Eca Gardens (E-cah-Gar-dens)

Feather, Claw, and Twig Undivided

C.R. Eede

Eca Gardens:

• Name: Eca Gardens
• Size: One acre (208 feet) of land
• Recognition: 1994 VO
• Contribution: Eca Gardens doesn't necessarily contribute anything other than a natural habitat for the kin of the Starlight Veil; Rayai, Nydon, and Nithavaer.
• Location: C'avarnia, Southeast

The Eca Gardens are the most beautiful natural habitat throughout the kingdom. It is vastly filled with the blossoming flora, where a calm state of mind is almost always guaranteed. Rhyzeal stream flows throughout the gardens and joins the rest of the kingdom. The three key features of Eca Gardens are the three pivotal trees, one Rayai tree; made of avial gemstones, and Nithavaer and Nydon, which are known as the daughter trees. Laid at the roots of each tree are tiny avial gemstones glorifying their significance and value to the kingdom. Each tree speaks a story but holds thousands of histories.

Purpose / Function

Eca Gardens serves no purpose to the high elves, for it is primarily a place of growth for Rayai, Nydon, and Nithavaer. The area is often quiet, and the rustling of leaves can be heard from a fair distance away. The high elves can enter Eca Gardens as long as they remain respectful to the nature around them. Elflings would often play in this area while elves would socialise here. The avial gemstones from the Rayai tree and roots of all three trees are collected by gardeners employed by the crown to be collected for redistribution purposes. No high elves other than the gardeners can manage this task.
The Gardeners: The gardeners have always been from House Syldan within C'avarnia. They have a bountiful knowledge of the nature of the kingdom. Each elf and elfa is trained within House Tythal, where their knowledge is increased within the Teyidorai dome, where the more dangerous plants reside. This allows them to practise their craft while also developing themselves in the field. Each first elf and elfling is called Ardareth and Fayetha for tradition's sake.

• Ardareth Syldan VIII
• Fayetha Syldan VIII

Denizens

Few species reside within Eca Gardens, but they co-exist in harmony:

• The F'itidana
• The Simnthred
• The Mina
• The Tuyx

Trust had mainly developed between these species during the War of Faith's before and after they fought Vivaleth and the Ashen. The F'itidana became known as the Protector of Four.

Alterations

The only alterations to Eca Gardens are the trimming and yearly care of the surrounding nature to ensure it doesn't become too overgrown. The gardeners must carefully tend to the flora while respecting their surrounding environment. The avial gemstones are then collected in a basket where they are presented to the resigning king for permission to be distributed among the lands of Aethel Caeloria as financial payment for their services.

Architecture

Eca Gardens is only filled with nature. There are no buildings within it, only flora and fauna, which co-exist peacefully. It has been naturally grown over thousands of years for the three trees of the Starlight Veil; Rayai, Nydon, and Nithavaer. See the features below:

• Grass: Within the entire area of land is short green and white grass. Green grass appears during the warmer months, and white grass grows during the colder seasons.
• Hedges: Surrounding the outside of the entire acre of land are neatly trimmed hedges.
• Stream: Rhyzeal Stream flows throughout Eca Gardens
• Rayai Avial Tree: This is a tree of pure white wood. Dangling from each twig of the branches are small crystalline vessels filled with clear water, which are the cocoons of starlight gemstones. The avial gemstones that are ready to be presented to the king often drop to the tree's roots, but those that don't have a particular glisten to them that the others wouldn't. The Rayai avial tree blossoms red leaves in the summer and grey leaves during the colder seasons. This tree is 30-foot tall and cushions the daughter trees within its branches.
• Nydon and Nithavaer, Daughter Trees: These are light and dark brown barked trees which provide the kingdom with wien wood. The leaves of these trees blossom green and orange during the warmer seasons and white in the colder ones. These trees are 25 feet tall each and is cushioned within the branches of the Rayai Avial tree. Wien is a handy material of the kingdom often used in currency and for the hilts of weapons.
• A Wooden Gate: A gate made of wien wood is placed at Eca Gardens' entrance.

The Fauna within Eca Gardens primarily consists of birds and small mammals.

Defenses

Two soldiers from the Varcanai Guard stand to attention outside Eca Gardens to ensure the area is respected. These guards will alternate throughout the day and night. The Gardeners would often visit the site to ensure everything ran smoothly, too, as they were the best elves known to specialise in the flora of the capital.

History

2999 NE:

• The Rayai Tree Seed Watered

1539 NE: 

• The Si’tora Seed was Planted

234 NE:

• The Rayai Avial Tree’s Warning: The Rayai Avial Tree begins to turn its vessels to ice, indicating something will soon become an imminent threat to the kingdom.

