Ellendar

Largest elven community in the world

Ellendar is the largest community of elves left on Miranda. Located south of the western lands of the Kingdom of Dakar and bordered by the Three Kingdoms, Xian, and the Isaurus Ocean. Nearly the entire land is covered by dense forests, lakes, and rivers. Even during the heart of winter when its neighbors are covered with snow and ice, Ellendar looks little changed from autumn. Ellendar is the Sylvan land of spring, summer, and autumn festivals. The touch of winter does not fall within the woods.

• Capitol: Aelfeil
• Languages: Elven
• Demonym: By House
• Government: Non-Hereditary Monarch, 13 Ruling Houses
• Monarch: Queen Endirwen Landilinar
• Area: 150k km²
• Population: 2 million
• Currency: communal and barter

The elves came to this world during the Age of the Gods from their home in the Fae Lands. Ellowyn, their queen, had warred with both Fae Courts but eventually was forced from her lands. Her, and her followers, journeyed to the Mortal Plane to build a new homeland. This new land was rich with life and soon the elves scattered across the world. They built large cities of graceful towers as well as contemplative shrines filled with obelisks and sculptures. The elves love the natural beauty of their new home and sought to complement that in their own lives.

One such place was a deep temperate forest home to many other faerie creatures. Deep inside this forest they discovered a lake whose source was to be the lands of fae itself. Upon this shoreline, Ellowyn planted a small seedling of the Elder Tree that binds all lands of the Shadow Realms together in life. The roots of the Great Tree reached deep into the lake and eventually into the Fae Lands. The tree was a living being that existed in both the fae lands and this one. The elves found this tree so profound that a large community of them gathered around the tree simply to contemplate its existence. This community came to be called Ellendar, in honor of their queen, among the elves.

By the Great Tree, on the shore of the Silver Lake, Ellendar held the first meeting of her Celestial Court. Although not as strong as it once was, there were still hundreds of courtiers and powerful lords and ladies in attendance. The woods of Ellendar was the center of all elves during this time.

The elves had already spread across the world of Miranda when the gods created Heavens Gate, which allowed them to enter the Mortal Plane with their divine power. The gods not only brought their power to this world, but created the way in which the devils could enter as well. The land of Miranda during this time was a single continent the elves called Ellinodi and a scattering of smaller islands. The gods tore apart the land and raised more land so that each could create upon this world their own paradise and create upon it mortals who would worship them.

Into these paradises came the devils. They did not challenge the gods for that was not there way. They subverted the people and corrupted the land. Their whispers convinced the godly races to construct the Black Gates to honor their gods. When the gates open a demonic horde came to this world. The godly races were overwhelmed, with some of them killed to the last within hours.

The elves did not take part in the struggles by the gods over the devils, but they were forced to deal with the aftermath.

See also: Demon Wars

While the gods emerged victorious over the devils they were forced to leave the Mortal Plane or risk awakening Mir. The world that was left behind had been ravaged by war and the creatures made for war. During this time known as the Firstborn War, Ellendar served as a place of solace for the elves that worked to heal the lands and sooth its creatures.

To aid her people in their struggle against these demonic creatures of darkness she gathered hundreds of her followers before the Great Tree. Through their sacrifice she crafted the Bow of the Maiden Archer, which would be used to strike down these creatures. Ellowyn and her Maiden Archers left Ellendar in order to drive back the darkness.

While she was gone Mardoc, her consort, took control of the Celestial Court. A warrior by nature he sought to protect Ellendar and all elven cities from attack. This lead to the creation of the first orcs, who were supposed to be the “protectors” of the elves, but instead would leave the elves fractured and fighting with their own kin.

During the Night of Blood, the orcs turned against their elven masters. Millions of elves died and their cities burned. Although Ellendar remained untouched and served as a safe haven for elven refugees. It was here that Mardac, seeing the folly of his earlier decision made a decision that would divide the elves forever. He took from Ellendar volunteers who wanted to fight the orcs. He bound to their spirits a warrior's spirit. These newly created dark elves left Ellendar and went to war.

When Mardac and his dark elves returned to Ellendar he found that many of the lords and ladies of the court denied him entrance. So it was that when Ellowyn and her maiden archers returned they found Ellendar besieged by her consort and strange elven berserkers. Ellowyn and her Maiden Archers charged into battle to save Ellendar, Mardac was forced to retreat from this world with his followers or be annihilated.

