Eleth Telora
Opening onto the Nythenor Plains in the southwest Verthik Mountains, the city-state of Eleth Telora is the main home of the Twilight Elves on Temshai. The Plains Gate, guard towers and a large iron portcullis, are built at the mouth of the cave. Heavy wooden doors, reinforced with steel, can be slid shut behind the portcullis. While the guards are always vigilant, the city gates are rarely closed.
Inside the mouth of the cave is a large, open market area, the Haggler's Hall, a noisy area filled with all kinds of stalls and shops, run by vendors of many races. More refined visitors can stay at the Cavern's Mouth Inn, while those with a more lively inclination frequent the Boisterous Basilisk pub. Most of the buildings are wooden, built in the elven style common in Eleth Telnara. Dim light is provided by means of many hovering crystal orbs that slowly move around the hall 12 feet above the ground, enchanted to follower travelers around as a light source for an individual or group.
Tunnels descend quickly to the remainder of the city, with natural crystals in the cave walls providing dim coloured light. The buildings in the lower tiers, while graceful and elegant like other elven structures, are mainly built with chitin from large insect-like creatures that patrol the paths beneath the earth.
The Residential Tier lies closest to the surface, filled primarily with elven dwellings, with shops, taverns, and craftsmans' workshops. The Tier of Rule is lower down, insulated from both the entrance to the Nythenor Plains and the exit to the Subtide Nexus. The elven monarch lives in the Gleaming Towers, a palace with several towers constructed from highly-polished chitin that shine like marble and reflect the dim light.
The final and lowest level is the Watcher's Tier, where the The Watchers of the Dark Ways are headquartered. The Watchers act as an unofficial standing military force for Eleth Telora with a prime mandate of patrolling the Subtide Nexus and keeping the city safe from threats from below. This level of the city is focused on providing equipment and training for the Watchers. The Dark Gate, the entrance to the Subtide Nexus leading northeast out of the city, is heavily guarded and fortified, even moreso than the Plains Gate, which indicates where the elves expect the most serious threats to come from. The Watchers also collect mushrooms and parts from the many underground creatures, both for their own use and to trade with the rest of Myas'tara.
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