Tilrith
Tilrith Island is a mostly forgotten, rocky isle off Evermeet's northern coast, shrouded in powerful wards and erased from most maps. Once a simple prison for the exiled archmage Sifahir, its true nature is far deeper, it is a living, arcane vault, a planar nexus where ancient elven high magic binds fey lords, aberrations, and otherworldly horrors beneath its surface. The island itself is sentient, a genius loci that senses every thought and movement within its borders, twisting the seas and skies to deter intruders. Its tangled spell-web, fueled by long-enslaved mages and artifacts of immense power, distorts reality around it, creating illusions and fear to drive away travelers. Should its wards fail, the catastrophic energies bound below could unravel Evermeet's mythal, unleashing forgotten powers into the Realms.
Geography
The island is jagged and crescent-shaped, no more than a mile long, surrounded by stormy seas and treacherous reefs.
- Shoreline: Sharp basalt cliffs rise sheer from the sea, with only one ancient stone pier offering a landing. Ghostly green and violet lights flicker beneath the waves.
- Surface Terrain: Sparse patches of grass and wind-twisted silver-leaved trees cling to life on the rocky ground. Rune-scarred standing stones remain from Sifahir's spell-web, and a faint hum vibrates through the earth.
Key Locations
- The Tower of Sifahir: A black stone spire on the western cliffs, partially ruined yet still pulsing with dark energy. Its halls are filled with illusions and sealed doors leading to deeper vaults.
- Arcane Vaults: Subterranean crystalline chambers housing artifacts, bound extraplanar creatures, and prisoners used to fuel the island's wards. Faint lights flicker through cracks in the earth.
- Genius Loci Spring: A hollow basin of still black water where the island's sentient spirit manifests. It whispers into the minds of intruders, testing their purpose.
Magical Defenses & Effects
- Warding Illusions: The island projects false visions, open sea, jagged reefs, or shifting terrain, to mislead sailors.
- Psychic Dread: A mental pressure of fear and despair grows stronger the closer one approaches.
- Time & Space Distortion: Paths loop back on themselves; time feels stretched and warped within the island's borders.
- Living Wards: Echoes of Sifahir's creations, Listle, Whorl, and other bound guardians, still patrol the island.
Prison Purpose
Originally meant as Sifahir's exile, Tilrith evolved into a true planar prison. Its vaults hold fey lords who defied Evermeet, aberrations drawn from the Far Realm, and other ancient horrors. Its arcane bindings intertwine with Evermeet's own mythal, making it a keystone of the island's larger magical network.
Current Status
No elf has officially visited Tilrith since Amlaruil's reign. After the Spellplague shifted Evermeet into the Feywild, rumors suggest the wards have weakened, granting Sifahir greater freedom. Strange lights are seen above the island on moonless nights, and the genius loci has grown increasingly hostile.