Aerendel (ˈeːɾʲən̪ˠdʲɛlʲ)

Aerendel is the capital of the Kingdom of Liria on the island of Oileán Fiáin. It is the most significant Wild Place on an island known for them, and can be one of the most confusing and interesting places to visit in the world.

While all of Liria is a wild place, the region immediately surrounding Aerendel is particularly entwined with the Dream, and particularly with those areas of The Dream associated with story, especially stories of magic and fairies. This connection is so deep and strong the narrative laws of story are as powerful as the physical laws, and can override them when the story demands it. This can make visiting Aerendel dangerous to outsiders - it is very easy to be caught up in an ongoing story, which can cause the Egregoric Force to be focused on an individual, altering and rewriting their very existence. Even if a visitor is not actively engaged in an ongoing plotline, they will find that The Egregoric Force is much stronger in Aerendel, pushing them to adopt the characteristics associated with stereotypes and archetypes they are identified with.

During the rule of the Clarati, Aerendel was the seat of Celestina, from which she ruled the entire island of Oileán Fiáin. She used the power of story and narrative to cast herself as a benevolent and beloved queen with vast powers. This worked for centuries, but the fall of Sange and the Age of Warlocks caused a change in beliefs about the Clarati in general, and this turned her into the villain of the rebel's story instead of the hero of her own. This shift in identification turned the narrative laws that dominate Aerendel against her, and sealed her fate.

Since the fall of Celestina, the Ri of Aerendel has tried many times to move the capital to a less fraught location, but without success. Each time, the forces of narrative dictated that there would be a King in Aerendel, and if the current Ri abandoned the city, the laws of story would bring a new one to bear. However, the crown has not meekly submitted to the whims of narrative. For many years the stories did run rampant, killing and destroying as the plot dictated, and clashing with each other at every twist and turn. But in the last two hundred years, the Ris of Aerendel have made a deliberate effort to control the narrative about the city, and have met with great success. They have sponsored bards and storytellers to draft tales about the city and spread them far and wide in an ongoing campaign to direct the narratives about Aerendel. These stories describe it as a kind of paradise, the 'happiest place in the world'. They also take care to alter the stories such that they are kinder and gentler to the characters, removing the teeth and claws from monsters that used to ravage the populace. This is a careful line to tread - too much defanging of the stories robs them of their power to capture the imagination, but the bards of Aerendel have learned how to craft tales that make Aerendel a safer and happier place to live.

The River Court has a public presence in the city, which is unique among the courts of Oileán Fiáin. They make frequent appearances among the populace, as dictated by the stories and narratives. The Fae, like all spirits, are far less resistant to the power of The Egregoric Force than mortals, and in Aerendel this is seen in full force.

Districts

There are several districts of note in the city of Aerendel. They include

• The High Street: A region given over to shops and business, the High Street runs through the center of the city, terminating at the Ri's castle. It is the commercial heart of the city. One landmark of note is the Crystal Palace Inn - this is the most elite location for visitors in the city to stay, and is the background to many of the city's stories.
• The Observatory District: This is a part of the city dominated by the Royal Observatory, a vast grey pyramidal building where the Astrologer Royal observes the stars. The building is nicknamed 'The Mountain' by the other denizens of the area. The Observatory District is known for its many astrologers, oracles, and soothsayers - although getting your fortune told in Aerendel is a sure way to become part of some storyline, it is one of the easiest places to try and glimpse the future. The area is also home to many artisans and artificers, including the astounding Tùr-Faire shop, known for its clockwork automatons. 
• The River Court: This district is the only place in the world where a Faerie court is easily accessible to visitors. It is a strange place where the faeries dance and music is always in the air. The twelve princesses of Liria can often be found here, drawn irresistibly to the never-ending ball. Visitors are cautioned against eating anything in the River Court.
• The Foreigners District: Across the Great Ring, there are those who are more susceptible to the forces of story, and many of those are drawn to Aerendel. Here, they are typically molded by stories into caricatures of their cultures, creating homes and businesses that try to outdo each other with their exoticism. This area of the city can be disturbing to people who have actually traveled to distant locations, but the residents seem to be happy. One interesting landmark in the Foreigner's District is the River King's Menagerie. This is a strange garden with a river endlessly looping through it, where the River King has crafted permanent illusions of far away places and the animals who live there. Visitors are permitted to visit the Menagerie, guided through the illusionary locations by one of the Fae. It is said that the River King uses this as a punishment for those of his court who have displeased him, forcing them to repeat the experience identically each time, with no ability to deviate or change even their own words, until they crumble with despair.
• The Docks: Aerendel is on the western coast of the island, and the docks are one of the busiest districts in the city. It is also the center of the Ri's effort to create and control the stories which impact Aerendel. Here the bards and storytellers of the city mingle with sailors and merchants, spreading the approved stories and learning how the stories have changed beyond the city's bounds. The headquarters of this effort is in the Three Headed Tavern, a famous location named for the three massive animal heads mounted in the taproom. The docks of Aerendel is also the location where most expeditions into The Middlesea depart from, in the hopes of catching a favorable narrative to aid in the dangerous journey into the unknown.

Type

Capital

Location under

Oileán Fiáin

Owning Organization

Liria

Characters in Location

• Ruairí Marcach Stoirm
• Ualter na Isigidh

Geographic Details

Location: Oileán Fiáin, Northeastern Region
Latitude: 52.99 degrees North
Longitude: 58.13 degrees East

Routes

Land

Water