The Birth of Anhun Riverthorn

The story of the birth of Anhun Riverthorn encompasses the concepts of loyalty, chosen or found family, and the virtue of answering the call for help of strangers. In rejecting the efforts of Cyfrinach, Riverthorn repaid Aerona's love and grace with loyalty, his desire to return home resulting in him attaining sentience. For Aerona and Berwyn, who could have ignored the prayers of a Soul that was a stranger to them, their reward was the return of Riverthorn in his new, sentient form.

The tale also stands among the origin myths of Celestial beings, with Anhun being considered a "son" of Berwyn and Aerona.

The story of Anhun's "birth" is based on true events, though many of the details have been lost over the millenia. Anhun Riverthorn is indeed a known Knight of Aerona, with magical abilities that allow him to take the form of a powerful celestial longbow, and he is considered hers and Berwyn's "son". The Trueshot's Holy Paladins consider Anhun a Patron of their order alongside Aerona, and revere him as a beacon of loyalty and love.

However, much of the story is missing context and detail, such as how and why Cyfrinach stole Riverthorn in the first place. There is also little to no detail as to what mysterious magics enabled Riverthorn to gain sentience in the first place; whether it was his prolonged exposure to the love between his "parents" and their Celestial powers, or if it was something outside of the influence of the Gods themselves.

It is believed that the Trueshot's Holy Paladins have a detailed copy of the story within their Order Halls, but the document is not on public display, nor is it ever shown to outsiders without a show of True Faith.

The myth is common knowledge across most of A'arde, but holds a particular place amongst Wood and Stone Elven communities. It is also frequently told amongst the communities of Rangers and Druids, where it is used as an example of selflessness and loyalty.

The myth of Anhun's birth has remained consistent throughout the Ages, predominantly due to the influences of the Trueshot's Holy Paladins as they travelled around various Elven communities. While the myth is written down in many a tome of legends and origin stories, the full-length original tale is held only the those Holy Paladins, and has only ever been written down once.

Most Elves view the story as a lesson on the importance of loyalty, family (both blood and found), and selfnessness, though followers of the Cylch Tywyll denounce the story as mere romanticism, stating that Aerona should never have allowed Riverthorn to have been stolen in the first place if she loved him so much.

Followers of Aerona and Berwyn often take the story to heart, and many dedicate their lives to helping others, particularly strangers. Additionally, they place a great deal of importance on the concept of extended family, stating that those you choose to be part of your life are equally as important as those whose bloodline you were born into. They encourage love, balance and equality amongst their teachings, and hold Anhun in high regard.

The Trueshot's Holy Paladins consider Anhun a Patron of their Order alongside his "Mother" because of the dedication he showed to her. He is viewed as a Paragon; a beacon of loyalty and love that they seek to emulate. In addition, one of the Distinctions of the Order is the Anhun Medal of Devotion, which is bestowed upon those who have displayed loyalty, faith, and resilience in the face of extreme odds.

The myth is also said to have given rise to the Sect of the Celestial Bow, an offshoot of the worship of Aerona and Berwyn that acknowledges the virtues of Anhun and presents him as an entity to be admired. The Sect engage in prayers and offerings to Anhun, acknowledging the Celestial and honouring him for his steadfast dedication and love. The Sect will also invoke the power of Anhun during ceremonies centered around family, children, and the need for strength of heart.

Outside of Elven communities and the Gods' followings, the story acts as a touching and romantic prose that has inspired admirers to create derivatives and artworks based upon it. Most communities view the myth with fondness, and admire the lessons that it has to offer. However, some communities look upon the theme of extended family as a weakening of the bonds of blood, particularly those within the lines of Nobles in the Southernmost regions of Eirinn, where bloodline is highly regarded.

Derivative works related to the myth tend to involve the ascension of sentient weapons or objects to Sapient form, and feature the concepts of true love, family and loyalty as fundamental parts of their construction. One of the most famous derivative works is a novel, and by extension a play, simply titled "Anhun", which expands upon the available story with mysticism, adventure and tragedy.

As well as the play "Anhun", there are several songs that recount the tale in both Common and Elvish tongues. Painters also take inspiration from the tale, often depicting the teleportation of Riverthorn from Cyfrinach, as well as the ascension of Anhun from sentient weapon to Celestial being. One of the most famous paintings depicting the ascension is by Elven artist, Coetirrhian Clearwater, and shows a tanned-skinned, Elven-formed Anhun with beautiful russet hair and shimmering wings of gold and green. He is being lifted by depictions of Berwyn and Aerona, who resemble their traditional forms, supporting him in a loving and parental manner. The scene behind the three shows a verdant green forest, and also features Arawn standing watch.