Aenlin Rylin

Early Life

Aenlin was born to Riagor and Miralin Rylin in the 5,752nd year of the Age of Light in the Elven city of Mauribon. From a young age, he demonstrated strong mental acuity and was a gifted student, particularly in history and lore. This encouraged his parents to ensure further education, including learning directly from the Maiden while assisting with the continued construction of the Reflecting Pools. This brought him to the attention of the elven deity at an early age.

Together with several young elves, including a young Belen Gorlin, son of an upcoming merchant, Aenlin undertook the rite of passage during the The Festival of the Blue Moon of 5,776. Within the central pool, Aenlin saw visions of a forthcoming conflict and how his current imbalance would eventually be detrimental. This encouraged him to focus on his mental health over the next few years and on his own development.

Candidacy to be a Maurien

At the age of 35, Aenlin found himself on the short list to be the next Maurien, or Cleric to the Maiden. His friend Belen emerged as the other viable candidate, and the two competed to be chosen for the prestigious role. Ultimately, Aenlin's temperament led Mauri to select the scion of House Rylin, who ascended to a new position.

This brought an unfortunate end to his friendship with Belen, who lashed out in bitterness over not being chosen.

Over the next 390 years, Aenlin would serve honorably as the Maurien, leading the continued work on the Reflecting Pools, researching new lore, and seeking to establish peace among the Lin Malion tribe.

Councilman of the Lin Malion

With the death of his mother, Miralin, the 111-year-old Aenlin took over as the head of House Rylin and assumed their spot on the Council of the tribe. The new Keeper of the Maiden's Oath sought to continue his work as Maurien across the entire region and succeeded in ensuring the tribe's continued prosperity.

The Fourth Council and the Water-Fire Trade Wars

The new shipbuilding techniques that the Lin Malion had developed had given them a massive trade advantage over their Fen Malion neighbors to the south. In particular, House Fenlin began sabotaging trade routes and ships belonging to water-based Houses and companies to regain an advantage. At the urging of Auran Uisage, the two Houses convened the fourth council to discuss how best to respond to these aggressive actions.

Thus, a series of counter-movements began, signaling the start of an open conflict between the two tribes. However, Aenlin and his friend Silas Sneha urged the Lin Malion to remain defensive, rather than letting over-aggression rule, which would violate the teachings of the Maiden. To help ensure this, Aenlin offered the use of the Rylin fleet to this effort, which, combined with the ships of House Sneha, House Uisge, and the newly established House Gorlin, would create a sizable armada. The Head of House Rylin captained the family's flagship, "Miriel," and worked to ensure a peace-through-strength mentality for the trade convoys.

Despite his desire for peace, Aenlin had to engage in combat on several occasions, including the Battle of the Monur River, during which House Tomder's flagship sank, severely weakening their fleet. This event brought Houses Tomder and Fenlin to the table, and a truce was agreed upon. As Keeper of the Maiden's Oath, Aenlin ensured that this agreement was etched in stone and later added it to the Reflecting Pools to promote honorable compliance with the terms.

The Fifth Council and Reunion with Belen Gorlin

Aenlin attended the fifth council in the 6,117th year of the Age of Light, where House Uisge, in its role as the Youngest Seal, recommended revising the current membership to include the new House Gorlin, who served honorably in the Water-Fire Trade Wars and had established a settlement on their southern borders. Having known Belen for centuries and fighting side-by-side in the conflict, Aenlin fully supported the measure, and thus a new House joined the Council.

This brought a formal reconciliation between the old friends and an informal agreement between their Houses to assist one another.

The Sixth Council and the Growing Conflict

After actors sent by Fena Tomder damaged one of the caverns in the Reflecting Pools, a council was called to discuss the matter and find a response to the ongoing tension with their neighbors. Aenlin grew concerned over Silas' report on the aggression from House Gwynt and the Sael Malion from the east, aggression that violated the truce established by their grandparents 600 years ago. Aenlin struggled to find a balance that would allow the other two tribes access to the Maiden's teachings in the Reflecting Pool, but ultimately decided to protect the sacred sites from further aggression. Thus, he cast the deciding vote in favor of temporarily banning members of the other three tribes from entering the holy site without the current Maurien's permission.

