Hyldsorn

Hyldsorn is an ancient human realm, native to the continent. A mountainous region, Hyldsorn focuses on mining and quarrying, as well as some high-altitude agriculture. They also have access to the northern sea. They are militaristic but focus on technology and prowess over numbers. They have a close alliance with the dwarves of Vyrskaldr and within the borders of Hyldsorn are several independent dwarven holds.

The capital of Hyldsorn is Varikinen and the current ruler is King Ecthandrius.

### History

#### Origins

Hyldsorn is the oldest human realm on the continent. It was founded approximately 1000 years before the founding of Dreotha and the Elvish Empire. The historical records going back that far are sparse, but the people of Hyldsorn are thought to have arrived on the continent around 5000 years before the Dreothans, by way of a land bridge that connected the Dreothan continent to the island of Aivuria, and from there to the continent of Ekix. The Ekixians crossed this bridge from Ekix to Aivuria, where some of them remained. The rest traversed to what is now the continent of Dreotha. There they formed various tribes and clans. Around 1000 years before the founding of Dreotha, a group of tribes united to form the realm of Hyldsorn. A few decades later, the remaining tribes formed the realm of Eöstrend. Since they predate the Dreothans, the peoples of Hyldsorn, Eöstrend, and Aivuria refer to the continent as Vilithea, which was their original name for it.

#### Early Years

When the realm of Hyldsorn was founded, the first ruler, Queen Telasarë chose the settlement of Varikinen as the seat of her monarchy, and thus it became the capital. Construction began on the first royal castle, in the location that the current one stands today. The Ekixians had a tradition of worshiping elemental spirits, so the Queen also comissioned the construction of a sacred monument and site of reverence for the elements, known as Myrskala, or the Stormspire. Here, Elementalists trained in the ways of primal magics and studied the mysteries of the arcane. When the realm of Eöstrend was founded, Hyldsorn formed a close alliance with them.

#### Arrival of the Dwarves

About 600 years before the founding of Dreotha, an expedition of Dwarves arrived on the shores of Hyldsorn from the distant continent of Atura. The dwarves and Hyldsornians were friendly, with the Hyldsornians allowing the dwarves to settle independent holds within the borders of their realm. The dwarves brought new technology, magical knowledge, and blacksmithing techniques. They also introduced new religions, such as the worship of Moradin. In addition to their holds within the borders of Hyldsorn, the dwarves also founded their own sovereign realm on the nearby continent of Vyrskaldr. To this day, Hyldsorn and Vyrskaldr are close allies.

#### The Visitors

Another group of strangers arrived on the borders of Hyldsorn 400 years before the founding of Dreotha. These human peoples possessed great knowledge and advanced magical prowess. They called themselves the People of the Shades. They and the Hyldsornians did not interact a great deal, other than some limited trade. Within a couple hundred years, they had apparently vanished. Leaving behind strange ruins far to the south of Hyldsorn's borders. These ruins would later be discovered by the founders of Dreotha, who would build their cities around them.

#### The Founding of Dreotha and Subsequent Years

When the human and elvish expeditions arrived on the continent to form what would be the Realm of Dreotha and the Elvish Empire, the Hyldsornians were wary. However, there was plenty of unclaimed land on the continent, so they left the newcomers to their business. The Eöstrendi advised they expel the new settlers, but Hyldsorn had had good relations with newcomers in the past, so they declined to consider it.

500 years later when Jormoth was founded, there were immediately disputes between the Jormothans and the Hyldsornians over control of the North Sea. A short war broke out, with Jormoth on one side, and Hyldsorn and Eöstrend on the other. There were only a few short battles, but the result was protection of Hyldsorn's control of its maritime territory, and the preservation of Eöstrend's land borders.

#### The Shattering

The fall of Dreotha and the Elvish Empire caused major economic concerns for Hyldsorn, who had come to rely on trade with both of them. Furthermore, Jormoth's new claims to control of the waterways further strained Hyldsorn's trade capabilities. As such, Hyldsorn was forced to enter into complex trade agreements with Jormoth. Relations remained strained to this day, though the two realms begrudgingly accept partial dependence on one another.

### Government

Hyldsorn is a hereditary monarchy. Upon the monarch's death or abdication (abdication before advanced age is common), the throne passes to his or her first child (i.e. the child who became his or her child first; regardless of gender or age of the child). Nearly all of the political power rests with the Royal Family; there is little other bureaucracy except for the purposes of administrative convenience. Each member of the Royal Family is assigned important duties. Convention is for the consort of the monarch to directly oversee the leaders of individual cities and regions. Meanwhile, the First Heir is in charge of trade and diplomacy. The Second Heir (the monarch's second child) is given command of the military. The monarch's other children and other relatives are assigned duties as he or she sees fit. The monarch owns a legendary sword called the Dusk Blade that signifies their office. The Dusk Blade is ancient and is said to have magical properties, though the specifics of these properties is a secret kept by the royal family.

### Authorities and Organizations

#### The Blademasters

The official royal guards are The Blademasters. There are exactly 9 Blademasters, and each has a contingent of 10 Bladesworn. This elite force of 90 warriors are primarily tasked with protecting the monarch, the royal family, and the royal castle. But they answer directly to the monarch and can be given other assignments as the monarch requires.

#### Elementalists

Magic users who study at Myrskala, The Stormspire, become Elementalists. Once they achieve this rank, they can swear to serve the crown, or they can retroactively pay for their education and leave to do as they please (though they cannot use the title of Elementalist if they do so). Elementalists in service to the crown are battle-mages, advisors, shamans of the ancient Ekixian religion, or researchers. The leader of the elementalists is the High Elementalist, and the current holder of the title is Soren the Stormshaper

### Religion

The ancient Ekixian religion is still followed by many in Hyldsorn. These adherents revere the primal elements and the spirits associated with them. There are elemental altars throughout Hyldsorn, with the main altar (The Altar of Storms) located at Myrskala, The Stormspire, itself. Around the Altar of Storms are portals to the elemental planes, which are guarded and tended by elite Elementalists.

Many other religions are followed by various people of Hyldsorn, but the most popular god is Moradin, who the humans of Hyldsorn adopted from the dwarves.

### Important Locations

Other than the capital of Varikinen, there are several other key locations in the realm.

#### Myrskala, The Stormspire

The Stormspire serves dual purposes. The first, and original purpose, was as a place of worship for the ancient Ekixian religion. Adherents of this faith reverse the primal elements and the spirits associated with them. At Myrskala is the main elemental altar, The Altar of Storms, around which is portals to the elemental plains. This extremely sacred location is off-limits to nearly everybody except with express permission from the monarch or the High Elementalist.

#### The Great Forge

Their longstanding friendship with the dwarves has made the people of Hyldsorn excellent smiths. Perhaps the best metalworkers on the continent short of the dwarves of Vyrskaldr themselves. The Great Forge is a massive metalworking facility, at the center of which is a giant forge whose heat is derived from powerful elemental magic. At the Great Forge, weapons, armor, and other metal goods are produced. Some are traded to other realms, while those made with secret techniques are not allowed to be traded to outsiders.

#### Dwarf Holds

The realm is home to several independent dwarf holds. Each hold has its own autonomous government that does not officially answer to the crown of Hyldsorn. However, the de facto authority that Hyldsorn has over people within its border is undeniable. These holds also owe a degree of unofficial allegiance to the crown of Vyrskaldr, though they are not technically part of that realm either.