The Elysium Apple
For millennia the Elysium Apple was as integral to maintain Deep Undergrowth order as the Golden Sepal was. While the Sepals maintained the records and riches of the society, the Elysium Apple was responsible for the meticulous administration of the society alongside the Deep Undergrowth. Elysians were often the low level individuals implementing processes and procedures, but many eventually rose to work alongside members of the Deep Undergrowth in making larger decisions with calculating minds. But the Elysium Apple fell victim to the same self absorption as the Deep Undergrowth and was lucky not to have paid for the mistake with their Primogen as well.
Today the Elysium Apple tries to take what worked at the time and apply it to what's current and new. In order to do this, the order looks to the ever changing landscape of mortal societies, adopting from them what they like and discarding the rest. The various systems of power presented by humans, elves, dwarves, and a plethora of others are all useful tools in bending the various mortal races to the whims of the Order, getting them to do the work for them while the Elysians continue to run things from behind the scenes. Elysians envision a better way of doing things for the future before the Briar Harvest has a chance to plunge the whole race into further chaos, but further repetition of the process is required in order to convince their kin.
Cuirizu of the Elysium Apple are trained from birth to take up certain tasks or blend in with certain societies. They learn to speak multiple language and observe patterns in the daily interactions of every day people. Even when being beautiful and fashionable within the society, the cuirizu of the order learn how to blend in and pass themselves off as a member of the people they walk among. Elysians will eschew the trappings of other cuirizu in order to accomplish this if necessary and then completely reinvent themselves when asked to relocate to a new population center. Some have even been said to blend in entirely with other orders to learn what they can from within.
The Elysium Apple sees potential in people and discerns ways to use it to their own benefit. The order doesn't seek to conquer openly, it wishes to have others do the work with subtle nudges here and there. Nor does the order wish to rule, they only wish to live within the comforts of the changing mortal ecosystems, keeping things fresh and interesting with the constant change... albeit guided with a firm hand when necessary. Elysians are students of culture, but less for academic purposes and more for their own gratification and satisfaction.
Because members of the order often need to blend in with the culture in which they have embedded themselves, the practic of magical tattoos is less common. Magical jewelry is more important to the order, as jewelry can be passed off in most cultures, but an addition the order has made to make up for the loss of the tattooing is magical clothing. Numerous members of the order learn to take up weaving or tailoring, or at least have someone in their Garden who can, and learn to weave magic into the threads as they're being made. This can make for circumstances of elegant gowns repelling thrusts from spears or shunting sword strikes to one side. Though Elysians may look more vulnerable than cuirizu of other orders at times, it would be foolish to assume that this is true.
The Elysium Apple doesn't seclude itself in the wilderness or make lairs in underground, they want to be in the open and as close to the action of a settlement as they can be. Cuirizu of the Elysium Apple house their Gardens in signature Villas. Cuirizu Villas always start out as something else, usually much more humble. But over time the Elysian builds upon her holdings through her various machinations and the extensive magical knowledge she possesses. She can contract mortals to cut wood or shape stole or she can bend living wood to her will. Either way, the end result is very similar. Villas of the Elysium Apple are similar to Solacine Villas, but predate them by a considerable amount of time. Villas are relatively large, with a central open air atrium or courtyard surrounded on all sides by a peristyle of masterfully crafted colonnades. Multiple garden areas for food can be found on the grounds (often with apple trees) along with pools for recreation or bathing, as well as an open dining area and multiple luxurious bedrooms. Villas are also known for displaying intricate works of art, often of the mistress of the Garden or other significant member of the order, and as sexually explicit as the local society may allow for. Over the years these collections of art grow, as does the Elysians wealth. Though open in layout, Villas are seldom unguarded. Gardens within the order often house more enforcers than might be found in other orders and Elysians have no qualms about hiring private security to patrol their property or to have a pack of Briar Hounds on hand to loose upon intruders. Villas also often contain a great deal of magical warding, as the layouts of the homes lend themselves well to the simple geometry needed to conduct powerful magical energies with minimal effort. A single cuirizu mistress at the center of a Villa is capable of repelling numerous intruders with minimal effort, never needing to rise from her bed.
