Eshma Thalas

Eshma Thalas is the wooded Kingdom of the elves. They are reclusive, untrusting of the human kingdoms around them, and for good reason. For the most part, these elves stick to themselves, away from the rest of Auzera, content to thrive away from the world. 
=History=
==Early History==
Eshma Thalas has been led by House Aieiindar since the Second Era. Due to his actions, The elven King managed to prevent the defeat of his people by fighting an ingenious guerilla war against King Haerig. The Ariilandi ruler was unable to bring the might of his army to bear on his enemy when he had no idea where his enemy was within this massive forest. This, coupled with a two front war with the dwarves made the campaign incredibly difficult. However, this was hardly the worst conflict to plague the Elves. 
===Discovery of Drow===
During the third age, near the border with the dwarves of Vurnfalduhr, a few previously undiscovered alcoves were seen. It wasn't on any of the maps, and there were no elves who recall such a thing. Upon closer inspection, it was revealed that these were not alcoves, but entrances to a vast cave system, deep, deep, below the earth. These caves were incredibly large, and teeming with life. 
To the elves' surprise, they came across… a forest. A massive, underground forest, with plants and faunas never seen before on the surface. Large, luminescent mushrooms and mosses, all manners of small animals. Shortly thereafter, however, the true inhabitants of this place revealed themselves. 
The Drow, a sub-race of elves who live beneath the surface, came forth. They were purple of skin, and white of hair. They were fair in their own way, but they were not the same as their kin. They were born of the dark. Elves from the 1st Era long since exiled, for right or for wrong, trapped under the earth. 
Few articles or documents remain surrounding this, but there is enough to point out that some kind of horrendous event had taken place, and the fault was on the elves. As penance, the elves sealed those who were guilty away in the First Era, choosing to imprison them until death, rather than spill elven blood. This, or at least, a version of this was known to the drow, and as soon as they identified their long lost kin...they attacked. 
===Drow and Elf War===
The drow mobilized quickly, almost as if they had waited all their lives for this chance. The surface elves' expedition was quickly slaughtered, and the Drow began to swarm out of the newly opened tunnels, and wage war on Eshma Thalas. 
The elves were entirely unprepared. The drow had managed to blaze a trail of destruction almost a quarter of the way through the Kingdom as a whole, leaving nothing in their wake. They viewed the surface elves as oppressors, as tyrants, and they saw this violence and butchery as their just reward. 
Again, only due to the quick reactionary thinking of King Aieiindar, This brutal assault was slowed and eventually rebuffed, using the bulk of the army as the enemies target, while ranged satellite patrols flanked and harassed the drow invaders. Cut off from their reserves outside of the elf-wood, the drow refused to surrender, and fought to the last man. 
This battle was decisive, and bloody. It is widely believed that this culling of elves led to the start of the Fourth Era. With the fall of the invasion force, the many remaining drow took up defensive positions for a counter attack. But one never came. King Aieiindar withdrew his forces to the edge of the forest, and sued for peace, saything that whatever choices were made in the First Age, they should not be a reason to kill kin so much later into the present. 
The drow-folk, surprised and hesitant at first, accepted a tentative peace. Most thought the elf-King was a fool to not purge the remaining subterranean elves - others, thought him incredibly kind, and a paragon. But the King knew the only reason he never continued the campaign into the drow-lands was merely because of the cost. His people are long lived, and few have children. The elven kingdom, he knew, was past its zenith. Under the guise of peace, he agreed to settle a tentative peace, while planning their demise with every passing day. 
Over the course of the Third Era’s end, many drow departed the depths, eager to rejoin their kin, and thus, exiled by their former. They were accepted by the surface elves, but they were never treated like kin. Many drow would go on to be treated as slaves, in all but name. Horrible work, pitiful living, and persecution. This continues to even now.
==Present Day==
This Kingdom of the Elves is ruled by King Lillandril Aieiindar, an elf with no sons or daughters. He is a renowned elf-lord, known for his martial prowess during the second Era. Honored by his kind, begrudgingly respected by his enemies, the Elf-King is certainly a force to be reckoned with. 
Bordering both Arilaand, and the Empire, Eshma Thalas is constantly on alert. They distrust humans, and do not allow entry into their sacred wood. Should any humans or dwarves be found within, they are often either imprisoned, or returned to the border at bow-sight. However, Gradia to the west is less guarded against, as it is well known elf-folk are treated well there. Visitors are still not allowed, but they allow Gradia to trade at their docks, as long as no humans leave the shipyards.
The woods of the elves press against the mountains of the Dwarves, but there is no border there. Neither race acknowledges the other, and therefore very few forays are ever made. 
The elves, usually quiet and peaceful, are restless. The signs of war all around them, combined with the inner turmoil has turned the once just and honorable faction into one more blinded by self importance and hubris. The humans are destructive, and cannot be reasoned with. The dwarves are just as bad, hiding in their mountains ignoring the evils around them. What else is there to do, but make ready for war? So the elves all the while prepare and pray to Ashahari, Goddess of Purity.
===King Lillandril Aieiindar===
King Lillandril Aieiindar, the ruler of the elves, is a military minded elf. He has no sons, and no daughters, and no heir. It is well known that if he should die, the elven realm would be tossed into chaos. It is not so much that the other elf-lords are power hungry - but more so that they all disagree who should rule. Some of the Houses seek to reunite with the dwarves, while others call for war against the Empire. Others still say they should do nothing, and even more demand that the drow-folk be purged. But for now, King Aieiindar has a firm hold on his people, and they align with his ideals. 
=Houses of Eshma Thalas=
There are several powerful noble families within the elven kingdom, long lived, and all of which are well known within their society. These Houses are:
*House Zylyra
*House Elzeiros 
*House Inalamin
*House Sylralei
*House Aieiindar
After the House of King Aieiindar, the second most powerful house in Eshma Thalas is House Sylralei. These are the houses that influence all the actions of the elven kingdom, and oversee its inner workings.
=Geography=
Eshma Thalas on the southern coast is an ancient wooded realm owned and preserved by the long-lived elves. It is a quiet place preferred by most woodland creatures, and some that most don't know even exist. 
The elves of Eshma Thalas may live in the deepwood, but they are not as you would think. Hidden within this massively wooded land are grand marble castles and towers, ornamental as they are sturdy, covered by vines and greenery, almost as if the very nature around it accepts it as part of the world. 
These strongholds house noble families who oversee provinces and parts of the forest. They are efficient and well disciplined, with things running as smoothly as one could imagine. They also maintain several large ports on the southern coast, allowing for trade with far off lands, and of course, the people of Gradia. 
=Economy=
The elves are a closed community, much like the mountain-folk, but still allow trade in their ports. While the humans who arrive to trade are allowed to dock, they are not permitted to leave the docks themselves, lest they face imprisonment. This is good enough for the Gradian merchants, as they receive their profits, and can be on their way. Fine clothes, rare spider silks, and delicate trinkets are exported from Eshma Thalas, and the nobles of the world covet such items. Needless to say, the elves are not left wanting in terms of economic pacing. 
=Military=
All elves are trained to use a bow, and are deadly with it - ranged prowess of the elves is known well, and especially feared by Orcs. However, they rely mostly on hit and run tactics, unless it is their highly trained regular army. Contrary to popular belief, Elvish soldiers typically wear lightweight alloy armor, good for mobility, but just as adept at deflecting sword blows. This semi-militarized Kingdom of elves is mysterious and reclusive, but left mostly in peace.
Category:Fractured Thrones Locations
Category:Fractured Thrones Lore