Hjartardýrlafðir

Caution: The following material is not safe for work.

Four new Deer Ladies during their swearing-in ceremony during the Ducal Reign of Harald of Froyalan.

The Yfirfroyalansgythia is as High Priestess of the White Orchid Temple the senior Lady Cleric among the Hjartardýrlafðir.

The Hjartardýrlafðir, which means "Deer Ladies" in the Froyalanish and Wintergleamish languages, is a matriarchal council composed of the highest ranking clergy of the Froyalanish Ancient Ways, the High Priestesses of the Thirteen Temples of Eluin.

About

The Deer Ladies are since ancient times the spiritual leadership of the Froyalanish and Wintergleamish Vanafolk and the governing body of the Church of the Froyalanish Ancient Ways. They are presided over by the Yfirfroyalansgythia.

It was during during the days of the tenure of Count Harald of Araxion that the Hjartardýrlafðir came into being. This for the Vanafolk very joyous occasion, which is celebrated by them every year, took place when the Vanic Temple in Araxion was recognized as the senior Vanic temple in the Flower of the North by the Jólaslafðir through the issuance of a Gyllmára Búlla.

The Hjartardýrlafðir exercise their spiritual and temporal powers through the issuance of Flóðbúllar and Turnbúlla‎‎r.

Royal Status

Any and all Hjartardýrlafði is by the decree of the Jólaslafðir‎ issued during the Ducal Reign of Harald of Froyalan (1533-1542) a Princess of the Ancient Ways.

Selection and Investiture

Each Deer Lady is nowadays handpicked by the Goddess Elwynn Herself.

The Investiture of a Hjartardýrlafði involves the performance of an ecstatic dance before the White Stag Throne - a very complex, very symbolic and very advanced form of Heiðrdans in which she is dressed in ritual garments in the colour which is associated with her Templedom - and a walk of joy from the White Orchid Temple to the Tower of Araxion. It also is surrounded by extravagant festivities.

In accordance with the provisions of an ordinance issued by the White Orchid Goddess a newly-invested Deer Lady has the honour to, irrespective of her seniority among the Hjartardýrlafðir, preside over the next meeting of the Deer Ladies and exercise the powers of the Yfirfroyalansgythia therein. Should there be multiple Hjartardýrlafðir be invested at the same time, the sequence of presiding over the following meetings is determined by lot.

Hierarchy among the Hjartardýrlafðir

For the purpose of protocol and standing in for the Yfirfroyalansgythia, the Lady Elwynn has, by ordinance, permanently fixed the order of seniority among the Deer Ladies. This happened at the petition of the Jólaslafðir upon the signing of the Concordat of Avaldsnes.

1. High Priestess of the White Orchid Temple
2. High Priestess of the Shrine of the Sea
3. High Priestess of the Shrine of the Wicked Garden
4. High Priestess of the Mackerel Temple
5. High Priestess of the Temple of Phantoms
6. High Priestess of the Volcano Temple
7. High Priestess of the Sanctum of Dedication
8. High Priestess of the Temple of Whispers
9. High Priestess of the Mirage Temple
10. High Priestess of the Sanctum of Reflection
11. High Priestess of the Temple of the Wolf and the Raven
12. High Priestess of the Temple of Shouts
13. High Priestess of the Temple of Smiles