Eastwing

## Social Life

The EastWing trade alliance is made up of 8 different smaller city states all located on the mostly rocky sea side area to the East. Each (Undetermined period of time) a new council leader is elected by the leaders of each of the states. They are deemed to rule over and set laws and deal with high level legal/business disputes. The nation is known for having the most unknowable riches and unthinkable poverty.

## History

##### The Age of Separate States

Along the rocky coast to the east of Harthia, there were 5 small city states. Groups of people who had come together with various different ideals existing in a constant state of strife with one another. These individual city states at the time were known as Grom, Kilie, Elk, Huat, and Boral. This age's strife was mostly stoked by the expansionist peoples of Huat. They instead of learning to farm or work with the terrain took to raiding farmsteads and the villages directly outside these city states' walls. Constantly looking for new land to conquer Huat eventually were met with backlash, but never truly routed as it would have taken the combined effort of multiple of these opposing city states to do so. Elk and Kilie the closest neighbors of the five would never work together due to their stances on religion (the former looking to abolish it and the latter living in a more puritanical setting). Grom's people were simple farmers that lived in a large hamlet, its leader more focused on protecting the nobility than driving out Huat's invaders. Boral, the last of the five city states, had its city backed by the cliff causing a funneling effect for the horsemen of Huat, combined with access to rich mineral resources, the scarce numbers of Boral were heavily armed, and never defeated by Huat. However, they were too shorthanded to ever offer aid to the other city states against this barbaric threat.

##### The Age of Asturr and the Feather-Sent Trade Offer

After almost half a century of conflict a new leader rose up in Boral by the name of Asturr. He sought to end the seemingly endless bloodshed with as minimal conflict as he could. As Huat's armies retreated from his borders again, his marched onto Grom. Outside the gates he proposed a new deal, the so called "Feather-Sent Trade Offer" (called as such due to the feather quill he carried on his person to sign the paper), as an effective businessman he appealed to the greedy nature of the rulers of Grom and had them sign military support in exchange for precious jewels. With more men in tow he marched to Elk, again knocking at their gates with an offer to financially support their research into environment shaping aether techniques, which they believed would help aid them against the endless assault of Huat's hordes. Convinced they signed.

Swiftly moving to Kilie he appeared at the gates and was turned away. They believed the faith in their god would sustain them, and smite the unbelievers eventually. Asturr in his dealings was not willing to hear a no, his plan was too important. His army stormed the city and killed leader after leader until the chain of command gave him someone willing to sign the deal, to support him and military endeavor.

Finally, came the gates of Huat. Asturr was surprised to have found that his trade deal was met with open negotiations, but the ruler of Huat was a shrewd man and knew Asturr wished for more than his fair share in the deal. A legendary 3 day long debate came to pass with only minimal breaks occurring during it. After the completion of this negotiation, the most fair and equitable deal out of the 4 made was signed upon, both leaders coming to a mutual respect.

##### The EastWing Alliance

With this final victory Asturr returned to Boral but did not idle for long, he was qucik to invite the 4 rulers to come to Boral as to solidify the peaceful arrangements. The festivities were going well until a rumble from the sea passed through, an earthquake. Boral's lookouts reported a great aether beast pulling in from sea, on a direct course with Boral. Ever the businessman Asturr struck the second deal quickly, the "EastWing Alliance". It was called such because Asturr promised to hold back the beast in Boral's territory while the other city states would rally their armies and swoop in like wings to finish the beast. As it was planned so it was done, Boral defended their home and the other nations slayed the beast, as night fell and the creature fell away, there were many wounded and dead, but no sign of Asturr. There is no concrete cause of death, or known end for him. However it was on the basis of this alliance that the nations would join together as the EastWing Trade Alliance, a full nation united, save a few zealots from Kilie who would preform an exodus, not trusting the alliance formed through the blood of their church.

##### Modern Day

Modern day EastWing is much different than the nation it was 60 years ago. A vast increase of wealth due to trading all over the world has afforded them many luxuries, and the ability to expand all over the land they called home. Each of the major cities serve as some variety of hub for some service or trade, With Boral's former city serving as the capital home of the trade alliance.

A council of 5 members is selected every number of years to guide the alliance in memory for the first set of leaders, with one of the members serving at the head, currently this council is lead by Sylvain Auric, who has somewhat unsuccessfully attempted to turn the nation into an military powerhouse. His leadership is under heavy question currently after the failed assault on Palstrine for unknown reasons that ended 3 years ago.