Elysium Apple Villas
The Elysium Apple doesn't seclude itself in the wilderness or make lairs in underground, they want to be in the open and as close to the action of a settlement as they can be. Cuirizu of the Elysium Apple house their Gardens in signature Villas. Cuirizu Villas always start out as something else, usually much more humble. But over time the Elysian builds upon her holdings through her various machinations and the extensive magical knowledge she possesses. She can contract mortals to cut wood or shape stole or she can bend living wood to her will. Either way, the end result is very similar. Villas of the Elysium Apple are similar to Solacine Villas, but predate them by a considerable amount of time. Villas are relatively large, with a central open air atrium or courtyard surrounded on all sides by a peristyle of masterfully crafted colonnades. Multiple garden areas for food can be found on the grounds (often with apple trees) along with pools for recreation or bathing, as well as an open dining area and multiple luxurious bedrooms. Villas are also known for displaying intricate works of art, often of the mistress of the Garden or other significant member of the order, and as sexually explicit as the local society may allow for. Over the years these collections of art grow, as does the Elysians wealth. Though open in layout, Villas are seldom unguarded. Gardens within the order often house more enforcers than might be found in other orders and Elysians have no qualms about hiring private security to patrol their property or to have a pack of Briar Hounds on hand to loose upon intruders. Villas also often contain a great deal of magical warding, as the layouts of the homes lend themselves well to the simple geometry needed to conduct powerful magical energies with minimal effort. A single cuirizu mistress at the center of a Villa is capable of repelling numerous intruders with minimal effort, never needing to rise from her bed.
Structure
The Order of the Elysium Apple is incredibly well organized, having had a part in the Garden structure put forth by the Deep Undergrowth. The Elysians have since built upon the concept, adding roles to it within their order that best suit them as well as roles for those in their Garden to better assist in their specific endeavors.
Primogen: Leandra, the Primogen of the Order, is very involved with the day to day activities of the order, little of what happens escapes her attention. The Primogen pores over reports and documents that provide her with the information she needs to remain abreast of the political leanings and movements of organizations both large and small, and devises the means with which to best manipulate them and push them in directions she wants. Her immersion in this information sometimes includes reading of portents and other forms of divination, to help her anticipate the outcome of proposed actions by the Overseers. Equally impressive to her extended sprees of tireless work is the time she spends for recreation. Leandra enjoys the most lavish aspects of various societies and will spend days or weeks on end indulging herself in such decadence before returning to her work.
Elder: Elders of the Elysium Apple are like a class unto themselves, a nobility that exists within the order that is difficult to approach for any other member of the order. Elders have a great deal of resources available to them from ages of existence. Elders are often required to withdraw from normal Order activity after a certain period of time, so as not to arouse suspicion among the societies the order is seeking to manipulate and sway. Many eventually go back into circulation after a few century "cooldown" period. While out of circulation Elders usually enjoy extended leisure time while some will engage in training younger members of the order to prepare them for more difficult tasks. While many Elysians are tasked with manipulating smaller organizations or lesser nobility, the Elders are the ones responsible for devising the means to influence nations and empires.
The number of Elders within the order is relatively few in the present day, as elders of all orders were targeted by the Briar Harvest and its allies during the last War of Trees. A great deal of Elysian Elders had their covers blown at the time and lacked any time to prepare for attacks that resulted in their deaths. Still, the order keeps its Elders in circulation, seeing their experience as too valuable not to put to good use.
Overseer: Overseers are responsible for the administration and coordination of all the Elysians under them in a given dominion. Dominions are the way in which the order divides settlements, towns, cities, and other population centers. Though a dominion is partly geographic, it can also be categorical. An Overseer may have a dominion set within a part of the Western Kingdoms but may also be specified to only the Elven population centers therein. Dominions change based off of growing populations and who proves themselves worthy or unworthy of the title of Overseer.
