(Ru visiting the ruins of Myth Drannor after departing from Evermeet)
DREAMS OF YESTERDAY
(A glimpse into the mind of Ru)
Pathetic. Like worms on the ground, mice of the woods, the kin clung to their tiny slivers of the world. Their islands, their deep woods. Or, even more humiliating, they dwelt amongst the N'Tel'Quessir, the 'others'. Living in their primitive 'cities', an abuse of the word if ever there was one, not as equals but as second-class citizens, at best junior partners to the inevitable destiny of humanity. The people had once dwelt in vast and beautiful realms of high culture and magic. Even these countless ages on from the fall of Myth Drannor, the civilization of these OTHERS was a pale shadow of what had preceded them. Yet the Kin seemed content to cling to the inhospitable edges of the world in which they were permitted to retain 'sovereignty'.
No. The kin were meant for more than mere existence. Their very steps were blessed by the Gods themselves, destined for more than passing the days in tedium. To them was the duty of pulling the world from its rolling in the mud. Not just dancing in the fading ashes of what was but to bring about what was meant to be. Once more the great cities of the Kin should put shame to the clouds. Once more their works of art and magic should astound and amaze all those who would even pretend to progress, to skill. Let the mayflies be reminded of their plcae in the world. Of whom the real firstborn were.
No. The kin were meant for more than mere existence. Their very steps were blessed by the Gods themselves, destined for more than passing the days in tedium. To them was the duty of pulling the world from its rolling in the mud. Not just dancing in the fading ashes of what was but to bring about what was meant to be. Once more the great cities of the Kin should put shame to the clouds. Once more their works of art and magic should astound and amaze all those who would even pretend to progress, to skill. Let the mayflies be reminded of their plcae in the world. Of whom the real firstborn were.
Ru Ansrivarr
Ru was born on the isle of evermeet to two of the Ar'Tel'Quessir. His parents had the peculiar distinction of being unusual zealous even amongst their own race. Fierce to the point of extreme in their devotion to Corellon, Ru was named not for family or for any parental sentiment, rather he was named as an extension of his parent's zealous belief. Near the day of his birth, on their way to the temple to offer prayer and sacrifice Ru's parents were convinced that various falling leaves and bird calls coupled with the dancing of shadows on the wall within the temple were auspices regarding their soon to be born child. The child would be a great servant of the Dream. They believed that some day the 'retreat' of the children of Corellon which they viewed more as a prolongued exile and punishment imposed upon the kin for their lack of faith and their evil ways was a purely temporary affair; and that one day the Kin would once more spread forth from their refuges to reclaim their ancient realms and lands from the mayflies who had come to squat amongst the ruins of greater civilization. Thus they named him Ru Ansrivarr, roughly, the one who dreams of memories.
From his earliest days Ru was trained in the arts of the weave, his parents believing that the affinity of the High Elves with magic was evidence not only of the blessings of Corellon, but also of the inevitable destiny of the Ar'Tel'Quessir to one day return into their rightful place in the proverbial sun. When the troubles fell and magic fled from the world many lost hope, claiming that Corelllon had abandoned them to a world of darkness and despair. yet Ru and many of his fellow Dreamers kept the faith, insisting that the troubles were a passing thing, a test by which the Elf-Father would test the Kin and separate the wheat from the chaff. Ru's faith was rewarded at the return of magic, though the weave felt different, alien, requiring him to learn from scratch much of what he had once taken for granted. Yet he lept at his task without complaint. The Elf-Father had restored the blessings to the Kin, and those who were not able to learn quickly must simply not have affinity for the blessing, and must therefore not be true children of Corellon. Perhaps they were even responsible for the retreat.
Soon after the end of the troubles and the return of magic Ru departed from Evermeet. He had always hated the idea of hiding away from the world. He viewed the entire idea of surrendering Faerun to the mayflies while the kin lived lives of idleness and luxury focusing on the 'craft' to the exclusion of all else revolting. The mastery of craft and calling was FOR the dream. Without a purpose behind the craft one might as well try to use a bucket to bail out the sea. For the pursuit would be worthless. Arriving on the shores of the Sword coast Ru encountered his first humans. Learning quickly that the humans had gained a barbarous and uncivilized view of magic, believing it to be 'dangerous' with some going so far as to ban it. Only further evidence that neglecting the world to the mayflies was a mistake. How could such unsophisticated creatures be dominating the world, growing their kingdoms and occupying lands that had once been under the dominion of the children of the Elf-Father. Mistaken as they may be they remained dangerous, and Ru quickly learned to conceal his ears, and his magic, keeping a low profile and dressing in the fashion of the mayflies so as to learn as much as he could about their ways and societies.
