The Land of Elothnin

Many thanks must be given to the right-honorable Van Parker for his masterful cartographic rendering of the Land of Elothnin and surrounding geography.

Elothnin is a large country lying to the southwest of the San-Kesh Desert. It is bordered by the vast Erkenheld Forest to the West, the Klevarcht Mountains and Dark Lands to the North and East, and the Sea to the South.

Provinces of Elothnin:
The country of Elothnin is divided into five provinces: the Fethil, Helletiern, Perejin, Ostrassa and Shabarcht. Each of these large, administrative districts has its own particular regional flavor, history and characteristics.

The Fethil, Elothnin's northernmost province, acts as the empire's breadbasket, producing vast quantities of grain that eventually ends up as bread in all corners of the land. Despite its agricultural prosperity, the Fethil has lived under the shadow of a protracted war with the strange beasts of the north for many decades.

To the south and west of the Fethil, lies Perejin. Perejin's economy relies primarily on its proximity to the great Erkenheld Forest, from which it harvests great quantities of lumber and other arboreal goods. Perejin is considered by many in Elothnin as a strange and wild place because queer beasties and magical creatures are as commonplace as house cats and dustmen. One encounters gnomes and even the odd centaur trading their curious wares in Perejin's border towns.

Elothin's southernmost province, Ostrassa, has strong ties to the ocean and its bounties. Within Ostrassa's borders lies the mysterious Pokelocken, a marshy bog home to a host of strange, unsettling creatures. Also of note is Ostrassa's capital, Opleneer, a large, coastal city famed for its abundance of silothil: indeed, one can barely turn a corner in the great city without tumbling into a fountain!

Helletiern is in the heart of Elothnin, bounded by both the Great Land Sea and Neerhemhind, which fulfills the dual role as the national capital of Elothnin and the provincial seat of Helletiern. Helletiern is the most populous of Elothnin's regions, and acts as the country's financial and political base: any Elothninian wishing to make his fortune as a 'great person' must at some point find his way to Helletiern. In addition, Eremineer and Heletiern City are also major population centers.

Shabarcht, Elothnin's easternmost province bordering both the awe-inspiring, snowcapped peaks of the Klevarcht Mountains and the ocean to the east. The energies of its citizens are primarily devoted to the metallurgical arts, crafting the bulk of Elothnin's weapons and other metallic goods. The province's capital, Tresleneer, reflects this focus on all things stone and iron, with a skyline dominated by stark, impressive buildings made from the riches of Shabarcht's rocky soil. The dwarvish occupants of the mountains are rarely known to visit their Elothninian neighbors, but relations between the two peoples are generally peaceful.

Elothnin’s History
Elothnin's history is long and colorful. Although records on the subject of the country's origins are somewhat scant, scholars generally believe that Elothnin was founded approximately a millenium ago by the King Otellian. Otellian established a dynasty which remains unbroken to this day, with Queen Lilhelndine a direct descendant.

The early period of Elothninian history (1000-750 years ago) was based primarily in Helletiern. These early Elothninians led humble lives, subsisting mainly on farming and fishing in the land sea. Otellian unified the area under his rule, and used his unparalleled leadership and military abilities to expand his control beyond the shores of the Great Land Sea.

The middle period of Elothnin's history (750-500 years ago) saw expansion into Ostrassa, where both ports and the nation's first institutions of higher learning were created. Elothnin developed its first truly major cities during these years, including Neerhemhind and Opleneer, both of which continue to play a key role in the empire.

During the late period of Elothninian history (500-200 years ago) the nation took on many of the characteristics we associate with it today, including a vibrant spectrum of artistic and cultural expression. Under King Gimmelthorpe (Lilhelndine's immediate successor and uncle), Elothnin expanded its control westward into what is now Perejin. Gimmelthorpe inaugurated what has also been referred to the imperial age of Elothnin, greatly expanding the country's size.

Modern Elothninian history (200 years ago-present), commonly referred to as the Lilheldinian era after its only ruler, has seen continued conflict on the northern reaches of the empire. Early in Lilhelndine's rule, a group of hardscrabble farmers under the leadership of one Prabil Worthis helped to bring the Fethil under the control of the Elothninian Empire.

Elothnin’s Culture and Society
Elothninian society has a sharp divide between 'haves' and 'have-nots,' which are perhaps best demonstrated in the strict adherence to the nation's ancient traditions of etiquette by wealthy socialites and members of the court. These elaborate rituals, which represent the accumulated manners of hundreds of years, are often both arcane and contradictory making it difficult for all but the relatively narrow section of the populace that can afford to send their offspring to the most prestigious of academies to adhere to their strange prescriptions.

In terms of religion, the people of Elothnin have a predominantly monotheistic outlook, though there is room theologically for minor spirits and deities. The focus of Elothninian spirituality is on a single creator god, who is believed to have first populated the world with magickal beings. However, the creator quickly became dissatisfied with the arrogant behavior of his new magickal subjects, and, after reevaluating what he desired from his sentient products, he created the mundayne. Thus, Elothninians have always looked down upon magickal beings, as untrustworthy and disloyal subjects to their god. In addition, there exists a certain amount of regional tension between more agrarian areas like the Fethil and Perejin, and the more highly developed, metropolitan regions like Helletiern. This is due to the latter's tendency towards secularism and a belief in humanity's own divine intelligence, while the former maintains that they have remained closer to the creator's original intent.

Technologically speaking, Elothnin has moved leaps and bounds from its humble, rustic beginnings. Major cities like Neerhemhind, Tresleneer, and Dandleneer are hotbeds of innovation and development, where new methods of production and inventions are continually being generated. Tresleneer, and, indeed, the entirety of Shabarcht is known for its proliferation of the metallurgical arts: new ways of producing stronger, more effective weapons, tools, and other goods are constantly emerging here. In the provinces of Helletiern and Ostrassa the philosophical arts have reached their highest achievements. Cities in these regions are known for their vast libraries and universities, where scholars and students toil away to uncover the mysterious workings of the world, both magickal and mundayne.

Elothnin has a rich artistic tradition, that ranges from silothil to music and drama. Silothil, of course, is the country's quintessential art form, representatives of which can be found in almost any city in the land. Most large towns and all cities are home to a theatre with its own company of players, that perform the popular works of the day. In addition, itinerant bards and performers, often satyrs and troupes of elves, wander from town to town peddling their productions of a few stock plays and songs, telling stories and fortunes. As a general rule, literature in Elothnin centers around almanacs, national and world histories, though there is also a decent trade in novels and other works of fiction (many well-to-do Elothninians consider fiction to be a waste of otherwise useful mental faculties: the Worthis clan being a notable exception to this trend).

See also:
Culture of Elothnin
Imperial Army
Rebel Army
Jarthen Furblog
Bertronius Worthis