The Council of Elves—comprising the Elf King, his four Royal Guards, and a circle of esteemed ministers—sat in quiet focus around a carved wooden table, its surface etched with flowing runes of the old tongue. They had convened within the Hall of Verdance, nestled high in the canopies of Aurenwë, capital of Alfheim and cradle of the Crown of the World Tree.
Though the world beyond surged forward with machines, metal, and skyborne cities, the elves of Alfheim remained steadfast in the Ancient Way. They lived harmoniously among the towering trees, their homes woven into the living branches, shaped rather than built. Their lives were marked by balance—sustained by fruits, vegetables, wild herbs, and the occasional respectful hunt.
