Azure Federation

The city states of Azure are often called the "jewels of the East", renowned for their breathtaking architecture and pristine environments, perfected by the high elves over millennia.

History
These lands were the original home of the high elves of the continent many millennia ago. For a long time the elven city states were completely independent an often fought wars with each other, but as the humans of Aegeron started forming larger realms, it became apparent that the high elves needed to unite, thus the ancient Azure Federation was born, a realm that united the elves of present day's Federation, Iregion and part of Eldhil.

The ancient Azure Federation was perhaps the most prosperous realm on the Continent for centuries, until the newly formed Imperium started coveting its wealth. Unlike the other kingdoms and principalities the Imperium conquered before, the Federation represented a foe massive in size and comparable in strength, on that could not be subdued easily with either military force or magic. Instead the Imperium chose to adopt a long-term strategy of usng their agents to sow distrust and discontent among the various city states of the elves. It took them almost twenty years, but in the end they managed to incite a civil war within the federation after which they easily conquered the divided elves.

High elves live a very long time, and although they have been living under imperial rule for three centuries, the elders still remembered the time before. So when the Imperium fell in A.I. 400, the elven city states quickly declared their independence and returned to their old ways.

But the strife of the Succession Wars drew close. First the remnants of the imperial mages subjugated the elven cities of Iregion, then a former general of the Imperial Legion carved out his own realm from the land of elves. The high elves could no longer ignore the threat of humans so they reforged the ancient alliances, and the new Azure Federation was born.

Life
Life and culture in Azure is dictated by the millennia old customs of the high elves. While there was a large influx of humand, dwarves and other races during the time of the Imperium, non-elves still often feel unwelcome by the strange stares the high elves give them.

The various city states have different social structure (some ruled by kings, some by elected officials, others run by noble families), but they all share a common high-elf culture going back many millennia that binds them together.

With the exception of the Imperial City no human city in the history of Man could match the splendor and grace of Azure's elven architecture. It is rumored that the Imperium chose rather to give the city states autonomy within the empire than risk destroying them in war. These cities produce some of the finest wares in the entire continent, merchants come from all corners of the world to buy various elven luxuries, making Azure the wealthiest realm in the Continent.