Sluluru's Domain
Geography
Sluluru’s Domain is the region of the Northeast dominated by Sluluru Lord of the Lower Branches. It is officially defined as occupying the ground beneath northeastern Halta, covering an arc bordered to the North and East by the Golden Leaf Canal , to the West by the Blackwater River , and to the South by the River of Black Branches . To the Southwest, it borders Marika's Domain. While several rivers cut through Sluluru’s Domain, it is nearly entirely made up of coniferous forests, including expanses of massive redwood. The nature of such woods means that the growth of other plants is suppressed, allowing open movement along the forest floor through the trunks: caravans of The Guild would enjoy such free movement, but unlike his Fae neighbours Sluluru has not made any deals with them to allow them freedom of movement.
Of the Fair Folk dominions of the Northeast, that of Sluluru is the most powerful, though not so much that it can dominate its Fae or mortal neighbours. Sluluru was one of the key figures in negotiating the original Treaty of High Order and Wild Roots.
The ‘capital’ of the Domain is the ruined glass city of Yagan. Sluluru has commanded his finest craftspeople to produce glass and gossamer goods for trade to the Haltans. Likely the Fae could increase production, but their aim is not to satisfy demand… they wish to bring themselves closer to the Haltans, and to a lesser extent the smaller states of Soja, Shandir Woods, Ascending Spruce, and Fenta. They have refused trade with other foreign emissaries, including those of The Guild… Sluluru’s Fae show no restraint towards such individuals.
Politics and Narrative
Sluluru, Lord of the Lower Branches, is much more forgiving towards the Haltans above him… those who fall are not attacked at all within his domain, and indeed Sluluru engages in extensive efforts to foster close, positive relations between his Fae and those who dwell above, far beyond what is demanded of him by the Treaty of High Order and Wild Roots. It is from Sluluru’s Domain that Halta obtains almost all of its Gossamer goods, along with beautiful crafted glass from the ruins of Yagan, and the Fae who dwell above to assist the Haltans on their raids and patrols are almost entirely drawn from those affiliated with Sluluru. When a truly significant Linowan attack pushes deep into Halta, Sluluru’s armies coordinate with those of Halta to drive it back.
Sluluru often speaks of his great respect for the Haltans, for their courage and their devotion to Caltia the Eternal and the other gods in their pantheon. His generosity is not, however, entirely altruistic: Sluluru loves the Haltans, it is true, but he wishes to be the valiant hero of their story, to be their warrior deity descending to strike down their foes and receive their adulations. That they already possess such a god-figure in the form of Caltia is only inspiration to Sluluru: he does not plot the death of the conifer-god (though sometimes he muses on the epic tale that would be his ascent as hero who slew foul Golden-Eyed Jorst as the Deciduous Drunkard still held the strangled corpse of Caltia…) shall become a BETTER god than Caltia, and the Haltans will come to recognize him as their true patron and saviour.
In addition to building close contact through trade, cataphractoi attaches, and military maneuvers, Sluluru has taken steps against his fellow Fae when they threaten Halta, most notably his great conflict with Yseult that saw the Queen of the Stone Forest driven back from Halta’s borders. In Halta, many place trust in Sluluru, and a few have quietly begun to offer him worship. The major point of contention is Sluluru’s occasional failure to punish Haltan criminals guilty of crimes relating to the Fair Folk… such sacrifices are simply allowed to ascend back up the trunks after their ‘executions’, and the Treaty is quite explicit in allowing no other methods of execution.
Relations with the other Fae states of the Northeast are varied: due to their open warfare, relations between Sluluru and Yseult can be considered poor. The Lord of the Lower Branches criticizes Marika for being barbaric in her approach, and the rulers of the Gossamer Stockade for ‘overstepping their bounds’ in ruling over humans directly… they do not take him seriously, for no such stricture exists amongst the Raksha, but Sluluru defines himself by his strange understanding of Creation’s Celestial law and thus takes such an affront quite seriously when his tale demands. Sluluru’s closeness with humans, and his vision of himself as their valiant protector, means he is a ferocious opponent of the Fair Folk who dwell in the Wyld and seek the total destruction of Creation.
