Wadelfa

Prior to the country's unification in the Spirit War, the territory that makes up modern day Wadelfa was split between dozens of independent nations, tribes, and city states. Archeologists theorize that the first Elves may have arrived in the Chakatun Rainforest

as far back as the year 1100 of the First Age. Due to the thick and unexplored jungle hampering travel and communication, a unified civilization was slow to develop. 

Largely isolated from the outside world, it was not uncommon to see one Elf tribe develop their own customs, clothing, and language totally distinct from other Elf tribes living just a few miles away. These rainforest elves were slow to adopt new innovations, with many lesserkin nations developing iron weapons before them. They survived by hunting and practicing early agricultural techniques. 

Various legends exist around the first encounters with the spirits of nature. As the elves ventured deeper into the rainforest, their presence began to awaken many of these primordial spirits. At first most appeared to be benign and non-sentient, little more than playful aberrations or flickers of light. In areas where the Fieldic energy was concentrated the highest however the elves began to encounter increasingly powerful entities.

The greatest of these became known as the Grand Spirits, supernatural beings who were seemingly fully sentient. Capable of speech, physical interaction, and extremely potent magic, the elves began to worship them as gods. The tribes who defied the warnings of these spirits often disappeared under supernatural circumstances. The locations of the Grand Spirits were turned into holy sites off limits to commoners to prevent their disturbance. 

As news of these miraculous spirits spread across the continent, it eventually caught the attention of the dwarves in West Parthus. Noting the similarities between the rainforest elves' worship of the nature spirits and their own worship of the Aurafae, dwarven missionaries of the Catenic Pantheon were sent to investigate. By adding the Grand Spirits to their own pantheon, they were largely successful in converting the rainforest elves to their religion.

Meanwhile to the south of the Chakatun Rainforest in the deserts of West Parthus arose the Saressen Empire. Growing rapidly throughout the First Age, Saressen had come to eclipse any of the surrounding civilizations in the region. Seeking new resources and new land to satisfy their ever growing population, the empire began to expand north into the rainforest. 

Lacking Saressen’s steel weapons or organizational abilities, the rainforest elves were entirely unable to resist their encroachment. Over the following centuries the disorganized tribes and city states of the region were one by one annexed into the Saressen Empire. Their expansion continued until the empire stretched all the way north to the Ruby Sea. Despite occasional conflict the Saressen’s also brought economic and social development to the region. 

In particular the rivers became vital trade waterways connecting the remote interior of the continent to the oceans and the outside world. Further exploration of the rainforest interior led to the discovery of many precious gemstones such as diamonds, sapphire, and rubies.

While the Saressen’s military and economic control of the region was never never in doubt, assimilating the rainforest elves into the broader Saressen culture was always a challenge for the empire. In particular the issue of religion was always a sore point. While most rainforest elves worshiped their nature spirits as part of the Catenic Pantheon, the Saressen’s were part of the Verdant Creed. 

The Saressen’s considered the spirits of nature to be non-sentient magical illusions generated by strong fluctuations in the leylines. Whenever the issue of obeying warnings from the spirits of nature came up, the Saressen’s would inevitably ignore them. As the Saressen Empire began increasingly deforesting the region in search of new resources to mine, riots began to break out amongst the rainforest elves. 

The issue would come to a head when a vast deposit of gold was discovered directly beneath a holy shrine that housed the Great Spirit of Ezloc. The local Aroanoke tribe who worshiped this spirit were violently opposed to any mining efforts and several Saressen miners were killed in violent confrontations. Seeking to bring an end to their defiance the Saressen Emperor plotted to rid the rainforest elves of their pesky beliefs. 

In the year 3000 FA the Saressen  Emperor gathered an army of his most skilled mages. He ordered them to march on the holy shrine and destroy the Great Spirit of Ezloc. By killing the Great Spirit they believed it would demonstrate that the Catenic Pantheon was a false religion and that that the Saressen Emperor was greater than any god. 

