Third Empire of Eldamar

.
.

T H I R DE M P I R EO FE L D A M A R
.

• • •F O RT H EE L V E NP E O P L E• • •

.

Eldamar

For other uses see Eldamar (disambiguation)

Third Empire of Eldamar

---

Flag

Seal

---

Motto: An illi Eldalië
"For All Elvenkind"

---

Anthem: Hymn of Elbereth Gilthoniel

---

Geological Location

---

Population [2260]	423,078,000
Pop Density (km^2) [2260]	59.51
Landmass	7,108,791.4 km^2
Capital	Armenelos
Largest City	Ealotesto
Official Language	Quenya
National Languages	• Sindarin • Volkisch • Allenum • Fraternais
Recognized Languages	• Nandorin • Telerin • Drïvüê • Others
Demonym	Elda/Eldar Elf/Elven
Ethnic Groups	List of Ethnicities [Show] Malaquendi (Golden elf) (34.3%) Lehquendi (Free elf) (20.9%) Calaquendi (High elf) (17.2%) Moriquendi (Dark elf) (13.6%) Sirequendi (Flow elf) (7.9%) Others (6.1%)
Religion	List of Religions [Show] Vincarnan (Ainolesta) (38.4%) Gwanwan (Ainolesta) (32.0%) Druidism/Feyism (10.3%) Folk Religions (2.8%) Other, irreligious (16.5%)
Government	Federal Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy
Emperor of Elves	Ara-Tir Elrondrion
Lord Conciliator	Lady Felsenbaum
Legislature	Nórëa Combë (National Congress)
Upper House	Combë Tána (Congregation Royale)
Lower House	Combë Lië (Congregation Commune)
Currency	Telpë (₮)
GDP [2210]	₮13.940 Trillion (Per Capita) ₮32,949.44
SDI	0.717 (High )
Time Zone	KST -7/-6
Calling Code	+76
Drives on the	Right
ISO Code	EM
Internet LTD	.em

Eldamar (Sindarin: Eglamar; Volkisch: Alfheim, Allenum: Dryadia, Fraternais: Étoilelie), officially the Empire of Eldamar (EET; Quenya: Eldamaranyë, Sindarin: Eglamaranarth; Volkisch: Alfaheim Welksreich, Eldalus: Imperium Eldia, Fraternais: Empire Étoilelie) is a country in Kuros. Eldamar is situated south of the Zatoluna Sea and north of the Bay of Griswall with the Erbern Mountain Range to its south; it covers an area of 7,108,791.4 square kilometers (2,744,720 sq mi), with a population of over 423 million. Eldamar borders Istavija to the west, New oldordia to the southwest, and shares a maritime border with Rumanian States to the west and Amberleaf to the southwest. The nation's capital is Armenelos, and its largest city and financial center is Ealotesto.

Various features mark the landscape of Eldamar. The Ermatos Great Lakes mark central-eastern Eldamar and are home to numerous cities and a thriving trade network. The Great Lakes are surrounded by rolling hillsides, plains, and shallow valleys to their north, east, and west in the form of the Dorwinion Plain, Lindanan Valley, and Nóressëa Plain, respectively. A majority of Eldamar's inhabitants live in these central-eastern provinces due to the bountiful farmlands and amiable climate. The mountainous southern regions are sparsely populated but host most of Eldamar's mineral wealth, containing the Erbern Mountain Range, the Oiolossë Mountains, and the Caelius Range. Western Eldamar hosts the Taur-i-Melegyrn, a vast, megadiverse forest home to numerous species of plants and animals. The northern coasts are home to some of Eldamar's busiest ports and are densely populated along the Harmanyanda Coast, Tarmenel Coast, and Verillis Archipelago. Eldamar is divided into 19 provinces, 6 autonomous regions, 6 dual capital-municipalities, 3 principal municipalities, and 3 Special Economic Zones.

