The Forest Never Sleeps

So the first lot of my elves have arrived. Excellent. Time to go to work. I probably won't be going into too much stuff on the painting side of things - there is likely to be plenty of it on the blog anyway. And besides, while the painting is an integral part of the whole experience, it has never been a focus for me, it comes a distant third behind the playing and the collecting. Still, it's good to actually have things painted up, hence this little Tale.

I will concentrate more, perhaps, on the fiction side of things, and this is an appropriate point to make some introductions.


Orion is dead. Winter is come. He will not be reborn until spring. Winter is here, and winter is long in Athel Loren. It is said that when the Lord of the Wood goes to his final hunt, he speaks to one of his followers and presents him with a white cloak. No words are said, but the noble in question is tasked to protect the borders of Athel Loren while Orion lies dead.


So it was that Sincyneth, a noble of the Waywatcher kindred was presented the white cloak and as a the host of Orion rode to the last hunt, so Sincyneth took on the name of White Huntress and went to gather her own host. First, Lady Sincyneth rode to the Crag Halls of Findol where the old, yet fair Ionthondess (called also the Old Pine) served in the Glade Guard. Sincyneth told her of the task and she deemed it more fit to serve in battle that winter, than to guard the drinking halls of lords. Together they travelled to the Halls of Equos where Blaegril, the Fierce Wind was Horsemistress of the Glade Riders and needed little to convince her to join the Winter Hunt.


Blaegril then told Sincyneth of her sister, Uirdiril, who with a company of the Eternal Guard held Watch at the ruins of Castle Fulk nearby. There they arrived and came to Uirdiril, Eternal Watcher, and saw that she had stood watch over the unquiet dead of a long-lost battle. Together they ventured deep into the ruins and put the dead to rest and departed with Uirdiril and her company.


Next Sincyneth came to the Oak of Ages, where he was admitted to the Court of Ariel and pleaded with her that she allow a Spellweaver to go with him. She would not do so, for the man who served as Guardian of the forest in Orion's stead - for he had now died in the Last Hunt. As Sincyneth departed, downcast, he was followed on the hidden paths by a maiden - though only a Spellsinger, she entreated Sincyneth to let her join, for she cared not for the Court of Ariel. So the Winter Hunt welcomed Ruscgwend Snow-Fox, who knew many of Athel Loren's secrets.


Ruscgwend guided Sincyneth to the Deep Forests of Durthu and there she called to the spirits of the forest. But one answered her call, who was Brackgann the Grey Maiden and her kin. They came and pledged service to the Winter Hunt, to guard all the forests and the spirits within.


Thus the host was complete and Sincyneth gathered all around him and they were prepared to answer the enemies of Athel Loren. Yet as they were ready to depart, so came to them Daughawn, resplendent all in green garb and calling for the Lord of the Winter Hunt. Sincyneth came to answer him and Daughawn called himself the Evergreen and demanded admittance to the Winter Hunt, for he was of noble birth and would serve the Asrai. Sincyneth questioned him at length, and the two fought - Daughawn was arrogant and brash, but with the burning desire of service like the hottest rays of the sun that touched the forest canopy. Sincyneth relented and let him join in service.



And that's a rough outline of my main units and their leaders.