Quickly brushing aside anyone in the Aroanoke tribe who tried to interfere, thousands of mages confronted the Great Spirit of Ezloc. Despite a great struggle in the end the Great Spirit was overwhelmed and forevermore banished from the face of the world due to the mages use of anti magic and the destruction of the surrounding environment their magic caused. 

Immediately after the destruction of the shrine was completed the captain of the mages announced to the Aroanoke tribe that they had killed the Great Spirit of Ezloc under the direct orders of the Saressen Emperor. He stated that their religion was proven to be a lie and that the only being worthy of worship was the Saressen Emperor himself.

Regardless of whatever outcome they intended for, the Saressen’s actions had dire and history altering consequences. To the people of the Aroanoke tribe they had just committed the most sacrilegious and profane sin imaginable. Immediately the entire tribe erupted into murderous violence as they attempted to avenge their fallen god. 

The bloodshed would continue all night with lightly armed tribesmen throwing themselves at highly skilled mages. By the time the carnage was over nearly the entire Aroanoke lay dead. As word of what had transpired leaked out nearly the entire Chakatun rainforest broke out into open rebellion against Saressen rule. 

The Saressen Empire attempted to crush the rebellion in its infancy, publicly executing tribal elders who resisted their rule, burning down villages suspected of hiding resistance fighters, and instilling fear in the local population. Despite their best efforts the resistance was continuously beaten back by superior Saressen forces. For the first two years of the conflict it seemed as though the Saressen Empire was poised for victory.

In 3003 FA the small isolated village of Tennar was attacked and burned to the ground by Saressen dragon riders. During the raid a young blind woman by the name of Orlen Wadelfa fled into the forest to escape the flames. Separated from her family she became desperately lost with little hope for survival. Believing it was too late to save her life she prayed to the spirits of nature to save her people. 

To her surprise she received a verbal answer. The Great Spirit of Cheria was awoken by her presence and explained to Orlen that she had seen the loyalty and sacrifices her people had made to protect the rainforest. The Great Spirit then offered to grant her the power to form a great kingdom if she would drive the Saressen’s out. 

Accepting the offer Orlen Wadelfa was granted the magical ability to tame and command the dangerous fieldic beasts of the rainforest. Over the course of the war she would become a great hero and help unify the fractured rainforest elves under her leadership. Teaching others the same magical technique, soon entire armies of rainforest elves were utilizing fieldic creatures in battle. 

Slowly the Saressen armies started to whittle away as the forest itself began to consume them. Oren Wadelfa also became an expert at using guerrilla tactics, setting traps and ambushes while avoiding major confrontations by staying hidden deep in the forest. When disease began spreading through the ranks of the Saressen army, their days in the Chakatun rainforest became numbered. 

Eventually the Saressen’s were forced to abandon the region and return back to their homeland. Although the forces of Wadelfa would give chase, an invasion of the Saressen homeland proved unfeasible as the fieldic beasts and hit and run tactics they were utilizing were poorly adapted for use in the desert.

Despite the conclusion of the Spirit War in the year 3009 FA, most of the region was left devastated. In particular the Saressen Empire had done an excellent job of killing off the preexisting tribal and city state leaders. Despite this Oren Wadelfa had proven that she carried the favor of the Grand Spirits. 

Fearful that the Saressen Empire would one day return, it was decided that the region would unify into a single kingdom. Potential leaders would be chosen by democratic vote while Oren Wadelfa and her descendants would serve as the ceremonial monarch. Now coronated as Queen Wadelfa I she would oversee the reconstruction of a new unified country and set about nation building.

As the opening of the First Gate marked the beginning of the Second Age, Wadelfa was in a fortunate position. The country was located far away enough from the gates that Wadelfa was left untouched by the destruction. While Wadelfa did send troops to fight in the Second Gate War, and their navy saw some action during the Fourth Gate War, their role in both conflicts was minimal. 

