5001-HârnWorld/3rd Edition/5

Evael is the last remnant of the Sindarin kingdom that once covered all of Hârn. Unable to stem the tide of human immigration, the Sindarin renounced claim to Hârnic sovereignty some 14 centuries ago and withdrew to the Shava Forest. Evael is now more of a sanctuary for Hârn’s 5,000 Sindarin than a kingdom in the human sense. Evael’s borders are the Farin River in the west, the Wend in the north, and the Kald in the east. The islands of Yaelin and Keboth are loosely controlled parts of the kingdom.

The majority of humans who live in Evael are descendants of the Jarin who accompanied the Sindarin during their withdrawal into the Shava Forest after the Atani Wars. Others are descended from “newbloods” who were allowed to settle in Evael to prevent inbreeding. Human residents are full citizens of the kingdom. The rare humans who are invited to live in Evael, most often to apprentice under a Sindarin artisan, are residents only at their master’s pleasure. When training is complete, they are expected to depart the kingdom within a year. Hasty marriages to Jarin residents to avoid deportation are not uncommon.

The economy of Evael is based on barter. The kingdom does not mint coins and foreign coinage is rare. Transactions between Sindarin are always bartered or gifted. To outsiders, the system is a confused and inefficient tangle of favors and exchanges but the Sindarin value the close relationships that develop. The system of mutual trust, honor, and generosity works because transactions are few. Jarin craftsmen accept coinage from visitors.

Elshavel, or Tarminas as it is known to the Sindarin, is the capital and largest settlement; it is the most beautiful city in all of Hârn. Its inhabitants enjoy the highest standard of living and the entire community reflects the Sindarin eye for aesthetics and function. Businesses, fortifications, and residences blend with the sylvan setting for an effect that is unearthly to the eyes of men. Elshavel is a place visitors regard with awe.

Ulfshafen, or Nimfalas, is the major port and trade center. It is located on the mouth of the Enorien and controls maritime traffic in the Kald River estuary. Although beautiful and exotic, Ulfshafen’s lack of raucous pleasures and its almost invisible civic authority can be unsettling to human visitors.

The Chelni, Pagaelin, and Tulwyn tribal nations surround Evael. All have legends about the inhabitants of the Shava Forest. The Chelni fought against the Sindarin in the Battle of Sorrows and have since viewed them with respect and awe. The Pagaelin consider them to be “devils of the forest” and keep their distance. The Tulwyn will not cross the Farin River after a disastrous attempt to invade Evael around 150.

The Sindarin are largely self-sufficient and Evael has minimal contact with other civilized nations. Almost all imports and exports are handled by the Jarin, who act as intermediaries. Some trade is conducted through the port at Ulfshafen or overland through Trobridge Inn. Generally, the Sindarin kingdom pursues a neutral policy towards the rest of Hârn. Kaldor and the Thardic Republic both claim lands right up to the borders of Evael. These claims are only nominal and neither state has the strength to extend its power into the region. The Sindarin and Khuzdul, once great allies, have ignored each other for 14 centuries. Evael’s isolation from the rest of Hârn lends it an aura of mystery and a reputation that all manner of enchantments will befall the unwary. Visitors are few.

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