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Introduction "Thank you, esteemed colleagues of this sagacious council. I wish to thank and commend each of you for your confidence in me. I swear by the fires of the Nine Hells, that I will not fail the tremendous responsibility your confidence lays on me.
"I completed my studies and saw still more of the vision. I soared in the sky, above the Temple and the castles. Surrounding them, a sea of blacksteel glittered in the sunlight. Thousands of samurai, our finest warriors, bent on furthering the honor of their families, their lords, and their nation, gathered in the forest. Now, I thought to myself, I will act as a liaison between the military and the church. My father scoffed at the notion. He said I was too week to survive the trials of military life. Still, I believed. "I took the test of Nosferian, and became the first to ever fail and yet survive. My dreams evaporated in an instant. The Dara [Editor's note: The title "Dara" is given to any priest, it translates loosely as "Blessed." This is similar to the title Kal, which is given to a samurai. It translates as "Sir."] administering the test felt that an error had occurred, and that I should be sacrificed to Nosferian. His superiors, however, did not wish to interfere with Nosferian's will, and they sent me home. "I shut myself away for many days. I thought. I cried. I tried to force the image out of my mind. It had not vanished after I failed, but instead it grew stronger. Now, I could distinguish faces among the Samurai. Some of them sit on this Council to this day. I resolved to continue with my quest. I needed to flesh out the image and comprehend its message. "I began to study the art of summoning. My innate affinity for the art forced my master to question my path. 'A student as adept as you,' he told me, 'should study under Nosferian's own care, with the Church.' I did not answer him. In fact, we never spoke again. I left, returning to my father's estate and continuing to study on my own. "Yes, I have dabbled in politics of this Council, but they never captured my heart. I studied the art, and I studied the image. I eventually surpassed even the oldest summoners. My skills even put most priests to shame. I sought knowledge beyond this peninsula, and under the guise of a human, I began a correspondence with other races. This correspondence had lent me the knowledge and power to be here today. "It also completed my vision and gave me new direction. As the paramount summoner in all of Tarien, need another challenge. What greater challenge, however, exists other than that of Nosferian's servants in the Hells? The answer lies in the image I still see before me. I see our Samurai allying with our priests and summoners. I see our entire nation together, at the base of the Temple. I see us sending spies to the west. I see us marching on mass! I see our army at the edge of the damnable Soulmeliti Forests! And, esteemed colleagues, I SEE IT BURNING! The time we have spent regenerating has ended. NOW IS THE TIME FOR VENGEANCE!" - from Selengar Shal'Ashen's speech upon his appointment to the Elanthai Council, Endrick the 1st, 412 AC. History 
The history of the Elanthai Council begins in 1,747 BC, when the Elynthi settle in the western forests of the peninsula they named Merdenkal. Using Baatuza legions, they force their Soulmeliti pursuers to abandon their mission, but only after Ag'ralo Moeyn'shiem kills their religious and political leader, Merdenkali. By 1,743 BC the Elynthi have construct the first town, Elanthai, on the shores of the Bay of Sorrow. They begin farming and constructing a temple to Nosferian. It is here that the Church first establishes its foothold in the politics of the land. By 1,730 BC more powerful families rise in the surrounding land, and the settlement of Netterkiish is founded. Settlements in Kornitch, Maiz'ettesh, Ryztsh, and Wash-kal grow quickly, and by 1,650 BC, the Elynthi have spread throughout the entire Merdenkal Peninsula. Settlements in Marshurtin and Breytietch grow. The politics of the land begin to blur, as powerful families squabble with the Church as to the best direction for the fledgling nation. It is at this time that the first ninja clan, Nush'oyen, forms, in the town of Marshurtin, and involves themselves in mercenary politics. In the year 1,657 BC, a child named Kazmak Shal'Morkung is born in Ryztsh. He sees visions as a child and learns quickly, passing into the church by 1,512 BC. His life, although short, led to a great revelation in the religion of Nosferian. He defined the relationship between the Elynthi and the Baatuza in his book, Of Darkness and