Thailes Elan

Thailes Elan (Thy-luss El-awn) is a small isolated land mass located to the west of mainland Stravica. Though geographically a part of Stravica, it has hardly been settled beyond the southeast edge due to its severe lack of arable land and distance from the continent and has not been claimed by the three nations. The only known settlement on the island is the port town of Lomercon-by-the-Sea (often shortened to Lomercon by the locals).

Despite not being a signatory of the Charter of Stravica, Thailes Elan holds a defense treaty with the Stravican Union and maintains special agreements in regards to trade. While residents are considered citizens of Stravica, as a special administrative state they do not have voting powers in elections. This also means, however, that they are exempt from paying taxes to the Union. Citizens of Thailes Elan speak an isolated dialect of Leshedonian and are culturally similar to southern Leshedon and northern Kovnarosk.

Other known landmarks on the island include Louh Dorahys, a lake located in a fumarole on the very north end of the island. It is boiling hot, highly acidic and contains no aquatic life.

## Food

Farming on the small island of Thailes Elan proved tricky in the past, no thanks to the volcanic desert that covers most of the island. While some small farms have been set up around the lake of Louh Dorahys, most people interested in agriculture use a complex system of hydroponics, originally developed by researchers within LTS for use underground during Long Winters. This allows for the cultivation of vegetables such as cabbage and potatoes, though grain is still difficult to produce. Because of the otherwise lack of suitable land for livestock, Thailese people largely follow a strict pescatarian diet.

## Music

Like Leshedon, Thailese musicians also largely play in groups, but in terms of style they are much more similar to Dalecaria than their brethren to the east. Thailes Elan has a rather unpleasant landscape of grays and browns, so Thailese people use the arts to help revitalize the environment around them. As such, Thailese music has a healthy combination of Leshedonian energy and Dalecarian flair. Some of the most popular musicians in Stravica hail from Lomercon.

Lomercon also hosts a yearly music festival in the spring, which draws musicians from all over Stravica (and sometimes beyond) and encourages them to showcase their art, which in turn greatly boosts the Thailese economy. Some people commit their entire year to preparations for this festival.

## Architecture

Because of the thin amount of trees on the island, buildings in Thailes Elan are dug into the earth, with inner walls composed of stone and clay. Wood is only used for doors. Buildings are often close together in Lomercon, spreading out as the city stretches inland. Constructions outside of Lomercon or Louh Dorahys are quite rare.

## Art

Practice of the fine arts in Thailes Elan is a huge challenge thanks to its geographical makeup. As opposed to paintings or sculptures, Thailese people are greatly involved in fashion - in fact, it’s one of their main exports. The island is home to gemstones of many types (quartz, citrine, jasper, etc.), hidden all over the surface, and the Elanese receive shipments of textiles from Dalecaria for use in the creation of bejeweled articles, to either be worn at home or sold overseas.

The placement of jewels impacts the interpretation of the piece - gems placed in a horizontal fashion signify neutrality, pacifism, or tranquility, and are most popular with priests or diplomats. Meanwhile, vertical arrangements of gemstones are emblematic of power, authority, or resilience, and are most popular with people like soldiers and peacekeepers, or community leaders. Dresses are more likely to have triangular gems, while jewelry has circular shapes. Most everything else has gems in quadrilateral shapes such as squares or rhombuses. Thailese clothing has a very unique style, meant to be worn in particular settings, and are intended to be informative to audiences about the nature of the individual wearing the article (like a preface).

Each color of gem, likewise, holds meaning:

* Quartz (white): Impartiality
* Obsidian (black): Authority
* Red garnet (red): Vitality
* Amber (orange): Practicality
* Citrine (yellow): Informality
* Jade (green): Reciprocity
* Blue topaz (blue): Acuity
* Amethyst (purple): Spirituality

The exact interpretation of these meanings is up to the designer and the wearer - the same dress can be worn in largely different settings, depending on the gemstones.

## Faith & Beliefs

Since the settlement of the island, shamanism has always had strong roots in Thailes Elan. Many people seek out spirits in search of personal guidance, for protection and good health, or for more bountiful harvests. People often thank spirits by giving back to the community or to the land, and to receive aid from spirits without gratitude is considered bad luck.