T'Nanshi

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Nation of T\'Nanshi

The elven nation of T'Nanshi's roots lie all the way back in the creation of Avlis. Legend holds that it was the general location of the prison that held Dru'El when he was a mortal prisoner kept by the evil Negerai. Whether this is true or not, the site of the creation of the first elves was somewhere in the ancient forests of T'Nanshi, and they have remained in the area since then.

The name T'Nanshi is translated loosely as "Spirit Land". The name comes from a very ancient dead language thought to have been spoken by the nature spirits who inhabited Avlis well before the arrival of the nine prisoners and the Negerai. This language has largely been lost, but the present day elven language is thought to be derived from it. Dru'El was said to be interested in recovering the lost language, and he gave what fragments he found to his elves. This is why the elven language on Avlis differs quite a bit from the language spoken by elves encountered on other planes.

Over time, the word for spirit came to be the same as the word for elf. Thus, T'Nanshi is now derived from the phrase "Land of the Elves".

Le'Or T'Nanshi

Location: Center point of the nation of T'Nanshi. T'Nanshi is located north of M'Chek. It borders Deglos to the north, Drotid to the east, and Ferrel and Toran Shaarda to the west.
Name Derivation: Translated from Avlissian elven, Le' (the) Or (Light) (of) T' (Land of) Nanshi (The Elves, The Elven People).
Predominant Race in City: Elf
Predominant Alignment: Chaotic Good
Government: Elected (Noble) Council

Le'Or T'Nanshi is the capital of the elven nation of T'Nanshi proper. The administration of the entire nation is controlled from this location. However, as a rule, the elves rule things very loosely and only as much as needed.

Le'Or T'Nanshi and the Nation of T'Nanshi are ruled by the same body of elected officials. The Council of Nine controls all foreign policy and domestic matters.

Members are elected to the Council of Nine via elections held every fifty years. The Council of Nine passes laws, as few as possible, that are enforced within Le'Or T'Nanshi by The Watchmen. The remainder of the nation gets its laws enforced by the T'Nanshi army.

Both the Watchmen and the T'Nanshi army are separate entities controlled by the council. Both the Watchmen and the army each have a supreme commander in chief that is a member of the council. They are the only ones on the governing body with a specific task to look after. The rest of the members act in consultation with each other on all other matters.

Although it is not a law, it often happens that only Nobles can get elected to the Council of Nine. This is not seen as a problem by the elves, for most common elves have absolutely no interest in politics or governing, and they have little intention of catching the eye of the government.

Noble families in T'Nanshi are not the same as in a typical human nation. Nobility is not equated with land ownership or money in elven society. For the elves, a noble family is simply a family who has played a big part in the history of the elves at some point in time. When a family earns a distinction to set it apart from the normal elven families, it is considered noble. It just so happens, that most of these families also have successful business dealings that have made them wealthy, but it is not true of all the noble families. The commander in chief of the Elven army is a lady named Aratelda Rinthon. She is of the noble House Rinthon, which traces its roots back to Solerion Rinthon, a famous leader who is responsible for pressing the attack that nearly pushed the orcs into the sea during the Great War.

The commander in chief of the Watchmen is a man named Ryiel Sunmar. His family is also of noble descent, although they take their lineage from the newer Sunmar family and its founder, Orleron Sunmar. Ryiel is Orleron's half-brother.

Le'Or T'Nanshi Districts

Entrance District: This district centers around a group of trees connected to a couple of winches that control lifts used to get into the city. It is usually heavily guarded, and all non-elven visitors are noted.

Marketplace: This is the heart of the entire elven economy in T'Nanshi. Goods from all over Avlis are brought into this market from as far as the nation of Tydedu. Exports are also fairly rigorous here. There are two kinds of merchants to be found: elven domestic merchants, and (usually) non-elven foreign merchants. The domestic merchants are selling items for export, and the foreign merchants often have goods from elsewhere. Le'Or T'Nanshi's prime location makes it a major trade artery for getting goods to the south part of the continent.

