Great City of Waterham

The **Great City of Waterham** is an independent micro-state located in the border between the **Empire of Eranoire** and the **Kingdom of Brannoria**. Mostly known for its fertile lands and large onions, but also known for it's impressive walls that protect the city and guarantee's their independence.

## History

The hamlet of Waterham had existed for nearly four hundred years, back then simply referred to as Ham. It was first settled by Hob refugees in Tergos 499AM. These refugees were escaping the dying **Martorian Empire** that was about to fall against **King Hamil I**. The lands were said to be incredibly fertile and rich in natural minerals that help in the growth of crops and its fame would spread down through the dying empire.

After the **Fall of the Martorian Empire** in Jorias 524AM, and creation of the **Kingdom of Eranoire** and the **Kaiserdom of Hamala**, Waterham found itself in a tricky situation as the Eranoirans now bordered their hamlet. This was quickly resolved by paying tribute to the Kings and Queens of Eranoire, but just fifty years later another challenge would appear for the Waterhamerites in the form of **Brannor Brannorsson**, a foreign conqueror believed to have come from Skæg and who was quickly defeating the independent Sotíran tribesmen and Eranoiran settlers up north.

In Tergos 574AM, the Brannorians began raiding Hob lands including Waterham, the first raid was said to be brutal and without any mercy for the small Hobs, who were then forced into becoming peasants for the new **Kingdom of Brannoria**. Hobs, who had a culture of their during this time, began mixing their cultural traditions with the Brannorians and vice versa, eventually creating a new Hob culture and Waterham was not an exception to this, but with this change, so did it change the general outlook on fighting and warfare. Hobs, being small humanoids, needed to adapt if they wanted their settlements to thrive under the rule of Brannoria or Eranoire.

In Aldas 588, a Hob known as **Josephan** began rallying the inhabitants of Waterham, not much is known about Josephan other that he was known for being an excellent architect, it is theorized that he was a Hob that studied in the Empire of Lykos. With the help of the Waterhamerites, Josephan began constructing a massive wall that would surround the overpopulated Hob settlement. He also used human mercenaries to act as a bandits in an attempt to halt any tax collectors from approaching Waterham, as they would undoubtedly warn the local lords of this project. Walls like the ones engineered by Josephan would taken at least a decade, maybe less if the materials could be imported quickly, but the Hob and the Waterhamerites had done the impossible in less than four weeks. Many Hobs had died of exhaustion, but Josephan continued rallying them up, reminding them that they could secure their independence from either Eranoire or Brannoria.

A month later, a detachment of local forces went to investigate the situation in Waterham, only to find the town surrounded by massive walls. With the help of the hired mercenaries to act as trainer and instructors, the Waterhamerites drove the soldiers with ease. This, however, enraged the local lords, who sent an even bigger army to siege the city for months. But the Hobs continued to defeat their enemies, they enjoyed a good position with plenty of supplies and a river running through the town providing them fresh water.

Months became a year and soon it became apparent that the city was impossible to capture no matter how many troops one led. Waterham was declared independent and Josephanus was declared its first leader, sadly, the Hob would die a year later to **Ddraig's Fire** disease. A statue was created in the middle of the town dedicated to the mysterious Hob. After that, the city thrived despite being constantly under threat by Eranoire, Brannoria or Skæglin raiders.