Tayledras

Tayledras sketch by Larry Dixon

The Tayledras, also called Tale'edras or Hawkbrothers (their most common name) use their magic to tame the wild magic unleashed by the Mage Wars. They cleanse the land and protect the neutral magical creatures that inhabit it. The name Tayledras has its origins in the Kaled'a'in word Taylesederas, which means 'Brothers of the Hawks.' This is a reference to the bondbirds the Clans bred with the use of magic.

The Tayledras have no contact with groups or nations outside of their own. They are so elusive that they are considered almost legendary. The myths accurately state that they are secretive about their existence, protective of their domain, and hostile towards anyone who crosses their borders.

Descriptions in the Chronicles of Vanyel's time had been sketchy, hinting at wonders without ever revealing what the wonders were... "why describe somewhere no one else would be allowed to visit? It might tempt them to try, and that would be fatal. The Tayledras tend to perforate first and apologize after."

There are approximately 100,000 Tayledras in various Vales scattered throughout the Pelagirs.

There is an index of known Tayledras. There is also a list of known bondbird-human pairings.

Clans

The Tayledras have no true organization above that of a clan. However, each clan has a number of elders that deal with other clans. Tayledras are known by their name and clan; for example Darkwind k'Sheyna is Darkwind of the Clan k'Sheyna.

The Tayledras began with five clans:

• k'Chona - Clan of the Raven
• k'Sheyna - Clan of the Eagle
• k'Treva - Clan of the Falcon
• k'Vaia - Clan of the Fox
• k'Vala - Clan of the Owl

Other clans have grown from the original five, including:

• k'Jeia
• k'Lissa
• k'Onsoya
• k'Rika
• k'Saurai
• k'Shira
• k'Valdemar - Clan of Valdemar
• k'Varis
• k'Verei
• k'Vesia
• k'Veyas

Description

Tayledras tend to be extremely long-lived, probably because they handle node magic so often. The magic also bleaches out their coloring, causing them to have white/silver hair and ice blue eyes. For mages these changes occur five years into their training, for others living so close to the node, but not using it, it takes about thirty years for the full changes. Scouts dye their hair to browns and greens in many different patterns resembling nature for camouflage.

History

Following the Cataclysm, the Kaled'a'in divided into the Tayledras and the Shin'a'in in an event known as the Sundering of the Clans. The Tayledras clans chose to continue using magic, while the Shin'a'in clans chose to eschew magic.

The Tayledras headed north, and found the land had been twisted beyond belief by the Cataclysm. It was difficult to tell the flora from the fauna, with plants that moved and animals that were rooted in place. The Clans were under constant attack from unnatural creatures. There was no time to hunt or grow food, as every moment was taken up with defense. Before a month passed, they asked their goddess, the Star-Eyed, for help. She gave it, but demanded a price. She gave them the knowledge of Adept mages to concentrate and handle magic, as well as the knowledge of how to anchor it into a Heartstone. She taught them how to build their Vales and gave them the Veil spell to protect them. Then she protected them while the first Vales were constructed.

In exchange the Tayledras were charged with cleansing the lands twisted by the Mage Wars, making them safe for habitation. When an area has been made safe, they then must move on to another area, establishing a new Vale and begin again. As part of this duty, they destroy creatures of evil, but also protect and care for innocent victims and animals.

Gifts

The mission to cleanse the land dictates the expression of Gifts among the Tayledras. They all possess enough Mage-Gift to at least unconsciously sense the most dangerous magic around them, and much of Tayledras society is centered on magic. The most valuable of all Tayledras mages are the Healing-Mages. They use a different version of Mage-Sight, something more of a blend between the Mage-Gift, the Healing Gift and Earthsense. They can see and manipulate the energy of the land itself, not just the ley-lines and nodes that many mages use.

Naming

Tayledras are given use-names at birth, and use-names change occasionally to match the person's character or, sometimes, are based on things they have done.

For example, as a child, one might be named Dewflower, until they have grown out of that name. Starfall, for example, was given his name by leaping out of a tall tree at the precise same moment as a shower of stars were falling. Darkwind, on the other hand, changed his name from Songwind when he became disenchanted with magic and his father, and lost much of his joy.

The Tayledras also take on their clan and vale name as their last name. So, for example, Firesong k'Treva is from k'Treva Vale and k'Treva Clan.

Vales

The Tayledras have little organization above that of their Clan/Vale. Each Clan lives in and around one Vale, a village built around a Heartstone, a melding of the physical world and a magical node. The Vale is also protected by a Veil spell, which keeps out intruders, dangerous magical creatures and destructive weather patterns. Each vale has many Hertasi volunteers that see to everyone's needs and comfort.

The Vales are set in the remnants of the Pelagiris Forest, an old forest devastated and poisoned by the Mage Wars. A principle function of the Heartstone is healing magic to restore the forest to its previous condition; after a region is cleared, the Clan moves its Heartstone to a new center and the original location reopens to settlement. Over the course of its history—and with few people aware of what was really happening—Valdemar expanded significantly westward into former Tayledras lands.

Vales are "ruled" by a council of elders, which consists of representatives of various trades, mages and scouts.

Bondbirds

Tayledras are known for their bondbirds, who were bred and modified to be larger and have enhanced intelligence compared to normal birds. They also have limited Mindspeech, confined to concepts they understand within their intellectual limits. The birds bond to their human in a way mildly similar to Heralds and Companions, though a single Tayledras may bond to more than one bird at a time. (There is a list of known bondbird-human pairings.)

Beliefs

The Tayledras worship a goddess they call the Star-Eyed. This is the same goddess worshiped by the related Shin'a'in clans.

The Tayledras also believe in reincarnation, like in the case of the Bard Stefen, who was once the Herald-Mage Trainee Tylendel.

See also

Tayledras language collected terms