Illynora Sylvaeri
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Illynora Aureon Sylvaeri was a renowned Elven healer and the founding Princess of Aegrothond. Throughout her years in the Dominion of Malin, she served as the Head Healer of the Caras Eldar clinic and a diplomat on the Dominion’s council, where she would meet her future husband and life partner, Belestram Sylvaeri. As Princess of Aegrothond, she was responsible for the domestic affairs of the nation, including stewardry, law, and religious affairs. She founded the Institute of Healing in 1700, one of the three major guilds which were the lifeblood of Aegrothond's society at the time.
Although not a druid, she was a devout Aspectist and would go on to create the Way of the Mother in her later life. She reestablished the company of healers known as Serinwë's Hand and wandered between nations spreading healing knowledge and supplies. Much of her time was also spent crafting seaglass mosaics in the style of the Almenodrim, an art which had been lost to time.
Personal Life
At one stage Illynora was betrothed to Kairn Ithelanen, though their relationship frayed with Illynora's induction into the Aureon Seed, a family with whom Kairn had a blood feud against. Illynora's growing feelings for fellow diplomat Belestram Sylvaeri only served to deepen this divide until the pair eventually separated. Illynora and Belestram were wed in a private ceremony in 1678 by King Abelas Caerme'onn. They had one daughter together, naming her Serinwë after the ancient matriarch of the Almenodrim. Illynora's relationship with Belestram's son and heir Fëanor Sylvaeri was strained at times, and it wasn't until after many decades that Illynora stepped into a maternal role. Their relationship became a lot warmer after the birth of Serinwë and the clear adoration Fëanor had for his younger sister.
Serinwë's death left Illynora deeply bereft. Because of Illynora's strongly held beliefs around marriage and divorce, after her husband's ignominious departure she knew she would never again bear a natural child. However, in the tradition of the Wood Elves, Illynora adopted her former student, Medli Oranor. She also considered Belestram's children by other women to be her own, though her relationship with them was at times as strained as it was with Fëanor in the beginning. Illynora's relationship with Idril significantly thawed after Illynora gave her Mir n'Ardhon, the heirloom ring believed to have been given by Sylvaen to his wife Serinwë upon their union. Illynora had received this from Belestram upon their marriage but no longer felt it was fitting for her to wear it.
In her later years, Illynora became an elder of House Sylvaeri and taught the culture and traditions of the Almenodrim to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In particular, she became somewhat of a mentor figure to Fëanor and Delmira's son, Curufinwë, and his wife, Elemmírë.
Aegrothond
Illynora was instrumental in the founding of Aegrothond. While she did not take on the title of Sea Princess (this being a hereditary title reserved for the firstborn sons in the line of Aegnor Starfinder, firstborn son of Sylvaen Everflame), she and Belestram jointly presided over the Seastone Court. Illynora was responsible for the domestic affairs of the nation and drafted the first codex of laws. This was later significantly changed when the Principality of Aegrothond became the Crown of Elvenesse under Fëanor's rule, but it served as the basis for how much of society was structured at the time. Because of her Wood Elven heritage, Illynora had significant influence over the culture of Aegrothond, which was a delicate blend between the Almenodrim and Wood Elven cultures. An example of this is how the seaglass mosaics of Aegrothond were used to depict the Aspects and the Mani.
When Belestram and Illynora abdicated to Fëanor in 1708, Illynora left the mainland for well over a century. Belestram was soon to return and wreak havoc on the Crown of Elvenesse, his aggression later resulting in a schism of former Siramenor Elves who formed the Vale of Nevaehlen under the leadership of Miven Caerme'onn.
Healing
Illynora was taught to heal by her mother, learning how to forage for herbs in the Loftywoods and bind a wound with natural bandages. When she moved to Caras Eldar, the capital of the Dominion of Malin in Atlas, Illynora quickly went to work in the clinic under the guidance of first Quillian Caerme’onn, then Awaiti Aureon. Awaiti would later become her sister when Illynora completed her trials and joined the Aureon Seed. It was at this time that Illynora acquired the Mother’s Mark; teal flowers inked across the backs of both hands. After Awaiti, Illynora became the Head Healer of the Caras Eldar clinic. Under her instruction, the clinic healed many injuries from altercations with the September Prince as well as run-ins with the orcs of Krugmar in the lead up to the War of the Loftywoods. Her true passion lay in midwifery, overseeing the births of dozens of Elven children, including Awaiti’s son by Abelas Caerme’onn, Artanis. The running of the clinic would later fall to Illynora’s sister, Delmira, when Illynora left the Dominion of Malin following her husband’s banishment.
