Umli stood in the far western reaches of Commona, set deep within the Woods of Elenmyr and more than a day’s travel from Oldoan or Wistimere. Founded as a logging settlement, it depended on harvesting the rare and unusual trees of the central forest. For generations, its mostly Human-population sustained itself on timber brought downriver to market, despite long opposition from the Elf tribes who had once guarded those woods. Its people were mostly simple folk, generally following the religion of Asanye at the Umlian Church, though small sects of nature-worshippers following Ilios or Elteos existed in the village as well.
Isolation defined Umli’s character; it lay too distant from the Court of the Torch to expect swift aid in times of crisis, and its peoples almost thought of themselves as independent from the wider world. This proved fatal over time, as the ever-present tensions with the elves hardened into open violence during the Raids Of Umli. Elven warbands struck from concealment against camps and patrols, and the villagers answered with armed reprisals of their own. The forest favored its older guardians. Losses mounted, work slowed, and the people of Umli found themselves confined to their own palisades for weeks at a time.
After nearly two months of sustained attacks, with the population nearly halved and morale spent, Yethan Wrenthicket convinced the village council to order the abandonment of Umli. On the night of the new moon, the remaining inhabitants abandoned Umli under cover of darkness. He helped lead the exodus to Oldoan and secured work and shelter for many of the refugees, while others made for Wistimere to continue to seek fortune in the timber trade.