A Spark in the Wind

Appendix C: The Elves' Way of Life

Small tribes are more or less sworn to one clan or the other, which in themselves are larger, better-established tribes, often in personal unions through marriages with other tribes and clans. These clans are responsible to the monarch for collecting taxes and warriors from each tribe, as well as settling local disputes and punishing intertribal crimes. The leader of these clans, often called kings or queens (if fairly autonomous), or dukes or duchesses or jarls (if directly sworn to the King or Queen of the Forest Kingdom), are all sworn vassals to the Lord of the Forest, who happens to be the King or Queen of the Dragonseer Clan.

Although to be fair, in times of peace the monarch has significantly less power and all clans under the Dragonseer Clan are autonomous, thus the Forest Kingdom's popular second name goes: the Alledor Federation.

The monarch themselves, as the sayings go, are on equal levels with the Forest Gods: powerful woodlands spirits who rule vast swathes of forest land, and amongst themselves form a confederacy which spans the woodlands, almost in the form of a commonwealth, although these days they remain silent for the most part.

Random piece of trivia: this is why a great many wood-elves do not endorse the existence of the Alinor-Alledor commonwealth. In their eyes, the Forest Kingdom despite being a part of the gods' confederacy is in a personal union with the Kingdom of Alinor, which may bring in difficulties later on.

Under the AAC, both kingdoms are subject to the constitution of Alinor, although the many woodland tribes are less bothered with. Mirroring the fashion that goes on in Alinor, oftentimes the many clan-lords would sit at Silverhearth, with the monarch of the Dragonseer Clan acting as the supreme chancellor, as well as a dictator in case of emergencies.

(ii)

OF THE VARIOUS CUISINES AND BEVERAGES OF ALLEDORIA

Albeit a people used to hardships, elves are fond of food and luxury, aspiring nothing more than tasty food, sweet wine, warm hearth, and soft bed. Culinary skill amongst the elves is considered an art in itself, and many a professional chef may spend centuries perfecting this art.

It is without question that high-elves enjoy better food than wood-elves, used to a variety of foods and spices from all over the land, eating two big meals and two smaller ones every day in times of plenty. The wood-elves on the other hand tend to eat whatever comes by, with their rations greatened in spring and summer and reduced in winter months.

For both peoples, the most common source of nourishment is bread, which may be baked with meat, butter, eggs, garlic, cheese, mushrooms, vegetables, or sweets for a filling meal. For long travels flatbread is a common choice amongst the high-elves, which is often rolled with meat or vegetable filling in the middle. In taverns of Alinor and countryside homes, pierogi is a popular dish: vegetable and meat filling wrapped in dough, steamed and served with hot sauce and spicy soup.

Other than that, both peoples have cuisines that involve a variety of things with potatoes, noodles, fish, meat, porridge, and salads. The last of which, is a thing the Forest Kingdom is famous for, with a variety of forest vegetables, edible roots, nuts, fruits, berries and fungi, often mingled with exotic meats and wild flowers.

Although there are no dishes reserved exclusively for the aristocrats, chieftains and senators do enjoy better food, laden with exotic spices and herbs, cooked by professionals.

As of beverages, high-elves and wood-elves have their own differences, with high-elf wine and brandy spiced with spices from distant lands, made from fermenting hybridised fruits and vegetables, whilst wood-elf wine and beer is incredibly diverse, adorned with woodland herbs and spices, often scented with the blood of exotic animals.