Elven Capital

Labyrinth like tunnels, bridges, hanging roots, echoing music, cramped spaces and little sunlight.

The Elven Capital is many things and trying to describe it with just a few sentences is like trying to list the secrets of the universe in just a few passing moments. The city located in the largest of the ravines of Aluness is capital, elven refuge and prison alike.
A haunting reminder of the elves former glory.

Founding

It was established after the Great War between the elven tribes and their brethren the sea elves. The war that changed the forest forever and the war that brutally tore away their kinds longevity. The appearance of Vlorsk killed many elves, plants and animals alike, running havoc in the entire ecosystem.

The elves, reduced to human lifespans, stripped of their tribes pride of strong magic affinity and unable to continue living within their former cities, had to flee momentarily. The ravines, which were created during the war, like scars in the forests skin, offered enough protection from the elements. Allowing them cover from the fog, as well as time to regroup and survive the first fallout. From time to time however the fog poured over the edges of the stone into the depths below, killing many on it's descend. Thus the elves once more were forced to flee, this time into the surrounding tunnels and caves connected to the ravine walls.

Architecture: Building a new home

In their attempt to regain a slice of old live the elves tried to shape the stone like they did with plants and trees. But they were not borne by stone and thus the stone refused their will. Breaking and cracking without reason.
The fight between the earth and the elves resulted in their distinct architecture.

Nature and stone in never ending conflict. The caves pillars now shaped like old twisted, splintered, broken trees. Branches broken off or forming needle like stalactites, ready to crash down. Smooth surfaces coexisting next to sharp, cracking edges.

In the past their lotus lanterns hang down from tree branches, evoking a sense of home and warmth. Now their faint and flickering shine throws mocking shadows at their downfall. The elves white glowing crystals are embedded into their masonry, meant to shed more light and remind them of the stars. Just like the nightly beauty, they watch from their sockets. However instead of shedding light, loosing much of their former shine, they instead invoke a haunting sensation of glowing eyes. Watching. Observing.. Judging.

Expansion: First light

Times passed and with that the next generations of elves adapted. Many of them welcoming the symbiotic relationship with a plant, called Ethral or Ghost silk. Allowing it to grow roots deep into their body and organs in exchange for living just a bit longer. The appearance of Ethral, freed the elves of their self made prison, or... so it seemed. While the plant allowed them to set food into the forest once more for some time, it didn't bring freedom. All Ethral did was expand their prison.

With the help of the plant, the elves were no longer completely bound to the caves and so they returned to the ravine. While the bottom was still out of bound due to the lingering Vloresk that had washed over the edges, they build in between the two layers. Above the bottom of the ravines and below the trees, building bridges, towers and stairs into it's walls, utilising hanging roots and stone.

Their kind once more could see the stars, even if just just through a thin layer of blue hued mist.
Maybe, just maybe the forest could forgive.

Adaptation

Over the next decades the city has grown out of it's shadows, the resentment against the forest still lingers but the elves had survived the catastrophe and returned to music and song. Day and night elven musicians will play their melodies, which echo and intertwine with other songs. It is never quiet in elven cities, as if to defy their past.

⇒ TBC