Articles of Obligation
The Articles of Obligation were ultimately the reason the remaining few Snow Elf cities have prospered and their population hasn't dwindled any more. If anything, with the Sun Elf's protection, the are steadily recovering from what might have very well been the end of their entire racial line.
While wildly unpopular at the time, they've become an afterthought in most Snow Elf minds. Sun Elves are seen as the annoying cousin that must be tolerated. While every Snow Elf knows why they are safe, it isn't something that is spoken of. No one gives thanks, no one talk about the Articles, and it isn't considered a proper topic of discussion.
The Sun Elves, for their part in it, largely seem content with their end of the deal. The Snow Elves craft and construct things that they just never had the skill, or patience, to and they frequent the elegant cities like tourists. Enjoying the fine food, drink, and bringing about a sort of trade with them. Subtly affecting the middle and lower caste of Snow Elves, so there are hints of gold, red, and black that show up in decor or shops that will try to appeal specifically to Sun Elves.
Purpose
The Snow Elves are notoriously prim, proper ( some would say delicate ), sparsely populated, with a wealth of magical and exotic finery that collectors and magical connoisseurs all over Vyril pay handsomely to have. The downside to being such elitest, though, is that in order to have what the Snow Elves have, most of their cities have been destroyed and their population has been decimated.
Of course, resulting in their magical artefacts and intricate creations becoming more rare.
As things became dire, it was the Czar of the Sun Elves that struck a deal with the Emperor of the Snow Elves. As some royalty might in the shorter lived races, political marriages were arranged between Snow and Sun elves.
Thus, the Articles of Obligation were writ. Mostly for the benefit of the Snow Elves. It details that the Sun Elves will protect the Snow Elf cities, ensure their way of life and that they will be unharassed in doing so. In turn, the Snow Elves will craft and construct things for the Sun Elves.
While it is writ on vellum, for the Snow Elves, and charred onto skin for Sun Elves, it is the magical bindings that came from the Articles that provide the backbone of the treaty. Important, powerful Sun Elves bound themselves to noble, wealthy Snow Elves. Should one die, the other would. Encouraging the Sun Elves to take extra care that their choice Snow Elf and their city remain safe.
Document Structure
Caveats
There is no expiration date to the Articles, but there are a bevy of infractions that could be committed against the Snow Elves and what must be done if this is the case. The short of it is that the Sun Elves are to commit no violence, no destruction in a Snow Elf city unless it is to destroy a foreign invader or at the express request of that city-state's King.
Sun Elves are not to summon their monsters, devil, demon or otherwise, in any Snow Elf city unless it is to destroy a foreign invader or at the express request of that city-state's King.
Many of the caveats follow much the same vein, restricting much of what the Sun Elves can do and expecting them to adhere largely to Snow Elf law while within Snow Elf territory.
The consequences of nearly all the infractions is death. Not by the Snow Elves, mind, but by other Sun Elves. Mostly to be carried out by the Czar's Enforcers at the request of the city-state's King where the infraction occurred.
Publication Status
Two different Articles were writ. One is the flowing, script style of the Snow Elves. The original Aritcle of Obligation is held and protected by the Emperor of the Snow Elves, as are any other important legal or diplomatic documents. Copies were then distributed to the various city-states, or kingdoms, that remained.
The Sun Elves simplified their own significantly. Their own was shortened and writ on the dried, treated skin of a Wild Elf chief that had previously led an attack against the Emperor of the Snow Elves. Meant to be a gift of sorts and indicative of the manner of Obligation the Sun Elves were entering into.
Their skinned Article decrees not just peace with the Snow Elves, but that they are to be protected.
Legality
The Articles bind all Sun Elves and all Snow Elves, though only choice nobility and particularly powerful Sun Elves are magically bound until death."They're like fragile children. We're to save them from the world and, in turn, have free reign of their cities and toys. I don't care so much about the latter, but the former means I am excused to cause all manner of death and destruction if anyone wanders too close to the mountains. If I can see them, they're too close."
- Bannya, enthusiastic Diabolist Sun Elf
Samyriana by Mandy Finke
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