Everbright lies at the center of a large mountain on one side, while on the opposite side, directly underneath, in a deep bowl shaped vally, lies Utterdark. A magical sheild around the shard keeps the Utterdark side in perpetual night, and the Everbright side is always well lit. There are many magical gates, tunnels, and shafts between the two sides, and travel between them is frequent and common.
The landscape on both sides shows a great deal of care and cultivation... the forests, hills, mountains, lakes, and rivers all have a sculptured look about them. Magical efects are common, singing trees, fireflies that form pictures in the air, rivers with wondrous beverages instead of water, grass that forms comfortable chairs when you stoop to sit, these are simply part of the land itself.
The twin cities of Everbright and Utterdark are inhabitted by elves. Not the light and fancy elves of wonder from Tolkien, but something a bit more sinister.
The landscape on both sides shows a great deal of care and cultivation... the forests, hills, mountains, lakes, and rivers all have a sculptured look about them. Magical efects are common, singing trees, fireflies that form pictures in the air, rivers with wondrous beverages instead of water, grass that forms comfortable chairs when you stoop to sit, these are simply part of the land itself.
The twin cities of Everbright and Utterdark are inhabitted by elves. Not the light and fancy elves of wonder from Tolkien, but something a bit more sinister.
Elves are immortal, barring violence and accident (and not always then) There are very few diseases that affect them, and their magical abilities tend to prevent the more common ailments from ever having a chance. Physically they are faster, smarter, and better looking than most others. They truly believe themselves to be superior in all ways to every other race.
Arcadian Elves tend to be vain, self absorbed, and completely intolerant of all other races. The average elf desires to surround himself with elegance and beauty, even to the point of having an ugly creature killed simply so the elf no longer has to look at it.
The twin cities are incredibly beautiful, breathtaking even. Built mainly by dwarven hands to elven specifications, then enhanced by elven magic.
Arcadian Elves tend to be vain, self absorbed, and completely intolerant of all other races. The average elf desires to surround himself with elegance and beauty, even to the point of having an ugly creature killed simply so the elf no longer has to look at it.
The twin cities are incredibly beautiful, breathtaking even. Built mainly by dwarven hands to elven specifications, then enhanced by elven magic.
However no other race may erect a visible structure that has not been approved by Arcadian council. Building an ugly structure, or one that interferes with the beauty of another structure is a crime punishable by the death of the builder, his family, and his friends.
Elves are protected from all manner of harm, with elaborate courts, trials, and penalties for crimes between elves. Non-elves do not share the same level of protection, and may arbitrarily be killed, violated, property seized, or sold into slavery by an Elf. If a non-elf harms an elf (offending their sensabilities is considered harmful) death, maiming or slavery is swifty executed.
Even the poorest of elves contains vast treasures compared to the average non-elf. Magical items are very common. Non-elves in arcadia rarely possess magic, and while enchanted items are not-neccessarily illegal for a non-elf to possess, elves tend to believe such items are stolen property. It's not safe for a non-elf to openly display magic.
Magery and magical ability are considered proof in the eyes of elves that there is some elven blood inside a non-elf. Many mages have been killed simply because they "presumed to pervert the birthright of all elves by using a gift unworthy of them"
To many Arcadian elves, if blood is 1/16th non-elven, then that person is considered a non-elf, and tend to be targets for all manner of ridicule and bullying.
Elves are protected from all manner of harm, with elaborate courts, trials, and penalties for crimes between elves. Non-elves do not share the same level of protection, and may arbitrarily be killed, violated, property seized, or sold into slavery by an Elf. If a non-elf harms an elf (offending their sensabilities is considered harmful) death, maiming or slavery is swifty executed.
Even the poorest of elves contains vast treasures compared to the average non-elf. Magical items are very common. Non-elves in arcadia rarely possess magic, and while enchanted items are not-neccessarily illegal for a non-elf to possess, elves tend to believe such items are stolen property. It's not safe for a non-elf to openly display magic.
Magery and magical ability are considered proof in the eyes of elves that there is some elven blood inside a non-elf. Many mages have been killed simply because they "presumed to pervert the birthright of all elves by using a gift unworthy of them"
To many Arcadian elves, if blood is 1/16th non-elven, then that person is considered a non-elf, and tend to be targets for all manner of ridicule and bullying.
Half elves are uncommon, but not rare, and are considered by the more intolerant Arcadians elves to be abominations. Any non-elf with obvious elven features runs a risk of offending elves. Most half elves tend to hide their looks, and leave the shard as soon as they can.
