Naasha
17-11-2007, 22:34
Kingdom of Avalea
Overview:
The Kingdom of Avalea is one of several nations that formed the bastion of Elven power and society in the east of the continent, forming an empire that rivalled even the main Elven kingdoms further east. The slave uprisings and barbarian invasions in recent years cost Avalea all of her colonies and lands overseas, as well as a few neighbours.
While some kingdoms to the east still cling on to the old ways of slavery and racism, Avalea has been forced to abandon some of her pride. The peoples of the west, humans, dwarves and others are a growing threat to the Kingdom that must be recognised and dealt with. This may mean that for the first time in history, Elves will be forced to enter into diplomacy with 'lower races' in order to stave off yet more invasions.
Problems are also arising internally, eastern cities still fiercely cling to the old beliefs of superiority over non-elves and relations cool with old Elven allies who are unsympathetic to the plight of Avalea.
Populace:
-700,000 Avalean Elves.
-50,000 other Elves, mostly refugees from nations further west.
~800 free humans and dwarves.
~5,000 non-elven slaves.
An Avalean Elf:
The Elves of Avalea were once a proud and haughty race, belonging to strict family houses and mating for life. With the decline in Elven power, however, the need for more warriors has become more apparent, family lines have become less distinct and bloodlines have become more watered down as society has begun to accept unions that might otherwise be frowned upon.
While still retaining the shaped chin and high cheekbones associated with the Elven race, Avalean Elves tend to possess brighter eyes and a darker skin tone, closer to humans and dwarves than traditional Elves. Looks tend to change as you move west, from eastern Elves who retain the characteristics of the old Elven empires to the westerners, who mix more freely with other races and indeed, each other.
The average Avalean male stands at about 5'10 with females usually a little shorter than their male counterparts, it is rare to encounter an Avalean over 6' tall. They live for about a thousand years in similar fashion to most Elves, although there are some claims that the weakening of bloodlines will result in this decreasing. As is fitting for an 'immortal' race, Elves cease to visibly age over about 300 (looking about 45 in human terms), but it is easy to spot an elder from their more distinguished features and slight stoop.
Skill with the sword and shortbow comes naturally to the agile Avaleans, as does the practice of most magic apart from frost, which all but the most accomplished sorcerors fail to grasp for unknown reasons. They are intelligent and quick to learn, but many become affected by the curse of their immortality; they become arrogant and reckless, intolerant of other 'lesser' folk and even scornful of other Elves below them.
Government and Society:
The Kingdom of Avalea is ruled by Prince Lukan and Lady Dremér from the Royal Palace, which is situated on a mountainside above the capital city of Idda on the southern peninsula. The relationship between the two is a source of much scandal; Lady Dremér may not take the title of Princess because she is deemed to be of an insufficient bloodline but assists her husband Prince Lukan in running the nation regardless. Society on Drelặ, the southern peninsula that houses the majority of the Avalean populace is rife with such scandals, the old traditions are being worn away and replaced by a more accepting and tolerant way of life, which leads to clashes between traditional elders and younger Elves.
The twin cities of Rela and Nara on the eastern border are seething with discontent as friction between traditional eastern practitioners of slavery and sacrifice find themselves under attack by the influx of refugees and disillusioned citizens who yearn for a more civilised way of life. On the western and northern frontiers, the tough and hardy Elven warriors and settlers are far more accepting, having more contact with other races than any other area. The de-facto capital of the north is the port of Osiloná, the gateway to the lands of the áthas Clans and beyond.
Each city or town in the Kingdom is ruled over by a patron House, which is appointed by the Royal Palace. The Houses are responsible for the growth and defence of their community and the surrounding areas and are expected to donate soldiers to the Prince in the case of war.
Notable Houses include:
-Ithan, the ruling family and patrons of Idda.
-Aralion, famous for it's soldiers and sailors and patrons of Herena, a Drelặn port.
