Winya Ravana - The Beauty surrounded by water

[Amarice-Elaraliel]

The Elven City Winya Ravana

Much has happened within the elven city on the island called Amia. Much is still happening.

[Amarice-Elaraliel]

The War of Dragons in the Holy City

The brave elves stood true to their alliance to the Holy City when fate took and ugly turn and two powerful dragons ravaged the city and put it aflame. Only a few elves remained within their city to protect it, while most ventured out to aid.

The Elder Shethal aided the mages in creating a portal to the positive energy plane in a desperate attempt to counter the frightening masses of negative energy and creatures that seeped out of a massive rift to the plane of the negative energy.

A partial success that blacklashed and while balancing the other rift, for a long time both remained open and the Elder was gravely injured.

Elder Cael'vin gave his life in an attempt to save the Justicar, though both perished this day.

The elves fought bravely, giving their all and remaining until the last citizen was evacuated. 200 elven lives were lost that day. A loss still mourned this day.

[Amarice-Elaraliel]

The Fading

When the Orcs of the Horde struck the elven city, the elves fought on all sides to repell them. Successfully. However a small delegation managed to port into the temple of Corellon while most of the soulders were fighting outside. The foul creatures searched for valuables and found one in shape of a giant crystal. Elder Vilmandel and his guard fought bravely against the horrid creatures, however the crystal was chipped in the struggle. The Orc caster managed to flee with the piece of crystal while his comrades perished. Elder Vilmandel also succumbed to his grave wounds shortly later.

This is when parts of the city began to vanish.

The crystal was part of the High Magic ritual that once was used to hide the entire city in a grave war on the island. As the spell focus now was damaged, the city once more began to randomy fade to Arvandor in parts with the complex magic disrupted.

A band of brave elves set out to find the crystal and return it. The mission was a success and the crystal could be mended and made whole again.

Unfortunately, the dangerous and old magic was beyond anyones ability to bring the buildings which were missing back to the prime. However, a visit of several brave elves with Elder Shethal to Arvandor resulted in a succesful recovering of any important item and the elves which had been unfortunate to be inside the buildings when they had vanished. The inhabitans of the plane of the elven gods had taken good care of them while they had been their guests.

[Amarice-Elaraliel]

The Rebuild

In good spirits of having recovered their brethen and all important atrifacts, the elves immediately begun their reconstruction, determined to not only restore what was lost but restore it more beautifully even.

In several meetings, it was decided to build several towers to oversee the area. The temple would be rebuilt in marble. A little smaller but no less beautiful. A garden was to be made to rest in and enjoy. A few buildings replaced. The Armathora Headquarters are to recieve an overhaul and the currently unused Le'Quella house is to be made a public house for gatherings. The top of the library is to become the headquarters of the Selu'taar, the elven mages.

The elves began to gather, wood and asked their allies and generally called out for help in gathering marble, stone and metal.

[Amarice-Elaraliel]

The Aquatic Outpost

A delegation of Aquatic cousins from Iumathiashae approached Winya Ravana about building a small outpost in the sea nearby for both trade and exchange of culture. The Outpost is to have a small shrine to the dolphin price as well as a shop. A few meetings were held and places explored, until they settled of the area of the bay near Kampo, between Kampo and the Shrine of Eilistraee. The Outpost will be able to the entered by both sides.

After the elves of Winya Ravana and the Dark Elves of the Shrine helped repel some Sahuagin who tried to make themselves comfortable in the region, the Aquatic Elves began to build the Outpost with the natural materials provided by the sea. The brothers Kerithlan and Deranthil Danlianthol (//Silverpearl) were quite greatful for the warm welcome, the help in finding a good spot and repelling their wors enemy, as well as donating the treasure they found when fighting the Sahuagin to the Outpost.

[Amarice-Elaraliel]

The Faerie Tree

During one meeting, the Archfey Cypress paid her due to the elven city to see her protégé Glendil. As the elves and the fey spoke, the agreed to rebuild the faerie tree which one was part of Winya Ravana to restore their former good relationship, which sadly had suffered gravely over the last decade.

Cypress offered to create the tree for them as well as offer some seeds from her own garden for the Winya gardens, if the elves aid in ridding a dryad in distress from her circle from a green dragon who is tormenting her. The elves agreed and repelled the foul beast. While they could not slay it that day due to a double crossing, the deal was still fulfilled as Cypress had no specified a need to slay the dragon, only to ensure it would no longer haress the young dryad Pinia.

[Amarice-Elaraliel]

The Lost Relic

Ravarieth, a Champion of Vandria Gilmadrith came to Winya Ravana's aid when asked for such after the loss of so many in the Wars before. She came to Winya from Evermeet, with 11 more elves of her Elite Squad.

