Kingdom of Enchantment
Overview
The Kingdom of Enchantment is one of the oldest settlements of Lithrydel, situated in a corner of the world that rich with natural magic. The gateway, reinforced with branches of the Xalious Tree, are guarded by two mystical dragons that keep watch from the skies. Open court is held quarterly, and those with any grievances are welcome to speak publicly and try to sway the Queen's judgement in their favor. There are two solstice events held annually, and a talent tournament takes place every spring, which brings visitors from all over the realm. All races, classes, religions, and alignments are welcome to reside in the lush forests, so long as everyone strives to live in perfect harmony.
Geography of the Kingdom
Situated at the southernmost corner of the Sage Forest, where magic is imbued in the air, water, and flora, the main city of Enchantment is where most of the storefronts for trade are situated. The castle sits just south of the marketplace, overlooking the magical gateway and the Kelay-Sage Area to the north, the heather moors of Enchantment to the south, the swamps of Gualon to the east, and the southern edge of the Xalious Mountains to the west.
Life brims within each corner protected by the kingdom's laws. The centaurian glens established by First Chief Silverwind sit at the western edge, overlooking the Great Chasm. A dryads' sanctuary borders the northern walls of the magical gateway, where it is said the spring that fuels the mystical stream lies and remains under their protection. Gnomes, fae, and pixies litter the forest and the edge of the heather moors, living harmoniously with nature amongst the flowers and treetops. In the stretch of forest south of the castle lies a magical village protected by a mushroom forest where only treants, fae dragons, dryads, and certain kinds of faeries can flourish. On the eastern edge of Enchantment lies the entrance to the underground city of Darkiln, inhabited by shadow gnomes that seem to currently just barely tolerate their neighbors for trading purposes.
Map of the Kingdom of Enchantment
Settlements Within The Kingdom
| Settlement Name | Main Races |
|---|---|
| Kingdom of Enchantment | Pixie, Gnome, Centaur, Fae of the Sun, Dryad |
| The "Unseelie District" | Fae of the Moons, Treant, Faerie Dragon |
| Darkiln | Shadow Gnome |
Shops in The Kingdom
| Shop Name | Goods Sold |
|---|---|
| The Green Fairy | Tavern and Recall Spot |
| Enchantment Market | Fine Formal Gowns and Footwear |
| Enchantment Armory | Wood-Based Armor |
| Enchantment Apothecary | Spell Components and Ritual Supplies |
| Herb Specialist | Natural Herbs |
| Woodland Couturier | Race Specialty Armorer |
| Flower Shop | Flowers and Arrangements |
| The Enchanted Weapon Shop | Wood-Based Weaponry |
| Wisteria's Wares | Metal-Based Armor |
| Wildlife Refuge | Pets |
| Cavern of Storing (Darkiln) | Miscellaneous Items |
Recent Events
- First Edition of The Pressed Flower is released by concerned citizens of the city.
- Queen Lunalesca makes her first public appearance in six Valaane moons to attend the Vailkrinese World Leader Summit, where sharp words are exchanged at the announcement of the Vailkrin-Larket trade union.
Realm Affairs
The rulers of Enchantment prefer to remain neutral in matters that concern those outside of the magical gates, and do not wish to engage in any wars or extreme political movements. However, if someone seeks aide in the way of coin, healing, or sanctuary, they will not be turned away from this compassionate kingdom.
Enchantment enjoys being a 'friend' to all and those that wish to study the nature or races in the land are met with a smile and will find that the residents don't mind the curiosity. Adventurer's that find themselves lost are assisted, anyone that falls ill will find respite with one of the adept healers, and the population grows with each passing year due to those that make their home in the forests. Those that are in need of some of the lands natural resources will find that they are more than welcome to take what they need. However, if a tree must be cut down or if one takes most of a particular crop, they must plant another in its place so that the resource isn't entirely depleted.
Although the land maintains a neutral stance and is welcoming to all, one should remember that it's never wise to make a powerful enemy of a place that outranks most others with their magical capabilities.
