The Nations of the Sea – the Sea Elves, that is – do not have a proper national emblem or sign. This is due in part to their chaotic nature, and in part to the fact that they have never considered themselves to need one, as Sea Elves and their ships – and cities – are quite distinctive, without needing a particular sign to set them apart from the many human nations. But it is due in just as large part to the fact that what government the Sea Elves possess is relatively minimal and not deeply established. It is also very regional; a city may be under a specific governance, but no one claims to govern the wide ocean, and even while in a city, a Sea Elf does not consider herself a citizen of said city, or a foreigner if she goes to another.

As it is, their governments are in constant flux, collecting and dispersing for the needs of the moment. Some sort of relatively advanced organization, more than they usually use, is required for the raising of one of their cities, but once that is done, the organization fades into something less. Being well-built of stone, and lightly used, their cities require very little maintenance and crime rates are very low for a variety of reasons, some related to their culture and lifestyle, and some to the nature of the elves, which tends towards being somewhat reclusive and self-sufficient.

To understand the Nations of the Sea, one must consider that while they raise beautiful cities that outlast human empires, they are in fact a rather nomadic people. By far and large, the vast majority of them spend most of their lives upon the ocean, in small and beautiful ships, the smallest of which can be handled by a single Sea Elf, and the largest of which generally support no more than one family. As a result, the amassing of possessions even by those inclined to do so, is quite limited, for one cannot really amass more than one wishes to keep on one’s ship, and one does not wish to make one’s ship too large, for that will make it more difficult to handle.

At the same time, they are a very wealthy people. Though not all of equal power, all Sea Elves can sing to the waves and wind, and imbue their ships with magic that makes them stronger and lighter on the ocean, and thus they can cross the ocean with ease, and both speed and safety that no one else can rival. This makes them the carriers of choice for almost any cargo one wishes to send across an ocean, and means that they opened up trade routes between the continents where otherwise none would exist, and it provides them with a great deal of opportunity to get anything they wish at bargain prices, as well as making a great deal of profit transporting other’s goods. And, since the Sea Elves are not so numerous that their services equal the opportunity for them – due in part to the fact that they are a relatively shy, reclusive people and many of them do not marry, and some of those who do have relatively small families – any Sea Elf who wishes, can make not only a living, but luxury for himself, in this way.

Of course, a few are crippled in one way or another, but these few are almost always able to make do relatively comfortable with the charity of the few who are altruistic and more social, or the left-overs of others’ abundance.

This creates a situation in which both murder and theft are rare. Why steal what will be missed, when you have an abundance of your own, and the theft is often as difficult, if not more so, than making your own treasure? And as for murder, it is rather more difficult to murder most people – apart from the handful you might know and live with, and that is a bad idea – when everyone lives for the most part on a ship of his own, which he is quite capable of handling. And when violent crimes do occur, they are dealt with quite harshly by the Sea Elves, according to the sparse code of law they have.

Though they are, like most elves, relatively solitary, they sometimes travel in fleets, especially when there is a cargo which is far more than any one ship – or even a “family” of ships – can handle, and so many Sea Elves are drawn to the same place and part of the same agreements. They also traveled mostly in fleets for other purposes during the era of their war with the Dragonriders, since many Sea Elves ships together are far less vulnerable to dragons than just a few – in part, because so many are very likely to put sharp things through the dragons’ wings, if not before he burns a few ships, then afterwards. Also, the survivors of the burned ships will have rescuers.

Much of the Sea Elves’ wealth often goes into their cities, which are more monuments of art than cities. A few Sea Elves who are not so drawn to the sea and prefer other occupations or provide services to the others often live in them – such as librarians, for some Sea Elves are interested in knowledge and due to their long lifespans, and the fact that they build to last, they are the keepers of much knowledge and ancient lore. There are a few who like to cook for others, and similar occupations, who minister to the few who are crippled, and those who have come to the land while they are raising small children.

One would expect, given the beauty of their cities and the fact that they are relatively undefended – at least from the land side – that they would be in constant danger and often be sacked or pillaged. Over the course of Sea Elven history, this has happened a time or two, but several factors mitigate it. The Sea Elves usually build their cities in relatively defensible, and relatively out-of-the-way locations – on, or close to, a continent to provide a convenient nexus point for their trade, but not so close to major civilizations as to be close to their wars. In several cases, they have built their cities in places virtually secure from these things – on Southern Aneri, one is placed on an island off the coast, so that it can only be approached from the Sea. And a very small fleet of Sea Elf ships can hold off – or destroy – a much larger fleet of human ships, even if the humans think they completely outclass the Sea Elves, due to their command of the ocean. The other is placed on a peninsula of Galen, in the Plains of Zharda, which are peculiar in their own way – but that is relevant to the Nations of the Sea, only in that it means that city has never been threatened from the Plains.

Those cities which are accessible are further protected by the fact that making an enemy of the Sea Elves is not a good idea. As long as their cities are kept safe, they will protect the sea-side towns and the human ships or fishing fleets from pirates – and, even, sometimes from weather. But if their cities are pillaged, they are more than capable of ensuring that whichever nation attacked them is never able to use the ocean again, but instead must fear it.

But the Nations of the Sea which most humans think of when they think of the Sea Elves, are not the only Sea Elves or Nations of the Sea. For not all Sea Elves have wished to make their living – or at least their luxuries – from human commerce. Others, live deep in the sea, far from any major land, around little islands and coral reefs. Few humans have ever seen them or even come near them, for the ocean heeds their song at least as much as that of their kindred, and they steer all human ships and eyes away (and may sink them, if they cannot steer the ship away for whatever reason, or someone is in a violent mood – even if that someone is only the ocean). If humans did come near them, they would think them mermaids or sirens. They live in the sea as much, if not more so, than on the land, being as comfortable in the water as a seal or an otter would be, and able to be underwater for long periods without coming up to breathe. They swim so naturally they can even sleep in the ocean if they must, though they prefer to find at least a coral reef or sand bar – though one that is only dry at low tide will suffice for them. Their methods of governance can vary, from total anarchy through various other solutions, though outright tyranny and cruelty is very rare. Some difficulties may be put up with for a time, but any Sea Elf who wishes can flee, even if it will be inconvenient – and a little more dangerous – for her until she finds a new home. But the ocean is large, and she can usually do so, and if she cannot find a new home, she might still be able to find her kin and make a life among them.

For, though very few humans have ever set eyes on them, they are known to the other Sea Elves, and often trade with them, exchanging items they desire for the shells they find and which the Nations of the Sea use for their own currency. Every now and again once of these almost-merfolk will join the ships, or a Sea Elf from the ships will join them. They are still close enough to one another, and such is the magic in their blood, that those who wish can usually adapt to the others’ lifestyle with relative ease, and within a few generations no one can tell the difference. There are even those who keep a lifestyle between the two, making their living solely off the sea, and sailing in waters far from shore and other ships, at least human ones, coming into shore only to visit lonely islands for the resources they need to build or repair their ships.

The Sea Elves feature in the Dragon-Mage series.