Decline is the thing I imagine most. Faded glories, remnants, watching the younger races spread across the world while they just have glimmers of what they once were. I'd say it's not helped that for every warrior or mage they have, there's a courtier, artist, or musician!
This is something I'd also imagine when it comes to a place like Falwood- shrines and statues throughout the wood that have fallen into ruin, a faint reminder of the past.
By glancing at the map you can see that
Falwood covers an immense amount of land with climates that probably vary from north to south- I'd imagine that cultures and traditions could vary as well.
A real life comparison that comes to mind would probably be the Post-Roman Empire in Western Europe. Rome had left its footprints from North Africa to the British Isles, from Spain to Assyria. However, over time the glue that held this empire together lost its strength. Some of these
regions broke away while others claimed to be the heirs of Rome and sought to restore its prominence ( ex.
Charlemagne).
What if Fal'Addas is currently struggling to assert its legitimacy against these "bastard states" in other parts of Falwood? Perhaps within Fal'Addas there are competing
elven clans/ political factions jostling for power? Maybe
skirmishes along vital routes throughout Falwood make it difficult to address revolts? Perhaps there is a rise of fanatic ideas within Fal'Addas' immediate territory that are becoming too prevalent to ignore?
I digress, but there is definitely a lot you can work with!
If you're interested in brainstorming feel free to reach out. I'd be more than glad to help
