Rivalry of the River and the Ice

The family legends of both House Rylin and House Sneha recount the initial rivalry between the ancient allies. These legends note that Aura, patriarch of House Rylin, and Gweala, the matriarch of House Sneha, were among the original Elves that traveled down the River Envalcir at the beginning and were among the Original Eleven elven families that banded together to form the city of Mauribon.

These two Elves both learned directly under the Maiden during these early years and, over time, became her two primary students. This led to a rivalry between the two as both sought to further their favor with the Maiden. The best opportunity at this time was to focus on exploration and discovery to help Mauri achieve her quest. Gweala earned the name Sneha, or "Ice Fist," while exploring the snowy hills to the north, refusing to let anything stop her; thus, she discovered the first water elemental at the Snelan Lake. Aura used the waterstones in the river to detect underground pools of water in the limestone cliffs. These were viewed as status symbols and used as part of an ongoing contest to determine who would be the Maiden's "favorite child".

Mauri sought to dissuade this competition on several occasions, and finally came up with an idea to end it once and for all. Under the guise of 'sensing' something deep within the caves, she sent the two of them deep into the northern caverns to discover it. At one of the deepest points, they found a moderately sized pool that radiated with elemental energy. The crystal clear waters ended up showing far more than their physical reflections; they showed them their inner selves, the strength and shadows found within.

Neither of the Elves recorded exactly what they saw in the pool, but it did bring an end to the rivalry by showcasing their different talents. Aura Rylin was soon named the first Maurien or Cleric of the Maiden. Gweala Sneha was named the Cironior and tasked with administering and leading explorations around the region.

There is enough evidence surviving to confirm several aspects of the myth, primarily through the historical records found in the Reflecting Pools of Mauribon.

• The Original Elven - Both Houses, Rylin and Sneha, are listed as original Elven Houses that formed the city of Mauribon
• Mural - There is a painting depicting the rivalry, but it only confirms the existence of a patriarch of House Rylin and a matriarch of House Sneha who were rivals.

The myth is common knowledge among the Elves of the Elemental Enclaves, particularly those seeking to learn its history. As part of the recorded histories carved into the walls of the Reflecting Pools, anyone who visits the holy site can view it and hear the story.

Given how far past the legend is, it is not commonly known outside the Enclaves.

Rylin Variant

As can be expected, the Rylin variation focuses more on Aura Rylin. His discovery of the northern caves is prominently featured. As the story has been passed down for over 30,000 years among Rylin descendants, it has come to focus heavily on the family patriarch's temperament. The focus is that young members of the House should seek to mirror the qualities of their ancestors so that they can always be ready to serve the Maiden and their fellow Elves.

Sneha Variant

This variation focuses heavily on Gweala's explorations and even recounts additional discoveries made by the House Matriarch. After the War for the Balance in the 62nd century of the Age of Light, their version began to highlight the ultimate synergy between the two Elves, and that the most important thing is for young members of House Sneha to always be faithful to the ideals and mission of the Maiden.

Reflecting Pools

This story is one of many that were recorded on the walls of the reflecting pools to teach future generations of Elves. The painting focuses on the conclusion of the rivalry and on how Aura's discovery of the northern caverns led to their being transformed into the Reflecting Pools. Meanwhile, Gweala's discovery of the Water Elementals greatly aided the technology levels of the early Elves, allowing them to advance further.