The Restoration of Sil-Elaine
Introduction
Hello. I would like to request for authorization from the Architects to spearhead a plot over the coming seasons (perhaps even years) to restore the Kingdom of Sil-Elaine. This plot will have a few phases, and will (hopefully) have heavy involvement from other players as well. I will list all of the phases in this post, and give a detailed idea of roughly what I expect to happen. Anything that needs to be moderated within this framework, I am happy to have a moderator's assistance with, whether it be prompts, approval or an actual moderated thread.
Process
1. I will keep a detailed thread list of the related threads within my Plot Notes. I will submit these into a new request each time I am ready to move on to a second phase, and would like for a moderator to approve certain events occurring.
2. The vast majority of these events will be player-led. With moderator permission, I would like for permission to be given to the players - within the plot's framework - to play important NPCs, up to and including Aldrin Sil'Jalus, and the Court of Dusk, at a minimum. I would like for permission to be given to me, at least, to play them - so that we don't need to go through constant moderator approval for every step of the plot. The things that are going to occur in this plot will be extensive, severe, and will require many high-ticket NPCs being involved, up to and including a Corrupted God, at a later part of the plot. More on that later.
3. Depending on the stage of the plot, it may be possible that another PC ends up spear-heading it, taking over, or other PCs may fall into opposition which could potentially complicate things. Basically, some of these things may end up being fluid or flexible.
Phase 1: Tyrnac and Lotheric
Phase 1 will begin with Taelian, as well as any other involved PCs, attempting to gain the alliance of the Elven Gods Tyrnac, and Lotheric. The reason is simple: the two of them are within the region, and may possibly become powerful allies against the Dranoch Huntsmen. In order for the revolution to truly gain the upper-hand, they must seek allies, and while Aldrin has been attempting to persuade foreign allies diplomatically for years, Taelian and the involved PCs will recognize that two truly great potential allies sit right within the land itself. The plot will likely involve an expedition to find and confront Lotheric, as he is highly influential over Tyrnac and his imperative. This means a highly dangerous voyage through the Straits of Adena, to Lotheric's vortex, where he will need to be confronted and persuaded to align with the revolution. If this phase succeeds, then things move to their second phase. Obviously, for this phase, I would like some level of permission to play Lotheric and Tyrnac in these event-style collaborative threads.
Phase 2: The Revolution
With Lotheric and Tyrnac joining the revolution, the balance of power will finally skew to the Black Remedy. The coastline of Sil-Elaine would quickly be liberated due to Lotheric's aquatic powers, and Tyrnac would join the Remedy in keeping the coast. What comes next is simple: total war between the Remedy and the two Brother-Elven Gods and their adversaries, the Dranoch. There would be strategizing over taking cities, and possibly battles between the allied forces of the Eldhan Weald and the Remedy, versus the Huntsmen. These would be the first wide-scale battles in the revolution's history, made possible by the bolstering of aid by the Elven Gods. In this course of events, it is very unlikely that any Huntsmen will die due to their wild mobility and near-imperviousness to death, but they will eventually be pushed to a final bastion: Silfanore. If they lose the city, the Huntsmen will be forced to either defend it to the death (as some may do), or scatter across Atharen. Regardless, they will lose their base of power.
Phase 3: The Tyrannical Reign Ends
With the Court of Dusk unseated, a transition comes to Sil-Elaine. Structures are up-ended and re-written, and the old system of governance (a monarchy) is largely restored. This is a very, very flexible period that will have a lot of nuance. Aldrin will almost certainly try to become the King of Sil-Elaine. It is possible that he does. Based on everything that happened the previous two phases, and what will happen after, it is possible that his ascent is opposed. It is also possible that he dies due to whatever series of events unfolds. In truth, however, I do not see anything stopping him from becoming the King of Sil-Elaine once the Court of Dusk falls, so long as he is alive. He will be seen as the father of a new land, its eternal, historic liberator.
Phase 4: Mending Sil-Elaine
While the revolution was important for restoring hope and stability in the land, Sil-Elaine is still afflicted by corruption and blight. Starvation and corruption-based disease are still a scourge on the land, stifling it severely. This is where the next major phase of the plot begins: mending the land to what it was, or even better than what it was, before the Sundering. This plot will heavily involve a third Elven God: Veratelle. Being that she is dead, Sil-Elaine's forests - which all descend from her - have effectively died or become dormant with her. This phase of the plot will involve restoring her form, or possibly even restoring her from the dead.
This phase may end up being the longest and most arduous of them. The phase will involve the remaining players going to Bel to commune with Y'shendra, who created Veratelle, directly. Despite Y'shendra being a Corrupted, it is possible that she could restore Veratelle's life force, given that she still holds the domain of Life. So, perhaps for assistance in the Endless War, the players will aspire to make a deal with Y'shendra to restore Veratelle.
Upon being restored, Veratelle's re-emergence inspires the Elven Gods to return (at least for a time) to Sil-Elaine, to welcome their fallen sister. With all of them, soaking in the corruption from the land becomes possible, even if it means weakening themselves or potentially dying. The potential endings and nuances of this portion of the plot are fairly limitless, but at the end, Sil-Elaine will be restored as a bountiful Kingdom. I also expect there to be some practical form of land recovery to draw up the northern parts of the Kingdom, as a lot of it was effectively sunk by the Sundering.
Phase 5: New Direction
This final phase of the plot will be the point in which the characters and NPCs help decide a new path for the restored Kingdom. This may mean internal strife; perhaps replacing Aldrin as a King (if he is the King). It may mean declaring war on Daravin to regain portions of the lost Elven homeland. Or, it may mean focusing on development and growth, becoming another pillar of industrial technology like Sil-Elaine was during the Clockwork Empire's reign. This will affect how the Kingdom is going forward, and will affect the lore that is written for it in the wake of its change.
With all of that being said, I hope this provides a measurable outline for a player-led plot to restore the Kingdom. Thanks, all!