In 974 SA the Saressen Empire had come into conflict with the various Centaur tribes living in northwestern West Parthus. These tribes had banned together for mutual protection and were fighting to stay independent. Despite expectations for a quick Saressen victory the Centaurs proved remarkably resilient for a lesserkin people. 

While uninvolved at first, Wadelfa was fearful a Saressen victory would put the empire on their western doorstep and in control of the Centaurs vast resources. Thus Wadelfa made a secret pact to enter the war on the side of the Centaurs. With the majority of the Saressen army fighting in the west, the Wadelfan army launched a surprise invasion across Saressen’s poorly defended border. 

While moderate gains were made for the first month the invasion eventually floundered due to stiffer than anticipated resistance. A stalemate would continue for months with very little movement on the front lines. In a repeat of history Wadelfa proved inept at fighting desert warfare while the Saressen Empire proved unable to maintain a foothold in the rainforest. 

In the end the war between the two Elderkin powers devolved into a frozen conflict that would eventually end with a ceasefire agreement. Wadelfa lost more territory than it gained, yet was successful in helping to secure the independence of Greater Centauria.

When the Ninth Gate War first began, Wadelfa was far removed enough from the gate to avoid initial fighting. However as the Forgotten rampaged their way deeper into both Parthus and Ciradon, the Wadelfan’s knew nowhere in Tyrrell would be safe if they weren’t stopped in time. Wadelfa, Saressen, and the other nations of West Parthus agreed to temporarily put aside their politics and fight together as a united front. 

While no major fighting took place on Wadelfan soil, the Wadelfan army would still be deployed east to the major battlefronts of West Parthus. They were typically used to shore up areas of the front that had witnessed heavy attritional fighting. Wadelfa would also play a role as a major supplier of warships, putting its shipbuilding industry into overdrive. 

The Wadelfan navy saw major action as they helped to keep the Forgotten contained within the Ruby Sea. Perhaps Wadelfa’s greatest contribution to the war was during the global counter attacks that occurred after the gate was sealed. In particular they proved invaluable in clearing out monsters hiding out in the heavily forested areas of northern Parthus and the Great Chain Archipelago. 

While their army had taken heavy casualties, Wadelfa was left in far better shape than most other countries involved with the Ninth Gate War.

By the end of the Second Age’s 1400’s Wadelfa’s ally, Great Centauria, was in turmoil. A civil war had broken out between the traditionalist and modernist factions of the nation. The current king of Wadelfa had been personal friends with the supreme leader of the ruling modernist faction. For both personal and geopolitical purposes, Wadelfa would support the modernist faction in the Centauri Civil War. 

The Saressen Empire meanwhile would cynically support the traditionalist faction despite having little in common ideologically. After years of fighting that tore apart Great Centauria the traditionalist faction would eventually emerge victorious. The supreme leader of the modernist movement would be executed, permanently damaging relations with the new regime. 

For their part the traditionalist faction, now in full control of Great Centauria, believed the Saressen Empire would support them as a useful proxy to isolate Wadelfa. However Saressen had no intention of honoring this new alliance. Saressen’s support for them during the Centauri Civil War was only intended to weaken the country, break its alliance with Wadelfa, and leave Great Centauria ripe for conquest. 

Teaming up with the Three Dynasties of Hvel’Luthnor the Saressen Empire would launch an all out invasion under the pretext that Great Centauria was abusing its human minorities. Wadelfa watched in horror as Saressen’s armies crept further north towards its own border. However, fearful that they could not withstand a two front war against both Saressen and the Three Dynasties, Wadelfa was reluctant to intervene. 

Choosing instead to limit the extent of their involvement, Wadelfa offered a proposition to the small Centauri state of Menix along its southeastern border. If they would unconditionally surrender to the Wadelfan army they would protect them from the advancing Saressen’s. With the rest of Great Centauria on the verge of defeat they reluctantly accepted the offer. 

