Farenai (/Fah-rin-ai/)
History and Government
The swamps of Farenai are a dangerous land, one that even the ancient High Elves of Delos'Nordan could not tame. To these swamps, the enigmatic Dethos'Karai - known to outsiders as the Dark Pariah - led a caste of elves, in the hopes of avoiding the wrath of dragons and the collapse of Elven society in the Age of Destruction. The Dark Pariah then locked himself within a palace built by his refugees, from which he is said to govern today. The origins of the Dark Elves are drenched in complexity and revisionism, but the original followers of Dethos'Karai were not all necessarily "dark." Complex sociological factors have nonetheless led to a synonymity between these two qualifiers over the years. Farenai, ever since its founding, has had a strictly isolationist attitude towards the world, participating in wars and alliances purely for reasons of pragmatism when Delos'Nordan turned towards its ever-recurring imperialist tendencies. It is largely composed of decentralized, rural-esque villages, which are self-subsistent. These villages sometimes trade with each other, and meet to coordinate their efforts in times of crisis, but are otherwise autonomous and independent, and can vary greatly in culture and tradition. Their only shared strong link is faith in the Dark Pariah, who they believe may return at any time to guide his people, should his authority be needed. While the political organization of these villages varies as greatly as their cultures, they do have associations with broader Fareni society through Saints, who represent the best leaders of the village's populace. Villages have full rights to determine and promote their people to Sainthood, and Saints have responsibilities to the lands of Farenai as a whole, rather than simply their villages. Saints often act as diplomats, merchants, and generals, interconnecting Fareni life, or organizing such interconnections. Those Saints which significantly contribute to the nation abroad are then promoted to Messiahs, through the process of Prophethood. Messiahs are considered the apostles of the Dark Pariah himself, allowed within the Black Palace to interact directly with him, and serve as his direct agents within the nation. They have the power to enact central law and policy on his behalf, but rarely do so, respecting the rights of the villages over which they rule. Few Dark Elves leave Farenai, and few who leave Farenai are allowed back in, viewed as tainted by the outer world. The border-marshes are said to be heavily defended by Dark Elven magic, as well as the Dread Witches and various saintly orders. Throughout the Age of Enlightenment, Farenai opened up slightly, allowing trickles of trade into its borders, but it is still a dangerous place for outsiders beyond the few designated port cities.Cities
Tylwaerdreath
Tylwaerdreath is one of the only cities accessible to outsiders within the borders of Farenai. It is a port city, and the primary point of trade between Farenai and the outer world. Here, the primary imports are various liquors, drugs, and other entertainment goods, in exchange for exports of alchemical compounds and rare Fareni trinkets. Tylwaerdreath has a population of about ten-thousand, a minority of which are Dark Elves, and virtually none of which reside in the city permanently.Geography
Virtually all of Farenai is thick, mucky swamps, where lakes are indistinguishable from deadly bile pools and quicksand. Flooding is a constant worry, as rains come in from the Sea of Stars and Everaldimor. The Dark Elves have adjusted to these living conditions, but few outsiders can, especially because the elves will sooner kill visitors than aid in their survival. Some Yelentsi and Myds live in the northern edges of the country, and are tolerated by the local Dark Elven populace, as the tribes and the elves have treaties of non-aggression, trade, and mutual respect. In recent years, relations with the Myds in particular have strained, especially because of the Cult of Duloth-oen-Ba'la, which is considered a heretical group by followers of the Dark Pariah. Western Farenai is slightly less daunting, where the swamp thins and the floods subside in favor of a soggy peninsula, shattered by a river delta. Here is where most of Farenai's port cities sit, and where trade and contact with the outside world are permitted, to a limited extent. The borders of The Vale are also less swampy, and resemble more of a sturdy forest, but this region is no less dangerous, as it is patrolled heavily by the territorial Dread Witches.Resources
Farenai's villages are self-subsistent, and do not produce very many luxury goods. They typically grow grains and foods which can thrive in the swampy floodplains, and which require minimal work to grow in such a wet environment. There are, however, two spices which grow most prominently in Farenai: cloves and avocado. Beyond their agricultural duties, most Fareni elves rotate through a set of duties between defense, hunting, and artistic expression, the last of which results in trinkets and charms that are in high demand to nobles all around the world. Some Dark Elves focus on more artisanal expressions of crafts, producing instruments, weapons, and furniture for their village. The Dark Elves import a significant amount of luxury goods, especially recreational drugs and alcohols, in exchange for their crafts and jewelries. These drugs are often used communally, under the guidance of village shamans, witches, or saints. This is often the only way to gain such goods, as the Fareni economy is largely communal, and any goods imported are typically distributed by the same guides.Ethnicities
Farenai is almost exclusively inhabited by the Dark Elves, though some Old Faith tribes do trek into it, especially from the Summerpeaks in the north. These are primarily the Yelentsi, though the Myds also have a significant presence - at least enough to cause the creation of The Cult of Duloth-oen-Ba'la among the Dark Elves, in worship of one of the Ones Around: Duloth Clavicus.Diplomacy
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"The Swamp of Mortal Saints"
Adjectives: Farenian (alternatively: Fareni)
National Animal: Mishipeshu
National Instrument: Kalimba
Ethnicities: Fareni
Languages: Karo'rithei
Capital: The Black Palace
Ruler: The Dark Pariah
Government: Secular Theocracy
Hallmarks: Dark Elves, traditionalism, harsh habitability, communalism
Characteristics: Proud, insular, devoted, distrusting of outsiders
National Animal: Mishipeshu
National Instrument: Kalimba
Ethnicities: Fareni
Languages: Karo'rithei
Capital: The Black Palace
Ruler: The Dark Pariah
Government: Secular Theocracy
Hallmarks: Dark Elves, traditionalism, harsh habitability, communalism
Characteristics: Proud, insular, devoted, distrusting of outsiders