Alfenheim Empire

The **Alfenheim Empire** was an elven empire based in Midwestern Maywikt out of modern-day Cumbria. The Alfenheim Empire is credited with many achievements including being the last of the Great Elven Empires, greatly advancing the arcane arts, and causing the spread of half-elves across the continent. The Alfenheim Empire rose out of the Alfenheim Elves who seized the opportunity to take the lands the giants left after the Giantsfall. The Alfenheim Empire ceased to exist after their defeat at the hands of Arthur Yormoth's Higardi rebels. Although their culture is considered extinct, the Alfenheim have had a great affect on the continent with multiple groups claiming to either be their cultural successor, political successor, or both.

## Geography

### Region

* Midwestern Maywikt
* Northern Dragonsand

### Capital

Daes'helm, Alfenheim (modern-day Dernholm, Cumbria)

## Society

### Cultures

* High elf
* Wood elf
* Harlequin elf
* Moon elf
* Sun elf
* early Higardi
* early Albionfolk

## History

### Established

After the Giantsfall at the end of the Titan Age.

### Succeeded by

* Empire of Stars
* Selusians
* Higardi
* Kingdom of Cumbria

### Notable figures

* Larrel Ar'Tel'Qessir
* Oprix Ar'Tel'Hyperia

## Geography

### Territories

#### Elven Territories of Greater Alfenheim

The Alfenheim Empire's cultural center was found in a region called 'Alfenheim,' (modern-day Cumbria) where the high elf society had remained unconquered by the giants of the Titan Age. Alfenheim translates roughly to "Haven for Elves." After the Giantsfall, the Alfenheim were able to spread their territories wide to neighboring elven lands such as Selusia and Nightglade with many local elven populations willingly submitting to fellow elven rule.

#### Higardi Territories

The first people conquered by the Alfenheim by force were their Higardi neighbors, who at the time, were divided into squabbling kingdoms, clans, and duchies. The traditional lands of the Higardi people fell under Alfenheim control and would remain so for most of the Empire's history.

#### Other Territories of Note

* Albion
* North and Eastern Athundum.
* Western Belumar
* Dragonsand colonial holdings

#### Notable Alfenheim locations

* The Severed Hand
* Oprix Academy

## Government

As with many elven cultures throughout history, the Alfenheim Empire was ruled primarily by a magocracy where powerful magic users tended to lead the empire. Other nobility existed, but these nobles often provided other benefits such as wealth or military prowess. The Empire itself was ruled by the Council of Esteen. Each member was seen as the earthly representative for a specific elven god of the Sel’Adrin, which was determined by special, magical mirrors  (Any elf that showed Malikath in the mirror was executed). Members of the Council of Esteen were referred to as “Godhand” as they were seen as the metaphorical hand of the gods.

Only elves could serve on the Council of Esteen as godhands, and elves primarily headed the governments of the territories they held as vassals. The Alfenheim elves saw themselves as better than the other folk they lorded overseeing themselves as guardians and guides. The Council made many of the major decisions for the Empire. Many of the members were born into the role via direct lineage, but others were apprentices of the godhands, often seen as adopted by them and educated in a way that they would assume their mentor’s role.

Members of the Godhand were often given territories to lord over within the Empire. They constructed great citadels, such as the Hand of the Sel’Adrin (that became known as the Severed Hand), to reside in and to maintain order in their widespread empire.

## Demographics

The high elves were the ruling class of the Alfenheim Empire, and to be considered a high elf was to be welcomed into their cultural fold. Elves were a predominant demographic amongst the Alfenheim with a majority of elves being of the high, wood, harlequin, or moon elf cultures. After incorporating Dragonsand's colonies, sun elves also came into the Alfenheim fold.

Other folk fell under Alfenheim rule, notably the predominately human Higardi at the time.

## Society

### Culture

What is known of the Alfenheim culture has come from the few remnants of their empire that time was so kind to spare. Like many of the elven empires of the past, the Alfenheim Empire was no exception when it came to viewing the elven people as greater folk than the other, believing they were first to claim Evarencia. Unlike other elven empires, they adopted the Giant concept of the Mandate of Heaven, and they saw themselves as guardians for the folk of the realm and the realm’s caretakers.

