Eris

Ruled by: Archmage Valerian Falaron III

Flag: Blue with a white cross in the center of the circle. In the center is a beaked dragon with a pair of antlers.


GEOGRAPHY/CLIMATE

Eris is a harsh and wintry place. Most of the south is made up of pine forests and flat plains, which eventually leads off into a tundra. Farther north is always layered by several sheets of snow, whether it be permanently caked into the ground, or softly fluttering in from the skies, before breaking off into massive chunks of ice found in the farthest reaches.


GOVERNMENT


Erish politics always favors those with magical talent, and is very easily manipulated through either the use of, or by people who are capable of controlling the arcane arts. The Erish state is ruled by a governing body called the Council of Elders; a group of 10 magi that handle laws and legislature of the country. One of these Magi, the Archmage, is elected as the leader of the council, and thus the King or 'Archmage' of the country. The nine Magi keep him in check, and personally handpick potential council members as their apprentice.

Should the Archmagus die, the council will automatically elect a new Archmage through a voting process, followed by selecting from one of their apprentices to replace the loss. Mages within the council are generally sworn in and replaced by members of that magi's family, however, it is entirely possible for someone to join the Council by possessing incredible magical knowledge rather than nobility -- a case that has happened countless times in the past. Members of the council can actually be challenged through magical duel, so long as the council okays the challenge.



INHABITANTS


Erish(Snow Elves): The Erish are the natural inhabitants of Eris, and have developed an almost entirely magical resistance that allows them to withstand cold and cruel conditions. They're a relaxed bunch, with very patient and detached minds granted to them by their incredibly long lifespans. As a result, they're seldom excited and unconcerned with events affecting only long-term things, and are likewise slow to make friends or enemies due to the fact that their time is measured in centuries, not decades. What the Erish value the most are things that can last forever; martial skill, knowledge, and in many cases, artifacts.

The Erish are known to be tradesmen, and will often go about selling their artifacts and trinkets that they managed to get their hands on.

Undead: Self-explanatory. Far north of Eris, nothing is able to truly die. Though no one has found out the cause of this anomaly, many have dismissed the idea of necromancy being at work here, as it's been the case for several hundred years. When something dies in the far north, they rise later as a vengeful undead, and will keep rising until their bodies are destroyed by magic. Unfortunately, this makes the Northern reaches of the country entirely uninhabitable, save for the reclusive tribes of the Khasta.

Khasta: In addition to the undead, there lies a race of humanoids known as the Khasta. Many scholars have attempted to find more about their kind, but have failed to ever really get back alive to tell the tale. The few that survive Khasta attacks typically state that they're more than just the savages that many claim them to be. Their shaman are known to use powerful magic that hides away their fighters, so that they may quickly sweep in to overwhelm their enemies.




NOTABLE PEOPLE


Valerian Falaron

Alina Rosingale

Errin Perrault

Draelon Talain

RELIGION


Zen'Ari: Zen'Ari is a very common god in Eris; and is widely regarded as the patron god of the nation. Most Zenarin worshipers serve him as grave keepers or priests for exorcising the dead.


Helvian: As the god of magic, it makes perfect sense that Helvian would be one of the most venerated deities in all of Eris. However, his chaotic nature does chase away a few would-be followers. Still, Helvian remains as the second most popular deity in all of Eris, just behind Zen'Ari.




RITUALS/CELEBRATIONS


Frost Fest: Celebrating the marriage between Zen'Ari and his beloved, The Frost Fest is celebrated every 21st of Ariseth, and is known for being relatively flashy in comparison to the dark and foreboding nature normally associated with Zen'Ari. It's celebrated with several ice sculptures, public wedding ceremonies, and more importantly, a traditional feast shared among families.

Kali'Lara: A showdown between two mages. A Kali'Lara is fully based around using magic, and is usually done to bring or restore great honor to the winner. Kali'Laras are also sometimes used in challenges between the Archmagi those that wish to take their place.