The north-central Eldamar has been inhabited by various elven tribes since classical antiquity. It is estimated that they arrived by sea approximately 80,000 years ago and established early civilizations along the Tarmenel and Harmanyanda Coasts, eventually spreading into the Taur-i-Melegyrn and Ermatos Great Lakes. These tribes were later joined by Old World Elves during the Great Migration in 412 BCE. These Old World Elves would go on to establish the First Empire of Eldamar in the north in 357 BCE. In 577 CE, the First Empire underwent a period of radical societal and technological change known as Velicingolë, which ultimately led to its collapse into various nation-states. In 883, Eldamar was once again unified under the Second Empire of Eldamar, which expanded its borders to their modern-day boundaries. However, civil strife and natural disasters led to the Second Empire's collapse in 1244, which saw a disunited Eldamar until the formation of the Quendian Confederation in 1551. This period saw the Second Velicingolë, which drove cultural and technological advancement and gave way to the Fanwë States. From 1767 to 1843, the region was rocked by the Pelë, a region-wide revolutionary conflict that grew from the ideas of the post-Second Velicingolë period. Although the revolutionary Govannists were defeated, a period of rapid reform followed, known as the Cúnavëontarë, during which many states within the Quendian Confederation rapidly liberalized. Rising nationalist sentiments led Eldamar to unify once again, first under the Amarthiel Federation in 1901, followed by the formation of the Third Empire of Eldamar in 1955. The Third Empire has endured to the modern day, undergoing rapid changes in the wake of technological and societal revolutions.

Eldamar is a high-income nation with a rapidly growing economy driven by trade, mining, manufacturing, and various service sectors. The country has made significant progress in recent decades, resulting in a notable increase in economic growth. Despite this, the distribution of wealth is uneven, and while the overall trend is one of situational improvement, many areas and populations have not benefited equally from this economic progress. There is still a considerable disparity in the quality of life, democracy, health, education, economic freedom, civil liberties, safety, and political rights across different provinces and autonomous regions. In 2245, Eldamar officially became a member of the Heiwa Accord, demonstrating its commitment to global stability and cooperation. The country has also established close trade ties with neighboring nations, greatly contributing to its economic growth and development.

Etymology

The Quenya name Eldamar is derived from the word for elf, Elda, meaning 'star-friend', which is the classical word for elf and differs from the modern-day word Quendi, although the classical form is still used in some communities. It is also sometimes referred to as Elendë, meaning 'elf-home'. This name was first found on scripts dating back to the arrival of elves on the continent in 80,000 BCE. It has been used to refer to the region since then. The Sindarin name Eglamar, the language itself a derivative of Quenya, is similarly derived from the word elf, or edhel. The term Alfenheim is derived from the word alf, which means 'elf' in Volkisch, while heim translates to 'home', giving the direct translation 'elven home' in Common. Eldalus derives its name for Eldamar, Eldia from the Quenya word, a departure from most other naming conventions by other languages. The Fraternais name for Eldamar is Étoilelie which comes from Fraternais name for elves, étoilegens, or literally 'star people.'

History

Pre-History

Forest King Mallosben of the
early Melegyrn civilization

Elven habitation of Kuros dates back to 80,000 BCE with the migration of sea-faring peoples from Voytana, the traditional home of the elves. Little is known about why these first elves arrived in Kuros, though the most widely accepted theory is that these first elves were escaping from natural disasters or diseases. The oldest site showing the presence of these ancestral elves is the Eronos settlement. Located in eastern Kuros along the Ermatos Great Lakes, the presence of rudimentary stone tools and pottery was discovered at the Eronos site, making it one of the oldest to demonstrate tool use and clay firing techniques. Other archeological findings showed that most elves lived as hunter-gathers, especially further west.

Around 50,000 years ago, archeological evidence suggests two separate groups of indigenous elves formed: the Essaquendi (first elves) and the Hravaquendi (wild elves). The Essaquendi were confined largely to the Lindanan Valley and developed a complex hunter-gatherer economy in the region. At its peak, an estimated 100,000 Essaquendi lived in the Lindanan Valley, scattered among various tribes. The Hravaquendi, on the other hand, moved west past the Ermatos Great Lakes to the outskirts of the Taur-i-Melegyrn. Here, they developed numerous hunter-gatherer communities which lived off the teeming forests. These early elves would develop basic economies around fur, pottery, and artisan woodcrafts. This hunter-gatherer lifestyle would largely dominate eastern Kuros until 15,000 BCE.