However, as a last act of deceit and dishonor, Mardac or one of his followers struck down Ellowyn with a poisoned dagger. It would have killed her, but the most powerful of the surviving elven lords moved Ellowyn to a place between worlds. This demiplane is now the home of the Celestial Court.

Ellendar is the largest continuous broadleaf forest still left in the Realms. Where these forests used to spread across the Realms, now they are nestled between the Caragan and Endless Seas. The land is rich and fertile, easily the best found anywhere on Miranda, which is the reason Ellowyn picked the location for her most holy of temples and the center of her greatest philosophers.

There are three rings to the forest, with each inside ring more aligned with the faerie realms than the physical. The outer ring (called the xxx) is the largest, least populated, but most patrolled. Because of the elves relationships with their bordering nations the watchtowers along the border are constantly manned. The inner ring is the most heavily populated by those elves that came from the other cities and founded small communities where they can live. The heart of the forest is where the city of Ellendar is built and the High Elves still meet in council to discuss the direction of all elves.

Ellendar is an ancient and dense forest and thus has little in the way of mineral resources or land upon which to herd. However, as these two needs are foreign to elven culture it does not hamper those who live there. Instead the many rivers, dense peat bogs, and abundant flora and fauna provide all that they require.

See also: Fae Lands

It should be noted that the woods are not called the Dreams of Shadows for nothing. The line between the various planes is shallow in the deepest part of the forest. It was here where the elves first appeared in the world and it is foretold that this will be where the last elf leaves. Where this barrier is the weakest is the start of a path that travels to the fae lands. The journey is fraught with danger, but the elves have walked this path for decades bringing the resources from other realms into this one as needed.

It is not just physical objects that the elves bring from other Realms, but magical as well. From the gate that protects this world from the other Realms emanates a great deal of Shadow Magic. While this magic is different from the art known to the elves, it is familiar enough for their weavers to work with it successfully. Thus they are able to weave together both the natural magic of this world as well as the magic of their home, which they use to protect and defend this unique forest.

This is the oldest tree in the forest and quite possibly the world. Ellowyn first planted this tree and used her blood moisten the ground. None may approach the tree without being requested, and none have been requested for decades. Anyone coming close without an invitation will feel fear so intense that it has been known to strike many insane. Whatever happens when someone visits the tree is unknown, for they never talk about the experience. What is known is when someone has visited the tree, for it seems that even the grass near their feet bows out of deference to them. These people are forever marked as different from all other elves for the rest of their days.

It is believed that each of the other deities also created living testaments to their people; however, with the destruction of their cities it is not known where they are located. What is believed is that when these elders are ready to talk to the elven people again, they will make their will known.

A large underground river feeds this small cold, and unnaturally clear, pool. The pool itself is over ten feet deep and any elf can easily see the truesilver ore that lines the bottom. However, nobody would dare venture into the pool to retrieve this valuable ores, as this pool is the home of the dryads.

These mysterious faeries only show themselves to those pure of heart and even then sparingly. It is said their beauty is beyond words even for an elven poet, which is a remarkable feat considering the natural beauty of the elven language. It is rumored the dryads have granted romantic wishes of those who drop things of great beauty into the pool. The dryads protected one of the greatest elven warriors of legend, so that he could return home to his ladylove.

This large deciduous forest is located midway between Celinus and the Republic of Irill border. The peace treaty signed between Ellendar and the Kingdom of Dakar granted all of the northern lands to Dakar, except the area called Deep Forest. Although surrounded on all sides by Dakar, the forest still belongs to Ellendar. The dense forest and heavy scrub blocks travelers from seeing too far into the forest. What is inside of the forest is a mystery, as anyone that enters the forest has never returned. Several magicians and priests have tried to use their power to pierce its veil, but every attempt has failed. Several magicians lay unconscious for months after attempting to see deeper into the forest. To stop further attempts the elves have constructed both magical and mundane makers at the border of the Deep Forest.

Before the Blood War the only elves that existed upon this world were True Elves. The true elves were the nigh immortal elves that followed Ellowyn to this world. Each true elf belonged to one of the thirteen royal houses and each house ruled one of the great elven cities, the exception to this was Ellendar because of its position as a religious sanctuary instead of a true city.

When the cities fell, the high elves were the last to retreat from the burning remains as the fought to defend their people from the orcs. Many of the houses were wiped out or reduced to nothing more than half-blood cousins. Now the elven nation is no longer one voice led by the royal house, it is hundreds of voice from each of the smaller communities that have sprung up to fill the void. As Ellendar is the last of the original cities it serves as the central government for all elven communities across the world; however, even that power has waned in the years as the elves begin to live among the humans.

