Lasceye

Lasceye is a reclusive nation of Elves, dwelling high in The Razor's Edge. Their capital city, Atheneris resides at the very heart of the mountains, just three days journey from the mountain's tallest peak - Dragon's Spire. A militant society that knows little other than war, Lasceye's relations with its neighbors are tense at best. They regard Vesmos warily and still see them as the persecutors who drove them out of their first home. They have a very tentative alliance with Kaisu, born out of need rather than any interest in allies.

Demographics

Lasceye is entirely peopled with Elves. There are a very small number of Half-Elves from tryst with traders or travelers, but they tend to hold a second-class status and many of them opt to leave. They are a small, tight-knit community where outsiders are often ostracized.

Government

Lasceye is a military dictatorship. The King-General (or Queen-General) holds absolute power, and every member of society must serve a term of ten years in the military when they reach adulthood. Even for those that leave military service, they are expected to follow their General to the letter - every member of society gives their time in service to the military-state, even if they are not soldiers.

Defences

Nestled deep in the peaks of The Razor's Edge, the Lascyan's fortress-towns are safeguarded from attack by the treacherous landscape. If that were not enough, Lasceye holds the largest standing army in Aheila, in spite of being the smallest nation with the lowest population. Scouts riding Rocs, Griffins, and Hippogryphs, known as Windriders, patrol from the sky, regular patrols walk the mountain passes, and guards stand at the gates of every walled city.

Industry & Trade

Intensely independent, Lasceye tries to be entirely self-sufficient. Even in the harsh mountains, they scratch out their living, hunting and foraging for food. When they do need help, they turn to Kaisu for crops, trading them iron and other ores taken from the mountain. They avoid trading with Vesmos, loath to approach the other nation from a place of weakness.

History

The Sky Elves of Lasceye arrived in Vesmos in the year 215 in search of adventure and opportunity. What they found, however, was a land already settled and not welcoming of their rigid, military culture. After twenty years of trying to fit in they'd had enough and left. First they went to The Howling Plains in an attempt to settle it, but they quickly found that between the inhospitable territory and the barbarian hordes that roamed the lands made that impossible. Stubborn till the end, they fought to survive for nearly fifteen years, being slowly driven back to the edge of the mountains. With nowhere else to go and with their numbers nearly halved, they fled into the mountains. Here, in the most unlikely of places, they built their home, and here they have remained, secluded from the rest of Aheila, ever since. Until lately, their Windriders have been seen, soaring out past Lasceye's borders.

Geography

Lasceye sits among the frigid peaks of The Razor's Edge. Many would consider the land uninhabitable, with a permanent layer of ice and snow, but it is here the Elves have learned to thrive on what little the land has to offer. Due to the elevation, even the summers are cold and dry, with frequent snowfall all year round.

Founding Date

Year 251

Type

National Territory

Inhabitant Demonym

Lascyans

Owner/Ruler

Queen-General Ghillain Avecire