Tarumel

“The light of a new sun shines on all elves!”

- Varis Iathrana, 35 AR

Origins of Tarumel

‘Tarumel’ means “seeing lands” in elvish, and it is the elves’ name for the Crescent Islands and their kingdom therein, in the time following The Rending. It encompasses Crescent Island, Falchion Isle, Beacon Isle, and the lesser islands of Marunesh, Marlen, and Marupaa. In the centuries since The Rending, the Elves have turned the small continent into a shining beacon of modern infrastructure and the new world’s greatest hope of recovering the arcane advancements of Kǝshän’s golden age. Their glittering white stone capital, Merikel, is the center of the world as Malikesh was before it. This achievement is a testament to the elves’ intelligence and organization, as much as ambition and pure chance.

United sovereignty was not the elves’ first instinct. When they initially landed in the north, the elves naturally congregated in more than a dozen focused communities where like-minded elves, and others, worked to preserve facets of knowledge lost in The Rending, as well as to explore and understand their new circumstances. These communities were called ‘Kiinatu,’ or “Collections” in common. Bringing the elves under the banner of Tarumel was the work of two very young and exceptionally ambitious sun elf siblings, Varis and Bethrynna Iathrana. They were the children of two members of Ꞇőläp si Hwēn, orphaned by The Rending. Bethrynna was the youngest archmage in the history of Kǝshän, learning from each of the fledgling collections and reaching the high rank while still in elvish adolescence. Varis had a strong vision for the future of Kǝshän at a time when many could not see a path forward; indeed his visions for the future are said to be quite real. They tied the Collections together and led the efforts of migrating elven survivors to the Crescent Isles where the first new nation was born in 35 AR: Tarumel.

The ruling body of Tarumel is called ‘Amrul ath-Vae,’ meaning “The Council of Light” in common; some more casually refer to it as ‘Amraelu,’ meaning “group that shines,” in common. Varis Iathrana leads the council as its first and only ‘Iqualida,’ meaning “creator’s chosen” in common. His sister Bethrynna served on the council for a time before performing a more independent role as Archmage of Tarumel, a position she has held for centuries; in this role she oversees the Kiinatu among other responsibilities.

Tarumeli Society

Tarumel has been at the heart of every major arcane breakthrough since 0 R. They boast of their Kiinatu, or “Collections” of arcane knowledge and produce magics that only exist in Pre-Rending history books: magics like the ‘Lunaluz,’ an arcane heatless light source that can “Take Any Household… Out of the Dark Ages” (as the ads say). The secrets of these magics are guarded closely by the elves; many put it down to being blessed by the gods, others credit it to some pre-Rending power smuggled away from The World’s Heart by the elves and hidden from the people, few have anything to show for their speculations.

Tarumel is a popular socialist society undercut by a strict caste system plagued by underrepresentation. Largely, sun elves make up the ruling class while wood elves constitute the working class; within those castes are smaller hierarchies defined by arcane ability and occupation. The ruling classes hold intelligence, guile, and ingenuity among their key principles; the working classes hold more firmly to the principles of earnestness, craftsmanship, and humility. Tarumel’s social programs are robust enough that no elf goes unhoused or unfed as long as they are registered law-abiding citizens. Problems arise when the law is not applied equally across the castes. Sun elf populations are largely concentrated in the urban areas, while wood elf populations are more rural. Natural inclinations could contribute, but the constant rezoning and difficulties with the law are more direct drivers of rural migration by wood elves.

There are elections every twenty years to fill the Council of Light, as they call the administrators of the realm. From their members, an Iqualida (creator’s chosen) is elected to serve as executive and figurehead; it has only ever been Varis Iathrana. Voting takes place in Tarumel’s urban centers and must be done in person, making it difficult for rural voters to be counted. Local leaders are appointed by Amrul ath-Vae. The Wood Elves have been more energetic about their troubles in recent years, culminating in the first duly elected Wood Elf to the Council of Light, Mayor Vedania Berevan.

Amrul ath-Vae / The Council of Light

Lord Varis Iathrana - Mayor of Merikel and Iqualida of the Council (sun elf)
Lord Dreali Horineth - Mayor of Aldurimel (half sun elf)
Lady Thiala Raethran - Mayor of Revarel (mixed sun/wood elf)
Lord Korfel Yaldendrin - Mayor of Umalenor (sun elf)
Lady Naivara Ofandrus - Mayor of Surimel (sun elf)
Lady Vedania Berevan - Mayor of Kalmindon (wood elf)

Kiinatu / Collections

The People’s Collection (Kiinat al-Yth)
- College of lore
- Studies the forgotten dead, primarily through first-hand accounts of common people throughout history such as diaries and personal correspondence.
- Based in Merikel. Secondary campus in Vitt’s Hollow on the Spectral Coast.

The Seeker’s Collection (Kiinat al-Sar)
- College of lore
- Focuses on discovery and exploration, leading the push to rediscover distant and lost lands such as the Spectral Coast, the Southern Kingdoms, the Triton Empire, and the Dragonlands.
- Based in Merikel. Secondary campus in Estraton on the Spectral Coast.

The Thorn Collection (Kiinat al-Thearn)
- College of lore
- Studies the flora and fauna of Kǝshän extending to herbology, alchemy, and druidic magic.
- Based in Alduramel.

The Caelen Collection (Kiinat al-Caelen)
- College of lore
- Studies history through material culture and powerful items, archaeology.
- Based in Suramel. Secondary campus in Tima on the Spectral Coast.

The Shield Collection (Kiinat al-Foqal)
- College of swords
- Studies martial techniques of war and Evocation.
- Based in Merikel. Secondary campus in Malikesh on the Spectral Coast.

The Arbiter's Collection (Kiinat al-Kalweh)
- College of eloquence
- Studies oration, diplomacy, and mercantilism
- Based in Merikel.

The Martyr’s Collection (Kiinat al-Arraness)
- College of valor
- Studies the tales of Kǝshän’s greatest heroes and the art of keeping those tales alive.
- Members travel with the day’s greatest heroes and go to the biggest events to record it all for the future.
- Based in Aldurimel.

The Shadow Collection (Kiinat al-Nevae)
- College of whispers
- Studies in the arts of subterfuge, deception, and intrigue.
- An exclusive organization that is not highly regarded by greater society, however is well connected with the Tarumeli leadership.
- Members rarely reveal their true nature.
- Based in Suramel.

The Star Collection (Kiinat al-Qualida)
- College of creation
- Studies the stars, the gods, and Divination..
- Based in Aldurimel. Secondary campus in Malikesh on the Spectral Coast.

The Fey Collection (Kiinat al-Shee)
- College of glamor
- Studies the Fărē’wől world and its connection to/influence on Kǝshän, extending to planar studies and druidic magic.
- The collection’s leadership and some of their members are firbolg. Most of their members are elves sympathetic to the firbolg.
- Based in Suramel.

Brewing Rebellion

Claims of over-policing and voter suppression have surrounded Tarumel for centuries. The discontent has grown into a small rebellion, but even the humble rock can fell the giant. The rebels are well hidden throughout the Crescent Islands, and are reported to have a strong presence in the jagged wilds of the Crescent Mountains. They conduct guerrilla and subversive operations against Tarumel while advertising for representative leadership, greater equity, and transparency in government. Amrul ath-Vae’s official position is that these calls are mere slander.

Most rebel sympathizers are wood elves, although they garner sympathy from many intelligent species. Many orcs from Falchion Isle are especially sympathetic to their struggle against the Tarumeli state, but resist the “rebel” title to avoid acknowledging being a part of Tarumel in the first place.