Principality of Seraline
The Principality of Seraline is the last principality of the Elves left on Nythlaang. It is populated exclusively by the Tal'dorenth and while allied with it's only neighbour, the Holy Platinum Empire, the Tal'dorenth maintain a strict policy of isolationism and are fiercely territorial of their forests.
Structure
Seralline has a royal line that dates back almost 10,000 years. This line connects them with the ancient princes of the elves who walked with Corellon as he showed his people their place on Eotha. The royal family serve as the first line of defence for the Seralinian Elves, following the example of Prince E'shinay who commanded the Tal'dorenth in their victory over the Yuan't by sacrificing all of his wealth and his palace.
In turn the Royal Family are able to command any Seralinian to meet their needs as they travel the forest. Indeed, it is the primary function of most of Tal'dorenth society to ensure that the Royal Family can carry out their duties by any means necessary.
Public Agenda
To endure in their principality for all-time, unsullied by the trivial concerns of lesser races.
History
In an age long gone there were only two sub-sets of Elves. The Uluandi and their mirror race, the Drow. In the millennia leading up to the Dawn War most of the principalities of the Uluandi were in a state of decline. A prophecy arose that warned that unless the Uluandi left in a great exodus across the ocean, their species would be all but wiped from the face of Eotha. And so most of the Elves on Nythlaang left for Variala.
Three princes remained with their respective peoples, one in the forests of Seraline and two to the southern forests. In the years before the Time of Terror, the Wood Elves (as the Uluandi who remained came to be known) fought a protracted war with the Yuan-ti and their occasional allies the Dominion of Scales. The Dominion's lack of expansionist philosophies meant that they predominantly only fought in those wars in the south. And with the Dominion's help the southern wood elves were conquered and enslaved. To the north the Yuan-ti came close to total victory over the Wood Elves, conquering their major cities. However, their victory was a hollow one, when the capital Sera'na was conquered the Yuan-ti found no elves present. Rather than risk defeat the wood elves of the Principality of Seraline divided into groups of one hundred and made away into the forest. For the next century leading up to the Time of Terror the wood elves of Seraline waged a guerilla war against the occupying Yuan-ti, culminating in a climatic victory at Sera'na that saw the Yuan-ti north of the Dominion of Scales all but wiped out. The Seralinean Elves, passionate following their victory, were quick to join with Avaria's crusade against the Yuan'ti's allies to the south. As a result of the Yuan-ti's defeat the forests of Seraline were left relatively untouched by the Time of Terror, infringements upon it's borders by any malign force was swiftly and viciously dealt with.
Elven society on Nythlang following the Time of Terror formed itself into two clear societies. The Seralinean Elves and the Wayfarer or Pauper (a derogatory term) Elves. While Seralinean Elves continue to hold court and operate out of the Principality of Seraline the Wayfarer Elves - survivors of Yuan-ti enslavement became household names in southern human settlements. Yuan-ti still occupy their ancestral home and so the Elves have become travellers of the world, always seeking a new home.
Demography and Population
Seraline is home to about 200,000 Tal'Dorenth.
The royal family now makes up about 5% of that number and are the only people in Tal'Dorenth society that have anything similar to a class distinction. All other Tal'Dorenth are hunter gathers living nomadic and contented lives in the forest.
Territories
Seraline encompasses the entirety of the massive Forest of Seraline. These lands have been held by Seraline for 10,000 years and its name is derived from the Seralinian dynasty that has ruled her for all that time.
Military
The Royal Family of Seraline are also the Seralinian formal military. In times of war they formalize into a cadre of archers and spear formations that is near unmatched by any other military on Eotha. At present this force would be nearly 8000 strong. If a greater threat presents itself, all Tal'Dorenth adults are competent archers and trained in the basics of guerrilla warfare. If Eotha ever fell to an external threat, it is quite likely that the Seralinian Elves would be the last holdout for many decades to come.
Technological Level
The Tal'dorenth's greatest weakness is their isolationism and refusal to adopt ideas from other cultures. As such they are progressively finding themselves falling behind other species in technological development.
However, Seralinian woodwork is of the highest craftsmanship in the world and their bows, staves and spears keep them competitive in the military arms race when combined with their high proportion of sorcerers.
Religion
Seraline has adamantly avoided adopting the teachings of the Avarian religion. They believe that Corellon guides the Royal family as they safe guard Seraline. It is their belief that you are going to be awarded divine devotion to mortals for leading exceptional lives, then surely all Tal'dorenth should be the first to be canonized, as even the lowliest among them would be greater than any individual from another species. This attitude has led to the Avarian religion adopting the term "Seralinian Narcissist" to describe anyone who believes themselves worthy of canonization without due cause.
Foreign Relations
Seraline is famous for being antagonistic toward other societies. However they have tentative alliances with both the Holy Platinum Empire and the Kingdom of Wyrthanhaal that date back to the Time of Terror and the Tal'Dorenth's deep respect for Saint Avaria.
Agriculture & Industry
Seraline operates almost entirely as a hunter gatherer society. The Forest of Seraline is abundant with wildlife and natural food sources, easily enough to sustain the Tal'dorenth for another four or five generations (300 or so years).
Seraline does have a couple of exports, which they trade usually for unique or specialized raw materials that they cannot access in their borders. The main exports are their medicinal ingredients and herbs, however they also produce and sell much of their art and carvings.
Founding Date
122 Age of Tutelage (AOT)
Type
Geopolitical, Principality
Capital
Alternative Names
Seraline
Demonym
Tal'dorenth, Seralinian Elves
Leader
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Economic System
Barter system
Location
Related Ranks & Titles
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Related Ethnicities
Comments