Bio: The Sielwode and Archmage Rhysdiordan

[Archmage Rysdiordan]

The Sielwode
FROM BR WIKI
"In the old tongue of the Andu, Sielwode simply means "faerie wood." This dark, brooding forest in the Eastern Marches is shunned by the folk of Anuire as well as travelers from Brechtür and Khinasi. It is no place for humans. Deep in the heart of the forest lies the Siellaghriod, where the Emerald Queen Isaelie rules. Humans, however know little of this place, for the nature of this forest does not admit humans. Flitting faerie and lumbering treant alike disdain contact with humans and want only to drive them from the forest or lure them into danger. Countless places are crossing points where beings of the Faerie realm cross into the daylight world to frolic and make merry. These beings know the results of human intrusion and will not allow the humans to destroy this place too. While the Aelvinnwode (another elven realm) seems like a natural place of wonder, and even magic, the Sielwode is a place of menace and palpable foreboding. Some claim the land has awakened and learned hatred for mankind. Others argue this is the fey influence on the land, for it is undeniable that the faeries regard man as an enemy. These creatures draw the Seeming from their faerie realm to conceal bogs so that even wary travelers are engulfed before they know it. Thorn hedges rise up between trees blocking those who do not belong from passing through the wood. Flowers dangle from trees spraying poisons that induce slumber. Some never awake from this sleep. Even so, the beauty of the forest is profound. Some glens are so touched by their connection to the faerie realm that a mere human would die at the sight of their captivating visage. Oak groves cluster around crystalline pools, while roses bloom on vines that wrap tree trunks. "

Corwin Rhysdiordan was born in the Sielwode among the isolated Sidhelien (both the language of the Cerilian Elves and the elven word for the elven race. SHEE-lin, singular sidhe). He was born into an uncelebrated bloodline of Azrai. Although born of no political power, the Rhysdiordan line has a strong tradition of magecraft, and Corwin was taught the ways of magic by his father. Having shown affinity for manipulating mebhaighl (meh-VALE, the magic that imbues Cerilia and is used for all arcane magic, including realm spells), evocation, and the Sidhelien art of Spellsong (specialist evoker, feats: elven voice, spellsong mastery) at a young age, Corwin was recruited into a gheallie Sidhe (Hunt of the Elves) in which elves leave their forests to strike out against Humans and any other races that have encroached. After traveling the Northlands slaughtering those who bow to the Gorgon for nearly a century, he returned to the Sielwode a hero of his people, and quickly became his beloved empress' most trusted aid. Removing herself from public activity to meditate on the future of her people, she has granted Rhysdiordan numerous holdings and sources throughout her realm along with broad authority to use them, which he has used to continue his quest against the humanoids of the North. Shockingly Rhysdiordan has shown to be a staunch ally to the Human nation of Elinie,a maneuver widely questioned in the Sielwode. Together they have defeated humanoid armies of both Markazor and southern Coernys, as well as traveling to the Spiderfell where they defeated the Spider, a mighty awnsheghlien (ORN-shay-lin: the twisted beings that bear the blood of Azrai. awnshegh means ‘blood of darkness’) and claimed the Spiderfell in the name of Endier. Rhysdiordan has also been hired by nations such as Endier and Tournen to cast his powerful realm magic.

Corwin seeks to ultimately secure the Sielwode from intrusion and alleviate the worries of his beloved Queen Isaelie. He has overcome some of his people's hatred for mankind, forming a strong friendship with Assan ibn Daouta and other more casual alliances. He takes little interest in governing his people, allowing them freedom to do as they please. Temples and Guild holdings are forbidden within the Xenophobic woods of the Sielwode. Rhysdiordan collects some small amount of valuable spell components that grow in his magically tuned provinces. Within the Sielwode he is opposed by isolationists who despise the idea of working with humans.