Elven Diarchy of Kurutuk

# The Elven Diarchy of Kurutuk

## Overview

The Elven Diarchy of Kurutuk is an Elven Nation in the northwest of Cinder, home to the Kurutuki Elves. The Diarchy formed from a union between the Light and Dark elves who formerly lived in their own separate kingdoms. The Light Elves are said to be "Orderly" and the Dark "Chaotic." Individually, the Light Elf kingdom became stagnant as the Dark Elf kingdom fell to ruin. Their union was necessary to keep the balance (Kretena) between Order and Chaos.

## Diplomacy

### The Celestial-Kurutuki Alliance

On 04/12/2022 (1 AK), in the City of Celestia, the Elven Diarchy of Kurutuk and the Celestial Shogunate agreed to a beneficial defensive pact and proclaimed the following:

* Kurutuk and Celestial agree to come to the aid of the other in case of war.
* Kurutuk and Celestial agree to extradite wanted criminals to the nation in which they are wanted.
* Kurutuk and Celestial agree to future trade initiatives.

### The Heffloi-Kurutuki Alliance

On 04/24/2020 (1 AK), the Elven Diarchy of Kurutuk and the Despotate of Hefflas agreed to the following:

* If either nation falls into a defensive war, the other is obligated to help it.
* Both nations shall guarantee the safety of each others' merchants in the Zestes sea.
* Both nations are to extradite criminals to each other.
* Opening of trade routes between cities in both nations.
* Cooperative protection against piracy within the Zestes sea.

## Elven Subraces

### Light Elves

* Sun Elves
* Sand Elves
* High Elves
* Snow Elves (Nearly extinct)
* Sea Elves
* Mountain Elves
* Holy Elves (Extinct)

### Dark Elves

* Moon Elves
* Blood Elves
* Wild Elves
* Wood Elves
* Flame Elves
* Goblin Elves
* Demonic Elves (Banished)

## Government Structure

The Kurutuki government is a Diarchy with two Arans (Kings), one representing the light and the other represents the dark. There are also 6 Ministers, together known as Parliament, who oversee and carry out royal decrees.

### Parliamentary Ministers

* Minister of Defense
* Minister of Economy
* Minister of Foreign Affairs
* Minister of Information
* Minister of Infrastructure
* Minister of Justice
* Núk Minister, a Minister of Interior who is Democraticly elected by a Nationwide vote.

## Important Towns

* The Merkezi - Capitol of Kurutuk
* The Sanctum of Khulan - Cultural center of Kurutuk, home of the Kretena Tree
* Kretenshore - Main port and trade hub

## History

A note on dating:

* BK - "Before Kretena" - Before the creation of the new world and the establishment of Kretena
* AK - "After Kretena" - After the creation of the new world and the establishment of Kretena

### The World (Order and Chaos)

Zaya (Order) and Saenir (Chaos) both work to influence the material elements which form the world. Zaya creates and Saenir corrupts. All of which Zaya puts together, Saenir tears apart. But alone, these two are nothing. Zaya can build as much as she pleases, but eventually there will be nothing left to build. The same goes for Saenir. Thus complete Order and complete Chaos each yields the same: nothingness.

### The 2 Kingdoms (40000-2000 BK)

Centuries had past since the awakening of the elves. They began to go their own ways, splitting into 2 major groups, light and dark, the former attuned to Zaya and the latter to Saenir. The Light and Dark Elves would further split into regional ethnicities. This divide persisted until all memory faded into distant legend.

The Light Elf Kingdom, due to their devotion to Order, would become stagnant and unchanging. A life of no risk yet no reward. On the other hand, the Dark Elves would fall to ruin, forced to flee their homes for the sake of survival.

### The Union of the Elves (2000 BK)

Eventually, what remained of the Dark Elves stumbled upon a city of the Light Elves who recognized their long-lost kin. The 2 Arans met and the fated union had come to pass.

### The Burning of the Tree (100 BK)

To the new union, gladdened by the union of her children, Zaya bestowed unto them a White Tree. The Holy Elves, the most orderly of all the elves, took it upon themselves to worship and protect the Tree. The Demonic Elves went the other direction. They gave themselves to the corruption of Saenir and grew ever angrier at the idolatry of the Holy Elves. They took up arms and slaughtered the Holy Elves, who stood as if Zaya herself had carved them of marble. Still not content with their destruction, the Demonic Elves burned the Tree before dissolving into the Chaos. Yet the Tree was not consumed by the fire, rather only one half of it was. The flame dared not cross to the other side.

The Holy Elves, bound to their Order, would forever stay in their final moments. The Demonic Elves were consumed completely, cursed to the darkness.

### The New World (0 AK)

As Zaya mourned the slaughter of the Holy Elves, Saenir consumed the world and everything became lost to him, returning the world to its original nothingness. So Zaya took to creating the world anew, as it was before. The Elves were restored, but those fated 2 were lost to that of old. And to these Elves, she gave them the same Tree, still burned on one side. It would come to be known as the Kretena Tree, a reminder to keep the balance.