-Drex, patrons of Rela and staunch traditionalists.
-Heralan, patrons of Nara and in political rivalry with House Drex.
-Osilon, the frontier Elves, patrons of Osiloná and many border towns.
Religion:
While elemental worship similar to that practiced by the áthas Clans exists in some wilderness settlements, the main religion is the worship of the Elven Pantheon. These Gods and Goddesses vary greatly and are held in different regard by each House, chief among them is Latheran who is widely believed to be the creator of the Elven race.
Technology and Trade:
While not the most igenuous people around, the Avalean Elves consider themselves to be reasonably technologically advanced. The pride of the Avalean people is the repeating bolt thrower, a kind of ballista that hurls spears. The Empire is reasonably self-sufficent in food and basic goods, exotic materials and ores are traded for across the continent in ports where Elven ships are still welcome. Avalea is largely lacking in iron reserves and iron is sometimes purchased or discreetly mined from the mountains of the Tidan Dwarves to the west.
Soldiers of Avalea:
Soldiers tend to be raised in the cities and forces may be assigned to garrison villages and other small settlements in the area that are unable to host their own units. Regiments are equipped and trained at the expense of the city who hosts them but may be called away in service of the Kingdom if the Royal Palace sees fit, some compensation may be offered in this case. There are approximately 23,000 soldiers (3% of the populace) on active duty, with a maximum muster of about 225,000 (30% of the populace), both male and female Elves may serve in the Regiments.
Typical soldiers wield either swords or spears with long metal shields, which are kept thin in order to minimise their weight. In addition to melee infantry, each city is usually able to raise bowmen and a cavalry force. Cavalry are the pride of the Avalean cities, although there are relatively few due to the lack of good cavalry mounts in Avalean lands. Individual units have distinctive names, weapons and armour styles and pride in their orders valiant deeds in history. A standing force of repeating bolt throwers is also maintained, although these are usually placed on city walls. Other siege equipment is usually constructed when it is needed.
Foreign Relations:
Overview:
The Kingdom of Avalea is one of several nations that formed the bastion of Elven power and society in the east of the continent, forming an empire that rivalled even the main Elven kingdoms further east. The slave uprisings and barbarian invasions in recent years cost Avalea all of her colonies and lands overseas, as well as a few neighbours.
While some kingdoms to the east still cling on to the old ways of slavery and racism, Avalea has been forced to abandon some of her pride. The peoples of the west, humans, dwarves and others are a growing threat to the Kingdom that must be recognised and dealt with. This may mean that for the first time in history, Elves will be forced to enter into diplomacy with 'lower races' in order to stave off yet more invasions.
Problems are also arising internally, eastern cities still fiercely cling to the old beliefs of superiority over non-elves and relations cool with old Elven allies who are unsympathetic to the plight of Avalea.
Populace:
-700,000 Avalean Elves.
-50,000 other Elves, mostly refugees from nations further west.
~800 free humans and dwarves.
~5,000 non-elven slaves.
An Avalean Elf:
The Elves of Avalea were once a proud and haughty race, belonging to strict family houses and mating for life. With the decline in Elven power, however, the need for more warriors has become more apparent, family lines have become less distinct and bloodlines have become more watered down as society has begun to accept unions that might otherwise be frowned upon.
While still retaining the shaped chin and high cheekbones associated with the Elven race, Avalean Elves tend to possess brighter eyes and a darker skin tone, closer to humans and dwarves than traditional Elves. Looks tend to change as you move west, from eastern Elves who retain the characteristics of the old Elven empires to the westerners, who mix more freely with other races and indeed, each other.
The average Avalean male stands at about 5'10 with females usually a little shorter than their male counterparts, it is rare to encounter an Avalean over 6' tall. They live for about a thousand years in similar fashion to most Elves, although there are some claims that the weakening of bloodlines will result in this decreasing. As is fitting for an 'immortal' race, Elves cease to visibly age over about 300 (looking about 45 in human terms), but it is easy to spot an elder from their more distinguished features and slight stoop.
