The Serene Conclave of Ekora
Located on the edge of the Jollì Steppes overlooking the Ekoran Sea, The Temple City of Ekora watches the grassy highlands shrouded in mist. It is the capital of the smallest Feloran successor state, a reclusive theocratic society with Mages and Druids more interested in ancient texts or eccentric rituals than the affairs of State. Moreso here than any other Successor State, even inhabited regions of Ekora often feel empty and underpopulated, and some towns and settlements contain abandoned ruins, reflecting the still-recovering Feloran population.
The rule of the Assembly of Mages is tolerant and even handed, however since the fall of the Feloran Empire the Conclave has become increasingly aloof and has distanced itself from managing the daily affairs of the land, allowing a free hand in the governance of settlements for the local Magistrates who (in theory) represent the Conclave. These magistrates are given a wide range of autonomy in their affairs, and as such their interests vary and allegiances even more so. This disjointed system holds Ekora back, and the corruption of some magistrates is to say nothing of the unrecognized authorities that also have set up shop within Ekoran borders.
Demography and Population
Ekora is sparse, the least populated of the former Feloran provinces. As a successor state, it's population has rebounded the slowest out of the four, only reaching 25% of pre-collapse levels in 370 PE. There are currently 25,863 living in the Temple City, which sprawls up the side of a cliff that overlooks the Ekoran Sea. A few, mostly the most studied and elderly of Mystics and Mages, live in the bottom of the Tower of Eladrel. Roughly 1,000 live in the other levels of the tower and temple grounds. Most of the population lives above, in the land on the cliff.
The next largest city is Illebel, with around 8,000 residents, mostly native Ekorans and a few other Felorans, is at the furthest reach of the Conclave's expansive lands. It's the only urbanised place in Ekora, with the rest of the population living in rural communities or on their own in such places as lone farms, monasteries, or estates. Most of the population are Felorans of the Jolli Steppes, often called Highland Elves, however a few communities of other Felorans are present, and the odd non-Elf in the form of a stray dragonborn or human is possible in the cities. The amount of people living within Ekoran lands but not part of the conclave is also higher, but a specific number is impossible to come by for obvious reasons.
Territories
Ekora is the largest of the successor states of Felora, with over 1.2 million square kilometers of sovereign territory. The main road from the Temple City to Illebel is a 55-day journey on foot. It's borders are open, with little to no indication one has even entered Ekora unless they do so on the two main roads into the Conclave. It does not border any of the other successors states nor any organised state, instead facing unorganised and/or unclaimed land on all sides. Its territory covers the extent of the Jollì Steppes, annexed to the Conclave when it was established as a province in the Feloran Empire.
The region of Ekora to the south is poorly defined, as the Feloran Empire never formally demarcated its frontier south of Caelsari Regions. The Ekoran's realm reaches, in theory, the southern and western edges of the Steppe, moving southward until meeting the Unlines River, where the border then snakes through the sparsely settled hills that dot the southern bank & region of the Unlines.
Almost the entire territory is arable or suitable for grazing, which is what most of the population in Ekora does. The Jollì climate is cool but wet, getting warm during the summer month of Druyani, the beginning of the planting season. There is steady precipitation, with a noticeable dry season in the rockier north and hotter south. The Ekoran Sea is to the east, and a robust, self-sufficient fishing industry is based out of the nearby towns that dot the coast north of the Temple City.
Military
The Conclave of Ekora is the least militarily powerful of the Successor States. The Assembly of Mages, the senior authority of the Ekoran Conclave, does not consider military organisation to be something within the purview of their sacred role in the Ëlhyaean faith. As such, rather than maintaining a standing Fèlmörn under their command, the Conclave simply pays towns a lump sum to be spent on defense at the descretion of their local Magistrate – but its coffers are running low as the fortune amassed during the Feloran Empire runs out.
This lax approach has led to many local magistrates to turn to mercenaries, help from other Successor States, and for less ethical magistrates, sometimes crime themselves, in order to protect their settlements. The Sovereignty of Soren in particular has several garrisons at the request of many magistrates across the Conclave. This has led to widespread support among the population for the Sovereignty, and those within the Conclave who are sympathetic to the Soren cause work to increase Sorenian influence (sometimes through dubious means such as ensuring the conclave’s coffers continue to run low). It is impossible to estimate the number of mercnaries in Ekora.
