Sanctified Lands, The

The vast northern peninusla known as the Sanctified Lands is the one true refuge for elvenkind in Galania. The distant history of the elves and why they retreated from their former empire is lost to all but the Condemned Council - three seemingly immortal elves who do not rule, but appoint a ruler of their choosing until that ruler dies, abdicates or is removed by consensus. Why they call themselves condemned and why they bear themselves shamed and unfit to rule remains a mystery.
Almost everything in the Sanctified Lands is woven with mystery and secrecy, even to many of the elves who live there. Whatever happened to the elves to make them so insular and guarded, they have shown no intention in over 2000 years of recorded history of expanding their territory or engaging with other nations in any meaningful way. They stay within the bounds of the forest and the mountains, guarded by skilled warriors, powerful magic and supposedly the protection of Joliath herself.

The Condemned Council

The three elves of the Condemned Council are undoubtedly amongst the oldest living beings in the world. Very little is publicly known about them, but it is said that they remember the Deadlands before it was maligned, along with its former name, and it is speculated that not only do they know what happened there but that they were involved in it somehow, hence their shame. Their response to questions on such topics, as with most topics, is silence. Rarely do the Council speak, and when they do it usually heralds something of great importance.
The Council's self-appointed role in Mithelien is to choose a monarch who they deem to be fit to rule (and to remove them if they prove not to be), as they do not consider themselves fit to rule. Despite their poor assessment of themselves, the Council are revered by the elves and considered wise beyond all mortals. Each new monarch ushers a new Age of the Sanctified Lands, decreed by the Council to reflect what they have foreseen.
The current ruler is Queen Leifana, of the Age of Unbalance, chosen 248 years ago to oversee a time of great upheaval predicted by the Council.
The three elves of the Council are:

• Tharivol, the Watcher, who sees all threats within the Sanctified Lands
• Xanaphel, the Keeper, who holds the secret history of the elves and records all that has happened since the Great Retreat
• Varendis, the Dreamer, who spends most of his time in a state of meditation, so that he may see beyond the boundaries of time

Mithelien

The way to Mithelien is long, arduous and unmarked, and though the elves do not turn away peaceful visitors to the city from distant lands, neither do they make any effort to aid travellers in finding it. Those who succeed are greeted by elegant, spiralling towers that rise above the treetops, gardens and palaces of a quality unlike anywhere else in the world and an air of tranquility and serenity that is at once both calming and invigorating. Visitors are treated kindly, as though simply getting there is evidence enough of no ill intent, though it is mixed with unease. A close eye is kept on non-elves (and expatriated elves) at all times.
Looming behind the city is the impossibly huge, pure white mountain of Tielabern, which the elves hold sacred for reasons they do not divulge to outsiders. Most assume it is simply due to its outstanding size and beauty, but when this is posited to the elves they tend to dismiss the notion with a polite smile. The Condemned Council spend most of their time in chambers within the mountain, where supposedly an ancient library containing the true history of elvenkind is maintained by Keeper Xanaphel. Entry is forbidden to all but the Council.

Type

Geopolitical, Country