The Flag
The denizens of Enchantment take pride in their kingdom and so the flag is often seen throughout the forested city. The Fae Star brightly shines against the two-toned backdrop that represents the unification of creatures once separated by conflict. Embroidered in gold thread, the seven-pointed star represents the guiding lights of the Lunar King and his seven daughters. Each point of the star signifies the gifts bestowed upon the lands and the magical creatures by each of the pearlescent moons where the daughters of the first King and Queen of Enchantment are said to be. The points of the Fae Star connect with each other along the halo to signify that one cannot hold one gift without the others.
Famous Landmarks
| Area of Note | Function |
|---|---|
| The Trembling Tree | One of the Three Holy Trees in Hollow. |
| The Mystical Stream | A magical body of water that runs through Enchantment. |
| The Gateway to Enchantment | A protective magical entryway reinforced with magic of the Xalious Tree. |
| The Healing Tree | The restoration of health, magic, and stamina can be found here. |
| Mining Outpost | A underground mining cavern that is located in Darkiln. |
History of Enchantment
Power, Wisdom, Knowledge, Tranquility, Science, Devotion, and Magic.
The Beginning
Though the physical records regarding Enchantment's settlement have been lost to time, the legend is still vividly passed down as bedtime stories, as the subjects of plays and novels, and as a reason to give thanks at festivals. Some decem millennium ago when the world was still new, pixies and faeries that once flourished along the flora of Xalious had their homes destroyed during the First Dragon-Dwarven War. Unwilling to choose a side in a conflict that otherwise did not concern them, and not great enough in numbers to defend their homes from becoming collateral damage, the winged creatures were forced to leave the Xalious Mountains in search of a peaceful home. It is said that those who tried to stay behind all met a terrible fate.
Over the course of a hundred years, the nomads travelled from gardens to forest to grasslands, only to be chased away by more aggressive races, drought, famine, or wild creatures that would make them a meal. Upon becoming lost in a seemingly endless stretch of heather moors, on a night when the lights of the moons above was at their lowest and were casting the lands into complete darkness a heather deer appeared before the lost people. Its antlers glowed brilliantly with a magic not seen by the people since leaving the Xalious Mountains. The stag slowly walked into the mist, where the pixies and fae followed, until they reached what is now called the Mystical Stream.
With the blessing of the neighboring Sylvan Empire, the pixies and fae made the magic-laden corner of the Sage Forest their sanctuary, welcoming the gnomes, centaurs, and dryads to live amongst them as equals in the centuries to come, with their only requests being to never harm a heather deer nor fight amongst each other. The faeries, being the creatures with the longest lifespan of the main five races and proficient in getting outsiders to agree to deals, were appointed as representatives of the settlement for trading purposes.
The Fool's Golden Age
After the end of the First Dragon-Dwarven War, which saw the dwarven clans become bankrupt, trading routes were established with Enchantment. Not yet a kingdom, but still a settlement, the forest was flourishing. However, the lack of hierarchy led some to believe that they were defenseless as a result. A war is fought for the lands, instigated by the neighboring orcs of Gualon. The orcs are repelled, but great casualties are suffered. The acting leaders, a pair of lovers, give their lives to bestow two gifts upon the lands. One uses all of their magic and life force to create the Gateway to Enchantment, assuring his family and the residents of Enchantment that he will always be watching over them. The other, unable to live without her beloved, performs an unknown ritual that each of her nine daughters are blessed with to extend their lifespan and vitality. Moved by the sacrifice, the lovers are posthumously declared a monarchy by the denizens of Enchantment, leading to the Kingdom of Enchantment being born. ((NOT APPROVED CANON YET))
An incident occurs in the centuries afterwards, the details of which have been suppressed and forgotten, forcing the acting faerie queen and her remaining sisters to step down from the court. The pixies take over the throne, an act which divides many of the gnomes who advocated for the monarchy to be abolished and returned to the leaderless state of old. A dissident of the new crown, Ul'Maruth of the 'shadow' gnomes, named for how they felt their concerns were being overshadowed by the less intelligent masses, attempted to gather support for the entirety of the gnomish population to secede. Having failed at this endeavor, Ul'Maruth created a new kind of magic intended to destroy the pixie faction as a whole where raw power alone would not be enough. With the aid of the neighboring elves of Sage, the dissidents were defeated and forced to retreat into the underground. Millenia of self-exile deformed their bodies and minds, creating a new race of shadow gnomes as a result. Despite the bitter history between these factions, the Kingdom of Enchantment has vowed not to persecute any descendants of shadow gnomes, instead having an open-door policy of welcoming those who choose to return aboveground to leave peacefully.
