Wolves at Curious Pastimes

The VERDAI: 

Who's Who - Galleries added here

Back to Home Page - Last updated - 01 February, 2006

The Verdai

• Who are the Verdai?
• The Verdai Now
• Asha Dur
• Clans of the Verdai
  • Corvar Ry Lial
  • Sacri R’yn Dy’nar

  • Maerai R’yn Fae’nyr

  • Kyr’tarl

  • Brin’tyr

• Beliefs of the Verdai
• Creation
• Forming of the World
• Coming of Avatars

• Creation of Races

Galleries - here

Who were the Verdai?

Long ago, in the ancient forests of the World, lived a nation of Elves and Men,  living and working together in unity and partnership. A nation who called themselves the Verdai. Followers of the God of Fire Torial, whom they believed shaped the world, and breathed life into all things, they were a peaceful people who valued life and growth above all things.

Once a powerful nation, ruled by a matriarchal queen who sat upon the Ebony Throne, they were for generations of men the warders of the deep forests, protecting nature from those that would do her harm.

In their cities of white marble and wood the Verdai lived in peace, guarded by the Sacri R’yn Dy’nar, the Rangers of the dark, a force of warriors skilled in the arts of both bow and blade.

Then, many years ago, a dark force descended on the Verdai. No one knows who or why, but the Verdai were destroyed and their cities left in ruins.

Something or somebody wiped the land clean of the Verdai, and none survived.

Or so was thought.

Years past and the Verdai passed into legend, The Lost Race, spoken of only in whispers. Most do not even remember that they ever existed, and those that do only as myth; short is the memory of man.

The Verdai Now

The group who call themselves The Verdai are all that remains of a once proud nation of Elves and Men. They take the name of Verdai because within their ranks they hold the only known survivors of that ancient race.

500 years ago the Verdai held rule over an area of land in what became the bay of Norsca.

During the time of the War of Shadows The Verdai lands were taken and the empire destroyed. The earth itself cracked and the land fragmented, taking much of the Verdai Empire to the sea floor.

All that remains is the Island of Myranyl, which once held the Verdai capital city Asha Dur. This island is a dark and dangerous land corrupted by evil of the forces of The Shadow.

To this end the group today have no land to call home. Arundel dreams of one day taking back the Verdai lands from the shadows that corrupt it.

The group hold to many of the beliefs and values that were indicative of the Verdai nation of ages past. To this end the group has a deep routed love of nature, life and freedom. They are a very accepting group who welcome anyone regardless of race or religion, allowing each person to decide their own religious beliefs.

The only thing that the group insist upon is total loyalty to the Wolf Faction. Each member must be ready to offer blade to the defence of the Wolf lands whenever Lord Wolf calls.

The group itself consist, primarily, of scouts and rangers. They are a light skirmishing group, with a good percentage of members proficient with bow as well as sword. In addition to this some members possess magical ability, which is used to good effect in support of the fighters.

Arundel currently leads the group taking the title of Warden of the Throne.

The position of 2IC is split between civil and military duties.

Tananger is the current Prefect in charge of civil issues.

Rodin Shar is the Captain of the Guard in charge of military issues.

ASHA DUR

Asha Dur, meaning The White City, was the centre of the Verdai Empire, and the seat of power of the Maerai.

Within the Palace, which lay upon an island in the centre of the city, sat the Ebony Throne from here the Maerai ruled her people.

Build using the trees themselves and glittering white Marble Asha Dur was a glorious and beautiful city that shone in the dark of the deep wood.

Nothing now remains but ruins of Asha Dur, hidden in the depths of the deep wood. Without the Verdai the deep woods are now a dangerous place, and dark creatures walk the ruins of Asha Dur.

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Clans of the Verdai

The social structure of the Verdai is based somewhat of the organisation of Clans.
These clans are based on the function that person provides to the society.
The Clans are:

Sacri R’yn Dy’nar –
(Rangers of the Dark) – Rangers and protectors of the forest. Standing army of the Verdai.

Corvar Ry Lial –
(Blades of Light) - Elite soldiers and the personal guard of the Queen

Maerai R’yn Fae’nyr –
The Queen of the Verdai. Although not really a clan, as there is only ever one Maerai at any one time, the Verdai saw her as a class unto herself.

Brin’tyr –
(Builders) - Farmers and workmen. Those that provide the goods needed for the Verdai people to live.

Kyr’tarl –
(The Touched) - The priesthood of the God Torial. In charge of the spiritual and physical well being of the Verdai people.

Each Clan had it’s own symbol which represented it. The members of each clan were marked on the back of the left hand to identify them.

Corvar Ry Lial

Translated as Blade of Light, in the language of the Verdai, though commonly called just The Corvar, or The Blades, they were the personal guard of the Queen.

Picked from the ranks of the Sacri the Corvar were the best of fighting forces and all Verdai dreamt of being called to serve as Corvar.

Only a hundred Corvar ever existed at a time, but it was said that they were worth a thousand.

The Corvar were stationed at the Palace in Asha Dur, to protect the Maerai, but on occasion, when their skills were required, a Corval may have been sent on a specific mission for the Maerai.