As time progressed she told the elves that a relic was stolen from the temple of her goddess in Evermeet and that she will have to set out to find it some day.

The relic in question is a bow which was used by the Chosen of Vandria Gilmadrith in the Crown wars. Investigation so far revealed that it was Ravarieth own apprentice who stole the sacred relic. Evidence found leads to the horrible suspicion that the sun elf apprentice was really a Fey'ri in disguise.

The brave elves of Winya Ravana have offered their aid in finding the missing relic and returning it to where it belongs.

[Amarice-Elaraliel]

The Beauty and the Beast

Cypress, the Leanansidhe, asked Glendil and the rest of Winya to aid the dryad Pinia, who has been troubled by a green dragon who decided to make his lair behind a waterfall in the High Forest, very close to Pinia's tree. The dragon made it a habit to bother the young dryad, who was by far outpowered by him.

Our brave elves travelled to the High Forest via a Faerie Crossroad. They decided to send ahead the mage Tazlin, a drow wizard, to gauge the dragon. When the adventurers eventually stormed in and slayed the beast, it was a surpisingly short and easy battle. Some, especially the dragon blooded, suspected they had not slain the real Ferro.

They did however recover some of the beasts scales, which aided Cypress in forming a potent charm to stop the beast from approaching the dryad's tree ever again, as unfortunately the suspicion was confirmed, the dragon escaped and a magical clone was slain.

Cypress still upheld her side of the bargain as she only asked the elves to get rid of the dragon, but did not truly care how such was performed.

[Amarice-Elaraliel]

Those Lost to the Light of the Seldarine

Ravarieth had organized the belongings of Liayra, the apprentice who was suspected to have taken the Lost Relic from the Shrine of Vandria Gilmadrith in Evermeet. Among clothes, scrolls and a note book, they also found a rather elaborate amulet. Glendil recognized this kind of amulet as one usually used as a decoy, with a secret opening and the real amulet hidden inside. Some of the elves with their keen enough vision were able to spot the opening and they managed to pick the tiny lock. The amulet inside bore the symbol of House Dlardrageth. There also was a tiny teadrop shape made of glass with a single drop of blood inside. They found no means how it could be opened or how the blood had gotten in there to begin with.

Our brave Winyans opted to try and locate an object. The spell was successful and the answer they were rewarded with was "High Forest; Ruins of Myth Relthwin". They asked Ravarieth about the location as they have never heard of it. She revealed that it used to be an elven outpost, but became a refuge and last stand in the fifth Crown wars. The small city was utterly destroyed and is only ruins, however, the demons and Fey'ri which attacked it were defeated. This fight was led by the Champion of Vandria who the artifact that was stolen belonged to.

For some reason however, this fight, as well well as Myth Relthwin were wiped from all documents and records. Ravarieth did also not know why, but she knew that only the highest ranking orders are told of it and also always only verbally and are forbidden to write sich down or mark the location on the map. The ruins are warded by fey magic, for thosee who do not explicitly know what they are looking for, they feel compelled to go another way when they get near it.

The elves decided to prepare and head there as soon as possible.

Ravarith joined the endevour, while Shethal opted to stay behind and watch over the city while some of the best fighters and magi were out. She did however make each brave soul who joined a trinket, to protect them on their journey.

Off they went to the High Forest right after. The faerie magic which had been used to keep the ruins hidden tried to bring them off course, but since they knew where they wanted to go they were able surpass it with an effort of their will and ended at a blocked bridged. When they tried to move the rocks, they disovered they were not real and they could simply walk through the rocks and mist.

Arriving at the ruins they looked around in awe. Clearly the elven city was once a beautiful sight to behold, even though it was now in ruins, it was easy to tell.

They found a lot of skeletons, both of friend and foe. But also things of beauty, a damaged elven longboat which showed traces of magic on it, It seemed such was one of Myth Relthwins trades.

Eventually they found the old temple of Corellon and ran into two demonic imbused guard hounds as well as a bunch of traps. A battle was unavoidable, but out brave elves stood victorious. The entry to the temple however, had been magically sealed. The rogue disabled the traps and the mages unraveled the magical wards so they could enter. Most of the interior was broken, rotten and decyed, but some paintings, small statues, vases were still of beauty and to be salvaged later.

Eventually they ran into a statue of a pegasus with an elven inscription at its feet "To carry you beyond I need the things three, elven friend. Two eyes, to see where I am going. Two lights lit to find the way. And wind beneath my wings to carry me."