The Ostar Agricultural Revolution marked the beginning of large settled towns. Beginning in the Lindanan Valley, the revolution moved westward, eventually reaching the Taur-i-Melegyrn and beyond. The Essaquendi would develop the first proto-agricultural communities on Kuros and made significant advancements in metallurgy, agriculture, and writing. The earliest forms of Quenya can be traced to these early settlements dating back to 10,000 BCE. The largest of these settlements would develop into the first Lindanian civilizations, heralding the beginning of the Bronze-Magi Age.

Early Civilizations

The Bronze-Magi Age lasted approximately from 8,000 BCE to 6,000 BCE and saw the rise and fall of numerous civilizations throughout the Lindanan Valley and Taur-i-Melegyrn. The modern-day Calaquendi and Lehquendi can trace their ancestral roots to this age. It was during this period that curu or old magic was invented. The first of these curu-users were dubbed Magi and ruled over the greatest of the Bronze-Magi Age civilizations, giving the time period its name. The sudden collapse of these Magi-led civilizations heralded the Bronze-Magi Age collapse. For the next 2,000 years, the Lehquendi living along the Taur-i-Melegyrn would gradually return to a hunter-gatherer lifestyle, venturing deeper and deeper into the vast western forests. The remnants Lindanan Valley civilizations, in contrast, would initiate the Steel-Rune Age almost immediately following the Bronze-Magi Age collapse.

The Steel-Rune Age marks the beginning of consistent works of written elven history and is sometimes referred to as the beginning of Ancient Elven History by scholars. A period of rapid expansion of the Calaquendi to regions outside of the traditional Lindanan Valley marked this period and saw the rise of the Western Ermatos Great Lakes civilizations and Verillis Archipelago communes. Exploration of Kuros was common, though few colonies rose from these endeavors, and those that did lasted briefly. The use of certa or rune magic was common throughout the period, with archaeological evidence revealing rune-imbued weapons and armor. It was also during this period that Eldarin began to dominate as a lingua-franca, leading to significant exchanges of philosophical and artistic thought. These exchanges would eventually give way to the Classical Age, during which significant developments in language, politics, law, educational systems, philosophy, science, warfare, poetry, historiography, ethics, rhetoric, art, and architecture were made.

The Classical Age began around 1,500 BCE and lasted until the Great Migration. Perhaps the most significant period pre-Great Migration, the Classical Age saw the rise of the Vanyar Empire, which grew from the Ermatos Great Lakes to encompass modern-day western Eldamar, stretching as far as the edge of the Taur-i-Melegyrn at its peak. Alongside significant developments in economics, politics, science, architecture, and various other fields, the schools of magic began to take form over this period, eventually giving way to the creation of the Sairina Istanómë or Magi Academia. By 412 BCE, the Vanyar Empire was already in decline, enabling the elves of the Old World to colonize the region.

The Great Migration

The Great Migration of Old World Elves in 412 BCE was a significant event in the history of Eldamar, marking a major turning point in the demographics and culture of the eastern regions. It began with the mass arrival of various elven peoples from the Old World, prominently the Malaquendi, Moriquendi, and Sirequendi. Some estimates place the number of migrants at over three million elves from 412 to 300 BCE, with the event being one of if not the largest pre-industrial mass migration. For a long time, it was unknown where the Old World actually was. However, recently excavated manuscripts and vessels from the Great Migration period have now definitely determined the Old World to be Central and South Voytana.

After initial peaceful contact, the native elves of Eldamar were devastated by the introduction of new diseases, resulting in the death of a tenth of the Calaquendi population and over a fourth of the eastern Lehquendi population. As a consequence, relations between the Old World Elves, who had settled to the north, and the native inhabitants of the Vanyar Empire became strained, leading to the Elenatharokirya Conflicts from 378 BCE to 371 BCE. The conflict proved to be one of the deadliest in pre-industrial Eldamar, with the Old World Elves utilizing their superior magic and weapons to rout the traditional armies of the Vanyar, leading to the collapse of the empire. The fall of the Vanyar capital Tirion marked the beginning of the Vanyar Diaspora, a period in which the Lehquendi population under the leadership of Nimrodel settled deeper in the Taur-i-Melegyrn and the Calaquendi relocated to the Linhirithon Coast and the Erbern Mountain Ranges, as Old World colonists took over their lands over the next few decades.

