EPHEMERAL EXPANSE (YNDREL'VARUN)

"The very air shimmers with iridescent hues, painting the horizon in a kaleidoscope of colors that defy description. The ground underfoot feels both solid and malleable, as if the very earth is responsive to your presence. In the distance, forests of luminescent trees pulse softly, their glow harmonizing with the soft whispers of winds that carry ancient songs. Overhead, the sky is a canvas of ever-changing patterns, where constellations dance and rearrange, telling stories older than time. The Expanse welcomes you into its embrace — a realm of magic, mystery, and endless possibility."

Hazards & Phenomena

• Shifting Landscapes — Mountains recede into hills, forests turn into meadows, and rivers loop back on themselves within hours or days. Navigating requires intuition and adaptability, not just a map.
• Ephemeral Elements — Weather is not bound by conventional patterns. Expect rains of light, winds that whisper ancient secrets, or fog that reflects one's memories.
• Misleading Mirages — Not all that glimmers is gold. Sights of oasis or shelter may be illusions leading travelers astray.
• Whispers of the Past — The Expanse dredges up memories, sometimes manifesting them tangibly. Characters may encounter figures or places from their past. Discerning reality from illusion requires a Will Defense Roll (DC 15).
• Time Dilation — In some areas, time moves differently. Hours outside can be mere minutes inside these zones, or vice versa — a boon and a bane.
• Survival Amidst Surrealness — Grounding oneself and relying on fundamental survival instincts remain crucial. Regular Survival Checks (DC 17) anchor one's path and prevent total disorientation.
• Hints of Lysaeris — The ever-moving city casts magical imprints on the Expanse. Learning to read these can offer direction or safe passage toward it.

Finding Lysaeris

The position of Lysaeris is ever-changing — completely random, locatable only by Wilderness Scouts using a magical device called a Drovil.

Each day, roll or have the GM roll on the table below to determine the city's distance. Depending on their means of tracking or detection, the party might get clues, hints, or be completely in the dark.

Going Alone

If one were to attempt to navigate the Expanse independently, they will be under constant watch from the Tahata Scouts and the creatures of the forests — risking capture if they show any sign of being a threat.

The Sky-City of Lysaeris

• Capital: Lysaeris (floating city)
• Population: 220 thousand
• Government: Lysaerian High Council (Oligarchy)
• Economy: Open Trade System
• Location: South Eastern Solehaquin

One thousand meters above the Ephemeral Expanse floats the sky-city of Lysaeris. Born from the ashes of the Sundering War, this flying metropolis defies permanence — phasing to new locations each midnight while remaining perpetually airborne.

Lysaeris is powered by the Thura'cyal'ara, an ancient gnomish-elven artifact. Each night at midnight, the city phases — vanishing from its current location and reappearing elsewhere over the vast forest.

The Astral Houses (Ornath'ra)

Lysaerian society revolves around three Astral Houses — mystical affiliations determined by birth time and stellar alignment.

Fusion of Magic & Technology

The Tahata learned magitech from the gnomes of Luminogrove and have perfected the synthesis. Wind turbines spin like kinetic art. Solar panels unfold like butterfly wings.

Economy

Lysaeris cannot farm traditional ground crops. Everything is:

• Grown vertically or imported via sky-ship
• Harvested from the Expanse canopy
• Synthesized through magitech

The Ground Below

The people of Lysaeris avoid the ground. Being "earthlocked" is considered shameful — a relic of the past they've transcended. But the forest is real, dangerous, and inhabited.