Capitol District: This is the spiritual and legislative heart of T'Nanshi. It contains the Capitol Building, where the Council of Nine meets for sessions and makes decisions for ruling the nation. It also houses the High Temple of Dru'El, which is the main holy site for all who follow that god. It is said in legend that the ground beneath the trees of the temple once held the prison that contained Dru'El as a mortal before he escaped to godhood. Aside from Dru'El's temple, there are temples to Dra'Nar, and Pelar, as well as shrines to Berryn and Dagath. Healing and resurrections are easily found here.

Thayten Le'Nanshen (Residence District): All the normal, non-noble, folk live here. All undistinguished elven tradesmen and workers make their homes here if they wish to live within the city. Many elves decide to live outside the city so they can more easily ply their harvesting trades, but craftsmen often choose to live inside.

Nobles District: The Nobles district contains the houses of the distinguished elven families who choose to live within the capitol. The district, and the houses within, are quite large. Garrison District: This is a military base. In fact, it is the central military base for entire elven army. Commanding officers and generals are common here, as most of the plans for the war with M'Chek start within the base's walls.

Points of Interest

The Treehaven Inn: A good place to relax on a soft comfortable cushion. For a drink, just call "Waitress". The massage parlor upstairs is a must see.

Elysia

Location: Along the western edge of T'Nanshi, south of the halfling nation of Ferrell
Name Derivation: Elysia is named after the Neutral Good Outer Plane, Elysium.
Predominant Race: Sylvan. The population consists of mostly elves, half-elves, and fairy races.
Predominant Alignment: Neutral Good

Elysia is a fortified city located along the shores of Lake Eridanus, along the western edge of T'Nanshi, south of the halfling nation of Ferrell. The city is actually made up almost entirely of loyal followers of the Champions of O'ma. Vanoviel Niltaurwen, after helping to foil the plot of Valok to enter Avlis, was tasked by O'ma himself to create an order of holy warriors to help in defending the ideals of Goodness throughout the planes. Fifty years ago Vanoviel, a half-elf/half-nymph, created a small fort as the headquarters of the early Champions of O'ma where Elysia is presently. Over time the small fort became a keep, the keep became a castle, the castle was surrounded by farms and artisans, and eventually the city was formed. Vanoviel decided to call the city Elysia, in honor of O'ma's home plane of Elysium.

Elysia still serves as the headquarters of the Champions of O'ma, however the Champions do not run the city. Instead, the city of Elysia is governed by a Mayor and a City Council. The mayor is elected bi-annually by a popular vote of all citizens of Elysia and its surrounding farm areas that submit to the city's rule. The current mayor is Ainthradion Rinthon, a well respected elf who has lived in Elysia for many years and a relative of Aratelda Rinthon, a former adventuring companion of Vanoviel.

The City Council members are elected or selected, depending on their sending district, to a one year term. Each of the city's districts has an equal vote in the council. In addition to the elected members there are four permanent members of the council. Vanoviel Niltaurwen, Head of the Champions of O'ma, or in her stead Saramon, her chief lieutenant, is one of the permanent council members. Vanoviel or Saramon do not have a vote on the council. The remaining three permanent council members are the Masterwizard of the Champions of O'ma, High Cleric of the Champions of O'ma, and Head of the Elysial Guards, the city's militia. Each of those three members has full voting rights. The positions are currently held by Maria Torin, Masterwizardess of the Champions of O'ma, Laucin Ulyn, High Cleric of the Champions of O'ma, and Derrik Ogresbane, Captain of the Elysial Guards. The remaining eleven members of the council represent each of the city's districts. The mayor is afforded a vote only to break a tie among the council.

Elysia is a quasi-independent city in the nation of T'Nanshi. The government of T'Nanshi doesn't attempt to control the city, as the true elves of T'Nanshi feel the city is too organized and the goals of the Champions of O'ma currently coincide with the goals of T'Nanshi. The city tries to keep itself independent of the rulings of T'Nanshi and to maintain itself as a self-sufficient entity.

The Champions of O'ma are directly involved in the struggle between M'Chek and T'Nanshi for control of the disputed borderlands. The Champions do not necessarily feel that the elves are right in denying the humans the land, but they are distressed that the Equalizers have enlisted the aid of the Titanian fairies. The Champions feel that this is an undeniable act of evil and have themselves joined the struggle and enlisted the aid of the O'ma fairies.