Overseers command a great deal of respect and authority not just from those under them, but from the Primogen. It's through the Overseers that the flood of information coming in from the furthest reach of the order is properly categorized and organized in a way that makes it usable. Overseers are strict and demand respect, those who wish to advance in the order and be given resources they need for their Gardens and projects must capitulate to an Overseer and curry favor with them. Few Elysians ever question an overseer for fear of being stuck in a backwater settlement for a few centuries with no promising prospects for their future.
Adjunct: Adjuncts are the inner circle of Elysians of an Overseer, and are typically tasked with the footwork needed to make the Overseers job possible. Adjuncts are not just the eyes and ears of an Overseer, but also their hands. If a member of the order requires observation, an adjunct will be sent to make an assessment. That same adjunct has the authority to pull someone out of a settlement and shut them down, or eliminate them entirely if they present a threat to the Order. Adjuncts handle risk assessment as a whole and rely on the local Mistresses and Escorts to provide them with information not just on the internal workings of a Garden but also the risks presented to the local population in which they are embedded.
Escort: Cuirizu who put aside the formal structure of a Garden and dedicate themselves to being attached to powerful members of a society and influencing their policies and attitudes are known as Escorts. Escorts try to go wherever the target of their influence and manipulation goes, working tirelessly to remain in their heads and urge them toward specific actions. What these things are varies, depending on what Overseers or the Primogen want, but much of how it gets done is left to the Escort. Elysians in this position are master manipulators and are versed in various means of bringing mortals under their spell while keeping too much attention from being drawn to themselves by others. Escorts sometimes have Gardens, if they're capable of balancing the responsibilities, but often are dedicated to individual projects until they are completed.
Some Escorts are assigned to influence kings or queens, while others are simply present in an area to nudge low level nobles or politicians this way or that. Some have a multitude of charges while others have only a single all encompassing one that consumes the bulk of their time.
Surveyor: Before sending a Elysian out to a population center to establish herself, a Surveyor is first dispatched to investigate the area. Surveyors provide detailed maps of the area as well as preliminary information about the local breeding stock, organizations, and political structures. The reports of the Surveyors are comprehensive enough that Overseers are able to choose the best Elysian for the area or otherwise see to it that one is bred specifically for the task. The report is also provided to the Elysian who will be establishing herself in the area, using it as a primer to acclimate herself.
Overseers usually only have need for one Surveyor to be in their service and Surveyors are usually free to maintain their own Gardens. In many instances Surveyors will involve members of their Gardens to help them complete their tasks more efficiently. Some Gardens will dedicate entire periods of a year to Surveying new territory for the order, with every member having specific tasks given to them to report to their Mistress.
Emissary: Even before the fall of the Deep Undergrowth the Elysium Apple was one of the few orders that took an interest in the other orders. Specific members of the order were embedded with other orders for diplomatic purposes, but also to learn openly from their time with other orders. Though initially an uncommon process restricted only to the Elysium Apple and the Gilded Orchid, the Elysians are the only order left known to currently engage in appointing Emissaries.
While an Emissary is embedded with another order's Garden, they function as diplomatic guests and go-betweens. Rules for each Emissary while they are embedded within a Garden are established ahead of time, with the Elysian often being given certain jobs and permissions that she agrees to in advance. While serving as an Emissary an Elysian does not usually have a Garden of her own, but may be allowed to negotiate limited breeding rights with the Garden she is embedded with for certain services.
Mistress/Master: To become a proper Mistress in the Elysium Apple, there are certain tests of aptitude that must be passed. These tests are examined closely by Overseers or their Adjuncts and proper assignment from the Surveyors is matched to the cuirizu. Once they have been given their proper assignments and get set up, the Elysian is officially regarded as a proper Mistress to a Garden.
Elysian Mistresses focus on keeping a low profile and passing as human (or whatever race they are among) as much as possible. They will dress in the style of the area and many will often eschew the tattoos and piercings common among the cuirizu if it assists in this endeavor. The cuirizu will then establish a well defended lair that will grow into the Garden, pulling in people who know the area or who could be of influence with the locals. This can be done through promises of power or wealth, diplomacy, or seduction...whatever the situation calls for.
