Lumivale - Politics

INTERNAL:

The Archmage rules Lumivale as the pinnacle of arcane mastery, selected by the Council of Arcanists from those with the highest magical potential through trials of spellcraft and intellect. Lumivalian society is rigidly stratified by arcane aptitude, where those with power command obedience, and internal disputes are resolved via magical duels or scholarly debates.

Arcanists of proven talent form the Council, governing from towering spires where policies on magic research and caste assignments are debated with precision. Seats are merit-based, lost through failed challenges or waning power, and the Archmage arbitrates with binding spells to enforce unity. Lower-caste advisors handle mundane affairs, their input valued only for practicality but often overridden by arcane elites focused on esoteric pursuits.

EXTERNAL:

Lumivale deals with other nations through an elitist lens—allying with those who respect magic, exploiting the weak, and upholding the Veilsea Accords to safeguard their arcane dominance. They leverage Thaloryn's diplomacy for knowledge exchanges while using illusions and wards to deter threats, and overwhelming magical potency to destroy them.

With regard to individual nations:

Duskreef: Lumivale disdains Duskreef's crudeness, using magical blockades and illusions to deter raids on isolated mages or citizens, with minimal covert trade for rare relics.

Ironcrag: Lumivale trades arcane enhancements for Ironcrag's enchanted metals, maintaining cordial relations but clashing over contract terms due to the craftsmen’s practicality versus mages' hierarchy.

Korathis: Lumivale acquires gladiators or artifacts with magical potential from Korathis for arcane enhancements to their own pursuits, maintaining pragmatic but wary relations due to Lumivale's disdain for physical over magical prowess.

Kragvost: Lumivale repels Kragvost raids with magical defenses, dismissing them as barbaric, but occasionally trades for raw magical reagents harvested from their wilds.

Nyxumbra: Lumivale despises Nyxumbra's dark magic and presence as the largest competitor in magical prowess in the Veil. They constantly have to protect their knowledge and artifacts from attempted thefts by Nyxumbrian agents and saboteurs. They publically denounce Nyxumbria and the Lich Queen at every opportunity, and secretly engage in trade with nations or rogue elements that can offer Nyxumbrian information or artifacts for destruction (aka: secret study).

Sylvara: Lumivale trades arcane knowledge with Sylvara for wild magic insights, sharing a mutual respect for mysticism but disagreeing on structured versus natural approaches. The magical components harvested in Slyvara's grove are some of the most sought after resources in Lumivale markets.

Thaloryn: Lumivale collaborates closely with Thaloryn on Accord enforcement through shared libraries, viewing them as intellectual equals in things non-magic related and essential for regional stability. Their shared border allows for a great deal of trade, and Thaloryn markets and trade routes are often used by citizens of Lumivale for acquiring black market goods more circumspectly than directly importing through Lumivale ports.

Valthorne: Lumivale purchases magically gifted slaves from Valthorne to elevate their castes, engaging in elite trades but looking down on their mercantile focus. The Valthorne markets - white, grey and black - are often the site of the most interesting relic sales, so Lumivale agents keep a close eye on them.

Zephyris: Lumivale trades wind magics intelligence with Zephyris for aerial arcane secrets, appreciating their freedom but finding their nomadism incompatible with structured alliances. As the two nations that can obtain and utilize Veilbreak Cores for airship construction there is an ongoing rivalry. Lumivale views Zephyrian cores and airships as rudimentary and lackluster since they are often efficiently used alongside other methods of lift or propulsion. Zephyrians seed Lumivale ships as wasteful and over-engineered since they rely entirely on cores for their power.