Starfall
"It's not like many people have a reason to wander into the forests near the head of the Spine, but this? This place is worth the trip, so long as you're polite and courteous to the residents."In the Broken Spine Mountains there are a number of places to hide a town, but the elves hide better than most. The elves of the town now known as 'Starfall' have kept their home hidden for an unknown number of years until recently becoming visited by traders with the Broken River Trading Company. As a result, they rather quickly began to adapt to being 'visible' to the world. These days, Starfall is known for being a source of exotic goods which have filtered into cities both in the Empire and to the east. Most famous of these curiosities are silks said to be woven from moonlight, which can be cut and stitched by less-talented craftsfolk to fashion garments from.
Due to the sudden interest by the Broken River Trading Company, Starfall has sprung up rapidly into a place for merchant caravans to make a detour to reach. A number of amenities specifically for travelers have been built separate from the town itself, and the Moonweavers have made a point to set rules for those who seek to do business. This 'outer town' is separated from the residences of the citizens, and those who attempt to enter the "old town" are kindly (but firmly) turned away with verbal warnings. Notably, those who have tried to sneak in on their own have found themselves seeming to sneak right back into the "new town". There are no rational explanations for how this is achieved, but elves are known to do very strange things with magic.
Defences
The town is defended by what looks like a wooden palisade, but tests have proven the wood to be as strong as forged steel. The height of this palisade, and occasional archer posts, deter most raiding parties from attacking Starfall. Those who cause trouble inside the town discover there are a couple squads of highly-capable guards who are trained in ways to minimize collateral damage while neutralizing a threat. Old Town is also defended by an additional squad who are armed with enchanted equipment, on top of many layers of magical protection.
Districts
"I like it when we stop here. The elves are courteous as long as you behave yourselves. And they're willing to trade - at their own prices, naturally. Just don't ask them about what's in Old Town."There are exactly two districts for the town, called simply "Old Town" and "New Town". New Town was built in the last few decades in order to cater to the merchants and travelers who visit. Old Town is where most of the citizens stay, and there is a gated access point between the two. A number of facilities have been built in order to make New Town as comfortable as possible for visitors, or at least to give a similar experience to most towns the elves have traveled to. Buildings are made of a combination of timber frames and stone, and are rarely more than two stories tall. Lanterns are placed often enough to provide light after the sun drops below the trees, and most of the places tend to be open around the clock. While some travelers might expect some sort of sinister hidden agenda, the elves truly are more interested in keeping everyone comfortable and pleased. After all, the citizens believe happy visitors are less likely to cause problems... no matter how often this world view is tested by someone who gets a little too drunk.
On the other side of the gates, Old Town is built in a different manner, from what can be seen. The buildings appear to be shaped out of wood and have flowering vines acting as aesthetic accents. Visitors are not allowed to enter Old Town without an escort, and strangely they remember little of their time within the district beyond what they meant to enter. There are many assorted rumors and speculated ideas about what exactly is in Old Town, but the citizens aren't letting on much more than can be seen from the outside of the gates.
History
"We are guilty. On the one hand, there is the folly in pride to believe we could handle what we do not understand, and do so alone. On the other hand, there is the web of small falsehoods we spin to the visitors and no longer only pretend to be. One way or another, we have lost our way in the darkness of night. Poetic justice, I believe."Spoilers: Read At Your Own Risk!
The elves who came to reside in the Broken Spine Mountains were looking for a place to escape the ruin of the Fall, and found a peculiar stretch of forest which had a strange energy to it. While investigating this aura, the elves discovered a hole in the ground which opened into a massive cavern. As they lowered themselves into this pit, it was soon discovered to reach what looked like an underground lake. However, the surface reflected a night sky which did not exist underground. Efforts were put underway to make an easier access for this "starry lake", as the new villagers began to settle into their new home.
However, the presence of the underground feature proved to be a danger. Those who spent time investigating the lake found time seeming to slip away from them, and their health began to deteriorate. Magical investigations were begun, and this proved to be a mistake. The surface of the lake was known to not be water, and only reflected a night sky which was not present. Once magic was performed, either in investigation or during the foundation of the village above-ground, this subtly changed as dark shadows were sometimes seen in the night sky. A few of the elven arcanists investigating this anomaly began to exhibit signs of serious mental strain, and access was sealed off completely.
