Eyrin Fontramonn (approx. 209 b.S.-210 a.S.) was together with Leander S'Ingvendar one of the main characters of the heroic myth contained in the so-called "Book of Paths". The "Book of Paths" - a trilogy of books in fact - is one of the most important books in Santharian literature and was later on renamed to "Avaesthoría" at the new edition which was published recently by the Santhalian sage Artimidor Federkiel. It recounts the story of the half-elf Eyrin and his struggle with evil he encounters and evil which lies within himself.

Picture description: Eyrin Fontramonn, hero of the early Santharian days. Image drawn by Vaelaron Dalavaga.

Eyrin, an orphan who was raised under human guidance in the town of Voldar, played an important part in the victory over the Móh'rónn, the dark elven lord (as related in Book I of the "Avaesthoría": "The Shadows of Móh'rónn"). Initially messenger at the court of the Count of Vardýnn, Eyrin became member of a party destined to defeat the Móh'rónn in the depths of the dungeon of Hegedorn (accidentally as it seems, but prophecied by the Oracle of Cartoral). At Hegedorn the dark lord, Saban Blackcloak, intended to topple the Earthen Titan to gain god-like immortality.

Eyrin in fact, along with his later adversary Saban Blackcloak, was one of the twin sons of Aiá'merán, Avá'ránn and leader of the Aellenrhim elves and Coór'Mélor, the Serpent, the re-surrected spirit of the Dark God, Coór, when he was on his way to subdue the people of Sarvonia during SW III. Their mother died during childbirth, and both children were cared for by the tribe despite the fact that they were well aware of who the father of the children was. Also the prophecy of the Oracle of Cartoral had told that one child would become the Evil Lord, while the other would be good and dilligent, who would also perish eventually when fighting his dark side. The elves, however, did not know which child was which.

In 207 b.S. the orcish army, looking to reclaim the heir of their saviour, rode through the Bolder forest. They were looking for the ultimate corruption of the elven race, a dark elf bearing the mark of the dark open eye on the neck, just behind the hairline, not knowning that the Avá'ránn had given birth to twins. The tactics of the orcs were simple, their commands definite: to take all the children they could find so they could be sure that they had both and slay any elf who got in their way. It was a massacre and the tribe was virtually wiped out. They left only two survivors: A'hrís, an Aellenrhim bard who was away from the forest in the Almatra, assisting Aellenrhim troops with his healing, and the young Eyrin, who without pointed ears look just like a human and so was left alive by the orcs, who wanted to state an example for the elves only. In fact the supposedly human child was affixed to a tree and left for starving. It was meant as a sign to the humans who might find it, that their race would be next to suffer such terrible death and destruction by the hands of the orcs.

On hearing the news of the massacre, A'hrís, the remaining Aellenrhim troops and a small division of human knights from the Order of the Fallen rode back to the Bolder hoping that some of the tribe and the Avá'ránn's children had escaped. But, alas, there was nothing to be found of them. However, they found the second child of the Avá'ránn, who was already near to death.

Convinced that he must hide Eyrin from the darkfriends, A'hrís took the child to the Thaelon and asked the light elves of the Astyrhim for advice in this difficult situation. To A'hrís' aid came she who is first among elves, guardian of Eú'reóll, the Tree of Life, the High Avá'ránn. She took the dying child from A'hrís and brought him to the Tree of Life, where he soon recovered. He played under its branches, which prevented him from ageing, for there is no time under the tree's bows. And so the three years old Eyrin remained for more than three centuries years under the guidance of the High Avá'ránn as the legends tell us. Later on the innocently playing child should become a symbol of the Aellenrhim elves, and the tribe should become one of maternity and hospitality.

When A'hrís again passed through the Thaelon at the very end of his life, he had his final task to fulfill. Knowing that Eyrin's time had come, the High Avá'ránn returned the child to the world of the mortals, giving him back to A'hrís in order to prepare him for the tasks he would fulfill soon. But A'hrís was old and weak and fearful that evil would once again seek him or his tribe out as it had after he had given Eyrin to the High Avá'ránn. And so A'hrís placed the child with a human carpenter in Voldar, Ayslin, an elf-friend, and he is said to have died peacefully a few days afterwards. The family was told nothing of Eyrin's elven heritage, accepting him as an orphaned child A'hrís had found on his travels. Eyrin grew up like other human children, and developed a liking of hunting, riding and the woods. Though still a youth he was assigned courier for the Count of Voldar until he was drawn into the darkness of the Hèckranian underworld, which should become his destiny.

The secret half-elven origin of Eyrin as well as the true nature of his friend and companion Leander are revealed later on in the myths (Book II of the "Avaesthoría": "Dawn over Jernais"), where Eyrin finally learns to master the magical abilities within himself. According to the myth Eyrin also learns about the secrets of the Etherial Void and how to enter the legendary Web to fight his enemies. During his long voyages he also gets to know the true enemy of the world of Caelereth he has to defeat: himself.

Book III ("The Luminous Grove") finally recounts Eyrin's final fight against this evil, the shadow of the malice lingering deep inside himself. In his final encounter within the confines of the Thaelon Eyrin gives his life for the sake of his beloved and the world alike. Since then he is remembered in Santharian lore.