Evereska
Evereska (pronounced: /ɛvɛrˈɛskɑː/ eh-ver-EH-ska10, Elvish for "fortress home")14 was a secreted city within a fabled valley in the Western Heartlands, one of the last realms of the elves in the North.6 Founded in secret during the Founding Time, Evereska became a haven for the remaining Fair Folk in Faerûn following the Retreat,1015516 during the early years of the Era of Upheaval.17 It was the epitome of elven culture and beauty, and nearly no outsiders were considered welcome within.
Structure
The leadership of Evereska comprised a group of senior elves and eladrin known as the Hill Elders,5 a shared council that held court at the Hall of the High Hunt.6 Members of the council included Tomb Master Kiinyon Colbathin, High Huntsman Pleufan Trueshot, Watcher Over the Hills Erlan Duirsar,4243 and Gervas Imesfor.44
The leaders of Evereska maintained contact with the Elven Imperial Fleet as of the 14th century DR.
Culture
Evereska was known as the home of elven culture on mainland Faerûn for a period following the first collapse and rebirth of Myth Drannor. It was a place of refined beauty and ancient elven power,8 home to The People's most powerful spellcasters and clergy of the Seldarine.17
As of the late 14th century DR, the city of Evereska was home to some of the most notable noble elven families.
The elves of Evereska formed their own form of sign language, referred to as Evereskan finger talk.37 It was often used for silent communication between elven sentries, such as those of the Tomb Guard.
History
Early History
Evereska's valley was believed to have first been populated by elves during the Founding Time,5051 specifically in the −8600 DR by several clans hailing from ancient Aryvandaar. They sought to create a secret refuge for their people, known only to the Tel'Quessir.5253
A millennium later in −7600 DR, Evermeet began to experience significant overcrowding, which led in part to the founding of Sharrven in the borders of the High Forest.54 When the empire of Aryvandaar fell, the elves of Evereska allied themselves with those from Sharrven to help prevent the realm of Siluvanede from suffering the same fate.55 These efforts were made in vain however, and in −2770 DR, the fey'ri of Siluvanede brought about the collapse of Sharrven and the slaughter of its people. Many of the survivors turn to Evereska for shelter and survival.56
The existence of Evereska remained secret until the Year of the Elfsands, 244 DR, when its location was uncovered by human tribes living within the Greycloak Hills. They only managed to keep the city's secret safe for a mere few centuries.575859
In the Year of True Names, 464 DR, the first human ever was granted admittance into Evereska. He was a chosen of Mystra known as Arun's Son, an individual that nearly sacrificed his own life to save several Evereskans from one of the malevolent phaerimm.60
Evereska received refugees from Askavar in the Wood of Sharp Teeth, after its fall during the late 6th century DR.61
14th Century
In Nightal of the Year of the Unstrung Harp, 1371 DR, dual effects of weave magic and shadow magic created an opening in the Sharn Wall beneath the Greycloak Hills,6263 and the maligned phaerimm were released from their subterranean prison. After enthralling scores of bugbear,s mind flayers, and beholders, the phaerimm began an assault on the outer valley of Evereska, devastating much of the lush landscape. Fortunately they were turned away by combined forces of the Evereskan elves and allies from Waterdeep led by Khelben Arunsun.64 In the following weeks the elven warriors were joined in battle by the arcanists of Thultanthar,65 and in Mirtul of the next year, the forces of the Lords' Alliance led by Laeral and Storm Silverhand. Finally in Eleasis of the Year of Wild Magic, 1372 DR, that year, the phaerimm and their army were finally defeated and driven out of Evereska for good.661
During the conflict, the aberrant monstrosities damaged the city's mythal causing further disruption to the vale. While the Evereskans were able to repel the attack using magic,13 the mythal had to be rebuilt. The city's High Mages were able to repair the nearly all of the protection on their own, but required assistance from Galaeron Nihmedu, a novice practitioner of shadow magic. This caused the restored mythal of Evereska to be the first ever formed from both the Weave and magic drawing from the Shadow Weave.1
In the aftermath of the fighting, a few phaerimm and elves who lost their wits in the battle wandered the Evereskan valley.13 Nearly all of the Tomb Guard were killed, along with many of the Vale Guard and more than half of the Swords of Evereska.671
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Aftermath and Continued Conflicts
The survivors of the battle with the phaerimm were all younger elves, and they protected their existence violently if they encountered a threat. They regarded looters as deserving of death. Occasional clashes broke out between the surviving elves and phaerimm. Some elves traveled from other parts of Faerûn to join the remaining Evereskan elves, and some removed the remaining treasures of Evereska, moving them to safer locations.13
Following the conflict, the gardens of the valley became untended and overgrown and many of the bridges in the valley were broken. Elves designated helmed horrors and shield guardians to protect their houses. The damage to the mythal caused Evereska to be cloaked in mist or fine rain. Unpredictable magical effects arose seemingly out of nowhere.13
Evereska faced another grave threat in the Year of Lightning Storms, 1374 DR, when an army of fey'ri led by Sarya Dlardrageth marched upon the city.68 The city was saved by the efforts of Seiveril Miritar, a gold elf lord of Evermeet. In what would become known as Seiveril's Crusade, the elf lord left his on the isle of elves and raised an volunteer army to save their fellow Tel'Quessir on the mainland.6970
Following the world-altering Spellplague that wracked Faerûn a decade later, in the Year of Three Streams Blooded, 1384 DR, the barrier between Evereska and the Feywild became less distinct and clear. For some time it existed equally between both the Feywild and the Prime Material plane.6 In the years that followed, many of the city's half-elf residents moved north to the lands of men where they were more readily welcomed.71
In a stark change of tradition, Evereska eventually opened up its borders and allowed outlanders to enter within.72
15th Century
During the emergence of the second Netherese empire, the elves of Evereska remained stalwart defenders against the empire's westward expansion.73
After the second fall of Myth Drannor in the Year of the Rune Lords Triumphant, 1487 DR,74 many refugees came to Evereska but some of them were unhappy with Evereska's reclusiveness.
Demography and Population
Population: 22,000 (99% elves, 1% other)
Territories
The city of Evereska and its encompassing valley, along with the hills that encircled them, were considered to be found within the Backlands of the Western Heartlands. The entire region was well isolated from any nearby major settlements, surrounded by a difficult-to-traverse landscape, including the imposing Greycloak Hills that lay to the north,2021 the mysterious Forgotten Forest to the west, and the unforgiving desert border formed by Anauroch to the east.2223
One of the few non-elf settlements near Evereska was the Halfway Inn and its adjoining village, located an hour's travel away from the city on the edge of its realm of influence.
Military
The collective military of the city was properly referred to as the 'Army of Evereska', which comprised several different branches. The Long Watch as the exterior army beyond the protection of the city's valley, and the Swords of Evereska served the noble army, composed of the Noble Blades and Lordly Wands,47 Evereska's most skill warriors were drawn into the Cold Hand, an elite force commanded by High Lord Duirsar himself.6
The Vale Guard served as Evereska's equivalent of a city guard,648 whose jurisdiction extended out to the greater valley,49 while the Tomb Guard acted as protectors of all elven crypts within the Greycloak Hills.6 Finally the Feather Cavalry served as aerial mounted sentries that watched over Evereska's skies.
Paintings, statues, wine, wood carvings
Metal ore
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