Astel is the first and only major city of the Fae. Since the vast majority of them stick to their specific tree or rock, it's a wonder they ever managed to build the marvel they describe. That's right, I said "describe". No Ethalian explorer has ever been able to make it to the fabled city. Apparently it lies in the exact center of the Everglade. Whatever that means given the land's shifting nature. They also claim it's equidistant from each of the Ley Springs of the Archfey, giving Astel an equal connection to each of their powers.
That all said, the descriptions of the city and its denizens sound absolutely incredible! The outer reaches of the city are constructed entirely from trees and other plants by magically cultivating and enhancing their growth so they naturally form into homes and other buildings. All lighting is generated by magiluminecent plants that adjust their brightness based on the time of day and weather. As you move deeper into the metropolis you start to see the ancient Fae stonework. Ancient techniques that are now lost to even the Fae have covered large portions of almost every stone face with one magical rune or another. All the ancient words glow at night and the stones look as if the wind and rain carved every room with intent and purpose. The deeper you travel, the higher you must climb as the whole city is centered on a large rise, atop which stands the Tower of Astel. A massive structure from whence the city council presides over the entire area.
The Fae people themselves who live there are different as well. Since their form is normally tied to their corner of nature, the people of Astel are tied to the part of the city they live in. The vast majority can be classified as Dryads, but they appear much more civilized than the wild ones we've interacted with so far. The wild plant growth is more tamed, and their elemental affinity more subdued. That being said, there are still many reports of elemental Fae performing with fire, wind, and water for entertainment as well as their roles in the city. They say the best steel in the everglade comes from the Firefolk forges in Astel.
Again, for the time being all these reports are completely unsubstantiated by Ethalian scouts, but event half of these rumors are true, then there is certainly a wealth of knowledge to be obtained from finding a way to this city!
Set within the heart of Vespirian, Astel remains the crowning jewel of Fae achievement. It occupies a realm of immense power, drawing the most renowned minds across the continent to its gates. Yet, reaching it is no trivial undertaking. The surrounding Fragments present treacherous terrain and lethal flora that claim many unprepared travelers. For those among the Gentry who journey frequently, Astel serves as a sanctuary and a seat of influence. The Fae who reside permanently within its borders regard themselves as far more refined than their provincial kin; rather than binding their essence to the land, sea, or sky, they anchor their very soul to the city itself. That such an alignment is possible stands as a testament to the staggering magical energy concentrated within this place.
The Astel Fragment is singular in its nature, wholly unaffected by the world’s currents. It rests fixed upon the absolute axis, causing all other Fragments to orbit its perimeter. While neighboring lands are rendered into irregular shapes, Astel maintains a perfect circular boundary, a symmetry echoed by the city built upon it. Even following a Shift, its immediate neighbors alter their alignment very little. That beings so attuned to the natural world should build so monumental a city seems contradictory, yet the truth of it is simple: the most sedentary of all races anchoring themselves to the only true constant in the world.
The majority of its populace belongs to the Fae. Few Wyrmkin secure a place within its wards, and fewer Beastkin still. I suspect they tolerate my continued presence as a rare curiosity of a bygone era, and perhaps as a solemn safeguard for historical truth. Occasionally, enterprising young Fae abandon the prosperity of Astel in pursuit of worldly adventure, though few comprehend what they forfeit.
Rule over Astel falls to Queen Sybilia, a majestic Fae of the Gentry whose aspect mirrors the entirety of her kind, her physical form shifting fluidly between their many variants. Whispers also persist that the Twilight Council convenes somewhere within the city walls. Though these accounts remain unverified, I credit them with truth. What other place in all the world possesses sufficient majesty to host their deliberations?