Elothil
Summary and history
Elothil is the Southern most settlement in Sorus and also the military might of elven kind. Long before cities like Elothil and Solaris existed, the Elvish Civil War ravaged the Elvish Lands. After the high elves drove the Drow back to the Underdark, House Elothil proposed establishing a city near the sea, and near the entrance to the Underdark, in order to quickly mobilize against the Drow if they were ever to return. Such a city would need a strong leader, and who else but the wise and courageous Feanor Elothil of House Elothil? Feanor's strategic planning and quick wits were pivotal in the war, he was quickly elected King Feanor Elothil , and the city itself was named after him in his honor. The remaining five distinguished houses became The Battlemasters , advisors and sworn protectors to the King. Elothil has prospered ever since.The Land
The city of Elothil is built at an intersection of sea, mountain and forest. It is referred to as the "Aer Dor" or "holy place" amongst the high elves of Elothil. Gigantic spiraling towers that house hundreds if not thousands of elves across hundreds of stories stretch from the Port of Elothil to the clouds. The elves of Elothil primarily eat raw fish and rice prepared delicately by skilled chefs. To supplement their diet, they also often hunt in the nearby forests. An honorable hunt is also considered a rite of passage for young elves of Elothil. While the land is rich and fertile, the people of Elothil don't concern themselves with farm work, aside from paddy fields. Many trade goods are imported directly from Norbury instead.The People
Elothil functions similarly to a communistic society. Roughly 75% of the population is made up of military houses and their armies, while the rest consists of other high elven workers such as merchants, cooks, craftsmen, artisans, etc. All high elves of Elothil are wealthy and live a happy and quiet life which is attributed to the King's great generosity. King Feanor provides food, clothing, and anything else that a High Elf might require. The concept of money barely exists in Elothil, and the concept of shopping is strange; if a citizen requires anything, a request is made to an expert artisan and then brought to them. Of course, Elothinians are well educated and are familiar with the common practice of trade that occurs in the rest of Sorus. Overlooking the city, far North is the Temple of Corellon , a magnificent monument dedicated to the Creator Corellon . To the North West, a district known as the Hands of Elothil is where artisans, merchants and craftsmen live. The central towers, also known as the Heart of Elothil , is where most of the population resides. Finally, the South Eastern towers, or The Everdell , acts as the entrance to the city and the residence of The Battlemasters as well as King Feanor Elothil . There are not many visitors in Elothil aside from occasional traveling merchants, or those aboard ships like The Fine Lady who spent the night in the city after a long and tiring journey at sea. Of course Elothil offers free lodging and warm hospitality to those who travel to the city at The Public Lodgings .The Leadership
While the Archmage of Solaris, currently Eladore Lunar , is the leader of the Elvish Lands as a whole, Elothil is under jurisdiction of its King and Battlemasters. The King has absolute authority over the city as well as any military matters that concern the Elvish Lands. King Feanor Elothil also works closely with the Archmage on political matters. The Kings advisors and protectors are called The Battlemasters , a group of five distinguished military houses. They are known by all and command much respect. They have the authority to enforce the will of the King, though this is hardly ever needed in the peaceful city of Elothil. King Feanor may appoint a Battlemaster to take over office of King or Queen if his death is imminent or if he wishes to retire. Appointing a Battlemaster this way must be done with all other Battlemasters present as witnesses. In the event of the unexpected passing of King Feanor, the next ruler is to be appointed by the Battlemasters. All 5 members must come together for a vote, and decide on which amongst them will become King or Queen. A Battlemaster cannot vote for themselves, and 4 votes on a specific candidate are required to elect the next ruler. A series of debates take place in which the competency of each Battlemaster is evaluated. Topics can include politics, military strategy, philosophy, art, and more. In either case, the next King cannot be a member of House Elothil ; the next leader of the House will instead become a Battlemaster. The name of the city will change as well, in order to honor the next King or Queen's family name.Law & Defence
The citizens of Elothil not only obey the laws decreed by the King, but more importantly they also adhere to a code of honor. Honor in Elothil is a rhetoric of personal dignity that is engrained deeply within every subject of the King, regardless of social rank. Only the most notorious of criminals are denied the opportunity to litigate to defend their good name. Since disputes involve insult, bringing about allegations without proof is dishonorable and a false accusation is often considered a worse offence than the alleged crime. In the case of honor disputes, the King himself serves as arbitrator until the matter is resolved peacefully. These arbitrations are rarely focused on determining a punishment for the guilty party. Rather, they serve as a means to find common ground and offer reparations to restore sullied honor. On the very rare occasion that the matter cannot be resolved, the guilty party can be exiled from Elothil as punishment, the greatest dishonor of all. The Port of Elothil is highly defensible, with dozens of powerful warships that excel in naval combat. Elothil's military might is impressive, with over 6,000 soldiers; roughly 1,000 per great house. This makes Elothil the third mightiest military aside from Ker Turum and Myrefall. There are an additional 1,000 soldiers that protect the port and the city in the event that the majority of Elothil's army must depart for war. War and military matters are treated like an art form in Elothil. While actual warfare hasn't taken place for hundreds of years, the matter is treated seriously and the military of Elothil is highly trained and always combat ready. Should the drow ever attempt to invade the surface, Elothil will be ready.Criminals
There are seldom any criminals in Elothil; committing a crime would be a violation of the great legacy left by his majesty King Feanor Elothil. Besides, there is no need to commit crimes; all citizens have a comparable level of wealth. Additionally, there is no competition for positions of power, as only the offices of King and Battlemaster hold any meaning, and it is unrealistic to strive for these roles. Add in a deep rooted sense of honor in a society mostly comprised of soldiers, and the result is a virtually crime free city.Trade
Elothil trades with Norbury frequently, trading Elven Silk and Ancient Oak in exchange for various resources and luxuries of the North. Much of these supplies are also sent to Solaris . King Feanor distributes the rest of the goods to his people as required. Some Battlemasters (notably Dolarin Valdra ) sometimes commission shops in Solaris for the creation of magical weapons or armor to aid in their combat preparations. TalVos Rarities is often the magic shop of choice. The main source of income for Elothil is the sale of Elven Silk and Ancient Oak. These resources are produced in the Elven Silk Fields and the Ancient Oak Wood Forest .
Maps
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Elothil
Type
City
Population
> 8,000
Location under
Included Locations
Owner/Ruler
Comments