Overview
Eternal home to the largest and most powerful race of Elves, the Silveroak Forest is a place of magnificent beauty, antiquity, power, and above all else, mystery. The Silverestri decided many eras ago to distance themselves from the other races and their affairs, and they do not take too kindly to those who attempt to bridge this gap, either amongst their own people, or surprise visitors. As such, most will never see the unique wild-life, fauna and magnificence that is the elven way of life, bonding both nature and magick in a symbiosis unmatched in Driax.
History
The Silveroak Forest is an ancient forest, with a special connection to the Earthmother. The most significant event in the Forest’s history is the “Great Fracture”. This came at the peak of the elven empire, and life was good for the elven people. Too good. Many elves started to indulge too much in sin and pleasure. As their society spiralled further into hedonism and sin, accompanied by ever growing mastery of magick, the elves managed to do something not since repeated by any race on Driax. They birthed a Dark God – Saleercki, the Mistress of Perversion. Her birth caused a cataclysm that ripped apart the Elven homelands, raising the Worlds Edge Mountains almost instantly, right through the middle of their empire, and opening rifts to the chaos plane all over the Forest. The damage and the rifts were most common on the other side mountains, in what is today known to the elves as the Land of the Forsaken. Their original capital of Sylvanus was lost to them, and a wound was created in the soul of the elves that has never fully healed.
The Grey Elves, as they came to be known, took control of the chaos and likely saved the Elven peoples. Having neither indulged in the hedonism, and having cautioned others against it, they were the least affected by the birth of Saleercki and the madness which infected so many. Over the next 100 years they lead the Elves in the Chaos War, closing all the chaos rifts on their side of the mountains, saving those who could be saved, and tragically ending those that could not. Over time more and more incursions came from the Mountains. Twisted creatures of nature, now obsessed only with destruction and killing, would fall upon the Elves. And worse, demonic creatures in organised groups, would cross the mountains and cause untold destruction. The Seers believed these groups were the survivors from the Land of the Forsaken. They sent several expeditions to see what had become of those people trapped on the other side, but so few returned, and those that did spoke of a people lost to the temptations of the Dark Gods forever. And so the decision was made to stop the corruption from further infecting the Forest, and with a feat of magick perhaps never matched, the elves built the Great Wall, an impenetrable 30’ high wall of rock and magick.
It was the carnage of the Great Fracture which led to the fracturing of the elven people, spawning the Dark Elves (who were ‘saved’ by Drezzim from the Land of the Forsaken), caused the Llewyrr to leave and seek a new homeland, and lead to the wild tribes of Illrilgar in the High Peaks.
In the last 1000 years no external force has penetrated the treeline of the Forest, and the elves have largely refused to get involved with the politics and conflicts of the younger races, unless demonic forces are involved. This meant most races see Elves as arrogant and aloof. This is partially true, but those races don’t know that the scars from the Chaos War remain. The barrier to the chaos planes is much thinner here, and sudden rifts and demonic incursions are still much more frequent. This leads the Elves to maintain some very specialist military units, who are often specialists in fighting demons or investigating the corruption they cause, even in powerful minds like the Elves.
Common Races
Elves
Ruled by the Grey Elves, the Silverestri have a society where the Grey Elves are the nobles, but the Wood elves accounting for over 60% of the population. Around 5% are Wild Elves, but remain within normal Elven society, rather than their tribal brethren to the North.
Half-Elves
Half Elves are rare, as encounters between Elves and humans are not common. They also suffer extreme racial prejudice, as their human blood is seen to be a taint and indicative of poor judgement on the behalf of their elven parent. As such many choose to leave the Forest and make their way in the world.
Other Races
Few races are tolerated within the woods. The exception to this is the Centaur race of the Arkoven. Highly intelligent and civilised, they live both within the Elven settlements, and in villages of their own. In most Elven legends the Arkoven were created by the Elven Gods to educate the Elves on how to live with nature, and the basics of Magick.
While now surpassed by the Elves, they retain a respected place in society.
Cities
Ithilien
Built to be both the heart of the Elven people, and an unconquerable fortress after the Great Fracture, Ithilien is a magnificent sight to behold. Built into a large valley, and bordering on the Lake of Eternal Life, its massive white walls seem to touch the sky, and with one glance there can be no doubting the magickal powers of the race that lives here. No other city is as awe striking.
Galadhon
The religious centre of the Silverestri, Galadhon is home to the largest of the Elven Moonwells, and the Everqueen’s spiritual home. It is said that all of ones sins can be cleansed by bathing in the moonwell, and then meditating to the Gods.
Ka’Shala
The one Silverstri city that is frequented by outsiders is Ka’Shala, the magnificent elven Port on the Southern Ocean. The city has two main levels, built both above and below a massive waterfall. The main harbour and areas open to visitors are below the waterfall, and guarded heavily. But above a magickal city of towers and lights exists, but forbidden to visitors. Part of the settlement is also under the water, and most of this is off-limits to visitors.
