Ilarin 

The People

Historically, Ilarin was considered to be an almost entirely elven nation, deeming outsiders to be unworthy and refusing to allow them access. However, the rules have relaxed significantly and there has been an increase in other races living in the nation. 

The ruling class is still predominantly Cloud Elf, with the King of Ilarin being a Cloud Elf himself. This creates a feeling of superiority over the other races as the Cloud elves view themselves as closest to the original High Elves. 

The upper classes of Ilarin rule from a glittering citadel, living in splendor in buildings like glass that allow them to see the wondrous nature outside their spires. The closer to the center of the citade they livel, supposedly the closer they are to the ear of the King, but no-one has been able to verify that. 

There is a huge disparity between the social classes, with the working class proletariat doing all the work so that the upper classes don’t have to. They work on farms, in lumber yards or dockyards. The people here work as a finely tuned machine, keeping the place running and keeping the money flowing. They are watched over by a sharp military presence, who form a sort of middle-class, though they still live with the working class and watch over them. 

The people are efficient, regardless of social class they adhere to a level of timeliness rarely mastered elsewhere and have a mass-transport system to put any other in the world to shame. With little else to offer, they put pride into their work. 

Popular Clothing 

Nobles often wear light, flowy fabrics in draped styles and pale colours. Gauzy and floaty, giving the impression of the High Elves of the past, regardless of actual race. They try to avoid clingy designs and want their clothing to show off how little they have to work. They love jewellery, especially around the neck and on the hands. Fabrics are usually expensive silks, and/or with a delicate/expensive trim. 

The military and working classes wear more muted or neutral colours, and though they also wear flowy outfits, with baggy trousers and sleeves they will use wraps at the wrists and ankles to keep it neat. Fabrics are more basic. Military will wear armour when at work, usually plate or chainmail but often leather if they can’t get that. 

Culture and Customs 

As the self proclaimed Elven homeland, the culture of Ilarin is said to mimic the culture of the old High Elves, this means that life for the nobles can be quite slow with shorter-lived races often finding that the level of bureaucracy and time required to get anything done is far longer than they would like. The majority of nobles are planning for decades of work to go into any project, any improvement. 

There is huge value placed on the arts, with nobles visiting grand galleries, opera houses and theatres and the lower classes putting on small scale plays and shows via mummers and performing troupes. Though the lower classes are expected to pursue their arts outside of regular work. Getting noticed as a theatrical talent is one of the fastest ways to be catapulted from the working class to something more resembling middle class. Getting a rich patron can be a life changer. 

Everything in Ilarin is crafted with design and functionality in mind, they care greatly about the perception and aesthetic of anything they use in day-to-day life. Buildings are grand architectural masterpieces, clothes are crafted with tiny details that would go unnoticed by most. Anything that has a use must also be beautiful. 

The nation is considered one of the most magically dependent nations, with a culture of embracing magic and magical items and using everything available to you. There are many ambient magical items in and around Ilarin. 

From the outside, Ilarin seems very self-absorbed and grandiose, always treating themselves as better than other nations despite the massive wealth disparity and overall treatment of their lower classes. It is said that being a member of Ilarin’s higher classes is like nothing else in the world, but being part of their lower classes is terrible. 

History

Ilarin refers to itself as the spiritual homeland of the Elves, once occupied by the High Elves it is said that it is authority on both Elven and Magical practices. The country itself does bear the hallmarks of being ancient, with many of the buildings having been built centuries ago. It is said the current cities are built on pre-cataclysmic elven cities and that Ilarin has the largest wealth of pre-cataclysmic knowledge and artifacts on Urdd. 

Ilarin is theorised to have become an Island during the cataclysm and may previously have been connected to the main continent of Urdd, but was separated by the shifting sea levels. 

They have been a reclusive nation, refusing to allow outsiders in to taint their way of life. But also a warfaring one. Specifically, they have been warring with Liberata for many years, protesting the way elven kind was treated by them. 

In 1111AC they stage a plot to wipe out the mages guild of Aberddu and take the city. They succeed at the latter, but are kicked out less than a year later by the forces of the AAG, who prompty kill the King of Ilarin, only to have him be replaced by his old advisor.  

Shortly thereafter in 1113AC they agree to become part of the Treaty Alliance and sign onto a treaty of lasting peace with Aberddu, Noria, Liberata and Paravel despite attempts to prevent the treaty from being signed. 

At the conclusion of the Demon War of 1117AC the world shifted and Ilarin found itself split into two Islands, a larger northern Island and a small southern one. They quickly adjusted their way of life, potentially using magic to shift cities around. Placing all the workers on one Island and the nobles on the other. 

In 1125AC they were attacked during the war with Noria, with Noria’s navy attempting to seize the means of production and blockade supplies from the nobles in order to get them to surrender. This started a large, magical naval battle with casualties on both sides. With help from ships from The Snarling Isle, Ilarin chased away the invaders. Life has returned to normal. 

Leadership

Ilarin is ruled by a cloud elf King, who holds court with other aristocats to decide the direction of the country. He is lauded as being elegant, imperious, wise and graceful, the model of a cloud elf monarch. However there are whispers of his power as a coercer and bard, and how he may use such powers for darker purposes.

The rule of the nobles is enforced mercilessly by the Aragonese military, and the king’s court shows especially little mercy to the lower classes, crushing many a rebellion with an iron fist.

Religious Beliefs 

The people of Ilarin are as pious as they feel they need to be. With no particular affinity for or against religion, it exists as a part of their lives but not a ruling factor. 

No Gods are outlawed in Ilarin, though people are discouraged from worshipping Death and The Sea God, due to the potential for famine, floods, droughts or disease to spread easily through the populace. 

Many of the nobles and the mages follow Arioch, and some of the oldest elves pass on the word of worshipping Krynok, as father of the fey from whom the High Elves were descended. Worship of Krynok tends to come down on the side of the Way of the Heart rather than the Hunt.