Alithanar
The Silver Empire of Alithanar, or simply known as Alithanar is the ancestral home of the Elven race, and is currently mostly inhabited by High Elves. Alithanar forms a hollow ring of land in the sea, and surrounds a small inner sea. This sea is only accessible through a strait at the southern end of the island. Alithanar is split into several provinces which has its own character and method of waging war. Alithanar is also known to be the home to several metallic dragons, who slumber under the volcanic mountain range of the island that forms a natural barrier separating the outer and inner kingdom.
Alithanar is ruled by a collection of princes, princesses, and mages, above whom preside the Phoenix King and the Everqueen. The relationship between these rulers is not as simple as one would think. The kingship is elective, the queenship is hereditary, and both monarchs maintain entirely separate courts.
The Everqueen is always the Queen of Alvendar. Her realm is the site of the principal shrine of Isha and the Everqueen is regarded as the spiritual leader of the entire Elven realm and greater Elven society/world. The position of Everqueen is taken up by the firstborn daugther of the previous queen, conceived during her year-long ritual marriage to the Phoenix King. After this formal marriage, they are free to take new consorts, but only the daughter conceived from the marriage of the Phoenix King and Everqueen can be the new Everqueen. Alvendarian queens have always been the Everqueen, forming an unbroken chain from ages past. When she is joyful, the skies above become clear and the land for leagues around blooms with life and light. When she mourns, the skies weep with her, and when her eyes darken with rage, thunder roars across the hills. Since the Golden Age, the Everqueen has served as Isha’s chosen priestess in the mortal world. Whilst the tradition of the Phoenix King is relatively new — a mere six and a half thousand years in age — there has always been an Everqueen ruling the enchanted Isles of Alithanar.
By contract, the Phoenix King is chosen from among the Princes of Alithanar, one year after the death of the previous incumbent. Each is crowned during a holy ceremony held at the Shrine of Asuryan and attended by the legions of the Phoenix Guard and Princes of Alithanar. The process is rife with intrigue, emotions often run hot during this fraught and delicate event. Traditionally, the last 30 days of the year of mourning are set aside for the election. However, in practice the debate starts much sooner. Often the politicking starts before the reigning King has even died. Elves love intrigue, and never is the prize greater than when a new Phoenix King is chosen. Before being crowned, they must pass through the Sacred Flame unharmed to prove their purity under the eyes of Asuryan. This is not to say that all Phoenix Kings have been good rulers. In fact many long wars have been started by prideful, vicious and arrogant Phoenix Kings.
The grandest of Alithanar's noble families each look for their candidate to be chosen, and they vie for the support of their peers for their choice. Further to this, each realm in Alithanar desires the new Phoenix King to be chosen from their land. So it is that rivalries are set aside — or created — to ensure that the agendas of the noble houses are met. For all the deception, manipulation, and chicanery employed during the election process, it is almost unheard of for the tactics employed to escalate to violence or outright sabotage. Such actions are considered heretical, for the Phoenix King is the anointed servant of Asuryan. Few high elf nobles are so consumed with victory that they could believe, even for a moment, that the King of Elven Gods would ever approve of a king selected by the ruling council under such dubious and destructive circumstances.
Structure
Phoenix King/Emperor
Everqueen
Prince/Princesses
Noble Houses
Military (White Lions & Swordmasters) & Tower of Hoeth (Loremasters)
Type
Geopolitical, Empire
Capital
Alternative Names
High Elven Empire, Phoenix Empire, Empire of the Firstborn
Training Level
Elite
Veterancy Level
Decorated/Honored
Demonym
Alithanarans
Leader
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Monarchy, Elective
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Traditional
Legislative Body
Phoenix King/Court of Princes
Judicial Body
Court of Princes
Official State Religion
Related Ranks & Titles
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Comments