Fiction:The Firmament/Eryliana

Eryliana is a country located north of the continent of Dryadala. Made up of many hills, plateaus and woodland, it serves as the home of the elves known as the Fyasan, who have lived in the region for almost over five thousand years and first migrated there to serve as a bulwark against the threats of Gromkazul.

History
The ashen elves descend from ancient elven warriors who consciously left their ancestral home of Eondrassana at the end of the Great War with Druacatakh in order to watch the borders of Dryadala and Gromkazul, to ensure another orc invasion would not happen again. Settling into the region which now makes up Eryliana, the elves founded the city of Dragosthrone, so named for the fire drakes which prowled the region and the mysterious landmark they had found under it; a giant statue made out of solid magma, sitting upon a throne while holding unto a massive cleaver.

After organizing themselves, the elves begun a process of taming the local fire drakes, and indeed, their spellcasters gained an affinity with fire, believed to have been inspired by the volcano located at the center of the region, Mount Gavakar. Through the course of hundreds of years, these elves had changed into the modern silver-haired Fyasan and gained the trust of the typically violent fire drakes, with the establishment of the Duchy of Eryliana as it is known today taking place almost six thousand years ago.

Geography
Eryliana makes up the northern border between Dryadala and the land of Gromkazul. The most striking landmark of the region is Mount Gakavar, an active volcano which has erupted twice since the founding of the nation, leading the elves to avoid settling near the region. The rest of the land is made up of many portions of woodland separated by plateaus and hills, which serve as the home to many species of mammals and reptiles.

Government
The land of Eryliana is a monarchy led by a duke who has authority over all of the ashen elves' lands and territories. The title of duke is hereditary and life-long, with the Tefrignatus family having held it for the last couple of generations. Noble families may only wrest the title from others if their lineage comes to a complete end or if they are shamed away from the nation altogether. The duke normally has a number of barons who serve as governors and advisors who aid them in administering their lands, ensuring the law is imposed accordingly.

Religion
Eryliana follows similar religious teachings to their high elf siblings, having shunned the Shadow Gods of the Elven Pantheon after they were claimed by the dark elves. Beyond the Elven Gods of Light and other greater gods who accompany them, the worship of the elemental lord Vulcardentron is particularly common across the wizard sects of the nation, further displaying the ashen elves's association with fire.

Inhabitants
Eryliana is primarily inhabited by the ashen elves, who are distinct by their brown skin tones and ashen-coloured hair from which they named. Small pockets of humans, largely originated from Ritterland, are also commonly seen, primarily near the western border. Tribes of goblins, ogres and kobolds are also known to prowl the wilderness, causing trouble to civilized areas. Eryliana holds the world's largest concentration of fire drakes, and while the nation has tamed some over the years, many of them remain wild and largely see the elves as prey, with some seeing the taming of their kind as a form of slavery.

Relations
Eryliana is a peaceful nation, and as such prefers to remain on good terms with its neighbours. Their sibling elven nation of Eondrassana is their greatest ally, with the two countries often working together, and they are also among the trading partners of the lizardfolk of Merovaren. The Fyasan also have a strong partnership with Ritterland and the dwarves of Khargramnir, who admire the elves' self-imposed task of defending Dryadala from northern invaders.


 * Positive relations
 * Aelvana - Eryliana retains constant contact with their distant high elven cousins through trade and diplomacy.
 * Aynach - While separated by Eondrassana, the ashen elves admired the Aynachians' culture and mounted warfare.
 * Confederation of Lechner - Among the Lechnerlands, Ritterland is one of Eryliana's strongest military allies, and they have pledged to protect one another from all threats.
 * Eondrassana - The wood elves and the ashen elves are extremely close, with their goals being essentially the same.
 * Khargramnir - The ashen elves see the dwarves as an admirable, if stubborn folk, and treat them as valuable allies.
 * Merovaren - Caravans of the lizardfolk are very common in Eryliana, who make good use of their presence whenever possible.


 * Ambivalent relations
 * N/A


 * Negative relations
 * Druacatakh - Eryliana was founded to ensure the orcs of Druacatakh would never threaten their ancestral home again.
 * Duskwood - Many ashen elves lament the corruption of a land which once belonged to their ancestors.
 * Giantsteppe - Stray giants from the Giantsteppe are a regular thorn on the elves' side.
 * Mirseleth - Eryliana believes the dark elves to be misguided but capable of redemption, though they lack the resources to go after them.
 * Ruscland - Eryliana sees the Ruscs as unruly barbarians and force them back to their land whenever they attempt to go south by land.
 * Skitterfall - Rakash incursions are very common in Eryliana, thanks to its proximity to Skitterfall.

Notable erylians

 * Duchy of Eryliana
 * Kassina Tefrignatus - Current duchess of Eryliana
 * Filonan Aerember - Current captain of the Drakerider Legion


 * Mount Gavakar
 * Finkrath - One of the most terrible flame wyrms of the modern day