Skill with the sword and shortbow comes naturally to the agile Avaleans, as does the practice of most magic apart from frost, which all but the most accomplished sorcerors fail to grasp for unknown reasons. They are intelligent and quick to learn, but many become affected by the curse of their immortality; they become arrogant and reckless, intolerant of other 'lesser' folk and even scornful of other Elves below them.
Government and Society:
The Kingdom of Avalea is ruled by Prince Lukan and Lady Dremér from the Royal Palace, which is situated on a mountainside above the capital city of Idda on the southern peninsula. The relationship between the two is a source of much scandal; Lady Dremér may not take the title of Princess because she is deemed to be of an insufficient bloodline but assists her husband Prince Lukan in running the nation regardless. Society on Drelặ, the southern peninsula that houses the majority of the Avalean populace is rife with such scandals, the old traditions are being worn away and replaced by a more accepting and tolerant way of life, which leads to clashes between traditional elders and younger Elves.
The twin cities of Rela and Nara on the eastern border are seething with discontent as friction between traditional eastern practitioners of slavery and sacrifice find themselves under attack by the influx of refugees and disillusioned citizens who yearn for a more civilised way of life. On the western and northern frontiers, the tough and hardy Elven warriors and settlers are far more accepting, having more contact with other races than any other area. The de-facto capital of the north is the port of Osiloná, the gateway to the lands of the áthas Clans and beyond.
Each city or town in the Kingdom is ruled over by a patron House, which is appointed by the Royal Palace. The Houses are responsible for the growth and defence of their community and the surrounding areas and are expected to donate soldiers to the Prince in the case of war.
Notable Houses include:
-Ithan, the ruling family and patrons of Idda.
-Aralion, famous for it's soldiers and sailors and patrons of Herena, a Drelặn port.
-Drex, patrons of Rela and staunch traditionalists.
-Heralan, patrons of Nara and in political rivalry with House Drex.
-Osilon, the frontier Elves, patrons of Osiloná and many border towns.
Religion:
While elemental worship similar to that practiced by the áthas Clans exists in some wilderness settlements, the main religion is the worship of the Elven Pantheon. These Gods and Goddesses vary greatly and are held in different regard by each House, chief among them is Latheran who is widely believed to be the creator of the Elven race.
Technology and Trade:
While not the most igenuous people around, the Avalean Elves consider themselves to be reasonably technologically advanced. The pride of the Avalean people is the repeating bolt thrower, a kind of ballista that hurls spears. The Empire is reasonably self-sufficent in food and basic goods, exotic materials and ores are traded for across the continent in ports where Elven ships are still welcome. Avalea is largely lacking in iron reserves and iron is sometimes purchased or discreetly mined from the mountains of the Tidan Dwarves to the west.
Soldiers of Avalea:
Soldiers tend to be raised in the cities and forces may be assigned to garrison villages and other small settlements in the area that are unable to host their own units. Regiments are equipped and trained at the expense of the city who hosts them but may be called away in service of the Kingdom if the Royal Palace sees fit, some compensation may be offered in this case. There are approximately 23,000 soldiers (3% of the populace) on active duty, with a maximum muster of about 225,000 (30% of the populace), both male and female Elves may serve in the Regiments.
Typical soldiers wield either swords or spears with long metal shields, which are kept thin in order to minimise their weight. In addition to melee infantry, each city is usually able to raise bowmen and a cavalry force. Cavalry are the pride of the Avalean cities, although there are relatively few due to the lack of good cavalry mounts in Avalean lands. Individual units have distinctive names, weapons and armour styles and pride in their orders valiant deeds in history. A standing force of repeating bolt throwers is also maintained, although these are usually placed on city walls. Other siege equipment is usually constructed when it is needed.
Foreign Relations: