Iron Freeholds

The **Iron Freeholds** was a country in the southern half of the Heartlands.

## Formation

Ironhold was established by the Stoneborn dwarves on 0Y 2, and soon after a dwarven expedition in 0Y 30 led to the creation of Blackstone. Eventually in 2Y 115, the two cities united to form the Iron Freeholds, a coalition of dwarves.

## The Wars of the Stone

### War of the Ancestral Grudge

The War of the Ancestral Grudge (2Y 303-4Y 216) began following the secession of Lord Pigeon0888 from the Iron Freeholds. This secession can be correlated to the eventual decline of the Freeholds.  His leaving the Freeholds prompted the Lord of Blackstone to declare a reclamation war to maintain territorial claim over the Stoneborn’s ancestral land of Ironhold. Soon after, Pigeon0888 would seek refuge among the protection of the Lavarian Federation who declared any act of aggression against Pigeon0888 an act of war. The Stoneborn refused to be dissuaded by Lavaria’s threat. They pressed on with the war, vowing to reclaim their lands. Lavaria, seeking support from their allies, petitioned the Salibbid Caliphate to enter the war in support of Pigeon0888. The war would plant the seeds of doubt within the brain of Kroyek as he feared the encroachment of foreign neighbors.

### Establishment of the Iron Banner

In 6Y 57, the Iron Freeholds was reorganized into the Iron Banner. All Wardens were ordered to surrender their fiefdoms to the newly-crowned King Under the Mountain and to swear fealty to his new reign.

> *"Our enemies grow greater and bolder. We cannot exist safely within our borders should the Dwarf Lords retain their own retinue and levy their own soldiers. The Imperial Legion of Ironclads will guarantee the safety of Sword's Edge and our Banner's sacred Ironhold." - Kroyek*
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### The Kindred Rebellion

The Kindred Rebellion  (6Y 71-6Y 316) began as a result of the declining mental state of Kroyek. Plagued by the lack of economic and strategic gains of the War of the Ancestral Grudge and growing ever fearful of Lavaria’s expansion, Kroyek had attempted to strengthen his control over the Freeholds by abolishing the Wardens and centralizing the retinues under a single Iron Banner. While many accepted this change, many still wished to return to the previous system as they identified more with their perspective holdings than the centralized government. One, in particular, Lord LilPUDGEdaBEAST, managed to rally support for a rebellion against Kroyek.

### Restoration of the Iron Freeholds

The Iron Freeholds were restored following the Kindred Rebellion when LilPUDGEdaBEAST slew Kroyek in single combat on 6Y 316. The duel of fates would end the war and allow LilPUDGEdaBEAST to restore what once was within the realm, although due to years of infighting and political instability his reign would be short-lived.

## Instability

A decade of war had resulted in a large-scale political divide in the entirety of the Iron Freeholds. Many supporters of Kroyek were left angered by his death (Kroyek was the patron of the Stoneborn). Even more so, the rise of LilPUDGEdaBEAST left a large power vacuum in the city of Blackstone. All of this would, over the years, give rise to nationalism among the dwarves wherein a new political party would begin amassing popular support.

### The End of the Freeholds

On 14Y 99, LilPUDGEdaBEAST steps down from the throne due to building pressure among the dwarf lords. Revna, the leader of the nationalist party, is crowned King Under the Mountain. In doing so, the new King dissolves the Freeholds and establishes the Kingdom of Valheim. This new dwarf realm would vow to ensure the superiority of the Dvergr race in Sword's Edge.