Ironcrest

Ironcrest is a town with Corporate located in the south-western corner of Eldham within the Kingdom of Montrium. Seeing itself as the natural continuation of the Iron Freeholds, Ironcrest has continued to follow many of the original guiding principles of the Free Holds and continues to advocate for the return to the old ways in the region. It's economy is primarily based around gold and iron mining with some agricultural and finished goods also going to market. The Nation was founded by two players, Awesome_Saucer and Hansington, fleeing a failed state from the North.

Founding
Ironcrest was founded on the back of Awesome_Saucer and Hansington fleeing persecution from a now failed Northern Kingdom and seeking a life somewhere without the bickering of childish lords. After weeks of traveling south, eventually, the pair made camp for the night, and on a lark Hansington decided to sift through a nearby hillside for any materials that might help them in their travel. From only a simple five second dig into the crest of the hill, he soon discovered that the hillside they were on was massively rich in iron as if the very ground itself was trying to get them to settle there. After some deliberation, both of the men set about preparing the land for the first houses that would form their new settlement. However, before they settled the location, the both decided they needed a name for their new settlement. Given the auspicious reason for them deciding to settle the area they decided on the name Ironcrest, a name that would become most coincidental following the revelation of where they chose to settle.

The Lepit Connection
It wasn't long after the two had built their first two houses that they made the startling discovery that just to the north was a road. Following this road quickly lead to the sprawling metropolis of Lepit. Making contact with the towns current ruler, Fisarri, the two quickly learned that they had unwittingly settled in an otherwise untamed region of the Iron Freeholds. Both men, not wishing to see the potential of the spot wasted, eventually convened a meeting with the leader of the Iron Freeholds Grimmguard for their place in the Freeholds. After long negotiations, it was decided that Ironcrest would join the Freeholds and add to the nations already prestigious place in Southern Eldham.

The Boom Period
Following their entrance into the Freeholds, Ironcrest saw a massive buildup, adding four new players and over a dozen new constructions within the first week alone. This was a fantastic and bright rise in Ironcrest as many of those in the town built up a friendly rivalry with Lepit, with the eventual intentions to overtake them. With money coming in, it seemed there was nothing that could easily stop the rise of Ironcrest within the Iron Freeholds. Then, a grand tragedy befell the town. The loss of Grand General Grimmguard.

Spreading through the Freeholds like wildfire was the news that the Grand General had left them and that the future for the Freeholds were uncertain. Hansington, wishing to steer the direction of the Freeholds and keep cohesion, advocated for a change of politics towards a third position in order to maintain the status quo while not giving their enemies any fodder by which to divide them. However, his position was quickly shot down and the bickering between Grimmguards successors began. It was at this point that Hansington and Awesome_Sauser became somewhat discontent with the situation at hand.

The Exodus
With the stability of the Freeholds in question, both Awsome_Sauser and Hansington decided to leave the freeholds on a grand journey that would take them to a world of magic and technology, never before seen in Eldham. Leaving Ironcrest in the hands of Tobito, the two were certain that their creation was in good hands until their eventual return in several weeks.

It was only after they returned a year later that the realized their folly.

The Civil War
Unbeknownst to either Awsome_Sauser or Hansington, Tobito wished to take the Freeholds for himself. His acquisition of Ironcrest gave him, what he through, the perfect platform to exert his will and attempt a coup against MrPancake, the current ruler of the Free Holds. Mustering what troops his could, Tobito launched a campaign of terror and blood against the Free Holds, eventually leading to a brutal retaliation by MrPancake and both the forces in the Free Holds loyal to him as well as various mercenaries paid off to help quell the rebellion. Skirmish after skirmish eventually saw the rebellion pushed back and eventually, the forces loyal to the Free Hold government laid siege to Ironcrest.

The battle itself, as all report recount, was brief. However, the sacking of Ironcrest was long. Many treasures had been secured within Ironcrest for those that would come after Awsome_Saucer and Hansington. Gold, diamonds, Iron and brews long since thought lost were discovered in many of the hiding places within Ironcrest. Many buildings were blown up, ripped apart, or otherwise dismantled in the mad dash to take what they could from the city. After the loyalist forces left, Ironcrest was left but a husk of what it once was. The territory was sat on by several barons who saw the city as nothing but a ruin not fit for rebuilding, and so it wallowed and decayed for over a year.

The Return
After their long absence away from Eldham, Hansington and Awsome_Sauser eventually managed to make their way back home, and what they saw devastated them both. Their town, their once prized possession, destroyed and desecrated. The Free Holds, dissolved, and the Kingdom of Montrium helping to prop up Ravenguard. Hansington, having contacted Mr.Pancake, advocated for the return of Ironcrest to himself and Awesome_Saucer, and after some brief negotiations, was granted his request.

Now Ironcrest finds itself in a period of reconstruction with many of the old membership slowly filtering back. Many old projects are finally being finished, while new reconstruction taking priority. Ironcrest now finds past the devastation that once plagued it, with several new constructs being put up to show that while Ironcrest might have been betrayed, it is far from broken.