Certain races are kept as pets and servants of the elves, these tend to be the "sylvan" races, and magical abilities are tolerated among them. These races are Ellyons, Leprechauns, centaurs, and fauns. Humans have become popular pets and servants in recent years. They are often enchanted or "glamored" to have a slave mentality.
There are many races other than elf on Arcadia, villages dot the landscape on both sides. The elves however rule the shard, any village that has grown too large, or that is considered "ugly" will be commanded to change. An elf may appear and order the village to reduce it's numbers by half for instance, and given a week to do so. If they do not comply, a dozen armored and enchanted elves may attack without warning, killing without mercy or compassion, until the village has an acceptable level of population.
To chop down a tree, or spoil the cultivated beauty of an area (by building a campsight, for instance) is considered a crime. Villages are responsible for maintaining the beauty of their surroundings, and failure to do so results in harsh sanctions. Everbright once ordered every man over fourteen in an entire village be blinded in their left eye, because they trimmed a glade of trees in a manner considered shoddy. The eyes were replaced with round semiprecious stones, non magical and non functional, so as to not themselves be ugly to look upon.
The wild hunt is a popular pastime of Utterdark nobility, who dress in magical armor and join a procession of other elves riding Empenya, and with their great, deadly hounds to hunt and kill sentients simply for the thrill of it. A wild hunt may be called simply because an orc, or goblin has been spotted, "Defiling their land by their mere existence"
All races on Arcadia are expected to pay tribute to the elves, serving them in a variety of ways. races with pleasing physical features may be kept as pets and servants, such as the ellyon, the occasional human, fawns, and leprechauns. For many years, Dwarves were the laborers of the elves, kept underground so that their squat ugly features remained out of sight, they were expected to mine, build and create all manner of things for the elves. Until one day, a thousand years ago, the entire race simply left the shard. The elves who went to retrieve them never returned, and the Elves forbid anyone speak of it. There are no longer any dwarves on Arcadia, and in the Dwarven book of Grudges, Arcadia has a entire section.
There is no great philosophical difference between the two elven cities, both have callous indifferent attitudes towards non-elves. However, its the "Dark Elves" that the rest of the shards fear.
Certain races are kept as pets and servants of the elves, these tend to be the "sylvan" races, and magical abilities are tolerated among them. These races are Ellyons, Leprechauns, centaurs, and fauns. Humans have become popular pets and servants in recent years. They are often enchanted or "glamored" to have a slave mentality.
There are many races other than elf on Arcadia, villages dot the landscape on both sides. The elves however rule the shard, any village that has grown too large, or that is considered "ugly" will be commanded to change. An elf may appear and order the village to reduce it's numbers by half for instance, and given a week to do so. If they do not comply, a dozen armored and enchanted elves may attack without warning, killing without mercy or compassion, until the village has an acceptable level of population.
To chop down a tree, or spoil the cultivated beauty of an area (by building a campsight, for instance) is considered a crime. Villages are responsible for maintaining the beauty of their surroundings, and failure to do so results in harsh sanctions. Everbright once ordered every man over fourteen in an entire village be blinded in their left eye, because they trimmed a glade of trees in a manner considered shoddy. The eyes were replaced with round semiprecious stones, non magical and non functional, so as to not themselves be ugly to look upon.
The wild hunt is a popular pastime of Utterdark nobility, who dress in magical armor and join a procession of other elves riding Empenya, and with their great, deadly hounds to hunt and kill sentients simply for the thrill of it. A wild hunt may be called simply because an orc, or goblin has been spotted, "Defiling their land by their mere existence"
All races on Arcadia are expected to pay tribute to the elves, serving them in a variety of ways. races with pleasing physical features may be kept as pets and servants, such as the ellyon, the occasional human, fawns, and leprechauns. For many years, Dwarves were the laborers of the elves, kept underground so that their squat ugly features remained out of sight, they were expected to mine, build and create all manner of things for the elves. Until one day, a thousand years ago, the entire race simply left the shard. The elves who went to retrieve them never returned, and the Elves forbid anyone speak of it. There are no longer any dwarves on Arcadia, and in the Dwarven book of Grudges, Arcadia has a entire section.
There is no great philosophical difference between the two elven cities, both have callous indifferent attitudes towards non-elves. However, its the "Dark Elves" that the rest of the shards fear.
It should also be noted that elves not on the shard of Arcadia, have learned to be more tolerant, or at least to hide their revulsion towards the ugly and graceless.
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