In addition to the unique roles the Elysium Apple has devised for it's cuirizu, there are a few roles that exist for non-cuirizu members of the Gardens suited to their specific lifestyles. Informant: Informants are members of a Garden that don't live full time within it's physical confines, instead living most of their lives outside of it where they normally would. Sometimes informants retain their occupations from before being brought into the Garden while other times they are given jobs by their Mistress that are specifically beneficial to her. Whichever the case, the job of an informant is to provide information of what they see and hear within their particular sphere of influence back to a First or the Mistress herself. Informants visit Gardens physically either to receive instructions or rewards for their service, and of course to be bred if they are deemed fit for it. Elysians take special care on who they choose as informants, as such individual present a risk to the Garden as a whole. Remaining secret and hidden among society is of the utmost importance to an Elysian, so having members operating freely in the world is something that must be monitored closely and planned carefully. Different Mistresses will handle it differently, with some using magical means of keeping the Informant on a leash while others find other ways to socially manipulate such individuals instead. Financier: Because of the scope of Elysian operations, the cost of their Villas, and the number of members in a Garden, some members of the order include a specific role within the Garden that others dont: The Financier. Financiers are usually offered something they can't get normally, even with all their wealth. Some become so smitten with the Mistress of the Garden that they will give her anything she asks of them, though a wise Mistress knows to practice restraint in order not to be discovered. Financiers bring to the Garden crucial funds for making things happen, funds that are most crucial during the initial start up and greasing palms of officials who need to look the other way. Not every Garden needs a financier, but those operating at a certain level do. Financiers range from wealthy businessmen to heiresses with coin to burn, but whatever their origin they are one of the members of a Garden that the Mistress herself keeps her hooks in the deepest. Firsts who demonstrate particular guile and skill may sometimes be tasked with handling a financier as well, but this is more rare due to an Elysians need to manage such risks personally. Corrupted: Corrupted are similar to informants in that they often spend much of their time outside of the Garden. Some, don't even know that they're part of a Garden. All that matters to the Mistress when it comes to a corrupted is what sort of unique service or access they have to a part of mortal society. The mistress herself often is responsible for corrupting such individuals and turning them to her purposes, but the task can also be managed by a First or even a Second, depending on their areas of expertise. Some corrupted play more active roles within the Gardens the way Informants might, but usually the less one of the corrupted knows about the Mistress' affairs, the better. Prima Vessila: An incredibly rare distinction among vessels, a Prima Vessila is won by any vessel who has been able to carry a cuirizu child to term multiple times. Prima Vessila are considered the most durable mortals available and are highly sought after by any cuirizu looking to increase the amount of progeny they have. Some cuirizu have been said to trade entire Gardens for a single Prima Vessila. At conclaves such individuals are given special positions of honor and are the only mortals who experience a degree of autonomy during the events, being approached by several cuirizu who wish to catch her eye. A Prima Vessila is allowed to change Mistresses at a Conclave if a petitioning cuirizu wins her over, with only the Primogen allowed to overrule the decision.
