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Message: <blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 5261707" data-attributes="member: 92511">Realms of Elves on OreaThe elves of Orea can be found throughout the realms in a  variety of environments. The various sub-races of elfkind have been able  to make lives in just about every corner of the realms. A large number  of elves still choose to reside in the woods of O'Douhn, making their   homes among the rangers of the realm. While always preferring the beauty  of natural settings, there is an elvish quarter in the free-city of  Andril. Similar communities exist in many of the realms' larger cities.  There are even tales of tribes of Kantiiri elves who've adapted to live  in the shifting sands of Thelitia or the swamps of the Grenmoors,  hidden, long forgotten castles holding ShïStaliiri secrets and  ShïCynallae who roam the plains. Below are simply the recognized nations  and a couple of noteworthy communities, but smaller "kingdoms", roaming  bands, or lone elves can be found or encountered just about anywhere in  Orea.    ShïStaliir The most ancient of the elvin holds is the great forest that bears  the name of the original elvin race, the ShïStaliiri, the “Blood of the  Stars.” The history of the elves predates the rise of the race of men by  millennia. Towards the end of what is considered the Third Age of  Elves, after centuries of war with the ShïDaeiri and centuries more of  roaming the realms, the nation of the ShïStaliiri came to the woods that  covered the western edge of the continent. Since before the days of the  Godswar, the ShïStaliiri have been reclusive, maintaining tight borders  on their lands against outsiders for most of their existence. Over the centuries, including the devastation wrought by the  Godswar, the forests of ShïStaliir have lost a good deal of their former  territory. The realm itself now borders the realm of <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/mostrial.html" target="_blank">Mostrial</a>  at the river D’Larial and terminates just south of the spring of the  D’Alevia. The woods still line the western coastline and reach to the  interior of Orea, ending at the barren plains of the <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/other.html#aeiri" target="_blank">Aeïri Krôs</a>, just two days west of the <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/dwarfrealms.html#daegun" target="_blank">Daegun</a>  mountains at its furthest point. The D’Drathas river cuts almost the  entire length of the forest from its inlet at the western sea. It is  from the mouth of the D’Drathas that most contact with the ShïStaliiri  has occurred. Since the Parting during the years of the Scourge Wars, when the Lady Nïrastrelyn  led the House of the Moon and several other elvin houses to take part  in the fight against the spreading evil of the demon godson Aishapra,  the elves of the nation of ShïStaliir have not been seen in the realms  of men.  [SIZE=+1][/SIZE][SIZE=+1]Avanthar[/SIZE]Led by the greatest of their hero-kings, Drythantalir, the  ShïStaliiri came to the woods of the west and founded one of their best  works, the Ageless city of Avanthar. The city is a forest of its own  composed of towers and slender buildings soaring in to the air shaped  from, within, and among the natural ancient trees of the forest and  great multi-colored marbles and crystals. There are very few outside of  the ShïStaliiri race that have seen the elvin city, but tales of its  beauty and grandeur to rival that of its creators have spread across the continent. The riches,  ancient magic and treasures of Avanthar have lured many a foolhardy  thief or adventurer into the elf realm. Most are never heard from again.  Mïralôsta During the Sourge Wars, the evil forces of Aishapra spread across  much of Orea. From the sacred halls of Avanthar, the elvin lords and  ladies debated long on the elf nation’s involvement in Orea’s defense.  Finally, the Lady Nïrastrelyn, head of the House of the Moon, took her  mystic orb, the Eye of Arinane, and led her followers to  aid in the fight. This was against the wishes of the ShiStaliiri king  and so the Houses that followed Nirastrelyn were forbidden from  returning to Avanthar.As they made their way through the realms,  the Mïralôstae, “Watchers of the Moon,” as they were now called, had  several stops. Some elves remained in the ancient hold of <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/freelands.html#mistwood" target="_blank">Mistwood</a>, some in the elvin wood of <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/freelands.html#efthriel" target="_blank">Ef’thriel</a>. The majority of the rest found their way up the White Gull Bay to the feet of the Zarchan mountains, where  Nirastrelyn was lost defending her people from the great wyrm, Sharzaak,  minion of Aishapra. And finally, down the river D’Evand to the forest  where they would make their new home. In the tradition of their  homeland, they named the forest after themselves and the nation of the  Mïralôsta was born. In the east, the woods abut the rolling fields of <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/other.html#daenfrii" target="_blank">Daenfrii</a>. In the west, Mïralôsta  borders the Grinlian realms of <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/grinlia.html#Resahd" target="_blank">Resahd and the </a><a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/grinlia.html#D%27Ensior" target="_blank">Arch-barony of D’Ensior</a>. The northern edge of the forest runs along the southern reaches of <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/other.html#gorunduu" target="_blank">Gorunduu</a>. The realm of Mïralôsta is broken into three provinces each ruled by a regent. The citadel Ay’la Nïrai (“Beloved of Nira”) was built deep  within the forest borders along the river D’Evand. At the center