Sylvuselah
Finally, I can share the lore around the Fantasy Faire sim, Sylvuselah!
Sylvuselah was created by Ketsui Naidoo (En Pointe), Grimoire Hexem (Vae Victis), and RobynRedhead (The Wino Mino).
It has been a real honour writing Sylvuselah's lore and I'm very happy to share it with you all! Please do visit Panibous, the giant whale, every day - he tells a few intricate little details that really shows more into the world!
---
Origin
Once, when the realm was static, the Trinity bound together to create the world.
Ithris, the magic of the land, crafted the mountains and valleys, the rocks and and earth.
Ebris, the magic of the sea, generated the ocean, rivers and lakes, the sand and tides.
Zythis, the magic of the air, gave a breath of life into every corner of creation, and sanctioned flora to flourish with the seasons and weather.
After a time, Ithris and Ebris - land and sea - fell into a deep, enthralling love, and together they created a unique, dormant seed to symbolise their union.
Witnessing their admiration blossom, Zythis sacrificed the entirety of their power, to allow the seed to sprout and grow.
With the final breath of Zythis, Sylvuselah - the mother tree - was sown.
Primary Races
As Sylvuselah grew, Ithris and Ebris gifted her with companions, each unique to their domain.
Ithris crafted creatures which leapt across the land, cloven hooves and leaf-like ears. Some spawned with horns akin to branches sprouting from their crowns, some with a singular thorn-like horn from atop their head, and some with no horns at all. These beasts were known as Ithrian.
Ebris weaved the water to form finned creatures which danced in the waves with beauty and grace, a variety of colours and shapes to illuminate the seas. Some bore scales, others bore shells, and some grew skin and blubber. These were known as Ebrian.
Zythis was no longer, but the remaining remnants of their magic gave the last blessing. For Ithrian, great spores of fungi flourished on branches, rocks and roots, whilst Ebrian were graced with giant stemmed pads, which often bloomed with colourful flowers and appeared to float across the surface. When these flora were consumed, it allowed the brief ability to take to the air, to enjoy the wind once more.
On rare occasions, an Ebrian or Ithrian who consumed Zythis' blessing would produce a unique, oval egg. These legendary offspring would be hatched with wings - some of feathers, some of membranes, and some of chitin. The offspring would enjoy their lives in the skies, fluttering to rest at the very top of Sylvuselah's crown. These would be known as Zyrian.
Panibous
Sylvuselah adored her gifts and communicating with the flora and fauna of the land and sea and sky, but one particular creature was more loquacious than most.
This creature was a blubbered Ebrian who cherished the mother tree with every fibre of his belonging.
The young Ebrian would crawl upon the land to better view his beloved Sylvuselah, but would soon return to sea, for he could not hold his breath long enough to stay.
Then, he would nibble the pads and fungi so he may fly, to be closer to her. He would regale her with stories and news of all the creatures, but his flight was fleeting and he soon returned to the water.
He continued this through his life, crawling upon the land, and nibbling to soar through the air, all the while keeping company the great tree and delighting her with his tales.
Yet the enthusiasm for traversing other domains took its toll on the Ebrian, and he soon fell gravely unwell - his body unsure of which domain he should remain, and the magics conflicting within his core.
Deeply saddened by his condition, Sylvuselah mustered her energy and blessed the Ebrian with a unique and powerful gift.
His body emerged from the waves, soared over the land and rested within the air, for the Mother Tree had bestowed upon him the trinity of magic, so he may be of land, sea, and sky. From this day forth, he was known as Panibous, and lived alongside Sylvuselah and continued his collection of lore.
Secondary Races
Sylvuselah lived in harmony with Ithrian, Ebrian, Zyrian and Panibous, but lamented the only communication between all was through her loremaster's words.
It was then Sylvuselah used her blessings once more, to create a secondary, fae race which could commune over all domains; the Lahbrian.
The three Lahbrian, born from the bough's blooms, walked on two legs, lacked tails and featured humanoid traits of hands, thumbs, and common speech. They were named Kiidoto, Merghe, and Donheyr.
