Although a member of the Crownlands, the Realm-alliance with Avereaux and Valdraeth, The Wonder recognises no Monarch. Instead the heart of their government is the Ambergrove, a hidden orchard where the very air vibrates with the magic of the Earth sphere.
Only those chosen by the forest may enter the Ambergrove, and those who reside within the intense magical environment become changed by it. The caretakers of this grove are chosen by the Wonder itself – it is a matter of much debate whether it is spontaneous magic or there are criteria these Wonderfolk fill somehow, but regardless of why, there is always one per Biome with a significant population. At present there is one each for the Æbelgard, Gloomgard and the Meering.
When the forest chooses them, the selected caretaker is afflicted by what initially appears to be Earth Sphere Weavemarks, before it continues growing apace. Eventually the selected Wonderfolk is more tree than person, still able to speak fluently unlike Sylvans who, when they do speak, usually restrict themselves to one word answers or short sentences. At this point, the Wonderfolk is referred to as a Dryad, and brought to the Ambergrove to live their life in contemplation and given adulation as the highest level of government. They are known to remember their past life, and maintain bonds of family and friendship but are unable to stray from the Ambergrove for long, lest the Earth magic they now feed from starves them.
The current Dryads are:
Astrid Finnasdottir, Dryad of the Meering
The eldest current Dryad, Astrid was called some forty years ago while working as a cunning Leafwright on the front line in the early days of the war. She has guided the nation through their battles against the Corrupted with a stoic determination.
Ragnhild of the Undergloom, Dryad of Gloomgard
Quiet and relaxed before they were called fifteen years hence, Ranghild was gifted with Athria Weavemarks for most of their life, and led a sedate existence in Gloomgard as a tavernkeeper and brewer. They have adapted to their calling, gaining a reputation for playing mediator when needed, between national delegations as easily as between individuals.
Torr the Silverreach, Dryad of Æbelgard
The youngest Dryad in memory, Torr was called as a teenager while still training to become a Bloomtender just a year ago. He is untested, but represents the keen bloom of new life, and an inspirational figure to many young Wonderfolk.
Karsi Dallason, Dryad of Thornsthorpe has not been seen since the fall of Thornsthorpe. The other Dryads do not speak of what befell them,
Surrounding the Ambergrove live a network of diplomats, priests, mages and pilgrims who seek to discuss matters with the Dryads. Those few chosen by them to “Speak for the Trees” act as diplomats or ambassadors, and are sent out into the wider world as “Listeners”, charged to hear the stories of both sides and judge for themselves which is the best path for the Wonder itself.
Politics
The Wonder is a member of the Crownlands, and historically they have acted as a neutral force between the two other nations; sometimes by providing a very solid and very literal barrier. Avereaux and Valdraeth have had many wars over the years, of which little is remembered, but The Wonder have been the peacemakers between them almost every time. Now they form the glue that keeps their alliance together, recognising that there is value in the ways of life in both neighbour nations. Above all The Wonder believes in balance – between human and nature, between magic and mundane, between the Gods needs and wants, and between the Pact of Realms and the encroaching Corruption. In this last instance, the world is in imbalance and effort must go into righting it.
Outside the Crownlands, The Wonder’s main working relationship is with the Republic of Portavas, with whom they supply timber for shipbuilding and share an appreciation for exploration, and with the Urdrevan People, who share much common ground on the understandings of balance and order in the world with their forest-dwelling neighbours. Though perhaps not rooted in actual fact, there are old tales of Wonderfolk and the Sylvans they live alongside suffering due to encroachment of invasive beasts or monsters, with a solution eventually found by the Urdrevan people. In various versions of the story, flocks or drovings of Urdrevan pack beasts are driven into the forest to prey on the monsters and bring the forest back into balance.
The Wonder also is also on good terms with Kairos, and there is a cultural respect between the two on overall worldview with regards to the individual’s place in history. The Wonder consider Kairos to “let their roots grow deep”, maintaining a culture in relative stability for so long is something they should be proud of in Wonderfolk’s eyes.
Syradonia is a bit of a mystery to Wonderfolk. The only travellers from that underground bastion are their Tyrians, traders who pick up fine wares on behalf of the Order of Luxury to improve the lives of those whose duties prevent them from leaving. The main item of interest for these traders is the Coffea plant that is abundant in parts of the Meering and Ettamora – the demand for the coffee beans this plant produce is barely able to be kept up with.
Morvalis has in recent years shown a particular interest in the Athrian Sphere pockets of magic in Gloomgard, sending scholars from all three Sanctuaries nations under the leadership of weavers from the Shrouded Rock Academy in Stormfront’s Vigil. Though largely unknown in the Wonder until this point, they have shown a fascination for the forest that has given those Wonderfolk who have encountered the Gravecallers and their Dreadguard bodyguards
Economic interests
Unsurprisingly, the goods that the Wonder is rich in are the materials of the natural world, harvested and worked into objects of beauty and practicality.
With a national emphasis on symbiotic living alongside the trees, they have nothing in the way of industrialised timber production – what wood is shipped to the people of Portavas and the other Crownlands nations is harvested by hand and with great care to maintain the ecosystem. The best spearshafts are said to be from the Wonder’s coppices, and ships built from ancient Æbelgard oak is considered far more seaworthy when people of the Wonder set sail.
Handcrafted items are the main area of trade – amber jewellery, woven silks from giant silkworms and spiders alike, spun wools picked from the bushes near where magical animals and Urdrevan rovings pass, and all manner of wooden crafted items.
Their main trade routes are by sea via the Portavans who dock near the Meering, and by road via the Urdrevan people who pass by on their rangings through the Commonwealth.
Closer to home there is a good trade with both Avereaux and Valdraeth in reagents, ingredients and raw materials. Averlaise cooking is often welcomed in far-flung villages where the foragable supplies nearby may not be palatable, especially in the Gloomgard in advance of their spore season, when the remaining inhabitants hide away below ground.
Hammerstadt is less concerned with the Wonder’s exports, as a trade hub of its own with a very different ethos to life. When trade goods do make it that far, they’re considered curios, but the production styles of Hammerstadt merchandise never seems to last in the strong magical atmosphere of the Wonder, so is rarely sought after by its people who prefer their crafted items to endure.
One unexpected connection with the Sanctuary nations in recent years is the trade of Wonder-grown coffee beans, dried and shipped to Syradonia who have taken the preparation and consuming of the drink by storm. Perhaps it is the lack of sunlight in their underground sanctuary, where its people rarely stick to natural circadian rhythms, but the trade has led to more Syradonian raw materials being available in the Wonder than ever before.