Aeternia crest

Aeternia

The Aeternian Empire — marble spires amid endless forests

Aeternia — forests and marble spires

Overview

Aeternia, formally known as the Aeternian Empire, is a realm draped in timeless majesty, where legend and history entwine as seamlessly as root and branch. Stretching from the rugged western coast of Kelos to the gentle flow of the River Lool, and northward to the snow-touched town of Winter, Aeternia has stood for at least five millennia as one of the oldest nations still breathing its ancient songs into the world.

This is a land predominantly of elves, descendants of those who, long ago, answered the call of the god Aeter. He greeted them as they rose from the shadowed Underworld, offering sanctuary beneath the green canopy of endless forests. In their devotion and artistry, they shaped the empire into a living testament of harmony between divine blessing and mortal will.

Though Aeternia›s dominion spans vast forestland, its heart is a singular marvel: Eldinun, a city without equal. Carved from luminous white marble, Eldinun sprawls like a shining jewel set amid emerald woods. Its towers rise like frozen starlight, and along the River Lool, towns and villages flourish while farming communities in forest clearings nurture the empire›s lifeblood.

Among the most revered places stands the Cave Temple of Sinari in the northern hills. Once it cradled the Everlight—an artifact said to hold a fragment of Aeter›s flame, casting radiance that banished every shadow. Though the Everlight has long since departed, the temple remains a sacred site drawing pilgrims from every corner of the empire.

The Empire is guided by its Emperor, presently Shemon Starr, whose reign extends over the vast districts of Eldinun and beyond. Each district sends forth a Senator, chosen by the people, to serve in counsel—giving voice to the many within the unity of the whole.

To walk within Aeternia is to step into a land that breathes with living history. For travelers, Eldinun is the crown jewel—a city where every avenue is flanked by white marble archways, every square hosts fountains that sparkle under moonlight, and every district offers its own character. Markets bustle with artisans selling glasswork that glimmers like captured dawn, silks woven with threads that shift colors in sunlight, and foods flavored with herbs grown only in the deep forest clearings.

Life in Aeternia moves to the rhythm of the forest. Dawn brings soft flutes played in the courtyards, midday sees the markets in full bloom, and evening is a time for gatherings under lantern-lit canopies, where music and dance celebrate the harmony of people and nature. Festivals are plentiful, often tied to celestial events, when the streets are filled with lights and the forests echo with laughter until dawn.

Travelers are encouraged to visit the River Lool, where riverboats glide silently through misty waters, offering views of both wild beauty and ancient stone bridges carved with tales of gods and heroes. The northern pilgrimage route to the Cave Temple of Sinari resections a journey of reverence and quiet awe, while those venturing to Winter will find a town where snow and song mingle, and the architecture seems sculpted from frost itself.

In Aeternia, even the simplest paths carry echoes of eternity. Whether wandering Eldinun’s marble streets, listening to the whisper of the trees, or standing before the sanctuaries of old, every visitor finds themselves part of a story that began long before their arrival—and will endure long after their departure.

Elven hospitality is marked by quiet grace: a visitor is welcomed with spiced wine and song, often beneath vaulted halls where the acoustics carry every note like a prayer. Inns are rare in the traditional sense, for locals often open their homes to travelers, offering comfort in exchange for stories of distant lands.

Towns & Cities

  • Eldinun — marble capital; spires of “frozen starlight”.
  • Onys — coastal city; home to naval fleet.

Factions & Orders

  • Imperial Court of Eldinun — Emperor’s household and ministries.
  • Senatorial Council — elected district Senators advising the throne.
  • Temple of Aeter — clergy maintaining sacred sites and rites.
“Streets shimmer with the memory of ages; bridges carry tales of gods and heroes.”

— Traveler on the River Lool

Economy & Trade

  • Artisan goods: glasswork that glimmers like captured dawn; silks with sun-shifting threads.
  • Agriculture: Verdant Terraces west of Eldinun (intricate irrigation; harvest festivals).
  • River commerce: quiet riverboats on the Lool linking forest towns and Eldinun.

Rumours & hooks

  • Whispers in the Whispering Glades — voices of ages or Aeter›s counsel on the wind.
  • Sacred relic lore around the Everlight once housed at Sinari Temple.
  • Poaching in deep forest

Places of Note

The Whispering Glades

The Whispering Glades

A sacred forest grove where the trees are said to echo voices from ages past. Pilgrims come to hear faint whispers—believed to be the counsel of ancestors or fragments of Aeter’s voice carried on the wind.

River Lool Bridges

The River Lool Bridges

Dozens of stone bridges carved by elven artisans span the River Lool. Each one is unique, etched with reliefs depicting tales of creation, triumph, and sorrow. The Moonveil Bridge is especially famous, glowing silver beneath starlight as though woven from moonlight itself.

Eldinun›s Marble Spires

Eldinun›s Marble Spires

The heart of the Empire, Eldinun’s white marble towers rise like frozen starlight above the forest canopy. Each spire has a name and story—such as the Spire of Aeter’s Dawn, where the Emperor holds ceremonies to honor the god who founded the nation.

Sinari Cave Temple

Sinari Cave Temple

Carved deep into the northern mountains, this temple once held the Everlight. Though the artifact has long vanished, the temple’s walls still shimmer faintly as though touched by its glow. Pilgrims leave offerings here, hoping to catch a glimmer of divine blessing.

The Verdant Terraces

The Verdant Terraces

Vast stepped gardens carved into the hillsides west of Eldinun. Here, farming communities cultivate crops with intricate irrigation channels said to have been designed by Aeter himself. Festivals of harvest fill these terraces with music and lanterns.

Silverlight Amphitheatre

The Silverlight Amphitheatre

An open-air structure in Eldinun where music, poetry, and drama are performed. At night, enchantments woven into the marble cause the stage to shimmer with silvery radiance, enhancing performances with dreamlike beauty.

Starfallen Shrine

The Starfallen Shrine

A secluded shrine in the western forests, said to mark where a star once fell from the heavens. The crater glows faintly at night, and its waters are believed to hold healing powers.