Important Sites of Liamelia

Important Sites of Liamelia

Silver Oak of Liamelia: When near or inside the sixty-foot kingdom wall, a colossal tree with leaves of ghostly silver can be seen. This is the Silver Oak of Liamelia, the heart of kingdom, the source of it's creation, protection and power. Many new visitors often stand in perplexity and wonder upon first viewing the Silver Oak. It is the one tree that dominates over the rest of the forest, nearly 10 times larger then normal trees, and radiating of untold power. Being the center of the kingdom, this tree leads to many of Liamelia's more renowned structures such as the Liamelian Academy and the Liamelian Library of the Ages. At the top-most part of the tree, hidden beneath the thick canopy, is a fair-sized but well decorated chamber, where the Lords of Liamelia and division leaders meet, either with each other or with honorable outside guests. A true symbol of power and peace in the eyes of elves and those that can comprehend the nature of the tree, the Silver Oak of Liamelia stands out in it's ghostly but soothing shimmer of light within it's leaves and bark. The Silver Oak of Liamelia has two major properties. This silver oak is was the first of its kind created and thus, houses the powerful Mythal that protects the kingdom. This massive magical tree also acts as the Temple of The Seldarine. The centered portions have been hollowed out to create several shrines to the different deities of The Seldarine and to a few individual deities. Large gardens and gathering spots surround the Silver Oak, completing its look as a powerful place of worship.

Liamelian Academy: This training facility is made up of three structures, each with it's own fields of study and skill. There is the School of the Sword, School of Clergy and School of Wizardry. The Academy is the pride of Liamelia, training hundreds each year in the art of swordplay, divine might or arcane knowledge. The main reason for the Academy was the train Liamelians into members of the Branches of the Oak, Liamelia's military strength. But the school have expanded to also train those who do not wish to be apart of the forces; but the price of such training is steep. Students not wishing to join the forces must pay 500 gp per year of training plus 500 gp per level that they attain. That price pays for their room and board during training and for equipment and other supplies. Of course, there are several advantages to paying such a price for training. Fighters can learn the art of swordplay in the relative safety of a controlled environment. This is hard to come by, for most fighters can only learn to use the blade effectively through dangerous encounters in the wilds of the world. They also gain any weapons and armour they forge and create during their training. Characters who train as a fighter gain 1 ability to Strength for every three levels they earn. Wizards are granted access to limitless resources, allowing them to create items such as rings or wands without requiring the appropriate feats to do so. They also have access to countless spells, which they can attain a copy of for a small fee (which is better then submitting to several months of servitude to another wizard or for larger sums of gold). Characters who train as a wizard gain 1 ability to Intelligence for every three levels they earn. Only religions supported by Liamelia are trained to would-be clerics. Although this seems like a disadvantage to paying for training as a cleric, those who are trained receive the greatest gift of wisdom. No matter the person, all who train as a cleric acquire a wisdom that is unparallel to conventional clerical training. Those who become clerics feel more attuned to their god and better understand it's will, thus allowing them powerful spells, a superb control of undead and exceptional understanding of good and evil. Characters who train as a cleric gain 1 ability to Wisdom for every three levels they earn. Students who are short of funds serve in the forces until their dues are paid off. Those who devote themselves to the forces are almost always residents of Liamelia, who wish to have training so that they may answer the call to arms, should evil find it's way to the forest they call home. Because of their loyalty to Liamelia, they gain training at the academy free of charge. Of course, only Elves, Half Elves, Halflings, Gnomes, Dwarves and Goodly Dragons are accepted at the academy.

Liamelian Library of the Ages: This is Liamelia's vast storehouse of knowledge and understanding. It was constructed and catalogued by Slimanious and his fellow mages. The library has seven main sections. Five of the seven sections are dedicated to the five races of Liamelia. Each section entitles the races history, exploits, kingdoms, turmoil, religion and accomplishments. The sixth section is dedicated to Liamelia's region, founding, history and so on. The last section is dedicated to general knowledge of Faerun, both above and below. The main purpose of the library, first and foremost, is to teach any who would seek to learn from it. Thousands upon thousands of volumes and texts line it's walls, no matter what section of the library you are in. Many come to reflect on the past of their respected races, revealing in it's glory or remembering the hardships, or just to learn of a topic that has sparked some curiosity in them. Mainly, those who visit, come to learn about the Underdark, for Liamelia's library has many volumes on the mysterious lightless world, where Candlekeep or Silverymoon just barely scratch the 'surface'. Since non-pure bloods are not allowed within the kingdom, any information they seek must be purchased through the service of those who are allowed and willing to find the information for them. There are of course additional costs for viewing and copying the information and sources within the Library.

