Pine

Pine is a city in north-central Zenxon. It is one of the last sprite settlements in Zenxon. It was used as a refuge for sprites during the human colonization. Though it was nearly wiped out by human biological warfare on the sprites, it has again begun to flourish, and is known for its medical advancements.

History

During Zenon's Sprite Era, Pine was a city center where sprites from other areas of the country came to meet and do trade with each other. Being near the center of the island, it was also a place where sprite leaders could meet to peacefully discuss conflicts. Like other sprite cities, it was surrounded by trees. The city structures were themselves built from the forest which was fertilized by the dead. Though there are no religious stories detailing such, Pine was treated by sprites as a sacred place, with many purposely making pilgrimage there so their bodies might feed those trees in particular. As a result, the forest around Pine was particularly dense.
The first humans to arrive in Zenxon came from Linakra and believed the sprites, as beings of magic, were cursed. As such, many sprites were slaughtered. "Kinder" treatments included relocation, re-education, and enslavement. At first sprites stood against the humans, but as the humans turned their superior technology on them, they retreated to safety.
Pine became a place of sanctuary due to its high elevation and thick forests. Though the humans knew the sprites were in the city, they had little ability to get to them. If they tried to hack their way through the surrounding forest, they would be taken by sprite warriors. But they also knew that if they tried to burn down the forest, they would likely lose control over the fire. But upon seeing the sprites stealing items from dead human soldiers, the humans developed a plan.

Infection

A small band of human soldiers went into the forest as if trying to sneak into Pine. Though it was a suicide mission, several volunteered for it. They carried with them clothing and other provisions which had been infected with the disease Alolio, which caused the throat to swell over several days, eventually killing the infected through suffocation. As Alolio, sometimes called Mountain Throat for where it was first discovered, was common among Linakrans, they had developed a cure for it. They correctly guessed, however, that the sprites had never experienced the condition, and after they raided the humans' supplies, an epidemic spread through Pine Hill.
After two weeks, the humans ventured again into the forest, calling for a truce with the sprites. They explained they had a cure for the disease and would heal those who had been affected if the sprites would hand the city to them. The humans also knew how quickly the condition struck. By this time, nearly three-quarters of the city had died already. The sprite leaders relented in an attempt to save their people. Unfortunately, many of those who were living in Pine were imprisoned or enslaved. Children were sent to re-education camps where they were taught to block the use of their magical abilities and employed in positions where they could be watched for rule breaking. The humans also began to replace the wooden sprite structures with their own and prohibited the sprites from practicing the burial rights which fertilized the trees. The forest around Pine withered and decayed.

Pine Hill Today

by Gabe Rebra

After centuries of fighting against human oppression, sprites were able to win back the right to build their homes and practice their burial rights as they once had. Sprites continue to fight for equality in Zenxon, but Pine has again filled with sprite culture. Though it is now a mix of human and sprite construction, the dense forests around it have returned, and many human-built structures incorporate the surrounding greenery to a stunning degree. Both humans and sprites live in the city, in roughly equal numbers, and some refer to it as The Second Haven, saying it again has become a sanctuary for sprites because many of the humans there are sympathetic to the plight of sprite rights and the local government has offered reparations to sprites in the form of replacing run-down human structures with those of sprite construction. Ironically, Pine has become best known for its hospital, which has produced several medical advancements, including the famous research by Coelho and Herzog.

Alternative Name(s)

The Last Bastion of the Magic, The Second Haven

Type

City

Inhabitant Demonym

Pinehillers

by Daniel Von A