Velvet Mountains
Orders of Magi Population: 800
Giant Population: <1000
The Velvet Mountains span the entire northern boarder of Avonlea and create a “natural” boundary between Avonlea and the Wastes. The Mountains themselves are not a natural occurrence, they were raised by the Magi at the end of The Fall 3,000 years ago and are now the tallest mountain range on the continent. What few remaining members of the Orders were left claimed these mountains as the new home of the Orders. The main stronghold of the Magi, The Tower of Magi, rests almost directly in the center of the vast range, with smaller outposts set as needed along the way to form a sort of magical wall. The Magi man these outposts and have taken it upon themselves to protect Avonlea from the nasties in the Wastes though a few creatures do manage to get through on occasion. These are usually hunted down before they can do too much damage.
The Magi Tower can be seen for miles across the surrounding countryside, though it is only the tip of the magical iceberg beneath as the Orders have carved out vast interior sections of the Mountain. There are two ways to reach the Tower, one is an underground tram that starts at the base of the mountain and carries passengers and cargo up, or by airship to the Tower directly. There are small valleys dotting the mountain range that the Orders use to farm and keep livestock, as they needed to be as self sufficient as possible after the Fall. The only way to reach these valleys is by airship, or by use of the Portals that the Magi keep a very close eye on.
Bel’inor and the Courts
Population: 10,000
The majority of the land and people are governed by the Courts, but unlike some where one kingdom rules a certain stretch of land, the Courts Rule together. Each court has it’s own King and Queen and they all rule from the Capital City of Bel’inor. The Palace was designed with the Creator and the Destroyer in mind, golden arches and Obsidian statues dot the various walkways and paths. Bel’inor boasts one of the grandest gardens, though really it’s more a of zoo to display all the gifts the royals have gotten over the generations. Citizens of the city and surrounding lands are urged to pledge themselves to a Court upon their 18th birthday. Which Court they choose is entirely up to them though there is no shortage of family pressure upon the decision. Bel’inor itself is the largest city in Avonlea, with a mix of all races contained within it’s boarders. This has put quite the responsibility on the Courts to keep the peace between so many different factions but they have managed it rather well. (edited)
The Court of Summer Also known as The Light Court, it is easy to mistake the Summer Court as being the “better” of the two. It is merely that they prefer to hide their arguments and infighting behind closed doors and are fairly skilled in maintaining what they refer to as “the Mask” or the emotionless face they show the world. They do not give their word lightly and are sticklers for the old traditions of hearth and hospitality. The King and Queen of Summer are heredity positions, passed down through noble families. The Crown goes to the oldest child and whomever they marry. These marriages are usually business contracts to secure power and resources for the various families involved. It is possible for a House to be unseated though it takes the other houses meeting and voting them out in a Quorum.
The Court of Winter Also known as The Dark Court, it is easy to mistake the Winter Court for being the more “dangerous” of the two. It is merely that they do not hide their emotions and are often prone to feats of strength and superiority at the drop of a hat. They don’t see the point in hiding their fun. The King and Queen of Winter are titles bestowed upon the House that wins the Winter Games. Each House submits their best and brightest, and strongest. While technically there isn’t supposed to be any killing, there has never been a Winter Game without at least one death. The competitors must finish the Games on their own merit, and while Cheating is highly discouraged and punishable, everyone does it. While there is a bit of a tradition that the winners of the Games that become King and Queen marry, it is not required and on occasion siblings of ruled side by side.
The Wastes
Everything north of the Velvet Mountains is known as the Wastes. The Magi often send expeditions to try and reclaim some of what was lost, and other nations also do the same, usually by hiring Magi to accompany them and protect them. The Wastes are not to be taken lightly. Many of the creatures and beings left behind during the Fall have been mutated by the magic that surges through the Wastes. Many who spend too much time in the Wastes can become one of the Wasted themselves and even those protected by magic such as the Magi can become ill with Mana Poisoning which is fatal if not treated.
Orinael
Orinael is a small, steadily growing town with a little over two hundred permanent residenta. It has a rich history thanks to its location at the midway point between Bel’inor and the Tower. The town was founded by country elves that has turned into a midway stop for those traveling from Bel’inor to the Academy, or vice versa. A town equally surrounded by scattered forests, and spots of open fields similar to the prairies that could be found elsewhere. With it’s perfect location, of course it wasn’t just elves who lived here for long. Gradually all sorts of people filed in. Everything is connected by dirt roads and all except the farms are within walking district to the markets and important locations of downtown.
Elswyth Grove
To the west lies one of the most ancient forests on the continent, home to the Elder Grove of Dryads and any manner of forest dwelling creature. These forests are wild, and they do not take kindly to strangers that stray from the dirt roads.