Winterhollow
Winterhollow, the biggest city in the Winterlands, is a sight to behold. The moon elven architecture made it stand out from afar, with its frost white and glassy buildings that sparkled in the sun like diamonds, also reflecting the stars at night. The city is ruled by House Rolfe, the leading house of the Winterlands, and they reside in the grandest castle, Castle Winterhollow .
Every building in Winterhollow had an interior of dark wooden walls, with blue tapestries that gave the city a calm and serene atmosphere. The buildings are typically lighted with floating chandeliers that resembled the stars in the sky, creating a beautiful night sky effect to the ceilings of the buildings. Even the poorest of citizens in Winterhollow live in beautiful homes, thanks to the efforts of the moon elves that came before them.
The city was located right next to Lake Gilgalad, a stunning body of water that perfectly reflects the night sky and the aurora borealis above it. The lake is so clear and pure that it is almost like looking into a mirror. It is also used as an access point to the ocean, which makes it an important resource for trading with The Swordspire.
As one walks through the streets of Winterhollow, they can hear the soft sound of snow crunching under their feet, and the occasional sound of music from street performers. The city was alive with activity, from merchants selling their wares to children playing games in the snow. Overall, Winterhollow is a city of beauty and prosperity, a testament to the ingenuity and resilience of the moon elves.
One of the major holidays in Winterhollow is the Night of Candles. On the winter solstice, the day of the year when nights are longest, the city is filled with candles that burn red, purple, blue, and green. The candles are placed out to ward off demonic spirits that may have drifted down from the deep north. During the day, people can be seen outside on the streets having snowball fights, making ice sculptures, and singing songs. When night falls, the people return to their homes with family and friends, and have a feast together, while exchanging gifts and kind words. Nobody goes outside once night falls, as it is believed that the spirits of demons are roaming about. The people have learned to never trust a voice asking to be let inside, and often drown out the outside noises with laughter and cheer.
The ghost of Winterhollow is an urban legend in the city, supposedly an elven princess named Elara that was killed when House Falcon conquered the region; her spirit haunts the streets and Castle Winterhollow. Legend has it that many children who got lost and found their way back to their parents claim that a beautiful elf helped them, but an elf has not walked the streets of Winterhollow in thousands of years.