The Conclave does have a small standing force of professional Oyemörn, a legacy of the Imperial Eras, with just under 100 veteran archers and swordfighters, however as these veterans age out of service, the Conclave has been slow to replenish it's members. The Conclave's most direct expression of military strength is in the form of the Order of Amberes. The force is only 85-strong, though it does work with roughly 600 guards in the Temple City in keeping order and maintaining a tranquil environment within the city walls. On the water, Ekora has no organised navy, however towns on the coast fund patrols and train sailors as their finances allow.
Technological Level
Despite it's poor development in the years after the collapse of the Feloran Empire, the Conclave manages to maintain parity with it's other Feloran cousins, though it is considered slightly backward by the Dotharan Alliance and is comparable to the Aeillan states of Salemesia or Halion. It is an advanced state by Galisean standards outside of Aeilla, and it's known world includes all of Felora and Galisea. The limits of Ekora's science and technology are not intelligence, but dogma and lack of resources. Most Ekorans have access to print media, and in the Illebel there has been an embrace of gunpowder by it's Magistrate, due to the city's isolation and relative size making it a prime target to criminals, bandits, and raiders.
Religion
The official religion of the Conclave is Ëlhyaea, the traditional beliefs of the Ekoran Temple for thousands of years. The populations of all successor states practice at least some Ëlhyaean beliefs. The Assembly of Mages studies the scrolls and other artifacts that form the basis of the faith for insight to the unknown, artifacts believed to date back to the first Druids, when they established the Temple of Eladrel over 12,000 years ago.
Most Ekorans are practitioners of the faith, rituals throughout the year are observed for most natural events, such as a birth, death, or for mortal concerns such as a harvest. Other Felorans practice the rituals and rites of their home, and non-elves practice other faiths. To say the Conclave permits other faiths would be to imply that the Conclave made a choice on the matter, however religious tolerance is nonetheless the norm in Ekora, if more from apathy than compassion.
Foreign Relations
The Conclave of Ekora is neutral in Feloran affairs. It's inward gaze and stunted population growth have made it a minor influence, losing much of its diplomatic clout with the others successors to non-Feloran states such as the Khedivite of Qua'adar. It was historically aligned with the Imperial Court, and the Conclave's Council of Mages served as advisors to the ruling dynasty and determined religious doctrine/guidance for the Empire.
The Carabar Penisula, and in particular the Tcharsst’ai Pact, conduct their relations with the rest of Felora mostly through the Conclave, as it is the closest to them. Conclave relations with the dragonborn of Tcharsst'ai lead to their support in the Northern Invasions. There is some bitterness, due to a perception of broken promises, but the friendly relations have continued to the present day. Lastly, though there are no formal or sustained diplomatic contacts, however Okunokan merchants have an increasing presence in the Temple City.
Many within Ekora support the Sorenian Sovereignty, and many magistrates proclaim open support and allegiance to the Sorenians as the Imperial Authority of old. This is tacitly encouraged by the Sorenian Soveriegnty, and promoted within the Conclave by those loyal to the ruling dynasty. However, many Dotharans make pilgrimage to the countless temples, monasteries, and sacred places across the Conclave, including the Tower of Eladrel. Combined with the Ekoran's dependence on Dotharan trade, the Conclave cannot afford to formally ally with the Sorenians, and there are some who support closer relations with Dothara. Beyond Felora, the Conclave is largely forgotten, if it was known in the first place.
Agriculture & Industry
The modern shape of the Ekoran state itself is due to an ancient goal of turning the Steppes into a breadbasket and veritable staple crop producer for the well-planned Imperial economic machine. For a considerable time, this goal was realised, and at it's height the Jollì Steppes accounted for 80% of the Empire's agricultural output, growing crops of anything that would grow. Today, the Ekoran Highlands still produce a respectable, if drastically smaller, crop for the Feloran successor states and beyond.
The heritage of Highland Elves however, is animal husbandry. Livestock was the livelihoods of most Jollìnese before the establishment of the Province of Ekora. After the collapse of the Empire, this way of life resurged as many fields lay unsuitable for planting, and the process was more attainable for smaller communities unable to dedicate the manpower for the massive crop yields of the Imperial Eras. This has enabled the Ekoran state to survive as long as it has, as towns have been able to continue agricultural activities while rounding out their food supply from animal husbandry.
