The Founding of Estrua
The central corridor of Fyria was late in its development when compared to other regions of the continent, with a history of only a thousand years or so as opposed to the era spanning the histories of the western coasts. Estrua, was one of these late founded nations, alongside the Gnomish Lands and Bastion. Estrua's colonization was in part allowed for by the involvement of Ithosia, a nation that resides to their south.
Before Estrua, Bastion, and parts of the Gnomish Lands were founded the area was rife with an aggressive collection of humanoid peoples. Orcs, goblins, and the like all tearing at each other constantly for the rights to land and food. A far cry from modern times and the spiritual nation formed of similar humanoid races within
Raum'alur - The Valley of the Embraced. These hordes kept a strict hold over the central regions of Fyria for hundreds if not thousands of years, until they got restless and started to push up against the soon-to-be-formed nation of Ithosia, the oldest nation of the area.
This collected mass of humanoids flowed into parts of Ithosia, forcing the nation to band together, forming the
The Founder's Council of Ithosia who then as a combined force pushed back the humanoid force to the north and then solidified their borders and officially became a nation.
Over the next generation or so, Ithosia would conduct occasional attacks against lingering humanoid threats in the area, thinning their influence more and more until settlers began to flow into to the now unclaimed territories in the central and northern areas above Ithosia. Ithosia at the time didn't have the ability to colonize any further than their current borders.
And this is where the foundation of Estrua
officially begins. The first settlers of the region that would become Estrua were from several different backgrounds and regions of the world. The two most significant, and the two that would eventually co-mingle in order to form the first official government, were the Elder Druids of the Forest, and a branch of an old royal family from the Time of Roses, the era that precedes the modern-day Era of Crowns. This royal lineage has been lost to time, the main branch had died out sometime around the
War of Dredarek which led to the end of the Time of Roses, the consolidation of nations that now forms the country of Hadrian in the west, and the beginning of the Era of Crowns.
This latter group of royals sought new lands to colonize, one that they could lead under their own guidance and more open ideals away from the stuffy and posh royalty of the West. In which they eventually found the forested and verdant lands of Estrua. There they would eventually meet and collaborate with the Elder Druids of the Forest, an ancient sect of druids who had traversed the lands in which Estrua sat for generations but were few due to the constant deluge of humanoid attacks. But now that the threat was nearly gone, the druids flourished and became a much stronger collection.
The two groups coexisted for a time, working independently but frequently encountering each other as the royals established small villages and farms while the druids kept to their newly grown groves and worked on growing the hardiness of the forests of Estrua.
Eventually, the two groups realized that their aims were similar and that if they competed it would only harm the area's growing population. So, they met to discuss a plan of permanent collaboration where each group's needs could be accommodated and formed into a solidified constitution of sorts. This led to the foundation of Estrua, one that had a plan from the beginning to support their people and environment equally. A nation built on the creed of sustainability and responsibility.
An Estruan city who's landscape is carefully managed by the Estruan Coalition of Druidic Sustainability.
Tense Relationship with a Former Sibling
Estrua was once close partners with their neighbour to the north, Bastion. However, after the former suffered a series of tragedies, severe weather, and ill-management their land was turned to barren rock. Barely able to feed their own, Bastion turned to their neighbours for help. Estrua did what they could but after years of giving they grew concerned with the growing demands and instituted a rationing system, severely limiting what they allowed to be given out to Bastion.
This was done to follow their generations-long policy of sustainability practices, to ensure that their own would not go without and that the land would not be harmed. But Bastion viewed this as a betrayal and began to become aggressive and worse, desperate. Bastion has long claimed that Estrua has secret stockpiles of food and resources that could easily be given to them, as has tried to spin world opinion of Estrua into one of a greedy nation refusing to help their former brethren despite having the ability to. Though these rumours are exaggerated, Estrua wanted to keep helping but merely wished to do so cautiously.
This would eventually lead to the The Trade Route War of the Central Corridor which continues to this day, a bitter conflict over a slim central trade route that Bastion wishes to have sole control over so that it can open up trade to the far south in Ithosia and possible even begin proper seafaring trade. Estrua worries that giving them full control over this route would endanger their citizens and lock them out of an important trade route. Several parlays have been attempted but none have been successful. The concern now, is that Bastion has become so bitter during the fight that they would refuse shared usage of the trade route even if offered.
Long before the war Estrua's former capital, Baile, used to be connected to Bastion's former capital of Old Darwyn, by the grand Siblings Bridge spanning over the Amber Stone Canyon, symbolizing their unity and strength as close allies and brothers in arms. However, since the beginning of the conflict, the nations have both moved their capitals into their territories, away from their shared borders, the former twin capitals now sit as barely inhabited shells of their former selves. With both the cities and the Siblings Bridge having fallen into severe disrepair in years past. Large contingents of soldiers patrol either side of the bridge to ensure no one side gains an advantage over it. The remaining citizens of the cities are few, but many hold out hope that one day the two nations will reconcile and they may see each other as family once more.
Geography
Estrua is a land mostly covered in temperate broadleaf and mixed tree forests, valleys, and large cavern-fed lake systems. It doesn't have any major mountain ranges and is mainly composed of hilly terrains and dense forests.
Estrua's forests are known to have a lush variety of trees and plants, including some of the largest trees in the world. With some being the diameter of a dozen men and several times higher.
The nation's Druidic community has established designated farming communities throughout the land, which they carefully maintain. These farms are often multi-layered, much like a rice field would be, using the nation's natural hilly landscape to their advantage.
