Ehr Nuvale
Ehr Nuvale is the territory surrounding the grand city of Lothelir. Now considered a nation of the Sword Pact, it is the last true vestige of the majesty and power of the Empire of Avaros, when Lothelir was the imperial capital of all human civilization. Though its glory has been subdued since the death of the imperial dynasty, the city yet shows the potential of the human race, and the heights they once achieved. Lothelir is a city of magic, with dancing orbs of colour lighting the streets, beautiful buildings formed of enchanted stone, magical creatures flitting overhead and the soft harmony of music playing from no discernable source. This is because Lothelir is home to the Collegium Arcanum, the largest organization of spellcasters in all Tevastra.
Many people in Ehr Nuvale see Dyr Tolen as a rival, upstart city-state bent on dangerously pushing the boundaries of magical discovery with their new discipline of alchemistry. Use of alchemical innovations within Ehr Nuvale is strictly prohibited, and the mages of Lothelir advocate among the other Sword Pact nations for a wider ban on their use.
Structure
Similarly to Dyr Tolen, Lothelir and by extension Ehr Nuvale are ruled by two parallel power structures, often in tension. There is the Duke Pauliar Evaros, of the Evaros family which held great prominence in Lothelir under the Empire of Avaros, and continues to rule over the city and its surrounding territory even after the Empire's fall. And there is the Lectors Collegiate, the administrative council of the Collegium Arcanum. Though the Collegiate has no legal authority outside the doors of the Collegium, they hold great influence over Ehr Nuvale's affairs by maintaining the city's magical infrastructure, providing great tax revenue through their admissions fees, and sending their members as advisors to other rulers through the Sword Pact. The Duchy and the Collegiate generally cooperate within their respective spheres of jurisdiction, although Duke Evaros' interest in alchemical discoveries has recently caused discord between Ehr Nuvale's ruling powers.
Culture
The culture of Ehr Nuvale has remained the closest to the customs of the Empire of Avaros, and its people maintain many imperial traditions as a point of pride. For example, Ehr Nuvale is the only Sword Pact nation which still observes the anniversary of the Empire's founding, and the Founding Festival is a multi-day event which shuts down most business in the city. The Duke and the Evaros family still wear the imperial colours (red and white), and the Duke still officially holds their title "at the Empress' favour".
The people of Ehr Nuvale speak a more formal dialect of Avarosic than others in the Sword Pact, which some outsiders find condescending. Loose-fitting clothing in lighter shades is favoured in recognition of Ehr Nuvale's sunny weather. The wealthier citizens of Lothelir favour furs from the various exotic animals living in the plains surrounding the city. Imperial artifacts retrieved from Avarosian ruins are especially prized as jewelry.
Ehr Nuvalans are, on average, more educated than those in other human kingdoms, due to their close proximity to magical phenomena and the Collegium. Wonders like floating lights, magically opening doors and sourceless sounds are commonplace for those who have spent time in Lothelir, and Ehr Nuvalans find great amusement in outsiders' wonderment at these marvels.
There is also a large contingent of Avarosic people still in Lothelir, although their numbers are reduced from the imperial days due to emigration and interbreeding. See the article on the Empire of Avaros for more details about the Avarosic culture.
Public Agenda
Duke Evaros' primary concern is maintaining his family's hold over Lothelir by working with the Collegiate and engaging with other Sword Pact nations as a head of state. Duke Evaros is a known scholar, and his curiosity has led to both an interest in alchemistry and increased funding for archaeological expeditions into the many Avarosic ruins in Ehr Nuvale.
The Lectors Collegiate is more conservative than the Duke. Though they are always seeking to expand their knowledge of magic and magical phenomena, this interest is limited to discoveries originating from within their own ranks. "Hedge" wizards (those who practice magic without Collegium training), sorcerers, and especially alchemists, are viewed with disdain and even hostility. The Collegiate does work to maintain good relations with the various clergies of the land and acknowledges divine magic as a separate (though perhaps inferior) discipline. The extent of their interests beyond the walls of Lothelir is to find new students and convince rulers to take on Collegium-trained wizards as advisors.
Assets
The main assets of Ehr Nuvale are its educated magic users. Collegium wizards practicing outside of the Collegium's structure are required to pay a portion of their income back to the Collegiate, and the Collegiate in turn pays substantial tax to the Duke to maintain their privileged place within Lothelir.
Ehr Nuvale is lacking in natural resources, being for the most part hot and dry. However, a variety of exotic creatures can be found in the region's great plains, the pelts and other parts of which fetch a handsome price. In addition, Ehr Nuvale is home to a great number of Avarosic ruins as the originating point of the Empire's demise. Expeditions to these ruins founded by the Duke have retrieved all manner of valuable artifacts. Most of these are sold to the Collegium, but there is a legally grey trade in these artifacts in the darker corners of Lothelir and beyond.
History
The region of Ehr Nuvale was originally inhabited solely by the Avarosic people, who constructed Lothelir thousands of years ago. With the rise of the Avarosic dynasty and its empire, Ehr Nuvale became its capital province, with Lothelir as its capital. The Evaros family held the city in the name of the imperial dynasty. When the last Empress died and the Sword Pact nations seceded one by one, the Evaros family moved quickly to maintain control over Lothelir, but without imports of food and other resources from the former imperial provinces, the other settlements of Ehr Nuvale became gradually deserted through starvation and emigration. Since then, the Evaroses have successfully controlled Lothelir with aid from the Collegium mages, and the rest of Ehr Nuvale has remained mostly deserted.
"Discovery through discipline" - words inscribed upon the entrance arch to the Collegium Arcanum
Founding Date
227 AE (Independence)
Type
Geopolitical, Magocracy
Alternative Names
Lothelir; The City of Arcanum; The Mage Council
Predecessor Organization
Demonym
Ehr Nuvalan
Leader
Location
Neighboring Nations
Related Species
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