The Unseen, the Unheard
Long ago, migrations tore species apart. Even the Elves are subject to humiliation and strife. Therefore, the secrets of their most powerful druids left the Twilight Elves. They became wandering nomads, collecting followers across the land and heralding their cause as Nature's Call to Arms. This cultist phenomenon, called the Cult of Deman, began mutating its followers through eldritch magic, transforming them into elf-like creatures or centaurian dryads and the occasional treekin. The leaders did not seem to care, calling it the righteous path.
One of their followers spoke out, however. Her name: Tyalla Warblossom.
In an attempt to undermine the cult, she began to secretly rally members to her own cause of finding a home rather than forcing everyone else to bend to their rules. The druids responsible for leading the group were understandably outraged, and cursed Tyalla and her followers with a spell of skinshifting before banishing them into the wilds. The cult practices to this day, plotting the end of civilization and replacing it all with endless natural power for them to manipulate at will.
However, Tyalla bore a son in her dying days. She named him Kythos and raised him even as the Elves around them slowly disappeared one by one, becoming part of the forest that surrounded them. Tyalla became the last of these trees, and leaving Kythos alone in the world with only a small seed to remember. This would be his rite of passage, one he would ultimately overcome and which would bind him to the elements.
He found other Elves and mutants, escapees of the cult of corrupted druids who eventually had turned to darker sources of power. Rumor spread of them practicing necromancy, obsessed with destroying the world and creating it anew from the ashes. Kythos banded the remnants of the lives destroyed by these psychopaths and finally found sanctuary in the gardens near the Dragonmaw Barricade. There, he build Thuldras atop the enchanted seed born from the haven of his fallen people. Once the civilization began to flourish, the seed cracked open and bore fruit.
Thuldras is now closer to the clouds than even the Twilight Elves can hope for, rooted inside the loving arms of the massive Azurebranch Biotitan ecosystem, a tree that combines both forest and lakeside within its canopy into a truly magnificent environment rising towards the sky. The city of Thuldras itself hides alongside glistening rivers and waterways underneath the imposing branches hinting at sunlight above it. The only way to achieve safe passage to it is by flying there on the backs of faerie dragons bred for transportation and, if necessary, war.
Lay of the Land
Thuldras in of itself is a marvel of druidic power that the Cult of Demand could never achieve. It is the fruit of the labor borne from hundreds of Wood Elves, each contributing all of their dying energies into a single seed, the last hope of their kind. Living buildings change and contort to the needs of their occupants, eliminating archaic means of construction and demolition entirely. Lakes filled with water drawn from the morning dew can never go dry, for each sunrise brings about a fresh rain from overhead as the Azurebranch Biotitan shakes its leaves to greet another day. Roadways carved from purest stone are constantly manipulating by the roots of the grass and allow for unmatched comfort even with bare feet against an otherwise cold surface.
As to be expected, Thuldras is a haven for the local wildlife. Fairie dragons were among the first to encounter the Wood Elves, intrigued by the latest species that they could not decide whether to eat or watch. Eventually, however, they were tamed. The beasts known across the land for pulping bystanders with a careless magic sneeze were instead made as docile as a housecat and trained for the ferrying services necessary for maintaining Thuldras and beyond.
All sorts of hoofed creatures populate Thuldras, ranging from deer to moss rhino, as well as the sentient centaurian dryads. They are peaceful and well-mannered, as opposed to their "cousins" in the actual Centaur race.
Some of the most elusive and bizarre creatures are the treekin. Originally Elves who bore the brunt of the Cult of Demand's forbidden magics, the treekin were forever cursed to be humanoid plants, as well as to pass this trait to any children they might have. Despite the obvious "kill it with fire" solutions, treekin are well aware of their weakness and have developed waterways within their bloodstreams so that they may quench the blazes wherever they might spring up. Also, in contrast to their meek and quiet natures, the treekin are invaluable shock troops that make up the majority of the heavy hitters available to the Wood Elves. As such, the larger elementals that have grown to giant size over time are natural guardians, bodyguards, and battlefield juggernauts.
The treekin seem to enjoy birds more than any other fauna floating around Thuldras. As such, there are literally hundreds of bird species that flock to the Azurebranch Biotitan.
The leader of the treekin, Barkbeard, is especially fond of the family of blue warblers that have made a nest on top of his throne.
Dancing to the War Drums
When one looks upon their works, it is difficult to see the Wood Elves as anything but pansy florists and pacifistic tree huggers. That is because their military is always abroad, relentlessly scouting the roots of the Azurebranch Biotitan and the borders of their forest for enemies.
Mainly a fast-paced warrior, the typical Wood Elf carries a bow with thirty arrows in the quiver, a long silver knife for skinning and close-quarters combat, enough food to last until the next return to Thuldras for supplies (though Wood Elves are notorious for surviving off the land in any condition), and primarily leather armor with specialized steelbark plates.
The roar of palejade-covered Stag Riders echo on the hidden roads to Thuldras. No army has ever seen the roots of the Azurebranch Biotitan, nor has any hostile foe. Spies and assassins tasked with infiltrating the city are never heard from again.
All in all, a very mysterious and dangerous place. Which is why those who adventure on Skellbrieg must find it!
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