They communicated with one another and connected the various creatures together, yet each found they favoured a domain themselves. Kiidoto was content with the land, leaping with the Ithrian and sleeping by the caverns. Merghe preferred the Ebrian way of life, swimming and dancing beneath the waves, and drifting afloat amongst the tides. Donheyr was most comfortable with the Zyrian, soaring around the mother tree and nesting upon her crown.
One day, the siblings came together to request one final blessing from their mother tree; they wished to house the traits of the domains which fit them. Sylvuselah could feel their adoration for the domain of choice and agreed to their request.
Kiidoto sprouted cloven hooves, a short tail and branched antlers, but their ability to breathe underwater and fly through the skies was removed.
Merghe lost the use of legs and flight, but gained a large finned tail and gills, to better fare through the seas.
Donheyr lost no part of themselves, but sprouted giant, feathered wings upon their back and clawed, taloned feet. These were so they could soar through the skies and perch on the branches of trees.
Grateful for their changes, the Lahbrian thanked their mother and returned to their domains with overwhelming glee.
Their happiness and adoration was so great that they produced offspring themselves - but these creatures could no longer be considered Lahbrian, Ithrian, Ebrian or Zyrian.
Instead, those of Fae and Land were henceforth named Ithlah.
Those of Fae and Sea were dubbed La'heb.
And those rare entities of Fae and Sky, herald the name of Zyha.
Together, the six races, the Labrian, Panibous and Sylvuselah all lived in content harmony. All was good within the world.
Once these new races flourished, the three Lahbrian - now older and wiser - returned to the mother tree's hollows and lay down to rest, their soul and essence returned to their mother as she embraced them one final time.
The Cycle of Life
Life in Sylvuselah was akin to a circle; a wheel of reincarnation. No creature was ever considered to die, only to be reborn once more from the mother tree's blessings. Death is only viewed as "eternal sleep", whilst birth is seen as the "reawakening".
Eternal sleep only arrived to creatures after the resting of the three Labrian, where the old and frail could follow them to be reawakened in youth. The Zyha took it upon themselves to return the other races to the mother tree, collecting their earthly bodies and carrying them to the crown, where they performed respectful rituals to allow their spirit to return to Sylvuselah.
After their sleep, Sylvuselah embraces the resting, allowing them to travel to her branches and bud into one of her many leaves.
Once the leaf has absorbed their full spirit, it becomes heavy enough to fall, cascading to the domain where they shall be reawakened. Those which end on land become Ithrian or Ithlah, those which settle on water become Ebrian or La'heb, and those which land on the pads and fungi are reawoken as Zyrian.
The rarest of reawakenings is the Zyha; only leaves which come to rest at the very crown of Sylvuselah - oftentimes carried by wind - are reawoken into the elusive Zyha race; their honourable purpose is to learn the rites and rituals to return the resting to their mother.
The Black Rot
However, there was one cataclysmic event which led to a break in the wheel of life.
A great crevice ripped open the sky above, and through the abyss fell a solitary, blackened worm. This seemingly insignificant creature descended into the sea and settled before a curious La'heb named No'ja.
No'ja was enthralled by the worm and had the impulse to consume it, so he did. At first, there was no change to him, and he continued with normalcy.
Yet, as days progressed, No'ja grew solemn, angry, and envious. He loathed the fact that water was used by the Ithlah for growth and sustainability, whilst he felt their earth and blossoms were a pitiful exchange. Rage entered his heart and his fins blackened and withered, with scales breaking away to reveal tears and holes. Many whispered of him, calling his condition the "Black Rot".
As a result, more worms escaped through the rotted flesh and scales, continuing their corruption through other creatures. At first, it was just Ebrian, but then more La'heb became changed. Soon, No'ja had amassed a following which shared his negative perspective, and began to resent the Ithlah and other La'heb who didn't accept their philosophy; No'ja believed the La'heb to be the most important tribe, and as such should rule over others with authority.
With great prejudice, a war of corruption began. No'ja's followers infected the drinking waters, leading to many Ithlah passively corrupting themselves.
It wasn’t just living creatures which succumbed to the Black Rot; trees withered and rocks eroded from the contact of absorbing the corruption. It became so severe that it threatened the mother tree herself.
