Spiritbloom Grove

The Ancestral Grove: Faelion’s Legacy

Nestled at the southernmost tip of the Whispering Towers, the Ancestral Grove stands as one of the most revered sites in the Thelvara Dynasty. A vast expanse of ancient cherry trees, their blossoms shifting from soft pink to eerie silver under moonlight, the Grove is a living remnant of Faelion, the fallen goddess of the wilds. Though untamed, it is not chaotic—paths weave naturally through the undergrowth, seemingly shifting over time, as if the forest itself possesses a will of its own.

A God’s Lasting Mark

Unlike any other woodland in Ëndria, the Ancestral Grove is believed to bear the lingering essence of Faelion. In the war of the gods, she waged a subtle yet relentless assault against the Thelvara Dynasty, reclaiming land through overgrown thickets, summoning vast and ancient beasts thought long extinct, and bending nature itself to her will. While Ruthark, the other deity of nature, ravaged the northeast with monstrous abominations of flesh and fang, Faelion’s domain expanded through creeping vines, whispering leaves, and the silent tread of predatory shadows.

Though the gods were ultimately driven back, and Faelion fell in battle, her Grove did not wither. It remains untouched by time, its trees never succumbing to decay, its boundaries never shrinking. The Thelvarian people, though they no longer worship Faelion, regard the forest with deep reverence. To them, it stands not as a memory of war, but as a testament to the beauty and untamed power of nature—a value held in the highest regard by the elves of the Dynasty.

A Living Sanctuary

The Grove is alive in a way few other places in Midranor are. Visitors often report a strange presence—not hostile, but watchful. The trees seem to listen, their branches swaying in absent winds. The paths shift subtly, sometimes guiding travelers with ease, sometimes confounding them in labyrinthine twists. Some claim to hear the faint growls of unseen beasts in the distance, the echoes of Faelion’s creations that once roamed freely.

While no one worships the fallen goddess, rituals of respect are still performed within the Grove. Offerings of flowers and carved wooden totems are placed at its edge, gestures of gratitude to the wilds themselves. Many believe that those who enter with reverence will find the forest welcoming, while those who treat it with arrogance may find themselves inexplicably turned around, lost within its depths.

Guardians and Unanswered Mysteries

Though the Ancestral Grove has no formal walls or sentries, it is protected all the same. The Silverleafs, sworn defenders of Thelvara’s natural sanctuaries, ensure that no harm befalls it. However, the true guardians are said to be unseen—the spirits of the wilds, echoes of Faelion’s lingering will. There are tales of those who entered with destructive intent never emerging, their fates unknown, as if the Grove itself had swallowed them whole.

At the heart of the forest lies a place of whispered legend—the Heartwood. Said to be the last remnant of Faelion’s divine touch, it is an ancient, colossal tree, its bark etched with swirling patterns of glowing green. Some believe those who reach the Heartwood are granted visions of nature’s deepest truths, though few have ventured far enough to confirm its existence. The paths to its core shift unpredictably, and many who seek it find themselves led astray, as if the forest itself deems them unworthy.

A Place of Quiet Awe

To this day, the Ancestral Grove stands as a paradox—born of war, yet untouched by it. It is a place of quiet awe, neither feared nor worshipped, but deeply respected. Though Faelion’s name is rarely spoken, her legacy endures, rooted in every blossom, in every whisper of the wind through the leaves. For the Thelvarian people, the grove is more than a relic of the past; it is a symbol of nature’s enduring spirit—beautiful, untamed, and eternal.