Ælfric Ivy

Joseph Sundamir was a Celestial Elf who was born again as Glade Elf and took the name Ælfric Staggamere. Born in Aurlunor Velande to two Celestial Elven wine merchants, he was born again in the Glade Elven tribe of Elmwood when he took up the Ritual of Rebirth and their Goddess Halen changed his form and mind to that of the Fey Folk. He has silken raven air and a goldish-hue to his skin, his stature now shorter – being a Glade Elf standing at 5’6”. His eyes are a deep brown, his ears pointed slightly outwards, with bulky muscles weighing in at 285lbs. He can be found wearing a flowing tunic with a cloak adorned over his left shoulder, though his kin are accustomed to live textiles such as moss or live vines he simply likes wool dyed with blood and spinach.

Early Life
Joseph spent his early life travelling with his parents and their cart of wines, and so he did not find comfort in a secured home, but out in the wilderness, spending his past time chasing rabbits to eat, swimming in springs, or reading books his parents buy when stopped at settlements to sell. In more primitive lands there would be a worry of bandit attacks, but in Aurlunor there is no need to fear – still his father taught his some combat skills mostly to fight off charging boars.

The simple life of camping had Joseph wanting for more, he wanted to make a name for himself, and aspire to do great things. So, with love he departed from his parents, and started travelling on his own. He wanted to turn his family from upselling other peoples’ wines to creating a wine empire. He decided to set up a manor north of Lhumar, and a small wheat field, there he could start his vineyard, until he was paid a visit from the Velereth. At first, she took a liking to Joseph’s manor saying it was quite beautiful, but a week afterwards he was paid a visit by one of the Velereth’s servants saying the Velereth does not like the manor and that the government will seize it. Joseph was of course angry but understanding that it was not a free-market Joseph knew the government must be abided by. So, he abandoned his manor and began looking beyond the Elven lands for business. Joseph eventually found himself in Solaris, with facilities for wine brewing that were unimaginably great. He found a mentor and he was taught the ways of the trade, who then told Joseph that since he lived in Solaris he would have to convert to Lux. Joseph, putting his life in Aurlunor behind him happily converted.

This would be problematic as he did not tell the Velereth that he abandoned his manor – being angry about the government taking his property with no justification. So, still technically being a citizen of Aurlunor the Velereth sought legal action and tried to have Joseph prosecuted, the government of Solaris – not wanting to anger Aurlunor agreed. Joseph never showed up to court but was informed by supporters of his that he was found guilty, and his sentence was soul torment. Joseph ran away of course.

Joseph’s knowledge for camping and traveling came in handy as he went back to living in the wilderness, this time having to camp in dense forests off the road to avoid bandits, bounty hunters, lawmen trying to seize him. He eventually found himself in Najer, again sticking to the forests, little did he know he wandered into a Glade Elven forest.

At first the Glade Elves were going to kill him, but saw his pointed ears and decided to question him instead, to which he explained his story to the Eorl (Lord in common tongue). The Glade Elves were upset that Elves would treat fellow Elves this way and so they offered him shelter, but he would have to undergo the trial of rebirth, to eventually undergo the ritual of rebirth to with Joseph agreed.

Rebirth
King Ælfred – growing desperate to find a suitable husband for his daughter Everly, he assigned her as Joseph’s guide to Glade Elven culture. Joseph excelled at the start with his experience travelling in the wilderness but was shocked when he heard that was just the basics. Joseph’s wine drinking had made him unfit especially for a Glade Elf, and so he struggled when maneuvering through the trees as well as stealth hunting, Joseph would often fall through the canopy onto the ground or step of a twig that startles a deer. Everly grew quite a liking to Joseph – finding his clumsiness quite humorous, Everly was a good teacher, but firm – as she would only let Joseph reap the benefits of what he gets from his hunts. Joseph thoroughly enjoyed her teachings of the Glade Elven language and religion, he felt that the religion was freeing – knowing that despite the fact that nearly everyone has harmed nature in some way or another, Halen’s grace, and compassion will forgive them for their transgression, as long as they accepted her gift of forgiveness. This was in stark contrast to the Celestial Elven religion of the Twin Dragons where heretical actions, voluntarily or involuntarily was not only punishable by death, but also soul torture.

This went on for around a year until Everly thought Joseph was ready, as was placed in the wilderness, bare naked, he had to survive for 14 days to succeed. Everly assigned watchers to follow Joseph through his journey, she explained to her father it was to make sure Joseph doesn’t cheat, but in reality she was worried for Joseph’s wellbeing. Joseph eventually succeeded, covered in wounds like scratches and bruises, he returned to the mother-tree to which the Priest greeted him and dunked Joseph in water, it was as the wounds washed away with the water and Joseph was put into a deep sleep. Everly, the King, and the rest of the tribe prayed for Joseph as he was put to sleep at the mother-tree. Joseph remembered in that sleep he entered Halen’s Kingdom the Everglade, and she walked with him, the beauty of this place was indescribable, and it was as if his needs were eternally fulfilled, and all temptations were washed away. Then he awoke as Ælfric, to Everly kneeling beside him praying, as he sat up, he hugged Everly and asked to wed her.

Lord of the Glades
Ælfric took the name Ælfric Staggamere– husband on Princess Everly Staggamere though Ælfric knew why her father struggled to find her a suitable husband, she was rebellious in nature and simply wanted to hunt, and read to pass time instead of rule a Forest Kingdom. Ælfred gave up on his efforts to make Everly responsible and so he looked to Ælfric for a ruler, on the condition that he must have children with Everly and make them ready to rule so that his bloodline can still be one that runs the Kingdom, Ælfric agreed. So, Ælfred prepared Ælfric to rule the Kingdom as he rules himself, until Ælfred’s 866-year reign came to an end as the tribes people felt he was too old to see clearly when making changes to the Kingdom. Ælfric’s coronation was met with some rebellion, as people thought the rightful heir was Everly, while Everly could not be happier that she no longer had to rule but was quickly squashed when Everly announced quite bluntly that she does not care what the tribe thinks, and that she would sooner die than rule the Kingdom. To settle the tribes people installed a regiment of “Wardancers” who were female only masters in agile sword and spear combat, as well as marksmanship, and making Everly the leader.

Ælfric has reigned for around 50 years and Elmwood has grown greatly in that time, before he came to rule Elmwood consisted of the mother-tree, along with simple huts, foraging and hunting groves, as well as a river to wash and drink in. Now Elmwood’s population has skyrocketed, a shrine to Halen was built, along with a university to study wine-making, also a new agricultural district, military and government reforms, as well as an integration to commerce and economy. Everly still commands the Wardancers and her and Ælfric still are happily married with 5 children.