Our seasoned adventurers figured out they needed the 2 saphire gem pupils from the lion fountain at the entry, to light the two candles at the same time in the side rooms and finally to cast a wind spell upon the statue for it to reveal a passage to the inner sanctum of the temple.

Once the riddle was solved and they could move through towards the inner sanctum, they found a shattered mythallar from old times, a statue of Corellon and a staircase up on each side of the statue. The right pedestral on the right staircase had the bow relic they sought embedded in it and the door stood open. An ominous sight.

It did however not stop the elves from going up the staircase and through the door. They found the fey'ri Liayra and she had just finished to re-open the abyssal gate, which had been locked away there and demons started coming through.

One part of the group kept Liayra busy, while the other part was busy destroying the structure of the portal gate and closing it. Dozens of demons had to be slain and sent back to abyss before the portal structure could be destroyed, as well as the large tome which ocntained how to build it and what ritual was needed to activate it.

On Liayra's Corpse they found her tome with all her studies, as well as a dragon egg, which they were not able to identify at first.

At last, they ventured to the second room by unlocking it with the bow. This one contained one sacraficed dead Fey'ri and according to Liayra's tome a second one which was now missing, as two should have been in there.

A victors... but who was the missing Fey'ri? Maybe the tome would give more answers. And the more pressing question... would he or see seek revenge?

[Amarice-Elaraliel]

The Faerie Festival - Cypress Garden

Cypress invited all of Winya Ravana to her promotion to the inner cycle of Titania. Many fey had gathered, as well as beautiful magical creatures like Unicorns, pegasi and many a fey animal. The festival took place in Cypress Garden in Faerie and she had spent week in preperation to have it look at its best.

Exotic and unforgettable fey food and drinks made people never want to leave, along with the sheer beauty of color, scent and vibrance that is the realm of Faerie. Mortals and Faeries alike enjoyed a full night of dancing, drinking, eating and talking without a worry in the world and without a shadow on the heart. All such sorrow and negativity was lifted on this beautiful realm. Though a few of the mortals had a very peaceful but early slumber, indulging a little too much in the foreign food and drinks.

And in between, even Titania herself, made a very short appearance. First disguised as a large white rabbit, standing with the Mad Hatter, she eventually tranformed into her breathtaking self as she flew off and congratulated Lady Cypress to her promotion.

[Amarice-Elaraliel]

Trouble in the Sea

The Aquatic Elves Kerithlan and Deranthil Danlianthol from the city of Iumathiashae asked their land-dwelling cousins for aid. An important relic, a staff of Deep Sashelas which once belonged to a High Priest of the faith, had fallen into the hands of the enemy, a Koalinth Shaman. The Koalinth, being very similar to the surface Hobgoblins, are dangerous enemies, cunning and organized in warfare. Additionally the Shaman is now (ab)using the staff to bend a multitude of sea creatures to his will.

A risky, but worthy, plan was forged. The Orca by the name Waves, a friend of our Aquatic Elf brothers, would serve as bait for the shaman, pretending to be injured to lure him our of their fortress to catch the worthy new price.

The plan worked and they could ambush the High Shaman and the troops who accompanied him. It was a challenging battle under water, the Koalinth and their War Sharks clearly at an advantage in this territory. The aquatic kin, as well as Waves, aided our brace heroes as well as they could.

In the end, they managed to defeat the foe and retrieve the staff. They managed to do so without killing the sea snake the Shaman had forced to aid him. Many dolphins escaped the fortress shortly after, unfortunately, not all made it.

Unfortunately the victory only lasted a few weeks. Kerithlan had to return with sad news one day, that one of his kin had been slain and his brother captured. The Koalinth made a ransom, 5 million gold, aquatic weapons and the return of the staff as retribution for their lost kin and to return the prisoner to the aquatic elves.

A new plan was made. A cursed decoy staff forged, one which would have a lure on it, that all near it would desperately want to have it. By all means necessary. The gold was made of magical fools gold. Only 10% of it real coin which lay on top in the chest. The weapons would be the only properly real thing.

Once all items were created they met with the new shaman. The situation was tense, especially when the Koalinth warrior checked the weapons and the gold. Luckily, he did not dig all too deep into the gold chest, though he did check several coins.

Lastly, the shaman tested the staff on the dolphin friend which accompanied them to carry the weapon chest. A grim mood and dark tension went through our group, they did not like this at all. But they upheld their game and the shaman released the animal after being assured the staff worked as intended.

The injured elf was returned and brought to the new outpost which was soon to officially open.

Now the nightmare was over.

Or is it? What will happen when the Koalinth discover the truth?

