Ruler: His Royal Highness, Prince Belwe, Duke of Westsong, Lord of the Dale (CN male wood elf, Rgr 10)
Government: Independent monarchy with hereditary rulership; head of state is a prince from one of the royal houses; high ranking members of the government are mainly wood elves who enfore a policy of isolationism from the outside world
Rule of Law: Chaotic Neutral. Society based on hedonistic pursuits of pleasure. Few written laws govern daily life which is considered quite barbaric. Survival of the fittest is the standard of the day with a general distrust of authority. Most of the population is neither good nor evil but also not terribly reliable.
Capital: Summerside (pop. 11,300)
Major Towns: Timberhall (pop. 6,900), Westsong (pop. 4,900)
Population: 179,000- Elf 90% (wood 70%, fair 30%), gnome 5% (forest 60%, hill 40%), human 3% (AF), halfling 2% (greenthumb)
Major Religions: Elf pantheon, Gnome pantheon, Endorie, Vestra, the Four Seasons, Galdor, Ostra
Major Resources: Silver, iron, gems, textiles, fine wines
Military: 8,950 (includes light infantry and light to medium cavalry; supported by major contingents of elven archers)
Allies: Bediwyr
Enemies: Dunwyn, Galiwyn
Coinage: Platinum sun, gold oaktree, silver fern, copper shield
Fairdale, a nation dominated by the wood elves for ages, has a long history of isolationism. The wood elves first emigrated into this shelted valley from the island of Eileania many centuries ago. They sought to establish a realm of their own and allowing them to become closer to the natural world. The noble houses of these wanderers elected from among their number one who would govern the vale as a prince. The realm of Fairdale has been controlled by a prince or princess ever since that time.
Fairdale enjoys a rich and fertile countryside and is particularly known for its vast grape orchards from which the elves produce some of the most exquisite wines in all of Hyerune. The weather in this region is most conducive to the grape harvest with its moderate rainfall, warm to hot summers and mild winters.
The elves typically are most distrustful of humans and very protective of their borders. Despite their small military, the wood elves are experienced in various forms of guerrile warfare and will not hesitate to ambush intruders into their lands. This state of xenophobia has resulted in a number of border skirmishes over the years, particularly with the human lands of the south. As neither side truly wants a full-scale war, such events are generally few and of minor result though they are certainly not unknown. The humans of the northern provinces of Dunwyn and Galiwyn have grown suspicious of elves in general.
The elves control much of the northern portions of the Whispering Woods that form their western border but do allow river traffic along the Gladden River provided that the ships remain away from shore. Any attempt to dock or disembark at unapproved stops within the woods usually results in a hail of arrows. The only approved waystations are a small number of trading villages along the river run populated by a few human woodsmen.
Rumors: The elves have been seeing an increased frequency of raids from the humanoids of the Rushwind Mountains. A number of goblin raids have proven to be a thorn in the side of the Prince though his Privy Council still agrees to keep all borders closed. The Prince has agreed to establish diplomatic relations with the gnome king of Bediwyr whom they trust to some degree.