Elrei
From Aetheros
elrei (ĕl'rī) Elre: "great-people"; sing. elre (ĕl'rĕ) "great-person"
The Elrei are branch of Shisae most noted for their gynarchic culture centered at Dhetal.
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History
Origins
The origins of Elrei culture reach back to before the fall of Shis, but as a distinct race and people they date their origin to their captivity by Karsilæyë, beginning in 3826 BC. Karsilæyë effected most of the biomorphing that make the Elrei physically different from the Alba.
Their escape from Karsilæyë in 3641 BC was a short-lived freedom, as they fell into the hands of the Unud within the year. About 20,000 Elrei escaped the Unud in 3624, and made their way south into Europe.
Dhetal, a underground river chasm feeding the Wistla, was discovered sometime in the winter of 3623/3622 BC. It was used as hiding place on what was intended to be a route to Africa or Mesopotamia, but the early Elrei were caught under the watchful Edict of Imerwë, and were unable to proceed across Europe without inciting Alatrialil. Attempts in this period to move across the surface in smaller groups proved disastrous, and threatened the discovery of Dhetal by their enemies. This crisis led to the first Haven Council in 3621 BC, and subsequent actions of building a permanent community.
Elrei Empire
The Elrei Empire was an agrarian state, centered on Dhetal, that commanded a vast surface area of Europe, reaching its height in 2440 BC.
Alliance with Troy
With the loss of their surface empire, the Elrei found other strategies to extend their influence. Centuries before the Isle revealed itself to modern humans, the Elrei lent assistance to Ilium in many of its wars of expansion, most notably the First Trojan War, where they became known to European humans as the amazons.
Aeras War
While neutral in the Aeras War (2352-2396 CE), this period proved to be a late golden age for the Elrei, as the warring parties sought their influence with the Duchy of Poland, and veins of precious metals were discovered near to Dhetal.