This decision by the Lin Malion put further fuel on the fire, particularly as representatives from the Gaer Malion were allowed to access the Reflecting Pools, yet the Fire elves were not. Aenlin decided to increase the guard around Mauribon to ensure the town's and the sacred sites' security.

The next shake-up occurred when Mauri announced she needed to travel to a conclave of her siblings in 6,177 and that she would be gone for a few decades, a practice she had done several times before. With the absence of the elven deity, Aenlin grew further concerned for the safety of Mauribon and put his bannerman on alert, even calling the forces of the nearby House Valan to the capital to provide additional protection.

War for the Balance

Beginning of the Conflict - Ascension to Winter Warden

The conflict began with the Sacking of Cuanaur where the Fen Malion launched a full invasion on the tribe and began marching north directly towards Mauribon. Aenlin immediately called his banners upon learning the news and consolidated the full force under his command in Mauribon. When the Sael Malion to the east attacked Lindagor at the border, the other major powers of the tribe began marching to help reinforce their ancient capital.

Aenlin welcomed Belen Gorlin, who survived the invasion of his seat of power, and the forces that he brought to aid in the next engagement—with the swift arrival of Lord Ren of House Rhyanaur, Lady Auran of House Uisge, and Lord Braon of House Manara, the Seventh Council of the Lin Malion was brought forth. A decision was made to appoint a tribal leader due to the war before them. Thus, Aenlin was appointed as the first 'Winter Warden' chieftain of the Lin Malion.

The newly appointed chief sent a force known as the Arvalen Company, 200 of their elite soldiers, to waylay the advancing Fen Malion forces and buy time for the incoming defenders to reach the city. He then turned to defending the town against the incoming siege, moving as many resources as possible behind the walls of the old town, allowing the Envalcir River to the south and the Makor River to the east to serve as natural moats for the tall defensive fortifications.

Siege of Mauribon

See First Siege of Mauribon for further details.

Due to the naval superiority of the Lin Malion, the two armies could only manage a land blockade of the Elven city, which turned it into a war of attrition. The Water Elves had enough troops to man the battlements and hold the defenses, but not enough to attempt a sally to break the siege. Aenlin oversaw the defense even as half of the city was captured and destroyed during the second year of the siege.

It was in the third year that reinforcements from House Daenor and the banners of the Gaer Malion joined the conflict and broke the siege. Aenlin established an official alliance with their fellow tribe, formalizing the two sides of the war.

Alliance with House Saelsir

Aenlin personally led the coalition forces pursuing the retreating army of the Sael Malion as they pushed back east to their land. Over the next two years, he ensured that the remnants of the Fire-Air forces were pushed back before pursuing Gale Gwynt, the Fall Sentinel, who had sought to establish his troops at the border of the two tribes. The coalition forces engaged this force as it sought to cross the border again, forcing it to retreat after delivering a crushing blow.

In the seventh year of the war, Calindor Saelsir arranged a clandestine meeting with Aenlin, Ren Rhyanaur, and Silas Sneha due to the conflicting oaths his house had to both the Maiden and House Gwynt. Deciding that his oath to the Maiden was paramount, Calindor made a pact with Aenlin to ensure the survival of his people and aid in restoring balance to the Sael Malion. Under the agreement, half of the air elven military forces were brought under the command of Aenlin, who, in his capacity as Maurien, declared Calindor the new Fall Sentinel and chief of the Sael Malion.

The Winter Warden fought on the Eastern Front as the war entered its second decade before having to handle matters in the south.

Ending the War

On the Southern Front of the conflict, Aenlin struck a similar deal with Anora Tomder, the heir to the current head of House Tomder, who had grown disillusioned with her mother's folly. House Rylin helped the newly formed House Calior gain legitimacy and marched with Anora Calior to victory against the Fen Malion to end the war with a Water/Earth victory.