Wadelfan “peacekeepers” entered into Manix before the Saressen’s managed to besiege the territory. Although there would be a tense stand-off with Saressen when their troops arrived on the border, neither side was actually willing to start another war at the time. In the end while Great Centauria was destroyed, it proved mutually beneficial for both Saressen and Wadelfa to keep Menix around as a neutral buffer state in between the two hostile Elderkin powers.

In the year 2841 SA a disease known colloquially as the “Darkwood Plague” broke out in the Jarldoms of Karelen. Soon the plague spread throughout Parthus and eventually became a global pandemic. Millions of humans worldwide would die from the Darkwood Plague and many feared that the pandemic had only just begun. It was at this time that a Wadelfan doctor named Camus Bydron was visiting East Parthus. 

As non-humans could not contract the disease he was able to study the Darkwood Plague up close. With the help of human researchers Dr Bydron was able to isolate the cause of the pandemic and noted similarities to previous diseases seen back in Wadelfa. Believing he and his team of healers and scientists could come up with a cure they raced back to Wadelfa. 

After a year of painstaking work and many failed trials, medicine was finally invented that could stop the Darkwood Plague. Wadelfa immediately began producing this medicine in mass and selling it to human nations in need. The success of this medicine would help catapult Wadelfa’s reputation as a global leader in health, healing, and medicine. However this global distribution program remains to this day a subject of controversy. 

On one hand the work of Dr Bydron and his team doubtlessly saved millions of lives. Their work is often held up as a prime example of what the Elderkin and Lesserkin can accomplish when they put aside their differences and work together. On the other hand Wadelfa was accused of profiting off of human suffering. The distribution of medicine was often prioritized for the richer nations of Ciradon over the poorer, but worse affected nations in East Parthus. 

Throughout the War of the Dawn, Wadelfa remained neutral. In the realm of public opinion most Wadelfans were saddened to hear news of the conflict, but considered it to be a Ciradon territorial dispute that didn’t concern them. Many at first even sympathized with the Voskgardians and considered Tassendrel to be the war’s primary instigator. 

Although Wadelfa would never participate in the fighting they would attempt to help alleviate the conflict by providing humanitarian aid. They also began taking in thousands of displaced refugees both Elderkin and Lesserkin alike. As the war progressed public opinion would sour on Voskgardia as the extent of their environmental destruction and the cause of the Elruth famine came to light. 

Wadelfa would also cut off all relations with the House of Zuriss as they considered their use of soul-fusing to be an abominable crime against life itself. To this day Wadelfa keeps economic scansions on Zuriss and refuses to let anyone associated with them enter their kingdom.  

When steamships containing thousands of Voskgardian refugees were spotted passing through Wadelfa’s territorial waters, the kingdom paid them little attention. They were reported to be heading for the territory directly across from Wadelfa’s easternmost border. This region, one of the few in West Parthus with a human majority, was long considered to be a tribal backwater which posed no threat to Wadelfa.

As the area reorganized into the Federal Republic of Eisenheim, Wadelfa attempted to establish good relations with the young country, if for no other reason than to prevent them from becoming Saressen vassals. It was hoped that the kingdom’s moderate policies towards the Lesserkin could help promote cross border trade between the two nations. 

Initially relations remained cordial with many even believing Eisenheim’s rapid development would bring economic growth to the region. However as Eisenheim began to industrialize the situation took a turn for the worse. Along the long and winding river border between the two countries, pollution began to spread among the fragile environment. 

In Wadelfan cities and villages bordering Eisenheim people began to become sick from drinking contaminated water and breathing in smog that blew across the border. To feed its ever growing industrial needs deforestation of the Chakatun Rainforest within Eisenheim began in earnest. Quickly the level of environmental destruction became far worse than even that of ancient Saressen at their peak. 

The environmental impacts began to weaken the leylines in eastern Wadelfa. In the east the magic the Wadelfan’s were dependent upon for their livelihood began to fail. Crops grown with magic began to die, fieldic beasts grew sick and violent, and the healing magic used to ward off tropical diseases stopped working. In a vicious cycle the degradation of the leylines led to a worsening of conditions for fieldic creatures, which resulted in further leyline degradation.

