The foundation of the elvish race springs to the first wars fought by the Seldarine to preserve their creations from rivals. From Corellon's blood and the tears of the moon, the ageless creations have paved major touches on the history of the worlds. One influence of the ancient creators on their people stems to the ancient schism that took place in the Seldarine. A faction led by the goddess later dubbed as Lloth, entered a shattering war in the ancient forests of Avandor.

In that battle, a fued was seeded between the Seldarine member Aerdrie Faenya, goddess of the winds and Air, and Auril the Frost Maiden. Wielding the essence of winter itself, Auril has long sought to encase lands in her eternal grip. Her presence and displeasure is often felt in the harshest winters that arise from her vain desires.

This eternal fued that has stretched across the countless realms has touched many lives. One of the more affected is a gray elven clan known as the Imperalis. The clan's attentions were drawn to the battle when Auril made her presence known in the mountains of Valdrine. Seeking to strike a blow against the elvish pantheon, Auril's fury was felt at first in the upper climes. Over the next few years, however, her icy fingers clutched at the Harine Forests that spanned the low-lands. The home of the elvish kingdom of Star Crest, the evergreens quickly showed the blankets of Auril's power.

Normally a distant, passive clan, the mixed elvish lines in the kingdom found different reactions to the changing climate. The druidic magics that once infused the region were soon under siege as the blessed warmths were at odds with the winter storms. A society forged around the blessings of the Seldarine, the warm-adapted elves were pitted against a merciless force of nature. Despite attempts by the clans in the region, however, the winters quickly shifted from simple harsh climates to an unnatural curse.

War of the Argent Flame

The conflict between Auril and the Star Crest nation was said to be a test of the adaptability of the elvish people. As druidic force began to fail before the rising forces of Auril's priests and druids, faith in the Seldarine wavered in many camps. Elvish priests and druids soon found themselves under fire. One of the chief camps of opposition was found in the royal family itself. Led by the gray elf Imperalis Clan, the failing power of the religious forces drew harsh criticism from the families. A force within the arcane orders, the Star Crest nation has begun to fall into the paths of magic over faith. It was a fact that would later spell the near doom of a people.

As the hosts of faith failed, fire itself became a rare commodity. Rather than yield, King Athanais Solaris turned to another path. The arcane orders had begun to research the curse Auril had turned on them. In the process, the orders of fire arts were abandoned completely in time. The arcane arts were put to use in learning to duplicate the control of nature itself. In the process, the Order of the Argent Flame evolved. In its halls, the Order promoted an idea that relied on the elvish ability to adapt. Rather than attempt to stem the tide, the elves would absorb the power of their enemy.

Arcane magics were employed to begin to take over the arts of the druids. Rather than attempt to stem the changing climate, the Order began to subvert the very essence of the forests. Dying evergreens began to surge with a new life. The magics altered the basic ecology of the local life to speed evolution within the region. Rather than a process of centuries, the nation of Star Crest was changed within five years. Evergreens were soon by white pine that thrived in the cold region. Life itself seemed to be reborn on a local scale forced to adapt by the deep-reaching spells.

The discovery and forced adaptation seemed a boon offered by the Seldarine itself. However, it was far from what the Order boasted as other affects began to touch the elves themselves. Elves with arcane heritage, even those not practiced, began to fill the affects of the change. Arcane forces moved to rework the elvish body itself in these figures. The touch of the Argent Flame was first felt as these elves were hardened against the new climate. As the affects continued, the adaptation appeared mainly among the gray elven lines. Skin paled and elves began to lose excess warmth. The pale features of the gray elves seem to suit the new change. However, the price paid was soon discovered. In a society once founded on nature and warmth, the icy touch of the new change stole the arts of flameworking. The new change made it impossible for any of the arcane orders to utilize or employ the use of flame.

When Auril's attention returned to the region, she was furious to find a land thriving in the grip of her icy touch. The coming winter raised the stakes as the arts of the arcane warriors shifted. With the loss of the flame arts, the hordes of snow abominations and Aurilite druids proved far more than prior attacks. Rather than meet the fire-wielding mages and the infantry of the kingdom, the attackers met the arcane knights of the Order on the field. Fire had been replaced by storm callers and enhanced abilities in light. It was the elvish arts of working pure light that aided in many of the future battles that raged over the next years.

The Imperalis Clan carved victory from the icy curse of the Maiden over time. In the course of their battles, however, it was said that something within the defenders changed. Elvish joy was replaced by a grim determination to ensure the survival of their weaker charges. Unlike the whispers behind their backs, the fire within the gray elven defenders did not freeze in their hearts. Rather, their dedication to ensure Star Crest's survival exploded into an firestorm of passion and zeal. Duty replaced love over time as new ideals began to bud in what the future required for their changed nation.

