Amylthas

Summary

A collection of magical flying cities that comprise a singularly and exclusive Elvish society - only letting other races in for trade or geopolitical purposes. Half-elves are systemically and routinely abused and dismissed by those in power.

Structure and Topography

Gala Tirion - Core City
3 Scout Cities
- Círdan is the Sindarin word for “ship-maker” and was named after Aethon Pickles II’s eldest child and only Son.
- Lia is the Quenya word for “Thread” and was named after Aethon Pickles II’s second child; and eldest daughter, as “the thread that binds us all together”
- Estel is the Sindarin word for “hope” and was Named after Aethon Pickles II’s youngest child as “hope for the future of all who fly”
Ithil and Amarië - Large housing cities that many middle and lower-class citizens can live in without charge or explanation.
- Amarië is the Quenya word for “Of the home” and the city is named after Aethon Pickles II’s mother.
- Ithil is the Sindarin word for “moon” and was named after Aethon Pickles II’s father.
- The first Church of Christmas was built on Ithil before the Church moved to Gala Tirion a few hundred years ago.
Elrand - “Star Dome”, a city comprised of facilities for athletes of all sorts to compete in front of crowds.
Legolin - “Running free”, the first city raised by the children of Aethon Pickles II - roams around the planet without ever returning for re-fuelling.
Numerous private cities owned or stewarded by the wealthy class.

Places of Interest

Society and Culture

Royal Family

Even before ascending to the skies; Amylthas was a monarchy for as long as history can remember. Their current history only recalls as far back as Aethon Pickles II who pushed the society to conquer more than just the land they had always known. It is not believed that the Pickles Family has always been the royal family.

Rule of Succession

The monarchy of follows a standard hierarchy of succession with one key twist. At the time of death of the current monarch - the eldest child with an already born heir at the time becomes the new Monarch.

In the instance where no child of the previous Monarch has yet produced any children; the eldest child capable of raising an heir is selected.

Royal Guard

The main protective force within the walls of the city; especially within Gala Tirion. Led by Captain Kellam Oladi; personal bodyguard of Queen Cucumber Pickles.

Divisions of the royal guard include:

Jaeger Corps: A highly skilled set of soldiers adept at high-stakes missions and securing critical objectives.
Wyng Corps: A flexible and adventurous collection of guards that ride on various magical beasts to gain intel for the city and reclaim lost citizens/artifacts.
Gryffon Corps: Specialized medical professionals leveraged for both recovery of the wounded as well as investigation of unknown materials and compounds.

High Council

A body of high-ranking officials selected by member’s of the royal family. All members must be directly appointed by or approved by the reigning monarch. Each member is granted at least one function of the city to look after; but many veteran members maintain a portfolio of several functions at once.

Each member of the High Council can have their own personal councils to tend to smaller matters more independently. Larger or cross-functional matters require discussion and approval from all relevant members plus the monarch.

History

The core city - Gala Tirion - lifted off over a millennia ago from cliffs in the north-eastern regions of The Hilted Highlands after many centuries of effort by the city’s first Monarch: Aethon Pickles II. It now frequently levitates over these cliffs to this day out of respect to their legacy. The cliffs now act as a refuelling and maintenance base for these cities.

Three smaller cities were built over the next century or so to act as scout cities, allowing the elves to explore the world before committing to moving the entire fleet.

Since then, the Pickles Family has gained considerable wealth due to their magical prowess, military-and-strategic alliances; both within and outside the bounds of the continent of Edon, and their skilled and rare exports.

The Rise of Religious Extremism

The previous Queen’s health began to deteriorate in 686 Ag. Her sudden lack of presence in the cities of Amylthas was capitalized on by religious extremist groups who felt disenfranchised by monarchy and wished to see the churches instated as government instead.

This movement culminated with the rise of The Sisters of The Wight amassing a serious number of followers and ransacking the city both physically and politically. Rumours of deceit, betrayal, and treason spread throughout the societal classes and led to the sacking of Corym Oladi as Captain of the Royal Guard. He was succeeded by a man named Valden Barros.

The Sisters of The Wight used their considerable power and inaction on the part of the Pickles Family to begin the more sinister elements of their plans. Rumours started to swirl of necromantic atrocities running rampant in the poorest neighbourhoods of Amarië and Ithil.

Ascension of Queen Cucumber Pickles

At the time of the previous Queen’s death - early 691 Ag - neither she nor her brother; Haestus Pickles, had produced an heir. This left the Pickles Family and the High Council scrambling as the two siblings bickered.

Despite rumours that Cucumber Pickles was the preferred choice as successor; official preparations were already well under way for Haestus Pickles to succeed the throne due to being the elder sibling.

However, the day before his coronation was to take place it was suddenly revealed that; due to a complication in his youth, Haestus Pickles was rendered infertile and therefore ineligible for succession.

Some members of the high council at the time suspected foul-play by the now Queen, due to the sudden coincidental nature of the reveal. Multiple anonymous sources were frequently quoted that a rift had formed between the siblings from that day onward.

The New Captain

In 691 Ag, the Queen announced that Kellam Oladi would succeed as Captain of the Royal Guard due to a sudden health issue afflicting Valden Barros.

Valden Barros was never seen again after that day and many people believe that the Royal Family haven’t divulged the entire truth behind his dismissal. Some people have given him the title of The Dead Captain

The Great Banishment

The Sisters of The Wight were banished from Amylthas after their atrocities were discovered and contained by the Pickles Family. This lead to a society-wide ban on most religions that were deemed unfit for Elvish practice.

This decree was delivered by Cucumber Pickles shortly after she succeeded the throne; her ascent to which was already rife with discourse due to the lack of a partner, let alone an heir.

The decree led to an exodus of the more individualistic members of the society and those who could afford to live elsewhere.

Some religions - like the Church of Christmas continued practice in a reduced capacity due to good deeds during The Rise of Religious Extremism.

Uganda Pickles

In the year 769 Ag, rumours began to swirl that the Queen had been accused by a member of the High Council of having an affair with a foreigner not of elven descent.

This was discovered shortly after she gave birth to Uganda Pickles and his half-elf nature was divulged to the rest of society without her knowledge or consent. She managed to retain her seat as monarch, but many of her supporting council still resent her for the act and continue to block her political moves to this day; stalling the recovery of the city following The Great Banishment and allowing the wealthier elves to exploit the lower classes more than was previously allowed.

Many poor or middle-class citizens blame Cucumber Pickles and by extension Uganda Pickles for the declining status of the city.

References

Names for individual cities:

https://blog.reedsy.com/character-name-generator/fantasy/elf/