of the  elf-city and kingdom, in the highest tower of the citadel is  Mïralôsta’s greatest treasure, and the pride of the Miralostae (as well  as their namesake) the mystic Eye of Arinane. This artifact was  essential to the Mïralôstae leaving ShïStaliir and is credited with  saving the followers of Nïrastrelyn in numerous legends. The Eye is one  of the few artifacts in Mïralôsta possessing the power of their  ShïStaliiri roots. Also in the central city of Mïralôsta is the training center for the forest’s protectors, <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/sd_org.html#soraryn" target="_blank">the Sorarynae</a>  or “Golden Stags”. These mystic warriors are the defenders and elite  royal guard for the realm and Mïralôsta people.The kingdom of the  Moonwatchers is currently ruled by the king Yranteriin (son of Nïrastrelyn and Yrantylar) and his beloved queen, Alenthys (a lady of House Woodwatcher).  [SIZE=+1][/SIZE][SIZE=+1]Evandrial[/SIZE]The eastern province of Mïralôsta is ruled from the fortified hold of  Evandrial (“Silversong”) not far within the elfwood just outside of the  realm of Daenfrii. The city-stronghold has strong ties with the realm of  the Dragonmage and also engages in trade with the Freelands’ city of  Hawkview. The lord regent of Evandrial is Seniiris, the  head of Eres'ka Staliirostae (House Stargazer), Yrantyriin’s  half-brother born of Nïrastrelyn herself, and father to the Steel Dragon  heroes <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/sd_silran.html" target="_blank">Silran</a> and <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/sd_erilyn.html" target="_blank">Erilyn</a>.  [SIZE=+1][/SIZE][SIZE=+1]Drathaniir[/SIZE]The northern province of the forest of Mïralôsta is Drathaniir.  Drathaniir is where much of the Mïralôstae military is stationed and  trained. Keeping ever vigilant of the forest’s northwestern borders  along the D’Ensior Baronies and the Gorunduu. The regent of Drathaniir is  the elf-prince Anthyr, lord of Eres'ka Thrielôstae (House Woodwatcher), brother-in-law of the king.  [SIZE=+1][/SIZE][SIZE=+1]Nor Evand[/SIZE]When the elves first came to the western regions of Mïralôsta, they  found among the ancient trees, ruins of a fabled stronghold from their nearly forgotten past, Nor Evand. Built in the Third Age of Elves with the aid of  the dwarves of <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/dwarfrealms.html#naradun" target="_blank">Naradun</a>,   Nor Evand sits on the banks of the D’Evand river. From this former  military outpost, the people of Nor Evand now engage in regular trade  down river with the people of <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/grinlia.html#Resahd" target="_blank">Resahd</a> and onto the Skyface Sea and the realms of <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/grinlia.html" target="_blank">Grinlia</a>  beyond and upriver to their cousins in the cities of Ay'la Nirai and  Evandrial. Of particular interest are the casks of elvin wine, the  exquisite fabrics produced by elvin artisans and of course, the elegant  (and often enchanted) crafts, jewelry and weapons of the elves. While  goods are exported with some regularity, the people and goods brought  within Mïralôsta’s halls are few and most trade with the elves is done  within the human realms or at the edge of the wood.The regent of Nor  Evand is the head of Eres'ka Phelïnas (House Hunter), the same since  Mïralôsta was founded nearly 1000 years ago, the Lady Phaelandra.  She is thought of by many outside of the elf realm to be the mythic  queen of the elves and while she, moreso than many of the Mïralôstae  aristocracy, retain some of the “otherworldness” of the ShïStaliiri, it  is not a belief she likes to foster. She is also mother of several elvin  heroes over the ages, including the adventurer/sometime Steel Dragon, <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/sd_jasilith.html" target="_blank">Jasilith Korindor.</a>  Ef’thriel The forest of "Elf Home" has been home to a large tribe of Kantiiri for centuries. See entry under <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/freelands.html#efthriel" target="_blank">The Freelands.</a> Vaal’Cynalli (directly translated as "Valley of Mists" or the "Valley of Clouds") Known by most as simply “Elf Valley” in the <a href="http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gene/Desktop/OREA/Steel%20Dragons%20website/realms/grinlia.html#onyx" target="_blank">Onyx Hills</a>,  and not a “realm” unto itself, Vaal’Cynalli is  the only recorded settlement of the ShïCynallae considered to be within human realms. The  community of ShïCynallae is generally peaceful though very protective of  their home. Whether by magic or design, the valley is notoriously  difficult to find. Those that do are usually treated to a less than warm  reception. The ShïCynallae that dwell in the valley do some trade with  others in the hills, mostly the gnomes, but not within their valley.  Those few who have found and returned from Elf Valley, say the elves  live in a simple but beautifully crafted town among the trees, much of  it connected in the treetops by a series of bridges. The town, which  doesn’t seem to have a name, is at the base of a large waterfall that  helps to supply the seemingly unending fog that fills the valley for  several hours each day). They engage in simple crafts such as weaving  and tanning exquisite cloth and leather wares, some smithing and jewelry  making, herding, gardening, and other artistic and pastoral past times  that seem to give the elves great joy. Their ruler is reputed to be a  chieftess of considerable power and influence. By some accounts she is a  sorceress, by others a priestess or even druidess of the Ancient Order.  But these tales, like the location of the vale itself, have not been  confirmed.</blockquote>

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