Eldeen Reaches
Nowhere does the power of nature resonate more than in the Eldeen Reaches. The Reaches cover the northwestern region of Khorvaire, up to the Shadowcrag Mountains. In the east, the Reaches feature fertile plains and rolling hilles, but most of the nation is blanketed by dense, untamed forest. These forests are home to some of the most primeval trees on the continent, ancient plants that have seen the rise and fall of empires.
Druids and shifters have made a home of the Towering Wood for thousands of years, but until the Last War the eastern farmlands of the Reaches were a part of Aundair. Near the midpoint of the war, Aundair was forced to pull it's forces from the Reaches to protect it's cities, and in doing so left the folk of the Reaches defenseless against the forces of Breland, and bandit barons funded by Karrnath and the Lhazaar Principalities.
Faced with this danger, the Wardens of the Wood raised an army of druids, rangers, beasts and fey from within the Towering Wood. They beat back the invaders, and with each victory they rallied the people of the Reaches, who then declared their independence from the nation that had abandoned them. The Treaty of Thronehold then formally recognized the Eldeen Reaches as a sovereign nation, ensuring it's independence.
The Reaches were first settled by orcs thousands of years ago, during the height of the empire of Dhakaan, and all druidic traditions can be traced back to these orcs and their attempts to live in harmony with the land. In the aftermath of the Xoriat Incursion, the ranks of the orc druids were devastated, and the effects of this ancient conflict can still be felt in the Reaches today, with aberrations, demons, and other monstrosities stalking the darkest parts of the wood. The remaining druids named themselves the Gatekeepers and withdrew into the deep wood, taking it upon themselves to protect and maintain the seals that banished and bind the Daelkyr from Eberron.
It wasn't until humans came to Khorvaire from Sarlona that the Reaches became populated again. Those first human settlers to the Reaches heard the call of the Great Druid Oalian, a sentient greatpine who had been the guardian and watcher of the woods for thousands of years. Oalian taught the druidic traditions to the humans, and established himself as the spiritual leader of the Eldeen Reaches, forming the Wardens of the Wood.
Life and Society
Most of the population of the Eldeen Reaches falls into two groups: the druidic sects that occupy the Towering Wood, and the agricultural communities that reside in the northeastern plains of the Reaches. The farmers in the north east of the reaches live simple, rustic lives. Many of them have worked this land for generations, and there is a strong sense of pride and ownership in these communities. They generally have little interest in what's happening outside of their villages, and the region has never been particularly heavily populated. They focus on caring for the land, producing a good harvest, and leaving their children a larger farm. Some communities will treat strangers with suspicion, but in general the people of the Reaches are generous, friendly people. House Vadalis has based it's operations on the eastern border of the Eldeen Reaches for centuries. Their headquarters is based in Varna, and the house has a strong presence in most of the larger settlements in the Reaches. It is in the Eldeen Reaches that the house raises it's magebred animals, and raises and trains fanastical beasts with the blessing of the druids. House Vadalis also has a strong connection to Aundair, and has been making efforts to improve relations between their ancestral home and Aundair. There are roughly a dozen different druidic sects that inhabit the Towering Wood, the largest of which is the Wardens of the Wood. Most of them are nomadic, but remain within specific regions of the wood. Some of them, such as the Ashbound, migrate across the entirety of the land. They each have their own customs and practices, and this sometimes brings them into conflict with each other. The Wardens of the Wood are welcoming to all who show proper respect for the forces of nature, whereas the Ashbound are generally suspicious of travellers and hostile to those who practice arcane magic. For more information on the druidic sects, see the Druidic Sects article. The Towering Wood is also home to the majority of Khorvaire's Shifters. Many of them are integrated within the various druidic sects, but not all of them and there are several shifter tribes that live in the woods. Similarly to the druidic traditions, they have their own customs. Many of them are also nomadic, and generally prefer to avoid contact with others. This isn't too surprising, as most of them suffered at the hands of the Church of the Silver Flame during the Silver Crusade, and even though the church has officially changed it's stance on the shifters, they remain suspicious.Government and Politics
Since they seceded from Aundair, the Eldeen Reaches have been officially under the protection, and guidance, of the Great Druid Oalian and the Wardens of the Wood. The Wardens have rpead out of the Towering Wood and into the plans to ensure order throughout the region, and each community has a druid advisor who provides spiritual guidance, and magical assistance with working the land. Generally, each rural community maintains a council made up of representatives from each family in the community, advised by the druidic advisor from the Wardens of the Wood. The shifter tribes and druidic sects have their own customs, but generally are led by those most suited to do so. The Eldeen Reaches don't necessarily follow the Galifar Code of Law, like much of Khorvaire. Instead, the law is guided by the ways of nature, and justice is usually swift and harsh. The people of the Eldeen Reaches largely ignore what's happening in the rest of Khorvaire, and are ignored in turn. The Wardens of the Wood have made it clear to Aundair, Breland, Karrnath and the Lhazaar Principalities that they will defend the Reaches against any threat those nations may pose, and have no interest in further discussions regarding borders, treaties or resource rights.
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Capital
Demonym
Reachers
Leader
Major Exports
Agriculture, animal husbandry
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
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