In the following centuries, the Old World Elves continued their expansions, leading to heavy intermingling of Old World and native cultures. As a result, the exchange and use of Quenya became widespread, with the two languages becoming dual lingua franca over the next five hundred years. The Calaquendi and Lehquendi also extensively adopted scientific and magical discoveries brought by the Old World Elves, which led to the revival of the Sairina Istanómë in 212 BCE. By 150 BCE, Eldamar's political and socioeconomic climate had stabilized, with three major powers emerging: the Arwethon Medhrion, a federation of the Old World Elves occupying the Verillis Archipelago and Ermatos Great Lakes; a collection of Calaquendi magi-kingdoms to the south along the Linhirithon Coast and Erbern Mountain Ranges; and the Nimrodelath Pact to the west in the Taur-i-Meelgyrn. Although border conflicts were frequent between these three major powers, commerce and cultural exchange increased in frequency, especially at the turn of the first century CE.

In 82 CE, the collapse of the Arwethon Medhrion sparked decades of aggressive expansion by the Calaquendi kingdoms and Nimrodelath Pact which sought to recover their lost territories from the prior four centuries. It was during this period of conflict that Queen Táralómire rose to prominence. As a warrior-queen, Queen Táralómire first united the disparate Calaquendi kingdoms before forming a marital alliance with Glade-Lord Orinelleth of the Nimrodelath Pact to create the Empire of Eldamar in 148 CE. Under Queen Táralómire's rule, this united Empire of Eldamar expanded north and east to encompass all of traditional Eldamar, bringing the elves of the Old and New World under a single banner in 179 CE.

First Empire

The establishment of the First Empire of Eldamar was a turbulent time, characterized by banditry, racial tensions, and internal rebellion. However, the astute leadership of the first Empress of Elves, Táralómire Eldamarian, brought about significant improvements within the empire. By the time of her untimely death in 221 CE, a network of skilled administrators, spies, and merchants had been established to address the grievances of the populace and promote a sense of unity throughout Eldamar. Though the empire remained vulnerable to occasional outbreaks of unrest, Empress Táralómire's legacy ensured that the foundations of the Eldamarian state were strong enough to withstand the challenges that lay ahead.

The late empress was replaced by, her daughter, Crown Princess Elenwë, who ascended to the throne as the second Empress of Eldamar. Empress Elenwë was a capable ruler and continued her mother's policies of promoting unity and stability within the empire. She strengthened the Imperial bureaucracy and expanded the network of spies and administrators to maintain order and prevent uprisings. Empress Elenwë also focused on promoting economic growth and trade between the various elven races. She reformed the tax system and established a more efficient system of collecting revenues. Under her reign, Eldamar experienced a period of peace and prosperity, which lasted until her death in 367 CE.

After Empreses Elenwë's death, a succession crisis ensued as her two children, Crown Prince Fingolfin and Third Princess Galadriel, both claimed the throne. Fingolfin, being the elder of the two, had the stronger claim, but Galadriel had long gathered support in a faction of the nobility and mages, enabling her to make a credible claim to the position. The crisis was resolved through a compromise, with Fingolfin being crowned as emperor but with Galadriel being given the title of Princess Regent and being appointed as his chief advisor. This arrangement proved to be successful, with Galadriel playing a key role in maintaining stability within the realm and helping to steer the nation through a series of external and internal challenges. Under the joint rule of Fingolfin and Galadriel, the Empire of Eldamar continued to expand into the Taur-i-Melegyrn and Erbern Mountain Ranges and flourish, with the two rulers working together to promote trade, diplomacy, and the arts. However, their joint rule was cut short by Fingolfin's untimely death in battle during the Anghabar Crisis of 410 CE, which led to Galadriel assuming the throne as the sole ruler of Eldamar. As the third Empress of Elves, Galadriel continued to grow Eldamar's influence in the region until her death in 433 CE.

