* Restricted Information: Elves only
The lands in the Overworld inhabited by the Elven races lie West to West South West of Mount Anar, and stretch for some 2000 miles from the Bays of Light and of Mafast in the East to the Wall at the Edge of the World in the far West. Over the Southern half of this area lies the great deciduous forest of Taur-Galen, Greenwood the Great, resplendent in Autumn and home of the Wood Elves (Sindar in their own tongue). To the North of the forest is the Vale of the great river Caladuin. The far Western part of the Vale is known as the land of Minduinath, home of the High Elves (Calaquendi in their own tongue). But Elves are nomadic people, and both races travel far and wide across these lands, and further afield. The seafarers amongst them depart from their great havens of Hithlond, Himlond, Gaerlond and Brathilond on the isle of Tol-in-Edhel, Sillond on the mainland nearby, or Ëarlondë at the end of the "Elven Roads" through the woodlands between the Dyke of SARAN and the Great Swamp. The stargazers amongst them head down the old Elf Route to the land of Gurdor, via the Lost Country in the Underworld, where dwell many "lost" tribes of the Sindar, known as the Moredhil or Dark Elves.
Being nomadic, the Elves have few permanent settlements other than their ports. The pride of the Calaquendi is the great mallorn tree-city of Mírlinnyrn. At the old Temple of Heaven on Earth site near the main caravan route of the Great South Road through Taur-Galen is a shifting semi-permanent town of the Sindar, often simply known as Taur-Galen after the forest. Then there are the Sacred Hearts: sacred sites known only to the Elves themselves (and not all of them) and a few favoured Druids. The Sacred Heart of Taur-Galen is Cor-Galen, another great mallorn-grove and home of the Galadhwaith Tree-People Cult. The Sacred Heart of Minduinath and the Vale of Caladuin is the glade of Nen Sirithon (Waters' Meeting), at the confluence of the Caladuin (Haraduin in its upper reaches) from the South and Miriduin from the North. Krisford, Milmar and Tewost along the caravan route are essentially human towns.
The Elves are an easygoing people, loving music and song, the trees and the stars. They are hunters and gatherers rather than farmers, but the Calaquendi in particular have clever smiths and craftsmen, who make many beautiful and magical items. They have little political structure, outside the Druidic Cults and Temples, with most communities being informally led by the eldest and wisest amongst them. But this does not mean they are weak militarily. The Sindar are renowned archers, deadly when camouflaged amongst the trees of their home. The riders of the Calaquendi patrol all across the Vale of Caladuin, hunting down any orc, goblin or other undesirable foolish enough to stray into their territory.
The Forest of Taur-Galen is protected by the Elves, who live in harmony with Nature, and by the Ents of the Forest. The trees are not felled and hunting is only for food. Humans keep to the South Road and the road to the THE Site. The main tracks through the Forest are used only by the Elves, and are not obvious except to Scouts. The Sub-Forests of Taur-Galen are named after the Guardian Trees or Beasts of their respective Sacred Circles, but that does not mean those Sub-Forests are composed only of their namesake trees or populated only by their namesake beasts. The whole Forest consists of mixed broadleaf woodland, with conifers becoming more common towards its Western edge but with specimens occurring throughout the Forest. All kinds of woodland Animals may be found throughout the Forest, with tribes of their respective Cults following them. Along the Southern fringes there is interaction with the Grasslander Tribes of the Mist Warriors, particularly amongst the Bear and Boar Cults and Tribes.
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