High Elves
The original Elves, their once extensive empire that spanned both Ishar and Ishtar now reduced to a single dukedom in the Glittering Islands, are a deeply hierarchical race.
Their hierarchy can be shortly described as a patriarchal magocracy, males especially those with particular arcane talents hold higher status in their society.
Noble houses tend to marry based on arcane power with the objective of siring magically adept children, millennia of these practices fostered a society where nobles are almost all strong sages, while the commoners are less magically inclined. When a commoner child displays high magical attunement they're usually adopted by a noble house, particularly desirable commoners may start a sort of bidding war between the noble houses, each noble house offering better and better benefits to the talented child.
The Glittering Islands
The last remaining duchy of the ancient High Elven Empire that spanned both Ishar and Ishtar, it's composed of a few islands, most of the population lives on the larger island of Albion where the capital of the duchy Caerleon is located, the duchy is ruled by the Immortal duchess Alizaweth, whom it is said ruled the duchy since before the Empire of the White Flame was founded. The Duchess is not really immortal, but she is probably the oldest elf on Mundus, hence the name, she still looks young by human standards, this is somewhat normal for elves who only show signs of age during the last century of their natural lives. Alizaweth is one of the strongest sages that ever lived, and is a master of all the elven schools of magic she is also well-versed in elven martial traditions. Normally the monarch being female would be a taboo in high-elven society but no elf can deny the duchess magical power or her dynastic claim to the throne.Army
The Duchy does not have a proper permanent land army, only guards for the urban centers. Most of the duchy's military power comes from its navy, one of the strongest on Mundus, a large fleet of well-made ships made of local oak wood, armed with cannons of various sizes. Crews are lightly armored and armed with double shortswords, marines wear metal chest plates and helmets and are traditionally armed with elven longswords and longbows, although some have started utilizing privately owned firearms. The noble sages are not an official part of the army but are often used usually there is at least one on any large ship, in times of serious conflict squads of sages are used as magical artillery.Economy
The Glittering Islands are not a major economic power but are not poor by any standard. They import much from the Kingdom of the Blazing Sun, and their only significant export is their native oak, far more suited to build ships than other species of wood, including other species of oak.Naming Traditions
Family names
Nobles use the name of their house, and commoners don't use family names.
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