otherschosen

Otherschosen is a concept found in the mythological tradition of the Northern Isles, described as a secret council of individuals who are deemed “the other chosen” by the ancient spirits. According to the surviving annals, the members are selected through a series of trials that test both physical prowess and moral character. Once chosen, they serve as guardians of the land’s hidden relics and act as mediators between the mortal realm and the elemental spirits. The name itself derives from the Old Norse *þeir annarri valda*, literally “the other chosen,” and it appears in several sagas dated to the early medieval period.

Historical accounts suggest that the Otherschosen played a pivotal role during the great flood that afflicted the mainland in the 11th century, leading to the relocation of several settlements to higher ground. After this event, the council’s influence expanded to include diplomatic endeavors, negotiating peace treaties between warring tribes.

Scholars debate the extent to which the Otherschosen were a formal institution versus a symbolic ideal. Archaeological digs in the Misty Cavern of Quillaring have uncovered artifacts bearing the council’s sigil, a stylized double helix encircled by runic circles, further corroborating their historical presence. Despite limited documentation, the legacy of the Otherschosen endures in modern folklore, where they are invoked as a metaphor for collective responsibility and moral authority.