After Belestram's banishment, he and Illynora settled in the human town of Nordengrad. Illynora established a small clinic to tend to the wounds of the townsfolk. She oversaw the birth of the lord’s son and healed the wounded following a grievous battle with the Empire of Man.
When the island of Aegrothond was founded, Illynora created a subterranean clinic on the western arm of the island, carving it into the very stone. She set to work making poultices, salves, and teas, storing them by the jarful. What initially served as a small family clinic quickly grew to a fully functional space as more Elves came to permanently reside in Aegrothond. Illynora began teaching her traditional methods of healing to a small circle of Elves As fate would have it, Aegrothond would need the extra hands following wyvern and giant crab attacks. Illynora also hosted public lessons on frostbite in the Library of Dragur at the height of the Vaeyl conflict, as that seemed to be the most common affliction of those travelling to the icy forts and exploring the Darkways.
Despite teaching students in that tiny clinic on the island, the Institute of Healing was only formally established in Arcas in 1700. The Institute taught a large number of students the art of healing while the clinic on the bottom floor saw to countless patients. As well as serving as the Healer on High for the Institute of Healing, Illynora founded Serinwë’s Hand, a company of healers who travelled across the lands healing those in need, no matter their affiliation. Through the Institute and Serinwë’s Hand, Illynora assisted healers among the Snow Elves and the Dwarves. She would frequently visit both lands for lessons, to deliver herbs, and to heal the sick and wounded. After failing to save the life of a patient in Fenn, Illynora was distraught, and ceased healing for a number of years. When Illynora retired from public life and left the mainland, the Institute passed to her sister, Eraami Aureon Reeyse. It would later go on to be run by Medli Oranor.
Having been absent from the mainland for over a century, Illynora's return to healing in the later years of Almaris was slow. She mainly assisted her daughter Medli in the Circle of Healing in Amaethea, but also made some visits to the Vale of Nevaehlen to teach traditional Wood Elven healing methods.
Illynora reestablished Serinwë’s Hand in Aevos, travelling across the continent to forge connections with the leaders of clinics. She hosted many healing lessons and delivered herbs and healing supplies to those in need.
Appearance
Illynora was extensively tattooed, following Wood Elven tradition, but few were regularly visible. In order of when she received the tattoos (or ilmyumier in the Elven language):
- A green circle of life on the left side of her chest, over her heart.
- Teal flowers across the backs of both hands; the Mother’s Mark, the mark of a healer. She received this ilmyumier when she became a healer in the clinic of Caras Eldar.
- A green ame’lie tree across her entire back, with branches across her arms to her wrists; the ilmyumier of the Aureon Seed.
- The dark blue esalathe’lan of Clan Ithelanen on her right leg from ankle to knee. This mark signified the history of one’s family and the clan itself. Illynora received this mark upon her betrothal to Kairn Ithelanen, but later mutilated the mark with a scalpel, signifying her denouncement of the Clan and her former partner.
- The golden ilmyumier of House Sylvaeri in a band around her left thigh and ankle. This was a tattoo of her own design reminiscent of Morea’s Teeth, to signify House Sylvaeri’s noble status.
- A dark brown owl on the back of her neck; Ohowaki’s mark, the mark of a teacher. She received this ilmyumier to signify her role as Head Healer in the Institute of Healing.
- A golden design across her forehead reminiscent of a crown; Morea’s Teeth, the mark of a leader. Aside from the Mother’s Mark, this was Illynora’s most prominent tattoo, signifying her reign as Princess of Aegrothond.
- Blue hands wreathed with flowers cupping her stomach, merging with the ame’lie tree on her back. This signified the loss of her daughter, Serinwë, and the fact she would bear no more natural children. However, it also represented the daughter she had found in Medli, who had a similar design inked on the back of her neck.
Beliefs
Illynora had firmly held and at times extreme beliefs. These beliefs would later go on to influence the Way of the Mother, an Aspectist creed. Some examples include her staunch opposition to Elven unity, her belief that a marriage vow was sacred and could not be broken (in other words, divorce was a grave insult to the Aspects), and her belief that it was the duty of all Elves to have children regardless of personal desire.