After the death of Empress Galadriel, her daughter Celebrian ascended to the throne of Eldamar. During her rule, the realm continued to prosper and develop, with significant advancements made in science and economics. However, Celebrian faced numerous challenges during her early reign, including the Ardalambion Rebellion, a major rebellion by a group of rebellious elven lords, and a series of catastrophic natural disasters that caused widespread devastation throughout the empire. While order was eventually restored, Celebrian was ultimately forced to abdicate the throne in favor of her son, Crown Prince Elladan, in 452 CE. Elladan's reign was marked by significant strides in scientific progress and the construction of the Lóteávëonar in Tirion. However, the emperor died without an heir in 531 CE. The ensuing Arzamorë massacre, carried out by the former emperor's rivals, brought an end to the Eldamarian line of emperors. Although a series of fraudulent emperors continued to sit on the throne, growing discontent and radical societal changes paved the way for the Velicingolë revolution and the empire in 557 CE, bringing an end to the First Empire of Eldamar.

Middle and High Eras

Elentarië Line Riflemen
June 833, High Era

The period known as the Middle Era began with the collapse of the Empire of Eldamar in 577 and lasted until the reconstruction of the Lóteávëonar in 755. After the collapse of the Empire, various kingdoms, republics, and city-states emerged and consolidated power in the former imperial holdings. The ideals of the Velicingolë, a radical societal and technological revolution, were prominent in these nation-states, with flourishing trade driving new intellectual thought. The impact of the Velicingolë was felt in all areas of intellectual thought, including art, architecture, philosophy, music, science, technology, politics, and religion. As the former imperial territories became increasingly fragmented, new alliances formed and dissolved as the different nations competed for power and resources. The intellectual ferment of the Velicingolë continued to shape these struggles for dominance, with various factions advocating for different societal and technological visions. One faction that rose to significance during this period was the Churches of Ainolesta, the dominant religious order of the First Empire of Eldamar. As it grew its influence across Eldamar, it effectively combined the ideals of the Velicingolë with the teachings of the First Empress of Elves, leading to the development of the eldenism.

Despite the fragmentation of Eldamar, trade and commerce continued to flourish during the Middle Era. By the 8th century, the Elentarië Republic emerged as the dominant economic and cultural force, with their maritime trade network connecting them to distant lands and bringing new ideas and innovations to Eldamar. Under the rule of Consul Aldarion Aranárë (752-780), the Elentarië Republic would re-found the Sairina Istanómë, garner the support of the Churches of Ainolesta, and reconstruct the Lóteávëonar. The rise of the Elentarië Republic marked the end of the Middle Era and the beginning of the High Era.

During the High Era, the Elentarië Republic continued to thrive and grow in power and influence, expanding its trade network and forging new alliances with other nations. Consul Aldarion Aranárë's leadership paved the way for a period of unprecedented prosperity, and his successors built on his legacy to cement the Republic's dominance. However, as the Elentarië Republic grew in strength, tensions with the Olostrëa, a growing alliance of city-states and republics, began to rise, and conflicts began to erupt. The Nuin-Giliath War broke out in 812, pitting the Elentarië Republic against the coalition of nations. Despite initial setbacks, the Elentarië Republic emerged victorious in 875, further solidifying its position as the preeminent power in Eldamar.

Following the end of the Nuin-Giliath War, the Elentarië Republic continued to expand its influence, absorbing neighboring powers and consolidating its power. In 881, Consul Eärendil Tar-Minyatur proposed the establishment of a new empire that would unite all of Eldamar under one banner again. This proposal was met with great enthusiasm, in large part due to the rise of eldenism, and in 883, the Second Empire of Eldamar was declared with Eärendil Tar-Minyatur as its first Emperor. The Second Empire would expand Eldamar to its modern-day boundaries in a series of conflicts against the native humans of the Taur-i-Melegyrn.

