The Elven Tribes: The Jhehellrhim ("Rebel Elves")

The Jhehellrhim tribe is a large wood elven tribe living at the Istarin forest near the Ancythrian Sea, SE of Cavthan, which lies at the peninsula of Kyhlong, guided by a Nyérmer'rónn/ránn ("War Leader"). The name "Jhehellrhim" means "rebel tribe" and was given to them by Quaelhoirhim elves, from where they initially derived. Due to several incidents in the past the Jhehellrhim are looked upon with suspicion by the humans and also by some elven tribes. The Jhehellrhim are also known for having invented a very efficient weapon for hunting: the crossbow.

Appearance. The Jhehellrhim wood elves are typically reddish brown coloured in skin, with blond or fiery red hair. Unlike other elves, whose features are often very soft and seemingly fragile, the Jhehellrhim seem more earthen and human-like. Jhehellrhim aren't of the typical slender built as other tribes, they are physically much stronger, which probably is due to the fact that defense of their territory, the Istarin Forest, has always played an important part in their lives. Life-expectancy of Jhehellrhim is also much lower compared to others of their kind (supposedly not more than 150 years), which may also have its reason in their human-like appearance.

Men wear their hair shoulder-length, women commonly wear it longer. If somebody experiences great sorrow, a Jhehellrhim elf may cut his or her hair to show it. Male Jhehellrhim elves by the way are also known to occasionally grow beards - a feature which is definitely very seldom among elven tribes.

Due to several incidents in the past many people still refer to the Jhehellrhim as the "rogue elves". Often when Jhehellrhim are portrayed by humans the pictures show a suspicious or reserved look as can be seen in the portrait of Arien (see in the History section). It should be especially noted that this is only an interpretation of the artists and not necessarily based on fact.

Coat of Arms/Sign. The Jhehellrhim tribe has chosen a bow as their coat of arms symbol because hunting is their main food source. The bow is crossed by a scimitar to symbolize that the Jhehellrhim are always prepared to defend their forest.

Territory. The Istarin forest, home of the Jhehellrhim, is located near the Seanian Swamps, SE of Cavthan at the Ancythrian Sea, which lies at the peninsula of Kyhlong. This territory was orcish territory in the old days before the Jhehellrhim settled in this region. Then the expanding of the humans, the Caltharians, forced the orcs to move further to the north-east, to the Alsis Caey Mountains, where it is said that few orcs still live. When the orcs were still direct neighbours to the Jhehellrhim, they attacked very often. But later, the only dangers were beasts from the nearby swamps and orcish bandits.

In the Third Sarvonian War the Jhehellrhim helped to defend Carmalad, but the city fell, and the Istarin forest was raided by orcs. In this war the biggest destruction the Jhehellrhim ever faced had happened, and it is a miracle that the tribe managed to survive: The fires which were set spread over the whole forest, and the elves were forced out and slaughtered, which many elves considered to be the fault of Arien, the Nyérmer'rónn ruling at that time. He was cast from the tribe, but gathered proofs and revealed a traitor sitting within the council. The traitor was executed and Arien was asked to take the place back. Other tribes didn't consent to this execution and some of them even ceased their relations to the Jhehellrhim for a while. Arien took back the leadership, and forced the orcs out of the forest. He died in that battle though which later on was named The Great Slaughter.

People. The Jhehellrhim were for a long time living in small groups, often constituted by family bonds. This tribe has been divided into 5 fólds or towns as long as people can remember, and although they were not often war waging, the Jhehellrhim always have a war leader ready to prepare their defenses. They deem this a necessary tradition, lasting back to the unsure times before they settled at the Istarin. Nowadays for many years only bandits have attacked the Istarin.

While living of hunting, the Jhehellrhim also collect mushrooms and berries and whatever the forest contains. Some of them also interact with the people of Carmalad, but most of them are ill-looked at. Reasons for this can be found in the fact that some of the leaders of the Jhehellrhim tribe were not always loyal to their own tribe and that especially during the Second Sarvonian War cease-fires were broken by their leaders. Though the elves have expelled these leaders the humans of the Caltharian kingdom (and nowadays the human Santharians living in this region) have never forgiven these incidents, which had caused the loss of many lives, and consider them to be corrupt. The Jhehellrhim tribe therefore has for a very long time been living according to the elven proverb: "Spring sap rises, autumn leaves fall", meaning that life goes on and on, with no major changes, whatever may happen, due to the eternal cycle Avá is dreaming.