In the night known as Auril's Tears, the hordes of the Frost Maiden were broken on the forces of the Star Crest armies. However, the victory was not without a price. An avatar of Auril called out Athanais Solaris. The battle itself was said to have raged the course of the two day conflict. Athanais was able to defeat Auril's chosen. But, the victory was not without cost. The fallen King was cursed by Auril's rage to be denied the rewards of Avandor. A shade of his former self, the spectral knight retreated into the winter forests that now surrounded Star Crest.

Exile of the Imperalis Clan

The broken power of the Aurilite forces had drawn from the kingdom. But, Star Crest would eternally bear the price paid for its victory. One boon gained was the ancient trade routes that linked the icy kingdom to the outside world began to thaw. With the withdrawl of Auril's fury, the winter climes had settled into a natural temperature. But, the northlands had forever stretched to consume the newly adapted region. The cleared passes also led to the arrival of hosts from southern nations that had sought to reinforce the kingdom in the past.

Forces of the high elven nation of Dalishin arrived to find the transformed kingdom. Within the ranks of the host were druids and priests of the Seldarine. The changed forests and elves within the kingdom were met with a fearful horror at the 'abomination' that had risen. Prince Trinal Sylvancall, a priest of Corellon Larethion, represented the newly arrived hosts. It was his meeting with the leader of the Order that would shake the two kingdoms.

Lord General Reglis Solaris, one of the transformed Imperalis clan, bore the title of Heir Apparant to Athanais' titles. Trinal had begun to investigate the radical shifts in the rule of Star Crest. The society had begun to embrace a war-time mind set under the auspice the conflict with Auril was not over. The council had begun to meet under Reglis' guidance to craft a new vanguard of culture built around the crusade against Auril's hordes. With the infusion of the adaptation, the Imperalis saw survival for the future of Star Crest required a new approach. Driven by the fires seeded in the Order, a system of arranged marriages among the population was put forward. The intent was to breed the new changes into the future generations to prepare to hold back Auril's horde.

Trinal listened to the proposals with fear in his heart at the implications. Breeding, bloodlines, purity of a new order... Reglis had presented a society based on sacrifice of aspects that had failed the Star Crest kingdom in the war. Love of a mate was to be replaced with love of nation and duty. Marriage and children were to create a breed of elf prepared to face the hordes that would come. Passion was to be honed to the protection of their southern kin. The history of the war disturbed Trinal. In his quest for answers, the basis of the Star Crest isolation had been in their assumption they had been left for dead by the Seldarine.

Magic had replace faith and life within the zealot Order. Trinal took a step that few expected of the high elves. When the succession of the throne began, he stepped forward to challenge the rise of another Imperalis blood. Compassionate words and druidic miracles had begun to follow the new royal contender to Reglis' rise. The war between the two royals was not fought through sword or magic. But, ideals and rheotric were the new edges used by the two princes. In each of their eyes, it was a conflict for the future of the kingdom itself. Trinal had sought to win Reglis back from his survivalist ideals.

The hope never came to be as kingdom began to embrace a return to a semblance of normal existence. Rather than submit to the newly embraced King, Reglis accepted the situation with a cool visage. No war or revolt followed as the Lord General simply took the change in course. The Order would continue to stand against the Aurilite hordes he spoke to Trinal in their last meeting. However, the Imperalis would not accept the lack of commitment of their cousins. In the icy declaration, Reglis withdrew the Imperalis clan from the region of Star Crest.

Restoration of King's Rest

The withdrawal of the Imperalis Clan took place quietly over the next few weeks. A new home was located in the isolated peaks of the Valdrine Mountains. King's Rest had once served as a gray elven holding during the ancient days of Star Crest's rise from obscurity. The mountain city had been carved into the granite faces during the first founding of the kingdom. However, the first touch of Auril's curse had driven the gray elves into the lower regions. It had been transformed into a distant tomb for past rulers of Star Crest.

The War of the Argent Flame had since cast the city into memory. It was to become the new seat of Reglis' vision for the withdrawn clan. Over the course of a decade, the ancient city was restored and reinforced against the weather that had once buried it. Arcane arts soon illuminated a city of shining silver in ethereal blue flames. The city itself had been crafted in the highest slopes into the form of several layers of terraces. Life had since vanished in the winter chill. Using the same power that had transformed the low lands, the gray elves created a new ecology based on a climate that had come to rely on little need for warmth or heat.