Destruction reigned between the two tribes, and the Zyha carried many souls to Sylvuselah's crown.
Yet the mother tree could only take the uncorrupted - the infected races had no more of her magic within them and could not be returned. Thus, these creatures succumb to true death, and it was said that Sylvuselah's lament was so great that she ceased growing in size; weighed down by the depression of her lost creations.
As the Zyha returned the unaccepted to whence they fell, they proclaimed the lack of magics within them. From this, the corrupted races were renamed.
Corrupted Ithlah were Jolah. Corrupted La'heb were La'joh. And - whilst no evidence of a corrupted Zyha exists - they would be considered Zyjo.
After years of conflict, No'ja was naught but a skeleton; no former self remained. He soon fell silent, his followers breaking away from their aggressive tactics, and many hoped he had perished. The Jolah and La'joh seemed to dwindle; Ithlah burned the remains of Jolah whilst La'heb buried the La'joh under the sands.
The war was no more, yet remnants of the Black Rot remain and are still visible amongst the realm. Corruption occurs in unlikely places, leading to the suspicion that No'ja still thrives in the shadows, recruiting another army to finally fell the mother tree.
Whilst now calm, the once prosperous and unified world lives with a paranoid air of anxiety, wondering when and where corruption will return.
---
Pronunciation Guide
Sylvuselah - Sill-VOO-Suh-LAH
Ithris - ith-RISS
Ebris - Ebb-RISS
Zythis - Zith-ISS
Ithrian - ith-REE-En
Ebrian - Ebb-REE-En
Zyrian - Zee-REE-En
Panibous - Pan-A-Bus
Lahbrian - Lab-REE-An
Ithlah - ith-LAH
La’heb - LAH-Ebb
Zyha - ZY-hah (Z-EYE-Hah)
Kiidoto - Key-DOE-toe
Merghe - Mer-GAY
Donheyr - Don-HAIR
No’ja - No-JAH
Jolah - Joe-LAH
La’joh - LAH-Joe
Zyjo - ZY-Joe (Z-EYE-Joe)
Sylvuselah
Finally, I can share the lore around the Fantasy Faire sim, Sylvuselah!
Sylvuselah was created by Ketsui Naidoo (En Pointe), Grimoire Hexem (Vae Victis), and RobynRedhead (The Wino Mino).
It has been a real honour writing Sylvuselah's lore and I'm very happy to share it with you all! Please do visit Panibous, the giant whale, every day - he tells a few intricate little details that really shows more into the world!
---
Origin
Once, when the realm was static, the Trinity bound together to create the world.
Ithris, the magic of the land, crafted the mountains and valleys, the rocks and and earth.
Ebris, the magic of the sea, generated the ocean, rivers and lakes, the sand and tides.
Zythis, the magic of the air, gave a breath of life into every corner of creation, and sanctioned flora to flourish with the seasons and weather.
After a time, Ithris and Ebris - land and sea - fell into a deep, enthralling love, and together they created a unique, dormant seed to symbolise their union.
Witnessing their admiration blossom, Zythis sacrificed the entirety of their power, to allow the seed to sprout and grow.
With the final breath of Zythis, Sylvuselah - the mother tree - was sown.
Primary Races
As Sylvuselah grew, Ithris and Ebris gifted her with companions, each unique to their domain.
Ithris crafted creatures which leapt across the land, cloven hooves and leaf-like ears. Some spawned with horns akin to branches sprouting from their crowns, some with a singular thorn-like horn from atop their head, and some with no horns at all. These beasts were known as Ithrian.
Ebris weaved the water to form finned creatures which danced in the waves with beauty and grace, a variety of colours and shapes to illuminate the seas. Some bore scales, others bore shells, and some grew skin and blubber. These were known as Ebrian.
Zythis was no longer, but the remaining remnants of their magic gave the last blessing. For Ithrian, great spores of fungi flourished on branches, rocks and roots, whilst Ebrian were graced with giant stemmed pads, which often bloomed with colourful flowers and appeared to float across the surface. When these flora were consumed, it allowed the brief ability to take to the air, to enjoy the wind once more.
