Lutu
"Lutu has a lot in common with women. It's beautiful. I don't understand it. I wanna touch it. It'd probably kill me."
- Tephlorien Seiak, Bushos riverboat captain
One of the August Elementals that has survived this long, Lutu represents life made manifest. A brilliant ecosystem thrives in the forests that crowd its back, hosting scores of animals never seen elsewhere. Faerie Dragons, Ginger Abyssian, and Imperial Dinren are the most sought after of these species, but many more wait to be discovered. Vibrant flowers enthrall even the most dour of characters, music seems but a moment away, and a warm breeze always follows your path. Persistent, unending waterfalls cascade down to the Wandering Fields, leaving a vibrant and voracious swathe of Champion Bindweed wherever Lutu roams.
But life has also given beast and plants their claws, fangs, and the primal rage to survive. This rage, this passion for survival, is ever present, a constant reminder that this idyll can quickly become a nightmare. Lutu seems to be a reminder that the joys of life must come with the ability to protect it. It was the last of the August Elementals to be settled and holds the record for going Rogue twice before genasi were able to help tame its rage. It was not destroyed by other elementals during those Rogue phases because it nearly killed Swordbreak during the first encounter. Lutu is widely known as the most vicious fighters of the August Elementals. Now various elven cousins, wood and high elves, and even eladrin can be found in Lutu's settelment.Demographics
Genasi - ~20%
Genasi were the one to finally placate Lutu, eventually forming a working relationship. It's allowed a settlement on its back much like the rest of the August Elementals but Lutu's temperament isn't so easily contained. Lutu's gone Rogue twice. Genasi are called upon to quell the enraged elemental since not even other August Elementals can compete with its savagery. Genasi of all variants are welcome but earth aligned genasi tend to be the most comfortable of their cousins on Lutu's back. Eladrin - ~1%
The proportion of Lutu's population that are eladrin is unremarkable. It's only mentioned here because of the conspicuity of having any at all. These Fey-born elves have found a comfortable place to study these mortals in Lutu's charming and dangerous forest. Some say the danger of the forests come from the elves rather than from Lutu's itself. Elves - ~60%
At home in the forests of Corvayn, elves naturally gravitated towards what was familiar in Itand. The elves are the primary architects and builders on Lutu; most buildings are built within the trees or with the elegant swooping roofs and walls seen in Elven Architecture. The abjurations of a Mythal are under the guidance of Elven mages, hoping to prevent Lutu going Rogue again. Humans, Dwarves, Goliath, et al. - ~20%
There remains a smattering of the other races; none are turned away. Other races simply find other locations more suitable for them.
Genasi were the one to finally placate Lutu, eventually forming a working relationship. It's allowed a settlement on its back much like the rest of the August Elementals but Lutu's temperament isn't so easily contained. Lutu's gone Rogue twice. Genasi are called upon to quell the enraged elemental since not even other August Elementals can compete with its savagery. Genasi of all variants are welcome but earth aligned genasi tend to be the most comfortable of their cousins on Lutu's back. Eladrin - ~1%
The proportion of Lutu's population that are eladrin is unremarkable. It's only mentioned here because of the conspicuity of having any at all. These Fey-born elves have found a comfortable place to study these mortals in Lutu's charming and dangerous forest. Some say the danger of the forests come from the elves rather than from Lutu's itself. Elves - ~60%
At home in the forests of Corvayn, elves naturally gravitated towards what was familiar in Itand. The elves are the primary architects and builders on Lutu; most buildings are built within the trees or with the elegant swooping roofs and walls seen in Elven Architecture. The abjurations of a Mythal are under the guidance of Elven mages, hoping to prevent Lutu going Rogue again. Humans, Dwarves, Goliath, et al. - ~20%
There remains a smattering of the other races; none are turned away. Other races simply find other locations more suitable for them.
Government
Lutu has a loose city council that dictates what happens within the town. No one typically assumes the mantle of leader because everyone knows Lutu is ultimately the decider of most things. Each council member represents a particular sector of industry within the town, new sectors are afforded a council member as they develop. It's generally understood the less people within the industry, the less likely your voice is to matter in council meetings. Currently, there is a coucilperson for the arcane arts, mythal development, infrastructure, forest wardens, city guard, treasury, industrial arts, and Lutu liaison.
Defences
The town itself has little defense. Grand assaults have never been attempted; Lutu's reputation makes would be pillagers pick easier targets. The forest typically defends itself and prevents any miscreants or ne'er-do-wells from making it too far. Indeed, the town guard was formed to protect the city from the forest, rather than the forest from without.
Industry & Trade
Lutu does not often wander close enough to other August Elementals or permanent settlements to trade. The isolation and seclusion Lutu seems to prefer has forced inhabitants to become self-sufficient. On the rare occasions they can trade, rare ingredients from the forest and goods crafted with those ingredients are the most profitable items sold. Armor and weapons are rarely forged, but those that are have been imbued with the animals that prowl Lutu's forests. One can't help but feel the savagery in a spear crafted on Lutu or feel the need to stalk enemies when wearing Lututian armor.
