Melrath: Known Induks

Known Induks of Melrath

While it is always possible that other Induks will be discovered hiding within the ancient places of Melrath. Those listed here are widely known and worshiped by the Melrathi people.

Ymir

Local Name: Ymir “Grandfather”

Induk of the Mountain

Ymir has a long and storied past of interacting with the mortals who live on the slopes of his mountain. Lovingly called “Grandfather” by the people of Vorkund the Induk is widely worshipped and mentioned during daily life. Most in Vorkund believe that the spirit activley watches over them, however they also never have expected Ymir to actually protect them from harm.

To live on the tallest peak in Melrath is to understand that you must be able to fend for yourself in order to survive. The residents of Vorkund would never stoop so low as to beg their spirit for aid. To do so would be to dishonor the strength and solitary nature of the mountain itself. Rather instead they seek to embody the values embodied by the mountain spirit.

The ideals of wisdom, resourcefulness, and patience are worth far more to these residents than anything else. Children are taunt the value of waiting rather than leaping into danger. A commonly spoken blessing to youngsters is “May you have Grandfather’s patience.” For the mountain waits and listens before anything else.

Ymir’s appearances to the people of Vorkund are rare as with any Induk, but those who have met him say that he has appeared in a variety of physical forms. The first is that of a face of stone which appears as a wrinkled and ancient man on the face of a mountain or cliff. He can also similarly appear in the form of ice on the glacier that blanket the slopes. Very rarely Ymir has appeared as a barefoot elderly man with a skeletal dirt caked body garbed in crudely woven animal skins with a shovel and axe strapped to his back. This form has only been taken on occasion and when he desired to communicate more easily with the mortals who worshipped him.

Myrkvior

Local Name: Myrkvior “Dark Mother, The Witch of the Wood, The Night Vixen”

Induk of the Forest

Considered by many to be the most powerful spirit in Melrath, Myrkvior is the Induk of the massive and sprawling Myrkvior Forest which blankets over half of the nation. Her history is long, dark and stretches back far longer than the founding of the nation. Myrkvior is often a figure seen in many Melrathi fairytales. The reality of her is uncertain as she has appeared in lore in a multitude of ways.

Some, especially the residents of Fensalir regard her as a stern but quite motherly figure. Often called “The Dark Mother” by these forest dwellers, she is widely respected and adored for her savage yet protective nature. It is because of this that the Forest Induk’s image is often associated with a large pure white female fox with midnight black eyes. This image is often seen in Fensalir’s public artwork and statues which are dedicated to the spirit of the wood. It is said that the Dark Mother guards all children who enter her forest but will visit violence upon those who seek to prey upon all young creatures. This is a story that is commonly told to the children of the city. Many parents and adults tend to use the phrase “May the Mother guard your shadow.” when sending their offspring off on their own to play or visit with friends.

There is another side to Myrkvior that has heavily impacted the folktales and stories told about her; especially in Raelia. Passing travelers and nobles whisper of the spirit as a wild creature capable of great savagery should you venture too far into her domain. Tales of men seeking treasure in the forest often end in blood and carnage when making a chance encounter with the spirit. Hundreds of these dark tales persist, lending to the belief that the Induk is a creature of wrath and wickedness who preys upon those fool enough to enter her domain in hopes of earning glory or treasure.

“Walk humbly beneath those dappled shadows, For she will be there watching.

The the witch of the wood takes none for fools And hunts those whose hearts are empty.”

Excerpt from Raelian fairytale: “The Maiden in the Dark”

Many parents use the stories surrounding her to teach their children to avoid unbecoming personality traits such as arrogance and greed. Most Melrathi believe that Myrkvior judges all who enter her forest, and those mortals who have foul hearts will find themselves hunted by her or the creatures which inhabit her shadowed woodland.

The people of Noatun Village are somewhat unique as they believe a mishmash of stories regarding the Induk. Some consider her a motherly figure, and others associate her with the tales of her savagery. However a few, especially fishermen, sailors, and gamblers have associated her heavily with themes of luck, trickery and love. These few men and women of the sea call her the Night Vixen and will pray to her before risky endeavors, such as gambling or journeying into the sea.

Myrkvior has perhaps the most variety of stories surrounding her, but she has consistently embodied the ideals of motherhood, cleverness, and savagery in most cultures. She has appeared in a variety of ways to mortals, either appearing as a pure white fox with black eyes or as youthful human woman garbed in nothing but a mantle of leaves dotted with fireflies. When in her human form Myrkvior is rarely fully clothed, wearing dark leaves across her shoulders, leaving most of her pale body exposed. She also is seen wearing a crown of branches and thorns atop her heat that twinkle with the soft amber green light of fireflies. Her hair is moon white and ragged, reaching down in a twist of tangles to her mid-back. No matter her form, Myrkvior is always said to possess eyes that are as black as night. She sometimes plays from a small ivory wooden flute, the music is said to be strangely alien yet enchanting. Something the likes of which no mortal has ever created before.