Meqil Jandui

The Goddess Elwynn presenting Duke Harald of Froyalan with the Sword of Goodness.

The White Orchid Lady taking back the Sword of Goodness after the Princely Reign of Prince Jonathan Ayreon-Kalirion.

The Goddess Elwynn presenting the Sword of Goodness to Count Richard Lyon.

File:Goddess Elwynn8.jpg

The Lady Elwynn investing the Sword of Goodness with Divine Properties.

The mighty Sword of Goodness, also known as the Royal Sword of Elwynn, is the magical sword of the King of Elwynn and one of the symbols of the White Orchid Thone. It is one of the Great Swords of Shireroth and since times ancient beyond the memory of woman associated with the rightful sovereignty of the Flower of the North as well as worthy rulersship of the same. In Elw, the sword is called Meqil Jandui; in Farewellish, Froyalanish, and Wintergleamish, the sword is known as Jandasverð.

Origin

The Sword of Goodness was spell-forged by the Goddess Elwynn from metal She obtained from the heart of the sacred volcano called Mount Yaanek and the Sacred River which bears Her name. Through the spell-forging by the Lady Divine Elwynn, the Sword of Goodness was blessed and invested with certain divine properties.

Wielders

Aside from senior clergy of faiths worshipping the White Orchid Goddess and the aforesaid Lady Divine Herself, the Sword of Goodness is only to be touched and wielded, upon the pain of Her Wrath Divine, by rightful and worthy Rulers of Elwynn.

Stewardship and Regency

In the event of a Stewardship or Regency during the minority of a holder of the White Orchid Throne, both the Steward/Regent and the Monarch may touch and wield the Sword of Goodness.

Acquisition of Sword by Ruler

The Sword of Goodness is the property of the White Orchid Lady. It is, since times ancient beyond the memory of woman, solely bestowed by Her upon rightful and worthy Rulers of the Jewel of Many Facets as a visible token of Her Divine favour. To obtain the sword a Ruler must from evenfall of the day zie became aware that zir reign or tenure, as the case may be, has commenced, ride along the River Elwynn on the back of a white horse in order to meet the Lady Elwynn before dawn to ask Her for the sacred blade. A Monarch who is a minor will make the aforesaid horseback ride one year and one day subsquent to zie becoming fertile.

Bestowal

When the Goddess Elwynn has deemed the new ruler worthy She will, at some time during the new ruler's along-the-river ride, rise from the Great Sacred River of Benacia with the Sword of Goodness in Her hands, gracefully walk the surface of the water towards the new ruler, and stop when She has come within earshot of zie.

In days long by when the Lands of Elwyna were ruled by Dukes, the new Duke would ask the White Orchid Lady for the sword in the following manner:

"My Lady, I pray you tell me whose sword is that which are holding so graciously? I wish it were mine, for I have want for a Duke's sword."

"That sword is mine, My Lord Duke," the White Orchid Goddess would answer, "and I shall give it to you, if you in return shall give me a gift when I query you."

"By all that is holy to me," the Duke would reply, "I shall give Your Divine Ladyship whatever gift you shall ask."

"Well," the Lady Elwynn would then say, "be presented then with the Sword of Goodness and rule by and with the Power of Yaanek! As for mine gift, I shall ask it in mine own time."

The Lady Divine would then hold the sword aloft, sing a joik in a magical mysterious Divine Tongue, and hand the Sword of Goodness to the new Duke before disappearing into the river in a burst of golden magic.

Title Alteration Ajustments

When the Duchy of Elwynn was demoted to a Barony during the Reign of Mari Greenwood, the manner of asking for the sword was altered accordingly, which is something that happened each time that the title of the Ruler of Elwynn changed. In the days that the title of the Ruler of Elwynn was president, as well as the days of the provisional government, the Sword of Goodness was, when asking the White Orchid Goddess for it, referred to as "Sovereign's Sword".

King's Noah's Querying

Due to certain changes to the Monarchy of Elwynn which took place during the tenure of Steward Hallbjörn Haraldsson of the Houses of Ayreon-Kalirion and of the Descendants of Freyja, such as the introduction of Hierogamy and the institution of the Kingship, the way of asking the Lady Elwynn for the Sword of Goodness by King Noah of Elwynn differed from that of His numerous predecessors, making it a kind of engagement ceremony.
It went like this:

"Your Most Sacred Majesty, I pray you tell me whose sword is that which are holding so gracefully? I wish it were mine, for I have want for a King's sword."

"That sword is mine, Your Riverine Majesty," the White Orchid Lady answered, "and it is destined for mine royal consort. I shall give it to you, if you in return shall take me as your Queen and Consort during your Konungstekja."

"Your Most Sacred Majesty, I would be delighted to wed You during mine Konungstekja," King Noah replied, "I cannot wait for the moment that the Two of Us shall be joined in Sacred Marriage!"

"There is one more thing, " the Lady Divine continued, "I require a wedding gift of you and also that you shall give it to me when I query you."

"By all that is holy to me," King Noah replied, "I shall give Your Divine Ladyship whatever wedding gift Your Most Sacred Majesty shall ask."

"Well," the Lady Elwynn then said, "be presented then with the Sword of Goodness and rule by and with the Power of Yaanek! As for mine wedding gift, I shall ask it in mine own time."

The Goddess then held the sword aloft, sung a joik in a magical mysterious Divine Tongue, and handed the Sword of Goodness to King Noah before disappearing into the river in a burst of golden magic.

Denial

In the event that Lady Divine Elwynn considers the new ruler unworthy She will appear to the new ruler and answer the question in the negative by shaking Her head and then disappear without uttering a single word. Sometimes there were instances that She found a new ruler so unworthy that She even did not bother to show up at all.

Location

The sword is kept at the Tower of Araxion, which is one of the residences of the Goddess Elwynn in Elwynn Proper as well as a holiday residence of the Royal Family of the Flower of the North. It is guarded by clerics of the Church of Elwynn and the Froyalanish Ancient Ways. Any Ruler of Elwynn who has been given the Sword of Goodness is required to take the sacred blade aforesaid to the Tower of Araxion to have it put away for safe-keeping. The putting away occurs in a special ceremony.

Return of Sword by Ruler

Any living Ruler of Elwynn who ceased to hold the reins of government or the White Orchid Throne, as the case may be, is required, upon the pain of the Lady Elwynn's Wrath Divine, to forthwith return the Sword of Goodness to Her by throwing it into the River Elwynn from the battlements of Eliria Castle. Before the sword will hit the water's surface, the White Orchid Lady will gracefully rise up out of the Great Sacred River aforesaid, catch the sacred blade by the hilt, and shake it three times while crying out "From me to the ruler, and from the ruler to me!", before slipping silently beneath the surface of the water.

In the event that a holder the reins of government or the White Orchid Throne dies, the sword is returned on the manner aforesaid on behalf of the deceased ruler by a senior cleric of a faith that worships the Goddess Elwynn.