Contents
Geopolitical Map
Sun Elves: Yellow
Humanity: Blue
Dwarves: Purple
Dark Elves / Dark Dwarves: Orange
Wood Elves: Green
Orcish Warlords: Red
Other or Unsettled: Grey
Population
As of the Jard-Kallix campaign, Arth has united the Orcish Warlords under him, and has dispatched their forces to attack the Confederacy. These forces have been directly bolstered by his power, and have been able to increase their population of their fighting forces by a significant proportion.
Populations of Good-aligned races
- Dwarves 4.5m total / 900k military (20%)
- Sun Elves 5m total / 1m military (20%)
- Humanity 3m total / 600k military (20%)
Populations of Evil-aligned races
- Dark Elves 1.5m total / 450k military (30%)
- Dark Dwarves 0.4m (400k) total / 40k military (10%)
- Orcish Warlords 25m total / 7.5m military (30%)
Population of the Confederacy (Dwarves + Sun Elves + Humans)
- Confederacy 12.5 / 2.5m military (20%)
Other Races
- Wood Elves 2m total / 100k military (5%)
- Halflings 100k total / 5k military (5%)
Evil vs. Good
Dark Dwarves and Dark Elves are evil-aligned races, while Sun Elves, Dwarves, and Humans are good-aligned. These are generalizations; obviously, individuals follow their own paths.
The Dark Dwarves and Dark Elves are pitted against the Sun Elves and Dwarves. Despite the Dwarves’ and Sun Elves’ hatred for their Dark counterparts, they are not close enough allies to band together against the Dark Elves and Dark Dwarves. Additionally, the threat from Isandor’s Orcish Warlords prevents them from wanting to fight a land war in Hellan. The population density of the Dark Elves and Dark Dwarves is another deterrent. It would take a very concentrated effort to unseat the Dark Elves and Dark Dwarves from Winterheart that neither race is willing to commit to as war with Isandor looms on the horizon.
The Dark Elves are uniquely blessed by meteor showers over their territory they believe are sent by Selune. These meteors often hold slivers of gemstones that shine like starlight and provide great magical power. The Sun Elves covet these stones, and thus have skirmished with the Dark Elves for hundreds of years to try and get ahold of them. Dark Elves murder and torture any Sun Elves they find trespassing in their land. Some clans are more warlike than others, and many worship Vandun — leading to treacherous attacks, like the one which killed Tyrea Dawnwalker.
The historical context for past grievances that caused the hatred between these races, and explanations for why they fight, can be found on these pages:
The Great War (dwarves v. elves), Dark Elves (elves v. elves), Dark Dwarves (dwarves v. dwarves)
Dwarves
Numbers: 4,500,000
Allies: Humanity, Sun Elves
Enemies: Orcish Warlords, Dark Dwarves, Dark Elves
Motivations: Hate the Sun Elves, but begrudgingly work beside them. Self interested.
Geopolitical State: The Dwarves are led by a military general. They do not like meddling in the affairs of others, and are fairly isolationist and self-serving. Dwarves want the Dark Elves and Dark Dwarves destroyed, permanently, and find humans too permissive of them. However, Dwarves do benefit from humanity’s contributions to the world, particularly their ingenuity and trade goods. The Dwarves are gruff, hardworking folk with a harsh outlook on the world.
Sun Elves
Numbers: 5,000,000
Allies: Humanity, Dwarves
Enemies: Dark Elves, Orcish Warlords, Dark Dwarves
Motivations: Dislike Dwarves. Self interested.
Geopolitical State: The Sun Elves follow the wills of their King and Queen, who are hungry for power and influence. Sun Elves command a navy unrivaled on Ilisara. They own much of Hellion’s coastline. Wood Elf territory is very friendly to the Sun Elves, so the Wood Elf coastline could be considered as belonging to the Sun Elves. They are heavy-handed in their offensive measures, and desire the starlit gems that Dark Elves have in abundance.
Humanity (Thrain)
Numbers: 3,000,000
Allies: Sun Elves, Dwarves.
