The Elder's Grove

Gelli's transformation from a sacred Fae city to a predominantly human settlement, marked by the coup 500 years ago, has led to a complex interplay between the two races. The human conquerors, who forcibly claimed the city and its living tree platforms for themselves, brought about a shift in Gelli's cultural landscape. Now largely occupied by humans, the city bears witness to a discordant blend of Fae-inspired culture and human-built additions. The Fae, who once held Gelli as a place of deep cultural and spiritual significance, were displaced from their homes and sacred spaces. Despite this unsettling history, the Fae residents who remain in the city serve as cultural keepers, preserving their heritage and traditions amidst the dominant human presence. The coexistence of these two populations within the city offers a unique perspective on the tensions and harmonies that emerge from such an intricate blend of histories, creating an atmosphere where Gelli's past and present are in constant dialogue.

Gelli's defenses are built around the unique, tree-based heart at the center of the city. The interwoven trees with their platforms and rope bridges serve as both a natural and structural defense. While the city's vertical nature may appear to be a vulnerability, it is, in fact, a strength. Its architecture allows for an intricate system of pathways, walkways, and platforms that provide excellent vantage points for sentinels and guards. The city's elevated positions make it challenging for potential invaders to approach unnoticed. In addition to its tree-based design, Gelli also boasts human-designed defensive elements in the areas surrounding the tree ring. These include fortified walls, watchtowers, and gates that can be secured in times of need. Gelli's defenses are a fusion of Fae and human ingenuity, creating a formidable system that has, over the centuries, protected the city and its inhabitants from outside threats, although it has obviously proved vulnerable to attack from within, as proven by the human takeover of the city.

Gelli boasts a complex and storied history that spans over five millennia, shaped by the interplay of Fae and human influence. It has long stood as one of the most important cultural and spiritual locations for the Fae, a gathering place where all could meet on level footing.  

Fae Reverence and the Great Trees (c. 5,000 years ago)

Gelli's history begins with the nine sacred Great Trees, gifted to the land by The Gnarled One. Roughly five thousand years ago, a Fae prince of the Kynevyn Royal Family undertook a pilgrimage blessed by The Gnarled One themself. Recognizing the profound spiritual significance of the Great Trees, he gathered clippings from each of these ancient giants and planted them together in one location that would grow to become known as Gelli, the Elder's Grove.  

Fae Stewardship and Integration (c. 5,000 - 500 years ago)

Under the orders of the Kynevyn Royal Family, a group of royal gardeners and arborists known as the Saer were assigned to care for the trees. Over the course of five millennia, the Saer meticulously interwove the massive branches and created the city's iconic ring-shaped platforms. This labor of love formed the heart of Gelli and became a testament to the Fae's harmonious coexistence with the natural world. Under the care of the Fae, Gelli rose to prominance as a meeting place for all the people of the realm, but most of all for the Fae. It was a neutral point where many contracts and treaties were signed, marriages were officiated, and coronations were celebrated.  

Human Conquest (c. 500 years ago)

Despite the Fae's deep connection to Gelli, their idyllic reign over the region came to an abrupt end when the human Coteron Dynasty staged a coup to claim the city as their own. This coup, an act of dominance and control, forced many of the Fae out of their homes among the trees, transforming Gelli into a predominantly human settlement. This dark chapter marked a shift in the city's history, where human culture and architecture began to impose their dominance, mingling discordantly with the Fae's once-nurtured city.  

A Complex Tapestry (500 years ago - Present)

Gelli's recent history reflects the ongoing tension and less than harmonious coexistence of its Fae and human populations. On behalf of all Fae, the Kynevyn Royal Family have attempted many diplomatic talks with the Coteron Dynasty, seeking to restore Fae access to Gelli, but all attempts thus far have been ultimately unsuccessful. While the Fae as a whole were displaced from their sacred spaces, some have remained as cultural keepers, preserving their heritage in the face of human dominance. The city's architecture tells a story of two contrasting cultures, with Fae-inspired designs and human-built additions coexisting in a complex blend of histories. The coup that marked the city's transformation remains an unsettling presence, but Gelli's unique appeal as a historical, natural, and cultural destination draws those who seek to explore and pay homage to its ancient, sacred legacy, even as they witness the turbulent present etched in its bark.

Gelli's history as a site for the most important of Fae ceremonies, including weddings, namings, and coronations, has given it a unique appeal for tourists despite the city's tumultuous past. Visitors are drawn by the city's breathtaking beauty, and the chance to witness the living, interwoven tree platforms at its heart. Guided tours regularly lead visitors through the city's architectural and historical sites, allowing them to appreciate the intricate designs and the enduring influence of the Fae on the city. The city's mystical and larger-than-life natural ambiance holds a unique charm. Gelli's history, rich in both Fae tradition and human conquest, beckons tourists to explore and pay homage to its ancient, sacred legacy, even as they experience the quiet dissonance of two contrasting cultures.

Gelli's architectural essence weaves a tale of cultural dominance and contrast. Once a bastion of Fae serenity, it now bears the heavy mark of the human coup that transpired almost 500 years ago. The heart of Gelli consists of the nine massive, ancient trees descended from the Great Trees themselves. The platforms formed by these interwoven trees and branches provide the foundation for the city's unique architecture, a testament to a once harmonious coexistence between the Fae and nature. The Fae's influence is evident in the organic design, with the intricate, natural designs emphasizing a deep connection to the living world. But the architecture also tells a tale of discord, as the humans who would go on to form the Coteron Dynasty imposed their presence, particularly in the design of the sprawling city at the base of the trees, most of which has only appeared over the last few hundred years as the human population exploded. These designs include fortified walls and structures that reflect a dominance of function over form, a notable transition from the Fae's ethereal harmony to a harsher, human-driven utility that emphasizes ironwork and cobblestone over greenery and earthen paths.

The sheer volume of magical energy of the nine sacred trees exerts a low-level magical field over the area. One of the more significant effects of this energy field is reflected in the largely calm, temperate weather conditions in the immediate area. Winters are short, extreme heat is rare, and the majority of the year is a comfortable, pleasant temperature.