Name: Damijani, Damijan, Red Elf

Class: Fae

Subclass: Terrian, Medium

ORIGIN

There are two types of elf on Looming Gaia: "green" elves and "red" elves. Green elves are highly allergic to iron, while red elves are completely resistant to its ill effects.

Red elves also can’t burn, whether by fire or chemical. However, they also can’t communicate with animals like their green cousins.

All red elves (formally called the "Damijani elves") stem from a village of green elves native to Evik's western coast. They were enslaved by Zareen Empire during the Dwarven Expansion, made to work in toxic industrial environments.

Over time, the Damijani began to adapt. They did what was thought impossible for an elf: they became resistant to iron. Today, they no longer resemble their green ancestors and have become a race all their own.

Eventually, Zareen developed automatons which replaced their elven slaves. The empire reserved a space called Damijana for the newly-freed slaves, but it was hardly a kind gesture. The reservation was a toxic scrapyard full of derelict machinery.

Still, the Damijani used their technical experience, their magic, and their unique strengths to make Damijana into what it is today: The most technologically-advanced civilization on Looming Gaia. They were able to build a local fishing industry because of their toxin resistances, able to eat fish from the polluted sea that other peoples wouldn't touch. Their technology is unique to them, using a blend of magic and machine.

CULTURE

-The Damijani traditionally wear an all-black wardrobe to pay respect to their enslaved ancestors, who were always covered head to toe in coal and grime.

-It's considered crass to show skin below the neck. Even their hands are covered by gloves in public. A popular saying in Damijana is “a sin to show skin below the chin”.

-In Damijana, only soldiers are permitted (and required) to shave their heads. Citizens who do so will be arrested until their hair grows back to a "proper" length--meaning long enough to make a braid.

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GEOGRAPHY

Damijana is the most technologically-advanced civilization on Looming Gaia, boasting a unique technology the natives call "Machine-Magic", which harnesses a blend of technical ingenuity and arcane power.

Damijana is located west of the Kingsfall River in Evik. It extends to the edge of the western coast and partially into the sea, with some of it built upon artificial land. The entire reservation receives electricity from a variety of sources, mainly steam and undersea turbines powered by waves. Certain parts of the city also harvest energy from arcane crystals and import electricity from coal plants in Zareen Empire.

The power sources can overheat the reservation, so every building is cooled by sea water pipes. Water is pumped from the ocean, through the whole city, and dumped back into the ocean. The process has polluted the water terribly over the centuries.

ECONOMY

The reservation's biggest exports are oil, crystals, machinery, and arcane technology. It imports wood from Folkvar Kingdom and iron and gold from Zareen Kingdom.

Damijana also has a massive bureaucratic workforce, since its entire population can read and write in consistent quality--which is rare in other populations of Looming Gaia. Other kingdoms often outsource their bureaucracy to Damijana offices.

MILITARY

Damijana's military utilizes gunpowder weapons as well as crystal staffs to magnify their own fire-based hazard magic. It is not a large military, but its technology is so advanced compared to most of the kingdoms that it doesn't need to be. War dragons were once utilized in the reservation's infancy, but have since been replaced by airships. War dogs are still widely in use, both for battle purposes and police work.

The Damijana navy dominates the Eastern Sea, guarding its oil tankers and cargo ships. Airships also scout over the surrounding ocean.

Damijan soldiers are identified by their shaved heads. It is illegal for citizens to shave their heads this way, as it's considered impersonating a soldier, and they can be imprisoned until their hair grows back. Their armor is black in color, made from pyriad leather and thin titanium plates. The pyriad leather is fire-proof and does not ignite when the soldier uses their fire-magic.

LEADERSHIP

Chieftess Serafeen is barely more than a figurehead. Damijana's government is actually run by a system called The Council, their identities unknown to all but Serafeen and themselves. The Council is not elected by the people, and in fact the people have very little freedom or say at all.

No one is allowed in or out of Damijana without special permission from a government body. Serafeen was forced into her false leadership position at a young age, encouraged to be a pretty but intimidating face for foreign nations to gawk at.

But truthfully, she is a gifted genius with a passion for the stars. She desperately wants to be more involved with her peoples' future, so she used her wealth to found the world's first space program using a blend of machines, portal technology, and the help of star nymphs. One day she wishes to colonize the moon, where her people will be free to develop their civilization without fear of retaliation from foreign powers, nymphs, or the great nature spirit.

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