Ithandriel

Ithandriel is one of the most breathtaking marvels of the Faewyld, a sprawling cityscape nestled within the verdant heart of the Faewyld Forests. Founded by King Cernunnos, the Horned Lord, and Queen Visunna, the Lady of Light, it serves as a sanctuary and home for the Sylvarin, their offspring and the noble Fae of the realm. Ithandriel is uniquely situated atop and around a majestic great waterfall, with cascading waters forming a shimmering veil behind it, while the lush Faewyld Forests stretch endlessly before its gates. While seemingly impractical for the location of such a sprawling city, it is rumored that these waterfalls are the very place that the two Archfey first met.

Foundation and Purpose

Ithandriel was born from the love and union of Cernunnos and Visunna, created as a safe haven for the Sylvarin, who embody the union of light and nature. The city was intended to protect their children and the greater fae from the ever-present threats of the Court of Wither and the chaotic forces that ripple through the Faewyld.

Built upon the great waterfall, Ithandriel symbolizes the perpetual flow of life, emotion, and magic, with the waters acting as a natural barrier and a source of inspiration for the city’s design. The cascading falls, often referred to as the Tears of Visunna, reflect the city’s dynamic connection to the emotions of its people and rulers.

The city’s location bridges two realms of the Faewyld: the untamed Wyld Woods of Cernunnos and the ethereal, luminous Witchlights of Visunna, making Ithandriel both a sanctuary and a meeting point for the balance of light and nature.

Appearance and Seasonal Transformation

Ithandriel is a living city, its appearance shifting in hue and form with the changing seasons and the emotions of its ruling Archfey. Its architecture is woven seamlessly into the natural landscape, with towering spires rising above the treetops and cascading waterfalls flowing through its heart.

Spring: The city blooms with vibrant greens and pastel flowers that line its bridges and paths, and the falls sparkle with the hues of rainbows.
Summer: Ithandriel radiates golden warmth, its spires gleaming in the sunlight, and the forest glows with vitality as the waterfalls thunder with life.
Autumn: The city transforms into shades of amber, crimson, and gold, with leaves from the forest carpeting the paths and the waterfalls reflecting fiery hues.
Winter: Ithandriel becomes a serene spectacle of icy blues and silvers, with frost patterns adorning its spires and the waterfall’s edges frozen into crystalline formations.

The emotional state of the ruling Archfey also affects Ithandriel, with joy bringing brilliance to its colors and sorrow dimming its light. In times of anger or despair, the city transforms into a foreboding fortress, its once-harmonious structures bristling with thorns and shadowy vines.

Architecture and Layout

Ithandriel’s architecture blends grandeur and nature, harmonizing its structures with the natural beauty of the Faewyld. The city cascades down from the cliffs surrounding the great waterfall, with layered terraces connected by elegant bridges and winding paths.

Notable Features:

The Celestial Grove: A central plaza located at the base of the great waterfall, where the grand Tree of Ithandriel stands, its roots extending into the cascading waters.
The Crowned Spire: The palace of Cernunnos and Visunna, perched on the highest terrace, its walls carved from green marble and gold-veined white stone. The falls flow behind it, creating a luminous curtain of mist.
Winding Veil Paths: Elevated walkways that weave through the city and forest, illuminated by glowing vines that guide travelers.
The Sylvan Halls: A prestigious academy embedded within the cliffs, where Sylvarin scholars and artists study the secrets of the Faewyld.
The Mist Gardens: Terraced gardens filled with rare flowers and glowing fungi that thrive in the perpetual mist of the waterfalls.

The great waterfall behind the city serves as both a backdrop and a lifeblood for Ithandriel, its unending flow symbolizing the resilience and continuity of the Sylvarin and their home.

Connection to the Sylvarin

The Sylvarin share a profound bond with Ithandriel, as their emotions and connection to the Faewyld are mirrored in the city’s shifting appearance. As descendants of Cernunnos and Visunna, they see Ithandriel as both a sanctuary and a living legacy of their lineage.

The cascading waters of the Tears of Visunna are believed to carry the blessings of the Archfey, offering protection and inspiration to the Sylvarin. The forests before the city provide a natural buffer against external threats, while also serving as a reminder of their bond with the untamed beauty of the Faewyld.

Significance in the Faewyld

Ithandriel stands as a testament to the balance of light and nature, a beacon of harmony in the ever-changing Faewyld. Its cascading waterfalls and sprawling forests make it both a marvel of natural beauty and a fortress against the chaos of the Court of Wither.

Though Ithandriel is a sanctuary, it is not immune to conflict. The Court of Wither sees the city as a symbol of defiance against decay, and their attempts to corrupt or destroy it have made Ithandriel a focal point of the eternal struggle between the courts.