233 NE:

• The Rayai Trees Protection: The Rayai Avial Tree cushioned its branches around the daughter trees even more to ensure they were protected from the threat soon to reign havoc in the capital.

13 NE:

• Nithavaer and Nydon Trees Protected: The daughter trees of C’avarnia were protected by the Rayai tree, which was slashed and cut by the Ashen repeatedly. With each slashed branch, a root from beneath the ground would replace it. Additionally, the Starlight Veil’s roots protected the daughter trees too.

10 NE:

• The Slashing: The Ashen relentlessly cut the trunk of the Rayai Avial tree, hoping to cut it down completely, but it took a great effort. The only part of the tree that was able to be cut down was a few of the thick branches. While this caused damage to the Rayai tree, t still served its purpose by protecting the daughter trees.

0 VO: 

• The Day of Stratanum (Natural Event)
• Protected from Raw Starlight: Nithavaer and Nydon used their leaves to protect themselves and the Rayai tree from the harsh light, which came from shooting stars hurtling just over the kingdom. These lights were so blinding that most of the leaves were turned to ash, leaving the daughter trees somewhat bare.

2 VO:

• Rayai’s Withering: The Rayai Avial Tree loses all of its leaves to the arrival of Vivaleth, the Forsaken Commander.
• Nithavaer and Nydon’s Withering: The daughter trees lose all of their leaves to the arrival of Vivaleth, the Forsaken Commander.
• Freezing the Daughter Trees: Angered by the Rayai tree’s reluctance to release its branches, Vivaleth touched the bark of Nithavaer and turned her and her sister, Nydon, to ice.
• The Rayai Tree’s Struggle: The ice from the daughter trees started to harm the branches and loosen the grip around them.
• Nithavaer Shattered: Once Nithavaer had turned to ice, Vivaleth managed to move a branch from the Rayai tree and hit Nithavaer’s trunk, shattering her to pieces.

11 VO:

• Siblings Unite: House Syldan of C’avarnia scurried to Eca Gardens to protect the Rayai Tree. However, Ardareth and Fayetha IV were brutally slaughtered with blood trickling at the roots of the trees, turning the bark blue.
• Avian and Mammalian Revenge: The F’itidana and the small mammals of Eca Gardens banded together to protect the Rayai tree and Nydon, who mourned the loss of Nithavaer. Unwilling to allow Vivaleth to find the seed of Nithavaer, the creatures united to distract their common enemy while the seed was taken away to be safeguarded. With the Gardeners dead, the mammals, too, wept as they had formed a bond with them and sought justice.

12 VO:

• Eca Gardens Restored: Naerynidam Tythal and Imazeal M’ithai eradicate the ashen and any remnants of their existence from the garden to ensure it returns to its normal state.

100 VO:

• Nithavaer’s Seed Gifted: The Simnthred, a fox of pure light, presented the seed of Nithavaer to King Dihavanor upon his return to the kingdom.
• Nithavaer’s Seed Planted: King Dihavanor decided that the last deed he would do for his kingdom would be to replant the seed of Nithavaer, allowing her to grow and live anew. The fauna appreciated this, bowing their heads in his presence.

1921 VO: 

• The Growing of Nithavaer and Nydon: The daughter trees of Aethel Caeloria grow

1994 VO: 

• The Expansion of the Rayai: The Rayai Tree of Aethel Caeloria grows and becomes known as ‘The Avial Tree.’

2111 VO: 

• Nature Name Change: Eca Aalarelai of Aethel Caeloria officially renames Aethel Caeloria’s Nature, ‘Eca Gardens.’

Tourism

Tourism is rife within Eca Gardens, for it's a popular place to congregate and socialise within a peaceful setting. High elves and travellers would visit the gardens and admire the three trees in their full glory. However, when visitors converge to the capital, more Varcanai Guard are stationed outside its gates to ensure no avial gemstones are stolen.

Eca Gardens: This large acre of land dedicated to flora makes it the most beautiful natural habitat throughout the kingdom. It is vastly filled with the blossoming flora, where calmness and peace flow willingly.

The Rayai Tree: This is known as the Avial tree, which grows tiny diamond-shaped vessels from its branches. Those crystalline vessels eventually fill with gentle clear waters, which change into glistening starlight over the years. Once the vessels have transformed into cocoons of starlight, the Gardeners take them to be prepped for use by traders of the kingdom. Firstly, the Gardeners must take the new batch to the king to be inspected and granted permission for redistribution.

Founding Date

1994 VO

Alternative Names

Flowing Tranquillity

Owning Organization

C'avarnia

Nydon and Nithavaer, the Daughter Trees: These are the daughter trees of the Starlight Veil and comprise wien wood, primarily used as currency and for the hilt of weapons.