The city was renamed Stormwatch Enclave in honor of the clan's self-proclaimed duty. It's mission was to wait for the return of Auril and her forces in the area. An odd culture of honor and self-sacrifice evolved as the plans rejected by the other elvish lines were used as the foundation of Stormwatch's very society. Arcane arts became a vital part of their mission. An order was established to chart the very bloodlines of the Imperalis. Numbers and birthrates had become vital to rebuilding the arcane knights to their former numbers. Love was said to have frozen within the Imperalis hearts. Duty and love became a similar quality. Marriages were arranged to produce a strong generation with each new birth.

Honor was forged deep into the Stormwatch elves. Duty to the society was the primary pulse of the new city. Instilled from youth, service and sacrifice for the nation came before personal prestige. In time, a cold society arose that held the passion to ensure the survival of their lesser kin. Other elves were tolerated in passing. But, the rejection of their high elven brethern was never forgotten. Mingling of bloodlines became a crime of treason within the nation mountain home. To ensure the temptation was never found, patrols were charged with the destruction of strangers within the area. Unnatural creatures were held in the same disregard as simple humanity.

Politics soon took on a different aspect. Out right assasination was forbidden in the society. But, tests of strength and fitness were not unheard in the militant city. Political warfare was encouraged to ensure the strongest--physically and mentally--rose to the peaks of power to lead the clan. Weakness was never culled, but sheltered in the city. Those that were unable to face the harsh climates remained a respected part of the city. Artisans and craftsman were just as vital to the city's survival. Value was placed not on warrior might or political savvy, but on one's dedication and contribution to the city itself. Marriages were not simply traced among the nobility, but every strata of Stormwatch.

Protection of the weak, self-sacrifice, strict honor codes--love of self or a single person was something considered against the support of each society. Selfishness was forbidden to the elven hearts in the nation. To outsiders, the xenophobic culture was often viewed as to zealous or evil in its harsh codes.

The new society also proved it's use in defense against outside influences. Over time, a small drow holding in the Underdark of the mountains began to test the elves. Gradual spy networks gave a general view of the isolationist society. In a blazen move, the drow forces, however, found more than the bargained for. The city threw a small force against the Enclave only to find a violent reaction from the gray elves. Skills and arcane force honed in the first wars, now in their very culture, slammed into the dark elves without quarter. True to their ways, the Imperalis gray elves offered no mercy or took prisoners. Cold and efficient, the Stormwatch forces left a sour taste in the drow's desire for conquest.

One feature that evolved from the traditional army structure was Stormwatch's leadership. Originally divided into five generalships, a sixth was appointed with the discovery of the Underdark. The Northern General was assigned to be the forerunner in the face of the return of Auril's hordes. To the low-lands, the Southern General bore the grim task of ensuring outsiders remained out of the region. The Eastern and Western Generals were entrusted the duty of maintaining the city's force until the day of the Crusades came. With the forces of the drow near, the rank of the Athan General was named in honor of their first King. Over each, a Lord General was appointed to command the hosts. As with ages past, the Lord General was also the Heir Apparant of the ruling King. Birthrank did not name inheritance, but favor and strength.

Aurilite Crusade

The icy city of Stormwatch drew other attention in time. For many years, the nation had paid due service to the Seldarine. However, an established clergy had not evolved in the nation. It was the touch of an unexpected interloper that sealed the last aspects of the distant elves. Aerdric Faenya had continued her battle against her rival Auril. Rumors of Auril's attention returning to the region had drawn Aerdric to the area. But, instead of the low-land areas, the shimmering city defying the winter itself had gained her attention.

Nearly two thousand years had passed since the first hordes had arrived. But, the elves of Stormwatch had made the preparations for Auril's return their very life's purpose. The sacrifices made to prepare for that day were said to have drawn tears on the part of some of the Seldarine. But, if that is simply Stormwatch mythos or fact has since been lost to time. What was known was that the goddess had drawn other allies to the frozen mountains. The Stormwatch hosts offered a standing army to face the new threat from the icy goddess.

The Athan Order had replaced the out-dated Order of the Argent Flame. Athan Knights had come to represent the arcane and steel aegis as their first ancestors. But, the coming of the Seldarine's attention also brought the creation of the Vanguardian Crusaders. No paladins emerged in their ranks, but a form of battle cleric rose to augment the Knights.

Auril had not forgotten the insult given to her by the regions defenders as she returned in an icy fury. The winter storms returned with a vengeful air that battered at the very gates of Stormwatch. She had expected the battle to have been forgotten to the myths as much cultures. But, the vain goddess had forgotten the length of elven memory. Hordes of snow creations descended from the north led by the Icedawn Clergy. Humans servitors of the Frost Maiden, the clergy simply fed the xenophobic nation's nature. The Athan Order and Vanguardians were at the forefront as promised to their southern kin.