Non-Cuirizu Roles
In addition to the unique roles the Elysium Apple has devised for it's cuirizu, there are a few roles that exist for non-cuirizu members of the Gardens suited to their specific lifestyles. Informant: Informants are members of a Garden that don't live full time within it's physical confines, instead living most of their lives outside of it where they normally would. Sometimes informants retain their occupations from before being brought into the Garden while other times they are given jobs by their Mistress that are specifically beneficial to her. Whichever the case, the job of an informant is to provide information of what they see and hear within their particular sphere of influence back to a First or the Mistress herself. Informants visit Gardens physically either to receive instructions or rewards for their service, and of course to be bred if they are deemed fit for it. Elysians take special care on who they choose as informants, as such individual present a risk to the Garden as a whole. Remaining secret and hidden among society is of the utmost importance to an Elysian, so having members operating freely in the world is something that must be monitored closely and planned carefully. Different Mistresses will handle it differently, with some using magical means of keeping the Informant on a leash while others find other ways to socially manipulate such individuals instead. Financier: Because of the scope of Elysian operations, the cost of their Villas, and the number of members in a Garden, some members of the order include a specific role within the Garden that others dont: The Financier. Financiers are usually offered something they can't get normally, even with all their wealth. Some become so smitten with the Mistress of the Garden that they will give her anything she asks of them, though a wise Mistress knows to practice restraint in order not to be discovered. Financiers bring to the Garden crucial funds for making things happen, funds that are most crucial during the initial start up and greasing palms of officials who need to look the other way. Not every Garden needs a financier, but those operating at a certain level do. Financiers range from wealthy businessmen to heiresses with coin to burn, but whatever their origin they are one of the members of a Garden that the Mistress herself keeps her hooks in the deepest. Firsts who demonstrate particular guile and skill may sometimes be tasked with handling a financier as well, but this is more rare due to an Elysians need to manage such risks personally. Corrupted: Corrupted are similar to informants in that they often spend much of their time outside of the Garden. Some, don't even know that they're part of a Garden. All that matters to the Mistress when it comes to a corrupted is what sort of unique service or access they have to a part of mortal society. The mistress herself often is responsible for corrupting such individuals and turning them to her purposes, but the task can also be managed by a First or even a Second, depending on their areas of expertise. Some corrupted play more active roles within the Gardens the way Informants might, but usually the less one of the corrupted knows about the Mistress' affairs, the better. Prima Vessila: An incredibly rare distinction among vessels, a Prima Vessila is won by any vessel who has been able to carry a cuirizu child to term multiple times. Prima Vessila are considered the most durable mortals available and are highly sought after by any cuirizu looking to increase the amount of progeny they have. Some cuirizu have been said to trade entire Gardens for a single Prima Vessila. At conclaves such individuals are given special positions of honor and are the only mortals who experience a degree of autonomy during the events, being approached by several cuirizu who wish to catch her eye. A Prima Vessila is allowed to change Mistresses at a Conclave if a petitioning cuirizu wins her over, with only the Primogen allowed to overrule the decision.
Culture
The Elysium Apple immerse themselves in the cultures and systems established by the mortal races of Alkotas, twisting and bending them to their wills. Though these systems are powerful tools, many of the other orders regard these as fruitless endeavors and wasted investments as the various cultures and power structures of mortals are too fleeting to be worth mastering. This often leads to the Elysium Apple being written off by the other orders who don't see the tangible advantages being reaped from within.
Aside from the typical manipulation benefits, the Elysium Apple has available to it the various writings, works, philosophies, music, and other defining characteristics of dead societies and cultures readily available to it in the present. The sort of decadence that other orders search for and crave are readily available to the Elysium Apple. Some, have even managed to keep small pieces of the people from those bygone eras alive for their own personal entertainment and pleasure. But unlike the Golden Sepal, they don't seek to horde it.
The Elysium Apple wishes to see a return to the stability and structure of the Deep Undergrowth, and actively petitions other orders with arrangements and deals to foster the connections the orders once enjoyed. They're more willing to trade what they have in order to convince their fellow cuirizu and tempt them with whatever they can in order to convince them that returning to the old ways, with a little Elysian flare, is the better way. The order as a whole has a great disdain for the infighting of the orders but is not so naive as to not be prepared for it, often keeping a great deal held in reserve should members of other orders seek to betray them.
This approach isn't out of a sense of charity however, the Elysium Apple does not act out of a sense of benevolence. The order, and it's Primogen, believed the Deep Undergrowth's way to be the best but without them the only order capable of taking up the mantle is the Elysium Apple. Having worked so close with the Deep Undergrowth for ages, only the Elysium Apple understands the nuances of how to manage their kin... if only they would listen. Indeed much of the manipulation and accumulation of mortal cultural artifacts and politics can be perceived as extended training for eventually doing the same to every other cuirizu order when the time is right.
