Ultan of the Shell Champion Lore
Few in Teleria consider the Dark Elves of Durham Forest to be a kind and compassionate folk, and even fewer would welcome a Dark Elf into their midst. It is no surprise, therefore, that people are cautious of even those who prove themselves to be an exception among their cruel kind. Such are the reactions Ultan of the Shell has come to accept and bear without judgment. Raised a warrior in Durham Forest, it was evident that Ultan would outgrow the harsh ways of his people. He did not possess the stomach for senseless violence and saw no honor in beating exhausted slaves. Where his siblings gave no thought to their dwellings, Ultan dreamed of a land graced by the sun and free from gloom. As he matured, he realized that it was not a dream that could become reality in Durham.
Leaving his home, Ultan wandered the world. Receiving only contempt and distrust from the other races, he journeyed to the farthest reaches of the land and found a forest so beautiful it was worth suffering abuse from its population just to gaze upon it. It was none other than the Mistwood. Daring not to offend its guardians, he only explored the woods by day while he would be easiest to track, and wandered no further than the outskirts. Under the eyes of the Sylvan Watchers, he admired the blossoms, trees, and abundant wildlife, his sword always sheathed. One day, Ultan came across one of the most splendid delights of the Mistwood he had yet seen. In a clearing of blooming flowers alighted a woman with glimmering wings. Unlike the other Sylvan, she did not hiss threats at Ultan but welcomed him to sit in her grove.
The lady asked him what he dreamt of and Ultan described his fancied lands of wonder. Amused by his answer, the Fae granted him a wish. All he asked was that she tell him her name. It was Oella of the Fae. Much to her surprise, Ultan returned her favor and said she could make a request of him. She implored him to visit her grove again.
With their every encounter came a new pair of wishes. Ultan asked to learn of the Mistwood and the Sylvan, but Oella’s request always remained the same: to see Ultan again. As they lay side by side in her bed of flowers, Oella told Ultan about the spirits of the woods, of the sweet fruits Elves could eat, and of the Rhythm that connected all beings of the forest. One day Ultan asked to see her city. Having fostered a great trust for the Dark Elf, Oella accepted his request and led him to Nyresa.
The Fae there regarded Ultan with hostility but Oella demanded an end to their protests and revealed herself to Ultan as a queen among her people, and appointed him Lord of Admiration. Unsure of the true meaning behind his title, Ultan nonetheless took it as his duty to admire every sight the Mistwood had to offer and bless every tree, spirit, and rivulet with his utmost respect and gratitude.
Years passed and Ultan became one of Oella’s most beloved companions, often accompanying her and acting as a bodyguard during her travels. During one excursion, Ultan’s skill and dedication were tested to breaking point.
Oella, Ultan, and her handmaidens journeyed to the remains of the Great Grove, the seat of the lost sacred Heart Tree, to rid it of its malice. But an ambush lay in wait. Sylvan long lost to the corruption attacked from all sides and Ultan met every blade to protect his queen and her entourage. He fought past exhaustion, severing his foes’ tendons and piercing hearts, all while being cut and stabbed in turn. After vanquishing the last threat, his blood poured from a dozen wounds and the last thing he remembered was his head striking the hard earth before everything went black.
Ultan awoke in Nyresa, Oella’s hand in his, and his mind entangled in hers. Through an act of true love, his queen had saved his life by binding their souls. Oella’s heartbeat was his, and through her he heard the Rhythm and felt a connection to the Mistwood. The same day, Oella named him her consort.
The Fae respect Oella’s decision, and Ultan’s selfless act has gained him some acceptance from the Sylvan. He has vowed to serve the Mistwood at Oella’s side as a sentinel and vowed to prove that the Sylvans’ hard-earned trust is well placed.
Ultan of the Shell Storyline
The tale of the Dark Elf, Ultan of the Shell, and Oella, a Fae queen, began in the forlorn years following the Scouring of the Great Grove. Disillusioned with his own kind’s cruelty and lust for power, Ultan fled the gloomy eaves of Durham Forest and searched for a new purpose. Years of travel led him to the far east of Peltas, where a familiar sight awaited: an ancient woodland full of mysteries and dangers.
Mesmerized, Ultan ventured deeper into Mistwood. Slowly, cautiously, he explored the strange energy that permeated the forest and all who dwelt in it. The Rhythm, the Sylvan Elves he met called it. It was beautiful.
By chance or fate, Ultan’s pass crossed that of a radiant Fae within days of arrival. Oella felt the stranger’s sorrow, and where many of her kind would have expelled him or worse, she approached Ultan peacefully. The two conversed for a while, each seeking a greater understanding of the other. A queen among her kind, Oella was wise and charming and beloved by many, but it was her passion and love of life that captivated Ultan’s heart and inspired him to seek her out again and again.
Ultan’s curiosity amused Oella, and she humored him with a handful of chance meetings. She learned that he was sagacious in his own right, kind-hearted, and determined to prove himself worthy of Mistwood. She was even more surprised by how driven he was to learn and master the ways of her kind. This was a daunting task even for Sylvan Elves and nigh-impossible for an outsider. Yet Ultan persisted.
As decades passed, the pair’s curiosity in one another evolved into trust and respect, then turned to friendship. Over time, this became love. The other Fair Folk disapproved. Oella cared not – she inducted Ultan into her court as her knight and champion.
Many ventures together led the lovers to the charred remnants of the Great Grove itself. There, Oella and her handmaidens sought to find the source of lingering corruption and a way to heal it. But all they found was death. Twisted monstrosities, maddened Fae and Sylvans, assailed them on all sides.
Oella’s handmaidens would have surely perished were it not for Ultan’s courage and skill. Heavily outnumbered, he fought with the ferocity of a dozen warriors and bought the queen’s retinue time to withdraw. His injuries were grievous, and he would not have lived were it not for a miracle born from Oella’s love. She held Ultan and poured her very essence into his terrible wounds. It was an act guided by desperation and instinct in equal measure, and it bound their spirits together. Ultan awoke soon after, changed. Fae magic flowed through his veins. He could feel its power, and to his joy, he felt closer to Oella than he ever imagined possible.
Upon their return, Oella named Ultan as her consort – a faithful friend and ally to rule by her side. His bravery and sacrifice had earned him a modicum of respect among the Fae, but it may be many centuries still before the Fair Folk accept Ultan as one of their own.