Slavery

One of the most controversial policy subjects in Undinia, slavery and it's other names have caused alliances to break, open revolts and an entire crusade. While depicting this the enitre history and changing views in one go would be messy, this article will go through the changing attitudes of each area separately, though it should be commented that The empire of Akoom and Lacertillia heavily influence the world as a whole on this subject. A timeline with key dates is at the side.  

Pre era of ages

While exacts are not known before the Phervian era, it is known that both the Vedalken and Draconic empires kept slaves. Though the Draconic era seemed to have social mobility with slaves not only being able to earn freedom but becoming nobles within a generation if able. In contrast the Vedalken seemed to be based off what species you were. The Phervian's in contrast built their empire off of slaves, with slaves having an entire social structure of their own within the empire. The most slaves ever to have existed in Undinia was right before the rebel age.  

Elves and Dwarves

Due to the extended life spans and periods of growth, many youths of both groups expect to serve a time within indentured service to a master while they learn their craft. This is normally set for a fixed time of fifty to hundred years at the start, though some masters do extend the period if they feel the student needs more time though may never exceed a decima. The rules surrounding the contracts are also heavily regulated with it looking more like an apprenticeship rather then servitude. Slavery itself is outlawed within all Elvan and Dwarvian controlled areas, with the exception of the docks of Harl Shuk for a bribe.   [h1}Shifter tribes One of the first groups to emerge out of Rebel Age, the Shifter's took on Saberfang's view of slavery, which was it was an abomination against nature and it was better to be dead then enslaved. A fact emphasised by the fact that there has never been a recorded shifter slave. This belief has lasted throughout the era of ages, with shifters on their call of the wild even going out of their way to free slaves.  

Shadow Republic and successors

One of the more complex situations, officially Wralin within the shadow republic outlawed slavery when he founded hope and while this was mostly followed two cases came up. Firstly The Keeper of Stillharbor was perceived by most as a slave or prisoner for the entirety of the Rebal age, the Council of representatives didn't do anything to combat these allegations leading to the perception only changing during the Divine age, a situation made worse by the second example i will get to in a minute. Overall Slavery has never been accepted within the states that sprang up from the Shadow republic, with slaves that step foot upon republic land being freed. This single exception being the white city.  

The white city

Queen Eva allowed slavery within The White City early in her reign, with Wralin leading the charge against her and at one point nearly kicking the White city out of the republic. This was seen as due to her own higher status among Phervian slave society, and was seen at first as overly distasteful. This would change over time due to the fail safes and laws put in place not only protecting slaves but allowing most to buy their freedom relatively quickly creating a fluctuating slave class of people down on their luck getting back up. It would be this that would stay Wralin's hand.   This practice would be ended under the Empire of Akoom and never restarted, though in the wake of the Fey age several nobles did push for a return to the practice, the vote failed however due to political blocks led by Malkav and the Waterbanes. The White city however does not have the same policy as other Shadow republic successors and don't instantly free slaves in their territory, though the protection laws are still very much in place.  

Akoom Kingdoms

While slavery has never been allowed within Akoomite kingdoms, with a single special case, many people look at the treatment of several groups in the Empire period, the biggest example being the Civipish being treated as second class citizens of the empire. This has lead to calls of hypocrisy and slavery in other names being levelled against the various kingdoms trying to be more extreme anti-slavery to compensate. This over correction was stopped at the end of the Chroma age, though slavery in all forms was outlawed by most Akoomite kingdoms.  

Kingdom of Valanor

As Jamnaria bloated in the aftermath of the Crisis of the Fey age, Valanor secretly started repealing the Akoomite laws on slavery, with indentured servitude becoming legal within the city. This system however became broken with those in power often adding more debt keeping those in their 'employ' under their control.  

The Gem Sea City states

This area is dominated by three groups that while very intertwined, have had their own policies and attitudes to slavery, these groups can be separated further causing most of what is said being generalisations. At the end of the Slave revolts slavory was still very much legal and a lucrative business within the Gem sea, with the exception of Lacertillia. While most slave cargo was traded and sold by independent ships, the cities still made a tidy profit from the sales, the whole slave trade of Undinia ran from this area with especiall Taoul Reza Noach. The growing anti slavery sentiment in Undinia as a whole would change this to the The Phervian Sanctuary after it's founding, though this would be short lived as a failed raid on Lacertillia brought it's own belief on freedom to the fore front.   Lacertillia would not only make sure slavery was abolished in it's own trade network, but declare a crusade against it, putting pressure on other coastal ports to do the same. Through trade pressure and attacks from Lacertillia, the decrease in trade from the expanding Empire of Akoom lead to more city states abolishing slavery. Taoul Reza Noach would forbid the buying and selling of slaves in early divine leaving the Phervians still in the city with the slaves they had, though it would never quite be slave free. Most indipendent ships also stopped transporting slaves and the risk started to sky rocket verse the issues in finding a market that would accept them. By the Crisis the slave trade had turned to a small black market in the gems sea serving only New Draconia, the Phervians, though the weakened Lacertillia no longer actively hunted them.  

Phervian

Continuing the practice from their empire days the economic situation did decrease the amount of slaves within the sanctuary, the practice would come under question several times with decreasing populations. Several families would turn to servents rather then slaves while other kept to the old ways. By the Fey age a hybrid system existed with debates happening both in Taoul Reza Noachs Phervian quarter and the sanctuary itself.  

West and central Frostmourn

One of the most complex situations as slavery itself is outlawed, as are several variations, though it specifies living slavery. While the exact history of slavery in this region is unknown, it is known that by the blood age, living slaves were not a thing, however the frequent use of necromancy in the area did create a large usage of undead 'slaves'. The exact view of this practice varied heavily from community to community. This would also be outlawed under the Empire of Akoom, though would be a a subject of contention within the region till the Crisis depending on who ruled an area.   The Kingdom of Feny would codify laws on the subject that would be adopted by the whole region. While this kept the outlawing of the living slaves, it allowed people to sell their bodies to necromancers to raise after death, legalising undead slaves with consent of the original owner of the body. This is the only area in 200 Fey with laws regarding undead slavery, creating a grey area in other locations according to Vörös.  

New Draconia

While most Draconic outlawed slavery after the slave revolts, or at a similar time as the surrounding kingdoms, Essyrri went the other way, enslaving entire groups under her control to prop up her broken kingdom. This would earn her the distrust and ire of several other kingdoms, the both Akoomite and Lacertillian ships ordered to bored any Draconian ships they cam across.  

Rivell and Basq

In the aftermath of the Slave revolts, Rivell and Basq still allowed slavery within it's borders, though the expense meant only the truly wealthy could afford them leading to Serfdom as the more popular option. Rivell proper would see a decrease in slavery not from any legal reform but economic, leading to the number of slaves decreasing through the Rebel and early Divine age. By the time the Akoomite's conquered Rivell in 150 Divine there were actually no slaves in the country, leading to a strange situation where slavery was perfectly legal, just never done, a loop hole that existed till the just after the Crisis of the fey age.   Basq in comparison who got slaves from the east had more slaves through the early part of the ear of ages, with many nobles owning them right up through the blood age. For reasons unknown by Basq the trade did start to dry up hiking up price leading it the same way Rivell did, however the Duchess still had slaves during the Crisis leading to Stephan outlawing the practice at his coronation, leading Rivell to realize their own laws and follow suit.