Capital: Astrakan (population: 44,000)
Population: 18,000 (85% Rynnish, 15% other)
Demi-humans: 1,237,000 (97% High-Elves, 3% halflings)
Humanoids: none
Government: Monarchy (currently ruled by the House of Elyrion)
Current Leader: King Generaf Elyrion
Coat of Arms: nine white stars above a white tree on a bright green field
Exports: timber, Kamerling wine, magic items, elixirs, elvish-crafts, artwork, cloth
(pronunciation: mella-Nar-ray) Melinarë; which means "Highforest" in the Silvanestri tongue, is the realm of the High-Elves, located within the vast Melinar Forest. It is the most powerful elvish nation on Corwyn.
Melinarë is the last of the three great elven nations that were created during the Sundering; following the collapse of the elvish civilization of Ectharë. Few outsiders are allowed within the great Melinar Forest, and most trade with other races is conducted either along the coast of the Sea of Ralas, or in mixed elvish settlements located along the borders of the elven woodland. Outsiders call this woodland realm "Highforest."
The High-Elves are seen by most other races as arrogant and stubborn; and sometimes resented by both humans and dwarves for their attitudes. To the High-Elves, this outlook comes naturally with the great age of elvish society, which sees itself as superior to all other races on Corwyn. The High-Elves are the descendants of the ancient "Elder-Elves," who first came to Corwyn in the First Age and claimed the continent as their own.
Borders
Melinarë is enclosed completely within the vast woodland called the Melinar Forest. The Melinar Forest is bordered on the north by the towering Withered Mountains. The forest is bordered on the south and the east by the Forlorn Mountains. On the west, the forest borders the Sea of Ralas.
Politics
The current ruler of Melinarë is the Elven-King Generaf; who is the Eighth ruler of the ancient, distinguished House of Elyrion. King Generaf rules over the elven kingdom from the Adamantine Throne, located within the elven city of Astrakan, inside the fabulous Starlight Palace.
Military
The high-elves are normally a peaceful people, but can be quite deadly if provoked. To protect his forest realm, the Elven-king can muster over 75,000 elvish warriors in time of war. High-Elven warriors are well-trained and well-equipped. Long ago, the elves mastered the craft of forging armor and weapons. Elven chain-mail and elven blades; which equip every elven soldier, are made of the highest quality. The soldiers of Melinar usually wear specially made, green chain mail, and are euipped with long swords and long bows. All elven units are accompanied by elven battle-mages, which make them practically invincible.
Climate
The Melinar forest has both sloping hills and sharp valleys; but its entirety is covered in a dense tree-canopy. The climate inside the forest is temperate and mild, although in the summer months the region can become quite warm and humid.
Life & Society
The High-Elves of Melinarë are a quiet, introspective folk that love artwork, crafts, reading and writing. The High-Elves delight in making items of wondrous quality with wood, clay, and metal. Their skills at the creation of weapons are superb, surpassed only by the elvish mastery of armor. It is here that the long kept secret of elvish chain mail is still kept. Elvish armor smiths are true masters of their craft, making suits of elvish chain that give a +1 bonus over all other suits of chain mail made by humans.
For a suit to be made to fit another race is very rare indeed and these fine suits can cost thousands of gold pieces, and are only owned by royalty or the wealthiest merchant lords. The elves live a quite life in harmony with nature deep within their beloved forest. They are not as friendly as the Wood-Elves, and not quite as aloof as their Grey Elf cousins either. Most High-Elves have a love of nature and despise the creatures and dark sorcery of the East. On many occasions they have come forth out of their forest realm to fight alongside the races of men and dwarves against the tyranny of the East.
Most High-Elves live a quiet life in harmony with nature deep within their beloved forest. They are not as friendly as the Wood-Elves, and not quite as aloof as their Grey-Elf cousins either. They are a quiet, introspective folk that love artwork, crafts, reading and writing. The High-Elves delight in making items of wondrous quality with wood, clay, and metal.
These elves have a love of nature and despise the creatures and dark sorcery of the East. On many occasions they have come forth out of their forest realm to fight alongside the races of men and dwarves against the tyranny of the East.
Geography
The entire Elf-realm of Melinarë is made up of the Melinar Forest; the largest woodland on the continent of Corwyn. Within the gigantic woodlands are broad hills and deep valleys, flowing streams, and small open grasslands. But the overwhelming foliage that covers the region doesn’t allow for much vegetation. All manner of trees are found here, notably the rare elvish Thanatäe trees, from which the elves brew the sap into Kamerling. Also found here are giant Silverwoods as tall as three hundred feet, and entire groves of the rare Nacera Root. It is this abundance of both magical and non-magical trees and herbs that give this region its real distinction over other woodlands.
Important Sites
Astrakan: (population: 40,000) capitol and largest city of the High-Elves of Melinarë, located deep within the Melinar Forest. The city is surrounded by a natural barrier of trees and ferns that are impregnable to elvish foes. Within this city is the fabulous Starlight Palace that holds the Adamantine Throne.
Chambrai: (population: 17,000) small elvish seaport in southern Melinarë.
Dhäelhar: (population: 9,000) small border city between Melinarë and Alveron.
Forest Road: road of green moss and pebbles made by the High-Elves to connect the cities of Dhäelhar, Astrakan and Ashara.
Queyenvalë: (population: 8,000) elvish city in the southern region of the Melinar Forest. This city is to the Synfari, and is the center for elvish study of magic and the arcane. The entire city rests above the surface within the trees themselves.
Silvany: (population: 22,000) large elvish city and seaport, located on the southwestern border of the Melinar Forest.
Silvar Road: A road of green moss and pebbles made by the High-Elves to connect the cities of Silvany, Astrakan, and Queyenvalë.
Local History
Melinarë was the third of the three great Elf-realms that evolved from the First Age elvish civilization of Ectharë. The elves that inhabit the Melinar Forest are called the High-Elves and constitute the largest and most powerful elvish nation on Corwyn.
Even today, outsiders call the elven realm "Highforest," because of its High-Elvish heritage. Few humans or dwarves are allowed within the great forest, and most trade is conducted along the coasts, or within elvish cities located near the borders of the forest.
