To discuss the Way of the White Lotus, first we need to understand it’s origins.
In the Autumn Lands of the Feywild, there is the Color-Changing Sea of Mists. In the sea, 2 days travel north by northwest, lies an island, upon sits the Spiral Tower. According to it’s oldest resident, Lhoris Reydan, the island originally was a simple shrine to Corellon, founded 450 years before the written record of history began. Though a god of spring, Corellon was the patron to all eladrin, and the ever changing sea was a source of great arcane energy. What started as a shrine grew and blossomed into a way of wizarding life. Corellon’s longsword became a symbol of power amongst his worshipers, and the wizards who worshiped under him strove to follow in his footsteps, learning to turn their own longswords into implements of magical focus. As the worshipers grew, so did the tower on the island, and the wizards became known as the Wizards of the Spiral Tower.
The Tower had stood for 500 years before Aelthirion Thalavyr Rosethorn - The Rose King made his pilgrimage across the Feywild. As the future King of Rose, Aelthirion wanted to see the world and meet it’s denizens before becoming ruler of the City which guarded the entrance to Snapdragon, seat of the Spring Realm. With his fathers blessing, he set out on foot to travel the land on what was to be a year to two year journey across the Feywilds. This was the first recorded instance of a Lentiad i-vennith, or Pilgrimage of Seasons, and would inspire Spring Eladrin for generations to come to have their own pilgrimage. For Aelthirion though, his journey would take much much longer. Detouring to the Tower of Sand in the southern Summer Realm, he sequestered himself there for 30 years, learning all he could at that location. In the Autumn Realm, he visited the now established Spiral Tower, studying with the wizards there for close to 100 years. Continuing on to the winter realm, he lodged at The Glass Tower for another 50 years. By the year 250, when the finally returned home, his martial prowess and abilities with a blade were unmatched, and his ability to combine them with his arcane talent made him unstoppable. In the year 300, he assumed the throne of Rose, and was king for less than year when war found itself upon the lands of the fey. Legions of Orcs and Trolls appeared to the southwest of Rose, making straight for Snapdragon. The army of eladrin, armed with spear and sword, went to meet them, but were outnumbered five to one, and morale was low. Then Aelthirion took to the field though, his legendary skills with a blade proved true. He slew close to 900 foes that day, and was said to be untouchable, and no enemy seemed to be able to escape his assault.
When the battle was over, he returned to Rose, and ushered in an age of peace that has lasted to this day, year 746. Countless other Eladrin came to study under his martial ways, now known as the Steps of the Rose King. Few could master his mobility though, which started a more accessible fighting style, the Way of the Falling White Lotus. Aelthirion accepted any students who wished to learn, knowing that should war come again, his martial abilities could be used to save many a life. In the year 607, Coryth Bladesinger, born Coryth Andelas, started tutelage as Aelthirion’s students, studying directly under him. While not the most prominent or skilled of his students, his passion and dedication served him well. Rather than return home, he decided to go abroad, and ended up through a portal until the mortal realm of Zerith. Journeying the land, he learned of many wizard factions, but few had started to try to combine the arcane and the martial. He eventually stumbled a small enclave of wizards in the Khargast Mountains, under assault from a swarm of Kruthiks, a large burrowing beetle type creature, that had made it’s way to the wizards home. Coryth was able to dispatch them easily, and the wizards accepted him, and asked he train them in his combat ways. It was there, in the year 620, that he formed the White Lotus Academy. While he himself still aspired to follow in the Rose King’s Steps, he gladly imparted his knowledge and teachings to any who wished to learn. When offered a place of leadership, he declined, preferring the life of teaching and self improvement over a life of politics with the other factions. His only request was that all be welcome to the academy, so that different types of magic practice could combine, and grow from one another.
This open acceptance prevailed until around year 750. While not prominent, tales did begin to filter in that acceptance into the academy had closed. While some applicants still left for the academy and gained entrance, overall the academy has closed it’s doors. Missives and representatives of the academy are still seen at faction meetings, and members can be found out in the world in their signature cloaks, but for now, few seem to come and go from the academy.
Excerpt from “The Importance of Wizard Factions” Rev. 2, Year 762, by Stillwell Inkblazer