The village of the maya, El Shefra is an autonomous, secluded village which has maintained independence from both Ar Titia and Ar Siance throughout the war. Founded 850 years ago, the village is highly reclusive and secretive, with their main objective tied to caring for the great tree Implanta. Typically, only maya are allowed within its bounds, and lequera and denera alike are ostracized. The people of the village live alongside nature rather than overcoming it and intruding upon it, their homes and other architecture built into and around the nature rather than by cutting it away. El Shefra prides itself on traditional values, and maya living within the village tend to reject innovation and progressive policies, especially those which involve interaction with the outside world or which involve using the earth's resources for personal gain.
A massive tree situated at the center of El Shefra. The tree bestows upon the land manna, a sort of energy particle which carries powerful revitalizing properties and is the source of magic. Through the manna Implanta creates, the earth is made rich and bountiful, and certain receptive people are able to harness the power of manna to use magic naturally.
The date of Implanta's birth varies across legend, but most sources point to between 1500 and 2000 years ago. Before its birth, the land was mostly barren, with famine and drought rampant. Magic was nonexistent, and manna had not yet blessed the world. But when God bestowed Implanta upon the land, it sprang to life and revitalized agriculture and nature alike. From Implanta's birth also came spirits, as souls were receptive to the manna present in the world and thus became immortal. Many humans also were receptive to manna even before death, but not all were graced with Implanta's blessing, thus separating humans into two races: maya and lequera. The maya and lequera intermingled to produce offspring whose genes were receptive to manna, but not fully—These children eventually became known as denera, those not fully maya but not fully lequera.
A sprawling forest that surrounds Implanta and El Shefra. The dense forest is said to be a product of Implanta's influence, the tree's life-giving attributes allowing for such a massive breadth of life to grow. Over centuries, its perimeter has creeped outward, growing thicker and larger to the extent that it covers much of the southern regions of both Ar Siance and Ar Titia. The forest is teeming with life, and many spirits make it their home, as it is a lush, rich area with abundance in each of the six elements. With winding rivers and calm lakes, fertile earth, and ancient trees, the forest is an idyllic place for any without ties to civilization and society.