On rare occasions, an Ebrian or Ithrian who consumed Zythis' blessing would produce a unique, oval egg. These legendary offspring would be hatched with wings - some of feathers, some of membranes, and some of chitin. The offspring would enjoy their lives in the skies, fluttering to rest at the very top of Sylvuselah's crown. These would be known as Zyrian.
Panibous
Sylvuselah adored her gifts and communicating with the flora and fauna of the land and sea and sky, but one particular creature was more loquacious than most.
This creature was a blubbered Ebrian who cherished the mother tree with every fibre of his belonging.
The young Ebrian would crawl upon the land to better view his beloved Sylvuselah, but would soon return to sea, for he could not hold his breath long enough to stay.
Then, he would nibble the pads and fungi so he may fly, to be closer to her. He would regale her with stories and news of all the creatures, but his flight was fleeting and he soon returned to the water.
He continued this through his life, crawling upon the land, and nibbling to soar through the air, all the while keeping company the great tree and delighting her with his tales.
Yet the enthusiasm for traversing other domains took its toll on the Ebrian, and he soon fell gravely unwell - his body unsure of which domain he should remain, and the magics conflicting within his core.
Deeply saddened by his condition, Sylvuselah mustered her energy and blessed the Ebrian with a unique and powerful gift.
His body emerged from the waves, soared over the land and rested within the air, for the Mother Tree had bestowed upon him the trinity of magic, so he may be of land, sea, and sky. From this day forth, he was known as Panibous, and lived alongside Sylvuselah and continued his collection of lore.
Secondary Races
Sylvuselah lived in harmony with Ithrian, Ebrian, Zyrian and Panibous, but lamented the only communication between all was through her loremaster's words.
It was then Sylvuselah used her blessings once more, to create a secondary, fae race which could commune over all domains; the Lahbrian.
The three Lahbrian, born from the bough's blooms, walked on two legs, lacked tails and featured humanoid traits of hands, thumbs, and common speech. They were named Kiidoto, Merghe, and Donheyr.
They communicated with one another and connected the various creatures together, yet each found they favoured a domain themselves. Kiidoto was content with the land, leaping with the Ithrian and sleeping by the caverns. Merghe preferred the Ebrian way of life, swimming and dancing beneath the waves, and drifting afloat amongst the tides. Donheyr was most comfortable with the Zyrian, soaring around the mother tree and nesting upon her crown.
One day, the siblings came together to request one final blessing from their mother tree; they wished to house the traits of the domains which fit them. Sylvuselah could feel their adoration for the domain of choice and agreed to their request.
Kiidoto sprouted cloven hooves, a short tail and branched antlers, but their ability to breathe underwater and fly through the skies was removed.
Merghe lost the use of legs and flight, but gained a large finned tail and gills, to better fare through the seas.
Donheyr lost no part of themselves, but sprouted giant, feathered wings upon their back and clawed, taloned feet. These were so they could soar through the skies and perch on the branches of trees.
Grateful for their changes, the Lahbrian thanked their mother and returned to their domains with overwhelming glee.
Their happiness and adoration was so great that they produced offspring themselves - but these creatures could no longer be considered Lahbrian, Ithrian, Ebrian or Zyrian.
Instead, those of Fae and Land were henceforth named Ithlah.
Those of Fae and Sea were dubbed La'heb.
And those rare entities of Fae and Sky, herald the name of Zyha.
Together, the six races, the Labrian, Panibous and Sylvuselah all lived in content harmony. All was good within the world.
Once these new races flourished, the three Lahbrian - now older and wiser - returned to the mother tree's hollows and lay down to rest, their soul and essence returned to their mother as she embraced them one final time.
The Cycle of Life
Life in Sylvuselah was akin to a circle; a wheel of reincarnation. No creature was ever considered to die, only to be reborn once more from the mother tree's blessings. Death is only viewed as "eternal sleep", whilst birth is seen as the "reawakening".
Eternal sleep only arrived to creatures after the resting of the three Labrian, where the old and frail could follow them to be reawakened in youth. The Zyha took it upon themselves to return the other races to the mother tree, collecting their earthly bodies and carrying them to the crown, where they performed respectful rituals to allow their spirit to return to Sylvuselah.
