Tomorrow we leave for the Elven capitol to speak with the king; hopefully we can rally his support and end this war. Alawan seems excited to speak with the king, Dalenurell. I didn’t know this, but it seems young Alawan was knighted into the Elven court by the current king’s father, Aradhrath, upon their last visit. Jerick speaks well of the former king, so I find it amazing that someone so young could find his way into the knightly ranks. I don’t know how the new king will treat him though, as what I have heard from Jerick lends me to believe that the king has no love for humans. I can’t even begin to imagine what his view is of us now, since a human apparently murdered his father. Though in one way, I can’t help but believe that the elves brought this upon themselves.
For the last few days we’ve been staying in a druid grove, located in the eastern Elven lands, It’s the most peaceful place I’ve ever experienced. The druid of this place, Jemerall, is a kindly man, a bit eccentric, but a good man none-the-less. He’s has spent the last few days preparing for the feast-day feast; which was quite magnificent. I don’t think I have eaten this well so long as I can remember. However, he does seem worried about us entering the Elven capitol, warning us several times over of the danger in doing so. I think he’s just testing our conviction though, I can’t believe that elves could be that unreasonable, perhaps the king, but we travel with a half-elf and the woman Elana, so I imagine that the elves of this land would take solace in that, knowing our intentions pure.
Elana however is pure mystery, as she, apparently, is the incarnation of Aesia, I’m not quite sure how that’s possible; she appears to be nice, quiet and contemplative, but to be Aesia, the goddess at the head of the church. Could this woman be responsible for all of the church’s actions, as I understand it, clerics derive their power from the god (or goddess) whom they worship. Why would she do such a thing? She herself appears elven, so why would she ally herself against the elves? I can’t even begin to imagine.
Jemerall taught me an interesting lesson in history however. For the last year I assumed it had been the church that had kept the elves a secret. That until now they sought to “protect” the people from this knowledge, though I have yet to meet an elf who is kind, thoughtful and overly generous. What he taught me was that it was the elves whom guarded this “secret.” Seeking to remain unknown to Selador and its peoples. That the tales of death to those traveling north weren’t just rumors, that the elves kill those who travel too far to the north to keep their existence a secret. And I always thought that the church just wanted to keep the people sheltered.
With the church’s response to the elves I can see why they feared allowing themselves to be known. The church calls them demon spawn. Too closed minded to allow for their existence. But the church didn’t always rein. I can’t understand why the elves decided long ago to keep us humans in the dark as to their presence. If we had known before the church was in power than the church and the rest of Selador wouldn’t be as fearful. That’s dogma for you. Never allowing for new ideas. Too afraid that since the new idea was not accounted for that it might prove its beliefs invalid. Is the church fighting the elves just to prove themselves right?
One things for sure. We need the support of the elven king. We need the support of the elven people. We need to relinquish the church’s hold on Selador. Allow the people to choose for themselves. Gideon used to stand against them and people used to stand behind Gideon. But that nation is all but dead. No one believes in the cause anymore. It’s easier for people to stand behind one person with a cause than to stand on their own. That way they can’t be singled out. Perhaps somewhere deep inside the populace of Selador the spirit of Gideon still remains. Perhaps if they can see that people are still fighting, they will fight as well. I think if we can restore that hope, that people will see another possibility for their lives. One not defined by a corrupt institution based on perversion, control and scare tactics. If we can show the elves that the people have that spirit, maybe, just maybe they’ll help. I may not be a king, I may not want to be a king, but I most definitely do not want my life defined by anyone. |