The Congress of Apples
The Congress of Apples is a special event called every few decades, where senior members of the order come together to discuss plans for the future as well as the current movements of various mortal organizations that may prove integral to those plans. The Congress is structured as a formal event, often with a theme that imitates a certain style or culture that is voted upon in advance by attendees. Attendance itself is usually restricted to Elders, Emissaries, Overseers, and Adjuncts, with the rank and file of the order being left out. Drinking and Dancing is often part of the event amid the information exchange each day over the course of four days. At the end of each night the attendees typically pair off or participate in the Mixing of Apples orgy held in a designated chamber. The Congress of Apples is always held in the Garden of either an Elder or an Overseer, though once in the last age there was one held in the Primogen's personal Garden. Those who host the Congress of Apples are bestowed an incredible honor, but are also being put to the test. The resources required to host such an event with so many cuirizu, and possibly their Firsts, is immense and often proves taxing. Those capable of doing it are recognized for their abilities while those who fall short are often shunned for a time if not fully demoted, depending on the level of failure they demonstrated. Attendees are typically allowed to bring a single guest, if they so choose, though any Elysian hosting in their own Garden is obviously exempt from this limitation due to the need to utilize the totality of the Garden's resources and members to ensure everything goes smoothly. It's not unusual for hosts to extend premium rights to members of their Garden to their guests as well, not just to ensure a memorable event, but also for a chance of including exotic breeding elements that aren't normally available. Unique among the guests sometimes is those of Emissaries, who have been known, from time to time, to bring the Mistress of the Garden in which they are embedded. Such occasions are noteworthy in that they give the foreign cuirizu a rare glimpse into the way the Elysians truly live and what they enjoy, and provides the upper ranks of the Elysium Apple with a close current look at members of other orders.
The Congress of Apples is a special event called every few decades, where senior members of the order come together to discuss plans for the future as well as the current movements of various mortal organizations that may prove integral to those plans. The Congress is structured as a formal event, often with a theme that imitates a certain style or culture that is voted upon in advance by attendees. Attendance itself is usually restricted to Elders, Emissaries, Overseers, and Adjuncts, with the rank and file of the order being left out. Drinking and Dancing is often part of the event amid the information exchange each day over the course of four days. At the end of each night the attendees typically pair off or participate in the Mixing of Apples orgy held in a designated chamber. The Congress of Apples is always held in the Garden of either an Elder or an Overseer, though once in the last age there was one held in the Primogen's personal Garden. Those who host the Congress of Apples are bestowed an incredible honor, but are also being put to the test. The resources required to host such an event with so many cuirizu, and possibly their Firsts, is immense and often proves taxing. Those capable of doing it are recognized for their abilities while those who fall short are often shunned for a time if not fully demoted, depending on the level of failure they demonstrated. Attendees are typically allowed to bring a single guest, if they so choose, though any Elysian hosting in their own Garden is obviously exempt from this limitation due to the need to utilize the totality of the Garden's resources and members to ensure everything goes smoothly. It's not unusual for hosts to extend premium rights to members of their Garden to their guests as well, not just to ensure a memorable event, but also for a chance of including exotic breeding elements that aren't normally available. Unique among the guests sometimes is those of Emissaries, who have been known, from time to time, to bring the Mistress of the Garden in which they are embedded. Such occasions are noteworthy in that they give the foreign cuirizu a rare glimpse into the way the Elysians truly live and what they enjoy, and provides the upper ranks of the Elysium Apple with a close current look at members of other orders.