Housing. The people of the Jhehellrhim tribe live in small wooden houses up in the trees as do most wood elves. These houses are easy to defend, but are wery vulnerable to wildfires, which the orcs once used to nearly extinguish the tribe during the Third Sarvonian War. The houses are connected with planks.

Clothing. They usually dress in shades of green, but on parties and big events, many dress in red, blue and yellow to show that there's a chance to get away from the unspectacular everyday life they usually lead.

Diet. Still to be added.

Weapons. The Jhehellrhim use the bow as their main weapon, for hunt and defence. The war bow is bigger and stronger than the hunting one. The arrows are about one fore and one palmspan for the war bow and three palmspans for the hunting bow. The war arrows can be coated in a burning liquid, lit, and then fired. This makes flaming arows, which has many uses.

Concerning swords the Jhehellrhim use the scimitar a lot. They don’t use the traditional swords much, as they see it clumsy and like a big knife rather than a sword.

A special weapon worth mentioning is the crossbow, in fact it is told that this weapon was invented by a Jhehellrhim elf. The crossbow allows that arrows can be shot for longer distances with stronger force, but it also takes more time to reload, which makes it difficult to handle in situation when speed is required.

Occupations. The Jhehellrhim focus on hunting, defense, craftmanship and certain kinds of Water Magic. The children start their education at 10 years, and are trained in the general ideas of hunting, reading footprints, and defending themselves. When a Jhehellrhim reaches the age of 20, he/she can specialize in some arts like hunting and weapon making for example, though learning other things still remains part of the education.

To specialize, the young elves become apprentices to skilled hunters e.g. When the teacher is convinced that the person he teaches has learned enough, they will first assist him in his teachings for a while. Later on the person is a assigned the title "master" in his art and is allowed to train apprentices on his/her own, first under surveillance of their teacher, later alone.

If a child shows exceptional talents in wielding magic, he or she becomes an apprentice for a mage. Many Jhehellrhim elves often show powers in the magic of the Water element, and many powerful elemental mages are from this tribe. Usually such an apprentice studies several years (9-10) with an acknowledged mage and then leaves the tribe for some time, travelling and studying the world and the element he chose alone. Then he/she may come back to the tribe to be integrated in the Jhehellrhim society, or the apprentice may stay away from his/her origins and do as he or she pleases. Many elven mages from the Istarin move to the south as most humans around Carmalad and Cavthan behave rather reserved concerning the Jhehellrhim due to reasons already mentioned.

Government. A Nyérmer'rónn/ránn, lit. a "war leader", is chosen by the council of elders, though nowadays the title is more or less only a title of honor. He/she is seen as the head of the tribe, but initially the position was necessary to manage all things considering warfare, which was of major importance mainly in the early years of the tribe.

Unless deemed unfit by the council the period of rule continues throughout the life of the Nyérmer'rónn/ránn. To be deemed unfit after being chosen once is an extremely rare happening and it is seen as a great dishonor, however, it indeed happened a few times during the long history of this tribe, in fact in both great Sarvonian Wars. Sometimes, if the person does an unforgivable act, like treason, he/she is cast from the tribe and becomes an exile. Any elf with honor will never support an exile, at least no Jhehellrhim will do. But if the exile can prove his or her innocence, then he/she must get a tribe member to speak on the Alaern, the monthly meeting, where it is possible that the exile's honor may be restored.

The council is chosen by the population of the elves themselves and consists of people who are highly respected among them. The members of the council are chosen for a lifetime as well, and there is a total of 50 members, 10 from each town. These 10 are leading their towns and act like trouble-shooters. But everyone is free to speak on the Alaern, the meeting. This is held every month to solve various town problems and to let people speak directly to the council members if needed. The council members will explain all the decisions they make in front of the council.

Production/Trade. Still to be added.

Natural Resources. Still to be added.

Holidays, Festivals and Observances. The biggest festival is the one dedicated to Avá, the High Goddess. It is held every spring to celebrate that the winter is over and the forest will soon flourish again. A smaller festival is held to honor Arvins, God of the Hunt, several times per year unlike at other elven tribes. The Goddess of Peace, Eyasha, is as well respected more than other Gods among the Jhehellrhim and people often pray to her so no attacks may hit the Istarin. A small festival/celebration is committed as well whenever a tribe member becomes a master of her/his skills after completing their education.

Religion. Aside from Avá, the High Goddess, the Jhehellrhim elves worship several of the twelve minor Gods: Among them especially Arvins, God of the Hunt and Eyasha, Goddess of Peace, Eyasha (see Festivals).

