Elaeth

> **Demonym:** Elaethi
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> **Endonym:** Feredir (s), Faradrim (p)
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    Elaeth is the Wood Elf kingdom in the Beluir Woodlands. The Wood Elves of Elaeth are expert hunter/gatherers. The origins of the Elaethi Elves springs forth during the Beluir War. Imradhen Elves stationed at the Beluir Woodlands developed great skills in navigating, hunting, and gathering to withstand the harsh summers. After the war ended, the city of Anethyr remained. The nation of Elaeth then grew with Anethyr as its Citadel.

#### Culture

The Elaethi Wood Elves are an extremely resourceful and a robust people. As said above, the civilization came about by the sheer grit of the Wood Elves stationed there during the Beluir War. In this harsh forest, rocky and extreme in temperature, the Elaethi found types of crops that can thrive and developed hunting strategies for the elusive wildlife. The Elaethi are great warriors, adorned with bright feathers. The Beluir Woodlands are filled with Junipers, Fir Trees, and others of a similar height with low branches. This vegetation makes for low visibility and limited line of sight. Because of this, the Elaethi are very dexterous and agile with quick and lethal reflexes specializing in the short bow and spear.

#### The Huro and the Ambale

The Huro are the elite warriors of Elaeth. A Huro is chosen to the protection of the Elaethi King for as long as either should live. The Huro are religious warriors, serving Karth, under the domains of law and the life-cycle. The beliefs of the Elaethi are simple, that law and death are eternal truths that are fixed and unchangeable. This belief is what make the Huro such fearsome fighters. These zealots accept this ideal without wavering. The fight as though they don't fear death, accepting that Karth will take you according to his timetable.

Each aspiring Huro takes a spiritual journey, or *Kalvihi*, of separation from all friends and family for a year, the purpose of which is individual, but culminating in the hunt of the *Ambale*, or "Thunderbird". The Ambale is a species of bird that lives on the eastern edge of the Beluir Desert, along with a few in the Beluir Woodlands and at the feet of the Wounded Mountains. These bright and unique feathers are made into fierce helmets, beautiful armbands, or other armor pieces that distinguish the Huro above others. If the Elaethi returns without having slain an Ambale, the people do not consider him or her one of the Huro, but recognize that it is a difficult task and even attempting the journey is impressive. The path of the Huro can be attempted any number of times, but the Kavlihi must be completed each time before the hunt for an Ambale begins. The hunt as well may take any amount of time, some return after 16 or even 18 months.

Once completed the Huro are given special weapons, spears with ropes attached to the ends that allow the Huro to use them to control their foe. The heads of the spears are made to penetrate deep and not be removed with ease, this allows the Huro to use them as a kind of net and ensnare their foe while also damaging and weakening them.

#### Monsoon Season

During Monsoon Season, a front of cool, high-pressure moisture moves off the southwestern Bariloch Range. This front is drawn over the Beluir Desert by hot, low-pressure and then moves in a counterclockwise swirl or Northeasterly, covering the Red Hills, Beluir Woodlands, and the Moorlands. The hot, summer air is trapped at the northern border of Saeria by the Bariloch Range. Monsoon season starts in the middle of Genevieve usually and lasts until the end of Titus. The rains are a respite from the sweltering heat and dust which can be felt so much by all who live in the affected areas.

By mid-afternoon in the pre-monsoon days, the sky is so laden with dust that it makes the sun seem a fuzzy blur, the muted beam of a fire in a fog of heat. The dust is borne into the city from the desert and nearby farmlands on what is called by various things in various cultures, but usually is centers around the idea of “Dragon’s Breath”, the Common translation. These hot winds precede the monsoon yearly. There is a phenomenon which is called, “pre-rain anger”—this is a translation to Common, as there are many euphemisms for it in each nation’s tongue—in which most areas see a rise in petty arguments, domestic disputes, violence, and homicide. The waiting for the relief of the rain can cause much anxiety for all, as their livelihoods and future depend upon it as the monsoon is vital to the economy.

A poor monsoon or a delay of a few weeks in the arrival of monsoon rains can make the difference between bumper crops and famine. The difference is in the irrigation that will need to be performed to provide enough for everyone. Bad monsoons also increase inflation and debt, suicides increase as well in these times.