These levels are specifically curated so that their soil and water composition is tailored to whatever the crop being grown on that level requires. The druids that often tend to these gardens alongside citizen farmers also assist by using druidic magic to encourage expedited growth. And to also help cure vegetation of disease and rot when required.
Neighbours
Estrua is surrounded on three sides by several other nations, making it one of the most well-connected places in Fyria. It has well-established trade routes and habits with many of these neighbours including the Gnomish Lands to its southwest, Ithosia to the south, and Baizair to the northeast. Ithosia is assured it's closest and most fruitful trade partner, with the two nations frequently making profitable exchanges.
They also have ease of access towards
Raum'alur - The Valley of the Embraced but the citizens of the valley have no interest in trade. An Estruan delegation has been sent to greet those residents of Raum'alur but have been politely declined at each attempt, Estrua is hopeful that one day a connection can be made with the new nation.
Estrua can also fairly easily reach and hypothetically trade with Shikyuo to the north but between the empire's disdain for outside nations, and the ongoing war with Bastion over the upper central trade corridor this is currently impossible. But much like with Raum'alur, Estrua is hopeful that this will one day change for the better.
A small terraced garden found within one of the cities of Estrua, larger gardens exist on the outskirts of towns.
Former Capital - Baile
Baile is located on the southern edge of the Amber Stone Canyon, along Estrua's northern border. The capital is connected via the Siblings Bridge to Bastion's former capital of Old Darwyn.
These two cities are now barely inhabited and are instead patrolled mainly by soldiers due to the ongoing conflict in the central corridor between the two nations. Estrua's capital has been moved farther into their interior and was given the name of Mhoirbaile.
Baile, is in better condition than Old Darwyn mainly due to its construction and connection with the natural druidic magic of Estrua. Baile is constructed mainly of wooden houses, with the wood being grown from the nearby woods and shaped into homes by the ancient druids of Estrua upon Baile's foundation.
These wooden houses to this day are rooted in the very soil of the earth in which they sit, pulling life from the surrounding forest.
However, despite this, the city has a feeling of sadness and gloom as its residents have mostly left for more populated cities further into the Estrua, away from the conflict with Bastion.
Those that do stay within the former capital do their best to tend to the wooden structures and various gardens that still grow within and surrounding city limits.
Baile has become a more dreary place since the war with Bastion began.
Government
Estrua has a unique system of governing, where decisions are made between four sects. The guiding hands of the dual monarchy of the King and Queen of Estrua, the careful consideration of the Estruan Coalition of Druidic Sustainability, the sharpened sword that is the Estrua Land Defense Force, and the financial-minded Trade and Economics Guild.
These four groups each have a hand in guiding the nation in their corners of control. The Estruan Coalition of Druidic Sustainability manages all matters of nature and the sustainability of such. The Estrua Land Defence Force is in charge of the safety of the nation and is currently embroiled in managing the Trade Route War of the Central Corridor, the Trade and Economics Guild handles all import and exporting of goods and services. And the dual monarchy, consisting of an equally responsible King and Queen is in charge of tradition, culture, and overall policy.
Though each group will come together to make major decisions of national importance, meetings like this are fairly frequent to ensure an aligned direction for the nation is met. Ultimately the King and Queen of Estrua have veto powers if they feel it necessary, though it is not frequently used.
The Estruan Coalition of Druidic Sustainability
Through careful planning, patience, and the use of druidic magic only known to them, Estrua's natural resources have continued to flourish despite generations of use by its citizens. Estrua is sure to only take what it needs to fulfill its citizen's and nation's survival requirements and maintain a healthy trade relationship with its neighbours. This magic helps encourage faster growth and replenishment of natural resources, the mechanics and cost of which are only known to a small association of druids under royal governing called the Estruan Coalition of Druidic Sustainability.
This coalition has been in existence for countless generations in Estrua, and its members have been invaluable to the nation's survival ever since its inception. Druidic culture is very important in Estrua for most of its citizens, and many follow natural spiritualism regardless of their involvement in the coalition or their familiarity with their magical abilities. But for those working for the coalition, these druidic rights and practices are followed as a means of not only self-enlightenment but also as a strict code of sustainability and natural growth for the sake of their nation and its people. Even if doing so sacrifices their happiness or health.
The Estruan Coalition of Druidic Sustainability tending to one of many forest garden groves.
The coalition is comprised of hundreds of druids, each working within Estrua's borders for the express purpose of managing their natural resources. They do so by conducting carefully planned magical growth and protection rituals to help fend off any sort of blight and to encourage rapid growth. They also conduct non-magical and more traditionally agricultural and horticultural methods in order to ensure plant life is growing and sustaining at an acceptable rate. The druids are also tasked with fending off any sort of evil spirit, beast, or man that may be encroaching upon and harming nature. The druids of Estrua have been known to be quite ruthless when it comes to the measures which they use to banish these foes from their lands.
The many druids of the coalition are all governed by a council of elder druids, each of these individuals is voted into the council only upon one elder exit either by choice, age, or demise. The vote is typically conducted by all members of the coalition who send in their votes to the head council by whatever means they can, as long as the vote is verifiable. The only rule for this vote is that the druid must have been working within the coalition for at least a decade or more to become eligible for the council role. An older method of entering the council is by druidic trial by combat, where one druid may challenge another druid on the council to a fight or some sort of challenge. And if the challenger wins, the druid on the council must step down for the challenger to take their place. However, this latter method is infrequent and hasn't been seen in some generations as it is viewed as uncouth and often barbaric.
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