Hylsa
The Most Serene Republic of Hylsa is a tiny island nation, comprised of Drow refugees and asylum seekers from the Triumverate War. Not entirely trusted, they are not fully trusted by the Elves who granted them, and their status as a nation or merely an elaborate penal colony is left up for debate.
Territories
an island of only 11,000 square miles, with twice as many inhabitants, Hylsa is both the smallest and least popululous nation in all of T'sara; if one even wishes to recgonize them as their own nation. The island only has one prominent settlement, a fortress near the port towards the western coast. The island itself is generally flat. Receiving more rain than the mainland, the island is suitable for farming, leaving the population here largely self sufficient, if severely limited.
Military
They Hylsans are not allowed to have a formalized military. As most of the residents are war veterans, the ability to completely quash the military ethos out of them is impossible, and to some degree, it's been mutually beneficial to them and to the Sylrans. Weapons permitted here are scarce; a few of the senior officers were permitted to hold onto their decorative or symbolic weapons as a sign of magnanimity. The most common are a few crossbows, permitted for hunting, which must be surrendered to the Sylran guards at the end of each hunt.
Religion
Through a prophetic vision of their leader, Khilgana, Hylsans believe that they have been chosen by Varissa, First of Six Sisters, and creators of the Elves. According to them, they and all Drow have been Absolved of any wrong doings, as have their ancestors before them, if only they would reunite with their elvish cousins and end this eternal war with the surface world. It is now their mission to not only encourage proper Elves to accept them in as equals and family without hesitation or judgement, but to encourage other drow to put down their arms and join them. This latter part will prove almost impossible, as the Hylsans are now recognized as all being traitors to their race and culture, and would be killed on sight if identified.
Although the original prophecy didn't include her, recent conversations has also included Phoenicia, Sixth of Sistters. Goddess of Mercy and Children, their lives and futures are as dependant on her as they are to Varissa. This will be a multi generational mission, in all likelyhood.
In their separation from their underground kin, the long silence has allowed them greater time to reflect, and have begun paying respects and tributes to the other Gods. For the first time in an Age, Drow are commemorating marriages and childbirths with dedications to Hjanda, Fourth of Six Sisters, Goddess of Dwarves and Families.
Although the original prophecy didn't include her, recent conversations has also included Phoenicia, Sixth of Sistters. Goddess of Mercy and Children, their lives and futures are as dependant on her as they are to Varissa. This will be a multi generational mission, in all likelyhood.
In their separation from their underground kin, the long silence has allowed them greater time to reflect, and have begun paying respects and tributes to the other Gods. For the first time in an Age, Drow are commemorating marriages and childbirths with dedications to Hjanda, Fourth of Six Sisters, Goddess of Dwarves and Families.
Foreign Relations
The relationship with the Sylran Denolo is complicated. Most are still old enough to remember the shameful surrender on the battlefield, when they should have fought to the death, and that the Elves chose to parole them to this island instead of kill them. That they are willing to at least humor the ideas of their new religious movement, considering themselves The Absolved, is also strongly worth considering. On the other hand, they are still being treated as prisoners of war and adversaries, and not as independant citizens of a small foreign nation, or potential allies. Their lack of trust may have made sense at the beginning, but in the decades since, the Hylsians have not once tried to rebel or usurp their Sylran occupiers, though that may change soon, if their full independance is not acknowledged and realized.
While their occupiers do not recognize their sovereignty, the nearby League of Lesia is more willing to do so. Not having been adversaries in the Triumverate War, they are not as affected by memories of "recent" events. With a more diverse population than the Divine Empire of Sylran, there's also less ingrained distrust of Drow, although it wouldn't be fair to say that it's nonexistent. Still, while it would be easy to say that the Lesian League is taking a more objective approach, the cynical view would be quick to point out issues at hand. Lesia and Sylran have been enemies to different degrees long since the Triumverate War, and offering to support the sovereignty of this small nation may just be a matter of them poking the proverbial sleeping bear with a stick. The Lesians, while more open in their government, have no illusions of being a representative government of any sort, and have no real business supporting a Republic such as them without first reforming their own society.
Capital
Currency
what little coinage circulates in Hylsa comes from the Imperial mainland of Sylran. There is little squabble about this fact: even if they were granted full independance and sovereignty, the land lacks any meaningful ore to smelt to create coins. Multiple petitions to the Sylran government have been made to grant them their own coinage, as a symbolic gesture, and has been rejected each time.
With little coinage changing hands, and their lives being consistently controlled, much of the economy of Hylsa, such as it is, occurs through informal exchanges of favors and collective labor.
With little coinage changing hands, and their lives being consistently controlled, much of the economy of Hylsa, such as it is, occurs through informal exchanges of favors and collective labor.
Major Exports
Food and textiles are some of the few exports that come out of Hylsa back to the mainland. The large area of grassland allows for consistent grazing. This has allowed the communities to hold small herds of cattle and of sheep. Excess meat is sold back to the Sylrans, along with the wool. Despite being seemingly trapped, the ladies of Hylsa have developed into competent seamstresses, with a unique style of embroidering their work that has become fashionable to outsiders; ones that likely don't know that Hylsan wool garments are made by Drow hands.
Major Imports
Much of Hylsa's needs, other than food, are imported from the mainland. A key part is iron, both in raw ingots and in forged or smithed final goods, from nails to farmtools, to weapons (if they were allowed any). Even wood is brought in: although there are some small forested areas here, the wood is of poor quality for making homes out of, and the limited supply would be quickly exhausted using it as fuel for fires.
Legislative Body
A council of 25 are elected directly among the people. The election is held every four years, in which all representatives are up for reelection each time. Although an individual may serve as long as the population believes they are doing their jobs, it is considered bad form in such a small community to be actively involved in politicking for the position.
The council has little real power, and so most of the votes pertain to drafting petitions to the Slyran governor for redress, and declarations for self governance of behavior, that do not carry the full force of law.
The council has little real power, and so most of the votes pertain to drafting petitions to the Slyran governor for redress, and declarations for self governance of behavior, that do not carry the full force of law.
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Related Species
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