The Elyswer

May the green forest grow eternal.

The sun flickers through the leaves and branches of the great trees, and I gaze upwards to feel its life giving rays on my face. I wander as if in a dream, my senses struggling to process reality in the magic rich air of the forest. My escort pays me little heed, though the fact I still live says much about their intent. The trees thin and through their autumn red boles I see it. The Whispering Grove. It is staggering, a fortress of earth and tree, of root and leaf and high on the hill the greatest of trees stands, and even at this distance I see her, like the heart of the sun and summer. Her presence washes over me and, as if I've crossed the distance between us, I know her face. Tiandra, Queen of the Seelie Court, my mind melts before your splendour.

The Forest

The forest of the Elyswer covers much of the eastern continent of Lenwir. It is a primeval and magical world of mortals and gods. Those with a deep connection to earth and wood make pilgrimages to this place, though few leave, often finding it like a home they never knew. All within revere the All-Mother Teora and her green dream. Many live under the boles of the great trees, but the forest elves of the Whispering Grove make up the majority of the forest’s forces and stand vigilant against any incursions across The Lenlin, punishing those that try with death. For it is not just their green dream they now protect, but with the convergence of the planes, the Feywild has come alive within the forest, most prominently, the court of the Summer Queen Tiandra. Its magic has begun to spread through the Elyswer and into those that live there, altering the forest into a parody of the Feywild, where magical creatures roam and the forest comes alive.

Reports tell of a portal within the great tree Am’uan, at the centre of the Whispering Grove, that leads directly into the Seelie Court, and feyling creatures now walk amongst the denizens of the Elyswer. Tales of powerful druids, wielding the magic of the Feywild, like fairy ladies and lords, have begun to reach those of Luren, the Riverlands and Nemir and many wish to learn this power, though the forest-elves have dealt with any that entered the Elyswer with hostility thus far. The growing well of life energy has also attracted others. Those that seek to steal the power for themselves. Areas of the far northern forest have begun to sicken and die, and undead creatures stalk the land consuming the life magic. Though where the source of this corruption lurks, no one knows, whether from the Dead Isles, Drak’Naroth to the north or somewhere within the land itself.

Capital

Few not of this nation set eyes upon The Whispering Grove and even fewer set foot within its bastion of root and tree. At its centre is, the great tree Am'uan, sits. Her name meaning 'beacon' in the language of the Ancients. From the base of this tree govern the Summer Council, deciding the future of the Elyswer. At it's back, carved into the great tree is a throne for a giant, or at least one giant to man. This is reserved for Tiandra where she chooses to attend court. So beautiful is the city that its defensive capabilities can be overlooked, but make no mistake, this city is a fortress of most cunning design and houses dozens of races and fey alike.

Ruler

All that live within the Elyswer, and by extension, other forest around the world fall under the jurisdiction of The Summer Council. An amalgamation of clan leaders in the lower council vote for their representative in the upper council, where they rule for life, until they step down, or until removed by their clan leaders. Usually these upper council seats are split along species lines, with a few unique positions, like that of the Glade Protectors. Sitting above the upper council is Tiandra herself, once considered their goddess and deity. In recent years appearing herself in the mortal realm and though they yield to her rule, she is often silent in the face of their decisions, only voicing her will at time of utmost need.

The Summer Queen and Lady

Tiandra, the Summer Queen, once worshipped as a goddess now walks the mortal plane, pulling the essence of the Feywild and its power with her. She stands above the power of the Summer Council, often casting deciding votes on its actions. Though she occasionally disappears to attend court in the Feywild. With her comes the might of her magic and creatures of the fey. Beneath her power is her mortal born daughter, Araneal Luxlight, The Gnome Queen, granted the mantle of the Summer Lady. This gifts her great power where she watches over Greenleaf and the southern Elyswer. Her connection to the forest and her mother is an incredible boom for its protection as well as her own power.

Wealth

Wealth is subjective and amongst the denizens of the Elyswer, wealth of metal and precious stones is non-existent. The forest provides what is needed and metals of iron and steel are banned from the inner ring of the Lenlin, except where explicitly needed. The wealth of this kingdom comes in enchantments, magics, favours and craftings of wood and life. Craftings that are traded to the outer world for the few things that cannot be acquired within its borders.

Desire

Those of the forest often wish only for the preservation of life and all within it. Though with the coming of Tiandra and her power, a protectionist and expansionist will has bloomed within the hearts of her subjects. They now, not only, wish to protect the Elyswer and its life, but that of all forests across the world. Every year the forests grow further, encroaching on other lands, as their subjects plant and grow their influence. Already it has spread to The Redwood and past The Lenlin, the original border of their realm. This fervent growth and protection has irked their neighbours who worry of the day when the forests stretch into their realm. Most see this as a sign of growing changes and with the militarisation of parts of the forest a threat, but in reality is for protection. Tiandra is immortal and she remembers what occurred millennia ago, and her footsteps once more gracing the world show how truly thin the veil between planes has become.

Act 2: Secrets of the Ancients

Fate cast our adventurers far from Sabal in an explosive finale that buried an ancient temple beneath the sea of sand. Chance has placed them on the doorstep of the Elyswer, a place of friends and foes, and the mystery around The Amulet of Ildranor is growing. That Galenten covets it with such desire is enough proof it must be investigated and the last fragment found. Follow along and read up on the escapades of our adventurers in 'Act 2: Secrets of the Ancients', a DnD/RPG adventure written as a tale.

Type: Nation

Population

1.2million (42% forest elves, 22% gnomes, 6% fairies, 5% halflings, 25% other - centaur, dryads, dragonborne, fey, giants, satyrs, etc). This number does not include the thousands of sentient beasts that live across the Elyswer and belong to the Court of Beasts.

Government

The Summer Council with Tiandra as its Queen and Arenal Luxlight as the Summer Lady.

Defense

The natural protections of the forest, be it the Obelisks of Kurilos to ward evil from the land, the enchanted Lenlin river or Murimem, none can enter the Elyswer without knowledge of the spell-weavers and Titania herself. In recent years its fords and towns have grown walls and many of its denizens are raised in the ways of the forest, ready to defend their home if necessary. Recently, the standing army of Glade Protectors has grown as news of danger in the world spreads. Though training takes time and currently their numbers are between 20–30,000 across the Elyswer, though mostly focused in the north.

Commerce

Trade is meagre as there is little those of the Elyswer want beyond what the forest provides. Though other nations desire what they have, so trade is allowed and managed through two locations. The lower bank of Greenleaf and Fairroot, though since currency in the form of metal does not exist in the Elyswer, all trade is of items, contracts and favours.

Organisations

Summer Knights, Spellweavers Conclave, Court of Beasts

Related Plots

• The Amulet of Ildranor

Areas

Northern Elyswer

Southern Elyswer

Fantastical Magics

The power of the Seelie Court is one of myth and legend, talked about across the world, but in Venya these fantastical stories are not far from the truth. Little is now different between the Feywild and the Elyswer. Anchored to this realm by Tiandra's presence, her use of magic and the Obelisks of Kurilos circling the Feywild, the forest has become little more than an extension of that magical realm. This means that what is perceived as impossible in the mortal realm, may not be in the Elyswer.