The Heart of the Emerald Legion
Moonwood Gate, the beating heart of the Emerald Legion, stands as one of the most
extraordinary cities in all of Aetherwyn. Built within and around a colossal world tree
that grew from the very site where the Fracture tore open reality, this spiraling
metropolis is where races of all kinds gather amidst the verdant embrace of nature's
splendor. Founded by elven and fey refugees who fled through the newly-opened portal
in the early years After Fracture, it has grown over nearly a millennium into a living
testament to how catastrophe can become sanctuary. Here, elvish grace intertwines with
the whimsy of the fey and the resilience of those who found hope in a broken world,
creating a tapestry of wonder and magic unlike any other.
Moonwood Gate is constructed within the spiraling interior and around the massive
trunk of an ancient world tree whose canopy stretches beyond the clouds. The city
spirals upward through the tree's hollow interior, with districts carved into the
living wood and connected by graceful bridges of woven branches. Bioluminescent
fungi and fairy lights illuminate the pathways, while streams of crystal-clear
water cascade down through carved channels in the bark.
The Luckfire Pit - A rough bar catering to miners and factory workers who
harvest the tree's magical sap and tend the alchemical gardens. Despite its
crude reputation, the establishment serves surprisingly potent fey-touched ales.
The Onyx Atheneum - The imposing headquarters of the Department of Imminent
Contract Enforcement (DICE), built from rare black wood that seems to absorb
light. This organization handles magical contracts and supernatural disputes.
The Feywild Portal Chamber - Located at the tree's heart, this is the original
Fracture-born breach to the Feywild that allowed the founding refugees to escape
their war-torn realms. Nearly a thousand years later, it remains stable and bathes
the entire city in otherworldly energy. This sacred site serves as both the source
of much of the city's unique magic and a reminder of the catastrophe that became
their salvation.
The Crown District - The upper reaches of the tree where nobility and
important government officials reside among the highest branches, enjoying
panoramic views and the closest connection to celestial energies.
The Spiral Markets - Winding commercial districts that follow the tree's
natural spiral, where fey merchants sell impossible goods alongside traditional
crafts, and reality tends to be more... flexible.
The Root Warrens - Industrial districts near the tree's base where miners
extract magical sap, alchemists brew potions, and workers maintain the city's
more practical needs. Home to The Luckfire Pit and similar establishments.
Twilight Quarters - Residential areas where the boundary between the material
world and Feywild grows thin, popular with fey residents and those who don't
mind their neighbors occasionally changing species overnight.
Population: Approximately 150,000 souls (though exact counts vary due to fey magic)
Ruler: The Verdant Council - a collective of elected representatives from each major district
The city is governed by the Verdant Council, with representatives chosen through
a combination of democratic election and trials of wisdom that often involve
navigating fey riddles and challenges. The Department of Imminent Contract
Enforcement (DICE) serves as both magical law enforcement and diplomatic corps
for supernatural matters.
Laws in Moonwood Gate are... fluid. Written law exists, but fey customs often
take precedence, especially regarding hospitality, truthfulness, and the keeping
of bargains. Breaking one's word is considered the gravest of crimes, while
clever wordplay is celebrated as high art.
Role: Elven head of the Verdant Council
Ancient elf who remembers the city's founding and the portal's opening
Role: Head of DICE operations
Mysterious figure whose true nature is hidden behind bureaucratic efficiency
Role: Proprietor of The Luckfire Pit
Fey bartender whose appearance and species change with their mood
Rough establishment serving strong drinks to working folk and adventurers
Upscale inn where guests sleep in pods among the branches and share prophetic dreams
Clothing that changes with the wearer's emotions and the phases of the moon
Potions that shouldn't exist but somehow do, run by a cheerful dryad
A swirling gateway at the tree's heart, constantly shifting between seasons
Highest point in the city, used for astronomical and planar observations
The city's greatest defense is the world tree itself, whose bark is harder than
steel and whose roots extend deep into the earth. Living walls of thorns can
be grown at a moment's notice, and the fey magic makes conventional siege
tactics largely ineffective.
The Moonguard serves as the city's military force - elite rangers and druids
who work in partnership with fey creatures. The portal allows for rapid
deployment of additional forces from Feywild allies when needed.
The tree enters a dormant phase, fey magic becomes more subtle and contemplative
Explosive growth and renewal, new passages appear overnight in the living wood
Peak magical activity, the portal pulses with extra-planar energy
Harvest time for magical sap, and when the veil between worlds grows thinnest