Crying Leaf

Crying Leaf is an isolated elven village in Varisia's Mierani Forest. It is a day's travel from the ruins of the former elf city of Celwynvian, where the elves are engaged in a bitter struggle with the drow. As a result, it is used by the elves as a staging ground for their warriors, including contingents of Lantern Bearers, and is not entirely safe from drow raids. Following the return of the elves from their self-imposed Exile, an expedition to re-claim their abandoned city of Celwynvian was met with abject failure. Some of the elves who remained behind to greet Earthfall just following the exodus survived by taking refuge in the Underdark, where both their souls and visages were twisted into drow. Over the centuries, the city of Celwynvian became a stronghold for these dark elves, and upon their return, their more pure cousins were unable to take back the ruined city. In an effort to create a buffer zone to hide the humiliation of their dark secret from the non-elven world, as well as establish a forward base from where they could launch military efforts to take back the city, the elves established Crying Leaf a day's journey east. Crying Leaf is primarily a military outpost. Despite their desparation, the elves here rarely trade with outsiders.
The village consists mainly of simple, low stone and wooden structures, decorated with graceful carvings. It is protected by a wall of thorns. Most of the village's trade and supplies arrive from Kyonin through the use of magic – there is little contact with Riddleport and the rest of neighbouring Varisia. Non-elven visitors are rare.
The leader of the village is the sorcerer Eviana Nirgassan, who was appointed by Kyonin a decade ago following the assassination of her predecessor by the drow.