Assets
The Blooming Forum
Located in the Southernmost regions of the Solacine Imperium, the Blooming Forum is an ancient site available to any cuirizu and is managed by the the Elysium Apple. The Forum is managed by a special Emissary of Elder rank who's sole purpose is to meet with members of other orders and broker deals either with the Elysium Apple or between two other Orders. The Blooming Forum is a place of neutrality to peacefully resolve disputes between the orders, though many of them don't make as much use of it as the Elysians would like. The Emissary who manages to site has a Garden and Villa here as well, both of which are dedicated to catering to guests and ensuring things run smoothly. The Garden has a great number of enforcers to help protect it and several specially appointed Adjuncts who specialize in Garden Defense, but the truth of the matter is that the Order would like very much to secure the services of a few Gilded Orchids just to be on the safe side...something they have been attempting to secure from the Golden Sepal for centuries. The Blooming forum is a lush open stonework platform with large circular depressions along it's length allocated to each of the orders. Within these depressions are carved benches with lush pillows, to make visitors feel more at home. In the center of each depression is a small pedestal with a glowing gem set into it. Each of these gems forms a magical connection to some other place held by each of the orders, either in Ivalia or in a Primogen's Garden, allowing instant transportation between the two points. A few of these depressions have gone neglected for centuries or even ages, with gems in their center that have gone dark, standing as grim reminders of orders that have long gone extinct. Eventually, if the Elysium Apple were to gain the power it desires, its likely that the Blooming Forum would serve as their center of government for all cuirizu. The Kingdom of Apples
Far away from the Broken Sea, in a distant land to the west, there is a Kingdom not just influenced by the Elysium Apple but completely ruled by it. Here, an Elysian Elder sits on the throne, ruling over the whole of the Kingdom as Queen. Though most cuirizu have never seen it, plenty of heard of it and regard it as a fairy tale. Most believe that if such a place were to actually exist, that would make it the largest Garden in all of Alkotas. Though many other cuirizu consider it to be a myth though, the place is real, and has been for nearly a century now. The Kingdom sits deep within a great forest and for many would be difficult to find. Here, the cuirizu run everything and elevate Phyllomagi to positions of power for construction and city planning. Everything is made in such a way as to yield fruit or other crops to feed the population and most of the people want for nothing more than to satisfy the insatiable lust of the Queen and the other cuirizu who occupy the kingdom. Initially started as an experiment in cultural engineering, the Kingdom of Apples quickly evolved into a work of cultural suppression, with the Mistress of a Garden wishing to see what would become of a place that surrendered the whole of it's identity to her. Though the Kingdom is indeed a marvel, and used as a decadent vacation spot by higher ranking Elysians, it remains to be seen if the process is worthy of repetition. The Elysium Apple enjoys very much what mortals devise on their own, and the Kingdom of Apples has not existed long enough to see if the people under their power will continue to innovate and produce that which they desire or stagnate. For now, the Kingdom remains far away from most of the affairs of the order and has remained out of sight of the other orders schemes, as well as the changing landscape of other mortal societies. A magical gateway, available only to royalty of the Kingdom, connects the royal residence directly to Elysius Garden in Ivalia for quick travel between the two. Elysius Garden
Located in the Canopy layer of Ivalia, Elysius Garden is the home Garden of Leandra, the Primogen of the order. Though serving as the Primogen's home, the Garden also functions as something of a museum through the ages. Numerous buildings can be found from various periods of history, each of which contains different chambers and rooms filled with artifacts and items from even more periods. Leandra enjoys luxury and has a love of displaying it for others as a way to get them to aspire to even greater heights, but a more cynical mind might see them for what they are: Trophies. Elysius Garden is a testament to Leandra's many accomplishments as well as the accomplishments of the Elders no longer with the order. The whole of the Garden is filled with people from different cultures, some of which no longer exist, and are intermingled with one another in the singular effort to please the Primogen. Leandra enjoys different groups in the Garden during her recreational periods the way someone might enjoy food from different cultures, but often to great excess. Her appetite, said to be insatiable after prolonged periods of being held in check, can exhaust entire groups, leaving them incapable of much else for days after their encounters with her. The Garden accepts visitors from other orders, though such visits must be by appointment made well in advance. Such visits are often orchestrated to display the grandeur of the Garden, impressing upon the visitor the benefits of adopting the Elysian way.
