Awzlais

Awzlais is a small town in East Halinn that sits on the shore of Nériacíl lake. It was previously called Wykirin due to the Wìykirìn forest that sits within its range. The town's range also contains other settlements, such as the Aaakan clan's household, the Wicked Witch of the Wykirin Woods' home, and other small Rei Taan settlements sprinkled across the forest clearings. The region has been inhabitted for at least 700 years by a variety of Rei Taan tribes and clans, having become an important population center during the time it was under the Empire of Many Names, only to grow into obscurity later in the clan period as the mist covered the ruins of a once great town. It was later found by an Anoshphite, Awzturtle, who singlehandedly rebuilt the ruins and brought citizens that now call it home.
== Etymology ==
The name of the town, Awzlais, has two different meanings. The first and most accepted meaning is that it is named such because Awzturtle was the founder of the town, and "lais" comes from "làis", the word for town in Anoshphite, therefore meaning simply "Awz's Town". There is, however, a second interpretation due to "awz" being a word in Anoshphite as well, which means "post". Using that interpretation, the name would mean "post town".
== History ==
The first existing archaelogical history of the area shows that the region was inhabitted by a large group of tribes. Among those tribes, the most well known ones are the tribes that comprised the Beshem See Pact, the forestwalker tribes of North Clee, with smaller presence of the Daataan mountainfolk tribes, South Clee forestwalker tribes and Baahtem mountainfolk tribes. Their settlements have been dated to 700 years before the Anoshphite Arrival.
The next notable record of the region happened when the Empire of Many Names took control of the region, 500 years before the arrival, by empowering some of the forest tribes to subjugate the others. During that time, the town that'd later be rebuilt into Awzlais started being used as the capital of the province of which it was part of. The elven government established itself in the town, using it as an administrative center. This lasted until a century later, when local leaders became more powerful and, with the Emperor's grace, were appointed as the leaders of the province instead of elven governors.
Not much is known about the warlords of Awzlais during the centuries that followed. After the end of the Empire in 470 before the arrival, the history of Awzlais is as murky as the waters that run under their soil. The towns that once existed there became ruins, and many settlements were abandoned as the natives went back into the forest's protection.
The next time the town would become relevant was when Awzturtle found the remnants of a tower, and, in the year 2 of the Fourth Era, with a team of archeologists, dug out the mysterious ruin. With the money he had acquired from selling the elven gold and good that had survived the half a millennium disappearance, he started a major restoration project by himself, with the town having become habitable and beautiful by the year 4. Ever since then, the town has grown a lot, and citizens from Lyhnchai took a liking to its colorful architecture as it had become a common tourist location in the summer.
File:Awzlais 1.png|First building recovered by Awzturtle
File:Awzlais 2.png|Year 4, when the town was first habitable
File:Wykirin town.png|The busy city that Awzlais had become by year 40
== Other Settlements ==
The range of Awzlais is large enough that many other settlements have existed within. While most of those were the remaining Rei Taan that once inhabitted the area in large numbers or the Anoshphites that found its beauty from the past, some of them are more eccentric, such as Lulu, the Wicked Witch.
=== Wicked Witch of the Wykirin Woods ===
A famous and mysterious witch that made the dangerous and hostile Wìykirìn forest her home. She built a lone hut in the center of the forest, encircled by candle trees and other magical creatures. Many adventurers and leaders have attempted to cross the forest in search for the witch's wise advices or magical aid, but only those who were worthy managed to find the place. For a time, the witch was herself part of the dangers of the Wìykirìn forest, as she had once delved into the prohibited magics, but now she is mostly considered to be a neutral or positive presence, keeping the peace of the monsters of the forest and helping occasional lost travellers.
=== Aaakan Estate ===
The Aaakan clan is a egalitarian family consisting of many different Rei Taan backgrounds and even eldhamites. They formed from small clans that found themselves near extinction after the waves of diseases that were accidentally brought by the Anoshphites to their land. Together, they found common ground for their existence and settled in the borders of the Éirxéi forest and the Wìykirìn forest. There, they'd have their familial ritual site, a stonehenge atop one of the hills. Near the shore of the lake, their family estate was built with a small dock for easier travel. Many important members of the Anoshphite courts are part of the family and live in this estate, which has brought attention and interest to the region.
=== Abandoned Village ===
One curious site in the Éixéi forest that surrounds the Awzlais terrain is a Rei Taan settlement that lies abandoned amidst the forest clearings. It is not a large settlement, with around five lonely huts, but it gives off an unsettling aura to any travellers that cross its path. It is said that an unknown spirit made its home there, but nobody knows what part of it is truth and what part is legend.