Throughout the First Age, all the Avariel were witness to the raging of the Urok, but they were forbidden by their Ranaa, Aerdrie Faenya, to interfere. After the dawning of the Second Age, when the Holbyt were given the rule of Teranis, the folk were once again forced to watch as the Urok returned in their numbers to lay waste, to destroy and to steal.
Many of the Avariel again petitioned Aerdrie to be allowed to descend to the floor of Teranis, but she would not grant it. Among her children, though, were five daughters who did not heed her, and neither did the many sons that were born unto them. Instead these unfaithful children went down to the surface to help the dwindling races. There they joined the wars on the side of the Holbyt who had been like Ranes over all Teranis. Now Aerdrie was not pleased by the disobedience, but she was even more angered by the gift the defectors took with them. For the Avariel that busied themselves in the affairs of those below took with them the Faestone which could be chipped from the heights of the Tablelands above Teranis. The Faestone held the secret of fire.
The Faestone was easy to shape and knapp. When it broke it could be made into many sharp points, which could cut and pierce easier than the weapons that Teranis had known until that time. For hardrock, antler, bone and stick, that which had been their weapons, became useless after breaking. But it is a property of the Faestone that even the smaller fragments become useful in the manufacture of darts and knives. And, even more importantly, are still useful for the building of fires.
Aerdrie was filled with wrath and sent a host against her own children. This host tried to take hold of them which departed and bid them return to their place in the sky. But they would not return and strove bitterly against those who would bear them off. So they were left alone. Now the five daughters of Aerdrie and all their sons knew that their Ranaa was angered, but they believed that if they acquitted themselves well on Teranis, that they would be permitted to return to what they viewed as their rightful home.
So it was that a long war was fought against the Urok and many of the folk did acquit themselves well and proudly. Many also died in that war, including four of the five daughters of Aerdrie, and many more of their sons. So when the wars were at last ended and the Urok were sent to whatever refuge they could find, the unfaithful children grew tired of war and desired to return home. They were not well received. For though they returned with the honors of the people that lived on the ground, they had disobeyed their Ranaa and she held them in contempt. So too, the sacred fire had been misused. For the people below had used it to set fire to the world below and scorch all of Teranis, which was like a wasteland from one end of the valley to the other. What had been lush and green was now reduced to cinder and ash.
"You have abandoned our home and our way of life," she said. "And you have shown all of the people down below the secret of the sacred fire which was our charge alone. Though you return as heroes to the people of Teranis, you are as strangers to us."
Then Aerdrie sent her unfaithful children away and pronounced them Teraniel -- Landbound. She swore then that those which used their wings thereafter to return to Aeranis would be punished. Then she cursed those which had left, saying that even their children would be born Landbound and wingless in every generation until Corellon Larethian himself intervene. "As you fought to win Teranis, so will you strive to live upon it."
So the Teraniel left her presence with great regret. For Aeranis was a place of exceeding beauty, but they would now only know it from afar. They could only gaze up into the sky by day and night with deep longing. On the ruined landscape of Teranis they would eventually become known as homeless wanderers and relentless pursuers of the Urok. They would have to content themselves to live for the glory heaped on them by the other people. This glory they did receive in songs without number and they became well-reckoned in the hearts of many. Regardless of their acclaim, however, deep in the hearts of most Teraniel was a sadness that did not pass.
Gadhelyn, the son of Aerdrie was not one of those filled with sadness, but rather with anger. It was he who took his Faestone knife in full view of Aerdrie and her court and cut the wings from his back saying, "As the Avariel shun me, so I now shun the Avariel." Gadhelyn lived for many ages upon Teranis and became a person of great renown. As a champion of six ages he lived and he did not know a natural death. Many children had he and from them are counted the folk now called Harandir. For until the Sixth Age and the coming of the Vyrum princes he lived, and his life was celebrated in every generation, but the tale of his end is told later.
Meanwhile, among the Teraniel, Gilmad the Singer became the first Rane. He too was a great warrior and he was the husband of Vandria, last living daughter of Aerdrie. Together they had been champions of many battles and only a few ever lived which could match their prowess -- he with the spear and knife, she with her hammer of stone.
Gilmad was he who defeated the Warbands of Darkblood and was slain in single combat, though he also slew Nolek the Chieftain and personally ran 600 through with his spear. And Vandria is remembered for keeping her word, and honoring her husband, but avenging him all the same. Together they were the parents of the folk called Erandir.
After Gilmad was slain, Labelas the son of Enoreth the slain daughter of Aerdrie became Rane of the Teraniel. Labelas lived through all five ages and at the dawning of the 6th Age took the Mantle of White to become the Curate of his people. He is the father of the Silvandir through Celanil the Mother of Forests and daughter to Gadhelyn.
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