Elen

Dun

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The city of **Elen** or literally **Star** also known as **Elenwir**, located in the northern section of the Velanima Province.

## Etymology

*Elen* dervives from the Old Almadoric Word for "*Star*". The Dawouic name for the city is known as *Dun*, which applies to the village east of it, which is also called Dun. The fortress city itself is known as *Elenwir*, but for the general area, *Elen* is more widely used. Dun is also used as a widely used name for the city. *Elen* is sometimes called "*The White City*" or "*Elenmar*", the *Star City* due to it's particular shape is a city

## History

Not much can be said of the old city of Elen. The village east of it, Dun, was Sareariel Lelya-Earcala's actual home, and a small, peaceful farming town, it would fall to the brinks of war and be burnt to the ground by the Melwende state. Due to it's strategic position a pentagon fort was built in its place, used as a storage facility, a defense position and even a prisoner camp for forced labor at some point due to it's fertile lands, fort Wǔjiǎo as it was now known would see very few action until almost the end of the war, when the Velereth began her short and successful conquest against the likes off Melwende and Linren.

With the war over, fort Wǔjiǎo and it's surrounding forests would be annexed into the now Imperial Province. During the "Four Hundred Year Struggle", while the Velereth would remain in Lhûmar, declaring it the new capital of the nation, she would send workers to build on top of the abandoned fort Wǔjiǎo to transform it back into an agricultural city as she knew how fertile the grounds were and with the low harvest yields she needed all she could take to keep her new empire fed. Small stone houses were built inside the walls to house the farmers who would walk down each morning to work the fields outside. Some of this old houses still remain on the east side of the city today.

For many years the city improved and would see many governors of the Imperial Province residing in it, slowly adding their own unique touches, like Governor Kiu Mao, who in the year 722 planted a foreign giant tree in the middle of the market in the hopes that one day it would grow and brighten up the look of the city. This tree can still be found today and after 200 years it has grown to its full size.

Governor Aelfiel Meng (the current governor as of today) would arrive to the city in the year 936 and begin adding his own architecture touch to renovate the decaying city. This changes can be seen as how the walls, tower and manor that used to be made completely out of stone (as if just a military fort still) now have quartz and warped wood giving a more pleasant aesthetic look to it. This renovation took 3 years to be completed but the changes are noticeable.

## State & Function

The city of Elen serves three main purposes, as the capital of the Imperial Province and residence of its governor, as an agricultural territory that exports many forms of produce to the rest of the nation during times of low harvest yields, and as a strategical position, close enough to Lhûmar to ensure it's loyalty and far north enough to use as a military base to mobilize, resupply and protect a legion in the events of a rebellion or invasion from the north.

## Life in the city

Although not as large, wealthy or prosperous as Lhûmar, Elen serves as the best place for farmers to harvest crops, artists to get inspired by its beauty and sometimes a relaxing vacation attraction, away and different from the other big cities and their more urban style of life. The city starts working very early in the morning as the farmers head outside to attend their crops and livestock and the merchants open their shops to the city. Remaining busy from early dawn until dawn, when night finally arrives, it would be common for its citizens to gather in the plaza, to enjoy a good meal and some delectable tea after a good day of work, socializing and laughing before finally heading back to their homes, at which point the city falls silent and one can gaze upon the stars, admire the forestry or fall asleep with the sounds of its running water.

Elen has also been used as a peaceful ground for political meeting. Close enough to the capital without the tensions the capital of the nation may bring. There are no armies in Elen except for the common guard that keep peace in the city. This guards serve as public servants, ensuring peace remains in the city and looking in the best interest of its fellow citizens.

## Agriculture

The city of Elen is most well known for its fertility (or at least its soil's fertility). Its forest almost always provides an abundant amount of crops, grass for livestock and strong trees for lumberjacks and carpenters. Investigations led to the conclusion that besides its location, underneath the soil lies an intricate system of underground rivers and lakes that transport minerals and nutrients across the land. During the "Four Hundred Year Struggle" this caves were found and an aqueduct system was used to help transport the water stored inside mountains and hills to important sections of the city. Historians argue that this innovation helped the city prosper while other parts of the nation kept struggling with low harvests. The water running on the center fountain and it's main road are in fact water coming from said system, which has been maintained for centuries now with some renovations during the years.

Outside of the city in the forests, many different mushrooms can be found and are harvested frequently. One particular species known as the Andorn Agaric (*Amanita andornensis)* is known for its hallucinogenic effects and is consumed by mystics for spiritual purposes, though it is also used recreationally.