When the darkness descended on the Verdai the Corvar were the last to fall, defending the Maerai to the last man. It was said that to reach the Queen the enemy had to climb a mountain of their own dead, killed by the flashing blades of the Corvar.

Sacri R’yn Dy’nar

Translated as Rangers of the dark in the language of the Verdai, and commonly called just the Sacri, or Rangers, they were the guardians of the forest.

Skilled in the use of both the blade and the bow they were the protectors of the Verdai’s woodland realm.

Marked by the sigil on their left hand and wielding the traditional Sari’yl, a distinctive long sword issued to only the Sacri, they were the front line troops of the Verdai fighting forces.

When the darkness that destroyed the Verdai descended, the Sacri were the first to stand against it, sacrificing themselves in defence of their people.

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Kyr’tarl

The Kyr’tarl, translated as the Touched in the language of the Verdai, were the priests and holy men of the Verdai people.

Keepers of the histories and the spiritual leaders of the children of the light.

Skilled in the arts of healing they were also the carers of the sick and the injured.

Holding the belief that all life is sacred the Kyr’tarl rejected violence in all it’s forms, allowing injury to befall themselves rather than inflict harm on another. However when the innocent and the helpless were threatened the Kyr’tarl could prove to be fierce opponents to evil.

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Brin’tyr

The Brin’tyr, meaning Builders, were the farmers and the builders of the Verdai. Those that had a talent for tiling the land, and the making of the fine constructions of the Verdai cities. Others still were skilled at weapon smiting, making the fine blades and bow the Verdai warriors carried into battle. Revered for their skills and their art the Brin’tyr well respected members of the Verdai Society.

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Verdai Creation Myth

(The Following Creation Myth is the religious beliefs of the Verdai only and is not in anyway intended to indicate the creation of the CP game world. It is only the beliefs of the Verdai race)

On the Forming of the World

In the beginning there was the void, and Torial, the fire god, sat upon his crystal throne.

For a time he sat alone, for how long it is not known, for how can time exist in the void, but for him it seemed an eternity, his mind awash with thoughts and desires, all seemingly beyond his reach.

Soon he could bare it no longer and standing he smashed his throne in to pieces, and cast it out into the void around him.

Small shards of it spun away into the darkness, to hang there, glittering like jewels in the dark.

Thus were born the stars.

Some pieces were too large to fly to far, and were pulled back to Torial, to spin around him, caught by the pull of his will, a swirling maelstrom of particles.

Reaching into the mass Torial took hold of the largest pieces and crushed them together with his will, moulding it to a sphere. Once done he released the globe to the void. It too was caught by the pull of his will and slowly it spun around him.

Thus was born the world.

Time passed, measured by the spinning of the world; and Torial watched his creation with pride. At heart he was a creator, and he felt a glow inside as if his true purpose was achieved. Yet he still felt something was missing. The darkness around him was still a lonely thing.

Taking physical form he flowed down to the surface of the world and gazed upon his creation.

Passing over the surface of the world, covered as it was in deep ice.

He paused for a moment, and his reflection was caught in the ice. Reaching out he gave the reflection form, and with his breath he gave the form life.

Thus was born Fariel the ice God.

Torial rejoiced, for here was an equal for him, a being of will to equal his own. A brother to him.

Fariel rejoiced too, happy to be with his brother.

But Torial was deceived

Whereas Torial was the God of Fire, warm and giving, the very essence of all life, Fariel was his opposite, his mirror reflection. Fariel was the god of Ice and his heart was cold, he craved nothing more than for his own desires to be fulfilled, Fariel was the cold essence of death given form.

Although the two gods were brothers, twins, Torial was still the first, he who had existed from the beginning. Fariel was made second, and he was jealous of his brother’s power and position. Huddled alone in the darkness beyond Torial’s light he formulated a plan to see Torial brought down.

Fariel held in his form the power of death. Moving through the void at the speed of his will Farial passed over the lands of the world, teaming now with life. With one breath from his foul soul he laid a curse upon the land. All that lived and breathed by the grace of Torial would wither a die.

His trap lain he called his brother to him with his thoughts. Hearing his brother’s call Torial flew to Fariel.

Without pause or warning Fariel struck at his brother with claws of ice.

Struck by surprise Torial fell back, a vicious wound on his chest. Torial cast off his physical form and shone with all his power. As the fire of life shone from him light filled the land, thus was born the Light and Urmethiel the god of light was made. As this light was cast about, so too was formed the first shadow, and Corimar God of Shadows was given form.

Torial struck back at his brother and where fire met ice great gouts of steam rose to the air, thus was born the wind and Aarial Goddess of air was born.

Where the steam cooled it dripped to the ground, and great oceans formed, giving birth to Shanya goddess of Water.

Fariel struck back, and as his blades of ice cut into Torial fragments of his body fell to the ground creating great mountains of rock. This in turn gave life to Kathnar god of Earth.

The battle raged for a great time, until finally Torial struck his brother a mortal wound. Fearful for his immortal life Fariel fled from his brother.