Located in the Southernmost regions of the Solacine Imperium, the Blooming Forum is an ancient site available to any cuirizu and is managed by the the Elysium Apple. The Forum is managed by a special Emissary of Elder rank who's sole purpose is to meet with members of other orders and broker deals either with the Elysium Apple or between two other Orders. The Blooming Forum is a place of neutrality to peacefully resolve disputes between the orders, though many of them don't make as much use of it as the Elysians would like. The Emissary who manages to site has a Garden and Villa here as well, both of which are dedicated to catering to guests and ensuring things run smoothly. The Garden has a great number of enforcers to help protect it and several specially appointed Adjuncts who specialize in Garden Defense, but the truth of the matter is that the Order would like very much to secure the services of a few Gilded Orchids just to be on the safe side...something they have been attempting to secure from the Golden Sepal for centuries. The Blooming forum is a lush open stonework platform with large circular depressions along it's length allocated to each of the orders. Within these depressions are carved benches with lush pillows, to make visitors feel more at home. In the center of each depression is a small pedestal with a glowing gem set into it. Each of these gems forms a magical connection to some other place held by each of the orders, either in Ivalia or in a Primogen's Garden, allowing instant transportation between the two points. A few of these depressions have gone neglected for centuries or even ages, with gems in their center that have gone dark, standing as grim reminders of orders that have long gone extinct. Eventually, if the Elysium Apple were to gain the power it desires, its likely that the Blooming Forum would serve as their center of government for all cuirizu. The Kingdom of Apples
Far away from the Broken Sea, in a distant land to the west, there is a Kingdom not just influenced by the Elysium Apple but completely ruled by it. Here, an Elysian Elder sits on the throne, ruling over the whole of the Kingdom as Queen. Though most cuirizu have never seen it, plenty of heard of it and regard it as a fairy tale. Most believe that if such a place were to actually exist, that would make it the largest Garden in all of Alkotas. Though many other cuirizu consider it to be a myth though, the place is real, and has been for nearly a century now. The Kingdom sits deep within a great forest and for many would be difficult to find. Here, the cuirizu run everything and elevate Phyllomagi to positions of power for construction and city planning. Everything is made in such a way as to yield fruit or other crops to feed the population and most of the people want for nothing more than to satisfy the insatiable lust of the Queen and the other cuirizu who occupy the kingdom. Initially started as an experiment in cultural engineering, the Kingdom of Apples quickly evolved into a work of cultural suppression, with the Mistress of a Garden wishing to see what would become of a place that surrendered the whole of it's identity to her. Though the Kingdom is indeed a marvel, and used as a decadent vacation spot by higher ranking Elysians, it remains to be seen if the process is worthy of repetition. The Elysium Apple enjoys very much what mortals devise on their own, and the Kingdom of Apples has not existed long enough to see if the people under their power will continue to innovate and produce that which they desire or stagnate. For now, the Kingdom remains far away from most of the affairs of the order and has remained out of sight of the other orders schemes, as well as the changing landscape of other mortal societies. A magical gateway, available only to royalty of the Kingdom, connects the royal residence directly to Elysius Garden in Ivalia for quick travel between the two. Elysius Garden
Located in the Canopy layer of Ivalia, Elysius Garden is the home Garden of Leandra, the Primogen of the order. Though serving as the Primogen's home, the Garden also functions as something of a museum through the ages. Numerous buildings can be found from various periods of history, each of which contains different chambers and rooms filled with artifacts and items from even more periods. Leandra enjoys luxury and has a love of displaying it for others as a way to get them to aspire to even greater heights, but a more cynical mind might see them for what they are: Trophies. Elysius Garden is a testament to Leandra's many accomplishments as well as the accomplishments of the Elders no longer with the order. The whole of the Garden is filled with people from different cultures, some of which no longer exist, and are intermingled with one another in the singular effort to please the Primogen. Leandra enjoys different groups in the Garden during her recreational periods the way someone might enjoy food from different cultures, but often to great excess. Her appetite, said to be insatiable after prolonged periods of being held in check, can exhaust entire groups, leaving them incapable of much else for days after their encounters with her. The Garden accepts visitors from other orders, though such visits must be by appointment made well in advance. Such visits are often orchestrated to display the grandeur of the Garden, impressing upon the visitor the benefits of adopting the Elysian way.
Founding Date
The Age of Guidance
Alternative Names
House Plants
Demonym
Elysians
Leader
Leader Title
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