Light, published in 1,382 BC. He dies in a conflict with a Pit Fiend that he summons in 1,240 BC. The Church builds a Temple dedicated to Dara Kazmack on Sanctuary Isle in 1,204 BC. All knowledge regarding the Baatuza is funneled to a massive library in the temple's basement. Nosferious, a great city of winding streets and stone buildings, is constructed as the capital in 1,589 BC. The Elanthai Council, consisting of the leaders of the top ten families and three representatives from the church, convenes for the first time to lay out the laws of the land. By 1,551 BC the construction of Merdenkali's Temple along the banks of the Rak-vouk River is completed. The Council, which has grown to include three samurai warlords and summoner, moves here. In 987 BC, a mystical samurai, known only as Kal Oshi, writes The Way of the Warrior, a book outlining the code of Bushido by which all honorable samurai must live. The code passes into common law over the next century. First Family Harzi'kan moves from Nosferious to the more isolated city of Rezni'kalia, which it funds in 844 BC. In a related event, the great ninja clan Nush'oyen, splinters into civil war in 845 BC. Many historians believe that the schism has its roots in Harzi'kan money funneled into a coup attempt by higher ranking, dissenting ninja. By 835 BC, three more ninja clans have scattered throughout the land. The most powerful houses have also managed to provide sanctuary for renegade ninjas. For the first time, ninja begin to work solely for one house. Perhaps the most important discovery made in Merdenkal occurred in 658 BC when Draishni Shal'Madogin formulated the alloy blacksteel. Made from secret metals in an unknown process, blacksteel has proven to be the strongest, lightest, and most durable metal in Tarien. Another Madogin, Randinshon, perfects the art of smithing with blacksteel. He manages to combine Soulmeliti art with Elynthi materials, to create the first noble blacksteel katanas and wakizashis. By 431 BC the entire military force, public and private, in Merdenkal brandishes blacksteel weapons and armor. The secret remains jealously guarded and does not leave the peninsula. Due to their discovery of the metal, and the profits it has generated the Madogin family forces a ranking vote, and moves from 84th rank to 9th. This is the last vote for rank that the council has held. A second visionary, Selengar Shal'Ashen, enters the world in 272 AC. He becomes the first to fail the test of Nosferian and live. He goes on to become the preeminent Summoner in all of Tarien. He assists the Flietch-ta Emperor's efforts to disband the Justicars in 400 AC, in return for their allegiance at a later date. In 412 AC, at the ripe age of 140, Selengar receives an appointment to the Elanthai Council, and promises that vengeance is near. Under Selengar's direction, the Council sends spies westward. They gain allies in the Grennig Resistance and, the Thieves' Guild of Karradone, and in the Nerrid Secret Service. One Elynthi, Rengé, is fingered as a member of the pre-ordained. The Council engages in full-scale war in 455 AC, but world efforts, and the betrayal of Rengé, and Alequeas's spell of renewal, force their retreat back into isolation. Geography
The Elanthai Council governs a peninsula of rich forests and rolling hills. Most of the forest has remained virgin, as the Elynthi number less than two million. They take little from the land, and like their distant cousins the Soulmeliti, give much back. The climate is temperate, and snow falls readily in the winter. The temperature rarely rises to an intolerable level, even on the hottest of days, and generally hovers a bit below freezing in the dead of winter. Rain is plentiful and the fertile soil provides the perfect medium for most crops. The hills and mountains to the west of the peninsula provide many metals, including a large supply of the nearly mythical blacksteel. Two rivers run like veins down the spine of the peninsula, although they become too shallow too quickly to navigate far upstream. The two seas, Merden and Kali, are rough and cold. Although the Elynthi do not make fabulous sailors, they do have a merchant fleet and, to a lesser extent, a military one.
Society
Elynthi society revolves around families. A family consists of great grandparents, their siblings, and all of the assorted children. While this may seem large, the average Elynthi has no more than three children. To further keep families small and simple, when an Elynthi marries another, the must pick one family, abandoning the other. Political marriages still occur, but Elynthi are particular about their mates so they have become a rarity.
