Eldreth Veluuthra

The Eldreth Veluuthra (Victorious Blade of the People, also sometimes Eldreth Veluuthara), formed in 262 DR and still active as of 1374 DR, was a group of elves dedicated to the removal of all humans from Faerûn. Its main areas of activity were ancient elven forests, including the Ardeep Forest, the Border Forest, the Chondalwood, Cormanthor, the High Forest, the Moonwood, Neverwinter Woods and the Winterwood.

Outlook
The organization saw humans as vermin. It maintained secretive methods while still benefitting from good funding. Some elves would openly encourage cooperation and friendship with humans while simultaneously supplying the Eldreth Veluuthra with weapons, supplies and money. Although outsiders might view the organization as evil, its members believe that they are doing good by ridding the world of humans and saving their fellow elves from human dangers.

In general, elves who were not members of the Eldreth Veluuthra saw the organization as an unnecessary embarrassment. Its eradication is believed to have been prevented due to certain members of elven high society who remained in its favour.

The organization generally benefitted from relations with the centaurs, some fey and satyrs, although they were not above teaming up with evil races in order to fulfil a goal. Over the course of the organization's history, the Harpers ruined their plans on numerous occasions, and the Eldreth Veluuthra delighted in ambushing Harpers as a result. They also targetted human rangers in general, since they were often the precursors to human encroachment in an area.

Some members opposed attacking human druids, since druids were aspiring to the elven ideal that the organization was trying hard to protect. They viewed half-elves as abominations and were committed to wiping them out along with humans. Some members favoured making peace with the drow although this was not a popular proposition. The organization was opposed to some traditional elven enemies such as beholders, evil dragons, gnolls, goblinoids and orcs.

Religion
The Eldreth Veluuthra solely worshiped the elven pantheon, although the pantheon's good-aligned deities did not appreciate their being worshiped by the Eldreth Veluuthra, and as a result, there were no clerics in the organization. Members of the organization believed that they will one day be recognised by a deity in the elven pantheon, and the most likely candidate was Corellon Larethian.

Under instruction from the ice lich Lossarwyn, the organization was able to harness nature's divine power, and this led to druids and rangers emerging.

Organization
The organization was cellular and leadership of each cell was decided upon by its members. If a leader could not be removed by diplomatic means, approval from the Vel'Nikeryma was sought to take further measures.

Cells each operated differently with different rules under their respective leaders, but few took a militaristic approach. Instead, members went about their daily lives, working or maintaining families, and took up duties when called for. Although there were a few adventuring companies, these did not last long due to the high casualties involved in such a cell style.

It was possible for established members of the Eldreth Veluuthra to request agent status with the Vel'Nikeryma, and take on duties anywhere in Faerûn. Agents would have to pass on the information they learned, and donate a portion of their treasure, to their superiors. They gained access to passwords, handshakes and symbols that could help identify them to other agents anywhere in Faerûn. An agent arriving in a cell's area would gain access to their supplies and gain their shelter. Only if the agent requested a valuable item or stayed more than a tenday would the cell's leader be justified in asking for a task or favour in return.

Recruitment
Only elves are permitted to join the Eldreth Veluuthra, which prohibits drow and half-elves from joining. Traditionally the sun elves have been the most numerous although as of 1374 DR, wild elf applicants have become more common. Moon elves are fairly numerous, and there are a few wood elves and sea elves.

The two main areas of recruitment for the organiztion are amongst the mature and wealthy, and amongst the young and poor, especially those that are also disillusioned. The young and poor make up the organization's fighting force, while the wealthy are needed to spread the organization's reputations and agendas amongst high society. The wild and green elves are the specialists in the organization.

In order to join the Eldreth Veluuthra, one must be observed for a time. Those who openly seek membership of the organization are treated with suspicion (due to a history of problems with the Harpers). Once the true agenda of a potential new recruit has been ascertained, through observation by normal and magical means, he or she is approached and invited to join. Most new recruits are family members, because the trust of a family helps to maintain the secrecy of the organization. Some non-family recruits are treated with suspicion and have a hard time settling in.

Once a member, an individual is bound by a vow of secrecy and a vow to punish any other member who breaks this vow. The vow is life-long and can never be broken.

Areas of operation
The group was most active in ancient elven forests, but members were in operation near most large elven populations.

Ardeep Forest
As of 1374 DR, two cells operated in the Ardeep Forest, one chasing down worshipers of Eilistraee near the Dancing Dell and the Ladystone; the other guarding Phalorm's ruins. Operatives were occasionally sent to the House of Stone on treasure hunting missions.