Hyanda-Mar
The Silver Tower of Hyanda-mar is the largest landmark in the city, and home to the Tel-Kanar, who preserve all the tomes of knowledge and magick. It is also home to the War College, which produces both the Blademasters and the Battle-Mages.
Other Settlements
Silverestri settlements are built into the natural world, but unlike the Llewyrr, stone or crystal buildings and towers are common in all but the smallest of villages. Usually many elves will have their homes in the trees, but the Arkoven, militia and sometimes the elderly, will live in stone constructs on the forest floor.
Organisations and Suggested Characters
The Elven Militia
All elves are trained to serve in the militia, a necessity because of the possibility of chaos rifts opening at any time. As such all Elves receive training with blade, bow and usually arcane magick. Elves are naturally adept at all three of these things, and as such Elven Fighters, Rangers and Wizards are the most common characters encountered, although Druids are also common.
The Warrior Orders
Unlike the milita, for whom fighting is a transient profession, the Warrior Orders are for those that feel a calling to master the arts of war. Trained from a young age to believe in the “greater good”, the Warrior Orders produce some of the most amazing warriors in Driax. The most well known are:
Windwalkers
Using magical winged suits, these elite fighter/mages are amazing scouts, although their suits can be fragile. The winged suits can be activated using the magickal resources of the wearer, triggering the abilities within the suit, such as flight, detect magick (through the goggles generally worn while flying), feather-fall and shield.
Ranks
- ApplicantLevel 3 guideline
- WindwalkerLevel 6 guideline
- Wind-CaptainLevel 9 guideline
- Wind-CommanderNo fixed level listed
- Wind-LordNo fixed level listed
Wood-Runners
Chaos rifts frequently make magick unpredictable. The Elves learned in the Chaos War to have alternative methods for communications between the Silverestri settlements. This job falls to the Wood-Runners. Knowing all of the fastest paths through their woods, it is these brave elves who allow the Elves to quickly respond to threats within the forest.
Ranks
- DeepscoutLevel 2 guideline
- Wood-RunnerLevel 5 guideline
- Runner-CaptainLevel 8 guideline
- Runner-CommanderNo fixed level listed
- Lord RunnerNo fixed level listed
Blademasters
Each master has spent decades mastering a blade in some way, be that a two handed blade, dual blades, or an individual blade. The Blademasters all train at the White Tower in Hyanda-Mar, and are amongst the most formidable foes one could meet on a battlefield.
Ranks
- Apprentice BladeLevel 2 guideline
- Initiate BladeLevel 4 guideline
- Blade-MasterLevel 7 guideline
- Blade-CaptainLevel 10 guideline
- Blade-CommanderNo fixed level listed
- Lord BladeNo fixed level listed
Sil’mari
Known as the Silver Helms to the other races, the Sil’Mari are the legendary knights of the Elven peoples. Riding magnificent elven steeds which have no equal, they wear Mithral armour with high winged helms of silver and have only ever once had their standard fall in battle. Consisting only of the most elite warriors, their numbers were always small, and only a handful survived the Great Fracture. But the sacrifice of their unit, including the then Great Warden, allowed the elves to complete the spell that allowed so many to escape Silvanus and the Forsaken Lands, and saved their peoples from the Dark Gods. The numbers of Sil’mari have only recently reached their original figure, after centuries of rebuilding.
Ranks
- InviteeLevel 6 guideline
- Sil’mariLevel 8 guideline
- Sil’mari-CaptainLevel 12 guideline
- Sil’mari-CommanderNo fixed level listed
- Lord Sil’mariNo fixed level listed
Riftwardens
Born from the Chaos War, the Riftwardens are the warriors most specialised in hunting and destroying demons, and in closing the rifts afterwards. They tend to be dark and dour souls, having seen too many things that a mortal mind should not have to see. Unknown to few outside the order, the Riftwardens drink the blood of demons when they obtain the rank of Riftwarden, and this allows them to sense when Demons are near, and many slowly develop powers akin to the demons they fight. They are also then given Amulets of Warding to help resist against demonic influence. Without this, they are quite susceptible to the influence because of the demon blood they consume. Riftwardens will share information with other Demon Hunters, and will sometimes work with the Inquisition.
Ranks
- InitiateLevel 1 guideline
- RiftwardenLevel 6 guideline
- Rift-CaptainLevel 9 guideline
- Rift-CommanderNo fixed level listed
- Rift-LordNo fixed level listed
The Arkoven
Primarily a peaceful and almost druidic race, the Centaur of the Silveroak Forest tend to the woods and the animals, and on grave occasions, their elders may provide advice to their elven kin. But they are a powerful race if they need to be, and their warriors possess a strength that many races cannot hope to match. Centaur characters tend to be fighters, rangers, druids, mages or fey sorcerers.