The society operates on a principal of visible honor. One must seem respectable and strong to others. This veil of appearances keeps everything neat and orderly on the surface. Underneath, however, deception and subterfuge reign supreme. Families are ranked, at the discretion of the Elanthai Council. Individuals are ranked by age and station within the both the family and the society as a whole. Priests of Nosferian are seen as the chosen, while samurai and summoners command much respect. Ninja, of course, do not reveal their identities and receive no special benefits for their station. Religion The state religion of the Elanthai Council is the Church of Nosferian. They believe in a primitive sort of monotheism, where Nosferian is God and Tyloma is the Anti-God. They consider open display of affection for any deity other than Nosferian as pagan blasphemy, punishable by sacrifice to Nosferian. In order to become a member of Nosferian's order, the Elynthi must pass a gruesome test. Failure results in death. Religion remains essential to their culture. Nosferian saved them from the despots in Soulmeliti, he guided them across the Darien Plains, and still lends his servants to powerful priests. Few have the courage, or desire, to speak or act in any manner that conflicts with the Church. Thus, they play as large a part as any family in the politics of the Council. Politics The Elanthai Council, seated in the Temple of Merdenkal, directs the people of the Merdenkal Peninsula. The Council contains 21 members. Eleven are appointed by a three-quarters vote in council. Individuals receiving these appointments are generally powerful Priests, Samurai, and Summoners. These appointments are for life. [Editor's note: "Elanthai" as Elders, generally only seasoned Elynthi are appointed.] The remaining ten fall to the heads of each of the top ten ranked families. These families may also have other powerful individuals with lifetime appointments. This leads to one family have essentially two or more votes. [Editor's note: The most seats ever given to one family happen is three, when Dara Kazmack Shal'Morkung received his appointment. The Morkung Family had their family seat, a seat for Dara Kazmack, and one for Kal Treshnin, a powerful warlord in the family.] Politicking occurs in back alleys and during the dead of night. Where discussion fails, ninja succeed. They gather sensitive information, pilfer powerful objects, and murder unwanted enemies. Their role remains entirely hidden, however, as the discovery of an, "illegal ninja action," results in disciplinary action from the rest of the Council. Current issues on the floor of the Council include Western trade, Flietch-ta diplomacy, and further retribution against the Soulmeliti. The first ten families on the Council are: Harzi'kian (1st), Vorka (2nd), Zienslet (3rd), Grieshni (4th), Morkung (5th), Tuiz (6th), Krashnitzti (7th), Klentrin (8th), Madogin (9th), and Alusht (10th). Economics The lands of the Council provides a bounty of agricultural products ranging from cloths like satin, silk, and wool, to foodstuffs such as rice, broccoli, and other green vegetables. The Elynthi raise sheep, pig, and cow for food. Chickens are not unheard of, but are rare. The sea also produces, providing fish, crabs, and lobster. The peninsula also supplies mines, worked by slave labor (mostly criminals and Orcs). These mines produce silver, iron, and several rare metals involved in the production of blacksteel. Blacksteel, an alloy made from closely guarded secret ingredients, is featherweight metal of incredible strength. Master smiths make exception weapons, armor, tools, and other products from it. Trade occurs within the Peninsula over land and sea. Trade with the Flietch-ta Empire occurs regularly, via caravan routes through the mountains. The major export is blacksteel objects, followed by crates of live lobsters, considered a delicacy in Pashti. The Council also trades papers, quills, ceramics, and clothing. Most are products, rather than raw materials. Limited trade also exists with the western world. Brentor Shal'Madogin, a master blacksteelsmith, owns a shop in the Grand Bazaar of Karradone. He is supplied with a quantity of raw blacksteel from a single caravan that runs between Geran (Galencia) and Brennin (Merdenkal). [Editor's note: the profits from this venture have literally flown into Brennin, and the Ninth Ranked Family has recently called for a vote of order, hoping to improve their position.] Cities Two major cities lie on the peninsula. Nosferian, the capital, lies on the southern shore, and provides the council with its largest, most accessible port. The city belongs to no family, and is considered neutral ground. Its maze of streets writhes with political intrigue. Rezni'kali lies in the northwest. It belongs to the Harzi'kian family. They have held