Within the Temple City, there is no industry as to protect the tranquility of the Conclave, and only a few workshops and forges exist, partly as the personal projects of some Conclave members, though most do sell some wares to the general public. There are some workshops in settlements approaching the Temple City to provide for the population inside's needs. In Illebel, there are some illegal industries such as Kel-shat (Drow poker) gambling rings and a thriving black market for magic items, and the questionably legal mercenary industry has also set up shop.
Trade & Transport
Ekora is not an economically powerful sovereignty. The Conclave eschews the accumulation of wealth through anything of “the mortal realm”, preventing widespread trading and limiting commerce to at-cost sale of staple crops and livestock products to the other Elven States. However, many towns produce livestock products such as cheeses and cured meats that are prized by the Dotharans and several destinations in the Northern Continent. Most of the Feloran high-end and rare magic market’s supply of tinctures and casting materials also comes from Ekora. Towns able to trade additional goods are generally wealthier and more populated, which in turn strengthens their ability to spend more resources on these extra goods, leading to widespread economic disparities within the Conclave.
The road network of Ekora is sparse but well maintained, however it is considerably less safe than during the days of the Empire. Travel at night beyond the Temple City is completely dangerous, and commoners travel in groups for mutual defense by day. The highway to Illebel (and Til Formen’ya beyond) is paved its entire length, and the towns both within and out of the Conclave provide some haven for weary travelers. The only other major road leading away from Ekora is mostly safe until the Caelsari Regions, where the influence of the Conclave dissipates the further south one heads. Travel to the north by sea is possible but dangerous as the majority of destinations are via the Cape of Ancoa to the north, a notorious ship graveyard due to the rocky islands, high winds, dangerous currents, and frequent storms; eastern travel to the Carabar Peninsula is safer, mostly to the Tcharsst’ai Pact.
Education
The Conclave has no widespread education system. Many local councils and magistrates have set up schoolhouses when and where possible, however these provide practical life skills and rudimentary lessons in the subjects of history, science/magic, and arithmetic. Those with funds and the means to travel send themselves or their children to universities in Lumora in the Soveriegnty and Melnor in the Alliance. The many monasteries provide a secondary, more accessible source of education as well, an option for those seeking spiritual enlightmenment or guidance.
Infrastructure
Ekoran infrastructure is the least developed of the successor states. It has maintained the main road to Til Formen'ya out of neccesity, but just barely. Money to finance it's upkeep comes from the Conclave, as well as from tarrifs collected at Illebel. Only the Temple City and the wealthiest in Illebel have running water, and one is hard pressed to find the luxuries of the other Feloran or Aeillan states, including streetlighting and plumbing. It is the only sucessor state without a canal anywhere within it's borders. There are numerous empty cities and forgotten roads, but they are all in varying states of decay with no signs of a plan to restore them.
Founding Date
-1829 EIE, Independent 13 PE
Type
Geopolitical, Theocracy
Capital
Alternative Names
The Conclave
Demonym
Ekoran, Ekorans
Leader Title
Government System
Magocracy
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Traditional
Currency
Ekoran Shell, Feloran Rëkà
Legislative Body
Assembly of Mages
Judicial Body
Circle of Judgement
Official State Religion
Location
Official Languages
Related Ranks & Titles
Controlled Territories
Related Ethnicities
Diplomatic Recognition & Permanent Embassy
Relations between the Conclave and Soveriegnty are cordial. The Soveriegnty has sent militias and arms to Ekoran communities struggling to fend off the unchecked raiders and bandits that have swept across the Jolli steppes, and the Conclave maintains a permanent presence in the Royal Court as it continues to advise the monarchy on spiritual matters.
Diplomatic Recognition & Permanent Trade Mission
The Ekoran Conclave is friendly towards the Alliance, through shared religion and history, although Alliance members assign their own Shrine Custodians. The Dotharan Alliance is friendly towards the Conclave, with frequent trade contacts with the Jolli Steppes.
Diplomatic Recognition
The two former geographic extremities of the Feloran Empire are not surprisingly that interested in each other. Peaceful diplomatic relations exist, but there is no formal or permament diplomatic efforts between the two. The Conclave continues to assign Shrine Custodians and advise temple Lëkabrìs to the communities or authorities that request it.
