Sylvara - Politics

INTERNAL:

The Verdant Oracle leads Sylvara as the wisest druid, chosen by consensus of the grove circles through visions and nature trials, prioritizing harmony with the wilds over personal power. Sylvaran society is decentralized and communal, with decisions made in sacred groves where disputes are mediated by respected elders or grove deities.

Grove elders, attuned to specific forests or elements, form the Circle of Groves, gathering seasonally to address threats or policies on land stewardship. Roles are fluid, based on attunement strength, and the Grovekeeper facilitates without dictating, fostering unity through shared rituals.

Shamans and wardens offer guidance on magical anomalies, their input integrated to maintain balance rather than hierarchy.

EXTERNAL:

Sylvara interacts with other nations through protective isolationism—trading natural bounties while fiercely defending their groves, upholding the Veilsea Accords to preserve peace but twisting aggressors as warnings. They rely on Thaloryn for diplomatic buffers against raiders.

With regard to individual nations:

Duskreef: Sylvara repels Duskreef's opportunistic slave raids with druidic defenses, using the infamous village assault as a tale of retribution, avoiding trade due to piracy.

Ironcrag: Sylvara trades lumber and herbs to Ironcrag, sharing a mutual respect for nature's bounty but clashing over resource extraction methods that Sylvara deems exploitative. Sylvara has limited use for Ironcrag goods but makes exceptions for finely crafted swords and light armor.

Korathis: Sylvara's stance on Korathis is mutual indifference, considering them combat-obsessed but not often at odds due to Sylvara's limited travel outside their nation.

Kragvost: Sylvara endures Kragvost's brutal thrall hunts with heavy magical retaliation, seeing them as despoilers of the land, leading to ongoing border tensions across the narrow Ritual Straights that make Sylvara the closest and easiest target for Kragvostian bloodlust.

Lumivale: Sylvara shares wild magic insights and magical components from their groves with Lumivale for structured arcane knowledge, maintaining respectful but philosophical differences on magic's role, as these components are highly sought after in Lumivale markets.

Nyxumbra: Sylvara combats Nyxumbra's raids for bloodlines with purifying rituals, viewing necromancy as an abomination, with rare truces for anti-Veilbreak efforts.

Thaloryn: Sylvara allies with Thaloryn in Accord enforcement, providing natural wards in exchange for diplomatic aid against aggressors.

Valthorne: Sylvara shuns Valthorne's slaving, but sharing a border Valthorne is the primary purchaser of grove grown resources for their many business interests. Valthorne's District of Alchemy prizes plants and components, while the District of Ships often tries to purchase magical hardwoods.

Zephyris: Sylvara trades freely with Zephyris, sharing aerial and ground magics in a harmonious alliance that bolsters mutual defenses. Much of the lumber utilized for Zephrian airships come from harmonious harvesting of Slyvaran groves.