the rank of first for five hundred years, and their city is a testament to their power and wealth. It is a geometric city, with unusually shaped buildings, many in the form of pyramids, pentagons, and trapezoids. It is easily defendable, due to a tremendous wall and the city's personal legion of Baatuza. The Ninja The ninja do not exist. This fact has become essential for both their survival and their activities. The Elanthai Council specifically defines most missions that ninjas assume as "illegal ninja actions". If anyone discovers the ninja, both he and the party that hired him are put to death. They slip into the estates of powerful families and murder heirs while they sleep. Many "illegal ninja actions" occur on a regular basis. They range from the most devious assassinations to intelligence gathering, and from discrediting campaigns to robbery. The majority of the time, the Council will know that a ninja action has occurred, but they do not know who ordered the action or who committed it. Actions of this sort are the standard by which families practice politics. The times when evidence of the action appears before the Council, or when a family captures a ninja in the act, are when the Council doles out punishment. Once, centuries ago, only one ninja clan operated in all of Merdenkal. This clan, known as Nush'oyen [Editor's note: "Nush'oyen translates loosely as "the unseen hand.] sold its services to the highest bidder and played families off against one another. When corruption, greed, and incompetence lead to civil war within the clan in 804 BC, it splintered into four distinct clans. These clans separated each maintaining a base of power in different parts of the peninsula. The Nush'oyen-tyne Clan, a direct derivative of the originally clan, still operates with its base of power in Nosferious. The Jeziish Clan makes its base of operations in the foothills of the Gartch'kalt Mountains. The Prentith'gize Clan settled somewhere in the Krishal Valley, and the Morin'ferian Clan made a home in the forests between Elanthai and Rezni'kalia. In addition to the four major clans, which sell their services to any bidder, most of the wealthier families have a small unit of ninja on retainer. In some cases this means that one or two important family members learn the skills of the ninja and pass the tradition down through the generations. Other times the ninja are nukenin, or renegades from the great clans who seek refuge in a powerful family in return for their services. The Baatuza The greatest gift that Nosferian bestows upon his most powerful priests is the ability to summon and control Baatuza. Most of the time, these fiends from the Hells are summoned for short periods and perform specific tasks. More powerful priests occasionally summon Baatuza and keep them on retainer. The Baatuza influence politics, and are often used like ninja. They also provide information, combat services, and with least Baatuza, perform manual labor. The Elynthi also use them for transportation, by having the Baatuza teleport without error, taking groups of Elynthi with them. . For the safety of all involved, Baatuza may not enter the Council chambers in the temple of Merdenkal. Summoners, those not willing take the test for entry into the Church, but powerful mages in their own right, use Baatuza in similar ways. They do not have Nosferian's blessings, and their powers are more limited. They have, however, developed many spells that mimic the priestly summoning powers. The Elynthi have gained much knowledge about Baatuza and other fiends over the centuries. The bulk of this knowledge lies in the great library in Dara Kazmak's Temple, on Sanctuary Isle. Although few have seen it, a tome supposedly exists that contains the true names of over three thousand Baatuza. The relationship between Baatuza and Nosferian's faithful is complex one of strained amicability. It gives the Baatuza a distinct presence on Tarien, and for that they are grateful. This does not mean that Elynthi never die from uncontrolled Baatuza. Most spells prevent Baatuza from gating in others of their kind, but in more powerful incantations this ceases to exist. Many summoners and priests have died attempting to control a Pit Fiend or some other Greater Baatuza. Often, the Baatuza offer no resistance when summoned. Other times, they dislike the interruption. Sometimes a Baatuza will give a priest its name, so that it will become affiliated with the priest. These pairings generally serve to further the interests of both parties. International Relations
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"I see our Samurai allying with our priests and summoners. I see our entire nation together, at the base of the Temple. I see us sending spies to the west. I see us marching on mass! I see our army at the edge of the damnable Soulmeliti Forests!"