The government of Wadelfa’s complaints to Eisenheim that they were weakening the leylines and upsetting the spirits of nature fell on deaf ears. Little corrective action was taken by Eisenheim as its industrialization continued unabated. Worse still for the Wadelfans Eisenheim began rapidly militarizing with modern weaponry. 

Although Eisenheim claimed it was for self defense, many in Wadelfa worried their true intention was to serve as a springboard for a future invasion of West Parthus by the Fifth Column. As relations between the countries continue to deteriorate this paranoia has only increased. Even the most staunchly isolationist Wadelfan has begun to realize that the turmoil experienced in West Ciradon will no longer be confined overseas. 

Highly dependent upon the leylines, Wadelfa fears a coming world order where both their magic and the spirits of nature can no longer exist. Knowing this would bring about the end of their current society, Wadelfa has been forced into the previously unthinkable. As open war becomes increasingly likely, Wadelfa now seeks an alliance with the Saressen Empire in order to protect West Parthus from further industrialization. 

Located along Tyrrell's equator, most of Wadelfa is a tropical rainforest with year round hot and humid conditions. The country is crossed by several major river systems. 

The Kingdom of Wadelfa is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with a chancellor as the head of government and the king or queen as the ceremonial head of state. The Wadelfan royal family has a long and storied history dating back to the formation of the country and is a highly respected institution to this day. In modern times the monarchy serves a largely ceremonial function without executive authority. 

The chancellor is the official head of government whose position is equivalent to that of a prime minister. The chancellor is elected by parliament to 12 year terms with a maximum term limit of 36 years. Members of parliament are also elected and have the same term limits.

Wadelfa has a very strict environmental policy in place to protect the country's fragile ecosystem. The cultural traditions behind this policy go back thousands of years before it was signed into law. Wadelfan’s hold that the rainforest is alive and that their magic is dependent upon its well-being. Large scale deforestation has long been considered a crime, with water and air pollution being added to the list recently. 

Heavy industries are banned from operating within Wadelfa. The industries that do exist are required by law to adhere to strict eco friendly practices. The importation of foreign technologies is a continuing subject of controversy. Occasionally human’s visiting the country have been arrested for the illegal importation of polluting devices. 

Under the Wadelfan Charter of Dignity’s second edition, the Lesserkin races living in the country officially have equal rights to those of the Elderkin. Slavery was outlawed upon Wadelfa’s independence which also extended to the Lesserkin living in the region at the time. 

Atypical for most Elderkin countries, Lesserkin species are allowed to run for office in Wadelfa. While uncommon, multiple Lesserkin have even held the position of chancellor a few times in history. Lesserkin majority provinces in Wadelfa are offered a certain degree of autonomy, especially concerning cultural and religious traditions. However Wadelfa’s environmental policies are equally strict for all species. 

Despite these laws being highly progressive in most cases, racial discrimination still occurs unofficially. Some Elves continue to look upon the Lesserkin with suspicion. In recent years this fear has only accelerated with humanphobia becoming more mainstream following the War of the Dawn. This hatred combined with a lack of education and employment opportunities continues to hold many minorities back.

Due to the difficult navigate terrain and harsh climate, Wadelfa historically lagged behind other nations technologically. Often they were even at a disadvantage compared to other Elderkin states. This trend has largely continued even into the Third Age because of the kingdom's generalized mistrust of industry. 

Sometimes even when the capacity exists to adopt new technologies they are rejected out of fear of damaging the rainforest's fragile environment. Coal and petroleum powered vehicles are banned from entering Wadelfa as are products made from steel mills. As such large parts of the nation have essentially remained unchanged from the Second Age.

In many ways this has come back to haunt the country as Wadelfa becomes increasingly uncompetitive compared to foreign economies and militaries alike. While several protectionist policies and research into potent new forms of magic are underway, these have nevertheless failed to negate these larger challenges. 

