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| - Since the Golden Age, the Everqueen has served as Isha’s chosen priestess in the mortal world. Whilst the tradition of the Phoenix King is relatively new — a mere six and a half thousand years in age — there has always been an Everqueen.[4b] Alarielle is the eleventh Everqueen to rule since the time of Aenarion. Her glowing hair is like a golden cloud, and it is said that so great and timeless is her beauty that it can move even the immortal gods to tears. The Everqueen’s power is that of nature itself. Where Allarielle walks, the fields start to blossom and flowers spring forth from the ground. When she is joyful, the skies clear and the land for leagues around blooms with life and light. When she mourns, the skies weep with her, and when her eyes darken with rage, thunder roars across the hills.[4b] As a servant of light and nature, the Everqueen is opposed to corruption in all its forms. Thus does she remain above the petty intrigues of her own court — not even the most devious heart can conceal an untruth from her pure, unflinching, gaze. More importantly, her presence is anathema to tainted creatures of all kinds. She can banish Daemons with a single touch, and unravel the dark bindings of the Undead with but a gesture. All the benevolent gifts of Isha are hers to wield; no wound is beyond her skill to mend, and there is no shadow upon the heart that she cannot banish. Alas, Alarielle’s powers recede as the dark tide of Chaos grows stronger and the mortal world cries out in torment. When the power of Chaos is at its peak, even her mortal form grows weak; the brilliant gold of her hair fading almost to pure white, her limbs growing enervated and brittle. At such times the Elven race stands upon the brink of extinction — should the Everqueen perish, her people would surely pass into darkness soon after.[4b] The Everqueen does not fight in a conventional manner, and eschews weapons of all kinds, but she is no less dangerous for it. Her touch, so soothing to the pure-hearted, is anathema to those with even a taint of corruption in their hearts. The victim might not feel anything at first, but as the magic of her touch travels through his body, it grows more powerful, feeding off every black desire and cruel purpose. Moments later, the foe is naught but a cleansed and withered corpse, his evil forever purged by Isha’s light. Moreover, Alarielle wields the Winds of Life and Light with all the skill of Saphery’s most learned High Mages, and can call forth great storms of cleansing energy to sweep the agents of darkness from her hallowed presence.[4b] Whilst most of her predecessors deliberately stayed as distant from war as circumstances would allow, Alarielle has made a point of leading armies in Ulthuan’s defence. At the start of her reign, she had little choice, for Avelorn was overrun by Dark Elves and worshippers of Chaos. With her nation overwhelmed and the Phoenix King under siege in Lothern, it fell to Alarielle to rally the High Elves to Ulthuan’s defence upon the Finuval Plain. Since then, Alarielle has commanded many armies in the Phoenix King’s stead, whilst Finubar remains ensconced in the highest tower of Lothern, pursuing an agenda hidden from all but his closest allies. Not whilst she still draws breath will Alarielle allow Avelorn’s beauty to be despoiled by war — a determination that many beings of tainted heart have encountered to their ruin.[4b] So it is that a High Elf army might find glorious aid in its darkest hour. As dawn breaks, one of the Everqueen’s Handmaidens sounds the Horn of Isha, so that the goddess might notice her high priestess upon the field of battle. Then the Banner of Avelorn is raised high, its living threads shimmering in the sunshine. As word spreads of Alarielle’s arrival, despair vanishes like shadows in daylight and a newtound resolve arises to take its place. Then the Horn of Isha sounds once more, spurring the assembled Elves onward into deeds of legend.[4b]
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