"My leaf-liege, you do not remember me. I am Atolmis the Hunter. My blood is your sap. My bones are your roots. Do not be afraid. Through death, you will live. Orion, I have come to make you immortal."
- — Words traditionally spoken by Atolmis to each prospective sacrifice.[1a]
Atolmis, also called Atolmis the Hunter, is the High Priest of Kurnous, the Elven god of the hunt, among the Wood Elves and the individual who conducts the rites of rebirth for Orion, the ever-reincarnating Consort-King of Athel Loren.
Atolmis is incredibly ancient, having served Orion since the first time the God-King rode through the forest.[1c] He stands at the side of each incarnation of Orion, obeying his liege without question and acting as a guide for each newborn Orion, patiently re-explaining things the current incarnation of the King in the Forest might not recall.[1d] His loyalty is absolute and even should he disagree with the decisions of a particular incarnation of Orion, he will nonetheless obey, although he will try to counterbalance his master's divine wrath with his counsel at times.[1e]
During the height of Midsummer, when Orion's power is greatest, Atolmis will lead the rite to anoint the Lord of the Deepwood Host with the blood of his closest disciples at the Oak of Ages, empowering Orion to begin the Wild Hunt.[1f]
When Orion has been laid on his funeral pyre, Atolmis gathers the ash of the Consort-King in two oaken bowls and carries them back to the Sorrow Tree.[2a] There, he enacts a rite with blood sacrifice to divine who will bear Orion's mantle in the following spring, and receives the oak apple that will serve as the heart of the new Orion.[2b]
Appearance[]
Atolmis was unusually large for an Elf, with his long service in the Wild Hunt having transformed him. His eyes were pure black, without white or irises, only flecked with shards of crimson. His bark armor had fused with his flesh and strands of ivy grew beneath his skin in spirals.[1b] Leaves grew out of his head, mingling with his hair, and he had long, sharp, yellow teeth.[1a]