Faliaanti

Faliaanti, also called the Four Elven Kingdoms of Faliaanti (mostly by other realms), is the elven homeland in Rythalion. It is a vibrant land with equally vibrant people be it elves or members of other races that live there. It is located south of Eolda, north of Vjalca and Heikkon, and northwest of Lacrienta across the sea.

General
During the Scarring, the two sleeping Primordials sealed under the mountains of the now split Scindo Range awoke and did battle with each other wreaking havoc at Eolda tearing down mountains and cities and at the same time bringing new mountains and land into existence. As their battle brought them to the southern parts of Eolda and into the sea, a new landmass spawned from the titanic battle of Fire versus Earth connecting the southern lands and the existing Elven Homeland with the Eoldan Landmass effectively creating the continent of Rythalion. Then, the two raging Primordials were brought down and went inactive once again by the combined efforts of the Avatar of the Goddess Calaseid and the then mortal Goldenveil and her group of friends who were epic heroes in their own right. In the time that followed, the beginnings of the Eoldan Empire started when the political order shifted at the expense of the ruling Archmages. Persecution of arcane mages, many of who were elves, started and the Archmages were brought down from power. Then, human supremacist noble families took control of the country. Violence had broken out and most elven families and the one remaining elven noble house, House Maran, fled Eolda in a mass exodus and settled at the newly created lands south of their former home. The Elven Homeland heard about these events, took advantage of the unrest, political strife and fighting in Eolda and expanded into the new land, taking their brethren refugees under its wing, growing in numbers and power and generally relocating since the Scarring hit them as well. Since then, life blossomed and thrived at this new land and that bode well for the new and improved Elven Homeland.

At the current time and age, the Elven Homeland is divided into four states dubbed by many as  The Four Elven Kingdoms of Faliaanti . (Faliaanti is the elvish word that roughly translates as Newborn Land in the common tongue.) The four kingdoms represent four races of elvenkind and are ruled by different rulers belonging to noble families of a respective elven subrace. The High Elves of Andelar are ruled by House Maran, the Three-Eyed Elves of Elemenas are ruled by House Llinesti, the Wood Elves of the Great Forest of Fali are ruled by House Erophel and the Sea Elves of Raem-Suam are ruled by House Aesdryn. Each of these families traces their origin to a great elven hero that in the dawn of the country played a vital role in organizing, defending and generally ensuring its survival.

As for religion, elven culture does not support the worship of any god in particular. However, religion exists in another form. The elves worship their ancestors as a whole and they consider them sacred. This belief alone has an effect unique to elves; it can grant divine spells to clerics without the wielder worshipping any known god. Whereas all other races must worship a god to draw divine magic as clerics, elves receive divine magic through their belief and worship of their ancestors. Of course, there are some elves that worship gods or nature itself but they are very few.

About Faliaanti’s relations with their neighbors, Faliaanti has a weary relationship with Eolda; an uneasy peace at best, but has good relations with its other neighbors of Vjalca and Heikkon. Faliaanti’s view of halfbreeds and particularly half-elves vary depending on the location. Many see half-elves as trouble and disappointment since they are not wholly elves but short-lived descendants who will die at the blink of an eye. However some view half-elves as welcome changes in elvish culture and as an example of how elves can learn to experience the world in new ways, not bound to a single-minded ideal or particular philosophy. They don’t care much for other kinds of halfbreeds though, and treat them as normal as they treat other non-elven races. Most elves in Faliaanti mistrust tieflings, but even more elves passionately hate Drow, since all the Drow ever did to the surface elves is spread misery and death. Another race that calls Faliaanti home is the race of Centaurs. Centaurs have a good relationship with the elves; however as in other communities problems do sometimes occur. Divided in various clans, Centaurs are a nomadic people that never stay in one place for long. However, exceptions do exist as one or two tribes have settled and live off the land in harmony with the elves. One such example is the Dalxa Clan, who live just outside the Great Forest of Fali where the forest meets Elemenas. The Centaur clan and Three-Eyed Elves there live in cooperation and both are better for it. Other races besides the ones mentioned above make a living in Faliaanti including humans, dragonborn, halflings, firbolg, torltles, gnomes as well as others. The populations of such races are much less numerous than elves though.