The Alfenheim did not adhere to the strict elven cultural lines of other elven societies such as the old Glindythiel (primarily high and wood elven) and willingly allowed other elven subcultures to partake in the Alfenheim citizenship, with some of elves, such as the Harlequin elves of Selusia willingly subjecting themselves to their rule. Interestingly, the Harlequin elves played a large influence on the Alfenheim, developing a proud theater and music tradition amongst the Alfenheim people that still persists in the Selusian/Cumbrian culture to this day. In the case of some elves, they eventually assimilated into a high elven culture, as was the case of the Godhand Larrel Ar’Tel’Qessir, who was originally came form the sun elves of Dragonsand, but he came to be recognized as a High Elf over his lifetime. Marriage to a high elf led to his daughter Virwen being seen as High Elf as well. In the Alfenheim Empire, High Elf was a much more fluid term, and it came to recognize any elf who truly embraced the Alfenheim culture.

The Alfenheim placed great respect in magic, especially the arcane arts. Unlike the Old Glindythiel Empire, who primarily focused on nature magic, the Alfenheim’s practice of the arcane was revolutionary and greatly aided them in their conquests and rule. Many ancient practices were lost, such as cloud-weaving, while others remained due to their efforts, such as the ancient art of Bladedancing thought lost in the years following the Hammerfall.

The Alfenheim Empire had a proud warrior tradition, with many non-mage elves proving themselves through military service to the Godhands. Many of the warriors were still taught the use of magic, and this prowess with magic gave them an upperhand over many of their foes. Where the Old Glindythiel placed a great emphasis on archery, the art of the blade was widely held in high regard by the Alfenheim, suggested by their Blade Dancers. The Alfenheim also made great use of Higardi soldiers and mercenaries, as their proud knightly tradition made them fierce combatants.

## History

### Arcane Achievements

The Alfenheim Empire is credited with revolutionary discoveries in the field of magic, influencing the practice of wizardry into the modern era. Many spells and cantrips seen as common in spellbooks and grimoires can trace their origins or synthesis to the Alfenheim Empire. Fortunately, the Alfenheim willingly shared their arcane arts with the folk around them, but some scholarship suggests many spells were taken during conflicts and repurposed by many of their opponents and subjects who rebelled against them.

Perhaps the most lasting of the Alfenheim’s magical discoveries/creations was the creation of the *magehand* cantrip by the mage Oprix Ar’Tel’Hyperia. The cantrip is widely used by many spellcasters in the modern-era for a wide variety of applications. Some scholars suggest that the academy itself was built with many mages utilizing the spell.   Her mentor, Larrel Ar’Tel’Qessir, one of the last Godhands, is credited with penning the *Power word; Kill* as well as successfully synthesizing the *Timestop* spell from old Aedellion texts. Larrel’s work is also studied by scholars who subscribe to the widely rejected Clairvoyant theory of the realm’s creation. Being proud of their elven heritage, the Alfenheim Empire helped to keep the tradition of Bladedancing, a special form of elven wizardry, alive. Scholars cannot be absolutely certain which spells should all be credited to the Alfenheim Empire, but scholarship does also suggest the powerful *Simulacrum* spell also has its origins with Ar’Tel’Hyperia. After their fall, some of the Alfenheim elves and mages willingly shared their arcane knowledge, as they saw the continuation of the practice of wizardry as a way for their culture to survive.

### Decline and Collapse

The Alfenheim Empire enjoyed their rule for many centuries, but a number of factors led to a steady decline from their height:

* Their ‘elves first’ culture became increasingly problematic, which led to growing discontent amongst their non-elven subjects. This issue was only compounded by;
* Growing corruption amongst the government and bureaucracy that created an ineffective system that was incapable of managing their large territory.
* Erosion of elven unity. The mobility that allowed other elven cultures to ascent to the status of High Elf slowly disappeared. Without this goal, the Empire further lost sight of their original goals and the discontent non-elves found allies in the elves who felt their empire failed them.
* Growing cultural unity amongst the Higardi. The Alfenheim once relied on the divisions of the Higardi tribes and kingdoms to their advantage in their subjugation of them. The Higardi started to grow into a unified culture brought together by their ties.
* The Era of Agora and the ensuing destruction was the tipping point for many and left the Empire in a weakened state. This opened the Alfenheim Empire up to;
* Barbarian Invasions. The Gothic people from the west and the wanderers in the Athundum desert started to find success in invading Alfenheim lands.
* The final nail in the coffin is when their subjects erupted into full on revolt.