Lutu's settlement doesn't need for much, but the townsfolk have developed a fondness for air elementals. They do not occur naturally on Lutu. When an air elemental is traded, it helps the pixies and faeries in the forest play tricks, providing endless entertainment for the Lututians.
Infrastructure
Roads are not built on Lutu. It's generally understood that Lutu crushed the first settlement when the dwarves begain prying up the roots of trees and hammering its stones flat. Lesser earth elementals are employed to transplant trees out of the way so that forest paths can be created. Likewise, foundations for houses are not used so homes are typically made in the trees, using earth elementals to create stone and branch for building. Water elementals create an infinite and easily accessible source of water and fire elementals are used to purge portions of the forest that have become too overgrown. No one knows, but many suspect the second settlement was destroyed because the forest wardens prevented any fires that sprang to life on Lutu. Breaking the cycle of life forced Lutu to destroy the forest itself, crushing the town along with it. Foot travel is the most common method to get around Lutu, but occasionally a mounted jungle cat or lizard will be seen scampering up the side of a tree.
Assets
Lutu does not make itself easily accessible but if one does find themselves on Lutu's back, do not leave without attempting a safari. Observing the exotic animals only found on Lutu's back is a unique opportunity, but hunting is rewards the huntsman rare materials harvested from these strange beasts. Displacer Beast eyes can be found in specialty shops elsewhere, but no where else will you find Powdered Imperial Dinren Horn or Faerie Dragons' eggs. Many would pay whatever it took to have a Faerie Dragon as a companion.
Besides the rare materials that can be taken from the forests, Lutu is one of the only places where a Mythal is currently being developed. Those wishing to study the esoteric art would be wise to seek out Lutu.
Guilds and Factions
What groups are found within each faction represented in the town council is outlined below.
- Arcane Arts - Enchanters, diviners, witches, and druids who meander the forest in their own scholarly pursuits
- Mythal Development - Wizards, sorcerers, and artificers studying to create a permanent barrier to Lutu going Rogue
- Infrastructure - Elemental handlers (earth, fire, and water), long term city planners that develop and maintain the city further
- Forest Wardens - Druids, rangers and hunting guides who monitor the ecosystem to keep life balanced
- City Guard - Fighters, barbarians, rogues who patrol the boundary between forest and town
- Treasury - Bards and rogues who know how to make the most out of the miniscule taxes gathered from Lututians
- Industrial Arts - smithies, stablehands, tanners, and herbalists that create consumer goods from ingredients found on Lutu
- Lutu Liaison - A cluster of genasi who divine Lutu's wants and prevent any disagreements between the August Elemental and the townspeople
History
Life seems to continue in eternal constancy on Lutu. The most remarkable feature in Lutu's history is its brief periods of going Rogue. Townspeople call these events sunderings. Lutu tells the stories to the liaisons often; out of pleasure, regret, or simply a warning no one knows. The first sundering happened nearly a thousand years ago. Deep scars were etched into Lutu's back as dwarves mined and paved roads. Lutu paints it as an act of self-preservation. Lutu walked into the ocean and drowned the entire village. Swordbreak, eternally spoiling for a fight, was the first to try and kill Lutu. Only the last minute intervention of Breezeheart and its Gryphkin prevented Lutu from dismembering Swordbreak.
The second sundering happened only 100 years after that. The forest had become overgrown. Animals were hunted to extinction as apex predators became the only animals in the forest. Even they began to starve as prey became scarce. Trees were growing on top of each other, fighting and breaking each other to steal some sunlight. The no burn policy of the forest wardens had stopped the cycle of life that fire conlcudes and ushers in new life. There was no warning. Lutu laid down in the Wandering Fields and simply rolled over. The townspeople never had a chance to escape. Lutu's back was denuded and Whitehall came upon a Rogue elemental that was smiling. Lutu offered no resistance during the second sundering, simply asked the brave humanoids that approached it to listen to its stories.
Tourism
Safaris and Mythal development are the two largest reasons people seek out Lutu. Most anyone else avoids the place. The forest on Lutu's back is nearly as dangerous as the August Elemental itself. Not many understand the enchanting nature of those woods, and fewer can survive for very long within it.
Architecture
Most typically early third age Elven Architecture and first age Genasi Architecture.
Geography
During the second sundering, the shape of Lutu's back could finally be seen since the forest had be stripped away. It's a roughly oval shape, with the minor axis forming it's flanks at 1 mile across and the major axis running the length of it at 3 miles. Vines as thick as rivers extend from the lush plateau in seemingly random locations to keep its body aloft and mobile. Lutu's back is generally flat, with gentle hills forming paths for rivers and depressions for lakes. Its edges do not drop off suddenly like cliffs but gently slope much like how ground ends when it meets a river.
This is perpetually shrouded in a forest however. Trees grow unnaturally thick and tall on Lutu's back, undoubtedly aided by the elemental itself. Enchantment seems to be woven into every leaf and breeze within those woods and would be a pleasant experience if not for the animals that prowl in the shadows. Scholars still debate how those creatures survived the second sundering or if these species are new. Both possibilities seem plausible since Lutu values surviving and creates new life in equal portions.
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