The Under City Construction

Two years after the fall of Lumispire, the elves of Mountainrun still carried the weight of their exile. Though they had escaped the shadow that consumed their homeland, they were a people without a capital, their hearts tethered to a city that no longer existed. The echoes of Elenion’s sacrifice lingered in every step they took beneath the towering forest of Mountainrun, a constant reminder that what was lost could never be reclaimed.

But in the face of grief, the elves turned to what they knew best—creation.

A New Beginning Beneath the Mountain

Mountainrun, once barren, now thrived under the quiet stewardship of the Wood Elves. Towering groves, vibrant with life, embraced the base of the Crested Spire, the tallest peak in the region. This land, shaped by centuries of subtle magic, stood untouched by the Drith’s corruption. Here, beneath the mountain’s shadow, Aranethil Starleaf chose to raise a new home for his people.

They called it The Under City—not because it hid beneath the mountain, but because it nestled at its roots, woven into the groves and stone alike. The elven architects, guided by Aranethil’s vision, built without disturbing the land, coaxing the forest to part and stone to shape itself into grand halls and spiraling towers.

Where Lumispire had been a city of silver spires and radiant streets, the Under City became one of shadows and quiet beauty—hidden but not forgotten.

Preserving What Remained

Though Lumispire had fallen, not all of its treasures were lost. In the days before the Starheart’s collapse, Aranethil and the Starwardens salvaged relics of the old city—ancient tomes, enchanted artifacts, and fragments of the First Tree’s branches. These were brought to Mountainrun, carried by hand across treacherous paths, each item a piece of the legacy they refused to leave behind.

At the heart of the Under City, they planted the Seed of the First Tree, one of the last remnants of Lumispire’s sacred grove. Within months, the seed took root, and a new tree blossomed—a pale reflection of the original, yet still vibrant with Leyara’s touch. Beneath its boughs, the elves raised the Hall of Stars, a library and archive dedicated to preserving what knowledge survived.

A Hidden Capital

Mountainrun’s forests shielded the Under City from prying eyes. The capital had no grand gates or towering walls. Instead, the elves relied on the land itself, weaving spells into the roots and rivers, ensuring that no one could find the city without their guidance. Paths twisted and bent for those who did not belong, leading outsiders in circles until they abandoned the search.

Aranethil believed that secrecy was their greatest defense. The Drith still haunted the lands beyond Mountainrun, and though the elves held no hatred for the dwarves of Dumathar, the bitterness of Maldrak Stonegaze’s betrayal remained fresh.

Trade caravans from Nunca and Shatterbleak would come to know Mountainrun not as a kingdom of stone and towers, but as “The Veiled Kingdom”—a place of fleeting glimpses and hidden wonders.

The Art of Survival

The Under City’s survival did not rest solely on magic. In the years following the exodus, the elves turned to the artifacts they had salvaged, crafting new items infused with the remnants of the ley lines. These enchanted objects—moonforged blades, starfire lanterns, and spellwoven tapestries—became valuable trade goods.

Though Mountainrun’s borders remained closed, elven merchants carried these artifacts to distant lands, establishing secret trade networks that stretched across the Ancient Reach. Gold and influence flowed back to the Under City, ensuring its prosperity even in isolation.

To those beyond Mountainrun, the elves appeared diminished—scattered and grieving. But beneath the Crested Spire, the elves endured, quietly reshaping the world through subtle influence.

The Crown of Thorns

In 1393 BGW, Aranethil Starleaf was crowned beneath the branches of the newly grown tree. His coronation was not a celebration, but a solemn affair attended only by those who had survived the fall of Lumispire.

Aranethil’s crown was not one of gold or jewels but of woven branches and silver thorns, crafted from the remains of the First Tree. It was a symbol—not of power, but of sacrifice and remembrance.

Standing beneath the pale leaves, Aranethil swore that Mountainrun would endure. Though Lumispire was gone, its heart now beat quietly beneath the forest’s canopy, hidden but unbroken.

Legacy

The founding of the Under City marked the beginning of the Age of Reconstruction for the elves. Though their days of grandeur had passed, they learned to thrive in the shadows, preserving the old ways while shaping new ones.