Afarwaha

Official Name	Protectorate of Afarwaha
Capital	Halhuri
Government	Tribal
Population	493,000
Dominant Race	elf
Dominant Culture	Ice Elves
Dominant religion	Elven Gods
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The northernmost elven realm and home of the Ice Elves, Afarwaha has a mixed history and relations with its neighbours.

With its northern climate and biomes, Afarwaha is not at first glance a typical elven home, even though it is dominated by forests. There are more roads than in other elven realms, and two more unusual features: Ships and mines. In the northern climate, metal is a necessity and so the only elven-run mines in the world can be found in Afarwaha. Along the northern coast, ports and shipyards play home to the only elven navy as well, used both for fishing and warfare. In fact, the north-east part of the coast is filled with elven pirates whose favorite prey are the Biesen whaling ships.

Politically, there is not much of a central government in Afarwaha. Various tribes of elves govern themselves, coming together to discuss common plans or to fight outside enemies.

Like all elven realms, Afarwaha does not have a flag or banner nor does it divide its land up into provinces.

Politics

There is no central government or king in Afarwaha. The Ice Elves are organized in tribes which are lead (but not ruled) by an elder. His or her word carries authority, but isn't law. Decisions are made by council, where the oldest member of any family come together and discuss a question. In the end, by tradition, the word of the tribe elder is the final decision, though it almost always follows the consensus of the council. There are no formal votes or majorities - the elves do not believe in decision by majority, but are trying to reach the most wise decision in this way.

Larger decisions are reached similarily by a council of the tribe elders, who meet to discuss a question and reach a consensus.

The fact that Afarwaha is internally peaceful and has been for centuries helps this process, as there may be different opinions and even conflict, but rarely is violence the question nor the answer.

Foreign Relations

Like most elven realms, Afarwaha is light on external politics. It holds no permanent representations in any other realm and instead sends emissaries from time to time, at least to Grasalia and occasionally to more distant realms, such as Fonticia or Schap.

Biesen is the neighbour with the most fluent relations to Afarwaha. Depending on whoever is kings (Biesen has two kings) in the human realm and whoever leads Afarwaha, relations over the past centuries have gone from war to peace to cold war and anywhere inbetween. Since around 50 AC, major battles have ceased but there are still troops stationed on both sides of the border and occasional skirmishes to happen. The fact that Biesen and its people are scared of magic and elven magic in particular is a big reason for these strained relations, but there is also the economic reason that the border zones between the two realms are rich in minerals and fertile agricultural lands, and desireable for both populations. Many of the smaller attacks for the past decades were raids targetted at mines or storages. As the areas directly at the border change hands from time to time, both parties act mostly non-destructively in those raids, and burned-down villages or infrastructure are rare.

Relations with Grasalia are peaceful and have been so for a long time. There is trade along the border and some mixing of population as elven hunters, craftsmen and mages settle in human lands where their skills are desired, while human traders, farmers and craftsmen move into elven lands as well.

The Empire of Vericum, on the other hand, is entirely ignored by the elves. No emissaries have been sent and those of the empire have been received the way any traveller would be, but have been made to understand without saying so explicitly that they are not seen as diplomats. None of them have been brought to Halhuri. From the hints dropped by some elders and the interpretation of those familiar with the elven culture, many believe that the elves consider Vericum too young to be taken seriously. A realm should be at least a century old before it can be seen as properly founded and actually existing.

Population

Except for the western borders where humans settle among the elves, the population of Afarwaha is largely elven, though there are human minorities in many of the elven settlements, and even a few gnomes. Dwarves, on the other hand, are very rare within the realm.

As Ice Elves, they do not always satisfy stereotypes of elves, especially in the coastal and mountain regions, where the climate makes fur the best clothing option during the long winters.

The elves of Afarwaha are very traditional and conservative, treasuring the elven past and elven ways.

Economy

Elven Agriculture makes the lands of Afarwaha visibly more lush and fertile than those of the surrounding realms, and the usual hunting and gathering provides the elves with everything required. There is also fishing going on along the coast and at the rivers, wood is cut where needed and shaped where not to form houses and bridges, and elven-run mines in the mountains provide the metal required for axes and other tools. Along the coast, stone is used as a building material as well.

In the west and to a lesser degree along the southern borders, trade with humans is providing the elves with further manufactured goods, but the total contribution to the elven economy is small.

History

This page is still incomplete and missing content or details that are planned, but have not been added yet.