Aseri

Aseri
The Aseri are a race of Elf which dwell in the eastern-most parts of Eldham. Very little is known about this particular sub-species of elf as they have often kept to themselves. The Aseri themselves are presently divided into three different tribes: The Asún, commonly known as the High Elves. The Lorún, also known as the Wood Elves. Finally there is the Drikún whom are also called the Dark Elves.

History
Many Aseri claim heritage to Ventria, the Mother of the World herself. Notably, it is much more common for the Asún and the Lorún to claim this heritage while denying any link between Ventria and the Drikún. It is however worth mentioning that these three races are, in particular, very interconnected with each other. Therefore, onlookers conclude that if there is to be a link with the Aseri Gods, it most likely exists between all of the groups.

The Aseri claim to have migrated across the easternmost sea in Eldham. Many groups who live in Leifmyrr claim that this group of elves did not migrate, and in fact invaded the continent. Though these are conflicting reports, it is ultimately agreed upon that the Aseri are not native to Eldham.

The Aseri themselves remain quite undocumented throughout the history of Eldham as they like to keep to themselves. There are however a few records to determine the history of this race.

Aseri Migration to Eldham
The Aseri came from a land torn apart by chaos and war. The last war prior to their migration to Eldham ended with the Asún, eventually aided by the Lorún, subjugating the Drikún. A calamity then occurred which forced the Aseri to go west.

This calamity was seen within a vision by one of the most unlikeliest of creatures. A young peasant lumberman Lorún named Anarion received this vision which yielded the destruction of his homeland. Anarion brought this dream to the elders of his tiny village, Kaistra. The elders then brought the news of this vision to their lords. The lords scoffed at the idea that the gods would bless a peasant with such a vision, and the vision went ignored for some time. War raged throughout the land whilst Anarion made it his mission to fulfil the gods' wishes and save his people.

Anarion laboured day and night, his axe becoming duller and duller as the time passed. As he worked, the war raged on throughout the homeland of the Aseri, and by the time that the war concluded, Anarion had completed twenty-four ships. Upon the war's conclusion, riders arrived in Kaistra bearing the bright blue banners emblazoned with a golden bear. These riders consisted of the remnants of the Tenstina vanguard of the Asún and they spelled doom in the east. Though the war had ended, volcanic eruptions had seemingly immediately followed, and an evacuation was eventually ordered. Due to Anarion's visions, the Aseri were quickly loaded into ships.

The Asún, represented by the remaining members of the Tenstina Vanguard, including the heir to the Tenstina name: Alre Tenstina took six of the longboats that Anarion had constructed. The Lorún took ten of the boats and managed to evacuate both the village of Kaistra and the surrounding villages. Finally, the Drikún thralls: who had been made slaves and prisoners after the war by the Asún, and the animals which had existed within Kaistra filed into the last eight boats. Anarion took up the mantle of his homeland: Kaistra, as his village smouldered seemingly just after the boats had pushed away from shore. The Aseri then began to look towards the future, and moreover, the West as their boats sailed towards Eldham.

By the time that the Aseri had arrived in Eldham, civilizations and empires of man and creature alike had already been formed. Anarion Kaistra had been named the first Everchosen of the Aseri, a title which would be passed down generation to generation, during the voyage. When the longboats of the Aseri crept down the Silver River, they knew that they had finally found their home.

The Settlement of Asariana
From their boats, the Aseri witnessed a large tree shooting up to the skies, described by onlookers as scraping the stars. This tree would become the Everoak, or in the Aseri tongue: Aldaoaka. Viewing this phenomenon as a blessing by Ventria, the Aseri decided to land their boats close to the tree, on the opposite side of the river. It was this landing point that would become the City of Asariana.

The Aseri spent their first years in Eldham fishing the rivers and hunting the forests of their new home. The land seemed blessed with the sereness of virginity. To the earliest settlers, the forest which would become known as the Lakewood was truly a land blessed by the gods themselves. Asariana grew in the shadow of the Aldaoaka, and as the tree reached further and further to the heavens, the Aseri below also grew and prospered. As time went on, the Kaistra family continued to rule their people with gentleness and compassion, following the examples prostelatized by the rejuvenation of faithfulness due to the patronage of the Tenstina family. All was well for the Aseri. They had found their new home, and founded their new city. The city of Asariana would eventually grow to reach from the Silver River, upon which they settled, to the Serafeyre (Starforge) River.

As time went on and the forest began to grow taller and taller, the Aseri were cut off from the world around them. This isolation was one which the Aseri became content with. Though the serenity of the Lakewood would not last. Eventually, as the Aseri believe, their gods decided it was time for them to meet the outside world.