A crusade soon was called across the Stormwatch holdings. For nearly six years, the northern skies were haloed by the arcane and clerical arts of the defenders. Star Crest had known the reclusive gray elves had prepared for some imagined return. The massive use of elven arts had drawn even the attention the kingdoms south of the mountains. Attempts to offer aid to the Enclave were cooly turned aside each time. The exact losses to the Stormwatch forces were never known. But, the effects were felt near the end of the Crusade itself. Auril was said to have descended upon the final battle at the gates of the Enclave.

In the final attempt to destroy the Enclave, Auril's attempt was met by an avatar dispatched by the Seldarine. The avatar, supported by the forces of the city, provided the needed force to drive the Frost Maiden from the realm in the end. But, as before, her vanity led to a far harsher curse cast at the city itself. Her last words at the battle was a curse that would prey upon the very strength of the Stormwatch culture...

"Steel shall never be harder than an Athan's heart..."

The Frost Maiden's Curse

The defeated goddess' words were dismissed as she fell. But, it did not reduce their power as the divine force struck home into the city itself. Issued at the heart of the Stormwatch's society, the curse began to take effect among the strongest order within the city--the Athan Knights. By tradition the military itself, the Order had begun to lose their reason for the vigilant stance in the north. Passion was replaced by obligation and requirements. Sacrifice and duty were replaced by an icy code of honor. Service was no longer a means to strengthen the city. Pride and power had begun to touch the hearts of the Athan Knights that day. It was a legacy that would be spread over time into the bloodlines of the defenders.

Despite the nature of the curse, the legacy would spread to future generations through the system of arranged marriages that defined the city's society. As the blow was felt through the Enclave, a rift had begun to form among the warrior elite and the supporint castes that evolved. In time, the potential for release came in a figure held as the founder of the society that had fallen into an icy isolation.

Legacy of Athanais

The icy chill of Auril's revenge had begun to turn the city far more into its isolation. A vision once defined by alturism had begun to be clouded by an ice veil that encrusted the once shining walls of the Enclave. Within the winter forests below, the shade of the one known as Athanais Solaris had fought to retain his own hope for the future. Caught between worlds with no freedom, the ghostly King continued to watch the creation of his heir's hands. The success of the system had shined for centuries. Now, its goal had claimed it in a new state of decay.

Unlike a world held by corruption, it was a world now being destroyed by its own crusade. Fear and hate had replaced the love of kin and nation. The unshed tears of the cursed figure drew another divine entity. Hanali Celanil, one of the aspects fo the Triune Goddess, had begun to note the unnerving changes following the crusade. Bearing the responsbility for the survival and evolution of the Enclave, Athanais had plead with the Seldarine of love. Unable to undo centuries of isolation and society in a single moment, she offered the one salvation she could for the situation.

Through her hand, Hanali Celanil whispered of the potential for salvation for the frozen-hearted Athan Knights to the Vanguardian order. In time, the clerical arm soon realized the price paid in those ignored words. The elven spirit that had been buried under the training of the Athan Order still remained alive. However, the hearts of ice had to be rekindled with the flame of love... the souls of pride had would come to know the weight of humility. The hardened hearts of the nation would have to be inspired to feel the buried emotions that had been disciplined out of the Athan Order.

But, in a society isolated by centuries of policy and culture, the very concept of outside contact was considered a taint on the purity of the mission. That view had led to a violent response to any outside influence, even then barely tempered for elven kin. Over time, the city has become fractured by the cursed Athan Knights and a quickly weakening Vanguardian order that seeks to salvage their breaking society.


Imperalis Bloodline & Athan Curse

One of the defining traits of the Imperalis bloodlines is the affects of the Argent Flame spell. The adaptation spell created by the first order forced the Imperalis gray elf clan to shift to endure their new climate. These changes became reflected in their enhanced resistance to cold affects, Aurilite priest magics, and the very climate itself.

The purebred Imperalis also show an extreme weakness to fire effects. Their cold-based changes also make use of Flameworking or fire-based magics impossible.

The effects of that change came at a price. In genetic terms, the adaptations and the curse is considered a recessive trait. It will only manifest in a pure blood gray elf. In response to this, the arranged marriages of Stormwatch have evolved into a system to ensure the trait breeds true in each generation. Overtime, this has become a driving goal of the race. Some say the recessive nature of the adaptation is a reflection of the forced evolution the Argent Flame effect brought about.

The Athan curse, as it has been dubbed, has shown among the ranks of the warrior-mages called the Athan Knights. The Stormwatch Enclave's efforts to keep their clan's attributes alive kept Auril's revenge strong in the ruling class. Hearts hardened by the curse, it is not uncommon for the Athan houses to develop an extreme hubris in time.

The Athan heart can be warmed, it is said. But, love and humility have said to be the only path for restoration by the chance offered by the Seldarine.