Hornstead Kingdom

The Hornstead Kingdom was a sovereign state in the Age of Iron that is located beside the Devouring Marsh swamp & the Hornwood forest in the Eastern Kingdoms of Solum. To the north is the Falaror Kingdom and to the North-West is Kabaria. To the south of the Hornstead Kingdom is open wilds.Save or Die: Outcasts: Episode 23
The Hornstead Kingdom flag was a field of green over a field of purple with rhino horn.
During the Vale War, in 1505, the Hornstead Kingdom was conquered by the Army of Voraci and made part of the Voraci Empire.
==History==
===Age of Heroes===
During the Age of Heroes, the region, then known as Elmstead, unnaturally froze over.Dicing with Death: Fenric The leading theory to the cause is a Orb of Winter was activated.Of Dice and Men: Episode 13 It is said a brave hero, Tamaxia, found an Orb of Winter before 1512 in the tower.Tombs of Scoria: Episode 50
===Age of Iron===
According to legend the Devouring Marsh expanded at the start of the Age of Iron. 
The year the modern kingdom of Hornstead was established is unknown. It was founded by the by the Horn family. The capital is located north of the historical ancient capital of Elmstead.
====Vale War====
In 1505 the kingdom was conquered by the Army of Voraci as part of the Vale War. The North-Western Families (the Imperialists) collaborated with the Voraci forces and allowed them across across the swamp to reach the interior of the kingdom. The "Royalist" faction, located along the Hornwood, attempted to hold out but are said to have easily fell to the Army of Voraci.Save or Die: Outcasts: Episode 12
After the conquest was complete, the capital of Hornstead was renamed Valebrook.Save or Die: Outcasts: Episode 04 The King and Queen are still the rulers of the Kingdom, but are placed in District 5 of the Voraci Empire. Magistrate Zerrah (Black Robe Wizard) was in charge of empire operations in the Kingdom, who reported to the Censor of District 5, who reported to Oris. The Imperialists were rewarded with territory and responsibilities such as being the local tax collectors for the kingdom. Nobles outside the Imperial & Royalist factions became the "miffed" faction and help instigate acts of rebelion.
During the occupation of the Kingdom (1512 Age of Iron), the Dragonslayers, lead by Lord Darren Gilroy, visited the Marsh to hunt down the Black Dragon who wasn't joining the Army of Voraci. The Dragonslayers failed to located the Black Dragon and were instead were slain by the McGary Brothers from Arcadia.Tombs of Scoria: Episode 38
In the year 1519 the area unfroze. The reason for this thawing is unknown as of yet. A halfling tavern-owner claims it was done by the "Mistress of the Swamps".
==Agriculture==
Known for the Loamy soil closer to the swamp, and rocky soil in the south-west, so most of the farming is done in the centre of the kingdom. Known to grow Beats, Turnips, and Barley.Save or Die: Outcasts: Episode 18 - Post Show)
==Population==
 Population 1521
Settlement	Population	Villages	VillageAverage Pop	Leader
Valebrook 	18,700 	90 	600 	King/Queen
Arkveld 	1,000 	20 	300 	Baron/Baroness
Jaedyn 	3,500 	17 	500 	Baron/Baroness
Keygate 	5,000 	20 	300 	Baron Brick
Swampside 	7,500 	35 	500 	Baron/Baroness
Totals:
* Urban: 35,200
* Rural: 92,000
* Total: 127,200
The top half of the Hornstead Kingdom was frozen until 1519, so much of the land could not be used for farming. As a result the kingdom's population had always been low due to these conditions. With the unfreezing of the Devouring Marsh in 1519 resulted in the beginning of an expansion of population.
The majority of towns, despite saying they are urban, actually had lower populations actually living in the towns proper. Swampside for example has a urban pop of 1000, the other 6,500 living in farms and swamp farms.
The inner Hornwood itself it largely uninhabited.
==Life in the Swamp==
===Natural Creatures===
* Scorpions
* Snakes
* Eels
* Hydra
===Other===
* Swamp Gremlins
* Bullywugs
* Water Elementals
File:Hornstead Kingdom 2013.png|thumb|Map from 2013
File:Devouring Marsh NoMask.jpg|thumb|Devouring Marsh Fanmap (shows too much of the area frozen)
== References ==
Category:Solum Nations