Higardi

The **Higardi** are one of the oldest and most widespread cultures on Maywikt with their populace dispersed through multiple nations and territories primarily in central Maywikt. The Higardi are known through history for creating the knightly tradition seen across the realm, defeating the Alfenheim Empire and ending their rule, and the Yormoth Dynasty. The Higardi as a people have not been ruled under one banner since the Yormoth Dynasty and are primarily divided amongst the Commonwealth of Higard, Gondolin, the Neutral Frontier, and a Athundi kingdoms. Toadmore, Nightglade, and parts of Old Pashew are currently under Kovithian rule.

Other cultures are said to have developed out of the Higardi with its most well known offshoot being the Selusian culture. The Gondolese and Azunaiites are other popular Higardi cultural offshoots. The Higardi culture has also influenced the development of many other cultures across Maywikt.

## Geography

### Region

* Central Maywikt
* Commonwealth of Higard
* Gondolin
* Kindred Wood
* Kingdom of Ehb
* Neutral Frontier
* Nightglade
* Northern Belumar
* Old Pashew
* Starfall
* Toadmore
* the Trollwood

## Politics

### Notable organizations

* Knights of the Celestial Wolf
* Yormoth Dynasty

## History

### Preceded by

* Empire of Stars
* Alfenheim Empire
* early Higard

### Succeeded by

* Azunaiite
* Ellondee
* Frontier Folk
* Omonshea
* Selusian

### Notable figures

* Arthur Yormoth I
* Katarina Steele
* Nettle Swiftfoot
* Oprix Ar'Tel'Hyperia Yormoth

## Name

The name Higard comes from the Old Sylvan word to refer to meteorites. The Higardi, seeing themselves as shepherded by the Aedellions, took what was meant to be an insult as an honorific title that they would use to name their whole society and culture. Old Higard, the Commonwealth of Higard, and the Kingdom of Higard are some examples of political entities bearing the name of the Higardi culture.

## History

### Early History

The Higardi people are considered to be one of the oldest cultures tracing its origins back to the arrival of the starfaring Aedellions before the Titan Age. The Higardi were originally primarily comprised of the humans who came to settle central Maywikt and settled with the native halflings. These early cultures fused, adding other influences from the surrounding elven people as well as other, unknown early cultures. The Higardi, since their inception, would always look to the stars for their answers. The knightly tradition is created at some point based around the idea of knights being the star's in their lord's constellations.

### Alfenheim Empire (6,000 years prior to *WovenRealm*)

Early in their history, the Higardi were a divided people between various tribes, kingdoms, and duchies, and it were these divisions that made them an easy target of conquest and occupation by the Alfenheim Empire early in their history. Their knights and mercenaries allowed the Alfenheim to further extend their borders. Centuries of occupation under the Alfenheim Empire drove the Higardi people toward unity in their shared traditions and language, and it was when Arthur Yormoth, claimed the title of Duke of Bailen, claiming his bloodline traced to Azor Bael, the astral dragon. The charismatic and driven duke soon found himself king of a unified Higard, and they struck against their occupiers. After defeating Larrel Ar'Tel'Qessir's forces at the Severed Hand, Arthur found the remainder of the war with Higard's oppressors. When Oprix Ar'Tel'Hyperia surrendered at Hyperia, she was taken a hostage by the king. The capital of Daes'Helm (modern-day Dernholm, Cumbria) fell to the Higardi forces an easy task. The Alfenheim Empire is considered to have effectively ended when Oprix Ar'Tel'Hyperia married King Yormoth.

Years of integration and assimilation by the Alfenheim elves into Higardi society created its major demographic of half-elves.

### Yormoth Dynasty

*See main article: Empire of Stars*

The Higardi enjoyed absolute dominance of Maywikt during the Golden Age that followed the forming of the Yormoth Dynasty when Oprix married Arthur. Over the following centuries, the elves of the Alfenheim slowly integrated into the Higardi society, placing even more of their influences on the Higardi people. The Alfenheim instilled a strong love of theater and music into the Higardi as well as their respect for the arcane. The Yormoth Empire came to dominate all of Maywikt, allowing Higard's culture to spread far and wide. The Higardi culture remained unified until the Sunless Era dismantled to Golden Age the Yormoth Dynasty worked so hard to build, while also, ending their bloodline.

### Sunless Era

During the Sunless Era, Angrath the Betrayer enjoyed taking their vile hatred for the Astral Star out on the Higardi populace. The demons decimated much of the Higardi with their iron rule of Evarencia based out of central Maywikt. The Higardi Knights of the Celestial Wolf pledged their swords to St. Orianna's cause before the last of the Gothic kings. It is believed that the ancient one known as the Mordyyre was born of the Higardi people.

### Pre-campaign

The Higardi people continue to remain divided in the modern-day. The Commonwealth of Higard and Gondolin are the primary Higardi territories. The Commonwealth in recent years has retaken the Duchies of Bailen and Urgovel. The result of the Gondolin Civil War saw the splitting of the Kingdom of Gondolin into Gondolin and South Gonodolin with the latter joining the Belumar Trade Federation. Many Higardi reside within the Great Frontier and are unable to be taken into the fold by any nation. Higardi natives of Nightglade, Toadmore, and Old Pashnew find themselves under Kovithian occupation.