After their sleep, Sylvuselah embraces the resting, allowing them to travel to her branches and bud into one of her many leaves.
Once the leaf has absorbed their full spirit, it becomes heavy enough to fall, cascading to the domain where they shall be reawakened. Those which end on land become Ithrian or Ithlah, those which settle on water become Ebrian or La'heb, and those which land on the pads and fungi are reawoken as Zyrian.
The rarest of reawakenings is the Zyha; only leaves which come to rest at the very crown of Sylvuselah - oftentimes carried by wind - are reawoken into the elusive Zyha race; their honourable purpose is to learn the rites and rituals to return the resting to their mother.
The Black Rot
However, there was one cataclysmic event which led to a break in the wheel of life.
A great crevice ripped open the sky above, and through the abyss fell a solitary, blackened worm. This seemingly insignificant creature descended into the sea and settled before a curious La'heb named No'ja.
No'ja was enthralled by the worm and had the impulse to consume it, so he did. At first, there was no change to him, and he continued with normalcy.
Yet, as days progressed, No'ja grew solemn, angry, and envious. He loathed the fact that water was used by the Ithlah for growth and sustainability, whilst he felt their earth and blossoms were a pitiful exchange. Rage entered his heart and his fins blackened and withered, with scales breaking away to reveal tears and holes. Many whispered of him, calling his condition the "Black Rot".
As a result, more worms escaped through the rotted flesh and scales, continuing their corruption through other creatures. At first, it was just Ebrian, but then more La'heb became changed. Soon, No'ja had amassed a following which shared his negative perspective, and began to resent the Ithlah and other La'heb who didn't accept their philosophy; No'ja believed the La'heb to be the most important tribe, and as such should rule over others with authority.
With great prejudice, a war of corruption began. No'ja's followers infected the drinking waters, leading to many Ithlah passively corrupting themselves.
It wasn’t just living creatures which succumbed to the Black Rot; trees withered and rocks eroded from the contact of absorbing the corruption. It became so severe that it threatened the mother tree herself.
Destruction reigned between the two tribes, and the Zyha carried many souls to Sylvuselah's crown.
Yet the mother tree could only take the uncorrupted - the infected races had no more of her magic within them and could not be returned. Thus, these creatures succumb to true death, and it was said that Sylvuselah's lament was so great that she ceased growing in size; weighed down by the depression of her lost creations.
As the Zyha returned the unaccepted to whence they fell, they proclaimed the lack of magics within them. From this, the corrupted races were renamed.
Corrupted Ithlah were Jolah. Corrupted La'heb were La'joh. And - whilst no evidence of a corrupted Zyha exists - they would be considered Zyjo.
After years of conflict, No'ja was naught but a skeleton; no former self remained. He soon fell silent, his followers breaking away from their aggressive tactics, and many hoped he had perished. The Jolah and La'joh seemed to dwindle; Ithlah burned the remains of Jolah whilst La'heb buried the La'joh under the sands.
The war was no more, yet remnants of the Black Rot remain and are still visible amongst the realm. Corruption occurs in unlikely places, leading to the suspicion that No'ja still thrives in the shadows, recruiting another army to finally fell the mother tree.
Whilst now calm, the once prosperous and unified world lives with a paranoid air of anxiety, wondering when and where corruption will return.
---
Pronunciation Guide
Sylvuselah - Sill-VOO-Suh-LAH
Ithris - ith-RISS
Ebris - Ebb-RISS
Zythis - Zith-ISS
Ithrian - ith-REE-En
Ebrian - Ebb-REE-En
Zyrian - Zee-REE-En
Panibous - Pan-A-Bus
Lahbrian - Lab-REE-An
Ithlah - ith-LAH
La’heb - LAH-Ebb
Zyha - ZY-hah (Z-EYE-Hah)
Kiidoto - Key-DOE-toe
Merghe - Mer-GAY
Donheyr - Don-HAIR
No’ja - No-JAH
Jolah - Joe-LAH
La’joh - LAH-Joe
Zyjo - ZY-Joe (Z-EYE-Joe)