Feyhest

"Feyhest stands as the border between two worlds, a border that must not collapse. Should the humans and dwarves of Astora learn of this place, it shall surely cease to exist". - Amara of the Ambar-Sid, speaking to members of The Crossguards.
Feyhest, as named by the Eldar Folk of the Third Age, was a magical grove hidden in the Deepwood of the Ironwood Forest. Many believe it was created as a last bastion of The Siblings power as they left the The Mortal Plane and traveled into The Feywild. Within Feyhest stands the greatest of all Kelha O'Su Trees, known as the Matriarch Tree. Furthermore, Feyhest contains a portal directly to The Feywild, an entrance into that realm that is tended to by the secretive order of druids; the Ambar-Sid.
Feyhest was active during the height of the Ironwood Kingdom and still continues to stand centuries into the Age of Renewal. During this time, visitors from the Feywild were frequent, usually Eladrin of Eldath's Summer Court. Since the fall of Arnad-Ang and the annexation of the Ironwood Kingdom, Feyhest has seen few visitors, either from the Mortal Plane or Fey. Feyhest has remained hidden from Astora, one of the last secrets of the Ironwood.

History

Creation; Establishment of the Ambar-Sid

The exact date of Feyhest's creation is unknown, save that it happened within the Age of Mists. As the mists began to recede, the Siblings; Eldath and Silvanus would decide to leave the mortal plane for good, passing through from this realm into a plane of their singular design; the Feywild. Elven legends say that Feyhest was created as the two Eres passed between realms, their residual magical ability creating the grove, the Matriarch Tree, and the gateway into the Fey. This would all happen beneath the veil of the Ironwood Forest, unbeknownst to any of Naneth's other denizens.
Those in tune most with the teachings of Silvanus and Eldath would form an order to divine the secrets of Feyhest, the power and knowledge that the Siblings had left behind. These individuals would form an order of druids called the Ambar-Sid. These elves were tasked with uncovering the secrets of Feyhest whilst also providing conservation over the area.

Connection with Arnad-Ang

As the Age of Renewal dawned, so did the Ironwood Kingdom, of which Feyhest would be a secret element to its power. From inside the Capital City of Arnad-Ang a path was created, one that would lead directly to Feyhest itself. This path was to be travelled by none, save for the druids of the Citadel Grove and those destined to become part of the Ambar-Sid. It was during these years that the portal became most active with visitors from the Feywild. Primarily visiting were the Eladrin of the Feywild, members of the Winter and Summer Courts of Silvanus and Eldath respectively. Occasionally these visitors would bring gifts to the Ambar-Sid, usually items from the Feywild to further research for the druids of the grove.
So closely connected was Arnad-Ang to the knowledge and magical power of Feyhest, that in the 272nd year of the Age of Renewal, the Third Ironwood King was named from among the ranks of the Ambar-Sid; a Diviner of Silvanus named Galvaden.

Last Secret of the Ironwood

During the last days of the Ironwood War, it would be decided by the druids of the Citadal that Feyhest should be hidden away, far from the reach of Astora and its peoples. The message was delivered to Feyhest by Arch-Druid Dorro of the Citadel Grove. The path to Feyhest was then hidden away behind powerful elven magic, the key to opening entrusted to only a select few. With the kingdom's fall and subsequent annexation, Feyhest would soon drift from memory and into legend. None would visit Feyhest again, from either the Mortal or Fey Planes for over a century.

Desecration

In AoR 608, Feyhest would once again be visited by Arch-Druid Dorro, this time with a group of fanatical Remnant followers. Seemingly insane, Dorro looked to enact a ritual in Eldath's honour, in which he would burn humans at the stake. Such violence and subsequent dark magic was a desecration of Feyhest and was vehemently opposed by the remaining Ambar-Sid. However, due to their vow of pacifism, they were not able to force Dorro from the sacred grove.

Areas of Interest

The Sanctuary

The Sanctuary is a massive temple built within the trunk and branches of the Matriarch Tree. This temple stands for two purposes; the worship and studying of The Siblings. A great cathedral for honouring Eldath and Silvanus lies inside the temple, the largest chamber in the Sanctuary. Though research and studies are conducted inside these walls, the Sanctuary does not hold a library. Rather, the stories, histories and discoveries of Feyhest are written upon the inner walls of the Matriarch Tree's branches, becoming part of the living wood as they are recorded.

The Portal to Iavas

Feyhest contains a permanent portal to the Feywild within its main gardens. The portal appears as a murky pool and lies dormant when not in use and sits directly in the palm of Feyhest's Hand of Eldath Shrine. The portal can be opened from either side, though only the Ambar-Sid has the knowledge to open it from the Mortal Plane. Connecting to this portal from the Feywild is the Autumn City of Iavas, or the Town of Arrival.

The Fey Nursery

The Fey Nursery is one of Feythest's most important buildings, as it serves as a habitat for many flora and faunas from the Feywild itself. Important research is done inside these walls, furthering the Ambar-Sid's knowledge of the Fey realm.

The Azure Lake

The Azure Lake is a small, richly coloured, body of water that sits at Feyhest's eastern edge. This lake is steeped in powerful and dangerous magic, so much so in fact, that the Ambar-Sid rarely enters its shallow waters. It is said that the waters below the surface can grant a vision of one's future after death, or the form one will take after death. For the Eldar Folk, one would typically see a vision of their Eladrin form, the form awaiting them in the Feywild should they be destined to enter that realm upon death.

Type: Elven Grove, Planar Gate
Location: South Astora, The Deepwood
Owners/Caretakers: The Ambar-Sid (Peace-Walkers)