Modern Era

The devastation of the Prussalin-Almien conflicts combined with the deadly Vara-Lai settlement disputes provided the Noldor Emperor, Ara-Galad Nólion, with the right amount of instability to exert Noldor's soft power over its neighbors and create the Alfliche Northern Alliance in 1337 composed of Prussalin, Almien, Foen, and Drenhenlia. They would be joined by the Triple Alliance of Tavos, Norquendi, and Woden the following year before marching on the rest of continental Eldamar, unifying the region by 1350. Under the Treaty of Armenelos (1351), the Amsalli Republic was peacefully integrated into the alliance. In the same treaty, the Alfliche Confederation was declared, nominally unifying the Confederation under his rule.

The Alfliche Confederation enjoyed six years of relative peace before falling back into regional conflicts. During one of these conflicts in May of 1358, a spell was accidentally released by an ancient wizard which blanketed the greater part of the Eldamar in a magical mist that concealed it from the outside world while trapping the inhabitants within. The Mist of Raahbstoan as it was known, was prophesied to last exactly 850 years. For these 850 years, there was little development within the confederation and it was plagued with ethnic and political violence. Through political maneuvering and military force, Emperor Ara-Galad Nólion maintained his rule over the land. Though he was considered a cruel ruler, he did implement several reforms to prevent the Confederation from falling apart entirely. Still, tensions between the different groups, especially between the Laiquendi and Varaquendi threatened to boil over and quite often did.

Ara-Galad Nólion would succumb to Celebrimbor's Curse on 18 June 1645, passing his reign onto his great-grandson, Tirchanar Elrondrion who took up the ruling name Ara-Tir Elrondion when he was crowned Emperor of the Noldor. Ara-Tir was an ambitious elf, however, and sought to consolidate his power over the whole of Eldamar. He began his reign with a thirty-year tour of the kingdoms and republics within the Confederation, making powerful connections with the many rulers and people of the land. With this support, he returned to Armenelos and formed the Eldamar Congress which presided over a new Eldaliaxan. Invoking the memory of Second Empire of Eldamar, he would pine for the Eldamar Congress to grant him the title Emperor of Elves to which the congress quickly obliged.

As Emperor of Elves, but still ruling over a disunited confederation of states, Ara-Tir would implement a number of societal and governmental reforms in the coming centuries, beginning with the Education Edict of 1678 followed by the Language Edict of 1679. These practical, if not expensive, edicts would form the base of a growing sense of nationalism among the different races of elves. Although there were instances of rebellion and dissatisfaction over the five centuries of Ara-Tir's ongoing rule, slow and methodical developments in elven society and culture allowed Ara-Tir to carefully craft his vision of the elven state.

When the Mist of Raahbstoan prophetically dissipated in 2208, Eldamar found itself in a very different world in which many nations had advanced to an alarming degree. Realizing how far behind the Alfliche Confederation was compared to the rest of the world, Emperor Ara-Tir seemingly abandoned his previous methodical approach to development and opted for an approach of rapid industrialization and modernization. In the six years since the Clearing, the Alfliche Confederation has industrialized at a rapid pace, alarming many within government. While many have embraced the rapid change, others have rejected it, once again dividing the nation on these matters. As Eldamar continues to grow, different forces are brewing that threaten to destroy the unified elven nation from within.

Geography

Demographic

According to a 2230 census, the population of Eldamar was 250.58 million. This population has been growing consistently at 1.4% per year. An estimated 29% of the population is still considered adolescent, 58% of the population is labeled as mature/adult, and 13% of the population is considered elderly. Eldamari is moderately urbanized, with 47% of the population living in cities. Eastern Eldamar is by far the most populated region of Eldamar, with 68% of the population living east of Lake Mithrim, the westernmost lake of the Ermatos Great Lakes.

