The Heartoak Confederacy

The perfect mix between technology and druidism. Although beginning to favor technology more and more, the Heartoak Confederacy has become the main hub of progress, not only within the Veilnum, but within the world of Aedir itself. Nestled into the Southern reaches of the Veilnum, the Heartoak receives trade from all ports of the Veilnum, as well as the ornate treasures and goods that comes from Isodyrn, the continent South of the Veilnum.   The Heartoak Confederacy, compared to the other Veilnum countries are beginning to spearhead the studying of the Amber Essence, which has been plaguing the Veilnum. This is through Tremlar University, which is one of the few Universities in the Veilnum of some renown. This University has been compensated greatly by the government to study the Amber. Things are not all well in the Confederacy however... as the Heartoak Tree, the Nature Anchor to the Feywild, begins to wean with power. Druids are stumped as to why this is occurring.

### Structure

The structure of the Heartoak Confederacy is split into two main powers. Federal and City. The Federal is split between a **Council of Druids** (a council of Druids who revere the Heartoak Tree) and a **Technolord** (a President of sorts who's term lasts for 10 years). This is to balance the druidic side and the technocratic side of the country which battle for dominations over the country. The cities each have their own Mayor with which they can elect and their own legislative body.

### Culture

The culture of the Heartoak is that mixed of a traditionalistic society, focusing on Nature (similar to the Empire of the Pine), but also that of a modernist technocracy, with state of the art technology and medicine. This makes the people of the Heartoak in this weird state, where the Gnomes, Dwarves and especially the Elves follow tradition whereas the younger races favor more of the technological side and the ideas of modernism. This has caused tension between the two, which has slightly caused a rift in the country's foundation as they lack a central identity. Are they a Druidic society similar to that of the Empire of the Pine, or do they embrace Technocracy?

### Public Agenda

The main public agenda of the Heartoak Confederacy is to study the Amber that has begun to threaten the Archipelago. They know that this Amber is dangerous, and the students at Trelmar University have begun to actively check and study it. These brave souls have leapt into the unknown, not knowing that they could face destruction with one small misstep. The Confederacy is spearheading this testing, while the other governments are doing their own research projects but haven't made a lot of progress.

### Assets

Cities under the control of the Heartoak Confederacy:

1. Mercusius - While the new capital is being built, Mercusius acts as the defacto capital of the country. Mercusius, known as the logging capital of the Heartoak, the loggers of Mercusius manage to export the highest quality lumber across the Veilnum to support large fleets of wooden ships that can even face the brunt of the Theocracy of Phoenicis' iron ships.
2. The City of Blades - A city of hardened steel and even hardened fighters. This city is home to Gladiators and Veterans alike who have been living in the city ever since the end of the Uprising Wars. Considered to be a laid back town, tourney fights here are common, and if need be, mercenaries from this land come as a high price as these soldiers are the highest of quality.
3. Orconius - Also known as a birthplace of firearms, where many people, specifically from the Golden Guns go to complete their firearm trial. This is due to the mountains having ores of Soulstone, which are the souls needed to activate these types of rifles. Only the strongest of wills survive the firearm trial.
4. Ughalt - At once a small port town, the city of Ughalt has exploded in popularity, due to the cultivation of a competitive medicinal fields. Ughlat has become a hub of medicine within the world, not just in the Veilnum. Known to have some of the only methods to revive people **without** the need of a resurrection crystal.
5. Ramblebush
6. Trelmar University