Torial made to give chase, but realised his own wounds, and sensed the foul taint of Fariel’s curse upon the land. With all the power and strength left within him Torial flew from the surface of the world to his realm above. As he passed his final breath was cast out over the land, bestowing upon all creatures his final gift. Though Fariel’s curse could not be lifted, and all life would come to wither and die in time, Torial gave to them the ability to create new life, to give new life to the world as death took the old. Thus was created the circle of life.

Beaten and mortally wounded Fariel fled as far as his failing strength could carry him. Falling to the ground far to the North of the World. Here he lay and formed the Ice Mountains of the northern lands.

Returning to his celestial realm Torial looked to his children and knew that he was no longer alone.

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On the Coming of the Avatars of the Elements and the Taming of the World.

From his realm Torial looked to the world he had created, and the creatures he had given life to and weeped. His battle with Fariel had destroyed much life, and had thrown the land into chaos. Fierce floods and storms raged across the land, the earth rose up in giant mountains that spat fire from the heart of the world. Darkness coated one half of the world, while cruel sun baked the other.

He yearned to put right what his hand had torn apart, but the wound Fariel had given him still burned, and he knew to return to the surface of the land would mean his death.

Touched by his deep sadness his children, the Elements of Light, Shadow, Earth, Air and Water, gave their word to return the world to order, and bring life back to the World.

With the blessing of Torial the five elements passed down to the face of the world.

On reaching the surface each of the elements took on physical form, drawing to them their element to create an avatar.

Urmethiel drew to him the light, fashioning a beautiful and graceful body that almost glowed golden. He dressed himself in armour that glittered silver and gold. Worked with elegant runes and engraving, it would have been the envy of the greatest armoursmith who ever lived.

Reaching to the heavens he touched the sun with his power, forcing it to move through the heavens. Thus the cycle of night and day was created.

Shanya, goddess of water, created a body of water, able to take any shape or form she required. In mortal form she appeared as a beautiful woman, with skin smooth as a lake on a windless day. But within her eyes, the colour of the sea during a storm, she held the fury of the oceans. Her garments were thin silks all the colours of the waters of the world. Using her powers she drew the waters from the lands, gathering them to form the oceans of the world.

Aarial, goddess of air, formed her avatar from the very substance of the air. Her body seemingly fair and delicate, but within the force of the strongest gail. Her clothing that of translucent fabric which seemed to be as untouchable as the air. She reached across the world and calmed the raging winds.

Kathnar, God of Earth, created a body made of rock, his skin the colour of green marble. His garments were of granite and quartz.

He reached his hands into the ground and with his power stilled the raging earth. Stopping the quakes that rocked the world.

Corimar, the god of shadow, brought to him the very substance of darkness. Crafting a body as beautiful as his twin Urmethiel but tainted with an intangible darkness. Mimicking Urmethiel still further he also clothed himself in ornate and elegant armour, but dark as the blackest night. Jealous of the light that his brother had cast across the world he brought his darkness to the world, covering it with his shadow for a time each day equal to the time of light.

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On the Creation of the Races.

The world tamed the Elements turned their attention to the creation of life. Each Element had taken responsibility for the care of one aspect of the world, and they took the honour of creating life for that aspect.

Shanya created life that swam in the seas and lived in her waters.

Aarial gave form the creatures of the air, and the beasts that flew in the skies.

Kathnar made the beasts that ran and crawled on the surface of the world.

Corimar made the creatures that lived beneath the ground, in the dark places away from the light of the sun.

Urmethiel realised that he governed no place where life could exist, his element was required but intangible. In despair that his brothers and sisters could breathe life into this New World, and he could not he called to his father to tell him what to do. Torial looked upon the lands and said unto Urmethiel that he should create a race of his own choosing, and that into this creature he should pour his element of light and this creature would walk on the land, but would be of the light.

With this Urmethiel created a being in his own image. Graceful and elegant. Upright as the Gods were, walking on two legs. He called them the Verdai R’yn Lial, which meant the Children of the light. Thus was born the race of elves.

Torial Father of all elements and the God of the life giving flame looked upon his children’s creations and was pleased. They had returned life to the surface of his world. Even though Fariel’s curse still held sway, and all creatures would die in time, Torial’s gift gave them the ability to bred and populate the world with their kin.

But Torial was still not content. He saw the creatures his children had made and he too wished to give life to the world. He fashioned a being like himself and gave it life. Shaped as he was shaped and with his own fiery soul he made the race of Men he called them The R’yn Fae’nyr, which meant Of the Flame. Made from his own element they were the closest to his heart, but also most effected by the curse. Were the Elves could live many years before the curse of death would take them, the race of men would exist only for a short time. But with the power of Torial held within that fragile frame they had the greatest ability to grow and change the world.

Hidden away in his dark kingdom Corimar looked upon the creations of his siblings. He saw the beings of light, the elves, and he grew jealous. Hidden from all he created his own race of beings. Made to rival the elves in beauty they held in their dark hearts all the hate of their creator. He called them the Da’nyr, or shadow kin. Deep in the depths of the Earth he built his race and fed their anger and envy for the creatures that lived above.

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