Largest populated areas in Eldamar

Rank	Name	Province	Pop.	Rank	Name	Province	Pop.
1	Ealotesto	Ealotesto Municipal Zone	7.482 million	11	Edhellond	Edhellond Special Economic Zone	1.190 million
2	Armenelos	Armenelos Capital Municipal Zone	5.971 million	12	Cillium	Cillium Municipal Zone	1.003 million
3	Tirion	Tirion Municipal Zone	3.158 million	13	Verte-Goln	Corbières Autonomous Region	985,400
4	Eglarest	Eglarest Special Economic Zone	2.792 million	14	Kortirion	Nimduin	950,700
5	Caras Galadhon	Caras Galadhon Municipal Zone	2.322 million	15	Brithombar	Mithrim Autonomous Region	913,900
6	Avallonè	Avallonè Municipal Zone	2.170 million	16	Ticinum	Ticinum Special Economic Zone	861,200
7	Alqualondë	Alqualondë Municipal Zone	2.055 million	17	Forlond	Forlond Municipal Zone	860,000
8	Vinyamar	Vinyamar Municipal Zone	1.994 million	18	Biesenhöring	Setzelleben Autonomous Region	851,600
9	Noreia	Lórien	1.756 million	19	Lórinand	Amonserin	813,000
10	Faesulae	Cormallen	1.303 million	20	Champicourt	Corbières Autonomous Region	776,900

Race and Ethnicity

The sentient population of the Alfliche Confederation is composed entirely of elves, a humanoid species distinguished primarily by their pointed ears. The species of elf found within the Silver Confederation can be separated into four distinct races: high elves, dark elves, wood elves, and short elves. They make up 0.2, 12.1, 16.6, and 71 percent of the population respectively. Each race can be distinguished by different physical attributes and consists of numerous ethnicities within each racial group.

High Elves, or Yáredhel in Sindarin, are a gifted but dwindling race of elves who live disparately throughout Eldamar. They are considered the eldest race in the elven hierarchy, but this status has not prevented their population from falling to a mere 1.19 million in modern times. High elven longevity, combined with a low sex drive and culture of purity has drastically affected birth rates within high elven communities with no more than a few thousand births every year. Quickly becoming a rarity in society, high elves have begun to seclude themselves in their own cloistered enclaves and kingdoms.

Still, that is not to undermine their incredible mastery over whatever craft they pursue. Those who have pursued magic possess incredible knowledge and power in the arcane arts while artists who have dedicated their lives to their craft have commissioned pieces of historical renown. With multiple thousands of years to perfect their craft, high elves continue to leave their mark on elven society, even as their numbers dwindle. Without a doubt, the most renowned high elf is the Emperor himself, His Majesty Uilosiron Esselda. Other famous figures include the general, Maethadis the Unyielding; the artist and philosopher, Orthordirion the Enlightened; and the great mage Nînion the Sage.

The Dark Elves, or Moredhel, are crafty and innovative elves that live in the northern coastal regions and islands. Placed in the second-ranking position on the elven hierarchy, the dark elf population is a growing 72.2 million. They are portrayed as excellent sailors and cunning merchants by larger elven society thanks to their numerous trade ports which dot the entirety of the coast. With a heavy emphasis on individuality and cunning, those who are unused to dark elven culture may view dark elves as cutthroat. Dark elves possess a degree of magical aptitude surpassed only by the high elves. That being said, few pursue a life of magic within dark elven society, with most preferring to use their arcane arts in practical day-to-day activities.

Forming the bulk of the Confederation's mariner, merchant, and artisan class, the dark elves have been able to accrue a disproportionate amount of wealth and have created some of the first financial institutions within the nation. Dark elves are long-lived, living to about three hundred years of age. One of these individuals, the trade tycoon Lithon, is considered the richest elf in the nation and is renowned for his treatises on trade and wealth.

Clockwise from top left:
A young high elf sorceress, portrait of a dark elf trade tycoon, a
short elf warrior-priest, a wood elf druid casting flame magic

Wood Elves, or Hróvedhel, are a fierce and proud race of elves that inhabit Taur-i-Melegyrn, a large rainforest located to the north and east. Ranking third in the elven hierarchy, wood elves number some 99 million and can be found in most regions of Eldamar, acting as laborers, craftsmen, and soldiers. Limited in their ability to use magic, wood elves make up for their lack of ability in the arcane with their incredible physical strength. This physical prowess has resulted in a large number of wood elves being conscripted into the armies of the Confederation. Their skill with the bow and blade is comparable to that of master high elf martialists, resulting in wood elven special contingents in the military that act as vanguards for most armies.

