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Tavarháya
The Path to Tavarháya
Realm: Sovereign
Population: 10,000
Military: 500 active, as many as 3,500 trained and able for combat
Economy: Communal; isolated
Language: Archaic Common and an archaic dialect of Elven; most citizens can also converse fluently in Druid Ritual Tongue or High Tongue, but these languages are uncommon in regular conversation
Applicable Knowledges: The Black Forest, People and Cultures
Until recently, the city of Tavarháya (inexplicably called Hammond Mills by common-tongued speakers, despite a lack of mills nor anything famous named Hammond from the region) was little more than a military fortress on the eastern outskirts of the Black Forest. It represented one of the farthest outposts under the rule of Tal’leuthilor, the City of Gems, and is to this day credited as the last bastion of civilization this side of the Quiet Hills. Following continual threats from inside and out, Tal’leuthilor became unable to effectively rule these outlying regions leading to the outpost’s eventual sovereignty.
Like the City of Gems, Tavarháya is an isolationistic and kainotophobic society composed exclusively of Celestial and Wood Elves. The city is entirely self-sustaining and interaction with the world outside of the Black Forest is virtually nonexistent. The city is known for its severe xenophobia and the rare visitor is generally treated with rude intolerance. The city is philosophically torn between druidic circles that exhibit decentralized worship of nature and the traditionalist warriors devoted to a highly-structured sect following Luorre.
Social evolution is an exceedingly slow and laborious process for the city, stymied by its near-immortal inhabitants and the blatant narcissism of the Ilumquendi. The area is ruled by a non-elected oligarchy, composed of former generals who rarely act beyond tax collection and security. Citizens pay an annual levy proportional to their use of land, which is considered the possession of the entire community, and the city shows almost no population growth whatsoever.
The buildings of Tavarháya are primarily composed of limestone, which is no longer imported from Durabar. Unlike Tal’leuthi, the fortress is purposefully uninviting to the eyes and its low walls are constructed of thick slabs of unpolished granite. The city makes use of very few natural resources, its economy heavily stunted by the city's strong respect for natural balance, and relies heavily on local agriculture.
But Tavarháya’s most acclaimed features are the dual auras that dominate the fortress and its surrounding regions: the local mages have enchanted the city’s greater area with a weak nimbus that slowly drains the stamina of evil forces. The fortress’s other aura, perhaps more telling of the city’s predominant xenophobia, is the result of druidic sanctification: non-elves who pass the walls become both physically fatigued and irritably restless. Although either aura can be circumvented by the clever magic-user, these defenses are more than enough to dissuade goblin invasions and deter most malicious crime.
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