Appendix 4: Silvaris

APPENDIX 4: SILVARIS

Silvaris lived a secluded life, mostly detached from other nations in their forested nations. Although secluded, they are not ignorant. They maintained trade networks through traveling merchants and even had some stores from other nations in their country.

Pelts and timbers were the main commodities of Silvaris. Looking at Silvaris, one reminiscent of Aelaranthae Empire in its younger days, where the Aelaranthae used to build a tall treehouse and coexisted with nature. Nevertheless, the population growth forced Aelaranthae Empire to adapt their country while Silvaris took on other measures.

Aelaranthae Empire decided to forgo their forest and chose their people. Silvaris on the other hand restricted their births, legalizing infanticide, and restricting procreation. So, their population remained stable. All was because the tribe honored the forest and refused to become agrarian. They wanted to be hunters forever.

The younger generation realized the problem with their country. Hence, they practiced various animal husbandry and farming. Yet, the elders did not heed their plea. So, they flee the country. Their destination would either be Antheria or LeAestas. Petraea was a desert country, so every farm-able land was already occupied. However, Neither Antheria nor LeAestas value farmer that much.

So, Aelaranthae Empire became their next destination. Some still went to Antheria and LeAestas. But the enthusiastic ones went to Aelaranthae Empire since they had no prejudice and most of their civilians were all migrants. They feel a sense of camaraderie there.

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Everything was good until the cultist attacked. Silvaris relied on their forest for ambushes. Their soldiers, or often honorably called Hunters, were considered elite classes. And thus, their numbers were few for they need decades of learning from birth. Their skills were high, but their weapons were mere shortbow, suited only for ambushes against normal people in the forest. Against the cultists, such traditional weaponry was not enough. Their arrows bounced off the skin, leaving nothing but a scratch. The hunter had to go through some length to aim at their eyes, similar to that of a heavily armored knight. But the cultists were fast on their feet, they had no armor, so the Silvaris hunters fought a losing battle.

When they realized they were losing, they heard about Aelaranthae Mercenary for hire through trade caravans. Though feeling reluctant, they decided to call upon the Ae Mercenary group. But they chose to help Petraea instead. And thus, Silvaris had to rely more on traps.

During the cultists' attacks, the hunter couldn’t hunt and food became scarce for their citizens. Thus, the economy tanked, famine swept up the country, they regretted not taking agriculture and animal husbandry. Thankfully, just before it reached a breaking point, the druids of Silvaris—known as mages in other lands—felt the champion had been defeated. With the cultists losing their power and turning to normal human beings, Silvaris repelled them with ease. But the damage to the forest was already done. Many beasts had scattered due to the cultist. Some forest villages had already fallen to the cultists. However, unlike Petraea or Antheria, none of the villagers yielded to the chaos god. So, the cultist number didn’t grow. It is fortunate they remained in their belief.

And so, Silvaris remained a secluded Nation. Only occasionally come in contact with the Aelaranthae Empire. They were soon forgotten and became myth as their population dwindled.