The Border Forest
As of 1374 DR, the Eldreth Veluuthra in the Border Forest were allied with the fey in this area in opposition of the Zhentarim. Two small cells operated here: one conducting raids on the Daggerdale border and the other conducting ambushes on Zhentarim agents.

Chondalwood
As of 1374 DR, many of the creatures of the Chondalwood, such as centuars, ghostwise halflings and satyrs, were sympathetic to the cause of the Eldrath Veluuthra, and the wild elves provided them with support and shelter.

Cormanthor
Due to being driven out of the forest in the past (see History), Cormanthor was a problem for the Eldreth Veluuthra. As of 1374 DR, the organization took to using drow disguises while attacking humans, to further incite hatred between the two species. Agents operated near Bristar and Moonrise Hill in Deepingdale and near the Tangled Trees, whilst the area of the Vale of Lost Voices was sacred to the organization. There were numerous agents in Semberholme, who aimed to curry favour with the elven population there.

Evereska
As of 1374 DR, a powerful cell operated in Evereska, quietly promoting the organization's causes and spreading propaganda. It also aimed to earn money and supplies to help the cells operating in the Graycloak Hills.

Evermeet
As of 1374 DR, a loose information-gathering cell operated on Evermeet, also working to gain support amongst the sun elves.

Graycloak Hills
As of 1374 DR, in the Graycloak Hills, tolerance for the Eldreth Veluuthra was greater than elsewhere, because the threat from Anauroch and the City of Shade was deemed too great to reject any ally.

The Gray Forest
As of 1374 DR, a small cell operates in the Gray Forest, launching attacks against the native hobgoblin population and occasionally warning them of human encroachment.

The High Forest
As of 1374 DR, Eldreth Veluuthra operated several cells in the High Forest, watching over Hellgate Keep and fighting back against the encroachment of humans. Around this time, the organization had a particular interest in the human settlement of Olostin's Hold due to its inhabitants' integration with nature, which is notable for humans. The organization was allied with Turlang and the forest's centuar and wild elf populations. A common goal shared between the Eldreth Veluurtha and Lossrawyn of the Dire Wood meant that the organization was seeking him as an ally.

The Methwood
As of 1374 DR, a cell in the Methwood was led by Talindra Amalith of the Vel'Nikeryma.

The Misty Forest
Although prior to 1374 DR the Misty Forest was a relatively safe caravan route between Boareskyr Bridge, Daggerford and Secomber, around this year, a cell of the Eldreth Veluuthra began operations in this area by setting up a base and planning ambushes.

The Moonwood
As of 1374 DR, lycanthropes in the Moonwood constituted a cell of the Eldreth Veluuthra, but often had problems with the People of the Black Blood, who benefitted from greater numbers superior organization.

Neverwinter Woods
One of the oldest and largest cells of the organization was active in Neverwinter Woods around 1374 DR. Several other cells of a lesser size operated in the surrounding area.

Urlingwood
The cells in Urlingwood at the eastern extend of the organization's reach were used as punishment and any members who committed a crime not serious enough to result in execution were sent here. As of 1374 DR the Eldreth Veluuthra in this area were tasked with removing the witches from the wood.

The Wealdath
As of 1374 DR, cells operated by the Suldusk and Elmanesse elven tribes operated in the Wealdath, tasked with protecting their traditional tribal homelands. The Vel'Nikeryma were also interested in reclaiming the mythal at Myth Rhynn.

The Winterwood
The Winterwood cell of the Eldreth Veluuthra was traditionally almost all wild elves. As of 1374 DR the cell would take only defensive action, protecting its borders against human threats, while concentrating on driving out the green dragon Foilsunder.

History
The beginnings of an organization were formed in 262 DR by five leading elven houses-Bharacliev, Hyshaanth, Rhaevaern, Starym and Tellynnan -who opposed Coronal Eltargrim Irithyl's friendly approach towards humans and their encroachment upon the lands they felt belonged to the elves. The organization's formal founding did not occur until the Weeping War (711 DR–714 DR). A number of raids in 757 DR were aimed to lead up to a final battle against the humans.

During the Retreat and the abandonment of Myth Drannor, the Eldreth Veluuthra set about preparing to take the forest of Cormanthor for themselves, but these plans were laid to waste when they were driven out by the drow of House Jaelre.