Väiri

The Väiri are the spirits of the eldest Kintai, the oasis elves of Haradwaith, who have faded from the physical world. Unlike the Eldar, the Kintai never joined the Great Journey to Aman and instead remained in their homelands, earning the self-designation Tárthai, meaning "Those Who Remained." Upon reaching the end of their natural lives, Kintai elders may gradually cease bodily movement, their forms withering into dust. Their consciousness, however, endures as a Väiri, a presence that whispers or even screams on the wind. The intentions and desires of Väiri are rarely understood, and their murmurs are often interpreted as omens or guidance.

Some Kintai choose to fade within a Veroth, a specialized tree-tomb formed from Sarlásh trees. During this process, the Sarlásh tree envelops the fading elf, absorbing the body as it grows. Each Veroth retains the visage of its original inhabitant, and the spirit of the Kinta remains bound within, able to perceive the surrounding area from the confines of the tree. These living tombs serve both as memorials and as guardians of memory, linking the Väiri to the physical world while preserving their connection to Haradwaith.

Väiri are regarded with a mixture of reverence and caution among the Kintai. Their whispers are sometimes consulted in matters of wisdom or prophecy, though the meaning of their messages is seldom clear. The practice of fading in a Veroth reflects the Kintai philosophy of integration with nature and the continuity of spirit beyond the body, distinguishing them from other elven traditions in Arda.