Province - Sylvalis
Geography
Sylvalis is a vast and mystical woodland, known as a Feywood, nestled within a secluded valley in the north-western corner of the Vallerian Empire. It is a land of enchanting beauty, where magic courses through the air. The valley is home to three central lakes, their waters feed by a network of rivers that weave through the dense forest, nourishing its abundant life.
This extraordinary forest is teeming with mythical creatures and ancient wonders. Shimmerflies, their golden wings glowing softly, drift gracefully through the air, while the legendary White Stag roams the woods, leaving trails of blooming flora in its wake. Yet, Sylvalis is as perilous as it is magnificent. Ferocious beasts, carnivorous plants, and giant spiders lurking in shadowy caves make the forest a dangerous realm for the unprepared. Even the trees themselves are not without guardians, for the venerable Woodren, towering sentient tree-folk, keep an unyielding vigil. These protectors are rarely noticed by mortal eyes, mainly passive, but are swift to defend their sanctuary against those who seek to harm the forest or disrupt its delicate balance.
The heart of Sylvalis, where rivers converge in to the lakes, offers the most stable and navigable terrain. However, as one ventures outward, the land becomes rugged, with rolling hills, steep cliffs, and deep crevices hidden within the endless sea of trees. This untamed terrain acts as a natural defense, as no concrete maps exist for Sylvalis, and deliberately so. The native Feynarin Elves rely on their intimate knowledge of the forest to navigate its depths. Trespassers who stray from the few known paths often find themselves hopelessly lost, swallowed by the forest's mysteries.
Sylvalis is bordered by the towering peaks of the Valpine Mountains to the north and the Messial Mountains to the east. The infamous Pillared Gates, a narrow and treacherous pass leading into Ardechia, lie in the northeast. These natural boundaries further protect this magical sanctuary, making it one of the most remote and enigmatic regions in Empyrion.
History
During the 2nd World, Sylvalis was primarily inhabited by Vallarei Elves, who named the region for its rich deposits of silver nestled between the towering mountain ranges to the north. It was a flourishing valley, its silver mines and trade routes bringing wealth and prominence to the region.
However, The Cataclysm that sundered the lands drastically altered the landscape, rendering much of it unrecognizable. Jagged rocks burst from the earth, cliffs and crevices fractured the terrain, and once-straight highways were destroyed. These upheavals cut Sylvalis off from the rest of Valleria, isolating the valley and plunging it into wilderness. Many of the Vallarei abandoned the region, retreating to the vast open fields of Empyrion to join the nascent Vallerian Empire as it sought to consolidate power and rebuild from the devastation. Left to nature’s devices, Sylvalis’s settlements fell into ruin, reclaimed by creeping vines and ancient trees.
For decades, Sylvalis remained untamed until the chaos of The Great Migrations brought the Slaya Humans into eastern Arboria. Their desperate fight for survival led them to slaughter the native Feynarin, whose Arcane magic had been depleted by the Cataclysm. Despite their efforts, the Feynarin’s druidic magic was not enough to withstand the zealous onslaught of the Slaya, led by their prophet, The Mason. Forced to flee, the Feynarin crossed the mountains into Sylvalis, seeking refuge and preparing for a final stand.
Faced with annihilation, the Feynarin turned to the Vallarei for aid, pleading for salvation. The Vallarei agreed, but only on the condition that the Feynarin swear fealty to the Emperor of Valleria. With no protest, the Feynarin capitulated, becoming the newest subjects of the rising Vallerian Empire. The Vallarei legions swiftly marched into Sylvalis, repelling the Slaya invaders and driving them back across the mountains. A peace accord was struck after both sides reached a stalemate at the Pillared Gates, ensuring the Slaya could not advance further into Sylvalis.
Having lost their ancestral homeland in eastern Arboria, the Feynarin established Sylvalis as their new sanctuary, a gift from the Vallarei with the promise that one day they would reclaim their birthright together. Over the subsequent millennium, the Feynarin transformed Sylvalis with their druidic magic, turning the overgrown wilderness into a lush and mystical Feywood. This new forest rivaled the grandeur of the ancient Arborian woods, of which only the Elderwood survived.
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