The Era of Peace
The Invasion and Uncertainty
In the past, there was fire and war cast upon the lands, an invasion of the Enchanted Kingdom by the Archmosian Empire, led by the ogre, Gruz, leaving destruction and devastation in their wake. The magical barrier of the Gateway had been destroyed by Vuryal's power, leaving Enchantment largely vulnerable to these attacks. Many fought to defend Enchantment, the most notable being the then reigning Queen Rumiko, Valkor, Gwenilyn, Keter, and Buterfly. Though the fight by Enchantment was strong enough to push back the foe, many fell in those few bloody days. It was after this battle that Rumiko stepped down and Thea took the throne. Queen Thea worked to ensure the lands remained safe and prosperous for her kind. She embarked on a quest to restore the gateway and in the process, it's defenses were enhanced with energies from both the Xalious Tree and the Druid's Eternal Tree, thanks to the divine arclandon blessed boline bestowed to her by the Ascendi Arclandon.
After Thea absconded the throne for unknown reasons, the kingdom become one of uncertainty. There wasn't anyone in charge of making important decisions, so the Magical Oversight Committee was created by a few upstanding individuals. The head of the committee, a fairy by the name of Lunalesca, saw to it that different divisions were erected so that the kingdom wouldn't fall into one of poverty without resources, and in time Enchantment began to flourish. It was no surprise that a few years later, Lunalesca had been elected to take the throne, as she was adored by everyone.
One night, Queen Lunalesca found herself hearing an urgent plea from a witch, Lanara Banks, and she felt compelled to protect the stranger. She provided housing and food while the woman awaited her trial, and during that time they became quite close. She knew that Lana wasn't capable of the crimes she was accused of, and so, she hired the best defense team that gold could buy. Many of Lana's friends showed up to vouch for her character and she was deemed innocent of most accounts. The only charge that remained against her was misuse of magic, but that was dismissed years later when the ban on astral projection was lifted. Lanara's community service to Enchantment didn't go unnoticed; she raised two bronze dragons to defend the kingdom, frequently helped out at the local florist and tavern, and she hosted various social events to bring in more coin and awareness to the area.
Lunalesca grew quite close to Lanara, as they both are lovers of nature, and she started to think of the witch as a daughter. She officiated Tiber and Lanara's wedding and frequented their home enough times to commit the layout to memory. At one point, Lunalesca became a target for being closely tied to the couple and she spent six weeks in a coma, after sustaining serious injuries. Tiber avenged the attack and Lana saved her life, all while keeping things tightly under wraps so that the people of Enchantment wouldn't worry. Lunalesca was touched by their actions and came to realize that it was time to find someone else to take the throne, as life is short and precious, and she spent the past decade in servitude.
Queen Lunalesca decided to step down from her role as her magical powers were waning and so she searched for another deserving woman to wear her crown. Serving the crown was initially meant to be on a temporary basis, but after ten years, she wouldn't hand the power over to just anyone. After a sleepless night, she realized that that her successor should be someone she trusts implicitly, and there was only one person that stood out from the rest. Unable to produce a female heir and knowing that Enchantment would forever pass to a female, Lunalesca appointed Lanara Lowell to the throne during a lavish coronation ceremony.
Queen Lanara and Royal Consort Tiber ruled for just shy of three months, until they both disappeared from the lands without a trace. No one knows where they went or if they even left willingly! Their crowns had been placed in the heavily guarded vault, their private home had been boarded up, and the wolf pack they led seems to have vanished. Discussions, debates, and rumors on the next political steps that the Kingdom of Enchantment will take currently run rampant. The fate of the Kingdom is currently uncertain.