After multiple different attempts of resistance and rebellions in Ephea, the Human Empire reinforces the numbers of soldiers to maintain inner security. This leads to multiple arrests and executions. The rebels are forced to flee from the mainland of Ephea, and many of them find refuge in the neglected Islands of Freeland. Intending to withstand the cruel ways of the Empire, the rebels unite under one banner, organizing and preparing themself better for future assaults. This group of people calls themself 'Freelands' and names the Freeland Islands after officially declaring their constitution.
Rise of Freital
Freital is a province on the southern border of Ephea. It is home to the humans of Freeland and an independent nation from the human Empire. Freital is the capital of Freeland and contains a big part of Freeland's population. Freeland is a classical monarchy, led by a single regent, descended from an independent royal bloodline.
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444 b BF
The Gathering on the Freeland Islands
Gathering / Conference -
443 b BF
378 b BF
Preparations and further assaults
Diplomatic actionThe number of rebels didn't grow rapidly. It was well known what kind of punishment was to expect for withstanding the Empire, so most people were too scared to officially join the Freelands. On the other hand, the rebels were really distrustful, expecting the Human Empire to infiltrate the rebellion with spies and agents, so the number of rebels was kept small, maybe up to a few hundred or thousand. However, seeing a lot of other different rebellions happening all over the Human Empire, especially in the elven and dragonborn territory, the Freelands attempt to connect and coordinate with them. Instead of messengers, the rebels used pigeons to transfer messages with each other. The Freital Pigeons are still a very popular breed to deliver such messages. This coordination allowed all rebels to attack the Empire at totally different places at the same time, forcing it to split up its forces and defend multiple places at once. The Arched Island on the southern coast of Ephea was one of the main attacking points for the Freelands and after a few years, they even managed to conquer and hold smaller parts of it.
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381 b BF
24 Turis
The flag of Freeland
MiscellaneousThe rebellion gained much more impact than expected. After about 40 years of assaults on the Arched Island, they were finally able to conquer and hold it. Claiming such a big territory, the leading rebels decided to transform their organization into an official province. For the first time, the rebels agreed on an official flag on 24th Turis 381 b. BF.
Flag of Freeland by Lucimon -
378 b BF
11 Ker
The Fall of Matruzien
Military actionWith the Human Empire struggling to reconquer the Arched Island, the Freelands have enough time and soldiers to afford another attack. For the first time, they dare to invade the mainland of the continent Ephea. The city Matruzien not far from the tip of the Arched Island, sheltered by the Protected Bay stands out as a perfect point for an attack. Although the rebels only plan to assault and damage the large city, they actually manage to overcome the cities walls and conquer it. The Empire simply didn't respect the power and quick advances of the rebels and was forced to retreat the garrison and most of the citizens from the city. This battle goes down in history as one of the most embarrassing and fastest defeats of the Human Empire.
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377 b BF
Talvin321 b BF
Siege of Matruzien
Military actionNot being keen to lose such a major city to the rebellion, the Empire attempts to reconquer it after gathering new forces, giving the Freelands enough time to reinforce the city walls, hire mercenaries and grow even mightier. Despite the loss of Matruzien, the Empire still doesn't see Freeland as too big of a threat, rather using most of their forces to hold territories in Durarin, Tiakis, and on the southern Islands of the Old World. With a direct attack on Matruzien, the Empire isn't able to achieve any victory and therefore starts to siege the city. But the rebels hold Matruzien and are able to keep up the supply routes. The Arched Island serves as a huge granary and the Protected Bay prevented the Empire's Navy to attack the city from the water. After 56 years of pointless siege, the Empire retreats the army from the city walls.
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321 b BF
284 b BF
The Empire strikes back
Military actionRetreating the forces from Matruzien, the Empire shifts their attention to the Freeland Islands, eventually finding out the operation base from the Freelands. Step by step the Empire infiltrates the Islands and chases the rebellions off them. Having no stronger garrisons and fortresses, the rebels are unable to withstand the force of the Empire and eventually have to retreat completely in 321 b. BF. However, still keeping control over the Arched Island and Matruzien, the Freelands manage to evacuate a major part of the people. At the same time, Matruzien was renamed Freital and officially declared as the capital of Freeland. The loss of the Freeland Islands seems like a minor flaw in the history of Freital. Its purpose was served, and the rebels didn't mind leaving it, since it had no use for agriculture or anything else. But soon it turns out as a major strategical position, its loss being bigger as expected.
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284 b BF
259 b BF
The iron pincer
Military actionTo the surprise of Freital, the Empire starts constructing huge fortresses and defensive forts, establishing the Freeland Islands as an anchor point of the so-called 'Iron Pincer'. The empire put up the plan to pincer Freital, attacking it from the mainland, but also start assaults on the back of the Arched Island from the other side. Keeping control over the Freeland Islands it was much easier to control the naval movements of Freital, restricting the rebel's advance and territory to just a small point of Freital and the Arched Island. Instead of reconquering the Island, the Empire decides to assault and plunder it, leaving chaos and mayhem behind. The walls of Freital maintain strong and tall, insurmountable for the rather small forces of the Empire. However, with the constant assaults on the Arched Island, the rebels start losing their secured supplies, the threat of a total defeat seeming unevitable.
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259 b BF
9 Gwenth
The King's Fall
Life, DeathEmperor Friedrich, ruler of the human kingdom makes a grave mistake. The Empire was able to pin the rebels in the city of Freital, surrounding the walls on the mainland and holding major positions on the Arched Island. King Friedrich insists to lead the final charge. The reasons are unclear. Either it was his hurt pride, sheer boredom, or just a presentation of his ruthless might. He moves to the Freeland Islands, gathering and preparing for the final attack. Freital hearing about the rumors of the King being on the Freeland Islands, hire a group of elite assassins, paying almost all of the province's fortune to assassinate the King. After living multiple decades and centuries on these Islands the rebels know important information about the territory, enabling the assassins, lead by a dark elf named Ussepi, to fulfill the mission. The murderers infiltrated the fortress and assassinated King Friedrich, giving the fortress the name Königssturz (engl. King's Fall). With that, the Human Empire fully retreated from the Freeland Islands and left it to Freital.
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259 b BF
22 Yaldin
Independence
FoundingAfter the Empire's retreat from the former territory of Freital, the siege of the city is broken and Freital reclaims the Freeland Islands. Freital finally officially declared their constitution as a country independent from the Human Empire. The 22nd of Yaldin counts as 'Day of Founding' or 'Day of Independence' and is a national holiday for all Humans from Freital. However, the conflict between Freital and the Human Empire doesn't cease with the death of the emperor and Freital keeps assaulting and terrorizing nearby lands, villages, and shipments. However, due to multiple major defeats of the Empire, it rapidly loses territory and is forced to retreat armies, resulting in a strengthening of the inner security forces, disabling Freital from conquering any more territory from them. Freital itself is meant to be the only city on the mainland claimed by the rebels.
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9 b BF
Marriage and Peace
Diplomatic actionOver time, Freital reduces the assaults on the Human Empire, especially because of lucrative negotiations with each other. The Empire is forced to pay Freital to reduce territorial losses. Eventually in 9 b. BF Emperor Brimstone negotiates a peace contract, arranging a marriage of his daughter with Prince Alexander, son of the King of Freital. Since that day Freital and the Empire remain peace, but don't consider each other as allies.