Ru quickly learned the trade-tongue and the language of the humans. Barbarous and gutteral though it was, understanding them would be necessary for any pursuit of the Dream. Though he could understand their words he rarely if ever debased himself by speaking the words of men, prefering merely to listen nod and gesture in order to communicate with the mayflies. Upon arriving to the Neck Ru learned of a settlement of Kin deep within the woods. He made a perilous journey through the infested woodlands until coming to the great grove. He was however, unsurprised by what he found. More kin content to while away the years hiding from mayflies. Allowing them to 'close the borders' and torture and hurt children of Corellon without reply. To dwell amongst them for too long would infect Ru with their beliefs and ideas, so he departed, striking out for Murann in order to learn more of this new land.
Upon arriving in Murann Ru was able to find various mayflies with which to go on expeditions, though he often spent many days and weeks watching the mayflies and discerning if they would tolerate a mage amongst their ranks before he would join them. Ru did not believe in giving mayflies his proper name, rather he gave them a name translated from one of the guttural human tongues he had encountered on his travels. Droaidh Calladin, roughly 'hedge wizard', it amused him that thes mayflies hated magic so yet would ignorantly acknowledge his existence as a mage whenever they referred to him. It was in Murann that Ru also encountered his first half-elf. First believing it to be a human with damaged ears, when he learned that the abomination was in fact the union of a mayfly with one of the kin he vomitted in the gutter. It took all of his will power not to try and kill the shame of his people in the middle of the street in broad daylight. Somehow, Corellon only knows, he managed. Swearing to himself that some day he would redeem the shame inflicted upon the children of Corellon, when the time was right.
From his earliest days Ru was trained in the arts of the weave, his parents believing that the affinity of the High Elves with magic was evidence not only of the blessings of Corellon, but also of the inevitable destiny of the Ar'Tel'Quessir to one day return into their rightful place in the proverbial sun. When the troubles fell and magic fled from the world many lost hope, claiming that Corelllon had abandoned them to a world of darkness and despair. yet Ru and many of his fellow Dreamers kept the faith, insisting that the troubles were a passing thing, a test by which the Elf-Father would test the Kin and separate the wheat from the chaff. Ru's faith was rewarded at the return of magic, though the weave felt different, alien, requiring him to learn from scratch much of what he had once taken for granted. Yet he lept at his task without complaint. The Elf-Father had restored the blessings to the Kin, and those who were not able to learn quickly must simply not have affinity for the blessing, and must therefore not be true children of Corellon. Perhaps they were even responsible for the retreat.
Soon after the end of the troubles and the return of magic Ru departed from Evermeet. He had always hated the idea of hiding away from the world. He viewed the entire idea of surrendering Faerun to the mayflies while the kin lived lives of idleness and luxury focusing on the 'craft' to the exclusion of all else revolting. The mastery of craft and calling was FOR the dream. Without a purpose behind the craft one might as well try to use a bucket to bail out the sea. For the pursuit would be worthless. Arriving on the shores of the Sword coast Ru encountered his first humans. Learning quickly that the humans had gained a barbarous and uncivilized view of magic, believing it to be 'dangerous' with some going so far as to ban it. Only further evidence that neglecting the world to the mayflies was a mistake. How could such unsophisticated creatures be dominating the world, growing their kingdoms and occupying lands that had once been under the dominion of the children of the Elf-Father. Mistaken as they may be they remained dangerous, and Ru quickly learned to conceal his ears, and his magic, keeping a low profile and dressing in the fashion of the mayflies so as to learn as much as he could about their ways and societies.
Ru quickly learned the trade-tongue and the language of the humans. Barbarous and gutteral though it was, understanding them would be necessary for any pursuit of the Dream. Though he could understand their words he rarely if ever debased himself by speaking the words of men, prefering merely to listen nod and gesture in order to communicate with the mayflies. Upon arriving to the Neck Ru learned of a settlement of Kin deep within the woods. He made a perilous journey through the infested woodlands until coming to the great grove. He was however, unsurprised by what he found. More kin content to while away the years hiding from mayflies. Allowing them to 'close the borders' and torture and hurt children of Corellon without reply. To dwell amongst them for too long would infect Ru with their beliefs and ideas, so he departed, striking out for Murann in order to learn more of this new land.
Upon arriving in Murann Ru was able to find various mayflies with which to go on expeditions, though he often spent many days and weeks watching the mayflies and discerning if they would tolerate a mage amongst their ranks before he would join them. Ru did not believe in giving mayflies his proper name, rather he gave them a name translated from one of the guttural human tongues he had encountered on his travels. Droaidh Calladin, roughly 'hedge wizard', it amused him that thes mayflies hated magic so yet would ignorantly acknowledge his existence as a mage whenever they referred to him. It was in Murann that Ru also encountered his first half-elf. First believing it to be a human with damaged ears, when he learned that the abomination was in fact the union of a mayfly with one of the kin he vomitted in the gutter. It took all of his will power not to try and kill the shame of his people in the middle of the street in broad daylight. Somehow, Corellon only knows, he managed. Swearing to himself that some day he would redeem the shame inflicted upon the children of Corellon, when the time was right.
((I will try to treat this thread as more of a character thread than as just a bio so I will preiodically update the thread with the various antics of Ru and his companions))