The Gates of Liamelia: What started out as one gate turned into nine over the course of Liamelia's history. The first one was created going from Shadowdale in the Dalelands to Liamelia Forest, and acted as a passage way for crafters and smiths to make their way to the untamed forest in order to start the settlement. The other eight gates came about with the same idea as the first one, only these gates are for the purpose of allowing trade from all over Faerun. The Gates have also allowed Elves and other races from all over Faerun to come to Liamelia. These Gates are made with the care of Arcane and Devine Magic to prevent outsiders from slipping between them in extra dimensions to the Prime Material Plane. Each Gate acts as a single unit on either side, meaning that if one side fell, the other side would also fall with it - destroying the whole unit. Of course each gate is heavily protected by members of the Liamelian Faction who watch over that Gate. This is to prevent enemy forces from attacking a city or region to gain access to a Gate to make their way into Liamelia, and Liamelians have no qualms about destroying a Gate to protect the kingdom. There are four gates that lead to Siannodel, four gates that lead to Lindorneaceleb, two that lead from each market city to the actually kingdom and the last gate which leads right into the heart of Liamelia.

Lindorneaceleb (Small City, 6,992): A stand of silver oaks at the south-eastern forest edge serves as a little market city that allows trade with non-resident races. This city sits about 60 miles from Hardcastle, a small city that lies on the trade route of The Old Road, along the Liamelia border and is across the plains from the Great Rift. Lindorneaceleb was setup to allow trade access with those along the eastern side of Liamelia Forest and the dwarves of the Great Rift to the south. There are five gates that lead from Lindorneaceleb; one that leads to the Kingdom of Liamelia and four that lead to outside regions.

The Great Rift: trade with the gnomes and dwarves in the great rift is essential as far as the Lords can see. The highest quality of wares is traded for both mystical and mundane uses. The Lords of Liamelia are quite adept at making items of power and magic.

Yeshpek: a human city that sits on the coast of the Lake of Steam. A very prosperous town, which has accepted trade with Liamelia through the use of a Gate. This has lead to an increase of merchants and a large growth of economics. Many other nearby cities have also made trade agreements with Yeshpek in hopes of acquiring Liamelian merchandise and expanding their own markets.

The Mucklestones: a circle of stones carved with nature-runes is located in Forest of Lethyr. The site which is protected by Druids of Silvanus, acts as a Gate that links the Forest of Lethyr and Liamelia Forest together.

The Methwood: this forest is the home to several tribes of Elves and Half-Elves who are ever in need of assistance from encroaching of nearby human settlements.

Siannodel (Small City, 6,734): Just like in Lindorneaceleb, a stand of sliver oak at the western forest edge serves as another little market city, only this city has a unique harbour that allows trade with merchant ships that make their way down River Arran. This city sits about 15 miles east of Elbulder, another small city that lies on the trade route of The Old Road. Siannodel was setup to allow trade access with those along the western side of Liamelia Forest, those on their way to Chondath or those by ship from The Vilhon Reach via River Arran. There are five gates that lead from Siannodel; one that leads to the Kingdom of Liamelia and four that lead to outside regions.

Jungles of Chult: at the base of the volcanoes 200 miles southwest of Ishau, a human city little cared for but accepted for trade. Few elves live in the deadliest of jungle here but the jungle is home to strange tribes of Dwarves. The jungle is also a large source of plants both beautiful and deadly, which are often prized by many all over Faerun. With much gems and other natural goods, traders of these parts are eager to trade for weapons, armour and metal, as those are hard to come by in dangerous jungle.

The Star Mountains: up in the heights of the mountain range is a Dwarven band of miners and workers excavating the surfaces that the other human cities have either left or neglected. This can be dangerous and tedious.

The Storm Horn Mountains: is the kingdom's prime site for coal and other lesser materials. This gate also acts as a sanctuary to the few Elven clans that still inhabit the area around Cormyr. It is a site that other organizations can also come to contact the Liamelian Lords should they be allowed to get close enough.

The Wealdath: a forest in Amn close to the city Mosstone on the coast of the Firedrake Bay along the Sword Coast. This forest is home to two surviving local tribes of Elves, the Suldusk and the Elmanesse. These elves are all that are left from this area of those who followed the 'Retreat' to the west.

The very last gate leads into the heart of the Kingdom of Liamelia, next to the massive Silver Oak, the Academy, the Liamelian Library of Knowledge and two other gates, each leading to a market city. This gate was in fact the first Liamelian Gate ever created. It leads to Shadowdale, in the Dalelands. It was there that the Lords brought to life the idea of a new Elven kingdom, one to show the world that the Elven people will not forsake their ancient home by leaving the main land of Faerun and joining in on the great 'Retreat'. It was here in Shadowdale that the Lords organized an expedition that lead to their new forest home, and so the very first gate was created to allow the long train of supplies, hired help and Elven frontiers to travel the great distance to their new home. Because of it's location, this gate is heavily guarded like all the other gates with one exception, it is deactivated, and can not be opened unless the attempt is made on both sides of the gate, at the same time. Further more, only the Lords use and have access to this gate, but have not used it in many years. Much thought has been put on it, and because it is such a security risk, the Lords may just shut it down permanently, destroying the doorway in Shadowdale and leaving the other side encased in stone as a monumental remembrance of where Liamelia started.

Shadowdale: in the standing stones, a mile east of Elminster's Tower, is the first Gate of Liamelia that was created. It is not often used, and only by the Lords of Liamelia, for it leads to the center of Liamelia near the Liamelian Silver Oak.