Shylmista Forest

The Shylmista Forest is a large deciduous forest nestled on the southern coast of the border between the Holy Astorian Empire and the Free Cities. Split nearly down the middle by the Loudwater River, it along with the Deepmist is one of the only two forests that lie in both imperial territory and within the Free Cities. After the collapse of the elven empire, the ambitious elven prince Angwyn Dargonia declared himself king of the Shylmista. Though the Dargonias had ruled the Shylmista before, in the days of the empire none could claim kingship but Methrammar, the High King of Mithladriand. For many centuries the Dargonias maintained their sovereignty over the Shylmista, until Argos Dargonia, son of the last King Minastir Dargonia, tried to expand their influence to Mydas. Argos called the entire family to celebrate his victory in the Grand City of Impresk, and there a great murder took place; none of the Dargonias survived. Without a king and heir, the Shylmista fell into disarray and, sensing the weakness, orcs invaded in great numbers. The elves of the Shylmista rallied behind Galindann Sunrider, a warrior of great renown and the last general of the Dargonian military. After many years of fighting, Galindann and his forces pushed out the orc invaders. In the years before his death, Galindann organized a militia to protect the forest in times of need, but a true government was never again established and Cadair Dargonia, the capital of the old kingdom, fell to ruin. Having no more cities, the elves of the Shylmista live mostly in family homesteads, though a small number of villages exist. The children of Galindann Sunrider, Nomen and Nomi, manage the circle of druids and the militia, respectively. A group of rangers, the Shaer'os si'Shor, protect the borders and wild places of the Shylmista, led by Hralien Silvermist. In a village near Thistledown lives one of the last elves who remembers the reign of the Dargonias; the royal archmage Mindartis Moonbeam, who is known as a recluse but still upholds the magical wards of the forest.