Elf, Kaled’a’in

Appearance

Mixed skin and hair colors, due to mixed ancestry in the people. Some trade, but mostly fishing - somewhat isolated on their peninsula. This was the remnant of the people (including gryphons) that got separated from the Tayledras_Elf and Shin'a'in_Elf near the end of the War of the Mad.

Average Characteristics

• Age: Matures similar to humans, but the average life span is 300 years.
• Size: Heights range from under 5ft to over 6ft. Most have slender to muscular builds
• Language: Elvish (Kaled’a’in)

Locations

The city of White Gryphon on the Karzaba Peninsula is the home of Kaled'a'in. Actually dug into the cliff wall, the city resembled a gryphon in flight.

History

During the Age of Expansion, several clans of elves chose to leave what they saw as the decadence of the Bur'aiel empire. Finding new homes in the Green Wood and the wilderness beyond the Summerburg Mts, they attempted to make new lives for themselves. But it was not to be....when Ollamaas' forces began rolling out over the Tamed Lands, the elves were one of the first races to answer the call.

In the aftermath, the remaining elves, now calling themselves the Kaled'a'in to differenciate themselves from the Elf, Aiel and Elf, Bur'an, withdrew into the wilderness of the west. For a generation, things seemed quiet and the elves watched the humans and other races spread out throughout Ellebore. When Kelveren began his conquest, he moved to crush the elves first. Already weakened by their losses in the earlier war, the Kaled'a'in fled into the south, seeking Whyril's protection.

Near the end of the War of the Mad, when it was clear that Whyril was going to lose, he began quietly evacuating civilians and support troops, sending them to far off places through his standing portals. The Kaled'a'in were the last to go, knowing that Whyril would not leave. When the artificer mage was poisoned and the failsafe was discovered, the elves scrambled to escape.

Tumbling through the first gate the ten clans of the Kaled'a'in found themselves in a relay camp. Whyril had feared that the resulting explosion from his tower would be too powerful and so he had sent another gate that would take them across the remaining length of Ellebore. The camp itself was empty, except for two dozen gryphons (all that remained of Whyril's magnificent creations).

Knowing they had little time, most of the elves did little more than shout at the gryphons that it was time to run and then dive through the second portal. As the last of the Kaled'a'in fled through the first gate and into the camp, the world exploded! The combined explosions of both strongholds proved to be more powerful than even Whyril's wildest dreams. But it was the shockwave that ripped through the weave that did the most damage. As the chaotic energy passed over the camp both of the portals winked out.

Nine of the clans had passed through the second gate, but for k'Leshia and the gryphons, there would be no further to go. So they hunkered down and waited for the storms to pass over. Hours later, the second wave hit, the after effects of the two explosions interacting with each other. These echoes continued for some time, but after a moon or so, that time between was measured in days rather than hours.

Tired, exhausted, and drained the entire clan met, including the new winged members, to discuss what to do next. There was little food at this camp, only what they had brought with them. The gryphons were having difficulty hunting as well. Much of the wildlife was in hiding and the near constant thunderstorms were making it hard to fly.

The meeting was in turns both fiery and depressed. Very few wanted to stay in this swampy valley, but where could they go to escape these mage storms. After several hours of chasing their tails, Adept Wizard Branowin Helreos stood to offer a suggestion. As an adopted half-elf from Djedbura, he suggested that he and the other mages work together and transport everyone to Umberfell. "Surely these storms do not reach across the great ocean." Many of the elves were against this plan, not wanting to leave this homeland. But there were no others who could channel the spell and this was the farthest point that Adept Branowin knew.

The other complication was that with each passing wave of energy, the weave was pulled apart more and less of it settled back into place. All of the mages had less power to work with, Branowin himself was significantly reduced in strength. Still he knew the spell and destination, with all the other wizards feeding him power, he would be able to take them.

In the end, there was not real choice....it was this or stay and no one wanted to stay. A plan was made and several weeks later he and the half dozen other practitioners began drawing out the enormous circle that would would take over 200 people, some animals, and two dozen gryphons across the ocean to Umberfell. The wizards worked quickly as there was another storm due in a few marks. At last it was done.

The mages took their places and began sending all of their personal stores of energy into Adept Branowin. The circle glowed with power as the half-elf's voice rose and with the last sigil drawn there was a flash of light and everyone was gone.

As the light cleared, the remaining Kaled'a'in clan found themselves standing on grassland near a rocky cliff. Many stumbled as they appeared and Moonstar, one of the clan elders, turned to ask Branowin where they were. She did not get the words out however, as all that remained of the young mage was a withered husk holding a staff. One of the other mages reached out to touch him and the body just turned to dust. Looking at Moonstar, the mage stammered, "The mage storm must have hit just as he finished the spell. I'm sure you felt that jolt at the beginning...that should not have happened. He must have burned himself out just keeping the spell together. "

Moonstar just looked to the other elders and shook her head before turning back to the mage and asking, "So then do you know where we are?"

The mage just shrugged, "Frankly, it's a miracle any of us survived at all. But as for where we landed or how far off target we got pushed....I really couldn't say."