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Liratelvan

Liratelvan, meaning "Morning Palace," is the principal city of the Arkastanai Elves. It is a huge, tiered city built on the side of Sarellés Mol, Stoneshield Mountain. It is built over seven steaming hot springs, six of which are poisonous to drink. Only the Subraël Arveth, the Pure Fountain, the source of the Gial Arveth, is wholesome. The precious water in its pool is guarded well by the wizards of Kenpelmir Liratelvan, the greatest school of magic in all Chronikos, which overlooks the banks of the spring. Every fifth spring, Kenpelmir Liratelvan observes a time of testing referred to simply as "the Contest." This challenge is designed as an entrance examination for all those students longing to study in Chronikos' greatest school of wizardry. Only ten candidates are eventually chosen after the week-long test, the details of which are not known, since the Masters wipe clean the memories of those who fail. Among the ten that pass, the one showing the most aptitude is chosen as "First Apprentice" and is put in charge over his class, whom he will lead for the 10 years of their education. Unlike Ilaniëk, Liratelvan is ruled by a hereditary monarch, descended in a direct line from Firith, first king of the Arkastanai. Of the three Masters of Kenpelmir Liratelvan, the monarch chooses one to be his chief advisor. This appointment usually lasts as long as the miri or the monarch lives. The Elves of Liratelvan trade mostly with the Fihdal but also trade with the Vadal and the Tuhlen. Their commerce is based on the sale of magic, mostly in the form of elixirs, but it is not unheard of for a caravan returning from Liratelvan to be carrying more valuable and rarer magic such as weapons and clothing.

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