The monsoons are a time of peace since armies can’t march through the mire that is made from so much precipitation. It is said that the cloud and storm giants tread Sefyll at this time as well, clashing in their eternal battle in the skies above, never to be won. The Monsoons also stir up much art and culture. The well-known poem, attributed to the famous Ciyobetan Poet, Lyric Grahlin, is one of the most common examples of art reflecting the rainy season:

> Rain makes earth a comely courtesan
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> Attired in the green silk of grass
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> Wearing silver ornaments of sprung-up mushroom
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> Ruby of purple colored worm of moist fields
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In Elaeth the Monsoons affect the culture in specific ways: Titles or nicknames with "cloud", "rain", "sky", etc. are seen as very honorable. Family songs and musical compositions are taught only to special students or family members, and are used to call in the rains yearly.  The monsoon is sensual to Elaeth as well as represent sexuality. Symbols of women longing for their lovers, the call of birds wanting to mate, maidens longing to bathe naked in the rains are commonplace in art and literature. For Elaethi the time is marked by meditation, fasting, a time for reuniting lovers, travelers to come home, mendicants to be cared for, and for forgiveness. The people also wed frogs in a familial or local celebrations as a representation of Genevieve and Titus, seen the quintessential lovers, who were also wedded in the summer. Stories of the Heroes of Old, especially of Genevieve and Titis are told. It is said by the Elaethi that hey rode into the mountains on a Great White Moa that is said to be the bringer of the first monsoon.

#### History

When the High Elf Council learned that humans had learned magic, being taught by the elves who aided the humans in the 1st century, they were incensed. The Council ordered all elves to cease contact with the Humans and rebuked them for sharing the sacred gift of magic with a race that is greedy and not to be trusted. Those who had reached out to the humans, called *Eldaglad*, or "Wood Elves," were of Imradel, the first "nation" established in Merethyl. They named Ohem Orimys as their king after the Great Draconic War and settled in the woods south of the Munil.

During the Beluir War, the Imradhen moved quickly to secure a military base within the uninhabited Beluir Woodlands. 8,000 men were stationed in the woodlands and found the dense, bare woods and dry ground, the extreme temperatures from night to day, and the rains of monsoon season all very difficult to manage. However, after the war ended the Imradhen stationed there in the woodlands decided to stay and many of the families of the soldiers joined them. For these hearty Wood Elves looking back was not an option and the life made within the harsh woodlands had proven gratifying. The King of Imradel sanctioned the secession as the Wood Elves are not proud like the High Elves and the Drow, these elves respect the agency of all who seek to find happiness. The Beluir Woodlands then became home to the nation of Elaeth, under King Tuari Atua.

#### Holidays

> **Feast of the Reception:** a celebration of magic by the wood elves, by all humans, celebrated at varying times. The Ciyobetans, Felcaryn, and Tacuarembo in the first week of Titus, while the Windfolk celebrate it simply on the last full moon of Genevieve. The Hunid celebrate it on the first new moon of Titus. This is commonly celebrated by a simple feast and an honoring of those magic users in town, usually healers, priests, or otherwise helpful folk.
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> **Bestowal:** Much of the trade and commerce for the Hunid economy is from Hunid Purple, produced by the Rock Snails along the southeastern shore of Merethyl. Bestowal is a festival celebrating the season of procreation of the snails, which occurs during the month of Rolen. The Festival is celebrated on the 8th and 9th days of the fourth week of Rolen. The people dress in Hunid Purple apparel and sing and praise the Gods. Tall poles are mounted around city squares and public areas with many colored ribbons tied to top, as children dance and play they pull on the ribbons and wrap them tightly around the pole.
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> **Ambale Festival:** The Ambale serves as a symbol of the nation of Elaeth. The Ambale Festival is held on both nights of the first full moon of the month of Beregond, when it is said that the Ambale mate. The festival consists of dancing and music around bonfires. There is a special drum and whistle that are said to replicate the sound of the beating wings of the Ambale and its fearsome cry that is played throughout the festivities.
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Cuāuhmeh, Eagle WarriorsOcēlōmeh, Leopard WarriorsOcēlōtl, Leopard Warrior