Oakenscale

*"Watch y'er tongue, orc. F'er we may not 'ave y'er size. But we'll 'ave y'er life f'er runnin' y'er mouth 'bout our surface folk. Best away if ye' know what's good f'er ye'."* -Bardly, the Pianist at a tavern in Northpointe

## Arrival in the North

Dwarves are creatures of the earth. And share this trait with the mighty northern oaks, whose roots carved out the tunnels in which these dwarves live. The northern dwarves came from far away lands to make their home amongst the mighty trees of Ulmeen. Upon arriving, these dwarves claimed the largest oak in the forest to be their home. And beneath this mighty tree, they created the city of Quercia. What the dwarves did not foresee, was that the tree itself was already inhabited. High in the branches of this thousand yard tree, lived the Scalish elves.

Elves are usually immediately distrustful of dwarves, especially ones who had moved in right under their home. And so began the Hardwood War, in which the two vied for control of the forest homes that they had carved for themselves.

## The Hardwood War

For forty years the dwarves and elves warred. There was much blood spilled on both sides, and the war seemed like it would last until one side was gone from this world. Their hatred and anger was so great, they were blinded to the fact that they need not have fought as such. And eventually it were the trees themselves that forced the end of conflict.

Great twisted boughs marched through the forest, the oldest of the trees having gained both mobility, and speech. They sought out the dwarves, and they sought out the elves. And forced a meeting. The trees were furious. As the fires of war had damaged many saplings, and trampled the detritus they pushed their roots through. The miracle of moving and speaking trees gave both armies pause, and when words, instead of blood, flowed, they realized they had more in common than they had previously believed.

And so the war ended, not on the tip of a sword, but with a gentle breeze through a leafy canopy.

## The City of Quercia

Bloodshed and war quickly gave way to bitter rivalry. But there are few things dwarves love more than competition. And their skill and cunning at trades-craft put the elves to a test they did not foresee. For the elves lived so long, they became dull, grey, and simply drifted through decade after decade, without much ambition. But the apathy seemed to vanish as they found themselves competing with these dwarves.

Eventually the city of Quercia became not a city of dwarves, but a united nation of dwarves and elves. And the forest rang with fierce, but jovial competition of craftsmanship between the two peoples, until they were one peoples. And the Oakenscale people become synonymous with the two races who lived in the north-west of Ulmeen.

The City of Quercia flourished. And other cities sprang up. Reaching high into the mighty treetops, and deep under them as well. The war was not forgotten, but it was forgiven, by both sides. And the lands of the Oakenscale quickly became a lands of magic, and skilled trade.

The greatest strength of Quercia is the Bicolor Thrones. For it is here that the elf queen reigns alongside her dwarven queen. And the two argue day and night about how to make their nation better. But the love between them in palpable, and their arguments are always constructive. For the only thing the queens love more than each other, is the forest the call home.

## The Grafted War Fallout

The dwarves and elves of the north are still recovering to this day from the events of the Godrest. And they look to the west bitterly. For when the Nekarians gained power, the Oakenscale lost it. They had been there, comrades with the humans of the west, and the westerners were quick to forget that element. Incursions into the forest have become more frequent in the last hundred years. And their god may claim benevolence, but the trees have not spoken to the Oakenscale Queens to stop violence against the invaders... And so they shall not. And humans who enter the forest, will come to regret it.