The Selusian culture developed out of the divisions of the Higardi society following the fall of the Yormoth Dynasty with the elven influences playing a larger influence on their culture. Other Higardi offshoots include the Azunaiites, Ehb, and the Omonshea. Based on the people of Ellonde adopting the knightly tradition at great depth into their culture, they can also be seen as having developed from the Higardi.

Due to their culture spreading, many pockets of Higardi people exist across the realm.

## Culture

Many Higardi people still live a pastoral lifestyle, subsisting primarily on agriculture, in villages and towns with a major city serving as a central hub for the folk This lifestyle is often attributed to the early Higardi people and their great respect for the natural world. Higardi people are renowned for being self-sufficient as well as hospitable. Tradition amongst them requires them to treat guests with great honor and kindness, and it is out of character for a Higardi person to turn away a person in need. Higardi people have a great sense of home and community. Many are fiercely loyal to their home, no matter how unimpressive or pastoral. This fierce loyalty to one's community has often led to the divisions in the Higardi people. Perhaps born from Astral Star dogma Higardi are renowned for their hospitality and have many traditions and customs based around hospitality. Others claim these influences come directly from Tuft shires that played a large influence on Higardi culture’s development. Their faith in the Astral Star has caused a great respect for scholars and scientists in their culture, leading to many grand academies and welcoming the Weave with open arms wherever the Higardi thrive.

Due to this sense of community, Higardi are well-known for their beliefs. There is less of an importance placed on the individual or the family in Higardi society and more-so on the community and striving for what is best for it. After the fall of the Alfenheim Empire to Arthur Yormoth I, the elves of Alfenheim and their culture merged with the Higardi, adding many of the traditional ideas of nobility to the culture as well as a great respect for magic. The noble structure continues to exist moreso out of Higardi traditionalism than anything, and perhaps, a yearning for the Golden Era.

Higardi cuisine is full of variety due to the extensive reaches of its culture. Despite this, Higard boasts some of the best breakfasts in the realm as well as foods commonly found amongst pastoral folk.

Higardi people still express an interest and reverence for nature, often preferring to integrate the natural landscape into their settlements instead of carving through it. Their architecture does not feature towering steeples or glorious estates, but instead, prefers to be built in a way that works with the land while also often utilizing elevated walkways and being integrated vertically. Outside of the towns and cities, most Higardi prefer a cottage or simple house on their homestead.

### Demographics

The majority of Higardi people used to be human until the fall of the Alfenheim Empire. With the fall of the Alfenheim, and the elves joining with the Higardi, a majority of Higardi are of half-elven descent. Halflings are also another major folk in Higard. Higardi people also celebrate a wide diversity of folk amongst their populace.

### Language

The Higardi language is based in the Sylvan language family and uses the Draconic star-script. Calligraphy is a widely respected art amongst the the Higardi and amongst the religious folk, being able to read the stars is impressive.

### Religion

With their cultural origins being based in the stars, it only makes sense that most Higardi people are fervent worshippers of the Astral Star. Arnika is considered the religious capital of the Higardi people, even for those who don’t call the Commonwealth of Higard their home, and many consider the Bishop of Arnika the primary head of the Astral Star faith. The faith in the Astral Star varies as wildly as the Higardi kingdoms with some taking a more laidback approach to the faith with traditionalists tending toward a more zealous approach.

Despite their faith in the Astral Star being the majority religion practiced amongst their people, their tolerance of other folk and beliefs often sees a variety of religions being practiced amongst their people.

### Fashion

Due to old Alfenheim influences, Higardi dress is often quite colorful and may employ complex patterns. A good hat and side sword are the perfect way to represent you know fashion in a Higardi city. Unlike Kovithians and the Ellondese, the primarily pastoral Higardi prefer to dress in clothing that emphasizes function over panache.

## Geography

The Higardi can be found in the following regions and territories:

* Commonwealth of Higard
* Old Pashnew
* Gondolin
* Starfall
* Nightglade
* Kingdom of Azunai
* Kingdom of Omonshea
* Kingdom of Ghalldain
* Kingdom of Ehb
* Toadmore
* South Gondolin
* Baryst
* Sorrowgard

### Notable Higardi settlements

* Wren's Run
* Paumeld
* Sprucewall Abbey
* Eternal Trust
* Goldfyre
* Arnika
* Spire of the First King

## Notable Higardi

* Constance of Eternal Trust
* Ezara Solaris
* Lady Katarina Steele
* Iris Honeywise
* Lady Sophia Swiftfoot
* St. Lillian Partridge
* Petra Ponyhosen
* Duke Nettle Swiftfoot
* Lord Gregor Voland
* Lady Sophia Gedraan
* Duke Osyrus Gedraan
* Duchess Akira Uriel Gedraan
* Corvus Altera
* Don Mazooka

## Trivia

* *SteamSpell* and *WovenRealm* feature player characters from the Higardi culture. Constance is cast member AJ's second Higardi character. Ezara is cast member Lucy's second Higardi character.
* Along with the Kovithians, the Higardi culture is one of the first cultural heritages created for the setting.
* Although cast members and viewers liken Higardi culture to pastoral England, creator Alex compares them to a combination of pastoral England and midwestern Americans.
* The name for the Higardi is inspired by the video-game *Wizardy 8* and the human society present on the world of Dominus.