House of Illistim

One of seven original noble houses of elves, the House of Illistim was said to have valued knowledge above all else, the elves of the House of Illistim having been known as being great scholars. It was said that no other culture in Elanthia valued knowledge more than the Illistim did, and they were the creators of some of the most powerful of artifacts produced by elves due to their mastery of magic. The House of Illistim seat of power was in the City-State of Ta'Illistim. It was held by the Argent Mirror, who is presently Queen Myasara.

"The Shining City" owes its title to a famous poem by Isildrich Greyvael Illistim.

Illistim society was infamously egalitarian, and divided into a number of recognizable branches. Among these include the Loremasters, the Elemancers, the Artificers, the Arch Magi, the Sapphire Guard, the Council of Thrones, and royal representatives such as the Seneschal. However, there were many people who were less high profile, being little more than farmers or shopkeeps.

Prominent Groups

Families

There are a number of highly influential families among the Illistim elite, other than the old royal bloodline, whether historically or at the present time. The following are examples with what they were characteristically known for:

• Chesylrae (Healers, Rangers)
• Veythorne (Elemancers, Merchants in antiquity)
• Javilerre (Sapphire Guard, Construction; Vaalor ties)
• Avelleur (Sorcery)
• Nellereune (Artificers, Flow Magic)
• Greyvael (Fine Arts, Politics; Loenthra ties)

Orders

There were also a number of private social clubs of considerable influence, including:

• The Grey Obelisk (Archaeology, Divination)
• The Watchers of the Eternal Eye (Subversive Scholarship, Dangerous Research; Fash'lo'nae ties)
• The Silver Rod (Mentalists)
• The Pallid Breath (Elemental Air Magic)
• The Swirling Tempest (Elemental Water Magic; antagonism with Charl)
• The Amber Flame (Elemental Fire Magic)
• The Rooted Earth (Elemental Earth Magic; Dwarf ties)
• The Unending Circle (Banning Dangerous Magic; Lumnis ties)

See Also

• Protocol and Etiquette: Behavior Within the Court of the Illistim Elves (saved post)
• Illistim Culture at Play.net
• Official Documentation on Elves at Play.net