The struggle between the nations of T'Nanshi and M'Chek put the Equalizers of Mikon and the Champions of O'ma on opposite sides of the battle where in other areas of Avlis, they fight side by side.

While most of the citizens think of Elysia as only their home, the Champions of O'ma consider it both their home and if need be a highly defensible bastion. This thought played a huge role in the design of the city. Vanoviel chose the location of Champions Castle carefully. It is situated on a hillock nearly a half mile from the shores of Lake Eridanus, the highest land mass for five miles in any direction. The city grew in concentric near circles around the completed castle. It is easiest to imagine Elysia as a bull's eye with Champions Castle as the center. The only difference is that the bull's eye is shifted right of center if facing north and looking down from above. There are eleven districts in Elysia and they form four concentric rings around Champions Castle.

Parks District: The first ring is formed by the Parks District. This district was created in deference to Tupia Dagroth, a druidess of O'ma and an adventuring companion of Vanoviel, so that the city would be less of a smudge on nature. It is located primarily on the slopes of the hill on which Champions Castle sits. Tupaia makes her home outside the city, but often visits the Parks District, and when she is at neither place, she is usually tending to affairs in her estate in Mikona, which she inadvertently inherited from the late Lord Dagroth nearly fifty years ago.

Temple District: The second ring is formed by the Temple District. The district contains temples to many of the major gods of good and in time of siege would be the primary fallback position of the citizens of Elysia. This walled area was the first completed after the castle. The High Priests of all of the major temples selects one of their members each year to be the voting member of the City Council from this district. While it is not always true the chosen high priest is usually rotated through all the temples.

Nobles District: The third ring is formed by the Nobles District. This walled and gated area of the city is misnamed since Elysia, being a true democracy, has no nobles. It is simply called the Nobles District because the wealthiest citizens of Elysia live here. The wall surrounding the Nobles District is actually the first city wall that was built nearly twenty-five years ago. It remains a defensible structure even after Elysia continued to grow around it. The four gates leading into the Nobles District are named for the four cardinal points. North gate connects the Nobles District to the Northern Residences. East Gate connects to the Eastern Residences. West Gate connects to the Artisans district. South Gate connects to the Market. The citizens of the Nobles District elect their City Council member yearly by popular vote.

The fourth ring is formed by the remaining districts of the city: Northern Residences, Eastern Residences, Artisans District, Market District, Warehouse District, Forge District, and the Wharves. The entire fourth ring is surrounded by the city wall, which has four gates named for the principal race found on the roads exiting each gate. Elf Gate, on the cities eastern edge, leads to the nation of T'Nanshi. Man Gate, on the south side, leads to the nation of M'Chek. Dwarf Gate, on the northwestern edge, heads towards the nation of Deglos. Dracon Gate, on the west edge of the city just south of the lake, leads to Toran Shaarda.

Wharves District: The Wharves District is obviously located on the lake and contains most of Elysia's inns. The port is a major source of income for the city as Elysia is nearly the halfway point between the ocean at Mikona and the mountains of the dwarves in Deglos. The wharves always have a strong military presence, as the Champions are constantly vigilant against attacks that may come from the lake. The voting member of the City Council from the Wharves District is always the Harbormaster. The position is currently filled by Angathon Galenlom, a crusty old elf and rumored reformed pirate. The Wharves are connected to the Warehouse District, the Forge District, and the Artisans District.

Forge District: The Forge District is the small area of the city containing many of the skilled professionals in the creation of both martial and everyday materials. The name comes from a visiting dwarf that claimed the district smelled like his home. Rumor has it may have even brought a tear to his eye. This is the area to find all manner of high quality weapons and armor. The member of the City Council from the district is elected by the shop owners and residents. The current councilperson is Ollom Hammersong, a well respected dwarven transplant from Deglos. The Forge District is connected to the Wharves, the Artisans District, and the Warehouse District.