It is because of this that Wadelfa has sought to increase its ties to other Elderkin states out of necessity. Despite the general lack of modern technology there do exist some areas where Wadelfa is competitive or even ahead of its rivals. 

Wadelfa is well renowned for its high quality of craftsmanship. It is often said to be comparable to that of the dwarven guildholds. In particular their carpentry and woodworking techniques are widely believed to be without rival. Many types of rare wood with highly magical properties are found only within Wadelfa. 

A very valuable source of income in recent years has been in the cultivation of rubber trees. Rubber is a major export of Wadelfa. However it has also become a source of controversy as rubber from Wadelfan sources was discovered to have been used in the production of human weapons. The Wadelfan’s have thus sought to establish a higher degree of control over its export to Lesserkin nations. 

Finally Wadelfa is home to a high concentration of highly sought after gemstone and precious minerals such as rubies and platinum. Such gems have become a staple of the upper class and have always fetched a high price on the foreign market. However much of this mineral wealth remains intentionally unexploited for fear of mining activities polluting the environment.

The nation has a surprisingly robust shipbuilding capacity. Wadelfa was an early pioneer in creating sailing ships bioengineered out of living plants. Using exoctic types of live wood in combination with powerful wind and water magic has created sailing vessels that are surprisingly fast and economical to operate. 

Capable of sailing upwind with a constant gust behind them regardless of the weather, smaller and lighter versions of these boats have even been known to outpace human steamships. Thus Wadelfa maintains a robust merchant fleet for transporting cargo and people. However these ships are fragile compared to the iron ships of humanity and lack much in the way of firepower, leading to the Wadelfan navy being at a massive disadvantage.

Thanks to the country's rich biodiversity and long history of battling disease, Wadelfa has become a world leader in the development of medicine and pharmaceutical technology. For millennia the Wadelfan’s incorporated the use of medicinal plants and magic into their healing rituals. Early research into this field eventually led to some of the first scientific studies into medicine. 

Today Wadelfa is an important source of pharmaceuticals and medical products throughout the world. This industry also became successful because Wadelfa has historically allowed Lesserkin species to participate in the medical field as equals. To this day the production of modern medicine is one of the few new technologies not only allowed but encouraged by the government.

Wadelfa is a very religious society. Around 90% of Wadelfa’s population practice a religion known as the Catenic Pantheon. Followers of the Catenic Pantheon believe that powerful Aurafae, such as the spirits of nature, are divine avatars of the gods who created the world. As such these spirits are worshiped as holy messengers whose advice should always be followed. 

The Catenic Pantheon was believed to have been brought to Wadelfa in the middle of the First Age by wandering Dwarven missionaries, though worship of the spirits of nature may have possibly predated them. While the Wadelfan sect of the Catenic Pantheon primarily focuses on worshiping the local spirits of nature, they also believe that powerful Aurafae in other parts of the world are equally holy avatars of the gods. 

Modern Wadelfan tradition and society has largely been shaped by the Catenic Pantheon. One of the greatest commands of the spirits of nature is to ensure the wellbeing of the rainforest by living in harmony with the environment. As such deliberate care for the forest (such as avoiding deforestation or over-hunting) has long been important to Wadelfa, far predating most modern environmentalist movements. 

Wadelfan’s rarely build permanent structures to worship in, preferring to practice their ceremonies outdoors. Ceremonies include reciting of holy texts, the carving of runic symbols, singing, festivals, and the blessing of individuals. All Wadelfan’s are expected to make frequent pilgrimages to holy sites deep within the forest. Often Wadelfan’s make pilgrimages to other regions of the world with strong aurafae activity.

Wadelfa’s typically seek to integrate architecture into the surrounding natural environment whenever possible. Perhaps the most famous are the large tree houses found among the more massive trees in the rainforest. While it’s a misconception to assume every Wadelfan lives in such a manner, these tree dwellings and the bridges connecting them have become indispensable for avoiding the more dangerous wildlife found prowling on the forest floor. 