The main language that is used in Faliaanti is Elvish and some people also speak Sylvan and of course Common.

Andelar
Andelar, also called the Emerald Coast, is where the High Elves have their home in Faliaanti. Inland Andelar has green meadows with not much presence of tree clusters or even tall hills, and more than a hundred miles near the sea the green is gradually being replaced by more brownish flora until it ends up in sandy beaches. However, in these hundred miles, are numerous rocks and boulders that are luminescent and glow with a green light during the night. While near them, creatures can see as if they had torches. The green glow of these stones is gorgeous and makes the whole region glow and reflect this glow at the sea. It is said that it is one of the most beautiful places in Rythalion and definitely a tourist attraction. The Emerald Coast most likely took its name due to these glowing stones but the green plains beyond are also fitting in this namesake. Andelar is ruled by House Maran whose mansion is located in Ravanésta, Andelar’s capital.

Elemenas
Otherwise known as the Elemenas Basin, this region contains the Loras River and beyond it contains wetlands, plains with varied flora, a mix of coniferous and deciduous trees as well as moss-covered rocks. It is surrounded by the Vergaia Forest; its name coming from the green dragon Vergaia who was terrorizing the region. Elemenas is home to the Three-Eyed Elves who are ruled by House Llinesti. The capital of Elemenas is Inuriel’s Stand, a city that took this name because it was where the hero Inuriel Elemenas Llinesti battled and killed Vergaia but also succumbed to her own wounds after the battle.

Great Forest of Fali
The biggest and longest forest in Rythalion, the Great Forest of Fali is where the Wood Elves have their home. It spans for a many great miles and most of it is uninhabitable. Most of the eastern parts of the forest are populated with cities that exist beside the trees but also on their trunks as well as on top of them. As one goes on to the western parts of the forest, the foliage gets thicker and thicker as the trees get much closer together until they blot out the sun. There are parts on the great forest where it’s always dark and people that wander in these parts have a low survivability rate. House Erophel controls the lands around the forest of Fali and the region where Evira’s Academy of Spellcraft is falls into House Erophel’s jurisdiction as well. The House’s mansion is located in Erodell, the largest city in the forest. The forest itself as well as the fauna there is under the personal protection of Lisitea, Archdruid of the Great Forest of Fali and one of the most powerful Archdruids in Rythalion.

Raem-Suam
Raem-Suam is a cluster of islands also known as the Aesdryn Archipelago. Sea Elves make their living there and are ruled by House Aesdryn. Some parts of the sea among the many islands are very tricky to navigate by boat and many sailors not of this region have trouble steering their boats while others hit reefs and break their boats resulting in shipwrecks. Many sea elves of Raem-Suam become sailors to ferry others safely in the region and they do a good job since they are born here and know the sea and the currents as well as they know the palm of their hand. They are helped by the Ircan, large winged dolphins that are native to this part of the sea. The capital of Raem-Suam is Phirnasel. The city is located in a coral reef and a small part of it is outside of the water where reefs rise out of the surface of the sea.

The Fringe
The Great Forest of Fali acts as a natural barrier marking the borderlands of the four kingdoms, namely the Fringe; also known as the Blasted Plains. This wasteland in north Faliaanti is in such a state thanks to the numerous battles fought with the Eoldan Empire in the past ages as well as various natural disasters that hit the area occasionally. The only people living in the Fringe are exiled citizens of Faliaanti and other less fortunate individuals that cannot go someplace else for reasons of their own. Anyone that is exiled from the kingdoms is being sent there as punishment for a crime they cannot atone in a prison. While still a part of Faliaanti, the kingdoms don’t care much about the Fringe. They still have forts and outposts there though and military presence exists to monitor Eolda's movements should they attack. No major settlements exist in the borderlands aside from shanty towns and small makeshift villages. Each of these towns and villages has a community of their own and their leadership is local. Still, they are subject to the laws of Faliaanti and the soldiers posted in the forts and outposts offer some measure of protection in the roads. The Fringe does not belong to any particular kingdom in Faliaanti and the soldiers in the forts and outposts can hail from any of the four ruling houses. That does not mean that they are not commanded by a House however. The ruler of House Erophel who is the closest one to have a grasp of the situation in the Fringe and whose duty is to oversee the borderlands is in charge of the Fringe’s soldiers and the maintenance of the forts and outposts. Of course Erophel is aided economically in this endeavor by the other kingdoms.

