Esé-Nal
A single word can be used to sum up the Nalae: proud. In moderation this might be a virtue, but taken to extremes it blinds people to uncomfortable truths and leaves them vulnerable. As the old wives say, that which cannot bend must break.
The oldest nation in Nalunara, the Principality of Esé-Nal is a predominately elven nation. Elves make up the overwhelming majority of its population, and all of its rulers are elves. One of the founding members of the Grand Alliance, Esé-Nal is a realm dedicated to the war against the Dominion, and its soldiers can be found wherever help is needed along the entire border.
Life and Society
Inhabitants of Esé-Nal are always surrounded by strict discipline, both in the form of a moral code ingrained in them from an early age and as instructions, rules and laws from sources such as parents, superiors and authorities. Martial ability is highly prized in Esé-Nal, and most Nalae are at least competent with the sword or bow. With their long lives they can afford to spend a decade or more in military service and learn the ways of war. Other than learning to fight, Nalae typically devote most of their lives to pursuing one profession, be it blacksmith, crafter, politician or teacher.
Nalae live with their families until around twenty five years of age, receiving teaching at public-run schools from the their fifth birthday until their twentieth. After this they will usually be apprenticed to someone, or will join the military. Family ties remain important to Nalae, and they will be careful to stay in contact and visit often. Discipline is strict within the family too, with the word of the parents being akin to law while under their roof.
Magic users of any kind are very rare in Esé-Nal, for the Nalae are ever wary of the doom that befell their ancestors. Divine magic users are tolerated, but uncommon, and arcane magic users are few and far between and widely mistrusted. All arcane magic users in Esé-Nal, even those just passing through, must be registered and their movements are tracked. The few mages that do arise among the Nalae often leave for nations where they are more welcome, or failing that find a place in the Army of the Spires, which is far too practical to turn down their help.
Government and Politics
The political structure of Esé-Nal is complex, having had many centuries to evolve from an extremely chaotic beginning. The country is divided into fifteen smaller princedoms, each ruled over by an elven prince. The exception to this is the princedom of Malentur, which is ruled by the First Prince and is home to the capital city of Olvion. In theory the First Prince's word is law, but in reality this is rarely the case. Elves are arrogant, and in their hearts each of the princes knows that they alone are fit to rule Esé-Nal. Civil wars between princedoms are not unheard of, despite the war with the Dominion. Usually the First Prince puts down these conflicts with the aid of his loyal princedoms.
International Relations
WIPMilitary
The Nalae prize martial skill, with their traditional weapons being the sword and the bow. It is compulsory for all elves, when they come of age, to spend a minimum of a decade (a relatively short span of time given their long lives) in service to Esé-Nal's military: the Army of the Spires. They learn the ways of war and stand ready to fight against all enemies of the elves. Usually this means the forces of the Dominion who constantly press on the elves' northern border. The Army of the Spires draws its name from the name given to the Naian army that was mustered in the last days of the doomed race. Exceedingly well disciplined and trained, the army is a formidable fighting force capable of using the many disparate groups under its command to great effectiveness. The army is composed of troops from all princedoms, but each princedom also maintains its own private army.
The Army of the Spires is composed of highly disciplined, highly skilled elven warriors versed in excellent tactics and equipped with the best possible weapons. The low birth rate of elves means that the army is not large compared to others in Nalunara, but what it lacks in quantity it more than makes up for in quality. A shield wall of elves is a nigh-invulnerable barrier that reshape at a moment's notice to a new formation perfectly suited for enveloping the enemy ranks or piercing through them. The Army is supported by magic-users, primarily divine in nature. Cavalry is not often utilised by the elves, and their mounted divisions are typically quite small. They do, however, make good use of flying beasts to support their forces from the air.
Religion
The most commonly worshipped deity in Esé-Nal, and its official patron deity, is Corellon Larethian. Worship takes a back seat in Nalae life, tending to guide the society from the background rather than dominating it in any obvious way. The tenets of the Seldarine-Ayer are neatly integrated into the moral code of Esé-Nal as a whole. Regular church-goers are not as common as in many races, but most Nalae will still give their respects to their deities in their own way.
Industries
Crafting in Esé-Nal has traditionally been a slower, more traditional process than in many younger nations. The long lifespan of the Nalae has allowed their craftsmen to perfect their skills, and pass from mere manufacturers of items to creators of art. Be it weapons, tapestries, pottery or vehicles, whatever Esé-Nal produces is of high quality and also aesthetically pleasing. The downside of this is that their rate of production is much less than many other nations, severely reducing the amount they can export - while simultaneously driving up the price they can charge for what they do export. In recent decades, with the increased pressure from the Dominion, production rates have had to be stepped up. In many cases this has led to quality being sacrificed for quantity.
Power Groups
The Council of Princes
A council formed from all fourteen princes and the First Prince, the Council rules Esé-Nal, subject only to the will of the First Prince. The Council is not united, and the princes constantly bicker or scheme amongst themselves.
The Seldarine-Ayer
The priesthood of Corellon Larethian, the Seldarine-Ayer maintains the spiritual health of the population at large but has little direct political power.
Notable Princedoms
Arontul
Mountainous, and far colder than its latitude would suggest, Arontul is the home of the Ice Elves in Nalunara. Although not actually Nalae at all, its people have been accepted into Esé-Nal. In the past few decades its ruler has finally been granted the status of prince, though many of the other princes refuse to recognise him.
Bythisica
Of all the princedoms in Esé-Nal, Bythisica is the princedom most tolerant of magic. Its prince is a powerful mage himself, and it hosts the country's only magical academies of any worth.
Casilia
The second largest princedom, and militarily the most powerful. Its ruler intends to be First Prince, and plans to seize the throne by force. This is well known, but the First Prince does not have the strength yet to deal with him. On the other hand, the prince does not consider himself strong enough to move openly against the First Prince - at least, not yet.
Cypranaia
Unusually, Cypranaia has been ruled by the same prince for nearly eight hundred years now - over four times the average lifespan of a Nalae. No one has been able to explain his unnaturally long life.
Lorensia
Unlike many of the other princedoms, Lorensia remains heavily forested. It actually lies within the Escana forest, but is loyal to Esé-Nal. Alone among the princedoms, it is primarily inhabited by wood elves.
Malentur
The First Prince's princedom contains the capital city, Olvion, and is the seat of the First Prince's government.
Quorath
Quorath is known for having an unusual proportion of psions amongst its population. It is ruled not by a prince, but by the Council of Six, a group of powerful psions. About thirty years ago the prince, himself psionically gifted, was dying of old age. According to the council, as he died he transferred his consciousness to them, making them a channel for himself. This has not yet been proven false, though many have tried. As the council appears to possess the mind of the prince, technically he is still prince and rules through them. This gives the council complete power in Quorath, though they claim to be merely passing on the prince's wishes.
Major Settlements
Casae
The main city of the princedom of Casilia. In the past decades it has profited from its large armament workshops and has grown large and rich, now rivalling Olvion in size and power.
Olvion
The capital of Esé-Nal. Located in the princedom of Malentur it is a sprawling metropolis, once a jewel of a city but now sadly tainted by the pressure of being the most prominent city in a nation at war. Refugees from the lost northern princedoms flood its streets, and the First Prince can no longer afford to properly maintain his city as the war drags on and on.
Principality of Esé-Nal
Type
Geopolitical, Principality
Demonym
Nalae (elves only)
Parent Organization
Location
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