Owing to the unusually large size of the Chakatun rainforest’s magic trees, these treetop villages have sometimes grown into the size of small cities. The use of runic magic has allowed these structures to support much more weight than would otherwise be possible. Settlements with tree dwellings are most frequently seen at inland locations near the heart of ancient forests. 

Along the rivers and coastlines, traditional ground based structures are much more common. Typically these are constructed of stone, brick, or wood. In areas with frequent flooding stilt homes can be found. Homes often have trellises to allow plant growth along the exterior. Ventilation is an important aspect to the local architecture as temperatures are hot and humid year round. More expensive homes often make extensive use of ice magic to remain cool. 

One of the most frequently used techniques employed by the  Wadelfans is the process of taming wild animals. As home to spectacular biodiversity Wadelfa has long sought ways to utilize these animals for its various needs. Over the millennia the elves of the Chakatun Rainforest have become world renowned experts in the art of taming and domesticating wildlife. 

Often spending decades of time to bond with these creatures the Wadelfan’s also utilize magic to tame and command these creatures. Examples of animals tamed include giant birds called rocs for transportation, various serpents for warfare, and water horses for labor. 

Wadelfan’s usually display pride and deep attachment once bonded with these creatures. While these animals can be used to serve various roles, Wadelfan society is highly opposed to their mistreatment. Various laws exist to prevent the abuse of these animals. Those found guilty of cruelty to nature are subject to harsh punishment.

Wadelfan society typically places a great emphasis on stoicism and self control. While Wadelfan’s usually believe emotions are gifts from the gods, they also believe they can be very dangerous when not tempered by logic. As such values such as politeness, temperance, obedience, and courage are held in high regard. Rowdy displays of excitement, anger, public affection, arguing, or crying in public is typically frowned upon. 

A ritual unique to Wadelfa is known as “shell holding”. Families or close friends gather in private and pass around a conch shell. Whoever is holding the shell is permitted to passionately display the emotions they don't want shown in public. Loud cheering, crying, or yelling is frequently done, as these rituals are said to help cleanse suppressed feelings. Children who display good behavior are often rewarded with more time to hold the shell.

A great deal of value is placed on maintaining one’s honor in Wadelfa. Honor is considered to be gained or lost depending on how greatly an individual serves the well being of one’s family, monarch, and nation. The greatest dishonor is said to belong to those who fail to properly serve the betterment of their group. 

Wadelfan’s are noted for their abundant use of formal titles given not just to members of the government or monarchy, but also to individuals of commoner status. Family members, respected elders, celebrities, and members of important professions are frequently given unique titles to be addressed by. It’s considered polite to use these titles whenever addressing someone new for the first time.

Given its rugged and insular environment, Wadelfa is extremely linguistically diverse. Over 300 languages are native to the country with many belonging to entirely different language families. Frequently one can leave a small town and discover an entirely different language spoken in the next village over. 

In order to facilitate easier communication, a standardized language known as Low Wadelfan has become the official language of the country. Low Wadelfan is a creole language noted for its simplistic grammar but extensive use of loan words. Low Wadelfan began as a simple trade language spoken along the Ruby Sea coast but was chosen as the country's lingua franca upon unification. 

Low Wadelfan is written with the Mortang alphabet. Mortang was first inspired by dwarven script. However the sharp angles and lines made them difficult to write on the leaves the Wadelfan’s traditionally utilized. The elves instead created their own script with highly curved and swirling characters with very few straight lines. Mortang can be utilized to embed magic into objects in a similar way to dwarven runic script. 

While most Wadelfan’s learn Low Wadelfan as a second language for work or education, it has nevertheless become a first language for millions. This has continued to grow in recent years as the national government seeks to encourage it to help unify the country. There is a fear that Low Wadelfan is slowly driving many of the lesser spoken languages into irrelevance and eventual extinction.

Wadelfa uses tamed fieldic beasts for use in warfare. The Wadelfan military are experts at jungle warfare, but largely lack power projection capabilities beyond this environment. 

• Country originally created by SolarSailor3