Peeling back their martial and physical prowess, the wood elves have a deep and rich culture that revolves around their forests and the spirits that live within. Those who are lucky enough to visit the hidden cities of the wood elves bear witness to a strange yet beautiful synergism of nature and elves where towering trees act as family homes to hundreds of kin and food is grown readily from the fauna. The most well-known wood elf remains the monk-warrior Galulain Feywinde, an individual known for his combat prowess and living to 500 years of age, far beyond the expected one-hundred-and-fifty of most wood elves.

Short Elves, or Peredhel, are the youngest and shortest-lived elven race within the Alfliche Confederation. Hardy and ambitious, the short elves fall to the lowest rung of the elven racial hierarchy. They make up the vast majority of the elven population with 423.4 million short elves living across every habitable area within the Confederation. Compared to the other races of elves, short elves are by far the shortest-lived with a life expectancy of under eighty years and are similarly height-challenged. Still, has not stopped the short elven population from performing incredible feats in their short lifespans, using collaboration and ingenuity to create great institutions and build engineering marvels.

Despite this tenacity, their population has often been exploited by the elder races of elves who use short elves as cheap and disposable labor. Lacking any significant arcane ability due to a restriction on magical knowledge for the entire race, the short elves have had to rely on their robust bodies and minds to accomplish their goals. The most famous, or infamous, short elf is the scholar and revolutionary Revion Paulus Geschke, the inventor of the common tongue "Alfsprachlich" which is spoken by nearly all short elves and has quickly become the most widely spoken language within the Confederation.

Language

Sindarin is the official language of the Alfliche Confederation. Despite this fact, it is only spoken or understood by 15.7% of the population. The most widely spoken language within the Confederation is actually Alfsprachlich which is spoken by nearly 87% of the population. Other languages within the Confederation include Eldarin, also known as Quenya, which is an ancient elven language used only in magic and traditional processions; and Formenin, or northern elvish, spoken by dark elves and northern wood elves as a native tongue. Within these language families, there also exist numerous variations in dialect. For example, a western speaker of Alfsprachlich would hardly be able to understand his southern counterpart due to regional dialects. Several attempts have been made by scholars and merchants to normalize the spoken language, including the reintroduction of Eldarin, creating a special trade language known as Mahtin, and introducing a normalized form of spoken Alfsprachlich known as Gemeinsprache, or common tongue. These efforts have been largely unsuccessful due to variations in public education and poor infrastructural support, however. At least 12% of the population speaks two or more languages, indicating the level of diversity in language.

Written language is the one unifying factor within the Alfliche Confederation. Thanks to a robust education system established by Emperor Golwenor Barhadornos, most elves are taught the basic written form of Quenya, which is used in both Sindarin and Eldarin. Additionally, many local education systems provide the means to teach either Formentek and Alfenschrift, the written forms of Formenin and Alfsprachlich which as largely similar. These written systems have formed the basis of some form of national identity within the Confederation. At least 85% of elves are literate in Quenya with another 65% of the population literate in two or more languages. This has enabled a form of rudimentary communication system to develop, easing trade and travel.

Religion

There is no official state religion within the Silver Confederation, although the pantheon of the Neuenism sect has historically been favored by imperial officials. No religion holds a vast majority over the elven population, although Altenism is professed by an estimated 37.5% of the population. This is followed by Neuenism at 34.7% of the population. Neuenism and Altenism follow the same pantheon but differ in terms of doctrine and beliefs surrounding said pantheon. The schism which bore these two sects, known as the Falqua, still has long-lasting effects on elven culture and society despite its occurrence some 1,700 years ago.

Other faiths which are professed within the Confederation include Druidism or Feyism which is followed by 14.5% of the population, mostly wood elves; folk religion which makes up 3.2%; and other religions and irreligiousness which consists of the remaining 10.1% of elves.

Magic and Arcane

Politics

Government

Military

Economy

Culture

Societal Development

Figures represent general estimations on 1 January 2240.

Template by Soleanna, template here // Inspiration from Kemonomica // Thank you for the wiki inspiration habibi