The Four Houses
Each house is ruled by an Elasir. The Elasirs are the leaders of the House and rule it as well as the lands that they own. Each Elasir owns and governs a part of Faliaanti and their House is the Elasir’s lineage and therefore nobility.

House Maran
House Maran is ruled by Elasir Areiul Gweralin Maran. He is a high elf who is nearly 300 years old. He is the youngest Elasir and the most inexperienced. However, he has grown to his station and while some of his decisions are a bit rash he has the best intentions for his people. Andelar is in good relations with the three-eyed elves in Elemenas and the wood elves in the forest of Fali. Although House Maran did not get along with House Aesdryn of Raem-Suam for a long time, Areiul has taken steps to mend this rugged relationship between houses. Similarly, House Maran was the most prejudiced against half-elves but Areiul promotes equality of elves and half-elves mainly due to his half-brother Veraqul Maran who is a half-elf and only recognised as a Maran by their late father during his final moments. Many in Andelar do not agree with the recognisition of Veraqul and think that the customs of Andelar are being undermined. The House’s mansion is located and will always be located in the city of Ravanésta where the house was founded or some would say relocated by Ferlisse Ellaine Maran, the first Elasir of Andelar and a hero of Faliaanti. She still exists to this day as one of the four Baelnorn; the undying protectors of Faliaanti and its people.

House Llinesti
House Llinesti is ruled by Elasir Eltraia Siel Llinesti. Eltraia Siel is a three-eyed elf and is also one of the Blessed Ones; elves that can change their sex. Because three-eyed elves are already seen as especially connected to the ancestors and the Blessed Ones are celebrated as miracles that are blessed by the ancestors uniquely, Eltraia Siel is called Twice-Blessed by people. As Eltraia Siel is one of the Blessed, they are revered by their subjects and adored by all members of House Llinesti. This fact also has bought House Llinesti respect and good relations to all the other kingdoms of Faliaanti. It is the House with the smallest military but has the strongest warriors that are battle hardened in the wetlands of Elemenas as well as Vergaia Forest and the foothills of the Spirals. The military’s shocktroopers are inspired by the old hero Inuriel Elemenas Llinesti; they are called Inuriel’s Fury and they try their best to honor Inuriel. They are deadly in an open field but they also know how to maneuver effectively in difficult terrain where other armies could have difficulties traversing. They are also masters of camouflage in treacherous landscapes. In forests, they are not equals of the rangers and archers of the Erophel but they are a close second. As Elemenas is very close to the mountains and forest around it, Inuriel’s Fury is vital in defending the cities from constant threats of the wilderness. Eltraia Siel personally leads Inuriel’s Fury and they are as deadly as any of the soldiers in the force. House Llinesti’s mansion is located in the capital of Inuriel’s Stand. The house was founded by Elemenas Varriadel Llinesti. He exists to this day as one of the four Baelnorn; the undying protectors of Faliaanti and its people.

House Erophel
House Erophel is ruled by Elasir Iniqua Alastas Erophel. Iniqua Alastas is seen as a potent wood elven leader who knows how to rule and commands respect but is also seen as a ruler who is more carefree than other rulers in the kingdom and likes to live in the moment. Because things are quiet and relatively peaceful in the eastern part of the forest as well as because of the peace treaty with Eolda, she has been relaxed and preoccupied with her hobbies and the seeking of pleasure rather than being ever vigilant like the previous erasils of House Erophel. The people don’t see this as a bad thing considering there is peace. However, Iniqua is more relaxed than she should be and spies of the Eoldan Empire have spotted this weakness. Should Emperor Virius di Eolda decide to break the treaty and suddenly invade, the eoldan armies will take them by surprise, and while the defense in the Fringe patrols the land, it is not as organized and alert as it should be to fend off an invasion. The same goes to the armies of Erophel itself. While their archers and rangers are at a level of their own due to their training atop the tree cities and the forest itself, the infantry and cavalry are not in the best condition considering they are the first that would be hit by a force who has passed the first layer of defense in the Fringe. The cavalry is in a better position than the infantry though if only because of the fact that they use giant lizards as mounts and can therefore climb trees and ambush trespassers easily. The new recruits are not that well trained though. The motto of House Erophel is Be ever vigilant and the forest will aid you, a motto that Iniqua should heed more. The house is located in Erodell where it was founded by Erodell Norwas Erophel. He exists to this day as one of the four Baelnorn; the undying protectors of Faliaanti and its people.

