Lotarwa Aldare Phaya, Elven Empire

Lotarwa Aldare Phaya was an elven empire of the Northern Continent during the Golden Age of Empires. It share the continent with the dwarf empire of Thalal Fo'Deler Toril (Ancient Empire of the Steel Crown) - Ancient Dwarven Empire of the Golden Age.
Lotarwa Aldare Phaya, translates from High Elven into something like "Great Garden of the Forest's Soul". Its not a traditional empire by most standards. Aldare Phaya was a strong network of elven communities. They were connected with magics that allowed for nearly instantaneous travel and communication. The Empire stressed personal and community growth and freedom. The elves worked together to ensure peace and to meet threats. Between Aldare Phaya and Deler Toril hostile orc tribes (and they are all hostile) were pushed back into the north eastern area of the continent or into the more remote corners.
Aldare Phaya pushed the use of magic in everyday life to an extreme seldom seen elsewhere.
Aldare Phaya never felt any threats from outside forces. It met any enemies with a firestorm of magic and small forces of deadly soldiers. Relations with the dwarves of Deler Toril were often shaky. The elves laughed at the attempts of the dwarf to "buy their way into the Empire". Dwarf expansionism was always muted by the inscrutable nature of the elves, their impressive displays of magic, and their willingness to trade the Empire much needed foodstuffs.
Aldare Phaya' communities were usually not made of stone and so few have survived the ages. There are exceptions of this of course.
One of the more noteworthy parts of Aldare Phaya is its capital, known as the Misty Veil. This fabled woodland grove is theorized to be its own demi-plane. It could, apparently, move around the empire almost instantaneously. The accounts of the Misty Veil reveal that its arrival was marked by the sudden appearance of banks of rolling fog and a sense of serenity. It apparently contained no buildings, but was misty grove of some unknown flowering trees. The inside appeared to change overtime, as different visitors have noted a large table, a fountain, statues, and gardens. Within the elders of the empire held council and intervened as needed.
There are rumors, every few decades, of some traveler encountering some mysterious elven place surrounded by mists. Its a popular location in epic poems and comedies alike. There are many things associated with the Misty Veil like the coming of storms, that it could transport an entire army, or that its trees were the living soldiers of the "Elf King".
Aldare Phaya was en elven empire but its complete unknown how many elves lived within its borders or even where its borders were. Records show that not just elves lived within the empire. There were apparently numerous halfling and human communities who retained their own lands, customs, and leadership, but were in the lands tended by the Empire. Some were not willingly members and some did not even know they belong to the Phaya. The elves of Phaya are often depicted in songs and plays (especially the comedies) as being patronizing and distant rulers who simply ignore the everyday complaints of its lesser members.
The Empire had a unique brand of "rulership". Always holding high the ideals of personal freedom, the Empire seldom had any direct impact on day to day life of its people. It did, obvious, create the framework, that allowed its citizen to have so much freedom in such a safe environment. When action was needed, it relied in on consensus building and rallying a few key individuals to make changes. For a long-lived race, discussion and consensus come naturally. On the occasions when direct and immediate action were required, the elves were quick to react.

Structure

Unknown; There appears to have been some sort of rulership, often referred to as Vare'ra Fa'na which means something akin to "Our Protecting Veil". This appears to refer more to those individuals within the Misty Veil then to the location. No officials titles of those in charge appears anywhere and leaders, when referred to at all, are referred to by their names. It is theorize that everyone knew who was leading and why they were qualified, so that titles were not needed. It is also unknown how one came to be a Varen'ra Fa'na.

Public Agenda

The agenda of this ancient empire is largely unknown. Research points to a few themes. Peaceful coexistence was one tenant. The advancement of the arts, sciences, and magic was another. The Empire's leadership appears to have been concerned with events on well outside the Empire and even on other planes.

Assets

Unknown but a great many incredible valuable works of art and magical items were believed to have originated with the Phayan.

History

Elves lead the way out of the Age of Giants. Instrumental in overthrowing the giant overlords of that age, they were well situated as an age humanoid Empires began. While chaotic in nature, the cooperation that allowed them to be so effective translated into a renewed interest in alliances and nation building. Over a few centuries, the elves continued to band together. Eventually they controlled a third of the continent (West of the Barrier Peaks). As new groups join, they contributed to the wisdom of the leadership.
It was also during the wars ending the Age of Giants that laid the seeds that would lead to the Great Shame and the end of the Golden Age of Empires. The demon queen Llolth was instrumental in free vast numbers of elven slaves. Her influence and might funneled from the Abyss lead to many great victories. While complete unknown by the vast majority of elves. This was the slight crack in the armor that she used to slowly grow her corruption. Ultimately, she was able parlay this corruption into an explosion of chaos and evil.
Not much is known about the middle history of Aldare Phaya. Many of the mysterious magical sites of the Northern Continent are attributed to the elves of Phaya. The ancient enchantments found at the City States of Marble are attributed to the Empire. It is said, the Phaya brought peace to its people for many, many centuries and advanced magic and other sciences and the arts to new heights.

Disbandment

The fall of the Aldare Phaya is surrounded in mystery. It is a subject the elves who know are loathed to discuss with anyone. What is known is that there was a massive civil war that involved not just the elves of the Northern continent but those in other areas and perhaps even other worlds or planes. No one knows the triggering events or even where or how this war was fought. What is known is that many ancient elven sites found today were originally destroyed or abandoned during this conflict. It is said that the seeds of darkness, planted by Llolth during the end of the Age of Giants at last bore fruit. The war, known as the Nien-Dagr (the War of Weeping) saw elves killing elves. It is thought that this war last several hundred years and was a key element in the fading of the Golden Age of Empires. 
The Nien-Dagr lead to a subject that elves are even less likely to ever speak of, the Great Shaming. Known as the Estel'ash'Lant (or the Fall of Faith), it saw the losers of the War of Weeping cursed to never know the touch or sight of the sun again and banished them beneath the surface of the war. This gave rise to the elven race known as Dark Elves and the rise of the Drow (those Dark Elves who worshipped Llolth). 
The Great Shame of the elves is not the punishment of those who betrayed them and turned to Llolth and evil, but the fact that thousands of elves on the losing side were cursed and banished with them. Many of these elves had no direct connection to the Demon Queen of Webs and were simply caught up in the conflict on that side. Were the victorious leaders of the Elves, many of who were from Aldare Phaya, not been so heartbroken over the war, they may have seen the opportunity to redeem these elves. Alas, they were not, and they were condemned to the dark when it was not necessary. That weight is borne by elven leaders to this day. It may be part of the psychology that has lead them, as a people, to avoid nation building and expansion. It may also have something to do with their over all malaise.

DISBANDED/DISSOLVED

Alternative Names

Aldare Phaya or Phaya

Demonym

Phayan Elves