Arvandor

“Arvandor is the only civilized wilderness.” - Elmoriel the Enchantress

Arvandor is a realm in the first layer of the Outer plane of Arborea, according to the Great Wheel cosmology. It is the home and shared divine realm of most of the Seldarine, the elven pantheon. In the World Tree cosmology, it is one of the roots of the World Tree, together with Dwarfhome. In the World Axis cosmology, it is considered an astral dominion and also the primary home of the the gnomish pantheon, the so-called Lords of the Golden Hills.
Each of the elven patron deities maintains a realm on this plane. None of these realms have a border and each one seamlessly melds into its neighbors with absolutely no discernible borders apparent between them. While each deity claims a portion of the realm, the majority is shared by the entire pantheon and with the eladrin.
Arvandor is also the destination of the souls of the elven dead, although sometimes this is referred to by the distinct name of Arvanaith.

Notable Locations

• Aerie - The divine realm of Aerdrie Faenya and Syranita. Located at the boundary between Arborea and Ysgard, it randomly shifts between Arvandor and Alfheim. It is an archipelago of floating islands, floating trees with two crowns, and a glittering palace of clouds that floats above the clear skies of both layers. It is inhabited by celestial eagles and rocs, as well as elven and avariel petitioners, celestial elves, and angels. In the World Axis model, which interprets Aerdrie Faenya as an aspect of Akadi, the realm is also connected to her realm of Sky Home.
• Brightwater - A variety of deities have homes here, including Lliira, Sharess, Sune, and Tymora, Ye'Cind, and Rudd (although Rudd also has a realm of her own in Ysgard).
• Crescent Grove - Also known as "Gwyllachaightaeryll", meaning "the Many-Splendored" in the Elven language, the great palace is the center of Arvandor and home to Corellon Larethian and Sehanine Moonbow. Originally a giant tower, the palace is an ever-changing blend of nature and art, combining an architecture of white marble pillars and walkways with enormous white-barked trees. At the center stood the Overlook, the palace's tallest tower, which offers a breathtaking view of the entire realm and is a favorite destination for visitors. Many petitioners of Arvandor spent their time here, reflecting in quiet contemplation and enjoying some undisturbed solitude.
• Elavandor - This palace, built of coral, gold, and veined marble at the bottom of a chasm in the Sparkling Sea, is the home of the Dolphin Prince, Deep Sashelas. It is home to celestial dolphins, whales, and great schools of fish. Populations of tritons also shars the realm with the realm's sea elf petitioners. In the Great Wheel cosmology, it is considered a separate realm that extends into the second layer of Aquallor as well.
• Erevan's Changing Palace - When the trickster Erevan Ilesere stays in Arvandor between his exploits it is in a palace made from different materials. Its details change according to the deity's whims and are never the same twice for any visitor. The palace holds much of Erevan's treasures, ready for the taking of an enterprising soul - if they can prevail against the multitude of traps set to test the skill of any intruder.
• Evergold - The Fountain of Youth and Beauty is the centerpoint of Hanali's palace (part of the time). Melira Taralen is found here so often that the Evergold is considered her divine realm by some.
• The Gnarl - A village of elves and ratatosk near one of the roots of an immense tree, which is interpreted as Yggdrasil in the Great Wheel model and as the World Tree in the World Tree model. The village neighbors Erevan Ilesere's realm.
• The Golden Hills - The realm of the gnomish pantheon is considered a part of Arvandor in the World Axis cosmology.
• Hanali Celanil's Crystal Palace - The elven goddess of love and beauty resides in a magnificent structure of pure crystal within a lake.
• House of Glowing Stars - The realm of Araleth Letheranil, the Prince of Stars, the House of Glowing Stars is permanently illuminated by a many stars slowly drifting around it.
• Lolth's Grove - The former realm of the exiled drow goddess Lolth is a ruined and forlorn grove of black, uprooted or broken trees, crawling with spiders and haunted by banshees.
• Olympus - The actual realm of Olympus is found here, and is home to many deities of the Greek pantheon, including Zeus, Aphrodite, Apollo, Ares, Artemis, Athena, Demeter, Dionysus, Hephaestus, Hera, Hermes, and the titan Rhea. The goddesses Lirr dwells here as well, in the city of Polykeptolon.
• Pale Tree - This grove, surrounding a wondrous white tree with silver leaves, is the realm of Solonor Thelandira.
• There are several other realms located on this layer, including the aarakocra goddess Syranita's realm of Whistledge, the giant goddess Iallanis's realm of Florallium, Trithereon's realm of The Forking Road, and Chih-Nii's realm of Loom of the Celestial River.

Geography

This layer is a region of mountains, deep primeval forests, and the most fertile farmland in all the planes. Arvandor is known in Sigil, the City of Doors, as the "breadbasket of the planes" for the many foods grown here, more plentiful and more flavorful than anywhere else. Both the elvish and gnomish pantheons maintain communal realms here. It's also the place where most eladrins dwell in hidden pocket realms lit by twilight. The Society of Sensation has a palace of eternal beauty and pleasure, the Gilded Hall, on this layer.
Arvandor is a vast, infinite expanse of pristine wilderness covered in lush forests, massive mountains, perfectly clear streams, placid lakes, and an ocean called the Sparkling Sea. The realm stretches from the boundless mass of the Sparkling Sea to a range of snow-capped mountains.
The deep woods of Arvandor possesses an unearthly beauty, which not only exemplifies its home plane of Arborea, but also influences it, as the long-term presence of elves in the plane has also somewhat changed it. The realm is full of secrets and mysteries that are known only to the deific residents.

Ecosystem

The thick canopy of the forests are divided in layers in many locations: an upper layer of sun-loving trees and a lower layer of shade-favoring vegetation. In some of the thicker forest areas, the undergrowth is nearly impenetrable due to a combination of dense foliage and the trunks of dead trees. Those areas are dangerous and generally avoided by the inhabitants.
The darkness of the forests is offset by the brightness of the meadows in Arvandor. They are characterized either by their perennial flowers or by the blue blossoms that grow above the snow during spring.

Ecosystem Cycles

Arvandor has a day and night cycle matching that of the material plane.

Localized Phenomena

The otherworldly beauty and passion of Arvandor can be overwhelming to non-elves. Those that cannot resist it are overtaken by an irresistible desire to dance and commune with the locals, and must be guided away or risk becoming lost forever. Not even half-elves are immune to this effect.

History

Arvandor was conquered by the Seldarine from the giant deities, as evidenced by the numerous ruins of giant architecture scattered through the glades and meadows of the realm. The location was chosen by Corellon soon after the first primal elves were created, as a place where he could revel in their presence and appreciate their ideas.

Type Outer Plane Layer
Parent Plane Arborea
Inhabitants Aarakocra, angels, archfey, celestials, drow, eladrin, elves, ettercaps, gnomes, shadows, spiders
Alignment Chaotic-Good

Alternative Name(s)

Arvanaith, Olympus, The Golden Hills