Enemies: Orcish Warlords
Motivations: Want to bring everyone together in peace.
Geopolitical State: Humanity organized the Confederacy, which unites the Sun Elves and Dwarves. They aim to bring all of the races of Hellan into one big alliance against Isandor. Currently led by Markus Thrain, those wishes may come to fruition. Humans are scattered everywhere in Isandor and live peacefully in Sun Elf and Dwarven land.
Humans have more motivations driving them to peace than simple altruism. The human capital of Thrain was founded on land given to them by the Sun Elves and Dwarves. It lies in a precarious position. It is vulnerable to attack by Dark Elves and Dark Dwarves, as the Mountains of Thrain have been tunneled into by the Dark Dwarves. Outlying settlements south of the snowy mountains are also vulnerable to strikes without protection from Thrain, due to a poorly connected empire.
Some humans are allied with the Dark Elves and shun Thrain’s people. It is not an insignificant group. Despite being fully integrated into Dark Elf culture, with half-elf sons and daughters, these people are still Thrain’s kin. They are a strong motivator for humans to want to ally with Dark Elves. The Shadow Hunters were one of these efforts.
Dark Elves
Numbers: 1,500,000 (includes half-elves and aligned humans)
Allies: Dark Dwarves
Enemies: Sun Elves, Dwarves
Motivations: Hate the Sun Elves, want to protect themselves.
Geopolitical Stance: The history of Dark Elves is long and rich, and can be read on the Dark Elves wiki page. Currently, the Dark Elves are allied closely with the Dark Dwarves and utilize Dark Dwarf tunnels to defend and strike at incursions into their land. They are an isolationist people who do not seek to strike against the other races unless provoked. Dark Elves like to stay out of conflict; but when brought into a fight, they end it brutally and decisively using any means necessary to return to a quiet existence.
In the wake of the Laubrekker massacre carried out by the Sun Elves, many humans fled south into Dark Elf lands. Hundreds of years have passed. These humans no longer swear allegiance to Thrain and are fully integrated into Dark Elf society, welcomed as the outcasts they are. This is why the Dark Elves have a larger population than their Dark Dwarf counterparts. Their ranks are bolstered greatly by half-elves and humans. In addition to this, the conditions of the region (and possibly due to the influence of Selune) the fertility rates of Dark Elves is notably higher than Sun Elves.
There are some within the Dark Elf ranks that want to see the rest of the world destroyed. These Dark Elves see humanity as a means to an end — if they could ally with humans, they might have the might required to topple the Confederacy.
Dark Dwarves
Numbers: 400,000
Allies: Dark Elves
Enemies: Sun Elves, Dwarves, Humanity
Motivations: Bring about the apocalypse at any cost.
Geopolitical Stance: The history of Dark Dwarves is mostly unknown and mysterious, and can be read on the Dark Dwarves wiki page. Currently, the Dark Dwarves are allied closely with the Dark Elves and utilize Dark Dwarf tunnels to defend and strike at incursions into their land. They are an incredibly religious people, and seek to appease their shadow god.
The Dark Dwarves seek to bring the apocalypse, which they believe will remake them into stronger beings, ruling over those foolish enough to oppose their god.
Orcish Warlords
Numbers: 25,000,000
Allies: None
Enemies: All
Motivations: Want to conquer the world for the blood god and god of shadow.
Geopolitical State: The Orcs have dominated Isandor. Centaurs, Trolls, and other various species have been subjugated into the Orcish Warlords. Militarily speaking, a greater portion of their population is ready for war than their Hellan counterparts. This leaves the Orcish Warlords with an army much, much larger than the Confederacy.
Other Races
Halflings
Halflings number about 100,000, mostly contained within the forests of southern Hellan and their isolated Hidden Valley. They may be small in both stature and numbers, but they are positioned far from the main armies of Hellan and Isandor. If they ever did decide to strike using guerilla warfare, they would cause the Confederacy lots of pain and logistical damage.