"The water remembers the first sunrise." — Deep Elf saying
Hidden deep within the Emerald Expanse, not far from the concealed realm of Aetherion, lies Emerald Lake, the most beautiful body of water in all of Eyr.
Its waters are impossibly clear, glowing with a faint emerald light that never fades. During the day, the lake reflects the towering forests like polished glass. At night, it mirrors the stars so perfectly that travelers often cannot tell where the sky ends and the water begins.
The Deep Elves consider Emerald Lake to be sacred.
To them, it is not merely a lake.
It is the soul of the forest.
According to the oldest legends, Emerald Lake was formed when the World Oak first took root at the dawn of creation.
As the young world awakened, droplets of magical essence fell from the tree's first leaves, gathering in a natural basin beneath the forest.
Those drops became Emerald Lake.
For thousands of years, the lake has absorbed the life-giving magic flowing through the roots of the World Oak, making it one of the most magically charged places in Eyr.
Its waters never freeze.
They never become stagnant.
They remain perfectly pure.
The Deep Elves believe every drop of water contains a fragment of the Green Song—the living magic that connects all things in the Emerald Expanse.
Drinking from the lake is considered a sacred act.
Its waters can:
Heal minor wounds.
Remove natural diseases.
Restore exhaustion after long journeys.
Strengthen one's connection to nature.
Calm troubled minds.
However, the lake cannot be exploited.
Those who attempt to bottle large quantities or harvest its magic for greed find the water loses its enchantment almost immediately.
The blessing belongs only to those who approach with respect.
An ancient spirit known only as The Emerald Lady watches over the lake.
She appears as a graceful elf with flowing green hair woven from leaves and lilies, though others describe her as a dragon of shimmering emerald scales or a towering figure of living water.
No one knows her true form.
She rarely speaks.
When she does, every creature nearby falls silent to listen.
The Deep Elves believe she existed long before their people arrived.
Even Thistle treats her with great respect.
The waters of Emerald Lake are home to peaceful but powerful beings.
Giant Otters
Moon Swans
Crystal Trout
Water Elementals
Naiads
Pixies
Unicorns
Giant Dragonflies
Emerald Turtles
Faerie Dragons
Legends tell of an ancient Emerald Dragon sleeping within caverns beneath the lake, awakening only when the balance of Eyr is threatened.
On a small island in the center of the lake stands the Moon Shrine, built by the First Civilization long before Aetherion existed.
The white marble temple has no doors and no roof.
Every full moon, beams of silver light descend into the shrine, illuminating ancient runes that speak of the creation of Eyr.
The Deep Elves hold their most sacred ceremonies here.
Beneath Emerald Lake lies The Wellspring of Life, an immense chamber filled with glowing emerald crystals through which the roots of the World Oak pass.
The chamber is one of the oldest places in the world and serves as the source from which the Green Song flows into every forest, meadow, and living creature in Eyr.
The First Civilization built the Moon Shrine above it to conceal its existence.
Very few know the truth.
If the Wellspring were ever corrupted, the Emerald Expanse would begin to die, Thistle's magic would weaken, and the World Oak itself would slowly wither.
For this reason, the Emerald Lady, the Deep Elves, and the Emerald Wardens have guarded the lake since before history was written.
The healing waters of Emerald Lake have suddenly lost their magic.
A sacred Moon Swan has disappeared, and the Emerald Lady asks the adventurers to find it.
Strange black vines are spreading beneath the surface, poisoning fish and wildlife.
Nyx seeks an ancient crystal hidden beneath the Moon Shrine, believing it holds forgotten arcane knowledge.
The Witch Mother has learned of the Wellspring of Life and sends her zealots to corrupt it, forcing the heroes to defend one of the holiest places in Eyr.
To most travelers, Emerald Lake is a place of breathtaking beauty.
To those who know its true history, it is the living heart of nature—and one of the last places keeping the darkness beneath Eyr at bay.