Pronunciation: AM-uh-lar
Founding Date: 1232 DA
Dissolution Date: -
Demonym: Meliri/Meliri
Capital: Edheleska
Racial Distribution: gnome (45%), elf (37%), halfling (13%), other (5%)
Official Language: Glymrial and Liravel
Amalar's meritocratic government is led by the Neldare, three individuals considered most skilled in the three realms of military prowess, diplomatic relationships, and domestic leadership. Elections are held every 35 years, but there is no limit to the number of terms one may serve, so a member of the Neldare may serve several centuries if they remain sharp. A variety of advisor positions serve under the Neldare, each an expert in a particular field, to ensure the government remains well informed of the nation's skills and happenings.
In addition to its main holdings of land, Amalar also holds sway over Merkori tribe territory in the eastern portion of the Kiebe forest. Despite technically owning the land and being the overseeing government for the land, Amalar's hold over Merkori territory remains lax. This arrangement allows Merkori tribesfolk to receive certain benefits and protections under Meliri law while still keeping to their traditional reclusive lifestyles. Amalar is kept in check by continued access to unique resources from deep within Merkori territory, access to which will be cut off in the event they ever overstep their bounds.
Being situated in a forest, lumber makes up a decent portion of Amalar's exports. Care is taken to ensure that the forest remains in good shape and isn't thoughtlessly clear cut. Amalar also grows a variety of herbs, fruits, and vegetables, with farms being nestled in amongst the trees and even on the roofs of buildings. As part of their trade deals with the Merkori, Amalar also passes on pelts, bones, and rare magical components on to the wider world.
In addition to their material exports, Amalar is also known as the finest provider of education in Altandor. Elves and gnomes, which make up the bulk of Amalar's citizenry, have multiples centuries to hone their crafts, and those willing to pass on their knowledge can make good money teaching students or taking apprentices. A wide variety of higher learning institutions are available here for the eager student to select from.
Amalar is entirely within the Kiebe forest, a dense semitropical forest that extends up from the southern coast of Altandor. The only major clearings are those cut by the Meliri for the purposes of building, and tree cover is fairly dense even within the cities. At the heart of Kiebe Forest is the epicenter of a sizeable wode (a region influenced by magic from the Feywild), which affects the flora and fauna in strange ways, more so closer to the wode's center. Colorful vines, thick blankets of flowers, and motes of glowing pollen may be found in greater frequencies nearest there.
Also contained within Amalar border are the Moriviir Caverns, a series of massive sinkholes found in the southwestern section of the forest. Massive trees wind their roots around glowing crystals that grow within, and thick vines creep up the sides of the caverns. The Moridhel are native to this region, and many of their ancestral homes, carved into the wall of the sinkholes and perched in the largest trees, are still in use.
Edheleska: Amalar's capital, the spires of the white stone city rises gracefully above the treetops in the central region of the Kiebe Forest. The city is a haven of learning and knowledge, boasting the widest array of learning institutions and apprenticeship opportunities in Altandor.
Andotal: this important trade center is situated next to the Heledhuin River in the northwestern portion of the forest. It is the first stop for visitors to Amalar, and its fortifications serve as a first line deterrent against visitors of the unwelcome sort.
Amalar highly values and is highly protective of its children. It takes a long time to produce elf and gnome children, and even longer for them to reach adulthood, this Amalar has adopted the overall tendency of the bulk of its citizenry to ensure their safety and well-being at all cost. At the center of every major Meliri settlement is a creche, a heavily defensible inner sanctum where all families with children dwell, and where the children spend the bulk of their time. This arrangement has the added benefit for elf and gnome children of keeping them secluded from children of other races, who will grow to adulthood much faster then them. In larger cities, there are often two sections of the creche, to ensure children of shorter lived races can enjoy the protective benefits while keeping this separation intact.
It is Meliri tradition to bury the each of the dead beneath a tree sapling, which then grows nourished by the body of the departed. These graveyards are called spirit forests, and the trees are considered to bridge the space between the living world and the afterlife. Family members and friends will often visit the trees of their lost loved ones to leave offerings, tell tales of their daily lives, and introduce new additions to the family. Damage to any tree in the spirit forest is one of the highest offenses in Amalar, second only to murder.
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