High-Mages
The Elves are likely the most knowledgeable race when it cames to the arcane. Their understanding of magick is unequalled, assisted greatly by their much longer lifespans. High Mages tend to use their magick sparingly, but it is a powerful sight to behold when they do.
Ranks
- StudentLevel 0 guideline
- AelumirLevel 3 guideline
- MageLevel 5 guideline
- ArchmageLevel 9 guideline
- House MasterNo fixed level listed
- Lord of the ArcaneNo fixed level listed
Battle-Mages
The Battle-Mages show what that the elven mastery of magick looks like if you focus on battlefield magick. The results are usually unforgettable.
Ranks
- Adept(Lvl 1), WarMage(Lvl 5), WarMage Capt. (Lvl 9), WarMage Commander, Lord WarMage
Seers
The seers are an advisory council of powerful diviners who advise the Elven Court. Their ability to portend the future guides a lot of the decisions of the elven people and has lead to them doing things other races may find hard to understand (such as assassinating people of other races before they perform an act of incredible evil).
Ranks
- StudentLevel 3 guideline
- AelumirLevel 7 guideline
- SeerLevel 11 guideline
- ProphetNo fixed level listed
- Eye of the FuturesNo fixed level listed
Regional Life
Relations
The Silverestri have no relations with any of their neighbours, but are staunch opponents of the Dark Elves, the forces of the Dark Lords, and those who are enemies of the natural world. But they will rarely ever assist others in a cause unless there is a direct threat to their own homelands.
Clothing
The Silverestri favour tunics and breeches of white or earthen colours, but fancy dresses and suits are common for festivals and when trying to impress. Their cloaks and boots in particular are highly desired by travellers for even without enchantment, they are comfortable and sturdy yet light. Hair is nearly always kept long, but only wild elves or those of mixed heritage have facial hair, and it is frowned upon. Flashy displays of jewellery is also generally frowned upon. Elegance is preferred to flamboyance.
Women
Elven females are treated identically to Elven men.
Cities
Key settlements: Ithilien, Galadhon, Ka’Shala, Hyanda-Mar, Other Settlements.
Trade
The Silverestri Elves trade heavily, but only through the port city of Ka’Shala. Via land, the elves have isolated themselves too much for trade.
Exports: Wood crafts (but not timber), crystals, paper, leather, clothing, herbs and fruits, spell components.
Imports: Metals and gemstones, exotic food, spices, books and spell components.
Arms
The Silverestri favour the traditional weapons of Swords and Bows. Conduit or Magickal versions of the above are also highly desired, and not uncommon. In general, elves prefer lighter armours such as leathers which do not inhibit their movements or stealth, but many of their warriors will wear heavier metal armours in times of war. The Elves also make use of special suits of leaf or scale which are renowned for their ability to protect, but not inhibit the actions of a spell-caster.
Language
The Silverestri speak their own tongue, and tend to expect any who wish to speak with them to use their language. They will learn other languages, but complain frequently if forced to use it. Nearly all elves can read and write.
Religion and Magick
The Elves primarily worship the Earthmother, but in general they believe in the forces of Good and Evil moreso than in any particular God or Faith. They are accepting of other religions provided it is not what they consider “Evil”. Few races can match the might of the Silverestri when it comes to the arcane Arts. Their knowledge of High Magick is unmatched by any other than the Archeron. Their Mages and War Mages are well run magickal orders. And all of the ancient libraries of the Elves, and the secrets of High Magick are protected by an order known as the “Tel-Kanar” or Watchers.
Against an Elven Battle Mage, numbers often mean very little. Just makes it harder to dodge.
Silveroak Forest Lore Points
Society
Most elves live in small settlements which consist of a small number of families. Communication is maintained by the Wood-Runners. Town elders are responsible for the day to day runnings of the village, and will usually, although not always, be Grey Elves. More important matters are addressed by the Royal Court in Ithilien. Each settlement has its own set of Scouts, Warriors, Mages and commoners.
The Great Wall
Built at the end of the Great Fracture to keep the beasts and other cursed creatures from the Land of the Forsaken out, it is perhaps the single most amazing piece of architecture in Driax. The wall is magick enhanced stone and crystal, standing over 50’ high and stretching the entire eastern boundary of their lands. It is manned permanently by the ever-vigilant Eternal Guard, who are volunteers, banished and criminals who are sworn to never again leave the wall.
The Elven Court
Ruled by two positions, the Lady of the Silver Leaves (the Queen), who represents nature and the elven Gods and the Great Warden (the King), who represents the elven people. Both positions are primarily hereditary, but as strong believers in fate, the Seers may direct these mantles pass beyond normal family ties. These two people enter a union similar to the human concept of marriage, though they spend much of their lives apart as the Everqueen rules in Galadhon, while the King rules in Ithilien.