Araleth's Comet
One day, while the Aseri were singing along peacefully and praying within their temple on top of the central plateau, a comet fell from the sky. This comet struck the western side of the plateau and quickly began to set the forest ablaze. It is not clear how the fire was eventually put out, only that it was put out. The blaze however attracted the civilizations who lived at the edges of the Lakewood: afraid to penetrate it's thick outer-forest. These civilizations came, and for the first time, the Aseri interacted with other groups of people. The peoples which they interacted with at first approached the Aseri with fear. After all, who was to say that the Aseri themselves had not lit the fire? But eventually, as the day continued on, the groups seemed to have found peace with eachother.

Late in the afternoon, just as the last slivers of sunlight slipped below the horizon, the tribes and the Aseri bathed themselves in the light of the comet, later known to the histories as: "Araleth's Comet' due to its aparent bright red blaze, which is said to have represented the goddesses' bloodlust. Each of the groups, Aseri and tribes, prayed to whichever god they felt right. All in attendence felt the presence of the comet to be divine, and so there was silence across the Lakewood as prayers continued. Eventually, the Aseri invited the tribes to join them for further festivities. For celebrations must be held in honour of the Protector of the Forest: Araleth. During these festivities, the Aseri ensured that their guests became very, very drunk with mead and wine. Partying occurred throughout the night and early into the next morning.

What occurred next is quite unclear. The Aseri tell one story in that the tribesmen wandered off and could not find their way out of the forest, but the historical records found across the outskirts of the forest tell another. In both renditions of the night surrounding Araleth's Comet, the fact remains that none of the tribes had made it out of the Lakewood, alive. The villages became empty husks of buildings to later become occupied by future groups of people. It is said, and whispered in many of the towns surrounding the Lakewood, that the Aseri killed each and every single one of the Tribesmen. Further records indicate that the Silver River, known for its silvery fish, flowed red with blood.

Araleth's Comet had a profound impact on the Aseri. Many Aseri believed that Araleth had sent the comet to be as a signal for the bloodshed which most likely transpired afterward. A fundamental belief of the Aseri culture, as it is known, is the revering of and respect for nature. As Araleth is the patron goddess of nature, especially of trees, the likelihood that the Aseri murdered the tribesmen becomes more and more likely. It is said, and still spoken about within Asariana, that the tribes had deforested vast portions of the Lakewood, a crime against the Aseri.

Rejection of the Old Ways
Araleth's Comet and the events which transpired as a result held a significant place in the hearts of the Aseri. For many years afterwards, the Aseri were wary of outsiders and often treated them harshly.

With the coronation of Litro Kaistra, these practices ended. Most say that he chose to reject these ways as his wife, Neia Kaistra, had pleaded for the Aseri to exercise mercy. From that day onward, the Aseri would continue to be distrustful of outsiders, but they were far more lenient in their dealings with them.

Asún
The Asún are considered to be the children of the sun. As such, they typically have lighter features and more subtle shades of skin tone. Historically, the Asún tribes lived in cities within the old continent, spending their days on otherwise trivial matters such as: the arts, and religion.

Lorún
The Lorún are the most populous Aseri ethnic group. Their name means 'People of the Tree' in Aseri.

Drikún
The Drikún are the least frequently encountered of the Aseri. Historically, they have faced discrimination from both of the other ethnic groups due to failed attempts of conquest.

Beverages
The Aseri are considered to be master brewers. Since the publication of 'The Brews of the Aseri', by Alyndra Glyndove, many Aseri have been enlightened to the secrets of alcohol. Though certainly unable to outdrink their compatriots in Rodinnbrok, the Aseri do still consume alcohol. Among their favourites and thus the most prevalent beverages in Asariana are alcoholic.

Traditions and Folklore
Most of the Aseri's Cultural Traditions and Folklore are based in their religion of Ventrism. However, there are a few which are specific to their culture and have developed as a result of their time in Eldham.

Funeral Traditions
A tradition which was seemingly adopted from local areas to Asariana, the Aseri honour their dead by sending them East across the Moonlight Sea. As the sun sets, the boat, usually smaller than any Aseri longship, is pushed off of the coast. The boat, and therefore the dead, begin their journey by passing Aldoaka and then enters the Moonlight Sea. Upon its entry into the Sea, the ship is set alight by a fury of arrows, usually launched from either Fornheimr or from the base of the Aldoaka. When the ship is fully engulfed in flames and the sun sets behind the Aseri, it is said that the dead's soul 'returns' to the Aseri homelands.

Though the Aseri are no longer an explicitly sea-faring people, this tradition has continued as a reminder of the treacherous waters that their ancestors had to endure.