The current government is strongly influenced by the political maneuvering of the ruling houses that have sprung up in place of the royal houses that fell during the war. While a few of the houses are still led by the few surviving high elves, most are controlled by the true elves that make up the majority of the elven population. In mimicry of Celestial Court the political maneuvering between the various houses can become very fierce. While no house would ever wage open conflict against another house - and they would all pull together to face any external foe - the notion of status and symbolism is still very strong in elven culture.

When Ellendar was formed it was very loosely ruled by a council comprised of the elder shadow-weavers and religious scholars. As more refugees flooded into Ellendar and the council understood how the loss of the royal houses was affecting the survivors, they decided to try and recreate the old ruling structure as closely as possible. The true scope of the problem became very clear with many elves choose to side with Madrac against Ellowyn and left the forest.

To help rebuild their shattered lives, the council rebuilt as many of the houses as they could and allowed the creation of other houses to revitalize a people that had lost everything - including their brethren to a violent madness that the remaining elves could not understand. Because this was a religious colony and in deference to Ellowyn, the council decided a Queen would always rule over Ellendar.

This elven city actually exists outside of the Ellendar forest. This port town is the only Elven City on the Caragan Sea and remains an important point of trade for the elves. Mordkina was originally founded to house the garrison that served to protect the fledgling nation of the Three Kingdoms from the newly aggressive Dakarians. As the tensions between those two nations settled down, this garrison had already grown into a rather large town.

While the land technically belonged to the Three Kingdoms, they sold the land, port rights, and a corridor to connect to Ellendar to the elves. For the Three Kingdoms it meant that any attack from the north had to cross elven territory, and the elves have a history of vigorously defending their land. The elves received a large port town and a place where elves could live outside of the forest, but still among their people.

After the fall of the great elven cities, some elves longed for the day when they would no longer be forced to live under the oppressive canopy of the forest. They yearned for the windswept snows of the north, majestic cities of the south, and warm lands of the Great Desert. Mordkina allowed these elves to live in peace and understanding with those that preferred the forest and its many hidden secrets.

Although not technically within their borders the peace treaty created with the surviving Irillian nobility gave the land of their old capitol to Ellendar in reparation for their attack and years of near slavery. The elves guard this city with their most elite soldiers, The Watchmen, allowing nobody to approach the city without approval of those weavers living in the Temple of Irrish.

Exactly what the weavers are doing is unknown to everyone, including the Watchmen guarding them. Only once has the Queen of Ellendar asked what the weavers were doing at the temple of their enemy. It is said the truth answer was like a weight upon her soul and she died three weeks later. Since this time, nobody has ever asked what is happening inside the temple.

Ellendar policy of closed borders to most and outright hostility to a few has left them isolated and surrounded not by enemies - but neither by friends. There are few nations in the Western Realms that would aid Ellendar should they be attack

See also: Kingdom of Dakar

While the Queen of Ellendar signed treaties with King Reiner I and even visited his palace in Celinus, this relationship has steadily deteriorated over the years. Successive Dakarian rulers have made ever greater demands on Ellendar. Both nations lay claim to the Elfenwald, which has disrupted the normal trade between the nations. Instead Irillian merchants have grown their coffers moving goods between their lands.

See also: Republic of Irill

The Great Houses in Ellendar could hold a great deal against Irill, but most recognize the weakening influence of the Orthodoxy among its people. The Ellendar army destroyed most of the largest temples and killed their priests when attacked. When they left the priesthood was shattered and without the support of the laity, the Holy Emperor was killed. Now ruled by the largest merchant houses, Irill has signed several peace treaties with Ellendar and they have shown no signs of breaking their promises.

See also: Xian

Possibly the most dangerous border in all of Miranda. The xianese consider the elves to be the font of all evil. They are deceivers and seducers who cavort with demons and devils to destroy the true seed of humanity. The elves consider the Xianese religious fanatics who insulted the elven hospitality and poison the land with their worship of the destroyer.

Ellendar lost nearly half of their territory when the Xian first showed their true intentions. While its army was away besieging Templum Draco, the Xianese attacked. The elves tried to defend the woods, but they were too few and the Xian burned the forest as they advanced. The hatred the Ellendar has for Xian has not diminished over the years.

