Hallengard

**The Kingdom of Hallengard** is one of the three major nations of the Hales, the others being Aedwin and Lauchette. Prior to the War of Daggers, Hallengard was known as the **Hallenic Empire**, though both Hallengard and the Hallenic Empire were commonly used interchangeably. At its peak, the Hallenic Empire’s reach spanned the Hales, and the Latoran Isles.

## **History**

### **Legend**

Hedatist legend claims that far before any collective civilization existed in the Hales, various fantastical creatures roamed the world. Most notable of these are dragons, giants, and spirits. These entities commonly terrorized the men of the Hales (more commonly known as Halesmen) through killing, destruction, and trickery. Reportedly, the threat of these creatures became so great, that many of the remaining settlements only stood on mountains, where said creatures didn’t dare to go.

Legend states that under the leadership of a man named Talorgan the Bold, the settlements of the North banded together to fight off the creatures. They were successful in this, though how it was accomplished is hotly debated. Similarly, it’s disputed what happened to the creatures afterwards. Most commonly accepted is that the giants were cast into the sea to create islands, the dragons exiled to the East, and the spirits kept at bay by rituals and ceremonies.

Though the legend of Talorgan is commonly accepted, it has very little evidence to back many of the claims up, as has been noted by various Andophists and skeptics. However, proof to the contrary is also difficult to find. What little records still exist are notoriously difficult to translate and near impossible to verify. Much of the known history of the nations of the Hales dates to the adoption of the Common as the primary language of the region.

### **Early History**

What is known about Hallengard before the adoption of Common is the reign of Oswald Findlaigh. During his reign, the Hallenic Empire was in a period of peace and stability, experiencing rapid growth of cities such as Mulleburgh, Dunedeigh, and Cennsdale. New technologies such as the compass and boats like the cog allowed for better trade within the Empire, and outside of it.

These new technological developments worked in tandem with the peoples of Latora, and eventually the two nations had their first contact. The Lauch were initially treated with distrust and suspicion, being armed with weapons such as crossbows and bringing along various diseases that plagued the Empire. After much deliberation, Oswald worked towards a diplomatic relationship between the Empire and Lauchette.

While this was initially scorned by the clans of the Empire, many of them began to come around, particularly in the south. The Halesmen and the Lauch intermingled, intermarried, and traded with one another. Various Lauch immigrants migrated into the southern parts of the Hales, resulting in the development of the cities of Fulwood and New Steinberg. This relationship would eventually result in a royal marriage between Oswald’s son Cedric and the Lauch King Henri Levallois’s eldest daughter Lucille.

### **Cedric’s Reign**

After years of relative stability, both Oswald and Henri would die, leaving Hallengard and Lauchette to their sons. Both cemented their rules,  but Pierre would die mysteriously only a few years into his rule, leaving behind no heirs. This meant Lauchette would go to Lucille, the wife of Cedric, and speculation began to surface in Latora that Cedric assassinated Pierre.

With the knowledge that a child between Cedric and Lucille would result in said child inheriting both thrones, the nobles of Lauchette dissented and proposed an alternative ruler. Cedric disagreed with the proposal and began readying the Empire’s troops in the event of a rebellion. Many of the nobles of Lauchette stood down, though various nobles refused to recognize the legitimacy of the possible personal union.

Nevertheless, a child would come from the two, Wallace Findlaigh. Wallace was set to inherit both crowns, much to the dismay of the Lauch nobility. Even more to the nobility's chagrin, Lucille died from complications during childbirth, meaning Wallace would inherit the crown. To counteract this, the nobles of Lauchette elected a relative of Lucille's, Marceau, and offered to become a vassal rather than a union subject. With little other recourse, Cedric accepted this proposal.

### Wallace’s Reign

However, Wallace didn’t agree with this change. When Cedric died, Wallace made his intention to restore the union very clear, moving many of the Hallenic troops to Lauchette. This greatly upset the clans of the Empire, seeing the current arrangement to be fine as is and expecting a war to be costly and counterproductive.

Wallace continued forward with his plans to restore the union however, and in the year 37 CE declared war on Lauchette and Marceau. This was the nail in the coffin for decent relations with Lauchette, and all trade ceased between the two nations. Clans located in modern-day Eastern Hallengard and Aedwin watched their income take a massive hit. In the North, many peasants died from famine. All of this served as powder in the powder keg, and soon a spark would be struck.

### Civil War

Tynan Sutherland, lord of Cennsdale, approached Wallace in the palace of Mulleburgh and implored him to end the ongoing war before the country was plagued by even more problems. Wallace, interpreting the pleas as a threat, sicced the palace guards onto Tynan and had him escorted out.

Word quickly spread of this event, and all of the problems that arose due to the war quickly exploded in Wallace’s face. The Sutherlands made contact with various groups; the de Castellanes of the South, the Levallois and de Artagnans of Lauchette, and various intellectuals in the West. Bribes were paid to high ranking guards of the Findlaighs, and soon everything was in place.

Eastern clans raised their armies in support of the Sutherlands, western peasants revolted and forced nobles out of their cities, and southern nobles rebelled and declared their independence from the Empire. The troops loyal to the Findlaighs and the Empire were stranded in Latora, their boats being sabotaged by their former allies. In a swift blow, the army of the Empire was crippled.

Sutherland troops would push to the capital, besieging the city. Prior to the siege, a feast was being hosted, resulting in many of Wallace’s allies and family being inside the city, now trapped. The allies of the Findlaighs were offered an out: overthrow the High King and declare Tynan as the true king, and they would be spared. Within a week, the gates were thrown open and the Findlaighs captured. Many were executed, though Wallace was imprisoned in the dungeons of the palace.

### Aftermath

Tynan would promptly crown himself High King of Hallengard, negotiating for the end of the war in Lauchette and brokering an armistice with the new nation of Aedwin. While not officially recognizing their independence, the two nations were de facto separate entities. The troops of both eastern and western clans marched into the West and put an end to the various peasant revolts.

Soon after the realm was once again stable, Wallace was found dead in his cell. While officially claimed to be a suicide, rumor speculates in loyalist groups that he was assassinated. After Wallace’s death, the Findlaighs were declared extinct and their realm was divided amongst the western nobles in a bid to gain their favor. However, many of the Findlaighs were not accounted for, particularly Wallace’s pregnant wife Moira.

### Present

Many years have passed since the war. The Sutherlands have moved towards mending ties with the Lauch and establishing a firm trade relation with the nation. Similarly, attempts to create a strong relationship with the newly discovered nation of the Winterlands are underway, though they are yet to bear fruit. Various attempts to undermine the Aedwinians have since taken place, though few have been successful.