Evereska

Evereska (, Elvish for "fortress home") was a secreted city within a fabled valley in the Western Heartlands, one of the last realms of the elves in the North. Founded in secret during the Founding Time, Evereska became a haven for the remaining Fair Folk in Faerûn following the Retreat, during the early years of the Era of Upheaval.

Description
Houses in Evereska were worked into the landscape and it was possible to float large items in the city. Blueleaf trees covered the valley and were sculpted by magic. Weather conditions and diseases were regulated by the city's magical mythal.

The mythal of Evereska was a semi-sentient magical creation that protected the city and residents, granting them better quality of life in myriad ways.

Entrance
Admittance into Evereska was only available by means of the Passing, consisting of a specific password or invitation from the Hill Elders.

Geography
Evereska lay in a valley completely encircled by twelve hills collectively known as the Shaeradim, so it was not visible from the valley below. The Shaeradim were sculpted into a large terraced garden, and inhabited by moon and sun elves. The city of Evereska itself was situated on a large stone pedestal, formed the marble cliffs known as the Three Sisters, that rose nearly from the grassland below.

The flat farmlands beyond the city and its mesa were known as the Meadow. The edge of this region designated the Meadow Wall marked the border of the city's mythal. Beyond the wall was the Vine Vale, a stretch of terraced vineyards and orchards hidden behind the mists that sheltered the Evereska from outsdiers.

One of the nearest non-natural landmarks to Evereska was the Halfway Inn, located an hour's travel away from the city on the edge of its realm of influence.

Geographical Features
While Evereska itself was set upon a mesa, a number of smaller hills and mounds served as landmarks throughout the city. Among these were Bellcrest Hill; Cloudcrown Hill lay in the northwest of the city, around which were built a number of noble estates; Moondark Hill in the east, a known "ambushing spot" of the city's Hill Elders; and Goldmorn Knoll rose just south of the heart of the city.

Other natural markers in the city inlcuded the secluded Groaning Cave in the north, the sparkling Dawnsglory Pond in the south, and Starmeadow.

Society
Evereska was known as the home of elven culture on mainland Faerûn for a period following the first collapse and rebirth of Myth Drannor. It was home to The People's most powerful spellcasters and clergy of the Seldarine.

As of the late 14 century DR, the city of Evereska was home to to some of the most notable noble elven families.

Culture
While it was known to once only be available to gnomish smiths, the secrets of the fabled arandur metal was known to some elven craftspeople of Evereska.

The spirited drink Evereskan clearwater could be found in taverns outside the city, as far away as Waterdeep.

Magic
Throughout its history, Evereska was home to elven dualists, practitioners of magic that focused on a single specific school of magic.

Some Evereskan elves spent their time in deep caverns working to create new spells.

Government
The leadership of Evereska comprised a group of senior elves and eladrin known as the Hill Elders, a shared council that held court at the Hall of the High Hunt. Members of the council included Tomb Master Kiinyon Colbathin, High Huntsman Pleufan Trueshot, Lord Erlan Duirsar, and Gervas Imesfor.

The leaders of Evereska maintained contact with the Elven Imperial Fleet as of the 14 century DR.

Law & Order
The Evereska Charter passed in the, stated that anyone seen defiling tombs within the Greycloak Hills were subject to the judgement and punshment of the Evereskan elves.

Trade
Because the hills around Evereska contained little in the way of ores, metals were imported into the city, in exchange for paintings, sculptures, crafted wooden items, and wine.

Prominent trade families included the moon elf houses of Alaenree, Coudoarluth, Presrae, and Straeth; the gold elf Elond, Immeril, and Naelgrath families; and the sylvan elf family of Shalandalan.

Defenses
The warriors defending the city were equipped with enchanted armor that allowed them to fly.

Armed Forces
The collective military of the city were appropriately referred to as the Army of Evereska, one that comprised of several different branches. The Long Watch as the exterior army beyond the protection of the city's valley, and the Swords of Evereska served the noble army, composed of the Noble Blades and Lordly Wands, Evereska's most skill warriors were drawn into the Cold Hand, an elite force commander commanded by High Lord Duirsar himself.

