Alvas
A large northwestern continent, and the ancestral home of the elves.
Alvas is the ancestral home of the elves. Little is known about their early history, mostly because they aren't forthcoming with information regarding times when they were less advanced than they are now, but it is thought that they have inhabited the continent for several thousand years. Barring small disagreements between small factions of elves which have on very rare occasions turned violent, the elves have generally lived in harmony throughout their long history.
The lowlands are primarily flat and populated by the great cities of the high elves the greatest of which is the nation - state of Issoire, their capital and the seat of the Elven Confederacy. Most of the middle of the continent is dominated by the great Auxonne forest, the largest forest by far in Timor. These are largely populated by the nations of the wood elves who live in settlements among the trees. Oyonnax is the greatest of these settlements. The far north of the continent is dominated by the frigid and snow covered Terrebonne mountain range, the home of the mysterious snow elves, also known as 'far elves'. Not much is known about these nomads, other than that they build their settlements high in the most inhospitable areas of the mountains, using feats of engineering and perseverance which stump and frustrate even the high elves. They send a single delegate to Issoire to take part in the confederacy, the diplomat Vanta Haratas, the only snow elf that most have ever seen. Their civilisation is controlled from their capital, Alert, situated high into the mountain range, access to which is known by a select few people outside the snow elves themselves. The caves of the mountains themselves are inhabited by the dark elves an equally nomadic group who intentionally isolate themselves and rarely make contact with anyone other than the snow elves who live on the outside of the mountains that they live within. There is mixed opinion among particularly the high elves, who have cultivated numerous rumours about the dark elves and who regard them with great suspicion. They, too, send a single delegate from their underground city of Ungarta, the diplomat Avanth Shadras.
The lowlands are primarily flat and populated by the great cities of the high elves the greatest of which is the nation - state of Issoire, their capital and the seat of the Elven Confederacy. Most of the middle of the continent is dominated by the great Auxonne forest, the largest forest by far in Timor. These are largely populated by the nations of the wood elves who live in settlements among the trees. Oyonnax is the greatest of these settlements. The far north of the continent is dominated by the frigid and snow covered Terrebonne mountain range, the home of the mysterious snow elves, also known as 'far elves'. Not much is known about these nomads, other than that they build their settlements high in the most inhospitable areas of the mountains, using feats of engineering and perseverance which stump and frustrate even the high elves. They send a single delegate to Issoire to take part in the confederacy, the diplomat Vanta Haratas, the only snow elf that most have ever seen. Their civilisation is controlled from their capital, Alert, situated high into the mountain range, access to which is known by a select few people outside the snow elves themselves. The caves of the mountains themselves are inhabited by the dark elves an equally nomadic group who intentionally isolate themselves and rarely make contact with anyone other than the snow elves who live on the outside of the mountains that they live within. There is mixed opinion among particularly the high elves, who have cultivated numerous rumours about the dark elves and who regard them with great suspicion. They, too, send a single delegate from their underground city of Ungarta, the diplomat Avanth Shadras.
Geography
The continent is lush with life, even in its most remote areas, flora and fauna appear to be able to grow almost supernaturally. Innumerable rivers flow from the terrebonne mountain range to the north, through the great Auxonne forest and drain eventually into the great Nimes river which flows a winding course through the state of Issoire.
There are very few areas of the continent that can be described as anything less than sheer beauty, from the glistening snow covered mountains with twisting white trees, to the wondrous forests of towering evergreens covering a thick, lush forest floor in the midlands, to great cities of glistening silver, white, blue and gold in the lowlands of the high elves.
There are very few areas of the continent that can be described as anything less than sheer beauty, from the glistening snow covered mountains with twisting white trees, to the wondrous forests of towering evergreens covering a thick, lush forest floor in the midlands, to great cities of glistening silver, white, blue and gold in the lowlands of the high elves.
Fauna & Flora
Due mainly to the sustained and deliberate efforts of the wood elves, who's druids are second to none in all of Timor, the flora and fauna of Alvas is generally in perfect harmony and balance. There are, of course, predators and prey, parasites and hosts, but these exist together in perfect balance.
Many plants on the continent are utilised in healing potions and salves throughout Timor, these have in fact become one of the primary elven exports. They have also been weaponised as poisons, a practice which is restricted only to the official elven states. Naturally, they have also been utilised in the form of illicit drugs, motivating the few criminal elements known to the elves on the continent.
Many plants on the continent are utilised in healing potions and salves throughout Timor, these have in fact become one of the primary elven exports. They have also been weaponised as poisons, a practice which is restricted only to the official elven states. Naturally, they have also been utilised in the form of illicit drugs, motivating the few criminal elements known to the elves on the continent.
Natural Resources
Most types of metal ore, particularly iron, silver and gold, can be mined from the mountains from the north, although given the remoteness of these resources mining is mainly only undertaken by the far elves and dark elves, who don't find much need for weapons and armor and are less inclined to make huge efforts in mining them - much to the great frustration of both the high elves and the dwarves. The small amount of ore that is mined is sold to the high elves at a premium.
It is, however, beautifully utilised, and the elves are known to export some of the best quality light armour and finesse weapons in Timor. They rarely enrich this armour with bark from the western peninsula, as they don't like any tacit admission that their armour could be improved with materials from any other race.
As mentioned, the most important natural resource of the elves are the numerous plants which grow in their vast forests, which are utilised both legally and illicitly throughout Timor, the former in healing potions, and the latter in various drugs and poisons.
Type
Continent
Owning Organization
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