See also: Stoneheart Hold

The animosity between these two nations goes back to the Age of the Gods when each refused to aid the other during their civil war (see Brothers War and Kinslayer War). There is a small trickle of trade between both nations, but both eye the other with deep suspicions.

See also: Three Kingdoms

Ellendar is one of the signatories of the treaty that created the lands known as the Three Kingdoms. While the southern most kingdom is allocated to Ellendar, the Great Houses have no moved to claim the lands. Instead they have left it to the smaller houses to reclaim the land.

See also: Selcaria

When the magistrates of Selcaria broke away from the Holy Irillian Empire the elven army withdrew from their lands and marched into Irilli proper. Elven merchant ships dock at Selcarian ports; although the local populace is not friendly to them. This disconnect is because the rulers of Selcaria were not staunch believers of Irrish, unlike the commoners.

See also: Free Cities

Most of the conquerors of the Free Cities are Irillian, given its close proximity. This means that Ellendar enjoys good relations the several of the petty kings. The lack of a common waterway means that all trade has to flow through the Three Kingdoms to reach Ellendar.

Main Article: Celestial Court

Although Ellendar is a single culture that can not only trace its lineage back to the elves crossing over into this world. The religion of Ellendar is the religion of all elves. Unlike the humans, elves everywhere are bound together by the deity that created them. Ellowyn is the queen of their celestial court and she is attended by hundreds of courtiers, each of which watches over a small part of an elf’s life. Few not raised to the religion could understand the subtle ties that bind many of the courtiers together, mostly just deride the elves as having deities with political aspirations.

However, those living in Ellendar can feel the power of their gods upon all aspects of their lives. They know they have a very personal bond between themselves and their deities. This type of personal bond can’t even be described to the humans and others that simply worship their deities that live in the sky. Many prominent elves have spoken with, discussed, and occasionally even argued with the courtiers that often visit the forest.

The magic of Ellendar is the magic that flows through heritage of all elves; however, only the high elves can still summon forth the magic of the faerie realms. Among the true elves the strength and breadth of the gift varies greatly with the strongest called shadow-weavers. These shadow-weavers are often regarded as magicians by those outside of the elven communities, but they are both more and less than magicians. A shadow-weaver calls forth the power of the shadow realms that is present in all things of this realm, but it is up to the power to respond - the shadow-weaver cannot enforce their will upon the power as most magicians.

Because of their ties to the faerie realms, all elves are do just shape the world around them - but instead are shaped by the world they inhabit. While the processes takes many years, and in some cases generations, the elves that currently live within the world are not the same as the elves that first came to the world. This is usually tied to the strength of the elf's tie to the faerie realm, with high elves sometimes changing subtly several times during their life.

The elves have a great deal of respect foe the druids of Kranydria. The druids see the life in all things, but they attribute it to spirits rather than the living nature of the shadow realms. Most shadow-weavers attribute this blind spot to the fact that even the most elder druids live very short lives and because of their beliefs would never think about undertaking a journey to another realm. Still the weavers find the druids have undertaking a worthy, if unobtainable goal of caring for the natural balance of the world. While most of the elves of Ellendar don’t venture far from the forest, many shadow-weavers travel to Krandryia to have philosophical discussions with the Druids.

While it is true that some named elf-friends are allowed to live near the edge of the outer ring of Ellendar, only elves are allowed to live inside of its boundaries. Some small minority of these may be half-bloods, but for the most part the elves prefer that the half-bloods live with the human. Therefore, Ellendar is not simply comprised of a single race - but a single unified culture driven by the shared horrors of the war.

No other culture on Miranda is still so gravely affected by a war that happened so long ago. While other cultures would rebuild their society and remember the tragedy of the war, the elves long lives and “cultural memory” caused by the joining of their spirits ensures that this event will never fade in their minds. Those two events so jarred the surviving elves that every important decision that touches the lives of many elves is made in deference to those two events.

Ellendar is the only community large enough to call a city. Unlike the other elven cities, whose paintings can still bring tears to someone’s eyes, Ellendar was more of an expanded religious community. While Ellendar has experienced uncontrolled growth in the years following the war from the thousands of refugees, it has grown with none of the traditional elven planning so the city now more resembles a large collection of different communities mixed together.

However, the overall feeling for the city is the same. Each of the buildings are not just built within the forest, they are a part of the forest. They hang from vines majestically among the giant oaks. Ladders and bridges hang from the branches that few others could navigate. As the elves make their way along the treepaths it looks like complete confusion, but nothing could be further from the truth.