[Amarice-Elaraliel]

Winya Ravana and its Dragons

Everyone knows Elder Shethal as an elven High Mage. Many know her as one of the last remaining members of House Nierdre. Very few know her as a dragon rider. Her dragon companion is a rare tome dragon she only introduces as "Tuvor" which, as with most dragons, likely is only a shortned down version of his tue name.

Tuvor confirmed Lady Cypress suspicion that the beautiful, but not matching any of the usual culprit, dragon egg is indeed a Crystal Dragon. As Crystal Dragons are not evil in nature, he agreed to help hatch the egg.

And several months after the egg was found, hatched it did. Not unusual for a dragon wyrmling, the young male crystal dragon was fully capable of speech when he hatched and quite delighted as the elves began showering him with gems and gold and he already could get his own hoard started from day one. Him also eating Galen's ioun stone, which so invitingly floated around him, made Iounblaze, along with Glacierblaze, the suggested names for him. The Winyans seemed rather torn which name is better, so he decided to simply listen to both.

He soon found a spot for his lair, in the tunnels from Winya Ravana to Skyforest, behind the protective walls was were he settled. Also to aid in protecting the cavern passage,of course. But really, mostly to admire his hoard.

[Amarice-Elaraliel]

The Wild Hunt

While not exclusively an event of Winya Ravana, Cypress invited the elves of the city to this years Wild Hunt. While the Wild Hunt itself is happening every year, this one was special in the regard that both Courts, seelie and unseelie, called upon the hunt on the very same target. This had not happened in over 1.000 years. The target was one Viscount Maximilian Dumont, a mage of the nastiest sort who used magical creatures and fey for his experiments and to harvest them for magical components.

As always, the Hunt was led by the Erlking. All who were not of feyblood, were transformed to hounds of the Wild Hunt. The Erlking rode ahead, through the air on his green steed, followed by the whole hunting party. They swept in lightning speed over land and ocean until they arrived near the Viscounts Manor. The forest which led to it, was filled with raised bones of his victims as well as undead children he had used as bait to lure the fey but had somehow wronged him or he simply grew bored of them.

As is the way of the hunt, all who stood in their way were slain. Be it the undead out in the forest, or the guards inside the manor, the grisly zombified green dragon or the Viscount and his enslaved Owlbear.

Once the culprit was dead, the Erlking joined the other groups of the hunt who had different targets. Cypress and our adventurers remained to free the victims that still could be saved.

It was a cruel and disheartening scene. Skinned unicorns, pixies with torn out wings, a pegasus with broken wings and torn out feathers, Huldra and Nymph harvested for blood and hair. A brass dragon imbused with a demonic taint. A warg whose eyes had been removed. Pinia who was trapped ina device to harvest her blood. A Qilin with a missing horn and several torn out scales.The cruelties were endless and sickening and everyone was glad the Viscount had recieved what he deserved.

Some of the pixies and magical beasts decided to stay with and aid those who freed them. Angry by what they had witnessed in cruelty, the heroes of our story tore the entire Manor down once all were freed and their wounds tended to.

[Amarice-Elaraliel]

An Elf's Best Friend

Some elven meetings are more special than others. During one of the recent ones, Elder Shethal had a little surprise for her fellow elves. A Cooshee Breeder from Evermeet had agreed to come to the city and offer the guards some of her precious animals. She was also willing to part with some to the general population, if the Cooshees chose them. For the elven dogs were not like normal dogs. These magical beasts have very independent spirits and are generally distrustful of creatures that aren't elves or half-elves. They are also highly protective of their offspring.

Almost the size of a pony, they are surprisingly agile for such a big creature and skilled at moving silently. Their bark carries over a mile and can easily alert when need arises. Additionally they are rather skilled in combat too, if needed be. They sport thick green coats of fur with brown spots. Their claws are curved, allowing them better traction in the forest grounds they typically roam, and they have ears that pointed straight up.Their tails are of a curved nature, always held high, except when being scolded. They form a very close bond to their chosen elf or half-elf and are very loyal and fiercly protective.

Almost more of a sight than her magnificent dogs however was the breeder herself. Fera'ethal, one of the Star Elves. Some also call them mithral elves, or Ruar-tel-quessir, and very few can be seen these days. She stood at least a head taller than Shethal, with hair the color of pure gold and violet shaded eyes with golden flecks of a similar tone as her hair in them. All elves are beautiful, but this particular elf still managed to make most other elves look unimpressive. She may be seen a few more times within the city, as the cautious and elusive woman agreed to help the guard train their new green furred family members.

