Rînsirion

The River Queen

Since legendary times, before the recorded histories of man- and dwarf-kind, the Rînsirion has ruled the Delannwood. The legends of the Delann say that when the elendhrimm first came to the world of mortals, they found danger on every side from the beasts and spirits that inhabited these lands. Only one did not seek to slay or enslave them: the great river spirit known as Mithonnen. While the elendhrimm huddled at the edges of his river, hiding from the dangers of the wilderness around them, they were safe. It seemed that the other creatures of the land would not come near the roiling mists that came off the river at dusk and dawn. In time, the singing of one of the elven women drew Mithonnen into physical form, and he came among them, enchanted by her song.

"Come away with me," the great spirit asked, but she replied that she could not, while her people were imperiled. So, Mithonnen taught them the things to hunt and the things to eat within the mortal world, the weaknesses of its beasts and how to speak to its spirits. For an elven generation, he taught the refugees of the Feywild, until they could survive on their own. Then, once again he returned to her, and asked again.

Though she was saddened to leave her people behind, she was grateful for the aid he gave them, and so agreed. And Mithonnen took her away to a palace under the river's waters, where he might visit her and listen to her song at his leisure. Eventually, then the elendhrimm needed the aid of Mithonnen once more, they prayed and called to him, but he did not hear them. So, instead, they called to her, to his queen of the river, naming her the Rînsirion, and she heard them. She came to him on the behalf of her people, and the spirit always listened, so in love with her song was he. For her efforts, the elendhrimm revered her and made her their queen as well.

Since time forgotten, the Delann have had a Rînsirion, always an elfmaid who goes to the river. Sometimes he loves her for her beauty, and sometimes for her magic; sometimes he loves her for her battle prowess, or the crafts of her hands. But most often, he loves her for her song, and this elfmaid always becomes the next queen of the river that bears the name of that spirit, Mithonnen.

Lîronnen: the Songborn

Occasionally, when the mists are particularly thick at dawn, the cry of a babe can be heard. Everyone who hears it goes immediately to the shores of the river and searches among the reeds and tall grasses that grow along it. Eventually, a babe is found, elven of features, but with flesh as white as the churning river rapids, and hair with the greenish tinge of the river water when it is stillest. This babe is then brought to the Glânsirrond and given over to the others of its kind: the attendants of the Rînsirion who are known as lîronnen, or "songborn."

The songborn are water genasi who are literally born from Mithonnen. Though they call the river-queen mithemel - "shining mother" - they are not born of her body. Rather, Mithonnen claims that they are born of the song the Rînsirion sings, which it takes into itself and occasionally produces a child of their love. The songborn are the only attendants in the Glânsirrond, acting as its servants, guards, and attendants in all things, though the river-queen rarely calls upon them for anything, so lost is she in the dreams of communion she maintains with the river.

Occasionally, one of the lîronnen will depart the river palace and find more for herself in the world. They are accepted and welcomed by the elven peoples of the Delannwood, but often journey beyond its wooded boundaries to see what the world holds.

Governmental Power

The Rînsirion is not like the rulers of other nations. She dwells in the Glânsirrond, the Hall of the Shining River, a great palace dug into the foundations of a small island, with many walls of glittering glass through which the waters of the river might be seen flowing past. She is reclusive by nature, tending to the rites and relationship she maintains with the great patron spirit of the Delann, the river spirit Mithonnen. The Rînsirion is said to spend many hours of many days, reclining on one of the couches that abut the glass walls of the Glânsirrond, gazing at the visions given to her in the waters of the river.

As such, she is left alone for the most part, and not bothered by the day-to-day affairs of ruling - such responsibilities are held in trust by a small council of her advisers and representatives. But her power is not merely ceremonial in nature. When the river-queen rises from the waters, all of the Delann listen to what she has to say, and they obey. This she rarely does, though, for the Delann are a people who love their freedom, and though they give her the power of ultimate authority over them, they do so with the understanding that she will wield it only when needful.

The Current Rînsirion

The current river-queen is Gannafuin, a winter-crowned wood elf who has dreamed within the Glânsirrond for some four centuries now. Her voice enchants even the hardest of hearts, and it is said that it has been many centuries since Mithonnen was so taken with one of his queens. She is also the least reclusive of the Rînsirion in many years, often leaving the glass palace to walk among the misty shores. She does so out of love for her people, though none address her and she speaks to no one - it is said that she has promised that Mithonnen alone shall have her voice, save when it is needful for the good of her people. So the elendhrimm look away, pretending her silvery-gray gown is but a bank of the river mists, and do not bother her with words or requests.