Hollow Oak
Located in Dökkur Skógur is the wood elf kingdom of Hollow Oak. It is a secretive and hidden nation nestled withing the trees. The land is ruled by the enigmatic Ernorin Greenpetal, the Lord of Wisps. They have absolute power in Hollow Oak but have never been seen by anyone but the Heru. Their voice has been heard giving official decrees to crowds, oddly it sounds like may voices at once.
The woods are ruled by the Heru, the jarls of Hollow Oak. Each one is appointed by Ernorin to manage an area of forest. The position acts like a combination between game keeper, forest ranger, and governor. They manage the people and animals in an area to better the kingdom as a whole. Each one has absolute power within their jurisdiction to manage the people, animals, and even plants to their will.
The citizens of Hollow Oak are made primarily of wood elves with minority populations of humans, lizard folk, satyrs, eladrin, and other woodland peoples. The primary industry of Hollow Oak is nature. They help foster nature and plant growth while living in harmony with their charge. They live off the land eating berries and other plant life. Some animals, like wild cows and goats, offer milk to people they like. This means that milk and other dairy products are delicacies within the woods.
The primary drink in Hollow Oak is mead produced by the local bees. It is one of their only exports to the rest of Útgarðar. Hollow Oak mead is considered a rare delicacy through the rest of Útgarðar. That their mead is good is one of the only things that both Hollow Oak and Araqar agree on, begrudgingly of course. The mead produced by Giant Wasp honey is considered the best mead in the world and is only made in Hollow Oak. It can fetch up to 20 gp per bottle.
The military of Hollow Oak is made up of guerrilla troops trained and equipped for fighting in a forest environment. The concept of vigmen was invented by them with the originals being the Taure Dagora Edhel. Translated as Forest Fighters they are a order of elven vigmen dedicated to protecting the borders from monsters, bandits, and anything else that would threaten Hollow Oak. Early in their history they were trained by the Druids of the Circle of the Splintered Eye in the ways of druidic magic.
Speaking of druids Hollow Oak has the largest collection of them in all of Útgarðar. Up to 23 separate druid circles. Each with their own agendas and loyalties all existing in one forest. Needless to say things get complicated fast.
The entire land is relatively secure but not without problems. The competing druid orders, the unchecked powers of the Heru, and the enigmatic lord of them all.
The woods are ruled by the Heru, the jarls of Hollow Oak. Each one is appointed by Ernorin to manage an area of forest. The position acts like a combination between game keeper, forest ranger, and governor. They manage the people and animals in an area to better the kingdom as a whole. Each one has absolute power within their jurisdiction to manage the people, animals, and even plants to their will.
The citizens of Hollow Oak are made primarily of wood elves with minority populations of humans, lizard folk, satyrs, eladrin, and other woodland peoples. The primary industry of Hollow Oak is nature. They help foster nature and plant growth while living in harmony with their charge. They live off the land eating berries and other plant life. Some animals, like wild cows and goats, offer milk to people they like. This means that milk and other dairy products are delicacies within the woods.
The primary drink in Hollow Oak is mead produced by the local bees. It is one of their only exports to the rest of Útgarðar. Hollow Oak mead is considered a rare delicacy through the rest of Útgarðar. That their mead is good is one of the only things that both Hollow Oak and Araqar agree on, begrudgingly of course. The mead produced by Giant Wasp honey is considered the best mead in the world and is only made in Hollow Oak. It can fetch up to 20 gp per bottle.
The military of Hollow Oak is made up of guerrilla troops trained and equipped for fighting in a forest environment. The concept of vigmen was invented by them with the originals being the Taure Dagora Edhel. Translated as Forest Fighters they are a order of elven vigmen dedicated to protecting the borders from monsters, bandits, and anything else that would threaten Hollow Oak. Early in their history they were trained by the Druids of the Circle of the Splintered Eye in the ways of druidic magic.
Speaking of druids Hollow Oak has the largest collection of them in all of Útgarðar. Up to 23 separate druid circles. Each with their own agendas and loyalties all existing in one forest. Needless to say things get complicated fast.
The entire land is relatively secure but not without problems. The competing druid orders, the unchecked powers of the Heru, and the enigmatic lord of them all.
Druid Orders
Hollow Oak has around 23 different druid orders each more odd than the last. Listed here are some of the more well known and powerful orders.
The Circle of the Splintered Eye: This is one of the oldest and most powerful orders. They are dedicated to the protection of the Dökkur Skógur, the animals, plants, and regrettably people in the woods. They would much rather not protect them but due to the help the inhabitants of Hollow Oak give to the forest, and the fact they live in it, leads to the Splintered Eye guarding the inhabitants as well.
The Circle of the Half Moon: This order of moon druids is focused on improving the relations between the inhabitants of Hollow Oak and the animals in the woods. They act like the inhuman resources department of Hollow Oak.
The Circle of the Pointed growth: The intelligence arm of Hollow Oak. This order is centered on the gathering of information about the outside world and manipulating events to Hollow Oak's favor. They manage a network of spies and informants to gather intelligence on the enemies of Hollow Oak.
Trivia
- The sale of mead to the outside world is managed by the government to keep trade fare, and stop outsiders from gaining too much information on the goings on of Hollow Oak.
- Any citizen who wants to leave the woods must make an appeal to the Heru of their area. Common reasons for leaving are to become an adventurer, trade, and visiting relatives in other lands.
- Due to the natural power of the Dökkur Skógur fey creatures are common in Hollow Oak.
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
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