The Kingdom of Televada

Early Televadi History, by Sig Artula, Daemedran Academy Scholar

The crown jewel of eyra civilization, Televada is the dominant power of the continent of Satra. It is one the oldest known sovereign nations in the world, and for most of its many millennia of existence, it has been a major player on the world stage.  

Founded soon after the unification of several warring eyra factions during the Era of Migration, Televada is centered in the midst of Satra’s lush and majestic rainforests. For ages the country has been set upon by outsiders thinking to bully the diminutive eyra into submission and take their rich lands for themselves. Humans, kobolds, jur’ngans, even dragons have thrown themselves against the kingdom’s borders for thousands of years and with all the fury they could muster. But always, Televada has held – never once falling under the control of another race. Most historians credit this to harsh lessons the eyra learned in their early days upon Solitude, when they emerged from the Southern Rift Gate and found themselves dwarfed by Solitudes other sentient inhabitants.  

In their old world, the eyra prided themselves on their warrior spirit. Combat was – unlike today – a much celebrated part of their culture. Kingdoms and tribal land frequently changed hands and warlords reigned supreme. But in Solitude, their zeal for battle was tempered. Stories tell of their war against the elves, who once had small settlements on Satra’s northern shores. The most powerful eyra warlords thought to take these lands by force, as they had throughout their history, but the harsh reality was that even the greatest of their warriors paled in the face of elite elven soldiers. Vastly outnumbered though they were, the elves pushed the eyra back to the heart of Satra, all the while offering them chances at peace and forgiveness. The proud warlords balked at their mercy and not until their armies withered away, scattered and subdued, did they admit defeat. Most eyra retreated to the depths of the rainforest in humiliation and remained isolated for several centuries. It was their darkest time, but also a chance for introspection and change. Knowing now that they could never hope to match the larger races through strength of arm, the eyra began to fall back upon their natural intelligence and sharp wits. They took stock of what they had and it didn’t take them long to realize the advantage of the bountiful lands upon which their settlements lay. There they found valuable timber, rare spices and fruits, and plentiful gems and metals. Soon their towns and cities swelled with artisans exceptionally skilled in working these precious resources. And when arcane conduits began to grow within their bodies, they were quick to take advantage of this newfound power, and their ranks soon swelled with learned and crafty mages.

When the eyra approached the elves again, many generations after their humiliating defeat, it was in the spirit of fair trade and bountiful commerce. Their cunningly crafted wares and delicacies from deep in the jungle made their way to Kindreth, Torin, and beyond, all the while funneling riches back to the core of eyra civilization. Upon heaps of well-earned trade, the kingdom of Televada began to take shape. It was – and is – a place ruled not by bloodlines and tradition, but by results. Only those who proved themselves worthy could earn rank and privilege, whether they be born a prince or an exile. Only the most intelligent, the most accomplished, and often, the most cunning, could ever approach the top. Televada quickly established itself as the greatest power of Satra and their borders grew, slowly and steadily, through trade and negotiation, to encompass nearly half the continent. Televadi artisanship and eyra mages became highly sought-after throughout the south, and the many human kingdoms of Kindreth and Torin hurried to ingratiate themselves to the Televadi High King. Then, many, many years after their brief and embarrassing war, the eyra of Televada offered the elves of Satra’s northern shore a bounty of arc-crystal, gems, and a constantly flowing supply of the finest dark wines. All in exchange for their lands which, conveniently, occupied the busiest trade route in the region. The elves were reluctant at first, but when the High King himself insisted, they – wisely – accepted, turning the land over to the clever and now very powerful Televadi.  

Since then, Televada had only grown in strength. Upon the discovery of vast deposits of the tellingly-named Televadi silver, the eyra became one of the world’s only sources of the important metal. Many have tried to seize this supply, but none have ever come close to claiming it. Those who have tried faced legions of mages, supported by foot soldiers wielding finely crafted weapons and well-trained in ranged warfare whether with bow, crossbow, or other, more complicated gadgets. Even the dragons of Corspeak dare not trespass too far into their borders, for eyra designed war-machines have been known to take down the mightiest of their race in a single shot. Perhaps most importantly of all, the Televadi spy network is said to reach deep into the courts of every nation in the known world, keeping the High King and his council well informed. In terms of power and influence, only Arvair, Sabbré, and perhaps the dragons of the Red Savannah stand as equals to Televada. But the mighty eyra nation cares little for its northern neighbors. “Let the humans squabble in the north, and let the dragons smolder between them” is a common eyra saying, and it is usually followed by another.  

“Televada owns the south.”