Arthur Yormoth, a Higardi man from Bailen, was able to unify the Higardi people under his banner. He led them in a conflict to free his people from Alfenheim rule that led to a destructive war. The Severing of the Hand is considered the pivotal point in their war as shortly after, the Higardi marched into Alfenheim and laid waste to their centuries long occupiers.

The Alfenheim culture was not destroyed though, which is important to understand. Many elves of the empire remained after its fall, but unlike the Elves of the Old Glindythiel that attempted to continue their culture, many of the elves of the Alfenheim, especially those who also battled against their lords, assimilated into the surrounding cultures around them with most the elves joining the Higardi over a long period of time.

### Notable Historical Figures

* Larrel Ar'Tel'Qessir
* Oprix Ar'Tel'Hyperia Yormoth

## Notable Locations

### Remaining Alfenheim structures

* Oprix Academy in Wren's Run, Urgovel
* The University of Dernholm in Cumbria
* The Selusian School of Alfenheim Studies in Hallois Syth, Selusia.

## Legacy

Beyond their arcane discoveries, the Alfenheim Empire had a great impact on the world.

The unification of Higardi and Alfenheim cultures would, over the course of ages, develop into the culture that is recognized as the Cumbrian or Selusian culture in the modern era. The culture itself sees itself as the continuation of the Alfenheim, and with current Kovithian occupation, this sense of pride toward their ancient roots has only grown. Due to the assimilation of the Alfenheim into Higardi society, intermarrying led to the majority of the Higardi population being of half-elf heritage.

Arthur Yormoth became the first king of a unified Higard and this kingdom laid the foundation for the Yormoth Dynasty and the Empire of Stars that came to encompass Maywikt and ushered in the Golden Age. He married Oprix Ar’Tel’Hyperia after the conflict, allowing him to establish legitimacy in many former Alfenheim lands, making the formation of the dynasty's early empire not need to rely on military might. Half-elves in the modern world may perhaps be the largest demograph due to the eventual spread of the Higardi.

### Successors

A number of cultures and nations claim to be the successors of the Alfenheim Empire, seeing it as a great honor.

* Virwen Galerion claims she was sent forward in time by godhand Larrel Ar'Tel'Qessir to preserve the Alfenheim culture.
* The Empire of Stars under the rule of the Yormoth Dynasty claimed to be the Alfenheim Empire's successor state after Arthur married Oprix Ar-tel-Hyperia.
* The Kingdom of Cumbria and Selusians are the most geographically accurate successors. Their culture was born out of the fusion of elven and Higardi traditions.
* The Higardi people see themselves as the successors of the Yormoth Dynasty. Oprix Ar'Tel'Hyperia's marriage to Arthur Yormoth solidifies this claim along with the majority half-elf population of Higard. Ezara Solaris being a descendant of Larrel is also evidence.
* In *SteamSpell*, Duke Gedraan of the Duchy of Bailen claimed to be a successor of the Yormoth line, thus a successor of the Ar'Tel'Hyperia line.
* The head librarian of the Oprix Academy, Acrania Oprix, claims to be a direct descendant of Oprix Ar'Tel'Hyperia.

### Notable Alfenheim

* Virwen Galerion
* Larrel Ar'Tel'Qessir
* Arcania Oprix

## Trivia

* Not counting liches,  Virwen is likely the only living Alfenheim elf in the time period of *WovenRealm* due to the displacement spell that sent her rocketing 6,000 years into the future from her time.
* When creating Evarencia, Alex decided he wanted the majority population to be half-elves and not humans. To explain this historically, he created the Alfenheim Empire.
* The role of the Alfenheim Empire in the culture of Maywikt has caused Alex to draw comparisons to the Roman Empire when discussing the Alfenheim Empire.
* The Alfenheim's name is reminiscent of Alfheimr, the home of light elves, referenced in Old Norse texts. In Old Norse, Alfheimr means 'Land of Elves.'