The Origin of the Vinkenti Elves

a portrait of Queen Svava as the mythical Vinkenti

The blue elves of the forest believe that the magickal and mundayne planes, while generally quite distinct and separate, are inextricably joined in the Erkenheld. This great forest (which was proven by Dr. Phineas Flumpert to be a major source of magick) unites Magick and Reality in a fundamental and unique way, unseen anywhere else in either plane.

The elves of the forest say that seeing the power and ragility in such an intersection, the Green Woman, a deity from the magickal realm, created three caretakers - named Vinkenti, Athenorkos, and Semadra - who were charged with protecting and cultivating the Erkenheld. The three female elves were singular in all the multiple universes - the only beings that were at once mundayne and magickal. In this sense, they were extensions of the surreal forest around them.

At first, the three elves were overcome with wonder and dutifully protected the forest. Vinkenti cared for the plants, Athenorkos helped the animals grow strong of body and spirit, and Semadra catalogued the stones and soil, measuring their various properties.

But the curiosity of the elves got the better of them. Vinkenti felt the temptation to change the plants, but resisted. Semadra, on the other hand, used her magickal gifts to shape the very stones around him - accidentally creating a magickal gate and locking herself out of the forest, leaving her and her descendants to wander the stony mountains and desert without a home. Vinkenti felt pity for her poor sister, and took up the tending of the soil and stones.

Though Vinkenti was once again tempted to overstep her bounds, she resisted. Athernorkos, on the other hand, grew too self-confident and lonely, and began changing the animals into sprites to be her companions. Although vinkenti forwned, thinking her sister to forward, she continued tending the plants and stones. One day, Athenorkos came to Vinkenti and told her to take good care of her sprites. Confused, Vinkenti asked why she should take care of them, and Athenorkos replied that she was bored and still lonely, and wanted to see the rest of the world. Athenorkos left the forest, and Vinkenti was enraged at her sister and vowed never to let her or her descendants return to the Erkenheld.

Thus, Vinkenti was left alone, abondoned by her sisters, to care for the forest in solitude. The burden proved too great and the Green Woman gave her many children to share the duties. The Green Woman granted them long, happy lives as a reward for caring for the animals and sprites and plants and soil, and when she saw her forest was finally safe, retreated into its heart - a place so mystical and so far that not even the blue elves could go. But the blue elves believe that their diligence and firece protection of the forest will be rewarded, and when the two planes finally separate at the end of time, the blue elves will be given a fully magickal existence.