House Aesdryn
House Aesdryn is ruled by Elasir Ulaaqus Mareon Aesdryn. He is a sea elf who relunctantly rules Raem-Suam and would rather be travelling Rythalion and see the world. However, he cannot do so as the next and only successor of House Aesdryn is his younger sister Arriana Lilanera Aesdryn who is viewed negatively by the citizens and who, as a result, does not wish to rule. This is because Arriana is a Blessed One and can alter her sex when she wills it, but identifies as a woman and so does not wish to utilise the Gift and change sexes frequently. However, the people of Raem-Suam view this as disrespect to the ancestors who blessed her with this gift and find Arriana herself a waste of a person for squandering this miracle that she possesses. Many are also angry because since they see the Gift as the ultimate honor, they envy her for having it and mad at her for not appreciating it. House Aesdryn’s relations with House Maran are beggining to mend mostly through the initiative of Elasir Areiul of Andelar. Since Ulaaqus is not that interested in ruling he took the opportunity to help fix their relations if only to stop hearing from his advisors complaining about Andelar and pay close attention to the political scene in there in case he needs to step in and take advantage of the rival House Maran. House Aesdryn has, of course, the best navy in Faliaanti. While the navy of Andelar is good enough and the navy of House Erophel is somewhat adequate, each year the navies perform joint exercises with House Aesdryn’s navy also giving pointers. The mansion of the House is located in the underwater capital of Phirnasel where the house was founded by Almewen Galani Aesdryn. She still exists to this day as one of the four Baelnorn; the undying protectors of Faliaanti and its people.

The Baelnorn of Faliaanti
Ferlisse Ellaine Maran, Elemenas Varriadel Llinesti, Erodell Norwas Erophel and Almewen Galani Aesdryn were the founders of the four houses that rule Faliaanti today and they are still revered as great heroes. People say that they watch over Faliaanti still.

During their life, the four founders had done everything in their power to shape their lands and maintain their people, their families, their legacies, the peace of their realms and the survival of Faliaanti as a whole. They were hailed as heroes as they also risked life and limb to keep all of that intact.

At one point in their lifetimes all of them came to realise that they could not bear to leave their homes behind after their deaths and also came to the conclusion that their Houses and realms as well as the lives of their people still needed to be protected. Having faced immense difficulties with no one older and more experienced in that regard than them to advise them and encourage them, they decided to be there for their children and their children’s children; to help them where they themselves had no help. They decided to remain ever vigilant and ever present should their descendants and their realms need them.

Thus they transcended mortality and became baelnorn; undead protectors of life and defenders of their Houses and realm. They still exist to this day, dwelling in their eternal homes in the Lakes of the Ancestors; always watching over their descendants and the citizens of Faliaanti; with an eye to retain the peace. Should the need arise they will exit their lairs and rain destruction on any enemy of Faliaanti. Of course, they prefer that their descendants do not rely on them exclusively and will only help directly if the need is dire indeed. Thankfully they were never needed to exit their homes physically; no such dire need was met. They offered counsel to many Elasirs down the line though. The old wars with Eolda were not a threat that the Elasirs could not handle on their own and Eolda never made it past the Fringe. But the baelnorn remain ever vigilant should Eolda or another enemy breaks through and tears the people and land apart. That goes for foreign threats as well as native threats. If the people see the baelnorn rising from their eternal homes in person, that means that every possible way of dealing with the threat has been exhausted and failed, and no other alternative remains or that the threat is of massive proportions and consequences.