Then there was the Night of Waking Stars, as shooting stars were seen above ground and creatures from below breached the access into the village. These creatures were unlike anything seen before, and proved to be incredibly difficult to dispatch. Once it was finished, however, the source of the monsters proved to be the underground lake. The elves had called their village "Staciarenial", or "buried stars", and now were becoming concerned about any outsiders who might be seeking the void below. A barrier was put up, and sentries posted in case something else came out of the void below.
Among the things noticed to actively repel the invading beings were objects specifically connected to the moon, and so the elves of Staciarenial began to weave garments of solidified moonlight to ward off the effects of the pool below. This proved successful, and so effort has been made to discover other means of channeling aspects of the moon to defend against another incursion. Little did the elves know how the whims of fate would drag them into the wider world in later generations.
When becoming lost in the forest, a caravan belonging to the Broken River Trading Company stopped outside the town and only requested supplies to continue their journey. They were struck by some of the objects the elves had created for the aesthetics, and especially by the bright silvery garments worn by a few. They took this for a sign of nobility or higher purpose, when truly it was simply the ones who volunteered to keep watch over the starry void. Rather than let on the truth, the elves offered some of the silk in trade and had to formulate a plan to keep the merchants from figuring out anything more. Amidst the artisans tasked with creating the moonsilk arose a concept which caused the formation of the Moonweavers as a means of regulating trade with outsiders. A separate section of the village was built to prevent anyone from venturing too close to the elves' secret, and this became "New Town".
While the citizens of 'Starfall' have been consumed with the idea of keeping the matter of the starry void a secret, they have drawn more attention for their wondrous crafts than should be tolerable for those keeping secrets. The current Moonweavers have been having a bit of a discordance beginning, as some among their number believes the operation has grown too far out of hand for a simply lie. Their answer is another unthinkable course of action: contacting other elven settlements and trying to seek assistance in containing the starry void's presence. The difference of opinion has caused considerable tension in the town for the last decade, and while elves are patient the world does not always proceed by their schedules.
However, the presence of the underground feature proved to be a danger. Those who spent time investigating the lake found time seeming to slip away from them, and their health began to deteriorate. Magical investigations were begun, and this proved to be a mistake. The surface of the lake was known to not be water, and only reflected a night sky which was not present. Once magic was performed, either in investigation or during the foundation of the village above-ground, this subtly changed as dark shadows were sometimes seen in the night sky. A few of the elven arcanists investigating this anomaly began to exhibit signs of serious mental strain, and access was sealed off completely.
Then there was the Night of Waking Stars, as shooting stars were seen above ground and creatures from below breached the access into the village. These creatures were unlike anything seen before, and proved to be incredibly difficult to dispatch. Once it was finished, however, the source of the monsters proved to be the underground lake. The elves had called their village "Staciarenial", or "buried stars", and now were becoming concerned about any outsiders who might be seeking the void below. A barrier was put up, and sentries posted in case something else came out of the void below.
Among the things noticed to actively repel the invading beings were objects specifically connected to the moon, and so the elves of Staciarenial began to weave garments of solidified moonlight to ward off the effects of the pool below. This proved successful, and so effort has been made to discover other means of channeling aspects of the moon to defend against another incursion. Little did the elves know how the whims of fate would drag them into the wider world in later generations.
When becoming lost in the forest, a caravan belonging to the Broken River Trading Company stopped outside the town and only requested supplies to continue their journey. They were struck by some of the objects the elves had created for the aesthetics, and especially by the bright silvery garments worn by a few. They took this for a sign of nobility or higher purpose, when truly it was simply the ones who volunteered to keep watch over the starry void. Rather than let on the truth, the elves offered some of the silk in trade and had to formulate a plan to keep the merchants from figuring out anything more. Amidst the artisans tasked with creating the moonsilk arose a concept which caused the formation of the Moonweavers as a means of regulating trade with outsiders. A separate section of the village was built to prevent anyone from venturing too close to the elves' secret, and this became "New Town".
While the citizens of 'Starfall' have been consumed with the idea of keeping the matter of the starry void a secret, they have drawn more attention for their wondrous crafts than should be tolerable for those keeping secrets. The current Moonweavers have been having a bit of a discordance beginning, as some among their number believes the operation has grown too far out of hand for a simply lie. Their answer is another unthinkable course of action: contacting other elven settlements and trying to seek assistance in containing the starry void's presence. The difference of opinion has caused considerable tension in the town for the last decade, and while elves are patient the world does not always proceed by their schedules.
On the Edge of the Night Sky
Alternative Name(s)
Staciarenial (in Elven)
Type
Town
Location under
Owning Organization
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