Myr

The largely elven Myr dominate the southeast of Mizra'aki.
The Myr are highly expansionist, having started historically in what is now Olexia, Kylle, and Esmos before aggressive expansion in the era before the wars with Virion expanding thier reach both westward, but also north into what are now Avenian lands. Currently, in addition to the original three kingdoms, the Myr are dominant in (east to west)

Thasia

Nyria

Laeth

Kytosia

Cyra

Thuyle

Toniyll

Collectively, these ten countries are referred to as the Myrdyion. Occasionally, the term Myr will be used to refer specifically to the three original nations, although this usage is becoming more archaic amongst non-elven speakers.
Each nation in the Myrdyion has significant coastline, and the strength of the Myr is more in their navy than their army--in fact, if it weren't for the Vanahrut Mountains along the northern edge of the Myrdyion, it's not clear the Myr's dominance would have continued over the many centuries.

Myr Values

The Myr's culture centers around their complex relationship with the natural world. They see themselves both as the true caretakers of nature and as its rightful master, making the Myr both responsible for the preservation of nature and its control.
See Elliryian Spirits for information on Myr religious practices.

Myr Settlements

The Myr value intricate craftsmanship that allows for ample interaction with the natural world, and Myr settlements are full of exposed walkways, public parks, expansive skylights, etc. In all of this, form is valued above function, and the inner workings of the cities--aqueducts, sewage, trash collection, etc.--are often either in need of repair or, more commonly, delegated to populations of races seen as "more suited" to such tasks.
As such, relationships between elves of the Myrydion and other races are often ... prickly. This is most true in Nyria, which has become the center of Elven-centrism in Mizra'aki. It is also true, although to a lesser extent, in the three original kingdoms, while the western nations--especially Toniyll, Kytosia, and Laeth--have developed a far more egalitarian approach to racial diversity.

Humans In the Myr

Historically--and as a cultural represenation of Elvish dominance--humans take funcional patronyms based on their profession. The name Mason is quite common, and refers to general laborers (Má being elvish for hand).

The Original Three Kingdoms

Milennia ago, the Myr emerged and formed the kingdoms of Olexia, Kylle, and Esmos.

The Quainel

The Quainel refers to thirteen families (called Houses), mythically attributed as the "founding families" of the Myr. Obviously, the actual history is more tangled: families have been eliminated, added, etc. over the years. However, for the last 2,200 years, the Quainel has been stable, and the thirteen familes currently are

Aelasar

Aranthir

Firela

Gilwen

Halrond

Iriel

Kyrrha

Maiele

Orris

Rathiain

Tehlmar

Thalien

Ulrod

The Quainel meet every 507 years, most recently in 1380. For a family to be removed from the Quainel--something the Firela line faces--it must be agreed upon at two consecutive meetings of the Quainel. This last happened in 2899MS / -646CT when the Dalyor were expelled from the Quainel, replaced by the Orris.

The Houses and the Tulvar

House lineage is a complicated issue for the Myr, but essentially, the eldest child that has children is the Tulvar, or the current lineage holder for the House. This is a position of honor and political power, as the Tulvar is responsible for the representation of the House at the Quainel and at court. The Tulvar passess equally to male and female heirs, and if another House marries the current Tulvar, they are brought into their House--as an example, when Ioriel Kyrrha married Amrond Firela, she was brought into House Firela; likewise, when, three generations later, Vispasiel Kyrrha married Teharissa Firela, he too joined House Firela, leaving House Kyrrha.
The Tulvar is reassigned if the current Tulvar is either childless, or produces non-fully elven offspring. This latter claim has been challenged occasionally through history, but never successfully.

The Anwa

The Anwa movement reflects a general Elven conflict over their role in The Defeat of Virion. Myr casualties were massive in the final wars, which were centered in what is now the countries of Nyria and Thasia.
Unsurprisingly, those locales are the heart of the Anwa movement, with Nyria especially being the home of a purity movement, demanding that those lands belong, first and foremost, to Elves. Anwa as a whole is more accepting of other races than it is of the mixed lineages: Half-Elves and Half-Orcs have been targeted especially by the movement as being alnassë, or "unnatural manifestations."

The Free States of Myr

Partially as a response to Anwa and partially as a natural evolution of their proximity to Slovan lands, the southwestern Myr states have united to advocate for a far more liberal and lenient stance towards their internal diversity and demographics.
The Free States are led by Kytosia, but also include Laeth and Toniyll. The support of the Iben States of Cyra and Thuyle is unclear, although both nations are certainly not terribly supportive of the Anwa movement.
The border between Laeth and Nyria has become increasingly militarized over the past decades.

Maps

The Original Three Myr States

The Newer Myr States / The Free States of Myr

Related Organizations

• Esmos
• The Plerian Sect