[Amarice-Elaraliel]

The Fey Cherry Tree

While the elves held there meeting, one Tome Dragon by the name of Tuvor'thrindorlynx, to most simply known as Tuvor, was napping under the Fey Cherry Tree. Enjoying the ever consistant temperture underneath it.

With a start the majestic creature woke, angry cursing and muttering and a roar could be heard by the elves in the middle of their discussion.

The pixies had colored the beautiful long white beard of the tome dragon a bright pink and adorned it with glitter and various flowers while also braiding it.... to the tree.

A harmless prank, but the dragon will likely think twice sleeping under the faerie tree again. Or will he do it still, just to spite them and maybe even plan a come back?

To be continued...

[Amarice-Elaraliel]

The Hunt

The Winyan Elders and Councilors Shethal and Ta'ama called for a meeting together with the Shrine of Eilistraee to discuss common foes and further relations.

Afterwards the allies were invited for to a hunt of a dreadful creature that has begun to settle in the SkyForest/Crystal lake and wreak havoc there.

A few more allies were gathered and followed the keen nose of the Cooshee Starglow who managed to tracked the scent of the wicked beast.

Soon enough as our group ventured deeper into the oddly quiet and forest with a clear absence of animals, they were attacked not only by one but by two of the vicious and intelligent beasts.

Our brave heros fought with all they had and eventually the creatures were slain.

Two cubs remained... one killed, one taken in by a good soul. Was that a wise decision though? We shall see...

[Amarice-Elaraliel]

The Search for the long lost

An old entry in the journals of Winya Ravana was, by pure coincidence, found by a certain tome dragon who spends most of his time in the Winyan Library and Archives that was quite of interest. It mentioned a few artifacts stolen in one of the many drow raids that had plagued the lands on an almost weekly basis up until maybe a decade ago. With the old Ultrinnan and Underport flooded, the clever wyrm wondered what may have happened to the important relics. More investigation followed, and eventually the elves decided to explore the area.

It did not take too long before they ran into the first troubles. Kuo Toa would leap from the waters, trying to stop them from pushing forward. Alongside of vicious bullsharks, they screamed at the intruders with what could only be described as sheer insanity.

An attempt to speak with the creatures, was sadly cut short when our brave heros noticed that the Fishmen did not appear to act solely on their own accord and pushed on.

As they pressed on, the eery, sinister feeling of the underdark, deeper down into the tunnels, multiplied a tenfold. Chills ran down their spines as they felt something prodding their minds the second a mindblank would wear out.

At the end of their journey, an opening loomed ahead of them, dark and foreboding. It emitted a twisted feeling of sheer evil and malice not of this world.

They came so far, so they swallowed their hesistation and pressed on, despite the dreadful feeling.

A grisly scene awaited them of bodies with part of upper cap of their skull missing. Most dead... some still alive but their eyes vacant and a parasite embedded into them.

The culprit of the ghastly deeds showed itself soon enough. A mindflayer who had retreated deep into the tunnels when the Elder brain had died, trying to build his own empire, using the Kuo Toa as tools to get more valuable brains as those of the fishmen were considered... lacking.

A few words were exchanged, but in the end the elves were not interested to bargain with something so malicious and and attacked it and its beast.

A tough battle began, that did not look too good at the beginning for our heros who may have underestimated the potent mages power. Only when they managed to seperate his beast and him and took them on one after another, lady luck looked more favorably upon them.

The one still living victim was granted a swift, merciful death, as the parasite seemed impossible to remove from its weakned mind.

On the Flayers body, they found a single runestone, which after some investigation, connected to another rune on the ground and opened a portal.

Was it safe to enter a portal, likely created by this beast?

Luckily, the portal only led to a secret chamber, where some treasures were stowed away. Along with some broken elven Glassteel Golems, there was a chest of gold and jewels as well as a magically locked chest of elven design. The Flayer likely tried to open it but could not as of yet.

The old inscription read in elven letters "Prove of kin, will let you in."

A single drop of blood from a still living elf made the entire chest glow beautifully in elven inscription.

Among ancient elven tomes, jewlery and 2 Kiira, a small plush toy cooshee was discovered.

The two chests and the golems were secured and returned to Winya and handed over to Elder Shethal.

The books would go to a display in the library and the jewlery to a display in the temple. Shethal offered the two Kiira's to our brave heros as she was able to create those and they did not seem to have any specific value to the people as a whole or connected to a specific person of interest. The little Cooshee Plush, she discovered once belonged to the meanwhile passed Elder Vilmandel as a child. As he had no more living relatives, it was also allowed to stay with one of the elven adventurers.

In the name of the City, Shethal promised to create a reward for those who helped recover these artifacts and surrender them to Winya Ravana.