Warehouse District: The Warehouse District contains all of the city's storage areas for the goods that are entering and leaving the bustling port. Unbeknownst to the City Council and the Elysial Guards, this area also houses one of the few areas of crime in the city. A small thieves' guild, an offshoot of the Grey Dirk in Andarr, is alleged to operate out of one of the district's many warehouses. There is even scuttlebutt that Vanoviel Niltaurwen knows of the guild's existence and allows it to remain, provided it doesn't grow too large. It is speculated that she does this for all of the help that Raven, a former adventuring companion, gave her over the years. It is also whispered that the guild also occasionally does some work for the Champions of O'ma, and still has close ties to the guild run by Raven in Mikona today. The City Council member from this district is selected by the owners of the warehouses. The councilman from this district is Nimir Eowondil, a lesser warehouse owner. This district connects to the Wharves, the Forge District, and the Northern Residences. The Warehouse District also contains Dwarf Gate.

Artisans District: The Artisans District contains the city's primary mercantile areas. In this district you can get everything from a magical ring to a pair of trousers and everything inbetween. The heads of the various guilds select one of their numbers to be the district's council members each year. The Artisans District is represented with two members on the City Council. The council members are generally the heads of the guilds that were most profitable in the previous year. The current council members are Legilia Ibiralian, half elf/half dryad head of the weavers' guild, and Simon Wren, human head of the carpenters' guild. This district connects to the Market, the Wharves, and the Forge. It also contains Dracon Gate and West Gate.

Market District: The Market District contains most of the city's access to foodstuffs, ranging from wheat grown on the farms outside the city walls to fine elven wine imported from T'Nanshi. The owners of the shops and services in the district vote for one City Council Member and the farmers in the surrounding area also vote for one City Council Member. This gives the Market District, as a whole, two voting members on the City Council. The current Council members are Bieb Galie, an elven farmer and one of the citizens that has been in Elysia the longest, and Seveliwyn Kohajan, a half elf/half nymph grocer. This District connects to the Artisans District and the Eastern Residences. It also contains South Gate.

Northern Residences: The Northern Residences contain just that, the residences of most of the citizens of Elysia. This area contains the homes of the lower class of citizens. The house are in good repair, but not large. This district has one City Council member that is elected yearly by popular vote. The current member is Sevywia Qaurwen, a half-elven refugee from Mikona, who arrived in Elysia with nothing and has learned the skills needed to survive. She is a child of war, whose human father raped her elven mother. This district connects to the Warehouse District and the Eastern Residences. It also contains both Elf Gate and North Gate.

Eastern Residences: The Eastern Residences contain just that, the residences of the citizens of Elysia. This area contains the homes of the middle class of citizens. The house are in good repair and larger than the homes in the Northern Residences, but not as opulent as the homes in the Nobles District. This district has one City Council member that is elected yearly by popular vote. The current member is Eterra Miryldan, a former elven noble from T'Nanshi who grew disillusioned with the levity of the government there. This district connects to the Market District and the Northern Residences. It also contains both Man Gate and East Gate.

Champions Castle: Champions Castle is the headquarters of the Champions of O'ma and as such is the largest single structure in the city. With the exterior castle walls are the exterior bailey and the keep proper with the walled inner bailey. During festival times, the outer bailey is filled with vendors and performers to entertain all the citizens of Elysia. The keep and inner bailey are the nerve center of the Champions of O'ma. The everyday running of the Champions of O'ma are seen to at the local level by the sub-commanders, but the large grand exploits of the Champions of O'ma are planned here. All early training for the Champions of O'ma takes place here.

Inner Bailey: The inner Bailey contains the Drill Grounds, Archery Range, the Champions Smithy, the Champions Bowyer, the Champions Stables, the Champions Hospital, and the Champions Temple of O'ma. While these buildings are primarily for use by Champions of O'ma it is not uncommon to see people from all walks of life within the inner bailey.

Champions Keep: The Champions Keep contains the formal audience chamber, the Champions Mess, Elysia's library, various meeting and planning rooms, housing for many of the higher level officials in the Champions of O'ma, and Maria Torin's personal laboratory. The Champions Keep is also used for all City Council Meetings but is usually closed to the general public.