Freyholt
Freyholt, a nation formed from one of the few elven colonies established by Sarin. Many Frost elves migrated there, along with wood elves, and city elves. They found a place close with nature and many believed to be blessed by Melora. In this wooded heartland, they found animals much larger than those of the norm. Rabbits were the size of large dogs, wolves, birds, and creatures were of much larger proportions in this place. The trees were even larger than those in their homeland. Settlements could be established in the trees or as part of the trees themselves. When the land shook and Gods died, things changed. The trees grew larger but it did not spread further then its borders…things had changed.
History
The nation of Freyholt originally one of the few colonies, but one of the largest of colonies created by the Elves was a prosperous and very special location. Settling in the large forest and the surrounding areas proved to be very homey to an extent….save for the animals of unusual size and trees which dwarfed those back home. For a time, life was wonderful and their people prospered, they had been unable to completely befriend the animals, but there was a ‘truce’ for the most part between them.
When the war of the Gods occurred, these elves were shaken as the death of Melora did cause great pain to the forest. But even in death nature would press on. The trees grew even larger and stronger, the earth became more fertile. The people also became…different. The culture shifted, the very nature of the elves shifted. The death of Melora caused a great deal of energy to be dispersed within the realm of the Freyholt. They found themselves living longer; many of them found they became even closer with nature, down to their very physical form. These elves became the new Woodelves. Further Interbreeding with the Frost elves changed the next generation quite a bit. They no longer stood as imposing; their bodies appeared more petite, more lithe and slim. The actual strength did not fade but an odd change occurred with the combination of magic, Meloras death and the interbreeding. The females remained on average taller, and even somewhat stronger, then their male counterparts. While the elves outside of the forest became known as ‘High Elves’. When the Original Wood elves and City elves whom lived outside the forest were exposed to some of the magical discharge of Lorem Regnum, they found themselves becoming different, and changing at a more rapid pace. Their skin became paler, and their eyes shimmered with a faint glow. They became more attuned to the arcane, and more and more children were born with magical ability and talent. Oddly enough in this society as well it was the women who seemed to dominate society for the most part. It seems their abilities with magic are for the most part greater than that of the males control over it.
The appointed governor eventually passed on leaving the peoples of Freyholt uncertain who would rule next? No one had heard anything from Sarin. One of the newly formed clan Matriarchs suggested a leader be chosen on whom could complete a great test of nature. Heads of the High Elven Houses and the Wood Elven clans met and went through the various trials and tests set before them, but at the end of the day. The Wood Elven Matriarch Ysolde Fairwind triumphed. In the spirit of good relations with their Elven kin, the new capital would be built on the borders of the forest to the south, Vanyadorn. From this point onward her family and her daughters would be in line to rule the nation, as she had defeated the tests and trails. Matriarch and Guardian of Freyholt Ysolde decided to keep many elements of the old colonial government, but just…re-arrange them a bit to match new cultural practices.
Freyholt for some time faced no grave threats, and it was during this time their society grew and nation prospered. It was not until they faced threats from two sides were they challenged. From the east now known as the ‘Lost Lands’ warriors whom were painted with ash, black paint, and dark armor from bygones passed. The Mørke krigere…Quite literally the Dark Warriors, swarmed over in raiding parties, marauded and raided, loot and pillaged and razed villages on the eastern border to the ground. They inflicted terror wherever they attacked and left as quickly as they came. While to the North West, hordes of undead monstrosities poured forth having been finally pushed out of the new Nation of Greyhollow. They arrived on the borders and threatened the northern most towns. Attacked on two fronts the Elven nation needed to act and deal with the issues. While the Dark Warriors were a threat, they were also more difficult to catch then the roaming undead hordes. Ysolde decided the best course of action would be to deal with the roaming and marauding undead horde. With a simple but well executed strategy the Elves were able to pick off the horde bit by bit rather than engage it in direct combat, this took longer but there were far less causalities this way. After dealing with the horde the army marched east to deal with the Mørke krigere. But when they arrived and set up defenses. The Mørke krigere did not return, they went back to the lost lands from whence they came, satisfied with this conclusion the elves set up be better defenses for their eastern border…just in case, and then they resumed the process of picking up their lives and rebuilding.
Ysolde ruled for over three hundred years before she died in an unfortunate hunting accident. Her daughter Leyawin Fairwind succeeded her and picked up where her mother left off. It was Leyawin, trained both as a markswomen and a druid whom accomplished what had not been thought possible since the death of Melora. She was able to ‘tame’ some of the massive beasts of the forest. Not all of them, the largest became more cordial and ‘friendly’ at best, but Wolves the size of small houses, Foxes the size of large horses, Boars big enough to batter down gates. She was convinced this achievement would help provide an advantage for her people. It did provide quite the advantage in dissuading nations such as Greyhollow from contemplating invasions quite quickly when the visiting ambassador witnessed these beasts. It was also during this Time that Freyholt searched for allies or at least one ‘friendly’ nation on this continent. To the West it decided to form a defensive alliance with the neighboring nation of Estervall. The treaty signed between the two was followed up by a very interesting ceremony on Freyholts part which further impressed the representative from Estervall.
As the years carried on, nations borders shifted and areas were disputed. Old clans died within Freyholt, while new clans rose to power. The population which had started at a relatively even footing began to change, for every one high elf there were at least ten Woodelves. The Woodelves seemed to form or work on making much larger families then the High elves who settled after perhaps two. The most significant change which was starting to frustrate the Elves of Freyholt as a whole though was the violations of their borders by the upstart city states of Osstonhall. They would march through their borders and on a few occasions had full battles with their rival city states within their territory. Many warnings were given and even threats of Force, but Osstonhall always seemed to ignore them. Making the bold claims that it was their territory first, it was not until the current time and place that Freyholt finally fed up with the constant trespassing and outright waging of war in their lands did they declare war on Osstonhal and begin to take the fight to their lands. Their aim being to gain a port and to teach these upstarts a lesson in diplomacy. The war has thus far been in their favor to the point where Lincliff grows worried of the expansion.
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Capital
Alternative Names
Freyholt
Demonym
Freyholter
Leader
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Mixed economy
Location
Neighboring Nations
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