Sylrantheas
Sylrantheas was the primary, ancient village of the Eldrim elves, located deep within the redwood and sequoia forests of Muir Woods on the surface of Earth (Mar). Hidden safely from human eyes for centuries, it was a peaceful, traditional sanctuary defined by its seamless integration with nature and its reliance on ancient elven magic.
Geography and Environment
The village of Sylrantheas was built in complete harmony with the forest. Its wooden homes, barns, and buildings wove gracefully around the massive redwood trunks, never disturbing where the ancient trees grew. The winding, dirt and cobblestone streets curved naturally through the forest, avoiding straight lines and right angles.
The village was bisected by a bubbling stream named Celeth Ezel (so named because it reflected the leaves from overhead), which was crossed by the wooden bridge Pia Yanta.
Key landmarks within the village included:
- Tarwa Matso: The vast, lush community gardens located at the edge of town, maintained by the Cultivation students.
- The Grove of Fourteen: A specialized grove within Tarwa Matso tended by Nuala, featuring one of each of the fourteen types of Prime Trees.
- The Mentorfire Square: A central gathering plaza used for storytelling and ceremonies. It featured tables on one side, wooden logs on the other three, and a central fire ring made of ancient stones carved with images of the Twins.
- Meriel's (Syndra's) Tavern: The central tavern and beerhouse, made of beautifully paneled wood. It was famously the only establishment in the village that stayed open around the clock.
- The Cathedral: A towering, three-story wooden church with intricate stained-glass windows depicting the Twins, topped with an additional three-story bell tower.
- The Primestore: A large, converted warehouse used to safely store the village's precious supply of primewood chips.
- The Wall: A tall, spiked, rough brown wooden wall surrounding the perimeter of the village, erected defensively following a severe conflict with the Remnant five years prior to its destruction.
Culture and Governance
The village was governed by the Council, a ruling body of seven members. This included the three Mentors of the Way of the Governor (the Council Leader, the Organization Mentor, and the Regulation Mentor), plus one Mentor representing each of the other four primary Ways (Protector, Builder, Creator, and Destroyer).
For centuries, the Council was led by Silanar. Daily life in Sylrantheas revolved around the Ways, adult vocational paths chosen during the annual Choosing ceremony. The village was defended by the Guardians and the Hunters, who patrolled the perimeter and gathered resources from the surrounding woods.
Key Events
Typhoon Velma
When the apocalyptic, Category Five storm known as Typhoon Velma struck the California coast and obliterated the ruins of Old San Francisco, Sylrantheas miraculously survived. The massive, ancient redwood trees successfully shielded the wooden village from the worst of the catastrophic winds and rain, leaving it with only minor, easily repairable damage.
The Remnant Siege
Tensions with the nearby human Remnant boiled over when the Warlord Relzeb and the false god Segena (Cariel) marched on Sylrantheas. The Remnant set fire to the village's wooden defensive wall and nearly breached the Primestore. The village was saved from burning to the ground by Trey, the first human lightprime mage, who utilized the Book of Amplification to summon a massive, instantaneous rainstorm that doused the flames.
The Cothellon Massacre
During the annual Choosing ceremony held in the gazebo garden, Sylrantheas was ambushed by the Cothellon. Under the orders of the mindmaster Quynn, a fleet of flying fallcars descended upon the unsuspecting elves, mercilessly raining down heavy gunfire. The Cothellon soldiers systematically swept through the village with bombs and fire, ruthlessly slaughtering the inhabitants and obliterating the ancient redwoods.
The catastrophic attack completely leveled Sylrantheas. The surviving Eldrim were forced to flee their ancestral home, seeking refuge with the human outlaws in the hidden settlement known as the Splinter.
Rebirth as Pano Sylrantheas
Following the ultimate defeat of the Cothellon, the elves and the humans of the Splinter returned to the blackened, cleared ruins of the forest. Together, the two races constructed a new, integrated settlement on the ashes of the old village. In honor of the humans who had sheltered them, they named this new city Pano Sylrantheas.