History. This Jhehellrhim tribe settled ca. between 6000 and 5000 b.S at the Istarin Forest, decending from the Quaelhoirhim, representing a large group of rebels cast from the tribe. The rebels believed the tribal law was holding them back. They grew in peace in the forest as almost noone bothered them. This peaceful development continued for about at least 300 years while the Jhehellrhim settled on more and more parts of the forest. Near the forest there were several minor human settlements which first looked with suspicion upon the elves but later on cooperated with them and even supported them in times of need.

At the first years when they settled at the Istarin the Jhehellrhim were heavily raided by orcs who roamed in this area. The only reason why the tribe managed to survive whatsoever was the heavy warrior training they had. As the orcs here were poorly organised bandits they were soon defeated in the battle at the Alianian Hills at 4750 b.S. The orcs assembled a big army at the hills planning a huge assault on the Jhehellrhim, but elven spies found out about the plans of assaulting the Istarin and for the first time a big army of elves moved out of the forest to prevent the invasion. Also the Caltharian city of Cavthan helped with warriors at this time. The united army ambushed the orcs at the Alianian Hills while they were unprepared and defeated them completely. After this the raids nearly stopped. Both the city of Cavthan and the Jhehellrhim could live in more or less peace for about two decades.

By this times the Jhehellrhim had leaders, but the leaders had no formal titles. After the Battle at the Alianian Hills, the leader of the army became the first Nyérmer'rónn. He chose the first council, which later on was chosen by the elves themself. The first thing the counsil did was to get the forest towns mapped and establish a provisional government. They succeeded, of course not without hardship at the beginning.

In the next millenium the records are lost, assumed because of a fire. However, it is without doubt that the tribe grew, gained power, interacted and traded much with Cavthan. To make a long story short: The orcs were reduced to small bandit bands, who every now and then blocked the roads to kill and plunder, but in general didn'z pose any larger threat until SW III.

After SW I, which didnt affect the Jhehellrhim directly, the important human port Carmalad was founded, growing quickly. The elves had good relations to the dwellers and a while a lot of trading was going on there. But in SW III Carmalad was taken ny the orcs coming from the north, and a major army of orcs nearly destroyed the Jhehellrhim tribe.

TIME TABLE OF THE JHEHELLRHIM ELVES ("REBEL TRIBE")

THE ERA OF CONSOLIDATION (YEARS 8.500 B.S. - 3.400 B.S.)
ca. 6000 b.S.	The Settling of Jhehellrhim Elves in the Istarin Forest In the far eastern part of the Zeiphyrian Forest, three settlements, influenced by the Tethinrhim and unhappy with the Quaelhoirhim way of life, leave the forest and settle further north, forming the Jhehellrhim tribe. For many years this offshoot of the Quaelhoirhim have little contact with their mother tribe, forming a rebellious group that considering tribal law as repressive.

4752 b.S.	Battle at the Alianian Hills Orcs assemble a large army to get rid of the Jhehellrhim. The elves get word of it, and march on joining forces with Cavthan army. Ambushing the orcs unprepared they destroyed the orcish army.

4751 b.S.	The first Nyérmer'rónn and Council is chosen Shortly after the battle of the Alianian Hills the leader becomes the first Nyérmer'rónn, and choses the first council. This is the first formal government in Jhehellrhim history.
THE AGE OF AWAKENING (YEARS 1.655 B.S. - 822 B.S.)
1650 b.S.	Devastation of the Hobbitshire Countless innocent halflings die in the attack of the dragons on their home, and their houses are laid to waste. Some of the survivors journey south, seeking refuge and peace. Those halflings eventually come to the Alianian Hills and, with the help of the Jhehellrhim elves, settle into what is now known as the "Dogodan Shire".

ca. 1200 b.S. to 1150 b.S.	Carmalad is settled Serphelorians escaping the civil war in the south found Carmalad, which is intended to be a city-state independent of Serpheloria. Some contact is kept with the nomadic Serphelorians by those who settle there, but over time this too fades, allowing Carmalad to eventually become part of Caltharia. People seek peaceful and prosperous times and the town grows quickly. This means also more progress for the nearby Jhehellrhim elves, but will turn out as a catastrophe in the end.
THE AGE OF THE BLOOD (YEARS 822 B.S. - 50 B.S.)
292 b.S.	The Great Slaughter in the Istarin After Carmalad has fallen in SW III, the orcs attack the Istarin Forest. But instead of directly attacking they set fires on the forest, forcing the elves out. The Jhehellrhim are nearly destroyed in this fight. Fearing the defeat of the elves and the progress of the orcs southward, many halflings flee far south, hoping to find safety. They are settling in the Elverground, just north of the Zeiphyrian Forest.