Aerenal

Aerenal is a secluded island haven, a sanctuary hidden beyond The Silver Veil Sea and protected by ancient arcane magic. Sculpted by the Aether Drake, the Vanir—high elves blessed with unparalleled magical potential—were given dominion over this paradise, a land shaped by beauty and wonder. Its isolation, maintained by the Ether, has allowed Aerenal to remain untouched by the chaos of the outside world, serving as a bastion of harmony and magical advancement.

Geography and Features

The Silver Veil Sea

Separating Aerenal from The Sands of Serrakhan, this mystical sea shimmers with ethereal hues and is often cloaked in mist, adding to the island's mystique.

Vanir Cityscape

Aerenal’s resplendent architecture reflects the Vanir’s grace and mastery of magic. Buildings are adorned with vaulted, colorful ceilings in hues of green, red, and pink, while their white marble walls shine with celestial purity. Great spires rise throughout the city, each an emblem of the Vanir's connection to the divine.

The city is interlaced with silver bridges that cross dozens of rivers and streams, giving it the appearance of a gleaming tapestry of water and light.

Northern Alpine Range

The northernmost part of the island features a small mountain range and an alpine lake from which the sacred Etherstone grows. The Etherstone is a unique, wispy, glass-like tree that radiates a soft breeze across the island, embodying Aerenal's connection to the Ether and the divine planes.

Southern Green Mountains and Jungles

The southern region is lush with verdant mountains and dense jungles, home to vibrant flora and fauna. This is the site of the Trial of The Arcane Elements, a perilous and sacred test where aspiring mages prove their worth.

Cultural and Historical Significance

Creation of the Vanir

The Aether Drake, among the most revered of the True Dragon, created the Vanir in the image of Unknown, the god of life. This divine act blessed them with unmatched magical potential and an enduring duty to protect the Ether and its secrets.

The Founding of Aerenal

Aerenal was gifted to the Vanir as a sanctuary, a haven where they could live in harmony and safeguard the Etherstone, the mystical tree that connects all creation through the Continuum Crystal Cosmology. It is widely believed that Avatar Aegis was responsible for founding and protecting the city in its early days.

The Elden Council

Governed by The Elden Council, Aerenal’s leadership comprises the most accomplished mages, selected and trained at the Aefir Academy of the Arcane. The council ensures the island’s harmony and protection, with guidance from the noble houses.

The Etherstone

The Etherstone is the heart of Aerenal, a mystical tree that grows from the island's alpine lake. Its translucent, glass-like branches radiate a gentle breeze that sweeps across the land, symbolizing the Vanir’s spiritual and magical connection to the planes. Planted by the Aether Drake at the end of the Second Age, it serves as both a beacon of divine purpose and a reminder of Aerenal’s role in the multiverse.

The Trial of the Arcane Elements

Held in the southern jungles, this sacred trial is both a rite of passage and a test of magical proficiency. Aspiring Vanir mages and scholars must navigate the treacherous environment, facing elemental challenges that push their mastery of magic to the limit. Success in the trial grants entry into Aerenal’s most prestigious circles, including the Elden Council.

Noble Houses of Aerenal

Noble House Aefir

Renowned for their mastery of Rift Magic, House Aefir founded the Aefir Academy of The Arcane and negotiated the pact with the Storm Giants to shroud the island in protective mists.

Noble House Farric

Known for their political acumen and enduring craftsmanship, they provide protection for the island and produce many of its greatest protectors.

Noble House Gwaithor

Masters of diplomacy and lore, this house specializes in bridging gaps between the Vanir and other realms, ensuring Aerenal’s isolation is balanced with knowledge and influence.

Legacy and Preservation

Aerenal stands as a testament to the balance between natural beauty and arcane mastery. Its rivers, spires, and the Etherstone represent the Vanir’s harmonious relationship with the Ether and their divine heritage. Though isolated, Aerenal’s influence resonates throughout the multiverse, its magic and wisdom shaping the destiny of countless realms.

Aerenal, historically veiled beyond the enigmatic The Silver Veil Sea, exists as apart of The Air Realm, intricately linked to the elemental Plane of Zephyron through the revered Etherstone—one of the four pivotal worldstones. Since the era of Avatar Aegis, the first Avatar of Air, Aerenal has been enshrouded in a perpetual mist, a deliberate concealment to mask its profound connection as the domicile of the Etherstone, which orchestrates the flow of magic across the world. This mist, a legacy of Aegis empowered by Mystera, Goddess of Magic, serves as a protective ward, safeguarding the island and its inhabitants for generations.

This realm's significance extends far beyond its beauty and arcane mastery; it is the linchpin in the connection between realms, holding sway over the elemental balance and the distribution of magical energies. The perpetual mist once thought to be a natural phenomenon, is now understood to be a strategic defense, manifesting Aegis's foresight and Mystra's backing in shielding the Etherstone from those who might seek to disrupt the elemental equilibrium.

The recent revelation of Aerenal's true nature comes at a pivotal time. Guy is chosen to succeed Archmage Kelak Nilfard, the aging Avatar of Air, marking a new chapter in the island's history. This transition underscores the island's crucial role in maintaining the harmony of the elemental realms and the flow of magic. Aerenal, thus, emerges not just as a haven of high-elven arcane scholarship and the mystical The Elden Hall but as a fundamental cornerstone in the cosmological architecture of the world, guarding the Etherstone's power to influence the Ether and the connectivity of realms.