Seralos

Seralos is a small elvish kingdom, located in the Frostnight Forest in southern Nerograd. Its capital is Nightwood.

## Geography

Seralos is made up of hilly forests, bordered on three sides by the Egaré Sea, and on the north by the tundra of Nerograd. The Frostnight River, which comes from the north and empties into the Egaré Sea to the south, bisects the forest. The Mountains of Night, in the east of the forest, are the only area of the forest not ruled by Seralos. They are the location of the gnomish kingdom of Burnklowdle.

## Government

Seralos is a kingdom, currently ruled by King Olberic and Queen Ellinore. The Council of the Wise, made up of nobles, priests, and generals, advises the King and Queen on all matters.

## Society

Seralos is an extremely xenophobic kingdom. The elves that live here are quite warlike, defending their forest from outsiders with an "attack first, ask questions later" mentality. This warlike mentality has stretched to attacking their neighbors, particularly Southdown and Midheld. They have a close alliance with Burnklowdle, however, which mystifies outside observers. Most are surprised the elves have not taken the mountains from the gnomes by force, but they have never shown a desire to do so.

## Trade

The only trade Seralos does is with Burnklowdle. The elves provide lumber and food, primarily, to the gnomes, and receive mined materials and some finished products (mostly tools and weapons) that they use in their forestry, farming, and war.

## Defenses

The Seralosian Army and Navy are both fairly strong, considering how small the kingdom is. After many failed attempts to expand their territory over the years, these soldiers mostly raid along the coasts of the Egaré Sea, capturing slaves and other important goods that they aren't able to produce in their own territory. Since the dense forest is so difficult to attack, and since Seralos has little that other kingdoms might want, few attacks are actually made against these elves.

## History

After the elves settled in Llembir, some elves left, whether of their own volition or from exile. These elves began spreading across Aleria, settling in forests, hills, plains, and even the sea. By 840 SR, elves were present in every region south of what is now Umbre in Aleria.

Around 1870 SR, there was a civil war between different elven factions in Rayner Forest. It ended in the exile of the inciting party. These elves were driven north, wandering through the cold plains until they came upon Frostnight Forest. There were scattered tribes of goblins, kobolds, and humans, but the elves dispersed with them and took over the forest within a decade.

When the elves crossed Frostnight River and came upon the Mountains of Night, they found some gnome tribes living in and around the mountains. They tried to eliminate the gnomes the same way they eliminated the other races of the forest, but the mountains gave the gnomes enough defensive power to survive the onslaught. The fighting went on for years. Sometimes the elves believed the gnomes were nearly done for, but they always managed to regroup elsewhere in the labyrinthine passages beneath the mountains. Eventually, the elves stopped trying to eliminate the gnomes and instead merely sent in periodic raiding parties.

Not long after 2000 SR, King Pellingham took over the gnome kingdom, gave it the name of Burnklowdle, and quickly negotiated peace with Seralos. The kingdoms have been allies ever since.

## Inhabitants

Seralos is inhabited almost solely by elves, both high and wood. Some Burnklowdle gnomes make permanent homes here for trade reasons. Thousands of slaves of various races inhabit the kingdom, although Seralos officials do not count them as citizens.