Sarhólgahnúm
Sarhólgahnúm is the youngest of the elven kingdoms in the Frontier Lands and also the most expansionistic, claiming the huge swath of forest to its northeast and settling a handful of colonies there.
Structure
Sarhólgahnúm is a monarchy ruled by the Anaphrimral family of elves. The rulers themselves are Jathelera and Rahmeel, unlike human kingdoms they don’t have layers of bureaucracy and lesser nobles to run the kingdom. Instead the each community is free to run its own affairs, merely paying a yearly tribute to the royal couple who tour the kingdom each year to receive these tributes.
Public Agenda
With the decline of the elven kingdoms in the New Kingdoms (a recent event as the elves see things) some elves have thought to establish new kingdoms n the Frontier Lands. The Anaphrimral family was one such. Now that they have established their kingdom they seek to expand its borders, they have done so by claiming the Annatow to their northeast as part of their kingdom and established a few colonies there.
Assets
Sarhólgahnúm is a large forest and includes such valuable trees s sandalwood, koltholse, cedar and black walnut. The elves have also cultivated numerous fruit trees throughout the forest. As with all things the elves are slow to harvest these resources and always with an eye towards preserving the natural beauty of their land. In addition, the elves have discovered a silver mine towards the center of the forest and have been harvesting it slowly and with respect to nature.
History
A century ago, the Anaphrimral family, worried about the slow retreat of the elves from the New Kingdom lands decided to claim some land in the Frontier Lands for the elven people. Traveling to the Frontier Lands with a retinue of elvish adventurers they settled on a forest to the eastern parts of the lands. The forest was a home to gobllinoids which took many years to drive out, but eventually the elves held the in its entirety. Since then the elven people have been establishing settlements throughout the forest. They have largely gotten along with their human neighbors, who see them as a buffer between the human kingdoms and the goblinoids and other unsavory creatures that dwell further east. The exception to this is the nation of Tiefhohl who the elves worry covet the timber of their forest home. This situation only became more tense when ther elves claimed the Annatow forest to their northeast.
Demography and Population
Total Population: 342,815 (Elves 329,102, Gnomes 6,856, Others 6,856)
Territories
The elves of Sarhólganúm have claimed the Annatowforest to their northeast as part of their territory and to this extent have established several colonies there. The other nations of the Frontier Lands don’t oppose this move except for Tiefhohl, and several even support it as a large number of goblinoids and other dangerous and evil creatures inhabit the forest. The elves are working to clear them out a process that will likely take several human generations. Tiefhohl opposes this move because they see this as the elves attempting to claim all the best timber lands for themselves. However while Tiefhohl does oppose the move, they’re in no position to do anything about the move.
Military
Like most of the Frontier Land kingdoms Sarhólghanúm has no standing army relying primarily on militia for defense. As most elves are trained and proficient with bows and swords this has proven effective in defending the nation. Unlike the human nations the elves don’t use mercenaries from the south in defense of their land as they are loathe to allow large numbers of armed and organized humans and other races into their lands.
Religion
Amongst elves religion is a personal matter and not influenced by the state. Indeed, the elves find the idea of a state religion, much less a theocracy to be somewhat confusing. Most elves worship Eresu, Arammu, and Vaalea, and Sarhólgahnúm hosts temples to these three. In addition, there are also many worshippers of Emku, Kello, Laki, Metsäst, Mudutu, Narum, Sinnis, and even Utu amongst the elves and shrines to them can be found throughout the land. Evil deities are rarely worshipped by the elves especially Asmodeus as the elves in particular, deplore slavery.
Foreign Relations
Sarhólgahnúm is on good terms with most of the other Frontier Land nations. It is particularly close with the other elven nation of Bulkud and has entered a mutual defense pact with Bulkud as both nations sit on the eastern edge of the Frontier Lands and face incursions from the goblinoids and other unsavory creatures that dwell further east. They also trade freely with each other and have considered entering a dynastic marriage. The nation is on relatively good if slightly strained terms with Windbrücke though they are nervous about Wynnstan Elynbrüke's plan to create a standing army. While they don’t actively oppose it understanding the dangers the Frontier Land’s kingdoms face, they worry that a future ruler may choose a more expansionistic policy and know that many of the human nations covet the resources of their forest. They are on particularly strained relations with Tiefhohl as they believe with some justification that the humans of the small neighboring kingdom particularly crave access to the rich resources of their land, while the humans of Tiefhohl believe the elves are trying to claim all the best timberlands. The diplomatic strain between the two kingdoms was only increased when Sarhólgahnúm annexed the Annatowforest to their northeast. They are currently negotiating a trade deal with the young kingdom of Cektoh, the problem being determining just what Cektoh has to offer the elven kingdom.
Agriculture & Industry
Sarhólgahnúm doesn’t have any industry, with elves dabbling in crafts as the mood strikes them. Some sticking with one until they become quite proficient others trying one after the other. The elves grow a large variety of fruit and nut trees throughout the forest and plant crops in the naturally occurring clearings. They do not clear land for planting as do other races, nor do they practice animal husbandry instead taking small amounts of game as they need it.
Trade & Transport
Sarhólgahnúm doesn’t engage in large scale trade with other nations. While they have plenty of resources, they do not harvest them on ways that other races do. They do export fruit and nuts in moderate quantities and in return import metal for crafting into various items. Elven arts and crafts are highly valued, but not often available outside the kingdom, requiring potential buyers to travel to one of the outlying communities to purchase such items.
Education
Education amongst eves is a very informal affair. Young elves learn reading, writing, and numbers by doing, a process that can take decades. Likewise, they learn life skills by being allowed to try things, usually with the guidance of a more experienced member of the community. History and culture is passed on using stories. The elven tendency to dabble is more pronounced in the young who will often move onto a new activity in months or eve weeks as opposed to the years older elves will spend. This allows for plenty of opportunity for young elves to learn what they need to learn for adulthood.
Infrastructure
Since elves tend to build their communities to be in harmony with, and bend in with nature, there is little that most other races would recognize as infrastructure in Sarhógahnúm. Apart from an occasional bridge the elven roads are difficult to distinguish from game trails, and they don’t build sewers instead disposing of waste in a more organic manner.
Founding Date
627
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Capital
Demonym
Sarhólgahnian
Leader
Head of State
Government System
Monarchy, Crowned Republic
Economic System
Market economy
Legislative Body
Sarhólgahnúm doesn’t have a legislative body. On the rare occasion a new law is needed or an old one needs to be repealed it is done by the monarch. Sarhólgahnúm doesn’t have many official laws, most governing is done through custom and tradition.
Judicial Body
Sarhólgahnúm has no court system. Civil matters are handled via mediation, usually done by a member of the clergy or sometimes a mutual friend or acquaintance. Criminal matters are handled by the reeve of the nearest community. High Justice and appeals go to the crown. As a note, elves very rarely execute criminals, instead exiling them from elven lands.
Location
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
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