Khaldaarim kingdoms

The **Khaldaarim**, generally known as the **Elven** race, have an unique type of government, with a mixture of electoral monarchy and hereditary rule.

The states of the elven (Khaldaarim) races, the **Mahaarim**, their relatives (Daelmahaarim, Sarmahaarim, Yaenmahaarim, Yaantheni), the **Enaarim** and their relatives (Daelenaarim) are organized into a few higher levels:

## States

### Notes

* Where hereditary inheritance is mentioned, assume absolute cognatic primogeniture unless otherwise stated.
* Valid heirs include children, both regular and bastard (born out of wedlock), and any other heirs designated by the *kaalira, yulnara, vaaleha or empaera*, or the council of said leader.
* Leader terms have no gender distinction, both male and female leaders have the same term to describe them.

### Basic states

* **Kaal** (Mahaarim), **kael** (Daelmahaarim/Sarmahaarim), **cala** (Enaarim/Daelenaarim): the lowest level Mahaarim state, either fully independent or part of a **hawer**, a loose federation with an elected high king. *Kaale* are ruled by a *kaalira* (Mahaarim), *kaeler* (Daelmahaarim/Sarmahaeri), *calana* (Enaarim/Daelenaarim), the position passing through hereditary rule. If a *kaalira* dies without a valid heir, or is elected *hawrena*, the *kaa**l**s council votes to elect a new*** **kaalira *from one of the* kaal**s major towns, with a simple majority needed to elect them. The term *kaal* loosely translates as "state" or "kingdom".
* **Kaal h'gane** (Mahaarim), **kael hecane** (Sarmahaarim), **kael haecane** (Daelmahaarim), **cala haecana** (Enaarim/Daelenaarim): literally meaning "city state", the *kaal h'gane* is a special kind of *kaal* consisting of just one hold, usually a major city. A *kaal h'gane* is also ruled by a *kaalira*, with the same powers as a regular *kaal*'s leader. Since a *kaal h'gane* has only one hold, the *kaalira* (in case of ruler death or ascension to *hawrena*) is elected directly by the people, usually from a set of loyal nobility curated by the *kaal*'s council. This is the only kind of semi-democratic Khaldaarim state in pre-modern times. An example of a *kaal h'gane* is **H'Gan Mahaar**, existing as an independent state from 1266 BCE until the Zuan conquest in 1671 CE.
* **Yuyan** (Mahaarim/Daelmahaarim/Sarmahaarim), **Yaen** (Enaarim/Daelenaarim): same level as the *kaal*, but part of a more centralized kingdom, a *vaaleha*. *Yuyani* (Mahaarim etc.), *yaenni* (Enaarim etc.) are ruled by a *yulnara* (Mahaarim etc.), *yaentha* (Enaarim etc.), passing hereditarily as in *kaale*. If a *yulnara* dies without a valid heir, a new *yulnara* is appointed by the council of the *vaaleha* from the territory of the *yuyan*.

### Hawer

**Hawer** (Mahaarim), **ehaur** (Sarmahaarim), **haara** (Daelmahaarim), **haelta** (Enaarim etc.) is a federation consisting of several autonomous *kaale*, with a common high king (*hawrena*, *eharena*, *haarena*, *haelthar*). If a *hawrena* dies, all *kaaliri* travel to the *kaal* of the former *hawrena* as candidates to become the new *hawrena*, and begin voting to choose a fellow *kaalira* to become *hawrena*.

Once the elected candidate becomes *hawrena*, they can no longer be *kaalira* and neither can any members of their dynasty for as long as the *hawrena* is from their dynasty, and an election is held in the *hawrena*'s former *kaal* to elect a new *kaalira* from a different dynasty. Unlike *kaaliri*, *hawrena* positions are not hereditary, and pass to different *kaaliri* each time. The *hawer*'s capital moves to the new *hawrena*'s origin *kaal*. The only exception was the **Hawer Arelta**, whose capital was always in H'Gan Mahaar.

The powers of the *hawrena* varied by *hawer*, in some they were completely powerless, ceremonial leaders, and in others they held almost as much power as a *vaaltha*. In *hawri* with powerful *hawreni*, fights between the candidates were almost universal, sometimes resulting in over a dozen *kaaliri* dying during the election. and even ending in civil wars that shattered centuries-old *hawri* in mere months. In many cases, powerful *hawreni* utilized their military forces to annex the *hawer*'s other *kaale* and form a *vaaleha*. An example of a *hawer* is the **Hawer Arelta**, one of the first recorded major Mahaarim states.

### Vaaleha

A **Vaaleha** (Mahaarim etc.), **vaelthia** (Enaarim etc.) is an absolute monarchy with several subordinate *yuyane* under its control, with a supreme high king (*vaaltha*, *vaeriel*), the position passing through hereditary inheritance. Unlike *hawri*, which (almost) always have multiple layers of backup even in the most dire situations, *vaalehe* depend on a *vaaltha* having at least one valid heir. If a *vaaltha* dies without a valid heir, the *vaaleha* becomes independent *kaale*, usually with bloody succession wars after the *vaaleha*'s collapse, except for Enaarim *vaelthiei*, which have a new *vaeriel* elected from the *yaene* as in *haelti*. There is one *vaaleha* in existence as of today, the **Vaaleha Mahaar**, part of Great (Kayen) Mahaar.

### Empaerata

An **Empaerata** (Enaarim etc. only) is an absolute monarchy in the style of traditional human empires, with several *cala*-like provinces under the *empaerata*'s control. The rules for *empaera* succession are the same as in *vaelthiei*, but the *empaera* is not the only level of government, there is a senate (usually oligarchic) called a *thaervun* (people's house), which can take power if needed. The only *empaerata* in existence was Thaarenia, from 21 CE to 352 CE.