A Brief History of the Elven Country of Drania Vale and Demographics

Just giving a glimpse of the preparation I do for some of my stories.

Elven Country of Drania Vale

The Founding:

The northern elves started as nomads after coming to Trivium.  After hundreds of years of wandering they found the wide valley of Drania.  No one had settled there despite the vast mineral resources found in the mountains because a dragon called the vale home and guarded it jealously.  At first, the dragon chased away the elves just as it had all who came before.  So, the elves set up a camp in a forest near a sizable river.  This settlement would later grow and become known as Amberdeep Garde.  A year later, an elf named Sundamar walked into the dragon’s territory alone and was feared dead after being gone for a month.  At noon on the 30th day after he left, he returned with a mysterious silver haired woman named Zeindril and announced he had brokered an agreement with the dragon to share its territory if they stayed good stewards of the land and that the dragon would have a say in how the resources and the fledgling nation developed.  Sundamar became Drania Vale’s first king.

It didn’t take long for word of this to reach the king whose country bordered the south end of the dragon’s territory.  The king had coveted the resource-rich territory, and when his delegation to the new nation came back empty-handed.  Two years passed and during that time the king’s agents reported that there had been no further sightings of the dragon.  The king assumed that the elves had vanquished the dragon or that the dragon was otherwise gone.   His greed for the region’s abundant resources caused him to finally mobilize his forces and declare war, moving out against the elves.  The fighting was fierce and though the elves were vastly outnumbered their reliance on archery and magic while using the tops of the giant ironwood trees as cover and as a ‘highway’ of sorts to move throughout the forest unseen and unheard led to a stalemate that lasted five years.  A stalemate that was finally broken by the treacherous assassination of Sundamar.

The southern king called for a parlay on the pretense of negotiating an end to the war.  The elven delegation which included Sundamar, a small contingent of troops, and the visibly pregnant Zeindril.  When they had approached within a few dozen yards of the tent that was set up for the negotiations, the southern King’s mana users cast a giant pillar of flame on the Elven king’s group.  All that was left standing was Zeindril.  With a great wail of agonizing grief, she revealed her true form as the great Silver Dragon and with the help of the elven army slaughtered the southern King, his delegation and the troops amassed on the southern edge of the field.  The now decimated Southern forces retreated in a rout.  The Southern nation, now without its King, capitulated, and the war was over.

Zeindril and one of the elven surviving generals then led the fledgling nation as co-regents until her child could be born and raised to take the throne.  During this time, they moved the capital of the nation to the base of the mountains near the dragon’s lair and over time Amberdeep Garde became the city of commerce as it is known today, Amberdeep.

120 years after Sundamar II was born, Zeindril and the general abdicated their position as regents and Sundamar II was crowned King.  The General stayed on as the King’s advisor and took command of the Royal Guard.  Zeindril went back to her cave and has only been seen when there have been major events involving the royal family.  It is said that she never fully recovered from her grief over Sundamar’s loss, but events are happening that may soon make her once again leave her lair…

Country Name:  Eldar Drania

People and Society

·        Races Nation pop Total: 35,250 - Elves: 17,625 - Human: 5,287 - Other Races: 5,280

·        Languages Spoken: Drania Elven, (Only regularly by those that are still around from their original world.  Still taught in university.) Trivium Common

·        Autonomy: Yes

Government

·        Government type: Hereditary Monarchy

·        Nobility and Privilege:  Mostly like British nobility, with some German influence with ranks as well.

·        Capitol City: Silvasera

·        Crime and Punishment: Manorial Court; Judge with Jury trial if requested; Accused would represent themselves unless proved to be incompetent.  A Steward of the Court would be appointed in such cases or when a third, impartial party is needed.  Only the most severe crimes are brought to the monarchy for judgment.  Judgments:   Fines, community service, imprisonment, banishment, petrification.

·        Allies and Adversaries: Allies: Dragon: Zeindril, Protector of the Forest

·        Taxation: 5% Sales tax.  3% Import and Export Duties.  Permits are needed to conduct business in the country. 

·        Infrastructure:

·        Military: 8,500 standing army plus 1,000 militia: Service is mandatory for all able-bodied citizens for 10 years.  Starting immediately after going through the rite of passage to adulthood.  (100 years old for elves) *

Economy

·        Natural Resources: Iron, Copper, Ironwood sap, Ironwood trees, foodstuffs

·        Trade, Guilds and Market: Equivalent of other Trivium Countries.  *

·        Technology and Medicine: Late medieval on average with occasional contemporary differences.  (i.e. Modern sanitation practices for medical procedures) *

·        Transportation and Communication: Various riding beasts, some steam tech. / Courier magic mirrors, various communication magic. *

·        Farming: Produce, livestock, herbs & spices, Ironwood

·        Export/Import: Iron, Copper, weapons, Ironwood sap, farm goods, herb & spices, textiles/clothing, jewelry and livestock

Culture

·        Art and Entertainment: Song, dance, Painting, plays, artistic gardening* 

·        Architecture: Reminiscent of Victorian gothic architecture of earth. *

·        Ethics:

·        Gender Equality/Roles: Any gender can fill any position / role. *

·        Greeting & Meeting: No traditional greeting

·        Fashion and Dress: Ranging from Medieval to Victorian.

·        Holidays: Founding Day: The solstice and equinox dates, and Remembrance Day.  *

Customs

·        Religion: No restrictions

·        Pantheon/Gods: None specific to the nation

·        Religious Tolerance: Very tolerant.

·        Secularism: Secular, religious leaders have no authority over the state or political matters.

·        Temples: Various to some of the most popular deities to follow.

Magic

·        Laws on magic: Attacking someone with magic is treated like equivalent mundane attacks.  Mind Control Spells are illegal.

·        Magical Tolerance: Tolerant

·        Magic in Warfare: Yes