The Vale Guard served as Evereska's equivilant of a city guard, whose jurisdiction extended out to the greater valley, while the Tomb Guard acted as protectors of all elven crypts within the Greycloak Hills.

Early History
Evereska's valley was believed to have first been populated by elves during the Founding Time, specifically in the  by several clans hailing from ancient Aryvandaar. They sought to create a secret refuge for their people, known only to the Tel'Quessir.

When the empire of Aryvandaar fell, the elves of Evereska allied themselves with those from Sharrven to help prevent the realm of Siluvanede from suffering the same fate.

The existence of Evereska remained secret until the, when its location was uncovered by human tribes living within the Greycloak Hills. They only managed to keep the city's secret safe for a mere few centuries.

14 Century
In Hammer of the, Evereska was assaulted by phaerimm that were freed from the Sharn Wall beneath Anauroch the year before.

During the conflict, the aberrent monstrosities damaged the city's mythal and causing further destruction. The Evereskans were able to repel the attack using magic. In the aftermath of the fighting, a few phaerimm and elves who lost their wits in the battle wandered the Evereskan valley, nearly all of the Tomb Guard were destroyed, along with many of the Vale Guard and more than half of the Swords of Evereska.

Aftermath of War
The survivors of the battle with the phaerimm were all younger elves, and they protected their existence violently if they encountered a threat. They regarded looters as deserving of death. Occasional clashes broke out between the surviving elves and phaerimm. Some elves traveled from other parts of Faerûn to join the remaining Evereskan elves, and some removed the remaining treasures of Evereska, moving them to safer locations.

The gardens of the valley became untended and overgrown and many of the bridges in the valley were broken. Elves designated helmed horrors and shield guardians to protect their houses. The damage to the mythal caused Evereska to be cloaked in mist or fine rain. Unpredicatable magical effects arose seemingly out of nowhere.

Following the world-altering Spellplague in the, the barrier between Evereska and the Feywild became less distinct and clear. For some time it existed equally between both the Feywild and the Prime Material plane.

15 Century
During the emergence of the second Netherese empire, the elves of Evereska remained stalwart defenders against the empire's westward expansion.

After the second fall of Myth Drannor in the, many refugees came to Evereska but some of them were unhappy with Evereska's reclusiveness.

Buildings

 * Academy of Magic
 * Academy of Arms
 * Cloudcrown Palace
 * Cloudtop Tower
 * Hall of the High Hunt
 * Hall of the Kaliesh'erai, home of the association of elves devoted to the study and practice of psionics.
 * Tower Higher than Eastpeak
 * Tower of the Moon's Magic
 * Unicorn and Crescent

Landmarks

 * Floating Gardens of Aerdrie Faenya
 * The Alliance
 * Statue of the Godess of Beauty

Inhabitants
Evereska was known safe haven to all members of the Harpers, one of the few predominantly-human groups that were granted admittance within.

The city was home to one cell of the Eldreth Veluuthra, a collective of elves that believed in wielding violence to further the interests of the elven people.

Notable Inhabitants

 * Adrianna, the sorceress-adventurer that helped topple the Dark Alliance.
 * Daryngrynth Sharparrow
 * Erevain Blacksheaf, an adventurer and explorer that rather see all the Realms than join the Retreat.
 * Galaeron Nihmedu, the Evereskan Tomb Guard that emerged as a hero during the crisis with the phaerimm.
 * Ilmadia Bariel, a devotee and lieutenant of the fiend Baphomet.
 * Irilivar Celevessin
 * Linu La'neral, a rather naive but good-hearted cleric of Sehanine Moonbow.
 * Phaerl Hawksong, the senior priestess of Sehanine and agent of the Moonstars.
 * Rhaellen Darthammel, one of the city's blademajors.
 * Vartan Hai Sylvar
 * Xan, an agent of the city sent to investigate the iron crisis on the Sword Coast.
 * Ysuran Auondril, a famous necromancer that helped a band of adventurers put an end to the vampire Mordoc SeLanmere.
 * Z'beryl, the adventuring name of member of the royal family of Evermeet.

Appearances

 * Novels
 * Swords of Eveningstar • Return of the Archwizards
 * Video Games
 * Baldur's Gate
 * Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
 * Parnast Under Siege
 * Parnast Under Siege
 * Parnast Under Siege