Tanis is Comalan's westernmost nation, sharing a northern border with Heron, a southern border with Galeon, and an eastern border with Resta. The overwhelming majority of the country is shrouded in forests, lending an air of mystery to its landscape. It is known as the home of both elves and dwarves, both of which are typically indifferent to human excursions into their land. The nation enjoys a variable climate, that is arid and hot around Marble Desert to the south, but which experiences cool summers near its Northern Borderlands.
These disparate climates are experienced in equal measure by the many travelers who cross their respective borders into Tanis frequently for different reasons. In the north, Heron braves frequent forays into Tanisian land for their plentiful lumber, which the elves and dwarves have no use for. This frequent trespassing and elven reverence for Tanisian plant life has bred mutual hostility between the two countries that has persisted throughout all of recorded history. To the south, Galeans frequently visit Marble Desert to study the unique life forms of Comalan's only known desert. Tanisians are more welcoming of these people due to their respect for the creatures of Tanis and years of friendly interaction throughout the Second and Third Ages have led the people of Tanis to consider Galeon its ally. Resta is the most respectful of their border with Tanis. People cross the bridge that links the two countries freely to experience what each side has to offer, but never in threatening numbers. This has revealed a cultural affinity between Tanisians and Restans, who share their passion for religion before reason. This has allowed a cordial relationship to exist between the two countries that is only occasionally challenged by Resta's positive tolerance of Heron.
Tanisian cities are self-governed independent states which are each led by its own council. These councils are responsible for all local policy and for coordinating the protection of their respective stretches of forest from lumberers and poachers. These Councilors are elected to ten year terms through an ancient ritual that is meant to keep any power random and limited. The idea that every councilor will eventually be replaced through an unpredictable appointment makes corruption a rare outcome; few councilors dare to risk provoking the ire of anyone who might end up holding power over them later. In addition to local councils, there is a National Council located in the capitol city of Orion which is charged with coordinating national affairs such as border defense and relief funding.
The people of Tanis almost exclusively favor subterranean dwellings, choosing to build their cities into the ground rather than harm their trees by expanding outward. Elves, in particular, revere the trees so much that lumbering is legally comparable to poaching in Tanis, both of which are taken more seriously than violent crimes against people. While many foreigners find the elves' fierce protection of the forest counterproductive, they have managed to flourish by developing a strong affinity for metalwork and masonry that is meant to eliminate any and all need for wood or leather. As such, their textiles are largely developed through synthetic fabrics and their structures are built of stone and metal. While this hasn't always been the case, no elf will talk about the days when they used to harvest plants for anything besides sustenance.
While the elves built their cities into the ground, dwarves once lived even deeper into the earth, exploring endless natural tunnels and subsisting on fungus from the middle of the First Age all the way to the beginning of the Third Age. Since their discovery by the Avatar of Crane, the dwarves have been quick to integrate into Tanisian society. This has proven to be problematic because, while the dwarves have worshiped Crane since before Serenity claimed dominion over the forest, Tanis' national religion has always been strictly Serene. This religious dichotomy is new to both races, and has been eased only by Tanis' friendly relationship with Galeon, another culture devoted to Crane.
In the First Age, Tanis was known as Terris, the birthplace of earth magic, a fact which is evident in the powers of the Stoneguard, who use precious gems to invoke powerful magic. The elves of the First Age enjoyed a golden age of art and technology when they were uplifted by Serenity that wasn't to last. Their mastery of the gods' ancient language, as well as their cultural legacy were all sealed in stone following the resolution of the War of The Gods, for which Serenity punished the people of Terris by burying their cities with a seismic vengeance. Following the lead of Galeon and Heron, Terris was renamed to Tanis as a symbol of a new path for the elven people. Since then, the elves have worked in earnest to clear the tons of stone and debris that have filled their cities level by level, redevelop their lost infrastructure, and rediscover their lost culture.
These efforts are bolstered by the caste system that defines modern elven society, which was enacted specifically to expedite the restoration and expansion of their cities. The first of the castes is the Elder Caste, who are well educated and specifically trained to lead. Elders comprise the majority of all local councils and the entirety of the National Council, but less ambitious members of the caste as well as those who have recently served a council term trend toward military service. The second caste is the Mercantile Caste, which contains the craftsmen, artists, and traders of Tanis. Their purpose is to drive the Tanisian economy, relieve members of the other castes with necessary goods and services, and guide the future of Tanisian culture. The third, and most important, of the castes is the Worker Caste. While one might expect this caste to be composed strictly of the laborers who clean and build the cities, it also includes the archaeologists who interpret any important findings from the rubble and the educators who disperse the knowledge gained from their excursions. While most outsiders and dwarves are critical of the caste system, elves in general recognize it as a necessary evil that will eventually be retired once they reclaim everything they have lost.
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Society
- More on the Caste System - I might have nailed the gist in this post, but here's some more info anyway.
Folklore and Festivals
- The Legend of Bear the Eversprite Hound - The story of a creature from Tanis who was dragged to Resta by poachers.
- Tey Bola ul Handeen - The folklore behind Tanis' winter festival.
Stories
- It Comes for Those Who Don't Run- The ongoing story of Aennin Moonstep, the Avatar of Maula.
People
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