a word. ⁸And the Yevim were among Her, but beneath Her face they became silent, for Her power was beyond theirs, and so they came to worship Her. ⁹And this was the choice of the one the Yevim called Elsene, for she was their speaker. ¹⁰And Yevna saw that she was wise, and to the Yevim she would become their queen, and because of her wisdom the Yevim were permitted to walk with Yevna. ¹¹So it is said They came to know her words.
from "The Chronicles of the First Age"

Elsene is credited with forging the first Crown of Muraius, a relic imbued with the power to command the Great Crystal and bend the forces of nature to her will. This crown became the symbol of her authority and has been passed down through generations of Yevim Queens. Another key artifact, the Scrolls of Elsene, preserves her divine songs, including the fabled Song of Elsene, a melody that enabled her to imprison Asag and her brood.

Elsene is celebrated among the High People as a savior and architect of civilization, but the Changelings regard her as a tyrant. From their perspective, Elsene’s war against Asag was act of conquest, one that destroyed the balance of the natural world.

The artifacts tied to Elsene remain central to the power struggles of the present. The Crown of Muraius is now wielded by the Queen Who Lives, as she strives to restore the High People and rebuild the shattered Great Crystal. The Scrolls of Elsene, preserved through generations, hold the secrets to reforging the Great Crystal, though its power is coveted by many factions for their own ends.

Adventure Hook

Elsene can only ever be defined by myth, and so the truth of her story should always remain elusive to the party. This invites them to question who Elsene was in history, and the true nature of her war with the Asag.

An ancient verse from the Scrolls of Elsene surfaces in the Shadowvale, rumored to have great power. The party must retrieve the verse before it falls into the wrong hands, but doing so requires venturing into the heart of Changeling territory.

What do the Changelings reveal about their version of Elsene’s history, and how does this challenge the party’s allegiance to the High People?
Is the power of the verse capable of unsealing the dormant remnants of Asag’s brood? What happens if the Changelings use it first?
How do the party’s choices in handling the verse affect the fragile balance between the High People and the Changelings?

Tags: NPCs

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Elsene

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Nyn of House Sylvariel

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