Laelanor
The Tree-Top City of Wood Elves
In the far west, within the mystical forest of Yaa’fedell, on the hilly coast of The Vast Sea rests the viridescent city of Laelanor. The city is amalgamated into the massive trunk of The Hailent Tree, the largest of its rare species known as The Provident Oaks. Home to the Wood Elves, the city’s people are all raised with the lessons of The Path. A set of philosophies, skills, crafts, martial arts, stories, and histories that prepare one for ‘a life worthy of living’.
Similar to its sister elven cities, it is not a place built for outsiders. However unlike the others it does allow visitors through an ancient law known as The Rite of Creszar. Stemming from a legend of a Dragonborn hero named Creszar who crossed The Three Corners, and sought the sap of The Hailent Tree to cure his teacher of a great illness. He stayed for three days to regain his strength, and on each day of Creszar’s time in Laelanor, he proved himself to be a worthy guest of the city. The Rite of Creszar allows for anyone who seeks the power held within The Hailent Tree to come and stay within the city for no more than three sunrises. By the fourth sunrise, one must depart from the city and not return unless invited by the Maer, or after 50 days have passed.
# Overview
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Main Opportunity | The city is a place of peace and wisdom. All the city’s people spend their early lives learning from The Path, giving all of its citizens skills in medicine, craftsmanship, philosophy, history, mathematics, druidic magic, and combat. A population made up of very well rounded citizens makes for a very capable city. |
| Main Challenge | Many outsiders feel that the city has its own unique brand of arrogance. The city’s people feel that The Path is the be all, end all of knowledge. The Path is said to be the perfect way of learning and knowledge, and its only fault is the mortal understanding of it. This breeds a unique brand of stubborness that some joke “would cause an elf to sit in a burning building if The Path deemed it meaningful.” |
| Climate | Temperate, costal |
| Cuisine | Largely vegetarian meals, only meat consumed is wild game. Typically prepared in the form of Tapas. |
| Export | None |
| Size | Small |
| Outer Villages | None |
| City Leader | Maer Sylas Ser’sal |
| Primary Language(s) | Elvish |
| Majority Racial Group(s) | Wood Elves |
| Majority Religion(s) | Trinity-Centric |
# Major Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Distinguishing Features | Costal, hilly, built into a massive Provident Oak |
| Architecture | Natural, earthen, live wood incorporated, asymmetrical |
| Color(s) | Green |
| Symbolism | A silhouette of The Hailent Tree |
| Defenses | Remote, forested, high-up, combat trained population |
# People Groups
| Group | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| High Court | Social Class | The most highly respected members of the city. Those who are of the greatest skill within their profession, and are welcomed into the High Court by the Maer. These individuals are respect as the city’s leaders, with the Maer at their head. Members serve terms of 15 years, and may or may not be renewed after that. Society typically likes to have many people move through the position, but the most respected and successful are renewed every decade. There are typically around 20 members of the High Court at a time, and rank is determined by age. |
| General populace | Social Class | The people of the city. The vast majority. Citizens of Xerul live lives that common folk of other cities would view as noble and lavish, but here it is merely the general quality of life. |
| The Vashendi | Communal Leaders | Those who have been recognized as having the highest understanding of The Path. One can only be elevated to this status by other members of The Vashendi. These citizens serve as the teachers of the city. The first centaury of ones life is spent learning the foundations of The Path from The Vashendi, but all are encouraged to continue their education throughout their whole lives. |
# Goods and Services
| Name | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Hailence | Keep | The city’s main keep |
| Yllel Alari | City Center | The public center of the city, containing shops, restaurants, and things of the like |
| Tal Elencia | Boarding House | A place of boarding for guests of the city exercising The Rite of Creszar. A beautiful building which freely gives rooms, bath, food, and drink to those who come to the city. However this freely given shelter is only for three sunrises. Those who organize the boarding house are tasked with monitoring who has come to the city and when. Their logs decide if a guest is allowed in or not. |
# Authority
The city is ruled by Maer Sylas Ser’sal a considerably young ruler who is a bit of a controversy amongst his people. Some see him to be a refreshing, youthful influence on the city. Others think him to be foolish and naïve.
The Maer has a small, but highly trained soldiers. They are known for their skills with a bow, and ability to traverse complex terrain, leaving little trace.
# Laws
The city enforces its own laws.
| Law | Severity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Murder | High | If one kills outside of self defense, or does not have governmental permission. It is a great criminal act |
| Void Worship | High | One cannot conduct worship of the Void Gods |
| Detrimental Necromancy | High | Necromantic magic that does not heal is considered a great crime. |
| Antidescence | High | The usage of Antidescence is a great crime to the people of the city |
| Thievery | Medium/High | Theft, breaking and entering, forgery, fraud, etc. is punished in respect to the severity of the crime |
| Assault | Medium/High | Harming another without due cause in any manner is punished in respect to the severity of the harm done |
| Organized Worship of Wandering Gods | Medium/High | Conducting worship of The Wandering Gods in an organized manner is not allowed. One many continue private prayer or worship. |
| Intrusion | Medium | A law that disallows outsiders that do not have express permission from the ruling powers of the city, unless they are exercising The Rite of Creszar. |
| Cognitive Enchantment | Medium | Manipulating another person’s mind via Enchantment (School) without governmental permission is a crime |
# Modern Importance
In modern day, Laelanor is very isolated. Most interactions it has with the outside world are with travelling merchants, or those on a pilgrimage for healing, wisdom, or foreign treasures. It is quite difficult to navigate the dangerous forests surrounding the city, and it is almost required that one has a guide when travelling to Laelanor.
# Historical Importance
Laelanor has kept to themselves politically, but is a loyal supporter for any military campaigns of Gethsemane. Their scouts were instrumental during the Western War.
# Other Things of Note
- The city does not have a train station, or a teleportation circle. Making it very difficult to reach for the vast majority of the population.
- Slavery is not of The Path, and is not practiced within the city. However it is not illegal.