Shaelani Elves

The Shaelani, sometimes called sun elves, are the only elven nation to have joined the Empire of Laintera willingly. Some more daring recent scholars have criticized this decision, claiming that Shaelani was the only nation that would have had the might to stand up to Laintera's armies and stop the empire's spread. It is unclear exactly why Shaelani's rulers decided it would be better for their people to surrender than to fight. But as the largest elven nation, by square miles, their surrender certainly played a part in the succesful conquest of the continent. The Shaelani are not known for being an aggresive people, however, and may have been cowed by the ferocity and ruthlessness with which they watched their neighbors in Kashal fall. Unlike Kashal, with it's high mountains, Shaelan's lands are primarily flat plainlands in the center of the continent, difficult to defend and easy to traverse. Shaelani's people are best known for their artistic creations. Many of the empire's greatest and most celebrated creative minds either hail from Shaelan or can claim Shaelani herritage. They are particularly praised for their dye creation. By using native plants, insects, and clays, they are able to create brightly colored dyes in a wide variety of colors. This dye is used in textiles and paints, and some particularly rare or difficult to achieve colors can be sold for enormous amounts. It is not uncommon for noblewomen across the empire to covet Shaelani-dyed silks for their garments, or to hire Shaelani painters to appoint their homes. Due to a combination of their desireable trade goods and their peaceful accession into the empire, most Shaelani elves enjoy some measure of status within empire society. They are the only ethnicity other than Lainteran that has always been permitted into high level government positions. Talented artists and craftsmen have been taken on by Lainteran patrons, and through such arrangements gained access to court so that their children might marry into the Lainteran nobility. This has lead to a particuarly close relationship between the Lainteran nobility and Shaelan's regional governments. Since the empire has fallen into peace, some have even built or purchased seasonal vacation homes in Shaelan. There has been some criticism, however, of the Shaelani people. They have been called sympathizers, brown-nosers, and other less favorable terms, by critics of the empire.

Encompassed species