Cal Araenora

Cal Araenora is a settlement of the Aethelwald, famed for its ability to magically transport itself.

## Government

Originally one of the great Eladrin cities of the Feywild, Cal Araenora started to transition into the Material Plane, alienating much of its populace, prompting it to grow increasingly diminished and abandoned until the Aethelwald stumbled across it.

The energy unfettered that characterises the residents of Cal Araenora proves troublesome for matters of governance. Toiling in matters of bureaucracy is seen grievously unappealing by most, with many individuals working for their interests and those of their neighbours, but thinking much rarely of loftier aspirations. Nonetheless, this community sentiment has forged a colony that works in line with most of each individual's needs without a guiding hand more often than not. Despite this, members of the noble Velenthir bloodline are considered by most to be the unofficial leadership within the city.

## Defence

Inspired by the valiant defenders of the Twilight Court from which the main nobility descends directly, Cal Araenora is guarded by a contingency of glimmering soldiers known as the Shiere Knights. The barracks of the Shiere Knights, located near the centre of the city, is a large dome-like structure, bound with hexagon frames like that of a bee's hive, and panels of clear-green crystal.

The settlement's main defence came by means of its mobile nature, periodically drifting between the Material Plane and the Feywild, never appearing in the same region each time more than once.

The Nodulosis, a series of cells that sprawl beneath the city's structure, are most commonly used to secure criminals and other potential threats to the populace. Highly customisable, they have the versatility to serve a number of purposes, deeply infused with illusionary and enchantment magics to augment this further.

## Commerce

Many within the city are capable artisans, creating both household items and fantastical art pieces with paint, clay and wood alike, and are known to trade freely with those passing close to its current location.

## Organisations

Shrines and other holy sites dedicated to many Archfeys are found within the city, as well as temples dedicated to Srar, Veth and Vyra, all of which are revered by many of the residents.

## Description

Carved into the heartwood and coiled around the pale bark of a towering cherry blossom tree, Cal Araenora is more a collection of vast treehouses than a true city, but this is just the start of the settlement's curiosities. Unlike that of the Storm Giant keep of Anuthas which is said to physically walk across the ocean's floor, Cal Araenora is a restless settlement of a different kind, springing up from location to location with seemingly random intention and direction. This property of the city brings both great delight and troublesome struggles to the residents, and in time has whittled down the populace into a band of individuals that do naught but celebrate the transition, revelling in the potential of their next locale. The Hurtle, as it is commonly known, has been known to occur as frequently as daily, to that of decades, the longest stretch between Hurtlings being two-and-twenty years. This is further confounded by the time-warping effects of the Feywild, for the plane on which the city resides alternates between the Plane of the Faerie and the Material Plane, the transition unwavering between the two the only constant in its otherwise unpredictable nature. Before the Hurtle occurs, a snowfall of blossom petals appears, lasting for an hour, before the fallen blooms fade into a thick mist that engulfs street and spire. When the mist fades a few minutes later, they reveal the newfound surroundings like a veil lifted.

The origin of Cal Araenora's ability to Hurtle is disputed, with the numerous songs, poems and general accounts written with respect to the occurrence inconclusive and contradictory. Many claim that the city was simply blessed by Srar in their Green Queen guise to cavort across soil and stone, much akin to the Celestial Citadel of Srar, a star which wanders across the Canvas of Night, somehow related to the cracked and uneven Chromarind Heart Tree at the centre of the city. Others instead suggest that the passion for adventure and excitement of its founders weaved an enchantment into the settlement, with each timber raised and brick laid done so with such revelry and joy that the city itself yearned for the same adventure and excitement. Further tales speak of the city originally being constructed near a portal nexus linking the city to the domain of the Glister Twins, whose secular melancholy prompted them to curse the settlement with restlessness, or in other tellings trap the essence of an Archfey without corporeal form into the foundations to achieve such an effect. Some residents maintain that the branch of the Velenthirs known as the Wayward Blossoms possess the ability to activate the enchantment manually when necessary, a rumour confirmed by some, denied by others and muddled further by their passing flippant, playful or bemusing remarks when pressed.

Any individual that stumbles upon the beech wood boundaries of Cal Araenora are welcomed with open arms, unless they are harbouring obvious ill-intent to the settlement or its residents. Extended stays within the city can be tiresome for those less familiar with its populace however, for there is little sleep to be had amongst continued festivities throughout day and night. Further troubles may come for a visitor that is within the walls when a Hurtling occurs, for upon their return from a week of revelry, they may find that a century has passed in their wake. The converse is also not unheard of, with residents of the city departing for a few brief hours to scout or hunt just beyond the city's outskirts, only to find their home vanished upon their return. As such, groups of scouts, hunters or sometimes even contingencies of Shiere Knights can sometimes be seen wandering the Aethelwald in search of Cal Araenora's new destination.

Residents of Cal Araenora are often distinguished from their brethren elsewhere in the region by the extensive use of mithral and silver jewellery at their ears, throat, wrists and ankles, particularly those adorned with small bells and chimes that peal and sound as they walk, ride and dance.